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The Happy Prince
Atlasthecametothepoorhouseandlookedin.Theboywastossingfeverishlyonhisbed,andthemotherhadfallenasleep,shewassotired.Inhehopped,andlaidthegreatrubyonthetablebesidethewoman’sthimble.Thenheflewgentlyroundthebed,fanningtheboy’sforeheadwithhiswings."HowcoolIfeel!"saidtheboy,"Imustbegettingbetter;"andhesankintoadeliciousslumber.
ThentheSwallowflewbacktotheHappyPrince,andtoldhimwhathehaddone."Itiscurious,"heremarked,"butIfeelquitewarmnow,althoughitissocold."
"Thatisbecauseyouhavedoneagoodaction,"saidthePrince.AndthelittleSwallowbegantothink,andthenhefellasleep.Thinkingalwaysmadehimsleepy.
Whendaybrokeheflewdowntotheriverandhadabath."Whataremarkablephenomenon,saidtheProfessorofOrnithologyashewaspassingoverthebridge."Aswallowinwinter!"Andhewrotealongletteraboutittothelocalnewspaper.Everyonequotedit,itwasfullofsomanywordsthattheycouldnotunderstand.
"To-nightIgotoEgypt,"saidtheSwallow,andhewasinhighspiritsattheprospect.Hevisitedallthepublicmonuments,andsatalongtimeontopofthechurchsteeple.WhereverhewenttheSparrowschirruped,andsaidtoeachother,"Whatadistinguishedstranger!"soheenjoyedhimselfverymuch.
WhenthemoonroseheflewbacktotheHappyPrince."HaveyouanycommissionsforEgypt?"hecried;"Iamjuststarting."