A boy used to play under an apple tree as a child, climbing it, eating its apples, and napping in its shade. As the boy grew older, he no longer played by the tree. When the tree asked the boy to play one day, the boy refused, saying he was no longer a child and needed money to buy toys. The tree told the boy he could pick and sell its apples to get money. The boy did so and got money for toys, but never returned to the tree, making the tree sad once more.