The Tree of Kindness – An English Folk Tale about Generosity and Gratitude

Summary: This English folk tale tells the story of an old tree that helped a village survive a drought, despite being neglected by the people. It teaches us the importance of appreciating nature and giving thanks for its gifts.

Long ago, at the edge of a great forest, there was a small village. The people lived simple lives: they farmed the land, fished in the river, and gathered the gifts of nature from the nearby forest. In the heart of the forest stood a large, ancient tree. Its branches stretched toward the sky, and its shade was always cool and comforting. Travelers often rested beneath the tree, and villagers came to the forest to gather berries, mushrooms, or simply to enjoy the peace under its mighty canopy.

The tree was known for its generosity. In spring, it blossomed with beautiful flowers, in summer, it bore sweet fruits, and in autumn, its leaves blanketed the ground like a soft carpet. Yet, despite all it gave, the villagers rarely thought about the tree. They took its gifts for granted.

Years passed, the village grew, and people visited the forest less often. They cut down trees for firewood and construction, not noticing how the forest was shrinking. The old tree stood alone, surrounded by fields and bushes. Still, it continued to offer its fruits and shade to those who came to it.

One summer, disaster struck. A severe drought gripped the village. Rivers dried up, crops failed, and the people had no food. They gathered in the village square, discussing what to do. The village elder said, “If we don’t find a way to survive this drought, we will starve. But where can we find food in such a time?”

Among the villagers was a little girl who often played in the forest. She remembered the old tree and its fruits. The next day, she went to the tree and saw that its branches were still heavy with fruit. The girl picked some and brought them back to the village. “Look! The old tree still gives us food!” she said.

The villagers rushed to the tree and found that its shade kept the ground moist and its fruits were fresh and sweet. Every day, they gathered food from the tree and dug pits nearby to collect rainwater, which the tree’s roots helped to retain.

But even though the tree saved them from hunger, the people didn’t think about how to thank it. They took as much as they could without caring for the land around it or planting new trees.

One night, a terrible storm arose. Lightning struck the tree, and it caught fire. The villagers ran with buckets of water to put out the flames, but it was too late. By morning, only a charred stump remained.

The elder looked at the burned tree and said, “We used this tree’s gifts, but we never thought about how it helped us. Now that it is gone, we must remember its lesson: nature gives us so much, but we must care for it in return.”

The villagers decided to plant a new tree where the old one had stood. They watered it, tended the land around it, and, over time, the small sapling grew into a mighty tree. Once again, it became a symbol of generosity and life. The people learned to respect nature and to give thanks for its gifts.

Moral of the Story: This English folk tale teaches us that the generosity of nature is priceless, but we must care for it so it can continue to provide its blessings.

Questions for Discussion:

• Why didn’t the villagers appreciate the old tree at first?
• How did the tree help the village during the drought?
• What lessons does this story teach about care and gratitude?