这个故事是编的,原文如下

　　WhenGeorgewasaboutsixyearsold,hewasmadethewealthymasterofahatchetofwhich,likemostlittleboys,hewasextremelyfond.Hewentaboutchoppingeverythingthatcamehisway.

　　Oneday,ashewanderedaboutthegardenamusinghimselfbyhackinghismother'speasticks,hefoundabeautiful,youngEnglishcherrytree,ofwhichhisfatherwasmostproud.Hetriedtheedgeofhishatchetonthetrunkofthetreeandbarkeditsothatitdied.

　　Sometimeafterthis,hisfatherdiscoveredwhathadhappenedtohisfavoritetree.Hecameintothehouseingreatanger,anddemandedtoknowwhothemischievouspersonwaswhohadcutawaythebark.Nobodycouldtellhimanythingaboutit.

　　JustthenGeorge,withhislittlehatchet,cameintotheroom.

　　"George,''saidhisfather,"doyouknowwhohaskilledmybeautifullittlecherrytreeyonderinthegarden?Iwouldnothavetakenfiveguineasforit!''

　　Thiswasahardquestiontoanswer,andforamomentGeorgewasstaggeredbyit,butquicklyrecoveringhimselfhecried:

　　"Icannottellalie,father,youknowIcannottellalie!Ididcutitwithmylittlehatchet.''

　　Theangerdiedoutofhisfather'sface,andtakingtheboytenderlyinhisarms,hesaid:

　　"Myson,thatyoushouldnotbeafraidtotellthetruthismoretomethanathousandtrees!Yes-thoughtheywereblossomedwithsilverandhadleavesofthepurestgold!