Last Leaf in English _ Stories for Teenagers _ @EnglishFairyTales

English Aqsa's Stories

Transcript

00:00The Last Leaf Long, long ago, the town of Florence faced

00:12a crisis.

00:14The Artsville Street was losing faith in its art.

00:18Painters and artists who once raised the spirit of these streets now turned their heads away

00:24from colors.

00:26The reason was the poverty.

00:29Art was loved by all, but the artists and painters were paid very little.

00:36Slowly the streets lost its luster.

00:39Parents took colors away from their children.

00:43Painters began to take odd jobs in their neighborhood to earn their living.

00:48In such difficult times, only a few artists braved to embrace art and keep doing what

00:55they love.

00:57Two of these brave artists were Sue and Johnsy.

01:03Sue and Johnsy were not only great painters, but they were best friends.

01:09They would make paintings and sell them to magazines.

01:13They didn't earn much, but they were happy to follow their passion.

01:17Among the two, Sue was a strong-headed and practical woman.

01:23She would work hard and face every problem with grace.

01:27While Johnsy was always scared for the future.

01:31Sue and Johnsy had a neighbor by the name of Mr. Bearman.

01:36Now Mr. Bearman was an old man, but he was full of life.

01:42He would paint anything in sight.

01:45The benches by the road, the steps in his building, even the trees.

01:51He was among the rare painters who tried to keep the spirit of Artsville alive.

01:58Being a painter himself, Mr. Bearman often helped Sue with her work.

02:05And here, if you just shade a little behind this object, it will look almost real.

02:12Oh, Mr. Bearman, you are a talented painter.

02:18You must put your paintings up for sale.

02:21I don't know.

02:23What would I do with the money?

02:25I live alone and I spend very little.

02:29People in this town need to understand that not everything has to be done for money.

02:36You must never stop doing what you really love.

02:41All went well until one day, Johnsy fell very ill.

02:46And no matter what the doctor did, Johnsy would not recover.

02:51She will be fine, right?

02:53I have written down some medicines for her to take, but Sue, you have to convince her

03:00to stay positive.

03:02Most of our troubles and illness stay because of our negative thinking.

03:07She will recover only if she wills to recover.

03:13Sue tried everything to keep Johnsy happy.

03:16She would cook her favorite food, tell her jokes from work, and bring flowers to keep

03:22the room fresh.

03:24But nothing worked.

03:27I don't think I will ever get better, Sue.

03:31I feel really bad that you have to work so hard and all I do is lie around.

03:38Johnsy, you are my friend.

03:41I would do everything I can to take care of you.

03:44Hello, girls.

03:46Am I disturbing you?

03:48Oh, hello, Mr. Bearman.

03:51How is our little Johnsy doing?

03:54Trying.

03:56Oh, Johnsy, you will get better.

03:59Have faith.

04:00I don't feel very well, Mr. Bearman.

04:04I am tired of being weak.

04:06Oh, child, your weakness is in your mind.

04:10Yeah, Sue told me what you said to her.

04:15Well, there is a way there is a will or something.

04:20It's where there is a will, there is a way.

04:25I agree.

04:27Tell me, Mr. Bearman, what is your latest painting about?

04:31Oh, it's about my long lost dream.

04:35I made a painting of this very street we live in.

04:39I tried to show that the painters and artists are all out on the streets

04:44doing the one thing they love the most, paint.

04:50That's an impossible dream to have.

04:53It will never happen.

04:55Well, that's the beauty.

04:58You can dream about anything.

05:01Unless you don't dream, you will never try to make it real.

05:06I am certain that my art will save lives someday.

05:10I have the will to find a way.

05:15Art is very powerful, my child.

05:19A powerful piece of art can do what doctors cannot.

05:24All an artist has to do is stay positive and have faith.

05:30Come on, Johnsy, stop staying so sad.

05:35Hmm, what are you looking at, Johnsy?

05:40The ivy plant growing on that wall.

05:44It is the only thing that keeps me a little happy.

05:48Isn't that a good thing?

05:51It is, but the plant is leaving me too.

05:56When I first saw it, it had ten leaves.

05:59Now it only has seven.

06:02I will lose all hope when the last leaf falls.

06:08Oh, that's a terrible thing to say, Johnsy.

06:13Don't scream at her, Sue.

06:15When someone is sad, screaming only upsets them more.

