THE HAPPY PRINCE AND OTHER

TALES
Contents
The Happy Prince
The Nightingale and the Rose
The Selfish Giant
The Devoted Friend
The Remarkable Rocket
THE HAPPY PRINCE
High above the city on a tall col!mn stood the stat!e of the Happy Prince" He #as
gilded all over #ith thin leaves of fine gold for eyes he had t#o bright sapphires
and a large red r!by glo#ed on his s#ord$hilt"
He #as very m!ch admired indeed" %He is as bea!tif!l as a #eathercock&
remarked one of the To#n Co!ncillors #ho #ished to gain a rep!tation for having
artistic tastes' %only not (!ite so !sef!l& he added fearing lest people sho!ld think
him !npractical #hich he really #as not"
%)hy can*t yo! be like the Happy Prince+& asked a sensible mother of her little
boy #ho #as crying for the moon" %The Happy Prince never dreams of crying for
anything"&
%, am glad there is some one in the #orld #ho is (!ite happy& m!ttered a
disappointed man as he ga-ed at the #onderf!l stat!e"
%He looks .!st like an angel& said the Charity Children as they came o!t of the
cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks and their clean #hite pinafores"
%Ho# do yo! kno#+& said the /athematical /aster %yo! have never seen one"&
%0h1 b!t #e have in o!r dreams& ans#ered the children' and the /athematical
/aster fro#ned and looked very severe for he did not approve of children
dreaming"
2ne night there fle# over the city a little S#allo#" His friends had gone a#ay to
3gypt si4 #eeks before b!t he had stayed behind for he #as in love #ith the most
bea!tif!l Reed" He had met her early in the spring as he #as flying do#n the river
after a big yello# moth and had been so attracted by her slender #aist that he had
stopped to talk to her"
%Shall , love yo!+& said the S#allo# #ho liked to come to the point at once and
the Reed made him a lo# bo#" So he fle# ro!nd and ro!nd her to!ching the #ater
#ith his #ings and making silver ripples" This #as his co!rtship and it lasted all
thro!gh the s!mmer"
%,t is a ridic!lo!s attachment& t#ittered the other S#allo#s' %she has no money
and far too many relations&' and indeed the river #as (!ite f!ll of Reeds" Then
#hen the a!t!mn came they all fle# a#ay"
0fter they had gone he felt lonely and began to tire of his lady$love" %She has no
conversation& he said %and , am afraid that she is a co(!ette for she is al#ays
flirting #ith the #ind"& 0nd certainly #henever the #ind ble# the Reed made the
most gracef!l c!rtseys" %, admit that she is domestic& he contin!ed %b!t , love
travelling and my #ife conse(!ently sho!ld love travelling also"&
%)ill yo! come a#ay #ith me+& he said finally to her' b!t the Reed shook her
head she #as so attached to her home"
%5o! have been trifling #ith me& he cried" %, am off to the Pyramids" Good$bye1&
and he fle# a#ay"
0ll day long he fle# and at night$time he arrived at the city" %)here shall , p!t
!p+& he said' %, hope the to#n has made preparations"&
Then he sa# the stat!e on the tall col!mn"
%, #ill p!t !p there& he cried' %it is a fine position #ith plenty of fresh air"& So he
alighted .!st bet#een the feet of the Happy Prince"
%, have a golden bedroom& he said softly to himself as he looked ro!nd and he
prepared to go to sleep' b!t .!st as he #as p!tting his head !nder his #ing a large
drop of #ater fell on him" %)hat a c!rio!s thing1& he cried' %there is not a single
clo!d in the sky the stars are (!ite clear and bright and yet it is raining" The
climate in the north of 3!rope is really dreadf!l" The Reed !sed to like the rain b!t
that #as merely her selfishness"&
Then another drop fell"
%)hat is the !se of a stat!e if it cannot keep the rain off+& he said' %, m!st look for
a good chimney$pot& and he determined to fly a#ay"
6!t before he had opened his #ings a third drop fell and he looked !p and sa#7
0h1 #hat did he see+
The eyes of the Happy Prince #ere filled #ith tears and tears #ere r!nning do#n
his golden cheeks" His face #as so bea!tif!l in the moonlight that the little
S#allo# #as filled #ith pity"
%)ho are yo!+& he said"
%, am the Happy Prince"&
%)hy are yo! #eeping then+& asked the S#allo#' %yo! have (!ite drenched me"&
%)hen , #as alive and had a h!man heart& ans#ered the stat!e %, did not kno#
#hat tears #ere for , lived in the Palace of Sans$So!ci #here sorro# is not
allo#ed to enter" ,n the daytime , played #ith my companions in the garden and in
the evening , led the dance in the Great Hall" Ro!nd the garden ran a very lofty
#all b!t , never cared to ask #hat lay beyond it everything abo!t me #as so
bea!tif!l" /y co!rtiers called me the Happy Prince and happy indeed , #as if
pleas!re be happiness" So , lived and so , died" 0nd no# that , am dead they have
set me !p here so high that , can see all the !gliness and all the misery of my city
and tho!gh my heart is made of lead yet , cannot chose b!t #eep"&
%)hat1 is he not solid gold+& said the S#allo# to himself" He #as too polite to
make any personal remarks o!t lo!d"
%Far a#ay& contin!ed the stat!e in a lo# m!sical voice %far a#ay in a little street
there is a poor ho!se" 2ne of the #indo#s is open and thro!gh it , can see a
#oman seated at a table" Her face is thin and #orn and she has coarse red hands
all pricked by the needle for she is a seamstress" She is embroidering passion$
flo#ers on a satin go#n for the loveliest of the 8!een*s maids$of$hono!r to #ear at
the ne4t Co!rt$ball" ,n a bed in the corner of the room her little boy is lying ill" He
has a fever and is asking for oranges" His mother has nothing to give him b!t river
#ater so he is crying" S#allo# S#allo# little S#allo# #ill yo! not bring her the
r!by o!t of my s#ord$hilt+ /y feet are fastened to this pedestal and , cannot
move"&
%, am #aited for in 3gypt& said the S#allo#" %/y friends are flying !p and do#n
the Nile and talking to the large lot!s$flo#ers" Soon they #ill go to sleep in the
tomb of the great 9ing" The 9ing is there himself in his painted coffin" He is
#rapped in yello# linen and embalmed #ith spices" Ro!nd his neck is a chain of
pale green .ade and his hands are like #ithered leaves"&
%S#allo# S#allo# little S#allo#& said the Prince %#ill yo! not stay #ith me for
one night and be my messenger+ The boy is so thirsty and the mother so sad"&
%, don*t think , like boys& ans#ered the S#allo#" %:ast s!mmer #hen , #as
staying on the river there #ere t#o r!de boys the miller*s sons #ho #ere al#ays
thro#ing stones at me" They never hit me of co!rse' #e s#allo#s fly far too #ell
for that and besides , come of a family famo!s for its agility' b!t still it #as a
mark of disrespect"&
6!t the Happy Prince looked so sad that the little S#allo# #as sorry" %,t is very
cold here& he said' %b!t , #ill stay #ith yo! for one night and be yo!r messenger"&
%Thank yo! little S#allo#& said the Prince"
So the S#allo# picked o!t the great r!by from the Prince*s s#ord and fle# a#ay
#ith it in his beak over the roofs of the to#n"
He passed by the cathedral to#er #here the #hite marble angels #ere sc!lpt!red"
He passed by the palace and heard the so!nd of dancing" 0 bea!tif!l girl came o!t
on the balcony #ith her lover" %Ho# #onderf!l the stars are& he said to her %and
ho# #onderf!l is the po#er of love1&
%, hope my dress #ill be ready in time for the State$ball& she ans#ered' %, have
ordered passion$flo#ers to be embroidered on it' b!t the seamstresses are so la-y"&
He passed over the river and sa# the lanterns hanging to the masts of the ships" He
passed over the Ghetto and sa# the old ;e#s bargaining #ith each other and
#eighing o!t money in copper scales" 0t last he came to the poor ho!se and looked
in" The boy #as tossing feverishly on his bed and the mother had fallen asleep
she #as so tired" ,n he hopped and laid the great r!by on the table beside the
#oman*s thimble" Then he fle# gently ro!nd the bed fanning the boy*s forehead
#ith his #ings" %Ho# cool , feel& said the boy %, m!st be getting better&' and he
sank into a delicio!s sl!mber"
Then the S#allo# fle# back to the Happy Prince and told him #hat he had done"
%,t is c!rio!s& he remarked %b!t , feel (!ite #arm no# altho!gh it is so cold"&
%That is beca!se yo! have done a good action& said the Prince" 0nd the little
S#allo# began to think and then he fell asleep" Thinking al#ays made him sleepy"
)hen day broke he fle# do#n to the river and had a bath" %)hat a remarkable
phenomenon& said the Professor of 2rnithology as he #as passing over the bridge"
%0 s#allo# in #inter1& 0nd he #rote a long letter abo!t it to the local ne#spaper"
3very one (!oted it it #as f!ll of so many #ords that they co!ld not !nderstand"
%To$night , go to 3gypt& said the S#allo# and he #as in high spirits at the
prospect" He visited all the p!blic mon!ments and sat a long time on top of the
ch!rch steeple" )herever he #ent the Sparro#s chirr!ped and said to each other
%)hat a disting!ished stranger1& so he en.oyed himself very m!ch"
)hen the moon rose he fle# back to the Happy Prince" %Have yo! any
commissions for 3gypt+& he cried' %, am .!st starting"&
%S#allo# S#allo# little S#allo#& said the Prince %#ill yo! not stay #ith me one
night longer+&
%, am #aited for in 3gypt& ans#ered the S#allo#" %To$morro# my friends #ill fly
!p to the Second Cataract" The river$horse co!ches there among the b!lr!shes and
on a great granite throne sits the God /emnon" 0ll night long he #atches the stars
and #hen the morning star shines he !tters one cry of .oy and then he is silent" 0t
noon the yello# lions come do#n to the #ater*s edge to drink" They have eyes like
green beryls and their roar is lo!der than the roar of the cataract"
%S#allo# S#allo# little S#allo#& said the Prince %far a#ay across the city , see
a yo!ng man in a garret" He is leaning over a desk covered #ith papers and in a
t!mbler by his side there is a b!nch of #ithered violets" His hair is bro#n and
crisp and his lips are red as a pomegranate and he has large and dreamy eyes" He
is trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre b!t he is too cold to #rite
any more" There is no fire in the grate and h!nger has made him faint"&
%, #ill #ait #ith yo! one night longer& said the S#allo# #ho really had a good
heart" %Shall , take him another r!by+&
%0las1 , have no r!by no#& said the Prince' %my eyes are all that , have left" They
are made of rare sapphires #hich #ere bro!ght o!t of ,ndia a tho!sand years ago"
Pl!ck o!t one of them and take it to him" He #ill sell it to the .e#eller and b!y
food and fire#ood and finish his play"&
%Dear Prince& said the S#allo# %, cannot do that&' and he began to #eep"
