『そのき』 子供のためのオーディオブック
英語で読める “The Tree” の絵本
The Tree
Page 1
A long time ago near Mistra, there was a mysterious and gigantic tree that looked over the Plain of Sparta. This was not an ordinary tree; it was the largest tree in the whole world. Sadly, it died long ago. A careless man was cooking his dinner beneath the tree one evening. He foolishly put too much wood on the fire, and it began to burn out of control. The fire spread to the ancient tree, and it burned down.
Page 2
A few centuries before that terrible day, the Ottomans ruled the land. There was a Governor who was very arrogant and selfish. He wanted to have a large dinner in his honor because he thought such fancy events made people think that he was a great man. The Governor ordered his dinner to take place in the location that overlooked the Plain of Sparta.
Page 3
Many servants worked very hard to prepare the feast. There was so much food on the tables! Soon after the feast had been prepared, the Governor arrived. When he sat down in his tall chair, a long parade marched by. After the parade, the festivities began. The Governor was ready to watch all of the actors, clowns, acrobats, and fantastic animals from around the world.
Page 4
The Governor brought with him a young Shepherd boy. The boy sat next to the Governor, and he assisted the Governor in every way. The Shepherd boy was the Governor’s personal servant. The Governor liked the Shepherd boy because he was a good servant.
Page 5
The young servant stood behind the Governor. He could see the beautiful Plain of Sparta. It was surrounded by mountains. Rivers and streams wove through the plain in every direction. When the Shepherd boy saw the wonderful scenery, he sighed sadly.
Page 6
The Governor heard the Shepherd boy sigh, and he asked the boy, “What is it that makes you sigh?” The Shepherd boy replied by asking, “What is there not to sigh about? Those mountains, the rivers, and the beautiful plain were all ours once. Then, you Ottomans invaded our land, and took everything from us by force. But I have faith in my God, and I know that He will one day free us from the Ottomans.”
Page 7
The Governor became extremely upset. He turned his chair around to face the Shepherd boy. He held up a kebob, and then he ate it all until there was only the wooden spit that had been poked through the pieces of meat. The Governor showed the wooden spit to the Shepherd boy, and he said, “Look at this spit that was used to cook the food I ate!”
Page 8
The Governor angrily shoved the spit into the ground. He told the boy, “This spit will become a tree before your people liberate this land from us!” Then, the Governor stood up and he walked away. The Shepherd boy kneeled beside the spit in the ground, and he said a quick prayer to his God.
Page 9
The next day, a miracle occurred. Out of the wooden spit that the Governor had stuck into the ground, a tree was sprouting! When the Shepherd boy’s people saw this, they remembered the words of the Governor. At that moment, they knew that one day they would be free!
Page 10
The miraculous tree that grew from the wooden spit turned the Governor’s words into a prophecy. The Shepherd’s people often visited the tree, and they prayed there. They knew that the tree was a promise from their God. Through the tree, their God was saying to them, “One day, you will be free from the Ottomans. Have faith, and have patience. You will be free!” This folktale was told to give hope to the people who suffered during the 400 years of the Ottoman rule.
Page 11
The Tree
Page 12
A long time ago near Mistra, there was a mysterious and gigantic tree that looked over the Plain of Sparta. This was not an ordinary tree; it was the largest tree in the whole world. Sadly, it died long ago. A careless man was cooking his dinner beneath the tree one evening. He foolishly put too much wood on the fire, and it began to burn out of control. The fire spread to the ancient tree, and it burned down.
Page 13
A few centuries before that terrible day, the Ottomans ruled the land. There was a Governor who was very arrogant and selfish. He wanted to have a large dinner in his honor because he thought such fancy events made people think that he was a great man. The Governor ordered his dinner to take place in the location that overlooked the Plain of Sparta.
Page 14
Many servants worked very hard to prepare the feast. There was so much food on the tables! Soon after the feast had been prepared, the Governor arrived. When he sat down in his tall chair, a long parade marched by. After the parade, the festivities began. The Governor was ready to watch all of the actors, clowns, acrobats, and fantastic animals from around the world.