came。　Every　day　for　three　hours　he　rattled　on　the　roof　of　the　castle　till　he

broke　most　of　the　slates；　and　then　he　ran　round　and　round　the　garden　as

fast　as　he　could　go。　He　was　dressed　in　grey；　and　his　breath　was　like　ice。

〃I　cannot　understand　why　the　Spring　is　so　late　in　ing；〃　said　the

Selfish　Giant；　as　he　sat　at　the　window　and　looked　out　at　his　cold　white

garden；　〃I　hope　there　will　be　a　change　in　the　weather。〃

But　the　Spring　never　came；　nor　the　Summer。　The　Autumn　gave

golden　fruit　to　every　garden；　but　to　the　Giant's　garden　she　gave　none。　〃He

is　too　selfish；〃　she　said。　So　it　was　always　Winter　there；　and　the　North

Wind；　and　the　Hail；　and　the　Frost；　and　the　Snow　danced　about　through　the

trees。

One　morning　the　Giant　was　lying　awake　in　bed　when　he　heard　some

lovely　music。　It　sounded　so　sweet　to　his　ears　that　he　thought　it　must　be

the　King's　musicians　passing　by。　It　was　really　only　a　little　lin　singing

outside　his　window；　but　it　was　so　long　since　he　had　heard　a　bird　sing　in　his

garden　that　it　seemed　to　him　to　be　the　most　beautiful　music　in　the　world。

Then　the　Hail　stopped　dancing　over　his　head；　and　the　North　Wind　ceased

roaring；　and　a　delicious　perfume　came　to　him　through　the　open　casement。

〃I　believe　the　Spring　has　e　at　last；〃　said　the　Giant；　and　he　jumped　out

of　bed　and　looked　out。

What　did　he　see？

20

The　Happy　Prince　and　Oth