Have you read about The Happy Prince?

One of the most beautiful short stories I've ever read so far...is The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde. I've not read all of the stories in this collection (The Happy Prince and Other Stories) yet, but I'm pretty sure, when I do, I'd be in for a journey filled with sadness and sorrow, but in a good way.

In a nutshell, The Happy Prince is about doing good with a sincere heart. The Happy Prince, is a statue built in memory of a prince. Standing high on a mountain, he could see pain and misery that was happening around him. One day, during a cold winter, a Swallow decided to perch on the Prince for a one night's rest before he proceeded to Egypt. Little did the Swallow know, his one night would extend to another night, then another and another till he died, due to the wintry blasts, at the feet of the Happy Prince. It was during stay that he helped The Happy Prince bring joy to the people who suffered below - he flew to them, upon The Happy Prince's requests, and brought them all the sapphires, rubies and fine gold that was gilded all over the Prince.

When everything was stripped off, the Prince looked shabby, and no longer looked as charming and as beautiful as before. He was then demolished, because he was considered useless, and was thrown into a furnace. What surprised the people was, the Prince's leaden heart just wouldn't melt in it, so it was thrown on a dust-heap where the dead Swallow lain.

One day God calls to one of His Angels, to bring Him the two most precious things in the city. And the Angel brought Him the leaden heart and the Swallow.

This story, although fiction, brings hope and it goes to show that all is not lost when you spread kindness, joy and happiness. And don't be disheartened if you're rejected, because God knows.

Let's do something good to someone, and if that person wants to return the favour, ask him/her to pay it forward :)

Good night everyone and may the Angels watch over you....

Comments

Xweing said…
Yeah, read this when I was a child. I find it beautiful and touching too.

When I grew up I always mistook this title for Le Petit Prince... no wonder both stories didn't match.. haha

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