In Loving Memory of the Children of Sandy Hook Elementary

Excerpt from the Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde
Illustrations by S. Saelig Gallagher

One winter morning the Giant looked out of his window as he was dressing. He did not hate the Winter now, for he knew that it was merely the Spring asleep, and that the flowers were resting.

Suddenly he rubbed his eyes in wonder, and looked and looked. It certainly was a marvelous sight. In the farthest corner of the garden was a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms. Its branches were all golden, and silver fruit hung down from them and underneath it stood the little boy he had loved.

Downstairs ran the Giant in great joy, and out into the garden. He hastened across the grass, and came near to the child. And when he came quite close, his face grew red with anger, and he said, "Who hath dared to wound thee?" For on the palms of the child's hands were the prints of two nails, and the prints of two nails were on the little feet.

"Who hath dared to wound thee? cried the Giant. "Tell me, that I may take my big sword and slay him." "Nay!" answered the child, "but these are the wounds of Love."
"Who art thou?" said the Giant, and a strange awe fell on him, and he knelt before the little child.

And the child smiled on the Giant, and said to him,"You let me play once in your garden. Today you shall come with me to my garden, which is Paradise."

And when the children ran in that afternoon, they found the Giant lying dead under the tree, all covered with white blossoms.

May the little children of Sandy Hook Elementary rest in Paradise and may their parents find comfort through the mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you.

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