By Oscar Wilde
High above a city stood the statue of the Happy Prince.
He was covered in thin sheets of gold. His eyes were made of bright sapphires, and a large red ruby shone on the handle of his sword. Everyone admired him.
"How beautiful he is!" the people said.
One night, a small Swallow flew into the city. His friends had already gone to Egypt for the winter, but he had stayed behind.
Tired from flying, he decided to rest between the feet of the Happy Prince.
As he settled down, a drop of water fell on him.
Then another.
He looked up.
The sky was clear.
There was no rain.
The drops were tears.
The Happy Prince was crying.
"When I was alive," said the statue softly, "I lived in a palace where sorrow was not allowed. I did not know suffering. But now I stand high above the city and see all the misery below."
He pointed to a small house.
"In that house, a poor seamstress is working hard. Her child is sick and crying for food. Please take the ruby from my sword and give it to her."
The Swallow hesitated. He wanted to go to Egypt.
But he felt sorry for the Prince.
So he took the ruby and dropped it into the woman's house.
The child smiled. The mother was relieved.
The next night, the Prince asked the Swallow to take one of his sapphire eyes and give it to a young writer who was cold and hungry.
The Swallow obeyed.
Then the Prince gave his other eye to a poor little girl who was selling matches.
Now the Prince was blind.
"I will stay with you," said the Swallow gently.
Day by day, he took the gold leaves from the statue and gave them to the poor.
Soon the Prince looked dull and grey.
Winter came.
The Swallow grew weaker in the cold.
Finally, he kissed the Prince and fell dead at his feet.
At that moment, a loud crack was heard.
The Prince's lead heart broke in two.
The next morning, the Mayor saw the ugly statue and ordered it to be pulled down.
The broken heart and the dead bird were thrown away.
But in heaven, God said,
"Bring me the two most precious things in the city."
And the angels brought the lead heart and the dead Swallow.
✨ Moral: True love and kindness are more valuable than beauty or wealth.