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Happy Prince Other 00 Wild 3
Happy Prince Other 00 Wild 3
March, 1910
CARLOS BLACKER
CONTENTS
Page
THE HAPPY PRINCE -
15
1 t
\ i
\
LIST OF COLOUR PLATES
THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON Frontis.
Facing page
i !
I \
j
THE HAPPY PRINCE
IGH above the city, on a tall
column, stood the statue
of the Happy Prince. He
was gilded all over with
thin leaves of fine gold,
for eyeshe had two bright
sapphires, and
a large red
gain a
reputation for having artistic tastes ;
"
only not quite so useful," he added, fearing
lest people should think him unpractical,
which he really was not.
"
Why you be like the Happy Prince?'
can't
finally to her ;
but the Reed shook her head,
she was so attached to her home.
" You have been trifling with me," he cried.
" I am ofT to the Pyramids. Good-bye !
:
put up ?
18
THE HAPPY PRINCE
"
he said ;
I
hope the town has made prepara-
^.' >
tions.
fell on him.
" What a curious he
'
thing !
with pity.
" Who are ?
'
he said.
you
" I am the Prince."
Happy
" '
!
gold ?
Swallow to himself. He was too polite to
make any personal remarks out loud.
" 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 worn, and she
has coarse, red hands, all
pricked by the needle,
21
THE HAPPY PRINCE
for she is a seamstress. She is
embroidering
passion-flowers on a satin gown for the loveliest
passion-flowers to be embroidered
on it ; but
the seamstresses are so lazy."
He passed over the river, and saw the
lanterns hanging to the masts of the ships.
He passed over the Ghetto, and saw the old
Jews bargaining with each other, and weighing
out money in copper scales. At last he came
to the poor house and looked in. The boy
was tossing feverishly on his bed, and the
mother had fallen asleep, she was so tired. In
he hopped, and laid the great ruby on the
THE HAPPY PRINCE
table beside the woman's thimble. Then he
flew gently round the bed, fanning the boy's
forehead with his wings. " How cool I feel !
'
and
he sank into a delicious slumber.
Then the Swallow flew back to the Happy
him what he had done. " It
Prince, and told
is he remarked, " but I feel
curious," quite
warm now, although it is so cold."
a That is because
you have done a good
action," said the Prince. And the little
And he
bridge. !
he cried " I am
Egypt ; just starting."
"
Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said
the Prince, " will you not stay with me one
'
night longer ?
" I am waited for in
Egypt," answered the
" To-morrow
Swallow. my friends will fly
up to the Second Cataract. The river-horse
dreamy eyes. He
trying to finish a play
is
a-hoy !
they shouted as each chest came up.
" I am '
night longer ?
" It is " and
winter," answered the Swallow,
the chill snow will soon be here. In Egypt
the sun is warm on the green palm-trees, and
the crocodiles lie in the mud and look lazily
THE HAPPY PRINCE
about them. My companions are
ouilding
a nest in the Temple of Baalbec, and the
pink
and white doves are watching them, and cooing
to each other. Dear Prince, I must leave you,
but I will never forget you, and next spring
I will bring you back two beautiful jewels in
listlessly
at the black streets. Under the arch-
way of a bridge two little boys were lying in
one another's arms to try and keep themselves
a How
warm. hungry we are they said.
!
they cried.
Then the snow came, and after the snow
came the frost. The streets looked as if they
were made of silver, they were so bright and
long icicles like crystal daggers
glistening ;
" am
I
glad that you are going to Egypt at
"
last, little Swallow," said the Prince, you
have stayed too long here ;
but you must kiss
me on the love you."
lips,
for I
"It is not to
Egypt that I am going," said
" I am
the Swallow. going to the House of
'
lips,
and fell down dead at his feet.
35
THE HAPPY PRINCE
'
he said.
" How Town
shabby, indeed ! cried the
Councillors, who
agreed with the always
Mayor ; and they went up to look at it.
" The
ruby has fallen out of his sword, his
eyes are gone, and he is golden no longer,"
said the " in he is little better
Mayor ; fact,
'
than a beggar !
|
he is no longer useful," said the Art Professor
at the
University.
36
THE HAPPY PRINCE
Thenthey melted the statue in a furnace,
and the Mayor held a meeting of the Corpora-
tion to decide what was to be done with the
metal. " We must have another of
statue,
u and
course," he said, it shall be a statue of
myself."
u Of said each of the Town
myself,"
Councillors, and
they quarrelled. When
I last heard of them they were quarrelling
still.
all
garden my !
I told his
story to the stars, and now I see him.
His hair is dark hyacinth-blossom, and
as the
what is
joy to me, to him is
pain. Surely Love
is a wonderful thing. It is more precious than
emeralds, and dearer than fine opals. Pearls
and pomegranates cannot buy it, nor is it set
Green
Why is little
Why, indeed ?
whispered a Daisy to his
5*
the Student's sorrow, and she sat silent
in the oak-tree, and thought about the
mystery of Love.
