little boy , '' said the Tree , and it bent its branches down as low as it could ; but the boy was too tiny . And the Giant 's heart melted as he looked out . `` How selfish I have been ! '' he said ; `` now I know why the Spring would not come here . I will put that poor little boy on the top of the tree , and then I will knock down the wall , and my garden shall be the children 's playground for ever and ever . '' He was really very sorry for what he had done . So he crept downstairs and opened the front door quite softly , and went out into the garden . But when the children saw him they were so frightened that they all ran away , and the garden became winter again . Only the little boy did not run , for his eyes were so full of tears that he did not see the Giant coming . And the Giant stole up behind him and took him gently in his hand , and put him up into the tree . And the tree broke at once into blossom , and the birds came and sang on it , and the little boy stretched out his two arms and flung them round the Giant 's neck , and kissed him . And the other children , when they saw that the Giant was not wicked any longer , came running back , and with them came the Spring . `` It is your garden now , little children , '' said the Giant , and he took a great axe and knocked down the wall . And when the people were going to market at twelve o'clock they found the Giant playing with the children in the most beautiful garden they had ever seen . All day long they played , and in the evening they came to the Giant to bid him good-bye . `` But where is your little companion ? '' he said : `` the boy I put into the tree . '' The Giant loved him the best because he had kissed him . `` We do n't know , '' answered the children ; `` he has gone away . '' `` You must tell him to be sure and come here to-morrow , '' said the Giant .
But the children said that they did not know where he lived , and had never XXXXX him before ; and the Giant felt very sad .
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