%S#allo# S#allo# little S#allo#& said the Prince %do as , command yo!"&
So the S#allo# pl!cked o!t the Prince*s eye and fle# a#ay to the st!dent*s garret"
,t #as easy eno!gh to get in as there #as a hole in the roof" Thro!gh this he
darted and came into the room" The yo!ng man had his head b!ried in his hands
so he did not hear the fl!tter of the bird*s #ings and #hen he looked !p he fo!nd
the bea!tif!l sapphire lying on the #ithered violets"
%, am beginning to be appreciated& he cried' %this is from some great admirer"
No# , can finish my play& and he looked (!ite happy"
The ne4t day the S#allo# fle# do#n to the harbo!r" He sat on the mast of a large
vessel and #atched the sailors ha!ling big chests o!t of the hold #ith ropes"
%Heave a$hoy1& they sho!ted as each chest came !p" %, am going to 3gypt&1 cried
the S#allo# b!t nobody minded and #hen the moon rose he fle# back to the
Happy Prince"
%, am come to bid yo! good$bye& he cried"
%S#allo# S#allo# little S#allo#& said the Prince %#ill yo! not stay #ith me one
night longer+&
%,t is #inter& ans#ered the S#allo# %and the chill sno# #ill soon be here" ,n
3gypt the s!n is #arm on the green palm$trees and the crocodiles lie in the m!d
and look la-ily abo!t them" /y companions are b!ilding a nest in the Temple of
6aalbec and the pink and #hite doves are #atching them and cooing to each
other" Dear Prince , m!st leave yo! b!t , #ill never forget yo! and ne4t spring ,
#ill bring yo! back t#o bea!tif!l .e#els in place of those yo! have given a#ay"
The r!by shall be redder than a red rose and the sapphire shall be as bl!e as the
great sea"&
%,n the s(!are belo#& said the Happy Prince %there stands a little match$girl" She
has let her matches fall in the g!tter and they are all spoiled" Her father #ill beat
her if she does not bring home some money and she is crying" She has no shoes or
stockings and her little head is bare" Pl!ck o!t my other eye and give it to her and
her father #ill not beat her"&
%, #ill stay #ith yo! one night longer& said the S#allo# %b!t , cannot pl!ck o!t
yo!r eye" 5o! #o!ld be (!ite blind then"&
%S#allo# S#allo# little S#allo#& said the Prince %do as , command yo!"&
So he pl!cked o!t the Prince*s other eye and darted do#n #ith it" He s#ooped
past the match$girl and slipped the .e#el into the palm of her hand" %)hat a lovely
bit of glass& cried the little girl' and she ran home la!ghing"
Then the S#allo# came back to the Prince" %5o! are blind no#& he said %so , #ill
stay #ith yo! al#ays"&
%No little S#allo#& said the poor Prince %yo! m!st go a#ay to 3gypt"&
%, #ill stay #ith yo! al#ays& said the S#allo# and he slept at the Prince*s feet"
0ll the ne4t day he sat on the Prince*s sho!lder and told him stories of #hat he had
seen in strange lands" He told him of the red ibises #ho stand in long ro#s on the
banks of the Nile and catch gold$fish in their beaks' of the Sphin4 #ho is as old as
the #orld itself and lives in the desert and kno#s everything' of the merchants
#ho #alk slo#ly by the side of their camels and carry amber beads in their hands'
of the 9ing of the /o!ntains of the /oon #ho is as black as ebony and #orships
a large crystal' of the great green snake that sleeps in a palm$tree and has t#enty
priests to feed it #ith honey$cakes' and of the pygmies #ho sail over a big lake on
large flat leaves and are al#ays at #ar #ith the b!tterflies"
%Dear little S#allo#& said the Prince %yo! tell me of marvello!s things b!t more
marvello!s than anything is the s!ffering of men and of #omen" There is no
/ystery so great as /isery" Fly over my city little S#allo# and tell me #hat yo!
see there"&
So the S#allo# fle# over the great city and sa# the rich making merry in their
bea!tif!l ho!ses #hile the beggars #ere sitting at the gates" He fle# into dark
lanes and sa# the #hite faces of starving children looking o!t listlessly at the black
streets" <nder the arch#ay of a bridge t#o little boys #ere lying in one another*s
arms to try and keep themselves #arm" %Ho# h!ngry #e are1& they said" %5o!
m!st not lie here& sho!ted the )atchman and they #andered o!t into the rain"
Then he fle# back and told the Prince #hat he had seen"
%, am covered #ith fine gold& said the Prince %yo! m!st take it off leaf by leaf
and give it to my poor' the living al#ays think that gold can make them happy"&
:eaf after leaf of the fine gold the S#allo# picked off till the Happy Prince looked
(!ite d!ll and grey" :eaf after leaf of the fine gold he bro!ght to the poor and the
children*s faces gre# rosier and they la!ghed and played games in the street" %)e
have bread no#1& they cried"
Then the sno# came and after the sno# came the frost" The streets looked as if
they #ere made of silver they #ere so bright and glistening' long icicles like
crystal daggers h!ng do#n from the eaves of the ho!ses everybody #ent abo!t in
f!rs and the little boys #ore scarlet caps and skated on the ice"
The poor little S#allo# gre# colder and colder b!t he #o!ld not leave the Prince
he loved him too #ell" He picked !p cr!mbs o!tside the baker*s door #hen the
baker #as not looking and tried to keep himself #arm by flapping his #ings"
6!t at last he kne# that he #as going to die" He had .!st strength to fly !p to the
Prince*s sho!lder once more" %Good$bye dear Prince1& he m!rm!red %#ill yo! let
me kiss yo!r hand+&
%, am glad that yo! are going to 3gypt at last little S#allo#& said the Prince %yo!
have stayed too long here' b!t yo! m!st kiss me on the lips for , love yo!"&
%,t is not to 3gypt that , am going& said the S#allo#" %, am going to the Ho!se of
Death" Death is the brother of Sleep is he not+&
0nd he kissed the Happy Prince on the lips and fell do#n dead at his feet"
0t that moment a c!rio!s crack so!nded inside the stat!e as if something had
broken" The fact is that the leaden heart had snapped right in t#o" ,t certainly #as
a dreadf!lly hard frost"
3arly the ne4t morning the /ayor #as #alking in the s(!are belo# in company
#ith the To#n Co!ncillors" 0s they passed the col!mn he looked !p at the stat!e=
%Dear me1 ho# shabby the Happy Prince looks1& he said"
%Ho# shabby indeed1& cried the To#n Co!ncillors #ho al#ays agreed #ith the
/ayor' and they #ent !p to look at it"
%The r!by has fallen o!t of his s#ord his eyes are gone and he is golden no
longer& said the /ayor in fact %he is litttle beter than a beggar1&
%:ittle better than a beggar& said the To#n Co!ncillors"
%0nd here is act!ally a dead bird at his feet1& contin!ed the /ayor" %)e m!st
really iss!e a proclamation that birds are not to be allo#ed to die here"& 0nd the
To#n Clerk made a note of the s!ggestion"
So they p!lled do#n the stat!e of the Happy Prince" %0s he is no longer bea!tif!l
he is no longer !sef!l& said the 0rt Professor at the <niversity"
Then they melted the stat!e in a f!rnace and the /ayor held a meeting of the
Corporation to decide #hat #as to be done #ith the metal" %)e m!st have another
stat!e of co!rse& he said %and it shall be a stat!e of myself"&
%2f myself& said each of the To#n Co!ncillors and they (!arrelled" )hen , last
heard of them they #ere (!arrelling still"
%)hat a strange thing1& said the overseer of the #orkmen at the fo!ndry" %This
broken lead heart #ill not melt in the f!rnace" )e m!st thro# it a#ay"& So they
thre# it on a d!st$heap #here the dead S#allo# #as also lying"
%6ring me the t#o most precio!s things in the city& said God to one of His 0ngels'
and the 0ngel bro!ght Him the leaden heart and the dead bird"
%5o! have rightly chosen& said God %for in my garden of Paradise this little bird
shall sing for evermore and in my city of gold the Happy Prince shall praise me"&
THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE ROSE
%She said that she #o!ld dance #ith me if , bro!ght her red roses& cried the yo!ng
St!dent' %b!t in all my garden there is no red rose"&
From her nest in the holm$oak tree the Nightingale heard him and she looked o!t
thro!gh the leaves and #ondered"
%No red rose in all my garden1& he cried and his bea!tif!l eyes filled #ith tears"
%0h on #hat little things does happiness depend1 , have read all that the #ise men
have #ritten and all the secrets of philosophy are mine yet for #ant of a red rose is
my life made #retched"&
%Here at last is a tr!e lover& said the Nightingale" %Night after night have , s!ng of
him tho!gh , kne# him not= night after night have , told his story to the stars and
no# , see him" His hair is dark as the hyacinth$blossom and his lips are red as the
rose of his desire' b!t passion has made his face like pale ivory and sorro# has set
her seal !pon his bro#"&
%The Prince gives a ball to$morro# night& m!rm!red the yo!ng St!dent %and my
love #ill be of the company" ,f , bring her a red rose she #ill dance #ith me till
da#n" ,f , bring her a red rose , shall hold her in my arms and she #ill lean her
head !pon my sho!lder and her hand #ill be clasped in mine" 6!t there is no red
rose in my garden so , shall sit lonely and she #ill pass me by" She #ill have no
heed of me and my heart #ill break"&
%Here indeed is the tr!e lover& said the Nightingale" %)hat , sing of he s!ffers7
#hat is .oy to me to him is pain" S!rely :ove is a #onderf!l thing" ,t is more
precio!s than emeralds and dearer than fine opals" Pearls and pomegranates
cannot b!y it nor is it set forth in the marketplace" ,t may not be p!rchased of the
merchants nor can it be #eighed o!t in the balance for gold"&
%The m!sicians #ill sit in their gallery& said the yo!ng St!dent %and play !pon
their stringed instr!ments and my love #ill dance to the so!nd of the harp and the
violin" She #ill dance so lightly that her feet #ill not to!ch the floor and the
co!rtiers in their gay dresses #ill throng ro!nd her" 6!t #ith me she #ill not
dance for , have no red rose to give her&' and he fl!ng himself do#n on the grass
and b!ried his face in his hands and #ept"
%)hy is he #eeping+& asked a little Green :i-ard as he ran past him #ith his tail in
the air"
%)hy indeed+& said a 6!tterfly #ho #as fl!ttering abo!t after a s!nbeam"
%)hy indeed+& #hispered a Daisy to his neighbo!r in a soft lo# voice"
%He is #eeping for a red rose& said the Nightingale"
%For a red rose+& they cried' %ho# very ridic!lo!s1& and the little :i-ard #ho #as
something of a cynic la!ghed o!tright"
6!t the Nightingale !nderstood the secret of the St!dent*s sorro# and she sat silent
in the oak$tree and tho!ght abo!t the mystery of :ove"
S!ddenly she spread her bro#n #ings for flight and soared into the air" She passed
