once upon a time in a land far away there was a Happy Prince
that's not him
why must you cry why don't you be happy like the Happy Prince that's him
the statue is in honor of a prince who once lived in a castle at the edge of the city
because of the high walls nobody ever really saw the prince
but those who did said he was always happy
and so the statue was named after the Happy Prince so everyone would remember what true happiness was
one small swallow found herself left behind she needed to rest
the other birds didn't seem to care about her only for themselves
so all alone she settled down at the feet of the statue to rest
it doesn't look like rain said the bird
because I'm sad said the statue
but I thought you were the Happy Prince I was once as a child
I didn't know what life is like for others outside of the palace but now I do look down there
for years he would come here with his wife and children
I have watched his children grow up
now they no longer come to visit his wife is also gone
look down there
the mother had no food for the child to eat only water from liver which will make him sicker
each day he cries out for days did people go about their lives thinking only of themselves
forgetting the needs of others
the ruby in my sword is worn loose try to take it out
take it to mother she needs it for her child more than I do
I must leave soon
and so the bird took the Ruby and flew across the rooftops to the mother and her sick child
Ruby a real Ruby thank you
the following day as the bird was about to say her goodbyes through the Happy Prince
she told him about her friends waiting for her in Egypt
but prince why are you still sad look
she lives in that house the father has an injury and can't work
her mother is blind and so the little girl has to sell matches for money so they can eat
she is so cold she needs warmth me too
can you do one last thing for me stay one more night and be my messenger again
my eyes are emeralds take one give it to the little girl
she can buy food to feed her family and some firewood
but then you'll have only one eye one is all I need
a present from a happy prince he wants you to be happy
the very next day as the bird woke up and got ready to leave
that poor mother has just given birth to her baby
but she has no husband to look after them and no food
take my other eye give it to the mother but that would leave you with none
the mother and child need it more than me please do it for them
for your baby from the Happy Prince
when she is old I would tell her the happy prince made a happy life just for her
you must leave for Egypt you are cold but I can't leave you you've spread so much happiness
if only you could see how much this gave the bird an idea
I will be your eyes I will tell you everything that is happening in the town
and so the bird flew about the town listening to all the conversations and local gossip
and telling the Happy Prince all the news one day as the bird flew about the village to find out all the news
she visited the Harbor where a ship was being prepared to set sail
come on little one I won't harm you the bird was hungry because of his kindness they became friends
captain I am an able-bodied sailor and wished to join your ship
where are you bound for Egypt we set sail in two days
that is where you should be little bird you will die in this cold come with me I'll care for
the bird knew beaten taken care of by a kindly sailor on a boat to Egypt
was safer than flying there in the cold
so she flew back to the Happy Prince to say her goodbyes
dear Prince I must leave you now but I will never forget you
and next spring I will bring you back two beautiful emeralds for your eyes
and a ruby for your sword before you leave tell me one more time about Egypt so I can imagine you there
she told him about the things she would see of the crocodiles in the River Nile
the Sphinx as old as the world itself and of the merchants and their camels
my dear little swallow you tell me of these wonderful things but
I cannot imagine them because my mind is already full of the suffering of men women and children
fly over my city one last time and tell me what you see
when she told him the truth about what she had seen
I am covered with fine gold take it all off leaf by leaf and give it to the poor
make them happy and so the bird peeled the gold from the Happy Prince and gave it to the poor and needy
it used to be so wonderful pure gold with eyes of Emerald now it's dull and gray
it looks like a beggar's statue tear it down
your work here is done now you must go or you will die
but I don't want to leave you you taught me what it means to be kind and
how to make people happy all I ask is that you continue to spread happiness wherever you go
where's the happy prince come little bird
the people told the mayor what he was doing wrong
the happy prince had given them everything he had
you see no matter what the mayor thought of the Happy Prince
the fact that his heart remained was proof of his love for them but the story doesn't end there
it's time we set sail for Egypt and so the bird left for Egypt with a happy heart
for she had met the happy prince and learned that beauty on the outside
is nothing compared to true beauty which is the love we have in our heart for others