The Happy Prince

           Highabovethecity,onatallcolumn,stoodthestatueoftheHappyPrince.Hewasgildedalloverwiththinleavesoffinegold,foreyeshehadtwobrightsapphires,andalargeredrubyglowedonhissword-hilt.

           Hewasverymuchadmiredindeed."Heisasbeautifulasaweathercock,"remarkedoneoftheTownCouncillorswhowishedtogainareputationforhavingartistictastes;"onlynotquitesouseful,"headded,fearinglestpeopleshouldthinkhimunpractical,whichhereallywasnot.

           "Whycan’tyoubeliketheHappyPrince?"askedasensiblemotherofherlittleboywhowascryingforthemoon."TheHappyPrinceneverdreamsofcryingforanything."

           "Iamgladthereissomeoneintheworldwhoisquitehappy,"mutteredadisappointedmanashegazedatthewonderfulstatue.

           "Helooksjustlikeanangel,"saidtheCharityChildrenastheycameoutofthecathedralintheirbrightscarletcloaksandtheircleanwhitepinafores.

           "Howdoyouknow?"saidtheMathematicalMaster,"youhaveneverseenone."

           "Ah!butwehave,inourdreams,"answeredthechildren;andtheMathematicalMasterfrownedandlookedverysevere,forhedidnotapproveofchildrendreaming.

           OnenightthereflewoverthecityalittleSwallow.HisfriendshadgoneawaytoEgyptsixweeksbefore,buthehadstayedbehind,forhewasinlovewiththemostbeautifulReed.Hehadmetherearlyinthespringashewasflyingdowntheriverafterabigyellowmoth,andhadbeensoattractedbyherslenderwaistthathehadstoppedtotalktoher.