06:20And Johnsy is ill.

06:22We don't know how she must be feeling right now.

06:26You are right, Mr. Bearman.

06:29I am sorry, Johnsy.

06:33Johnsy didn't mind.

06:35She felt guilty for her friend.

06:38More days passed, and Johnsy's health only worsened.

06:43Doctor couldn't do anything because Johnsy had stopped taking her medicines.

06:49Sue would always ask the doctor for some alternate treatment.

06:53And all he would say is,

06:56She has to make her mind stronger.

07:03Once, as Sue entered her building, she passed Mr. Bearman.

07:08He was drenched.

07:10Mr. Bearman, are you all right?

07:13What happened?

07:17Nothing, child.

07:18I'm growing old, that's all.

07:21I painted the benches inside our park today.

07:25You know the ones under the roof?

07:28Wait, you were talking about benches under the roof of the park?

07:32There are at least 20 of them.

07:35You painted them all in one day?

07:39That is too much work.

07:41And how did you get all wet?

07:43They all are under the roof.

07:46Oh, I forgot to carry my umbrella, you see.

07:50As I said, I am growing old, that's all.

07:54Oh, Mr. Bearman, you know everyone is falling ill these days.

07:59You have to take care of yourself.

08:02Do you have a fever?

08:03You don't look very well.

08:05Should I call for a doctor?

08:06Oh, my, my.

08:09You ask too many questions, my child.

08:12When I am painting, I am the happiest man in this whole world.

08:17Nothing can hurt me or bother me.

08:19Art is my life.

08:22Tell me, how is Jauncey doing?

08:25Oh, not great.

08:29You remember the ivy plant she spoke about?

08:32There are only four leaves left.

08:35She keeps staring at the plant.

08:37I hope the last leaf doesn't fall, Mr. Bearman.

08:40I really do.

08:42Jauncey will lose all hope.

08:44No, we can't let that happen.

08:48It's raining cats and dogs today.

08:51I am certain the wind will blow away all the leaves.

08:54How can anybody stop the plant from losing its last leaf?

08:58Hmm, well, Sue, where there is a will, there is a way.

09:05Oh, right now, I see no way and I am losing my will.

09:11I will go to Jauncey.

09:13Mr. Bearman, please go to a doctor, okay?

09:18I will, my child.

09:20Give my best to Jauncey.

09:25That night, a hailstorm struck the town.

09:29Everyone on the Artsville Street closed their windows and snuggled in their houses.

09:35But Jauncey wanted Sue to open the window.

09:39She wanted to see if the last leaf had fallen.

09:42But Sue refused.

09:45Jauncey's health could get worse if they opened the window and let the rough wind inside.

09:51Jauncey agreed.

09:53Little did she know that Sue was also worried about the last leaf.

10:00The next morning, sun shone brightly.

10:03The hailstorm had passed.

10:06Sue knew she had to open the windows now.

10:09For how long could she keep them shut?

10:12She shut her eyes, opened the curtains.

10:15She was surprised.

10:18Oh, Jauncey, the last leaf is still there!

10:23What? That can't be.

10:25How is it still holding on?

10:28It's the leaf's will, Jauncey.

10:31Just like Mr. Bearman said.

10:33You are right.

10:35Oh, Sue.

10:37Get me my medicines.

10:40If a tiny leaf can brave a storm, why can't I?

10:44I will find a way to recover.

10:47Oh, Jauncey, I will get whatever you want.

10:50Tell me, what do you need?

10:53Art is very powerful, my child.

10:56A powerful piece of art can do that what doctors cannot.

11:04I know what I want.

11:06Get me my canvas and some colors.

11:10Sue's happiness knew no bounds.

11:13She rushed and brought all the colors she had.

11:17She set up the canvas on Jauncey's bed.

11:20Sue was happy to have her friend back.

11:24As time went by, Jauncey recovered completely.

11:29Doctor and Sue both were surprised.

11:32She no more talked about how weak she felt or what she couldn't do in life.

11:37In fact, she now discussed her new dreams with Sue.

11:42I want to paint the London Bridge.

11:46Ahaha! I am sure that one day you will.

11:50Where is Mr. Bearman, Sue?

11:52I haven't seen him in so long.

11:55Oh, I am glad you asked, Jauncey.

11:59I wanted to tell you this once you had recovered completely.

12:03Mr. Bearman was unwell.