thro!gh the grove like a shado# and like a shado# she sailed across the garden"
,n the centre of the grass$plot #as standing a bea!tif!l Rose$tree and #hen she sa#
it she fle# over to it and lit !pon a spray"
%Give me a red rose& she cried %and , #ill sing yo! my s#eetest song"&
6!t the Tree shook its head"
%/y roses are #hite& it ans#ered' %as #hite as the foam of the sea and #hiter than
the sno# !pon the mo!ntain" 6!t go to my brother #ho gro#s ro!nd the old s!n$
dial and perhaps he #ill give yo! #hat yo! #ant"&
So the Nightingale fle# over to the Rose$tree that #as gro#ing ro!nd the old s!n$
dial"
%Give me a red rose& she cried %and , #ill sing yo! my s#eetest song"&
6!t the Tree shook its head"
%/y roses are yello#& it ans#ered' %as yello# as the hair of the mermaiden #ho
sits !pon an amber throne and yello#er than the daffodil that blooms in the
meado# before the mo#er comes #ith his scythe" 6!t go to my brother #ho gro#s
beneath the St!dent*s #indo# and perhaps he #ill give yo! #hat yo! #ant"&
So the Nightingale fle# over to the Rose$tree that #as gro#ing beneath the
St!dent*s #indo#"
%Give me a red rose& she cried %and , #ill sing yo! my s#eetest song"&
6!t the Tree shook its head"
%/y roses are red& it ans#ered %as red as the feet of the dove and redder than the
great fans of coral that #ave and #ave in the ocean$cavern" 6!t the #inter has
chilled my veins and the frost has nipped my b!ds and the storm has broken my
branches and , shall have no roses at all this year"&
%2ne red rose is all , #ant& cried the Nightingale %only one red rose1 ,s there no
#ay by #hich , can get it+&
%There is a#ay& ans#ered the Tree' %b!t it is so terrible that , dare not tell it to
yo!"&
%Tell it to me& said the Nightingale %, am not afraid"&
%,f yo! #ant a red rose& said the Tree %yo! m!st b!ild it o!t of m!sic by
moonlight and stain it #ith yo!r o#n heart*s$blood" 5o! m!st sing to me #ith
yo!r breast against a thorn" 0ll night long yo! m!st sing to me and the thorn m!st
pierce yo!r heart and yo!r life$blood m!st flo# into my veins and become mine"&
%Death is a great price to pay for a red rose& cried the Nightingale %and :ife is
very dear to all" ,t is pleasant to sit in the green #ood and to #atch the S!n in his
chariot of gold and the /oon in her chariot of pearl" S#eet is the scent of the
ha#thorn and s#eet are the bl!ebells that hide in the valley and the heather that
blo#s on the hill" 5et :ove is better than :ife and #hat is the heart of a bird
compared to the heart of a man+&
So she spread her bro#n #ings for flight and soared into the air" She s#ept over
the garden like a shado# and like a shado# she sailed thro!gh the grove"
The yo!ng St!dent #as still lying on the grass #here she had left him and the
tears #ere not yet dry in his bea!tif!l eyes"
%6e happy& cried the Nightingale %be happy' yo! shall have yo!r red rose" , #ill
b!ild it o!t of m!sic by moonlight and stain it #ith my o#n heart*s$blood" 0ll that
, ask of yo! in ret!rn is that yo! #ill be a tr!e lover for :ove is #iser than
Philosophy tho!gh she is #ise and mightier than Po#er tho!gh he is mighty"
Flame$colo!red are his #ings and colo!red like flame is his body" His lips are
s#eet as honey and his breath is like frankincense"&
The St!dent looked !p from the grass and listened b!t he co!ld not !nderstand
#hat the Nightingale #as saying to him for he only kne# the things that are
#ritten do#n in books"
6!t the 2ak$tree !nderstood and felt sad for he #as very fond of the little
Nightingale #ho had b!ilt her nest in his branches"
%Sing me one last song& he #hispered' %, shall feel very lonely #hen yo! are
gone"&
So the Nightingale sang to the 2ak$tree and her voice #as like #ater b!bbling
from a silver .ar"
)hen she had finished her song the St!dent got !p and p!lled a note$book and a
lead$pencil o!t of his pocket"
%She has form& he said to himself as he #alked a#ay thro!gh the grove7%that
cannot be denied to her' b!t has she got feeling+ , am afraid not" ,n fact she is like
most artists' she is all style #itho!t any sincerity" She #o!ld not sacrifice herself
for others" She thinks merely of m!sic and everybody kno#s that the arts are
selfish" Still it m!st be admitted that she has some bea!tif!l notes in her voice"
)hat a pity it is that they do not mean anything or do any practical good"& 0nd he
#ent into his room and lay do#n on his little pallet$bed and began to think of his
love' and after a time he fell asleep"
0nd #hen the /oon shone in the heavens the Nightingale fle# to the Rose$tree
and set her breast against the thorn" 0ll night long she sang #ith her breast against
the thorn and the cold crystal /oon leaned do#n and listened" 0ll night long she
sang and the thorn #ent deeper and deeper into her breast and her life$blood ebbed
a#ay from her"
She sang first of the birth of love in the heart of a boy and a girl" 0nd on the top$
most spray of the Rose$tree there blossomed a marvello!s rose petal follo#ing
petal as song follo#ed song" Pale #as it at first as the mist that hangs over the
river7pale as the feet of the morning and silver as the #ings of the da#n" 0s the
shado# of a rose in a mirror of silver as the shado# of a rose in a #ater$pool so
#as the rose that blossomed on the topmost spray of the Tree"
6!t the Tree cried to the Nightingale to press closer against the thorn" %Press
closer little Nightingale& cried the Tree %or the Day #ill come before the rose is
finished"&
So the Nightingale pressed closer against the thorn and lo!der and lo!der gre# her
song for she sang of the birth of passion in the so!l of a man and a maid"
0nd a delicate fl!sh of pink came into the leaves of the rose like the fl!sh in the
face of the bridegroom #hen he kisses the lips of the bride" 6!t the thorn had not
yet reached her heart so the rose*s heart remained #hite for only a Nightingale*s
heart*s$blood can crimson the heart of a rose"
0nd the Tree cried to the Nightingale to press closer against the thorn" %Press
closer little Nightingale& cried the Tree %or the Day #ill come before the rose is
finished"&
So the Nightingale pressed closer against the thorn and the thorn to!ched her heart
and a fierce pang of pain shot thro!gh her" 6itter bitter #as the pain and #ilder
and #ilder gre# her song for she sang of the :ove that is perfected by Death of
the :ove that dies not in the tomb"
0nd the marvello!s rose became crimson like the rose of the eastern sky" Crimson
#as the girdle of petals and crimson as a r!by #as the heart"
6!t the Nightingale*s voice gre# fainter and her little #ings began to beat and a
film came over her eyes" Fainter and fainter gre# her song and she felt something
choking her in her throat"
Then she gave one last b!rst of m!sic" The #hite /oon heard it and she forgot the
da#n and lingered on in the sky" The red rose heard it and it trembled all over
#ith ecstasy and opened its petals to the cold morning air" 3cho bore it to her
p!rple cavern in the hills and #oke the sleeping shepherds from their dreams" ,t
floated thro!gh the reeds of the river and they carried its message to the sea"
%:ook look1& cried the Tree %the rose is finished no#&' b!t the Nightingale made
no ans#er for she #as lying dead in the long grass #ith the thorn in her heart"
0nd at noon the St!dent opened his #indo# and looked o!t"
%)hy #hat a #onderf!l piece of l!ck1& he cried' %here is a red rose1 , have never
seen any rose like it in all my life" ,t is so bea!tif!l that , am s!re it has a long
:atin name&' and he leaned do#n and pl!cked it"
Then he p!t on his hat and ran !p to the Professor*s ho!se #ith the rose in his
hand"
The da!ghter of the Professor #as sitting in the door#ay #inding bl!e silk on a
reel and her little dog #as lying at her feet"
%5o! said that yo! #o!ld dance #ith me if , bro!ght yo! a red rose& cried the
St!dent" %Here is the reddest rose in all the #orld" 5o! #ill #ear it to$night ne4t
yo!r heart and as #e dance together it #ill tell yo! ho# , love yo!"&
6!t the girl fro#ned"
%, am afraid it #ill not go #ith my dress& she ans#ered' %and besides the
Chamberlain*s nephe# has sent me some real .e#els and everybody kno#s that
.e#els cost far more than flo#ers"&
%)ell !pon my #ord yo! are very !ngratef!l& said the St!dent angrily' and he
thre# the rose into the street #here it fell into the g!tter and a cart$#heel #ent
over it"
%<ngratef!l1& said the girl" %, tell yo! #hat yo! are very r!de' and after all #ho
are yo!+ 2nly a St!dent" )hy , don*t believe yo! have even got silver b!ckles to
yo!r shoes as the Chamberlain*s nephe# has&' and she got !p from her chair and
#ent into the ho!se"
%)hat , a silly thing :ove is& said the St!dent as he #alked a#ay" %,t is not half as
!sef!l as :ogic for it does not prove anything and it is al#ays telling one of things
that are not going to happen and making one believe things that are not tr!e" ,n
fact it is (!ite !npractical and as in this age to be practical is everything , shall
go back to Philosophy and st!dy /etaphysics"&
So he ret!rned to his room and p!lled o!t a great d!sty book and began to read"
THE SELFISH GIANT
3very afternoon as they #ere coming from school the children !sed to go and play
in the Giant*s garden"
,t #as a large lovely garden #ith soft green grass" Here and there over the grass
stood bea!tif!l flo#ers like stars and there #ere t#elve peach$trees that in the
spring$time broke o!t into delicate blossoms of pink and pearl and in the a!t!mn
bore rich fr!it" The birds sat on the trees and sang so s#eetly that the children !sed
to stop their games in order to listen to them" %Ho# happy #e are here1& they cried
to each other"
2ne day the Giant came back" He had been to visit his friend the Cornish ogre and
had stayed #ith him for seven years" 0fter the seven years #ere over he had said
all that he had to say for his conversation #as limited and he determined to ret!rn
to his o#n castle" )hen he arrived he sa# the children playing in the garden"
%)hat are yo! doing here+& he cried in a very gr!ff voice and the children ran
a#ay"
%/y o#n garden is my o#n garden& said the Giant' %any one can !nderstand that
and , #ill allo# nobody to play in it b!t myself"& So he b!ilt a high #all all ro!nd
it and p!t !p a notice$board"
TR3SP0SS3RS
),:: 63
PR2S3C<T3D
He #as a very selfish Giant"
The poor children had no# no#here to play" They tried to play on the road b!t the
road #as very d!sty and f!ll of hard stones and they did not like it" They !sed to
