and　talk　about　the　beautiful　garden　inside。 〃How　happy　we

were　there；〃　they　said　to　each　other。

Then　the　Spring　came；　and　all　over　the　country　there　were　little

blossoms　and　little　birds。　Only　in　the　garden　of　the　Selfish　Giant　it　was

19

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

still　winter。　The　birds　did　not　care　to　sing　in　it　as　there　were　no　children；

and　the　trees　forgot　to　blossom。　Once　a　beautiful　flower　put　its　head　out

from　the　grass；　but　when　it　saw　the　notice…board　it　was　so　sorry　for　the

children　that　it　slipped　back　into　the　ground　again；　and　went　off　to　sleep。

The　only　people　who　were　pleased　were　the　Snow　and　the　Frost。　〃Spring

has　forgotten　this　garden；〃　they　cried；　〃so　we　will　live　here　all　the　year

round。〃　The　Snow　covered　up　the　grass　with　her　great　white　cloak；　and

the　Frost　painted　all　the　trees　silver。　Then　they　invited　the　North　Wind　to

stay　with　them；　and　he　came。　He　was　wrapped　in　furs；　and　he　roared　all

day　about　the　garden；　and　blew　the　chimney…pots　down。　〃This　is　a

delightful　spot；〃　he　said；　〃we　must　ask　the　Hail　on　a　visit。〃　So　the　Hail

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