Suddenly she spread her brown wings
flight, and soared into the air. She
for
44
THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE ROSE
passed through the grove like a shadow, and
like a shadow she sailed across the garden.
'
am not afraid."
" If
you want a red rose," said the Tree,
"
you must build it out of music by moonlight,
and with your own heart's-blood. You
stain it
incense.'
49 G
THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE ROSE
am afraid not. In fact, she is like most artists;
she is all
style
without any sincerity. She
would not sacrifice herself for others. She
thinks merely of music, and everybody knows
that the arts are selfish. Still, it must be ad-
dreams. It floated
through the reeds of the
river,and they carried its message to the sea.
" cried the Tree, " the rose is
'
Look, look !
finished now ;
'
love you."
listen to them. !
TRESPASSERS
WILL BE
PROSECUTED
He was a very selfish Giant.
put its head out from the grass, but when it saw
the notice-board it was so sorry for the children
61
THE SELFISH GIANT
that slipped back into the ground again, and
it
like ice.
" I cannot understand the Spring is so
why
late in
coming," said the Selfish Giant, as he
THE SELFISH GIANT
sat at the window and looked out at his cold
he said ;
here. I will
put that poor little boy on the
top of the tree, and then I will knock down the
wall, and my garden shall be the children's
flowers of all."
One winter morning he looked out of his
window as he was dressing. He did not hate
the winter now, for he knew that it was merely
the Spring asleep, and that the flowers were
resting.
cried
the Giant ; " tell me, that I might take my big
sword and slay him."
" " " but these are
Nay answered the child
!
;
all
very well in way, but friendship is much
its
silly question
!
" I should
rat. expect my devoted friend to
be devoted to me, of course."
u And what would do in return ?
'
you
said the little bird, swinging upon a silver
asked the
very distinguished
Water-rat.
" " I don't think
No," answered the Linnet,
he was distinguished at all, except for his kind
heart, and his funny round
good-humoured
face. He lived in a tiny cottage all by him-
self, and every day he worked in his garden.
sheep ;
but Hans never troubled his head about
these things, and nothing gave him greater
rv
THE DEVOTED FRIEND
" '
There no good in
is
my going to see little
Miller ;
'
I
really don't know what is the use
of sending you to school. You seem not to
learn anything. Why, if little Hans came up
here, and saw our warm fire, and our good
that.'
" c
How
well you talk
:
story ?
Water-rat.
" " that
Certainly not," answered the Linnet,
is the beginning."
Then you are quite behind the age," said
THE DEVOTED FRIEND
the Water-rat. "
Every good story-teller
nowadays starts with the end, and then goes
on to the beginning, and concludes with the
middle. That is the new method. I heard
all aboutthe other day from a critic who
it
your story.
I like the Miller
little Hans.
" '
the wonderful
thing about it, but I am
afraid you don't understand the poetry of life.
by-the-bye !
stupid thing to do !
84
THE DEVOTED FRIEND
" c '
was
Well, the fact is,' said Hans, that I
c
why, that is
just what I want for the roof of
to market ?
" c
am so sorry,' said c
but I am
Oh, I Hans,
really very busy to-day. I have got all
my
creepers to nail up, and all
my flowers to
in bed.
" '
said the c
is
doing good.'
" c I am
very sorry,' said little Hans, rubbing
his eyes and pulling ofT his night-cap, c but I
'
me if I said I was busy ? he inquired in a shy
and timid voice.
"c
Well, really,' answered the Miller, I do not
C
Miller,
<
but you must take more pains. At
present you have only the practice of friend-
ship ; some day you will have the theory also.'
" 4
Do you '
asked
really think I shall ? little
Hans.
" c I have no doubt of answered the
it,'
Miller,
c
but now that you have mended the
93
THE DEVOTED FRIEND
roof, you had better go home and rest, for I
in great trouble.
boy has fallen off
My little
return.'
" ( c
Certainly,' cried little Hans, I take it
96
THE DEVOTED FRIEND
" do without
Well, never mind,
'
I will it,'
place ; so he walked
at the head of the pro-
"
quite evident then that you have no
It is
moral ?
"
Certainly," said the Linnet.
"
Well, really," said the Water-rat, in a very
" I think
angry manner, you should have told
me that before you began. If you had done
so, I certainly would not have listened to you ;
c
in fact, I should have said Pooh,' like the
now
'
'
I told him a
story with a moral."
" Ah that is
!
always a very dangerous thing
to do," said the Duck.
And I
quite agree with her.
THE
REMARKABLE
ROCKET
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET
and
the King doubled his salary a second time.
107
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET
" What an honour ! cried all the courtiers.
After the banquet there was to be a Ball.
The bride and bridegroom were to dance the
Rose-dance together, and the King had prom-
ised to play the flute. He
played very badly,
but no one had ever dared to tell him so,
because he was the King. Indeed, he knew
only two airs, and was never quite certain which
one he was playing ; but it made no matter,
for, whatever he did, everybody cried out,
" '
Charming !
charming !
I am
could not be lovelier. very glad I have
travelled. Travel improves the mind wonder-
Court news."