#ander ro!nd the high #all #hen their lessons #ere over and talk abo!t the
bea!tif!l garden inside" %Ho# happy #e #ere there& they said to each other"
Then the Spring came and all over the co!ntry there #ere little blossoms and little
birds" 2nly in the garden of the Selfish Giant it #as still #inter" The birds did not
care to sing in it as there #ere no children and the trees forgot to blossom" 2nce a
bea!tif!l flo#er p!t its head o!t from the grass b!t #hen it sa# the notice$board it
#as so sorry for the children that it slipped back into the gro!nd again and #ent off
to sleep" The only people #ho #ere pleased #ere the Sno# and the Frost" %Spring
has forgotten this garden& they cried %so #e #ill live here all the year ro!nd"& The
Sno# covered !p the grass #ith her great #hite cloak and the Frost painted all the
trees silver" Then they invited the North )ind to stay #ith them and he came" He
#as #rapped in f!rs and he roared all day abo!t the garden and ble# the chimney$
pots do#n" %This is a delightf!l spot& he said %#e m!st ask the Hail on a visit"&
So the Hail came" 3very day for three ho!rs he rattled on the roof of the castle till
he broke most of the slates and then he ran ro!nd and ro!nd the garden as fast as
he co!ld go" He #as dressed in grey and his breath #as like ice"
%, cannot !nderstand #hy the Spring is so late in coming& said the Selfish Giant as
he sat at the #indo# and looked o!t at his cold #hite garden' %, hope there #ill be
a change in the #eather"&
6!t the Spring never came nor the S!mmer" The 0!t!mn gave golden fr!it to
every garden b!t to the Giant*s garden she gave none" %He is too selfish& she
said" So it #as al#ays )inter there and the North )ind and the Hail and the
Frost and the Sno# danced abo!t thro!gh the trees"
2ne morning the Giant #as lying a#ake in bed #hen he heard some lovely m!sic"
,t so!nded so s#eet to his ears that he tho!ght it m!st be the 9ing*s m!sicians
passing by" ,t #as really only a little linnet singing o!tside his #indo# b!t it #as
so long since he had heard a bird sing in his garden that it seemed to him to be the
most bea!tif!l m!sic in the #orld" Then the Hail stopped dancing over his head
and the North )ind ceased roaring and a delicio!s perf!me came to him thro!gh
the open casement" %, believe the Spring has come at last& said the Giant' and he
.!mped o!t of bed and looked o!t"
)hat did he see+
He sa# a most #onderf!l sight" Thro!gh a little hole in the #all the children had
crept in and they #ere sitting in the branches of the trees" ,n every tree that he
co!ld see there #as a little child" 0nd the trees #ere so glad to have the children
back again that they had covered themselves #ith blossoms and #ere #aving their
arms gently above the children*s heads" The birds #ere flying abo!t and t#ittering
#ith delight and the flo#ers #ere looking !p thro!gh the green grass and
la!ghing" ,t #as a lovely scene only in one corner it #as still #inter" ,t #as the
farthest corner of the garden and in it #as standing a little boy" He #as so small
that he co!ld not reach !p to the branches of the tree and he #as #andering all
ro!nd it crying bitterly" The poor tree #as still (!ite covered #ith frost and sno#
and the North )ind #as blo#ing and roaring above it" %Climb !p1 little boy& said
the Tree and it bent its branches do#n as lo# as it co!ld' b!t the boy #as too tiny"
0nd the Giant*s heart melted as he looked o!t" %Ho# selfish , have been1& he said'
%no# , kno# #hy the Spring #o!ld not come here" , #ill p!t that poor little boy on
the top of the tree and then , #ill knock do#n the #all and my garden shall be the
children*s playgro!nd for ever and ever"& He #as really very sorry for #hat he had
done"
So he crept do#nstairs and opened the front door (!ite softly and #ent o!t into the
garden" 6!t #hen the children sa# him they #ere so frightened that they all ran
a#ay and the garden became #inter again" 2nly the little boy did not r!n for his
eyes #ere so f!ll of tears that he did not see the Giant coming" 0nd the Giant stole
!p behind him and took him gently in his hand and p!t him !p into the tree" 0nd
the tree broke at once into blossom and the birds came and sang on it and the little
boy stretched o!t his t#o arms and fl!ng them ro!nd the Giant*s neck and kissed
him" 0nd the other children #hen they sa# that the Giant #as not #icked any
longer came r!nning back and #ith them came the Spring" %,t is yo!r garden no#
little children& said the Giant and he took a great a4e and knocked do#n the #all"
0nd #hen the people #ere going to market at t#elve o*clock they fo!nd the Giant
playing #ith the children in the most bea!tif!l garden they had ever seen"
0ll day long they played and in the evening they came to the Giant to bid him
good$bye"
%6!t #here is yo!r little companion+& he said= %the boy , p!t into the tree"& The
Giant loved him the best beca!se he had kissed him"
%)e don*t kno#& ans#ered the children' %he has gone a#ay"&
%5o! m!st tell him to be s!re and come here to$morro#& said the Giant" 6!t the
children said that they did not kno# #here he lived and had never seen him before'
and the Giant felt very sad"
3very afternoon #hen school #as over the children came and played #ith the
Giant" 6!t the little boy #hom the Giant loved #as never seen again" The Giant
#as very kind to all the children yet he longed for his first little friend and often
spoke of him" %Ho# , #o!ld like to see him1& he !sed to say"
5ears #ent over and the Giant gre# very old and feeble" He co!ld not play abo!t
any more so he sat in a h!ge armchair and #atched the children at their games
and admired his garden" %, have many bea!tif!l flo#ers& he said' %b!t the children
are the most bea!tif!l flo#ers of all"&
2ne #inter morning he looked o!t of his #indo# as he #as dressing" He did not
hate the )inter no# for he kne# that it #as merely the Spring asleep and that the
flo#ers #ere resting"
S!ddenly he r!bbed his eyes in #onder and looked and looked" ,t certainly #as a
marvello!s sight" ,n the farthest corner of the garden #as a tree (!ite covered #ith
lovely #hite blossoms" ,ts branches #ere all golden and silver fr!it h!ng do#n
from them and !nderneath it stood the little boy he had loved"
Do#nstairs ran the Giant in great .oy and o!t into the garden" He hastened across
the grass and came near to the child" 0nd #hen he came (!ite close his face gre#
red #ith anger and he said %)ho hath dared to #o!nd thee+& For on the palms of
the child*s hands #ere the prints of t#o nails and the prints of t#o nails #ere on
the little feet"
%)ho hath dared to #o!nd thee+& cried the Giant' %tell me that , may take my big
s#ord and slay him"&
%Nay1& ans#ered the child' %b!t these are the #o!nds of :ove"&
%)ho art tho!+& said the Giant and a strange a#e fell on him and he knelt before
the little child"
0nd the child smiled on the Giant and said to him %5o! let me play once in yo!r
garden to$day yo! shall come #ith me to my garden #hich is Paradise"&
0nd #hen the children ran in that afternoon they fo!nd the Giant lying dead !nder
the tree all covered #ith #hite blossoms"
THE DEVOTED FRIEND
2ne morning the old )ater$rat p!t his head o!t of his hole" He had bright beady
eyes and stiff grey #hiskers and his tail #as like a long bit of black india$r!bber"
The little d!cks #ere s#imming abo!t in the pond looking .!st like a lot of yello#
canaries and their mother #ho #as p!re #hite #ith real red legs #as trying to
teach them ho# to stand on their heads in the #ater"
%5o! #ill never be in the best society !nless yo! can stand on yo!r heads& she kept
saying to them' and every no# and then she sho#ed them ho# it #as done" 6!t the
little d!cks paid no attention to her" They #ere so yo!ng that they did not kno#
#hat an advantage it is to be in society at all"
%)hat disobedient children1& cried the old )ater$rat' %they really deserve to be
dro#ned"&
%Nothing of the kind& ans#ered the D!ck %every one m!st make a beginning and
parents cannot be too patient"&
%0h1 , kno# nothing abo!t the feelings of parents& said the )ater$rat' %, am not a
family man" ,n fact , have never been married and , never intend to be" :ove is
all very #ell in its #ay b!t friendship is m!ch higher" ,ndeed , kno# of nothing in
the #orld that is either nobler or rarer than a devoted friendship"&
%0nd #hat pray is yo!r idea of the d!ties of a devoted friend+& asked a Green
:innet #ho #as sitting in a #illo#$tree hard by and had overheard the
conversation"
%5es that is .!st #hat , #ant to kno#& said the D!ck' and she s#am a#ay to the
end of the pond and stood !pon her head in order to give her children a good
e4ample"
%)hat a silly (!estion1& cried the )ater$rat" %, sho!ld e4pect my devoted friend to
be devoted to me of co!rse"&
%0nd #hat #o!ld yo! do in ret!rn+& said the little bird s#inging !pon a silver
spray and flapping his tiny #ings"
%, don*t !nderstand yo!& ans#ered the )ater$rat"
%:et me tell yo! a story on the s!b.ect& said the :innet"
%,s the story abo!t me+& asked the )ater$rat" %,f so , #ill listen to it for , am
e4tremely fond of fiction"&
%,t is applicable to yo!& ans#ered the :innet' and he fle# do#n and alighting
!pon the bank he told the story of The Devoted Friend"
%2nce !pon a time& said the :innet %there #as an honest little fello# named
Hans"&
%)as he very disting!ished+& asked the )ater$rat"
%No& ans#ered the :innet %, don*t think he #as disting!ished at all e4cept for his
kind heart and his f!nny ro!nd good$h!mo!red face" He lived in a tiny cottage all
by himself and every day he #orked in his garden" ,n all the co!ntry$side there
#as no garden so lovely as his" S#eet$#illiam gre# there and Gilly$flo#ers and
Shepherds*$p!rses and Fair$maids of France" There #ere damask Roses and
yello# Roses lilac Croc!ses and gold p!rple >iolets and #hite" Col!mbine and
:adysmock /ar.oram and )ild 6asil the Co#slip and the Flo#er$de$l!ce the
Daffodil and the Clove$Pink bloomed or blossomed in their proper order as the
months #ent by one flo#er taking another flo#er*s place so that there #ere
al#ays bea!tif!l things to look at and pleasant odo!rs to smell"
%:ittle Hans had a great many friends b!t the most devoted friend of all #as big
H!gh the /iller" ,ndeed so devoted #as the rich /iller to little Hans that be
#o!ld never go by his garden #itho!t leaning over the #all and pl!cking a large
nosegay or a handf!l of s#eet herbs or filling his pockets #ith pl!ms and cherries
if it #as the fr!it season"
%?Real friends sho!ld have everything in common* the /iller !sed to say and little