12:06His old age had caught up.

12:08Remember the night of the hailstorm?

12:11He fell very ill that very morning.

12:14What? He went to the doctor, right?

12:19That was the thing with Mr. Bearman.

12:21I remember he had said that when he paints, nothing can hurt him.

12:27What do you mean?

12:29Look at the last leaf on the wall, Jauncey.

12:32It's still there.

12:33It hasn't moved even a bit.

12:37He painted it that night.

12:39He is truly a great painter.

12:42In the morning, he began to shiver.

12:44People took him to the hospital.

12:46I met him a day back.

12:48He was so happy.

12:51He was at peace when I told him that you had recovered.

12:54I told him the last leaf of the ivy plant had given you strength.

13:00He passed away, Jauncey.

13:04No! Oh, no!

13:07But, Jauncey, you helped him fulfill his dream.

13:11Didn't he say once that his art will save lives one day?

13:15Look at that last leaf.

13:17That's his art, and it saved your life.

13:22No, Sue.

13:25That's not just art.

13:27That's a masterpiece.

13:29And I will fulfill his dream.

13:33Soon, the word about the last leaf and Mr. Bearman spread through the whole town.

13:39Painters, poets, dancers, singers, all the artists were inspired.

13:45They all gathered under the ivy plant and swore to bring art back to the Artsville Street.

13:53And that's what happened.

13:55The streets came alive again.

13:57There were paintings on every wall.

14:00And on some people, too.

14:03Jauncey and Sue gathered their savings and began to teach painting under the name of the Bearman Art.

14:11Parents would send their younger ones to learn the spirit of life there.

14:16Everybody resumed their painting.

14:19They didn't stop working odd jobs.

14:22But they enjoyed their work now that they knew they would never stop painting.

14:27And as for Jauncey and Sue, well, people of the Artsville Street were relieved to have colors back in their lives.

14:35Everybody realized how important art was and came forward to donate a part of their earnings to the Bearman Art.

14:44And soon, the Bearman Art grew and became the Bearman Institute.

14:50What's more interesting was that every child in the Bearman Institute was taught to paint one thing before anything else.

14:58The last leaf.

15:00Because that leaf would teach a very important lesson to all.

15:05Where there is a will, there is always a way.

15:10The Giving Tree

15:15This is a story about friendship and the unconditional love of nature.

15:21In a forest on the outskirts of the city, there was a tree which stood tall and green.

15:27It had long, thick branches.

15:29Its uncountable bright green leaves blew graciously with the wind.

15:34Birds would come from faraway places to sit on its branches and chirp their songs.

15:40It was a beautiful and a happy tree.

15:43The tree shared a very special bond with a small boy from a nearby town.

15:48The boy would come every day to play with the tree after his school.

15:53He would eat the apples from the tree and play hide-and-go-seek with it.

15:58They talked for hours and hours.

16:02The boy used to share everything with the tree.

16:05His ideas, his plans for the future, his thoughts and his everyday happenings at school.

16:11The tree used to listen to the boy intently and laugh with him.

16:15They understood each other's dreams and their bond grew stronger.

16:20He would gather the leaves to make a crown and pretend to be the king.

16:24He would climb his trunk and swing on his branches.

16:32Ha ha ha ha!

16:35The water is so clean and sparkly, tree.

16:39Yes, it is.

16:41You are lucky.

16:43You have the best view, the sparkling water, the setting sun, the breeze.

16:49No wonder you are so happy.

16:52I could live here forever.

16:55The water, the sun and the breeze will always be here.

17:01I am happy when I share it with you.

17:04Ha ha! You're the best, tree.

17:07I love you and I love you back.

17:10He would chat with the tree for hours after playing and talking.

17:15Tired, the boy used to sleep in the shade.

17:18As time passed by, the boy grew up and made new friends.

17:23He got busy and started spending less time with the tree.

17:27The tree cherished the little moments it had with the boy.

17:30Don't you hate it when the sun sets or when you lose your leaves in the winter?

17:35I become sad, yes.

17:37But I know the sun will be back the next morning and the leaves will be back in the spring.

17:44I like to wait for them.

17:46You are right.

17:48But the setting sun is also so beautiful.

17:51You are lucky, tree.

17:53You have an amazing view.

17:56I could live here forever.

17:58I don't know much about luck.

18:01But the sun is always here.

18:03I enjoy it the most with you.