1 10
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET
But the Catherine Wheel shook her head.
" Romance is Romance Romance
dead, is dead,
is dead," she murmured. She was one of those
and everybody he
! !
said,
listened except the poor Catherine Wheel, who
was still shaking her head, and murmuring,
" Romance is dead."
" Order order "
! ! cried out a Cracker. He was
something of a politician, and had always taken a
prominent part in the local elections, so he knew
the proper Parliamentary expressions to use.
V
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET
" the Catherine
Quite dead," whispered
Wheel, and she went off to sleep.
*
mother was the most celebrated Catherine Wheel T|T
*
^
she went out, and each time that she did so she
threw into the seven pink stars.
air She was * *
. *
three feet and a half in diameter, and made of
the very best gunpowder. My father was a
Rocket like myself, and of French extraction.
He flew so high that the people were afraid that
he would never come down again. He did,
Pylotechnic art."
"
Pyrotechnic, Pyrotechnic, you mean," said
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET
a Bengal Light
" know it is Pyrotechnic,
I for
;
said the
person
Cracker to the Roman Candle.
" A
person who, because he has corns
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET
himself, always treads on other people's toes,"
answered the Roman Candle in a low whisper ;
and the Cracker nearly exploded with laughter.
" "
Pray, what are you laughing at ? inquired
the Rocket ; cc I am not laughing."
" I am laughing because I am happy," replied
the Cracker.
" That is a very selfish reason," said the
happy ? You
should be thinking about others.
In fact, you should be thinking about me. I
yourself dry."
"
Certainly," exclaimed the Bengal Light,
who was now in better spirits " that is
; only
common sense."
" "
Common sense, indeed ! said the Rocket
" am
indignantly ; you forget that I very un-
common, and very remarkable. Why, anybody
can have common sense, provided that they
have no imagination. But I have imagination,
for I never think of things as
they really are ;
I
always think of them as being quite different.
As for keeping myself dry, there is
evidently
no one here who can at all
appreciate an
emotional nature. Fortunately for myself, I
said the
" but
Rocket ;
it is
only what I
expected.
There is
you are hollow and
nothing in you ;
son ! It is
really
too dreadful ! I shall never
" But
they have not lost their only son,"
ever met."
" You are the rudest person I ever met," said
the Rocket, " and you cannot understand
my
friendship for the Prince."
" even know
Why, you don't him," growled
the Roman Candle.
u I never said I knew him," answered the
say that if I knew him I
cc
Rocket. I dare
should not be his friend at all. It is a very
pole.
Itwas certainly a magnificent display.
Whizz Whizz went the Catherine Wheel,
! !
and he threw
cried, !
you."
"
Conversation, indeed !' said the Rocket.
" You have talked the whole time
yourself.
That is not conversation."
"
Somebody must listen," answered the Frog 5
" and I like to do all the talking It
myself.
saves time, and prevents arguments."
" But I like arguments," said the Rocket.
"I said the
hope not," Frog complacently.
" are extremely vulgar, for every body
Arguments
in good society holds exactly the same opinions.
Good-bye a second time ;
I see my daughters
125
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET
'
in the distance ;
and the little
Frog swam
away.
" You are a
very irritating person," said the
"
Rocket, and very ill-bred. I hate people who
talk about themselves, as you do, when one
wants to talk about oneself, as I do. It is what
I call selfishness, and selfishness is a most de-
testable thing, especially to any one of my
temperament, for I am well known for my
sympathetic nature. In fact, you should take
example by me ; you could not possibly have
a better model. Now that you have the chance
you had better avail yourself of it, for I am
I am
going back to Court almost immediately.
a great favourite at Court ; in fact, the Prince
and Princess were married yesterday in my
honour. Of course you know nothing of these
matters, for you are a provincial."
u There is no
good talking to him," said a
dragon-fly, who was sitting on the top of a
126
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET
brown bulrush " no for he
large ; good at all,
sations all
by myself, and I am so clever that
sometimes I don't understand a single word of
what am saying."
I
" Then on
you should certainly lecture
very silly
!
accident ?
"
quite evident that you have always
It is
/
I
llr di Juj.
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET
sheep like the collie -dog, that would be
something."
" Rocket
My good creature," cried the in a
" I see that
very haughty tone of voice, you
belong to the lower orders. A person of my
position is never useful. We have certain ac-
complishments, and that is more than sufficient.
I have no
sympathy myself with industry of
any kind, least of all with such industries as
you seem to recommend. Indeed, I have
always been of opinion that hard work is
simply the refuge of people who have nothing
whatever to do."
"
Well, well," said the Duck, who was of a
very peaceable disposition, and never quarrelled
with any one, " everybody has different tastes.
I
hope, at any rate, that you are going to take
screamed the
!
cried one
!
eyes.
The Rocket was very damp, so he took a
long time to burn. At last, however, the fire
caught him.
132
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET
" "
Nowgoing off
I am ! he cried, and he
made himself very stiff and " I know
straight.
I go much higher than the stars,
shall much
higher than the moon, much higher than the
'