Hans nodded and smiled and felt very pro!d of having a friend #ith s!ch noble
ideas"
%Sometimes indeed the neighbo!rs tho!ght it strange that the rich /iller never
gave little Hans anything in ret!rn tho!gh he had a h!ndred sacks of flo!r stored
a#ay in his mill and si4 milch co#s and a large flock of #oolly sheep' b!t Hans
never tro!bled his head abo!t these things and nothing gave him greater pleas!re
than to listen to all the #onderf!l things the /iller !sed to say abo!t the
!nselfishness of tr!e friendship"
%So little Hans #orked a#ay in his garden" D!ring the spring the s!mmer and the
a!t!mn he #as very happy b!t #hen the #inter came and he had no fr!it or
flo#ers to bring to the market he s!ffered a good deal from cold and h!nger and
often had to go to bed #itho!t any s!pper b!t a fe# dried pears or some hard n!ts"
,n the #inter also he #as e4tremely lonely as the /iller never came to see him
then"
%?There is no good in my going to see little Hans as long as the sno# lasts* the
/iller !sed to say to his #ife ?for #hen people are in tro!ble they sho!ld be left
alone and not be bothered by visitors" That at least is my idea abo!t friendship
and , am s!re , am right" So , shall #ait till the spring comes and then , shall pay
him a visit and he #ill be able to give me a large basket of primroses and that #ill
make him so happy"*
%?5o! are certainly very tho!ghtf!l abo!t others* ans#ered the )ife as she sat in
her comfortable armchair by the big pine#ood fire' ?very tho!ghtf!l indeed" ,t is
(!ite a treat to hear yo! talk abo!t friendship" , am s!re the clergyman himself
co!ld not say s!ch bea!tif!l things as yo! do tho!gh he does live in a three$storied
ho!se and #ear a gold ring on his little finger"*
%?6!t co!ld #e not ask little Hans !p here+* said the /iller*s yo!ngest son" ?,f
poor Hans is in tro!ble , #ill give him half my porridge and sho# him my #hite
rabbits"*
%?)hat a silly boy yo! are*1 cried the /iller' ?, really don*t kno# #hat is the !se of
sending yo! to school" 5o! seem not to learn anything" )hy if little Hans came
!p here and sa# o!r #arm fire and o!r good s!pper and o!r great cask of red
#ine he might get envio!s and envy is a most terrible thing and #o!ld spoil
anybody*s nat!re" , certainly #ill not allo# Hans* nat!re to be spoiled" , am his
best friend and , #ill al#ays #atch over him and see that he is not led into any
temptations" 6esides if Hans came here he might ask me to let him have some
flo!r on credit and that , co!ld not do" Flo!r is one thing and friendship is
another and they sho!ld not be conf!sed" )hy the #ords are spelt differently and
mean (!ite different things" 3verybody can see that"*
%?Ho# #ell yo! talk*1 said the /iller*s )ife po!ring herself o!t a large glass of
#arm ale' ?really , feel (!ite dro#sy" ,t is .!st like being in ch!rch"*
%?:ots of people act #ell* ans#ered the /iller' ?b!t very fe# people talk #ell
#hich sho#s that talking is m!ch the more diffic!lt thing of the t#o and m!ch the
finer thing also*' and he looked sternly across the table at his little son #ho felt so
ashamed of himself that he h!ng his head do#n and gre# (!ite scarlet and began
to cry into his tea" Ho#ever he #as so yo!ng that yo! m!st e4c!se him"&
%,s that the end of the story+& asked the )ater$rat"
%Certainly not& ans#ered the :innet %that is the beginning"&
%Then yo! are (!ite behind the age& said the )ater$rat" %3very good story$teller
no#adays starts #ith the end and then goes on to the beginning and concl!des
#ith the middle" That is the ne# method" , heard all abo!t it the other day from a
critic #ho #as #alking ro!nd the pond #ith a yo!ng man" He spoke of the matter
at great length and , am s!re he m!st have been right for he had bl!e spectacles
and a bald head and #henever the yo!ng man made any remark he al#ays
ans#ered ?Pooh1* 6!t pray go on #ith yo!r story" , like the /iller immensely" ,
have all kinds of bea!tif!l sentiments myself so there is a great sympathy bet#een
!s"&
%)ell& said the :innet hopping no# on one leg and no# on the other %as soon as
the #inter #as over and the primroses began to open their pale yello# stars the
/iller said to his #ife that he #o!ld go do#n and see little Hans"
%?)hy #hat a good heart yo! have*1 cried his )ife' ?yo! are al#ays thinking of
others" 0nd mind yo! take the big basket #ith yo! for the flo#ers"*
%So the /iller tied the sails of the #indmill together #ith a strong iron chain and
#ent do#n the hill #ith the basket on his arm"
%?Good morning little Hans* said the /iller"
%?Good morning* said Hans leaning on his spade and smiling from ear to ear"
%?0nd ho# have yo! been all the #inter+* said the /iller"
%?)ell really* cried Hans ?it is very good of yo! to ask very good indeed" , am
afraid , had rather a hard time of it b!t no# the spring has come and , am (!ite
happy and all my flo#ers are doing #ell"*
%?)e often talked of yo! d!ring the #inter Hans* said the /iller ?and #ondered
ho# yo! #ere getting on"*
%?That #as kind of yo!* said Hans' ?, #as half afraid yo! had forgotten me"*
%?Hans , am s!rprised at yo!* said the /iller' ?friendship never forgets" That is
the #onderf!l thing abo!t it b!t , am afraid yo! don*t !nderstand the poetry of
life" Ho# lovely yo!r primroses are looking by$the$bye&1
%?They are certainly very lovely* said Hans ?and it is a most l!cky thing for me
that , have so many" , am going to bring them into the market and sell them to the
6!rgomaster*s da!ghter and b!y back my #heelbarro# #ith the money"*
%?6!y back yo!r #heelbarro#+ 5o! don*t mean to say yo! have sold it+ )hat a
very st!pid thing to do*1
%?)ell the fact is* said Hans ?that , #as obliged to" 5o! see the #inter #as a very
bad time for me and , really had no money at all to b!y bread #ith" So , first sold
the silver b!ttons off my S!nday coat and then , sold my silver chain and then ,
sold my big pipe and at last , sold my #heelbarro#" 6!t , am going to b!y them
all back again no#"*
%?Hans* said the /iller ?, #ill give yo! my #heelbarro#" ,t is not in very good
repair' indeed one side is gone and there is something #rong #ith the #heel$
spokes' b!t in spite of that , #ill give it to yo!" , kno# it is very genero!s of me
and a great many people #o!ld think me e4tremely foolish for parting #ith it b!t ,
am not like the rest of the #orld" , think that generosity is the essence of
friendship and besides , have got a ne# #heelbarro# for myself" 5es yo! may
set yo!r mind at ease , #ill give yo! my #heelbarro#"*
%?)ell really that is genero!s of yo!* said little Hans and his f!nny ro!nd face
glo#ed all over #ith pleas!re" ?, can easily p!t it in repair as , have a plank of
#ood in the ho!se"*
%?0 plank of #ood*1 said the /iller' ?#hy that is .!st #hat , #ant for the roof of
my barn" There is a very large hole in it and the corn #ill all get damp if , don*t
stop it !p" Ho# l!cky yo! mentioned it1 ,t is (!ite remarkable ho# one good
action al#ays breeds another" , have given yo! my #heelbarro# and no# yo! are
going to give me yo!r plank" 2f co!rse the #heelbarro# is #orth far more than
the plank b!t tr!e friendship never notices things like that" Pray get it at once and
, #ill set to #ork at my barn this very day"*
%?Certainly* cried little Hans and he ran into the shed and dragged the plank o!t"
%?,t is not a very big plank* said the /iller looking at it ?and , am afraid that after
, have mended my barn$roof there #on*t be any left for yo! to mend the
#heelbarro# #ith' b!t of co!rse that is not my fa!lt" 0nd no# as , have given
yo! my #heelbarro# , am s!re yo! #o!ld like to give me some flo#ers in ret!rn"
Here is the basket and mind yo! fill it (!ite f!ll"*
%?8!ite f!ll+* said little Hans rather sorro#f!lly for it #as really a very big basket
and he kne# that if he filled it he #o!ld have no flo#ers left for the market and he
#as very an4io!s to get his silver b!ttons back"
%?)ell really* ans#ered the /iller ?as , have given yo! my #heelbarro# , don*t
think that it is m!ch to ask yo! for a fe# flo#ers" , may be #rong b!t , sho!ld
have tho!ght that friendship tr!e friendship #as (!ite free from selfishness of any
kind"*
%?/y dear friend my best friend* cried little Hans ?yo! are #elcome to all the
flo#ers in my garden" , #o!ld m!ch sooner have yo!r good opinion than my silver
b!ttons any day*' and he ran and pl!cked all his pretty primroses and filled the
/iller*s basket"
%?Good$bye little Hans* said the /iller as he #ent !p the hill #ith the plank on
his sho!lder and the big basket in his hand"
%?Good$bye* said little Hans and he began to dig a#ay (!ite merrily he #as so
pleased abo!t the #heelbarro#"
%The ne4t day he #as nailing !p some honeys!ckle against the porch #hen he
heard the /iller*s voice calling to him from the road" So he .!mped off the ladder
and ran do#n the garden and looked over the #all"
%There #as the /iller #ith a large sack of flo!r on his back"
%?Dear little Hans* said the /iller ?#o!ld yo! mind carrying this sack of flo!r for
me to market+*
%?2h , am so sorry* said Hans ?b!t , am really very b!sy to$day" , have got all my
creepers to nail !p and all my flo#ers to #ater and all my grass to roll"*
%?)ell really* said the /iller ?, think that considering that , am going to give yo!
my #heelbarro# it is rather !nfriendly of yo! to ref!se"*
%?2h don*t say that* cried little Hans ?, #o!ldn*t be !nfriendly for the #hole
#orld*' and he ran in for his cap and tr!dged off #ith the big sack on his sho!lders"
%,t #as a very hot day and the road #as terribly d!sty and before Hans had
reached the si4th milestone he #as so tired that he had to sit do#n and rest"
Ho#ever he #ent on bravely and as last he reached the market" 0fter he had
#aited there some time he sold the sack of flo!r for a very good price and then he
ret!rned home at once for he #as afraid that if he stopped too late he might meet
some robbers on the #ay"
%?,t has certainly been a hard day* said little Hans to himself as he #as going to
bed ?b!t , am glad , did not ref!se the /iller for he is my best friend and besides
he is going to give me his #heelbarro#"*
%3arly the ne4t morning the /iller came do#n to get the money for his sack of
flo!r b!t little Hans #as so tired that he #as still in bed"
%?<pon my #ord* said the /iller ?yo! are very la-y" Really considering that , am
going to give yo! my #heelbarro# , think yo! might #ork harder" ,dleness is a
great sin and , certainly don*t like any of my friends to be idle or sl!ggish" 5o!
