high above the city on a tall colum stood the statue of the happy prince he was covered all over with thin leaves of fine gold for eyes he had two bright sapphires and a large red ruby glowed on his sword hilt

one night there flew over the city a little swallow his friends had gone away to Egypt six weeks before but he had stayed behind then he decided to go to Egypt too

all day long he flew and at night time he arrived at the city

where shall I put up?he said I hope the town has made preparations

The he saw the statue on the tall column

I will put up there he cried it is a fine position with plenty of fresh air so he alighted just between the feet of the happy Prince

I have a golden bed room he said softly to himself as he looked round and he prepared to go to sleep but just as he was putting his head under his wing a large drop of water fell on him what a curious thing!he cried there is not a single could in the sky the star's are quite clear and bright and yet it is raining

Then another drop fell

what is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off?he said. I must look for a good chimney pot and he determined to fly away.

But before he had opened his wing's a third drop fell and he looked up and saw ah ! What did he see

the eyes of the happy prince were filled with tears and tears were running down his golden cheeks.his face was so beautiful in the moon light that he little swallow was filled with pity

who are you?he said

Im happy Prince

Why are you crying then? Asked the shallow you have quite drenched me

when I was alive and had a human heart answered the statue I didn't know what tears were for lived in the palace where sorrow is not allowed to enter my countries called me the happy prince and happy indeed I was so I lived and so I died and now that iam dead they have set me up here so high that I can see the ugliness and all the misery of my city and though my heart is made of lead yet I cannot choose but weep

what! Is he not soild gold? Said the shallow to himself he was too polite to make any personal remarks

far away continued the statue in a low musical voice far away in a little street there is a poor house One Of the windows is open and through it I can see a woman seated at a table her face is thin and worm and she has coarse red hands all procked by the needle for she is a seamstress she is embroidering Flowers on a satin