The Apple Tree and the Farmer
Class: 6th Standard | Subject: English | Type: Supplementary Reader | Syllabus: SCERT New Syllabus
Summary of the Story
The story revolves around a farmer who lives in a village up in the hills beside a forest. In his farm, along with various vegetables, he has an apple tree that has been a part of his life since childhood. As a boy, the farmer and his friends played under the apple tree — they played hide and seek around it, climbed it, swung on its branches, and enjoyed its delicious apples in season. The tree was a source of joy, adventure, and nourishment throughout his childhood.
As years passed, the boy grew into a man and took over the farm. Many small animals, birds, and insects made the tree their home. His own children and their friends began playing under the same tree, just as he once did. However, as the tree grew old, it bore fewer and fewer fruits. The farmer began to see the tree as useless — he thought the space could be used to grow vegetables and the wood could be used to build a new room in his house. So he decided to cut the tree down, ignoring the wonderful memories it held and the creatures that depended on it.