18:06You can live here forever.

18:08I know you like it.

18:10Ha ha! It's not that easy.

18:13You don't have responsibilities.

18:15I have to work and be somebody.

18:18I have to build a future.

18:20I want to be happy.

18:22Aren't you happy now?

18:24But I want more.

18:27And slowly the boy stopped visiting the tree.

18:30The tree was mostly alone, waiting to see the boy.

18:34Then one day, the boy came to visit the tree.

18:38The tree was happy to see him.

18:40Its heart pounded with every step the boy took towards it.

18:44Straightening up, the tree called out to the boy.

18:48Come, boy.

18:51Come and climb up my trunk

18:53and swing from my branches

18:55and eat the apples and be happy.

18:58I am too big to climb your trunk

19:00or swing on your branches.

19:04See this sunset, boy?

19:06You always like to look at it.

19:08I am busy now.

19:10I want to buy things.

19:12I want to see the world.

19:15Why do you look sad?

19:17I want some money, tree.

19:20Out in the world, you need money to be happy.

19:24The tree didn't want to see the boy sad.

19:27Take my apples, boy,

19:29and sell them in the market.

19:31Then you will have some money.

19:33I am sorry.

19:35I don't have any money to give you.

19:37I only have leaves

19:39and apples.

19:41Really, tree? I can do that?

19:44Will that make you happy?

19:46Yes! Thank you, tree.

19:48You are the best!

19:50So the boy climbed up the trunk,

19:52gathered all the apples from the tree,

19:54and carried them away to sell them in the market.

19:57The tree was happy to help the boy.

20:00But the boy stayed away for a long time.

20:03And the tree was sad.

20:05Years passed.

20:07Birds came, chirped their songs, and left.

20:11And the tree waited,

20:13standing tall with its long branches

20:15at the edge of the cliff,

20:18waiting for the boy to come back.

20:20And then one day,

20:22the boy came back.

20:24The tree shook with joy.

20:26Come, boy.

20:28Come and climb up my trunk

20:30and swing from my branches

20:32and be happy.

20:34I don't have time to climb trees.

20:36I'm too busy. I'm married now.

20:38Tree, I have a wife and children.

20:41You really have grown up.

20:44But why don't you look happy now?

20:47I am worried, Tree.

20:49I will be happy if I could build a house for my family.

20:53I want to keep them warm and safe.

20:56I have no house to give you.

20:58The forest is my house.

21:01But here, I have branches.

21:04You can cut off my branches

21:06and make a house out of it.

21:08Then you will be happy.

21:10Thank you, Tree.

21:12The boy climbed up the trunk of the tree

21:16and cut off all his branches

21:18and carried them away.

21:20The tree was happy to help the boy.

21:23But the boy stayed away for a long time.

21:26And the tree was sad.

21:28Years passed,

21:30but the boy didn't come to visit the tree.

21:32The tree could no longer talk to the birds

21:35as they would now just circle and fly away.

21:38There were no branches left

21:40for the birds to sit and chirp their songs.

21:43While on the ground,

21:46the tree always asked the birds about the boy.

21:49But no one had seen him.

21:51The tree grew lonely.

21:53The tree stood there at the edge of the cliff,

21:56tall, trying to look for the boy.

21:59It watched the city change.

22:02The tree could see the faraway pastures being raised

22:05to build roads and buildings.

22:08He saw the trees being cut and uprooted

22:11and towers being built on green lands.

22:14More people came,

22:15cutting the forest around

22:17and making houses for themselves.

22:19The forest was losing its greenery.

22:22The tree was sad to see his house being torn down.

22:26But what could it do?

22:28For it was merely a trunk.

22:31The tree was very lonely now,

22:33but it still waited, eagerly, for the boy.

22:37Then, one day,

22:39the boy came to visit the tree.

22:42He now was a grown-up man.

22:44The tree was so happy to see the boy

22:47that he could hardly speak.

22:49But the boy looked very sad.

22:52The boy sat down,

22:54leaning against the tree,

22:56and started crying.

22:58It broke the tree's heart to see him crying.

23:01The tree had no branches to pat the boy.

23:04It had no apples to cheer him up.

23:07It could give him a support to lean on.

23:10What is the matter, boy?

23:12Why are you so sad?

23:14My wife left me

23:16and my children don't care for me anymore.

23:19I don't want to live in a place where nobody loves me.

