The small village of Frinley is said to possess a “cursed tree”. Because the tree was mentioned in a newspaper, the number of visitors to Frinley has now increased. The tree was planted near a church fifty years ago, but it is only in recent years that it has gained a bad reputation. It is said that if anyone touches the tree, he will have bad luck; if he picks a leaf, he will die. Many villagers believe that the tree has already made a number of victims. The village priest has been asked to have the tree cut down, but so far he has refused. He has explained that the tree is a useful source of income because tourists have been coming from all parts of the country to see it. In spite of all
that has been said, the tourists have been picking leaves and cutting their names on the tree-trunk. So far, not one of them has been struck down by sudden death!
(L.G. Alexander. Practice and Progress, 1970. Adaptado.)
De acordo com o texto, a “árvore maldita”