He could not play about any more , so he sat in a huge armchair , and watched the children at their games , and admired his garden . `` I have many beautiful flowers , '' he said ; `` but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all . '' One winter morning he looked out of his window as he was dressing . He did not hate the Winter now , for he knew that it was merely the Spring asleep , and that the flowers were resting . Suddenly he rubbed his eyes in wonder , and looked and looked . It certainly was a marvellous sight . In the farthest corner of the garden was a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms . Its branches were all golden , and silver fruit hung down from them , and underneath it stood the little boy he had loved . Downstairs ran the Giant in great joy , and out into the garden . He hastened across the grass , and came near to the child . And when he came quite close his face grew red with anger , and he said , `` Who hath dared to wound thee ? '' For on the palms of the child 's hands were the prints of two nails , and the prints of two nails were on the little feet . `` Who hath dared to wound thee ? '' cried the Giant ; `` tell me , that I may take my big sword and slay him . '' `` Nay ! '' answered the child ; `` but these are the wounds of Love . '' `` Who art thou ? '' said the Giant , and a strange awe fell on him , and he knelt before the little child . And the child smiled on the Giant , and said to him , `` You let me play once in your garden , to-day you shall come with me to my garden , which is Paradise . '' And when the children ran in that afternoon , they found the Giant lying dead under the tree , all covered with white blossoms .
THE DEVOTED FRIEND One XXXXX the old Water-rat put his head out of his hole .
Giant Paradise Winter afternoon armchair art child feet morning prints