m!st not mind my speaking (!ite plainly to yo!" 2f co!rse , sho!ld not dream of
doing so if , #ere not yo!r friend" 6!t #hat is the good of friendship if one cannot
say e4actly #hat one means+ 0nybody can say charming things and try to please
and to flatter b!t a tr!e friend al#ays says !npleasant things and does not mind
giving pain" ,ndeed if he is a really tr!e friend he prefers it for he kno#s that then
he is doing good"*
%?, am very sorry* said little Hans r!bbing his eyes and p!lling off his night$cap
?b!t , #as so tired that , tho!ght , #o!ld lie in bed for a little time and listen to the
birds singing" Do yo! kno# that , al#ays #ork better after hearing the birds sing+*
%?)ell , am glad of that* said the /iller clapping little Hans on the back ?for ,
#ant yo! to come !p to the mill as soon as yo! are dressed and mend my barn$roof
for me"*
%Poor little Hans #as very an4io!s to go and #ork in his garden for his flo#ers
had not been #atered for t#o days b!t he did not like to ref!se the /iller as he
#as s!ch a good friend to him"
%?Do yo! think it #o!ld be !nfriendly of me if , said , #as b!sy+* he in(!ired in a
shy and timid voice"
%?)ell really* ans#ered the /iller ?, do not think it is m!ch to ask of yo!
considering that , am going to give yo! my #heelbarro#' b!t of co!rse if yo!
ref!se , #ill go and do it myself"*
%?2h1 on no acco!nt* cried little Hans and he .!mped o!t of bed and dressed
himself and #ent !p to the barn"
%He #orked there all day long till s!nset and at s!nset the /iller came to see ho#
he #as getting on"
%?Have yo! mended the hole in the roof yet little Hans+* cried the /iller in a
cheery voice"
%?,t is (!ite mended* ans#ered little Hans coming do#n the ladder"
%?0h*1 said the /iller ?there is no #ork so delightf!l as the #ork one does for
others"*
%?,t is certainly a great privilege to hear yo! talk* ans#ered little Hans sitting
do#n and #iping his forehead ?a very great privilege" 6!t , am afraid , shall
never have s!ch bea!tif!l ideas as yo! have"*
%?2h1 they #ill come to yo!* said the /iller ?b!t yo! m!st take more pains" 0t
present yo! have only the practice of friendship' some day yo! #ill have the theory
also"*
%?Do yo! really think , shall+* asked little Hans"
%?, have no do!bt of it* ans#ered the /iller ?b!t no# that yo! have mended the
roof yo! had better go home and rest for , #ant yo! to drive my sheep to the
mo!ntain to$morro#"*
%Poor little Hans #as afraid to say anything to this and early the ne4t morning the
/iller bro!ght his sheep ro!nd to the cottage and Hans started off #ith them to the
mo!ntain" ,t took him the #hole day to get there and back' and #hen he ret!rned
he #as so tired that he #ent off to sleep in his chair and did not #ake !p till it #as
broad daylight"
%?)hat a delightf!l time , shall have in my garden* he said and he #ent to #ork at
once"
%6!t someho# he #as never able to look after his flo#ers at all for his friend the
/iller #as al#ays coming ro!nd and sending him off on long errands or getting
him to help at the mill" :ittle Hans #as very m!ch distressed at times as he #as
afraid his flo#ers #o!ld think he had forgotten them b!t he consoled himself by
the reflection that the /iller #as his best friend" ?6esides* he !sed to say ?he is
going to give me his #heelbarro# and that is an act of p!re generosity"*
%So little Hans #orked a#ay for the /iller and the /iller said all kinds of
bea!tif!l things abo!t friendship #hich Hans took do#n in a note$book and !sed
to read over at night for he #as a very good scholar"
%No# it happened that one evening little Hans #as sitting by his fireside #hen a
lo!d rap came at the door" ,t #as a very #ild night and the #ind #as blo#ing and
roaring ro!nd the ho!se so terribly that at first he tho!ght it #as merely the storm"
6!t a second rap came and then a third lo!der than any of the others"
%?,t is some poor traveller* said little Hans to himself and he ran to the door"
%There stood the /iller #ith a lantern in one hand and a big stick in the other"
%?Dear little Hans* cried the /iller ?, am in great tro!ble" /y little boy has fallen
off a ladder and h!rt himself and , am going for the Doctor" 6!t he lives so far
a#ay and it is s!ch a bad night that it has .!st occ!rred to me that it #o!ld be
m!ch better if yo! #ent instead of me" 5o! kno# , am going to give yo! my
#heelbarro# and so it is only fair that yo! sho!ld do something for me in ret!rn"*
%?Certainly* cried little Hans ?, take it (!ite as a compliment yo!r coming to me
and , #ill start off at once" 6!t yo! m!st lend me yo!r lantern as the night is so
dark that , am afraid , might fall into the ditch"*
%?, am very sorry* ans#ered the /iller ?b!t it is my ne# lantern and it #o!ld be a
great loss to me if anything happened to it"*
%?)ell never mind , #ill do #itho!t it* cried little Hans and he took do#n his
great f!r coat and his #arm scarlet cap and tied a m!ffler ro!nd his throat and
started off"
%)hat a dreadf!l storm it #as1 The night #as so black that little Hans co!ld hardly
see and the #ind #as so strong that he co!ld scarcely stand" Ho#ever he #as very
co!rageo!s and after he had been #alking abo!t three ho!rs he arrived at the
Doctor*s ho!se and knocked at the door"
%?)ho is there+* cried the Doctor p!tting his head o!t of his bedroom #indo#"
%?:ittle Hans Doctor"*
%*)hat do yo! #ant little Hans+*
%?The /iller*s son has fallen from a ladder and has h!rt himself and the /iller
#ants yo! to come at once"*
%?0ll right1* said the Doctor' and he ordered his horse and his big boots and his
lantern and came do#nstairs and rode off in the direction of the /iller*s ho!se
little Hans tr!dging behind him"
%6!t the storm gre# #orse and #orse and the rain fell in torrents and little Hans
co!ld not see #here he #as going or keep !p #ith the horse" 0t last he lost his
#ay and #andered off on the moor #hich #as a very dangero!s place as it #as
f!ll of deep holes and there poor little Hans #as dro#ned" His body #as fo!nd the
ne4t day by some goatherds floating in a great pool of #ater and #as bro!ght back
by them to the cottage"
%3verybody #ent to little Hans* f!neral as he #as so pop!lar and the /iller #as
the chief mo!rner"
%?0s , #as his best friend* said the /iller ?it is only fair that , sho!ld have the best
place*' so he #alked at the head of the procession in a long black cloak and every
no# and then he #iped his eyes #ith a big pocket$handkerchief"
%?:ittle Hans is certainly a great loss to every one* said the 6lacksmith #hen the
f!neral #as over and they #ere all seated comfortably in the inn drinking spiced
#ine and eating s#eet cakes"
%?0 great loss to me at any rate* ans#ered the /iller' ?#hy , had as good as given
him my #heelbarro# and no# , really don*t kno# #hat to do #ith it" ,t is very
m!ch in my #ay at home and it is in s!ch bad repair that , co!ld not get anything
for it if , sold it" , #ill certainly take care not to give a#ay anything again" 2ne
al#ays s!ffers for being genero!s"*&
%)ell+& said the )ater$rat after a long pa!se"
%)ell that is the end& said the :innet"
%6!t #hat became of the /iller+& asked the )ater$rat"
%2h1 , really don*t kno#& replied the :innet' %and , am s!re that , don*t care"&
%,t is (!ite evident then that yo! have no sympathy in yo!r nat!re& said the )ater$
rat"
%, am afraid yo! don*t (!ite see the moral of the story& remarked the :innet"
%The #hat+& screamed the )ater$rat"
%The moral"&
%Do yo! mean to say that the story has a moral+&
%Certainly& said the :innet"
%)ell really& said the )ater$rat in a very angry manner %, think yo! sho!ld have
told me that before yo! began" ,f yo! had done so , certainly #o!ld not have
listened to yo!' in fact , sho!ld have said ?Pooh* like the critic" Ho#ever , can
say it no#&' so he sho!ted o!t %Pooh& at the top of his voice gave a #hisk #ith his
tail and #ent back into his hole"
%0nd ho# do yo! like the )ater$rat+& asked the D!ck #ho came paddling !p some
min!tes after#ards" %He has a great many good points b!t for my o#n part , have
a mother*s feelings and , can never look at a confirmed bachelor #itho!t the tears
coming into my eyes"&
%, am rather afraid that , have annoyed him& ans#ered the :innet" %The fact is
that , told him a story #ith a moral"&
%0h1 that is al#ays a very dangero!s thing to do& said the D!ck"
0nd , (!ite agree #ith her"
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET
The 9ing*s son #as going to be married so there #ere general re.oicings" He had
#aited a #hole year for his bride and at last she had arrived" She #as a R!ssian
Princess and had driven all the #ay from Finland in a sledge dra#n by si4
reindeer" The sledge #as shaped like a great golden s#an and bet#een the s#an*s
#ings lay the little Princess herself" Her long ermine$cloak reached right do#n to
her feet on her head #as a tiny cap of silver tiss!e and she #as as pale as the
Sno# Palace in #hich she had al#ays lived" So pale #as she that as she drove
thro!gh the streets all the people #ondered" %She is like a #hite rose1& they cried
and they thre# do#n flo#ers on her from the balconies"
