Щасливий принц та інші казки

           ButtheRomanCandleandtheBengalLightwerequiteindignant,andkeptsaying,"Humbug!humbug!"atthetopoftheirvoices.Theywereextremelypractical,andwhenevertheyobjectedtoanythingtheycalledithumbug.

           Thenthemoonroselikeawonderfulsilvershield;andthestarsbegantoshine,andasoundofmusiccamefromthepalace.

           ThePrinceandPrincesswereleadingthedance.Theydancedsobeautifullythatthetallwhiteliliespeepedinatthewindowandwatchedthem,andthegreatredpoppiesnoddedtheirheadsandbeattime.

           Thenteno’clockstruck,andtheneleven,andthentwelve,andatthelaststrokeofmidnighteveryonecameoutontheterrace,andtheKingsentfortheRoyalPyrotechnist.

           "Letthefireworksbegin,"saidtheKing;andtheRoyalPyrotechnistmadealowbow,andmarcheddowntotheendofthegarden.Hehadsixattendantswithhim,eachofwhomcarriedalightedtorchattheendofalongpole.

           Itwascertainlyamagnificentdisplay.

           Whizz!Whizz!wenttheCatherineWheel,asshespunroundandround.Boom!Boom!wenttheRomanCandle.ThentheSquibsdancedallovertheplace,andtheBengalLightsmadeeverythinglookscarlet."Good-bye,"criedtheFire-balloonashesoaredaway,droppingtinybluesparks.Bang!Bang!answeredtheCrackers,whowereenjoyingthemselvesimmensely.EveryonewasagreatsuccessexcepttheRemarkableRocket.Hewassodampwithcryingthathecouldnotgooffatall.Thebestthinginhimwasthegunpowder,andthatwassowetwithtearsthatitwasofnouse.