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joyful occasion； and when I soar up into the air I intend to tell the stars all
about it。 You will see them twinkle when I talk to them about the pretty
bride。〃
〃Ah！ what a trivial view of life！〃 said the Rocket； 〃but it is only what I
expected。 There is nothing in you； you are hollow and empty。 Why；
perhaps the Prince and Princess may go to live in a country where there is
a deep river； and perhaps they may have one only son； a little fair…haired
boy with violet eyes like the Prince himself； and perhaps some day he may
go out to walk with his nurse； and perhaps the nurse may go to sleep under
a great elder…tree； and perhaps the little boy may fall into the deep river
and be drowned。 What a terrible misfortune！ Poor people； to lose their
only son！ It is really too dreadful！ I shall never get over it。〃
〃But they have not lost their only son；〃 said the Roman Candle； 〃no
misfortune has happened to them at all。〃
〃I never said that they had；〃 replied the Rocket； 〃I said that they might。
If they had lost their only son there would be no use in saying anything
more about the matter。 I hate people who cry over spilt milk。 But when
I think that they might lose their only son； I certainly am very much
affected。〃
〃You certainly are！〃 cried the Bengal Light。 〃In fact； you are the
most affected person I ever met。〃
〃You are the rudest person I ever met；〃 said the Rocket； 〃and you
cannot understand my friendship for the Prince。〃
〃Why； you don't even know him；〃 growled the Roman Candle。
〃I never said I knew him；〃 answered the Rocket。 〃I dare say that if I
knew him I should not be his friend at all。 It is a very dangerous thing to
know one's friends。〃 〃You had really better keep yourself dry；〃 said the
Fire…balloon。 〃That is the important thing。〃
〃Very important for you； I have no doubt；〃 answered the Rocket； 〃but I
shall weep if I choose〃； and he actually burst into real tears； which flowed
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 clos