0t the gate of the Castle the Prince #as #aiting to receive her" He had dreamy
violet eyes and his hair #as like fine gold" )hen he sa# her he sank !pon one
knee and kissed her hand"
%5o!r pict!re #as bea!tif!l& he m!rm!red %b!t yo! are more bea!tif!l than yo!r
pict!re&' and the little Princess bl!shed"
%She #as like a #hite rose before& said a yo!ng Page to his neighbo!r %b!t she is
like a red rose no#&' and the #hole Co!rt #as delighted"
For the ne4t three days everybody #ent abo!t saying %)hite rose Red rose Red
rose )hite rose&' and the 9ing gave orders that the Page*s salary #as to be
do!bled" 0s he received no salary at all this #as not of m!ch !se to him b!t it #as
considered a great hono!r and #as d!ly p!blished in the Co!rt Ga-ette"
)hen the three days #ere over the marriage #as celebrated" ,t #as a magnificent
ceremony and the bride and bridegroom #alked hand in hand !nder a canopy of
p!rple velvet embroidered #ith little pearls" Then there #as a State 6an(!et
#hich lasted for five ho!rs" The Prince and Princess sat at the top of the Great Hall
and drank o!t of a c!p of clear crystal" 2nly tr!e lovers co!ld drink o!t of this c!p
for if false lips to!ched it it gre# grey and d!ll and clo!dy"
%,t*s (!ite clear that they love each other& said the little Page %as clear as crystal1&
and the 9ing do!bled his salary a second time" %)hat an hono!r1& cried all the
co!rtiers"
0fter the ban(!et there #as to be a 6all" The bride and bridegroom #ere to dance
the Rose$dance together and the 9ing had promised to play the fl!te" He played
very badly b!t no one had ever dared to tell him so beca!se he #as the 9ing"
,ndeed he kne# only t#o airs and #as never (!ite certain #hich one he #as
playing' b!t it made no matter for #hatever he did everybody cried o!t
%Charming1 charming1&
The last item on the programme #as a grand display of fire#orks to be let off
e4actly at midnight" The little Princess had never seen a fire#ork in her life so the
9ing had given orders that the Royal Pyrotechnist sho!ld be in attendance on the
day of her marriage"
%)hat are fire#orks like+& she had asked the Prince one morning as she #as
#alking on the terrace"
%They are like the 0!rora 6orealis& said the 9ing #ho al#ays ans#ered (!estions
that #ere addressed to other people %only m!ch more nat!ral" , prefer them to
stars myself as yo! al#ays kno# #hen they are going to appear and they are as
delightf!l as my o#n fl!te$playing" 5o! m!st certainly see them"&
So at the end of the 9ing*s garden a great stand had been set !p and as soon as the
Royal Pyrotechnist had p!t everything in its proper place the fire#orks began to
talk to each other"
%The #orld is certainly very bea!tif!l& cried a little S(!ib" %;!st look at those
yello# t!lips" )hy1 if they #ere real crackers they co!ld not be lovelier" , am very
glad , have travelled" Travel improves the mind #onderf!lly and does a#ay #ith
all one*s pre.!dices"&
%The 9ing*s garden is not the #orld yo! foolish s(!ib& said a big Roman Candle'
%the #orld is an enormo!s place and it #o!ld take yo! three days to see it
thoro!ghly"&
%0ny place yo! love is the #orld to yo!& e4claimed a pensive Catherine )heel
#ho had been attached to an old deal bo4 in early life and prided herself on her
broken heart' %b!t love is not fashionable any more the poets have killed it" They
#rote so m!ch abo!t it that nobody believed them and , am not s!rprised" Tr!e
love s!ffers and is silent" , remember myself once76!t it is no matter no#"
Romance is a thing of the past"&
%Nonsense1& said the Roman Candle %Romance never dies" ,t is like the moon
and lives for ever" The bride and bridegroom for instance love each other very
dearly" , heard all abo!t them this morning from a bro#n$paper cartridge #ho
happened to be staying in the same dra#er as myself and kne# the latest Co!rt
ne#s"&
6!t the Catherine )heel shook her head" %Romance is dead Romance is dead
Romance is dead& she m!rm!red" She #as one of those people #ho think that if
yo! say the same thing over and over a great many times it becomes tr!e in the
end"
S!ddenly a sharp dry co!gh #as heard and they all looked ro!nd"
,t came from a tall s!percilio!s$looking Rocket #ho #as tied to the end of a long
stick" He al#ays co!ghed before he made any observation so as to attract
attention"
%0hem1 ahem1& he said and everybody listened e4cept the poor Catherine )heel
#ho #as still shaking her head and m!rm!ring %Romance is dead"&
%2rder1 order1& cried o!t a Cracker" He #as something of a politician and had
al#ays taken a prominent part in the local elections so he kne# the proper
Parliamentary e4pressions to !se"
%8!ite dead& #hispered the Catherine )heel and she #ent off to sleep"
0s soon as there #as perfect silence the Rocket co!ghed a third time and began"
He spoke #ith a very slo# distinct voice as if he #as dictating his memoirs and
al#ays looked over the sho!lder of the person to #hom he #as talking" ,n fact he
had a most disting!ished manner"
%Ho# fort!nate it is for the 9ing*s son& he remarked %that he is to be married on
the very day on #hich , am to be let off" Really if it had been arranged beforehand
it co!ld not have t!rned o!t better for him' b!t Princes are al#ays l!cky"&
%Dear me1& said the little S(!ib %, tho!ght it #as (!ite the other #ay and that #e
#ere to be let off in the Prince*s hono!r"&
%,t may be so #ith yo!& he ans#ered' %indeed , have no do!bt that it is b!t #ith
me it is different" , am a very remarkable Rocket and come of remarkable parents"
/y mother #as the most celebrated Catherine )heel of her day and #as reno#ned
for her gracef!l dancing" )hen she made her great p!blic appearance she sp!n
ro!nd nineteen times before she #ent o!t and each time that she did so she thre#
into the air seven pink stars" She #as three feet and a half in diameter and made of
the very best g!npo#der" /y father #as a Rocket like myself and of French
e4traction" He fle# so high that the people #ere afraid that he #o!ld never come
do#n again" He did tho!gh for he #as of a kindly disposition and he made a
most brilliant descent in a sho#er of golden rain" The ne#spapers #rote abo!t his
performance in very flattering terms" ,ndeed the Co!rt Ga-ette called him a
tri!mph of Pylotechnic art"&
%Pyrotechnic Pyrotechnic yo! mean& said a 6engal :ight' %, kno# it is
Pyrotechnic for , sa# it #ritten on my o#n canister"&
%)ell , said Pylotechnic& ans#ered the Rocket in a severe tone of voice and the
6engal :ight felt so cr!shed that he began at once to b!lly the little s(!ibs in order
to sho# that he #as still a person of some importance"
%, #as saying& contin!ed the Rocket %, #as saying7)hat #as , saying+&
%5o! #ere talking abo!t yo!rself& replied the Roman Candle"
%2f co!rse' , kne# , #as disc!ssing some interesting s!b.ect #hen , #as so r!dely
interr!pted" , hate r!deness and bad manners of every kind for , am e4tremely
sensitive" No one in the #hole #orld is so sensitive as , am , am (!ite s!re of
that"&
%)hat is a sensitive person+& said the Cracker to the Roman Candle"
%0 person #ho beca!se he has corns himself al#ays treads on other people*s
toes& ans#ered the Roman Candle in a lo# #hisper' and the Cracker nearly
e4ploded #ith la!ghter"
%Pray #hat are yo! la!ghing at+& in(!ired the Rocket' %, am not la!ghing"&
%, am la!ghing beca!se , am happy& replied the Cracker"
%That is a very selfish reason& said the Rocket angrily" %)hat right have yo! to be
happy+ 5o! sho!ld be thinking abo!t others" ,n fact yo! sho!ld be thinking abo!t
me" , am al#ays thinking abo!t myself and , e4pect everybody else to do the
same" That is #hat is called sympathy" ,t is a bea!tif!l virt!e and , possess it in a
high degree" S!ppose for instance anything happened to me to$night #hat a
misfort!ne that #o!ld be for every one1 The Prince and Princess #o!ld never be
happy again their #hole married life #o!ld be spoiled' and as for the 9ing , kno#
he #o!ld not get over it" Really #hen , begin to reflect on the importance of my
position , am almost moved to tears"&
%,f yo! #ant to give pleas!re to others& cried the Roman Candle %yo! had better
keep yo!rself dry"&
%Certainly& e4claimed the 6engal :ight #ho #as no# in better spirits' %that is
only common sense"&
%Common sense indeed1& said the Rocket indignantly' %yo! forget that , am very
!ncommon and very remarkable" )hy anybody can have common sense
provided that they have no imagination" 6!t , have imagination for , never think
of things as they really are' , al#ays think of them as being (!ite different" 0s for
keeping myself dry there is evidently no one here #ho can at all appreciate an
emotional nat!re" Fort!nately for myself , don*t care" The only thing that s!stains
one thro!gh life is the conscio!sness of the immense inferiority of everybody else
and this is a feeling that , have al#ays c!ltivated" 6!t none of yo! have any
hearts" Here yo! are la!ghing and making merry .!st as if the Prince and Princess
had not .!st been married"&
%)ell really& e4claimed a small Fire$balloon %#hy not+ ,t is a most .oyf!l
occasion and #hen , soar !p into the air , intend to tell the stars all abo!t it" 5o!
