women。　There　is　no　Mystery　so　great　as　Misery。　Fly　over　my　city；　little

Swallow；　and　tell　me　what　you　see　there。〃

So　the　Swallow　flew　over　the　great　city；　and　saw　the　rich　making

merry　in　their　beautiful　houses；　while　the　beggars　were　sitting　at　the　gates。

He　flew　into　dark　lanes；　and　saw　the　white　faces　of　starving　children

looking　out　listlessly　at　the　black　streets。　Under　the　archway　of　a　bridge

two　little　boys　were　lying　in　one　another's　arms　to　try　and　keep　themselves

warm。　〃How　hungry　we　are！〃　they　said。　〃You　must　not　lie　here；〃

shouted　the　Watchman；　and　they　wandered　out　into　the　rain。

Then　he　flew　back　and　told　the　Prince　what　he　had　seen。

〃I　am　covered　with　fine　gold；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃you　must　take　it　off；

leaf　by　leaf；　and　give　it　to　my　poor；　the　living　always　think　that　gold　can

make　them　happy。〃

Leaf　after　leaf　of　the　fine　gold　the　Swallow　picked　off；　till　the　Happy

Prince　looked　quite　dull　and　grey。　Leaf　after　leaf　of　the　fine　gold　he

brought　to　the　poor；　and　the　children's　faces　grew　rosier；　and　they　laughed

and　played　games　in　the　street。　〃We　have　bread　now！〃　they　cried。

Then　the　snow　came；　and　after　the　snow　came　the　frost。　The　streets

looked　as　if　they　were　made　of　silver；　they　were　so　bright　and　glistening；

long　icicles　like　crystal　daggers　hung　down　from　the　eaves　of　the　houses；

everybody　went　about　in　furs；　and