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When day came the swallow flew down to the river and had a bath a man saw him

What a curious thing. He said a swallow in winter. That is very unusual. I must make a note of it

I'll go to Egypt tonight thought the swallow

And he felt very happy as he flew over all the great buildings in the town

When the moon rose he flew back to the happy prince

Is there anything you want me to do for you in Egypt? He said I'm just starting to fly there

Swallow swallow little swallow said the prince

Won't you stay with me for one more night?

My friends are waiting for me in Egypt and said the swallow

Swallow swallow little swallow said the prince

Far away across the city. I see a young man sitting in a little room at the top of a house

He is sitting at a table covered with papers

At his side there are some dead flowers

His hair is brown and he has large dreamy eyes

He is trying to finish the story that he is writing, but he is too cold to write anymore

There is no fire in the room and he is weak with hunger

I'll wait with you for one more night said the swallow

Who was really very kind?

Shall I take another red jaw to him? I?

Have no other red jewel said the prince my eyes are all that I have left

They are beautiful blue stones brought from India a thousand years ago

Take one of them to him

He will sell it to the jeweler and buy wood for his fire and food and finish his story

Take out your eye dear prince said the swallow. I can't do that and he began to weep

Swallow swallow little swallow said the prince do as I order you

So the swallow took out the prince's eye and flew away to the room where the young man lived at the top of the house

It was easy to get in because there was a hole in the roof

The young man was sitting with his head in his hands, so he did not hear the bird's wings

When he looked up he found a beautiful blue jewel lying on the dead flowers

Someone likes my stories. He cried

This has come from someone who's read my books and thinks them good now. I can finish writing my story

He looked quite happy on the next day the swallow flew down to the river and watched the semen

Pulling big boxes and bags out of the ships with ropes. They shouted to each other as each one came up

I'm going to Egypt cried the swallow, but no one listened to him

When the moon came up he flew back to the happy prince. I have come to say goodbye to you. He said

Swallow swallow little swallow said the prince won't you stay one more night with me?

It's winter answered the swallow. It's getting very cold and snow will come

In Egypt the Sun is warm and the trees are green

Dear prince, I must leave you, but I will never forget you a

Little girl is standing there in the square below

She is selling boxes of matches

She has let her matches fall in the water and they are all spoiled

Her father will beat her if she doesn't take some money home and she is crying

Take out my other eye and give it to her and her father won't beat her

I'll stay with you for one more night said the swallow, but I can't take out your other eye

You would be quite blind then you wouldn't be able to see

Swallow swallow little swallow said the prince do as I order you

So he took out the prince's other eye and flew down with it

He flew past the match girl and put the jewel in her hand. What a beautiful piece of glass

Cried the little girl and she ran home laughing

Then the swallow flew back to the prince

You are blind now he said so I'll stay with you always

Said the swallow and he slept at the prince's feet

All the next day he stayed with the prince and he told him stories of what he had seen in strange lands

Dear little swallow said the prince you tell me about strange and wonderful things

But the suffering of men and women is stranger than anything

Fly over my city little swallow and tell me what you see there

So the swallow flew over the great city and saw the rich eating and drinking in their beautiful houses

While the beggars were sitting at the gate

He flew into the dark lanes and saw the white faces of hungry children looking out with sad eyes at the black streets

Two little boys were lying under a bridge in each other's arms to try and keep themselves warm

How hungry we are they said

You mustn't lie here shouted the watchmen and they wandered out into the rain

Then he flew back and told the prince what he had seen I am covered with fine gold said the prince

You must take it off leaf by leaf and give it to my poor people

The swallow pulled off leaf after leaf till the happy prince looked dim and gray

He took leaf after leaf to the poor and the children's faces became brighter and they played games in the street

We have bread now. They cried

Then the snow came and ice came after the snow

The streets looked as if they were made of silver ice hung down from the roofs of the houses

Everyone went about in thick coats

The poor little swallow became colder and colder, but he would not leave the prince

He loved him too much to leave him

At last he knew that he was going to die

Goodbye dear prince. He said

Will you let me kiss you? I'm glad that you are going to Egypt at last at the prince

You have stayed here too long kiss me because I love you

I'm not going to Egypt said the swallow. I'm going to the house of death

He kissed the happy prince and fell down dead at his feet

Just then there was a curious sound inside the statue a crack as if something had broken

The leaden heart had broken in two pieces

Early next morning the head man of the city was walking below with two of his friends

He looked up at the statue

The happy prince doesn't look very bright. He said the red stone has fallen out of his sword

His eyes are gone and he isn't golden now. He looks more like a beggar

Yes, more like a beggar than a prince said the friends

Here's a dead bird at his feet said the head man of the city

We must make an order that birds must not be allowed to die here

So they pulled down the statue of the happy prince and they put him in the fire and melted it and a stream of bright red liquid metal

Ran out

What a strange thing said the workmen this broken piece of lead won't melt we must throw it away

So they threw it on the waist where the dead swallow was also lying

God said to one of his servants

Bring me the two best things the things worth more than anything else in the city

They brought to him the leaden heart and the dead bird

Yes, you have brought the right things God said

This little bird shall sing forever in the garden of heaven and the happy prince shall be in my city of

gold