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down his stick like rain…drops； and nearly drowned two little beetles； who
were just thinking of setting up house together； and were looking for a
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
nice dry spot to live in。
〃He must have a truly romantic nature；〃 said the Catherine Wheel； 〃for
he weeps when there is nothing at all to weep about〃； and she heaved a
deep sigh； and thought about the deal box。
But the Roman Candle and the Bengal Light were quite indignant； and
kept saying； 〃Humbug！ humbug！〃 at the top of their voices。 They were
extremely practical； and whenever they objected to anything they called it
humbug。
Then the moon rose like a wonderful silver shield； and the stars began
to shine； and a sound of music came from the palace。
The Prince and Princess were leading the dance。 They danced so
beautifully that the tall white lilies peeped in at the window and watched
them； and the great red poppies nodded their heads and beat time。
Then ten o'clock struck； and then eleven； and then twelve； and at the
last stroke of midnight every one came out on the terrace； and the King
sent for the Royal Pyrotechnist。
〃Let the fireworks begin；〃 said the King； and the Royal Pyrotechnist
made a low bow； and marched down to the end of the garden。 He had six
attendants with him； each of whom carried a lighted torch at the end of a
long pole。
It was certainly a magnificent display。
Whizz！ Whizz！ went the Catherine Wheel； as she spun round and
round。 Boom！ Boom！ went the Roman Candle。 Then the Squibs
danced all over the place； and the Bengal Lights made everything look
scarlet。 〃Good…bye；〃 cried the Fire…balloon； as he soared away； dropping
tiny blue sparks。 Bang！ Bang！ answered the Crackers； who were
enjoying themselves immensely。 Every one was a great success except
the Remarkable Rocket。 He was so damp with crying that he could not
go off at all。 The best thing in him was the gunpowder； and that was so
wet with tears that it was of no use。 All his poor relations； to whom he
would never speak； except with a sneer； shot up into the sky like
wonderful golden flowers with blossoms of fire。 Huzza！ Huzza！ cried
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
the Court； and the little Princess laughed with pleasure。
〃I suppose they are reserving me for some grand occasion；〃 said the
Rocket； 〃no doubt that is what it means；〃 and he looked more supercilious
than ever。
The next day the workmen came to put everything tidy。 〃This is
evidently a deputation；〃 said the Rocket； 〃I will receive them with
being dignity〃 so he put his nose in the air； and began to frown
severely as if he were thinking about some very important subject。 But
they took no notice of him at all till they were just going away。 Then one
of them caught sight of him。 〃Hallo！〃 he cried； 〃what a bad rocket！〃 and
he threw him over the wall into the ditch。
〃BAD Rocket？ BAD Rocket？〃 he said； as he whirled through the air；
〃impossible！ GRAND Rocket； that is what the man said。 BAD and
GRAND sound very much the same； indeed they often are the same〃； and
he fell into the mud。
〃It is not fortable here；〃 he remarked； 〃but no doubt it is some
fashionable watering…place； and they have sent me away to recruit my
health。 My nerves are certainly very much shattered； and I require rest。〃
Then a little Frog； with bright jewelled eyes； and a green mottled coat；
swam up to him。
〃A new arrival； I see！〃 said the Frog。 〃Well； after all there is nothing
like mud。 Give me rainy weather and a ditch； and I am quite happy。 Do
you think it will be a wet afternoon？ I am sure I hope so； but the sky is
quite blue and cloudless。 What a pity！〃
〃Ahem！ ahem！〃 said the Rocket； and he began to cough。
〃What a delightful voice you have！〃 cried the Frog。 〃Really it is
quite like a croak； and croaking is of course the most musical sound in the
world。 You will hear our glee…club this evening。 We sit in the old duck
pond close by the farmer's house； and as soon as the moon rises we begin。
It is so entrancing that everybody lies awake to listen to us。 In fact； it
was only yesterday that I heard the farmer's wife say to her mother that
she could not get a wink of sleep at night on account of us。 It is most
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
gratifying to find oneself so popular。〃
〃Ahem！ ahem！〃 said the Rocket angrily。 He was very much annoyed
that he could not get a word in。
〃A delightful voice； certainly；〃 continued the Frog； 〃I hope you will
e over to the duck…pond。 I am off to look for my daughters。 I have
six beautiful daughters； and I am so afraid the Pike may meet them。 He
is a perfect monster； and would have no hesitation in breakfasting off them。
Well； good…bye： I have enjoyed our conversation very much； I assure
you。〃
〃Conversation； indeed！〃 said the Rocket。 〃You have talked the whole
time yourself。 That is not conversation。〃
〃Somebody must listen；〃 answered the Frog； 〃and I like to do all the
talking myself。 It saves time； and prevents arguments。〃
〃But I like arguments；〃 said the Rocket。
〃I hope not；〃 said the Frog placently。 〃Arguments are extremely
vulgar； for everybody in good society holds exactly the same opinions。
Good…bye a second time； I see my daughters 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 detestable 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 going back to Court
almost immediately。 I am 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。〃
〃There is no good talking to him；〃 said a Dragon…fly； who was sitting
on the top of a large brown bulrush； 〃no good at all； for he has gone
away。〃
〃Well； that is his loss； not mine；〃 answered the Rocket。 〃I am not
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
going to stop talking to him merely because he pays no attention。 I like
hearing myself talk。 It is one of my greatest pleasures。 I often have
long conversations all by myself； and I am so clever that sometimes I don't
understand a single word of what I am saying。〃
〃Then you should certainly lecture on Philosophy；〃 said the Dragon…
fly； and he spread a pair of lovely gauze wings and soared away into the
sky。
〃How very silly of him not to stay here！〃 said the Rocket。 〃I am sure
that he has not often got such a chance of improving his mind。 However； I
don't care a bit。 Genius like mine is sure to be appreciated some day〃；
and he sank down a little deeper into the mud。
After some time a large White Duck swam up to him。 She had
yellow legs； and webbed feet； and was considered a great beauty on
account of her waddle。
〃Quack； quack； quack；〃 she said。 〃What a curious shape you are！
May I ask were you born like that； or is it the result of an accident？〃
〃It is quite evident that you have always lived in the country；〃
answered the Rocket； 〃otherwise you would know who I am。 However； I
excuse your ignorance。 It would be unfair to expect other people to be as
remarkable as oneself。 You will no doubt be surprised to hear that I can
fly up into the sky； and e down in a shower of golden rain。〃
〃I don't think much of that；〃 said the Duck； 〃as I cannot see what use it
is to any one。 Now； if you could plough the fields like