The Happy Prince (12)

The Happy Prince (12)

The poor little swallow got colder and colder, but he would not go away from the Prince.

At last he knew that his end had come.
" Goodbye, dear Prince, " he whispered as he fell at the statue's feet.

" Goodbye, " replied the Prince.
And something broke inside him.
It was his heart.

Next day the mayor and town councilors passed by the pillar and looked up at the statue.

" Dear me ! How shabby our Prince looks ! " they cried.
" He seems to have lost all his jewels and someone has stolen his gold clothes. "

" And look ! There's a horrid dead bird at his feet ! We can't have that here. It must be taken away at once ! "

" We'd better take the statue down too, " said another councilor.
" We'll put up a better one in its place. Whose shall we put there this time ? "

(12/13)