One summer day, the people of Newton Village woke to strange news. Children ran through the streets shouting, “Come and see! Come and see!” Neighbours opened their doors and hurried to the square. Where an old apple tree had stood for many years, a new tree had grown. But this was not a normal tree. On its branches were coins instead of leaves, and paper notes moved slowly in the wind. In the morning light, the tree looked full of money, and the villagers stared wide-eyed.
At first, people were delighted. Tom the baker took a few coins to buy flour. Anna the teacher took just enough to fix her roof. Maria, the mother, picked one note to buy medicine for her child. Life felt fair, and the people smiled at one another. The tree gave hope, and for a short time the village was full of peace.
But soon, greed began to grow. Peter the shopkeeper brought a large bag and filled it with money. Lucy, the farmer, climbed the tree and broke its branches. Neighbours pushed each other in the square. People argued and shouted. Friends stopped talking. Families began to fight.
Old Mr Green, who had cared for the apple tree before it died, tried to warn them. He said, “If you take too much, the tree will not live.” But nobody listened. Day after day, the people pulled more and more money from the tree. The coins lost their colours. The paper money tore and fell apart. At last, the tree stood with no money and no leaves, only broken wood.
The people were unhappy, the square was empty, and the tree was dead. The money had disappeared. But worst of all, their kindness had disappeared too. Tom no longer helped his customers. Anna no longer spoke to her neighbours. Maria ate alone with her child.
From that day onwards, the dead tree stayed in the square. Children asked, “Why is the tree like that?” And the parents had to answer, “Because we were greedy, and we forgot to share.”
The children of Newton Village listened carefully. They promised each other that when they grew up, they would not make the same mistake.
📒 Key vocabulary
- branches – parts of a tree that grow from the trunk or from another branch; can also mean divisions or sections of an organization
- notes – paper money issued by a bank that is used as currency
- wide-eyed – with astonishment
- flour – a powder made by grinding grains (especially wheat), used in baking and cooking
- greed – an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food
- warn (warn, warned, warned) – to tell someone about possible danger, trouble, or a problem so they can be careful or prepared
- tear (tear, tore, torn) – the past tense of “tear”; to pull something apart forcefully
- greedy – having or showing an intense desire for more than is needed or fair, especially wealth or food
🤔 Comprehension quiz
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