#ill see them t#inkle #hen , talk to them abo!t the pretty bride"&
%0h1 #hat a trivial vie# of life1& said the Rocket' %b!t it is only #hat , e4pected"
There is nothing in yo!' yo! are hollo# and empty" )hy perhaps the Prince and
Princess may go to live in a co!ntry #here there is a deep river and perhaps they
may have one only son a little fair$haired boy #ith violet eyes like the Prince
himself' and perhaps some day he may go o!t to #alk #ith his n!rse' and perhaps
the n!rse may go to sleep !nder a great elder$tree' and perhaps the little boy may
fall into the deep river and be dro#ned" )hat a terrible misfort!ne1 Poor people
to lose their only son1 ,t is really too dreadf!l1 , shall never get over it"&
%6!t they have not lost their only son& said the Roman Candle' %no misfort!ne has
happened to them at all"&
%, never said that they had& replied the Rocket' %, said that they might" ,f they had
lost their only son there #o!ld be no !se in saying anything more abo!t the matter"
, hate people #ho cry over spilt milk" 6!t #hen , think that they might lose their
only son , certainly am very m!ch affected"&
%5o! certainly are1& cried the 6engal :ight" %,n fact yo! are the most affected
person , ever met"&
%5o! are the r!dest person , ever met& said the Rocket %and yo! cannot
!nderstand my friendship for the Prince"&
%)hy yo! don*t even kno# him& gro#led the Roman Candle"
%, never said , kne# him& ans#ered the Rocket" %, dare say that if , kne# him ,
sho!ld not be his friend at all" ,t is a very dangero!s thing to kno# one*s friends"&
%5o! had really better keep yo!rself dry& said the Fire$balloon" %That is the
important thing"&
%>ery important for yo! , have no do!bt& ans#ered the Rocket %b!t , shall #eep
if , choose&' and he act!ally b!rst into real tears #hich flo#ed do#n his stick like
rain$drops and nearly dro#ned t#o little beetles #ho #ere .!st thinking of setting
!p ho!se together and #ere looking for a nice dry spot to live in"
%He m!st have a tr!ly romantic nat!re& said the Catherine )heel %for he #eeps
#hen there is nothing at all to #eep abo!t&' and she heaved a deep sigh and
tho!ght abo!t the deal bo4"
6!t the Roman Candle and the 6engal :ight #ere (!ite indignant and kept saying
%H!mb!g1 h!mb!g1& at the top of their voices" They #ere e4tremely practical and
#henever they ob.ected to anything they called it h!mb!g"
Then the moon rose like a #onderf!l silver shield' and the stars began to shine and
a so!nd of m!sic came from the palace"
The Prince and Princess #ere leading the dance" They danced so bea!tif!lly that
the tall #hite lilies peeped in at the #indo# and #atched them and the great red
poppies nodded their heads and beat time"
Then ten o*clock str!ck and then eleven and then t#elve and at the last stroke of
midnight every one came o!t on the terrace and the 9ing sent for the Royal
Pyrotechnist"
%:et the fire#orks begin& said the 9ing' and the Royal Pyrotechnist made a lo#
bo# and marched do#n to the end of the garden" He had si4 attendants #ith him
each of #hom carried a lighted torch at the end of a long pole"
,t #as certainly a magnificent display"
)hi--1 )hi--1 #ent the Catherine )heel as she sp!n ro!nd and ro!nd" 6oom1
6oom1 #ent the Roman Candle" Then the S(!ibs danced all over the place and the
6engal :ights made everything look scarlet" %Good$bye& cried the Fire$balloon as
he soared a#ay dropping tiny bl!e sparks" 6ang1 6ang1 ans#ered the Crackers
#ho #ere en.oying themselves immensely" 3very one #as a great s!ccess e4cept
the Remarkable Rocket" He #as so damp #ith crying that he co!ld not go off at
all" The best thing in him #as the g!npo#der and that #as so #et #ith tears that it
#as of no !se" 0ll his poor relations to #hom he #o!ld never speak e4cept #ith a
sneer shot !p into the sky like #onderf!l golden flo#ers #ith blossoms of fire"
H!--a1 H!--a1 cried the Co!rt' and the little Princess la!ghed #ith pleas!re"
%, s!ppose they are reserving me for some grand occasion& said the Rocket' %no
do!bt that is #hat it means& and he looked more s!percilio!s than ever"
The ne4t day the #orkmen came to p!t everything tidy" %This is evidently a
dep!tation& said the Rocket' %, #ill receive them #ith becoming dignity& so he p!t
his nose in the air and began to fro#n severely as if he #ere thinking abo!t some
very important s!b.ect" 6!t they took no notice of him at all till they #ere .!st
going a#ay" Then one of them ca!ght sight of him" %Hallo1& he cried %#hat a bad
rocket1& and he thre# him over the #all into the ditch"
%60D Rocket+ 60D Rocket+& he said as he #hirled thro!gh the air' %impossible1
GR0ND Rocket that is #hat the man said" 60D and GR0ND so!nd very m!ch
the same indeed they often are the same&' and he fell into the m!d"
%,t is not comfortable here& he remarked %b!t no do!bt it is some fashionable
#atering$place and they have sent me a#ay to recr!it my health" /y nerves are
certainly very m!ch shattered and , re(!ire rest"&
Then a little Frog #ith bright .e#elled eyes and a green mottled coat s#am !p to
him"
%0 ne# arrival , see1& said the Frog" %)ell after all there is nothing like m!d"
Give me rainy #eather and a ditch and , am (!ite happy" Do yo! think it #ill be a
#et afternoon+ , am s!re , hope so b!t the sky is (!ite bl!e and clo!dless" )hat a
pity1&
%0hem1 ahem1& said the Rocket and he began to co!gh"
%)hat a delightf!l voice yo! have1& cried the Frog" %Really it is (!ite like a croak
and croaking is of co!rse the most m!sical so!nd in the #orld" 5o! #ill hear o!r
glee$cl!b this evening" )e sit in the old d!ck pond close by the farmer*s ho!se
and as soon as the moon rises #e begin" ,t is so entrancing that everybody lies
a#ake to listen to !s" ,n fact it #as only yesterday that , heard the farmer*s #ife
say to her mother that she co!ld not get a #ink of sleep at night on acco!nt of !s" ,t
is most gratifying to find oneself so pop!lar"&
%0hem1 ahem1& said the Rocket angrily" He #as very m!ch annoyed that he co!ld
not get a #ord in"
%0 delightf!l voice certainly& contin!ed the Frog' %, hope yo! #ill come over to
the d!ck$pond" , am off to look for my da!ghters" , have si4 bea!tif!l da!ghters
and , am so afraid the Pike may meet them" He is a perfect monster and #o!ld
have no hesitation in breakfasting off them" )ell good$bye= , have en.oyed o!r
conversation very m!ch , ass!re yo!"&
%Conversation indeed1& said the Rocket" %5o! have talked the #hole time
yo!rself" That is not conversation"&
%Somebody m!st listen& ans#ered the Frog %and , like to do all the talking
myself" ,t saves time and prevents arg!ments"&
%6!t , like arg!ments& said the Rocket"
%, hope not& said the Frog complacently" %0rg!ments are e4tremely v!lgar for
everybody in good society holds e4actly the same opinions" Good$bye a second
time' , see my da!ghters in the distance and the little Frog s#am a#ay"
%5o! are a very irritating person& said the Rocket %and very ill$bred" , hate people
#ho talk abo!t themselves as yo! do #hen one #ants to talk abo!t oneself as ,
do" ,t is #hat , call selfishness and selfishness is a most detestable thing
especially to any one of my temperament for , am #ell kno#n for my sympathetic
nat!re" ,n fact yo! sho!ld take e4ample by me' yo! co!ld not possibly have a
better model" No# that yo! have the chance yo! had better avail yo!rself of it for
, am going back to Co!rt almost immediately" , am a great favo!rite at Co!rt' in
fact the Prince and Princess #ere married yesterday in my hono!r" 2f co!rse yo!
kno# nothing of these matters for yo! are a provincial"&
%There is no good talking to him& said a Dragon$fly #ho #as sitting on the top of
a large bro#n b!lr!sh' %no good at all for he has gone a#ay"&
%)ell that is his loss not mine& ans#ered the Rocket" %, am not going to stop
talking to him merely beca!se he pays no attention" , like hearing myself talk" ,t is
one of my greatest pleas!res" , often have long conversations all by myself and ,
am so clever that sometimes , don*t !nderstand a single #ord of #hat , am saying"&
%Then yo! sho!ld certainly lect!re on Philosophy& said the Dragon$fly' and he
spread a pair of lovely ga!-e #ings and soared a#ay into the sky"
%Ho# very silly of him not to stay here1& said the Rocket" %, am s!re that he has
not often got s!ch a chance of improving his mind" Ho#ever , don*t care a bit"
Geni!s like mine is s!re to be appreciated some day&' and he sank do#n a little
deeper into the m!d"
0fter some time a large )hite D!ck s#am !p to him" She had yello# legs and
#ebbed feet and #as considered a great bea!ty on acco!nt of her #addle"
%8!ack (!ack (!ack& she said" %)hat a c!rio!s shape yo! are1 /ay , ask #ere
yo! born like that or is it the res!lt of an accident+&
%,t is (!ite evident that yo! have al#ays lived in the co!ntry& ans#ered the Rocket
%other#ise yo! #o!ld kno# #ho , am" Ho#ever , e4c!se yo!r ignorance" ,t
#o!ld be !nfair to e4pect other people to be as remarkable as oneself" 5o! #ill no
do!bt be s!rprised to hear that , can fly !p into the sky and come do#n in a sho#er
of golden rain"&
%, don*t think m!ch of that& said the D!ck %as , cannot see #hat !se it is to any
one" No# if yo! co!ld plo!gh the fields like the o4 or dra# a cart like the horse
or look after the sheep like the collie$dog that #o!ld be something"&
%/y good creat!re& cried the Rocket in a very ha!ghty tone of voice %, see that
yo! belong to the lo#er orders" 0 person of my position is never !sef!l" )e have
certain accomplishments and that is more than s!fficient" , have no sympathy
myself #ith ind!stry of any kind least of all #ith s!ch ind!stries as yo! seem to
recommend" ,ndeed , have al#ays been of opinion that hard #ork is simply the
ref!ge of people #ho have nothing #hatever to do"&
%)ell #ell& said the D!ck #ho #as of a very peaceable disposition and never
(!arrelled #ith any one %everybody has different tastes" , hope at any rate that
yo! are going to take !p yo!r residence here"&
%2h1 dear no& cried the Rocket" %, am merely a visitor a disting!ished visitor"
The fact is that , find this place rather tedio!s" There is neither society here nor
solit!de" ,n fact it is essentially s!b!rban" , shall probably go back to Co!rt for ,
kno# that , am destined to make a sensation in the #orld"&
%, had tho!ghts of entering p!blic life once myself& remarked the D!ck' %there are
so many things that need reforming" ,ndeed , took the chair at a meeting some
time ago and #e passed resol!tions condemning everything that #e did not like"
Ho#ever they did not seem to have m!ch effect" No# , go in for domesticity and
look after my family"&
%, am made for p!blic life& said the Rocket %and so are all my relations even the
h!mblest of them" )henever #e appear #e e4cite great attention" , have not
act!ally appeared myself b!t #hen , do so it #ill be a magnificent sight" 0s for
domesticity it ages one rapidly and distracts one*s mind from higher things"&
%0h1 the higher things of life ho# fine they are1& said the D!ck' %and that reminds
me ho# h!ngry , feel&= and she s#am a#ay do#n the stream saying %8!ack
(!ack (!ack"&
%Come back1 come back1& screamed the Rocket %, have a great deal to say to yo!&'
b!t the D!ck paid no attention to him" %, am glad that she has gone& he said to
himself %she has a decidedly middle$class mind&' and he sank a little deeper still
into the m!d and began to think abo!t the loneliness of geni!s #hen s!ddenly t#o
little boys in #hite smocks came r!nning do#n the bank #ith a kettle and some
faggots"
%This m!st be the dep!tation& said the Rocket and he tried to look very dignified"
%Hallo1& cried one of the boys %look at this old stick1 , #onder ho# it came here&'
and he picked the rocket o!t of the ditch"
%2:D Stick1& said the Rocket %impossible1 G2:D Stick that is #hat he said"
Gold Stick is very complimentary" ,n fact he mistakes me for one of the Co!rt
dignitaries1&
%:et !s p!t it into the fire1& said the other boy %it #ill help to boil the kettle"&
So they piled the faggots together and p!t the Rocket on top and lit the fire"
%This is magnificent& cried the Rocket %they are going to let me off in broad day$
light so that every one can see me"&
%)e #ill go to sleep no#& they said %and #hen #e #ake !p the kettle #ill be
boiled&' and they lay do#n on the grass and sh!t their eyes"
The Rocket #as very damp so he took a long time to b!rn" 0t last ho#ever the
fire ca!ght him"
%No# , am going off1& he cried and he made himself very stiff and straight" %,
kno# , shall go m!ch higher than the stars m!ch higher than the moon m!ch
higher than the s!n" ,n fact , shall go so high that7&
Fi--1 Fi--1 Fi--1 and he #ent straight !p into the air"
%Delightf!l1& he cried %, shall go on like this for ever" )hat a s!ccess , am1&
6!t nobody sa# him"
Then he began to feel a c!rio!s tingling sensation all over him"
%No# , am going to e4plode& he cried" %, shall set the #hole #orld on fire and
make s!ch a noise that nobody #ill talk abo!t anything else for a #hole year"& 0nd
he certainly did e4plode" 6ang1 6ang1 6ang1 #ent the g!npo#der" There #as no
do!bt abo!t it"
6!t nobody heard him not even the t#o little boys for they #ere so!nd asleep"
Then all that #as left of him #as the stick and this fell do#n on the back of a
Goose #ho #as taking a #alk by the side of the ditch"
%Good heavens1& cried the Goose" %,t is going to rain sticks&' and she r!shed into
the #ater"
%, kne# , sho!ld create a great sensation& gasped the Rocket and he #ent o!t"