is to any one。 Now； if you could plough the fields like the ox； or draw a
cart like the horse； or look after the sheep like the collie…dog； that would
be something。〃
〃My good creature；〃 cried the Rocket in a very haughty tone of voice；
〃I see that you belong to the lower orders。 A person of my position is
never useful。 We have certain acplishments； and that is more than
sufficient。 I have no sympathy myself with industry of any kind； least of
all with such industries as you seem to remend。 Indeed； I have
always been of opinion that hard work is simply the refuge of people who
have nothing whatever to do。〃
45
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
〃Well； well；〃 said the Duck； who was of a very peaceable disposition；
and never quarrelled with any one； 〃everybody has different tastes。 I
hope； at any rate； that you are going to take up your residence here。〃
〃Oh！ dear no；〃 cried the Rocket。 〃I am merely a visitor； a
distinguished visitor。 The fact is that I find this place rather tedious。
There is neither society here； nor solitude。 In fact； it is essentially
suburban。 I shall probably go back to Court； for I know that I am
destined to make a sensation in the world。〃
〃I had thoughts of entering public life once myself；〃 remarked the
Duck； 〃there are so many things that need reforming。 Indeed； I took the
chair at a meeting some time ago； and we passed resolutions condemning
everything that we did not like。 However； they did not seem to have
much effect。 Now I go in for domesticity； and look after my family。〃
〃I am made for public life；〃 said the Rocket； 〃and so are all my
relations； even the humblest of them。 Whenever we appear we excite
great attention。 I have not actually appeared myself； but when I do so it
will be a magnificent sight。 As for domesticity； it ages one rapidly； and
distracts one's mind from higher things。〃
〃Ah！ the higher things of life； how fine they are！〃 said the Duck； 〃and
that reminds me how hungry I feel〃： and she swam away down the
stream； saying； 〃Quack； quack； quack。〃
〃e back！ e back！〃 screamed the Rocket； 〃I have a great deal to
say to you〃； but the Duck paid no attention to him。 〃I am glad that she
has gone；〃 he said to himself； 〃she has a decidedly middle…class mind〃；
and he sank a little deeper still into the mud； and began to think about the
loneliness of genius； when suddenly two little boys in white smocks came
running down the bank； with a kettle and some faggots。
〃This must be the deputation；〃 said the Rocket； and he tried to look
very dignified。
〃Hallo！〃 cried one of the boys； 〃look at this old stick！ I wonder how
it came here〃； and he picked the rocket out of the ditch。
〃OLD Stick！〃 said the Rocket； 〃impossible！ GOLD Stick； that is
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
what he said。 Gold Stick is very plimentary。 In fact； he mistakes
me for one of the Court dignitaries！〃
〃Let us put it into the fire！〃 said the other boy； 〃it will help to boil the
kettle。〃
So they piled the faggots together； and put the Rocket on top； and lit
the fire。
〃This is magnificent；〃 cried the Rocket； 〃they are going to let me off in
broad day…light； so that every one can see me。〃
〃We will go to sleep now；〃 they said； 〃and when we wake up the kettle
will be boiled〃； and they lay down on the grass； and shut their eyes。
The Rocket was very damp； so he took a long time to burn。 At last；
however； the fire caught him。
〃Now I am going off！〃 he cried； and he made himself very stiff and
straight。 〃I know I shall go much higher than the stars； much higher than
the moon； much higher than the sun。 In fact； I shall go so high that … 〃
Fizz！ Fizz！ Fizz！ and he went straight up into the air。
〃Delightful！〃 he cried； 〃I shall go on like this for ever。 What a
success I am！〃
But nobody saw him。
Then he began to feel a curious tingling sensation all over him。
〃Now I am going to explode；〃 he cried。 〃I shall set the whole world
on fire； and make such a noise that nobody will talk about anything else
for a whole year。〃 And he certainly did explode。 Bang！ Bang！ Bang！
went the gunpowder。 There was no doubt about it。
But nobody heard him； not even the two little boys； for they were
sound asleep。
Then all that was left of him was the stick； and this fell down on the
back of a Goose who was taking a walk by the side of the ditch。
〃Good heavens！〃 cried the Goose。 〃It is going to rain sticks〃； and she
rushed into the water。
〃I knew I should create a great sensation；〃 gasped the Rocket； and he
went out。
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
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