In the heart of a bustling city stood a magnificent statue of the Happy Prince. His eyes were made of bright sapphires, and his body was covered in gleaming gold leaf. The city’s people admired him, but little did they know that the statue had a kind and compassionate heart.
One cold winter night, as snowflakes gently fell, a little swallow found himself unable to continue his migration. He was tired and hungry, seeking shelter from the biting wind. The Happy Prince noticed the struggling bird and spoke to him in a gentle voice.
“Come, little swallow, rest on my shoulder and warm yourself,” said the Happy Prince. The swallow, grateful for the kindness, nestled close to the statue.
As they talked, the Happy Prince learned of the hardships faced by the city’s poor — children shivering in thin clothes, families with empty cupboards, and the elderly struggling to keep warm. The Happy Prince, though made of stone, felt a deep sorrow for their plight.
He decided to help, and with the swallow’s help, he began to give away his treasures. First, he removed one of his sapphire eyes and asked the swallow to take it to a poor mother sewing in a cold attic. The mother’s face lit up with joy as she received the precious gem, and she was able to sell it to buy warm clothes for her children.
Next, the Happy Prince gave away his other sapphire eye to a young man who was trying to buy medicine for his sick grandmother. The gold leaf that adorned his body was also gradually chipped away, piece by piece, to provide food, warmth, and hope to those in need.
As the winter wore on, the Happy Prince became less and less adorned, but his heart grew ever more joyful. The swallow, touched by the statue’s selflessness, decided to stay with him instead of continuing his journey south.
When spring arrived, the city was filled with blossoms and the laughter of children playing in the streets, all wearing warm clothes and well-fed. The Happy Prince, now a plain stone figure, looked down upon the city with a contented smile.
Though he had given away all his riches, the true wealth of love and compassion remained. The city’s people, inspired by the Happy Prince’s sacrifice, began to care for one another more deeply, and the spirit of generosity continued to thrive.The story is inspired by: Bedtime Stories https://www.bedtimestory.cc/