23:22All I want now is to go far away from here.

23:25I don't want to live here anymore.

23:28You are always running behind happiness, boy.

23:31You must stay and let happiness come to you.

23:35There is no happiness here.

23:39I could only build a boat and sail away

23:41in the sparkly waters,

23:43lie in the boat,

23:45and soak in the warmth of the sun.

23:47Will you be happy then?

23:49Yes, I will be at peace and happy.

23:53Here, cut my trunk and build a boat.

23:57Then you can sail away.

24:00Really, tree?

24:02Thank you. You are the best.

24:05The boy got his tools

24:08and cut the trunk of the tree.

24:10He built a boat out of it.

24:12He looked happy and relieved.

24:14The tree was happy to help the boy.

24:17It watched him build the boat.

24:19Then it watched him sail away.

24:22There was the sun,

24:24the breeze,

24:26the sparkling water,

24:28and the boy sailing off in it.

24:30The tree didn't feel lucky now.

24:32It was sad to see the boy as he drifted away,

24:35like the sun he had once talked about.

24:37The tree was now only a stump

24:39at the edge of a cliff.

24:41Years passed,

24:43and the tree grew lonelier.

24:45He could no longer see

24:47the faraway buildings or hills.

24:49He could no longer stand tall

24:51and see his house or the people,

24:53for he was merely

24:55a stump of wood

24:57on the ground.

24:59He missed the birds.

25:01He missed looking at faraway pastures.

25:04He missed the comfort of his house.

25:06But more than anything,

25:08he missed the boy.

25:10The boy finally came back

25:12to the tree.

25:14The city was not the same anymore.

25:16There were now man-made buildings

25:18in place of Mother Nature.

25:20The forest had been cut down,

25:22and the green pastures

25:24were gone.

25:26The boy was an old man now.

25:28He was finding it hard to breathe.

25:30He sloughed

25:32and walked with a stick.

25:34He was wondering

25:36if he will ever find the tree.

25:38The city is eating up the forest.

25:40I hope I find

25:42my old friend.

25:44And so he did.

25:46It was right where he had left it,

25:48the stump,

25:50waiting.

25:52You came.

25:54I waited really long for you.

25:56Yes, tree.

25:58It is so nice to see you.

26:01I sailed to another city.

26:03Lived there for a few years.

26:09You are breathing heavily.

26:11Yes, the pollution

26:13is making it difficult to breathe.

26:17I am so sorry, boy.

26:19I have nothing to offer you.

26:21My apples are gone.

26:23My teeth are too weak

26:25to eat apples.

26:28My branches are gone.

26:30You cannot swing

26:32on them.

26:34I am too old to swing on branches.

26:36My trunk is gone.

26:38You cannot climb

26:40my...

26:42I am too tired to climb.

26:44My back hurts now.

26:46The tree sighed.

26:50I am sorry.

26:52I wish I could give you something.

26:54But I have nothing left.

26:56I am just an old stump.

27:00The forest is disappearing.

27:02The concrete cannot

27:04give clean air to breathe.

27:06Trees can.

27:08The buildings cannot

27:10provide for comfort.

27:12How greedy a man can be.

27:14Cities instead

27:16pollute fresh air.

27:18Don't people understand

27:20the importance of nature?

27:22The tree didn't respond.

27:25It had nothing to say.

27:29I am old now

27:31and stay tired all the time.

27:33All I want is some

27:35fresh air to breathe

27:37and a quiet place to sit.

27:39The tree straightened

27:41as much as he could.

27:43Well, that's it.

27:45An old stump

27:47is good for sitting and resting.

27:49Come, boy.

27:51Sit down.

27:53Sit down and rest.

27:55The boy sat on the tree

27:57and took a deep breath.

27:59He watched the sun setting

28:01in the sparkly waters.

28:03He felt the soft breeze.

28:05You are lucky, tree.

28:07You have the best view,

28:09the sun,

28:11the breeze,

28:13and the sparkly waters.

28:15They then talked about life

28:17and how the world was changing

28:19around them.

28:22They told a story to the tree

28:24and the tree was happy.

28:26The moral of the story

28:28The relationship of nature

28:30with man is an everlasting one.

28:32We need to respect

28:34and preserve Mother Earth.

28:36Remember,

28:38trees needs man

28:40as man needs trees.

28:42Preserve forests.

28:44Preserve nature.

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