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 Other Tales
He saw a most wonderful sight。 Through a little hole in the wall the
children had crept in； and they were sitting in the branches of the trees。
In every tree that he could see there was a little child。 And the trees were
so glad to have the children back again that they had covered themselves
with blossoms； and were waving their arms gently above the children's
heads。 The birds were flying about and twittering with delight； and the
flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing。 It was a
lovely scene； only in one corner it was still winter。 It was the farthest
corner of the garden； and in it was standing a little boy。 He was so small
that he could not reach up to the branches of the tree； and he was
wandering all round it； crying bitterly。 The poor tree was still quite
covered with