This document is an excerpt from the short story "The Happy Prince" by Oscar Wilde. It tells the story of a swallow who encounters a statue of the Happy Prince. The statue was once a real prince who is now covered in gold and precious jewels. Though beautiful, he is saddened to see the suffering of the poor people in his city from his high place. He asks the swallow to help the poor by taking his remaining jewels - first an eye to help a sick boy, then the other eye to help a poor match girl. In return, the swallow agrees to stay with the blind prince through the winter.