The Happy Prince, and Other Tales

g from school, the children used to

ch-trees that in the spring-time broke out into delicate blossoms of pink and pearl, and in the autumn bore rich fruit. The birds sat on the tre

ven years. After the seven years were over he had said all that he had to say, for his conversation was limit

e cried in a very gruff voic

derstand that, and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself."

SPA

LL

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very self

full of hard stones, and they did not like it. They used to wander round the high wall when their lessons

d back into the ground again, and went off to sleep. The only people who were pleased were the Snow and the Frost. "Spring has forgotten this garden," they cried, "so we will live here all the year round." The Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak, and the Frost painted all the trees silver. Then they invited the North Wind to stay with them, and he came. He was wrapped

he Selfish Giant, as he sat at the window and looked out at his c

the Giant's garden she gave none. "He is too selfish," she said. So it was always Winter there

net singing outside his window, but it was so long since he had heard a bird sing in his garden that it seemed to him to be the most beautiful music in the world. Then the Hail stopped dancing over his

did h

arms gently above the children's heads. The birds were flying about and twittering with delight, and the flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing. It was a lovely scene, only in one corner it was still winter. It was the farthest corner of the garden, and in it was standing a little boy. He was so small that

ld not come here. I will put that poor little boy on the top of the tree, and then I will knock down the wall, an

stole up behind him and took him gently in his hand, and put him up into the tree. And the tree broke at once into blossom, and the birds came and sang on it, and the little boy stretched out his two arms and flung them round the Giant's neck, and kissed him. And the other children, when they saw that the Giant was not wick

in the evening they came to

d: "the boy I put into the tree." The Giant

swered the children

Giant. But the children said that they did not know where he li

y whom the Giant loved was never seen again. The Giant was very kind to all the children, yet he long

e sat in a huge armchair, and watched the children at their games, and admired his garden. "I h

sing. He did not hate the Winter now, for he knew that it was

he farthest corner of the garden was a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms. Its branches were

child. And when he came quite close his face grew red with anger, and he said, "Who hath dared to wound thee?" For

ied the Giant; "tell me, that I ma

child; "but these ar

nd a strange awe fell on him, and

"You let me play once in your garden, to-day you s

on, they found the Giant lying dead under