`` How shabby indeed ! '' cried the Town Councillors , who always agreed with the Mayor ; and they went up to look at it . `` The ruby has fallen out of his sword , his eyes are gone , and he is golden no longer , '' said the Mayor in fact , `` he is litttle beter than a beggar ! '' `` Little better than a beggar , '' said the Town Councillors . `` And here is actually a dead bird at his feet ! '' continued the Mayor . `` We must really issue a proclamation that birds are not to be allowed to die here . '' And the Town Clerk made a note of the suggestion . So they pulled down the statue of the Happy Prince . `` As he is no longer beautiful he is no longer useful , '' said the Art Professor at the University . Then they melted the statue in a furnace , and the Mayor held a meeting of the Corporation to decide what was to be done with the metal . `` We must have another statue , of course , '' he said , `` and it shall be a statue of myself . '' `` Of myself , '' said each of the Town Councillors , and they quarrelled . When I last heard of them they were quarrelling still . `` What a strange thing ! '' said the overseer of the workmen at the foundry . `` This broken lead heart will not melt in the furnace . We must throw it away . '' So they threw it on a dust-heap where the dead Swallow was also lying . `` Bring me the two most precious things in the city , '' said God to one of His Angels ; and the Angel brought Him the leaden heart and the dead bird .
`` You have rightly chosen , '' said God , `` for in my garden of Paradise this little bird shall sing for evermore , and in my city of gold the Happy XXXXX shall praise me . ''
Angels Clerk Councillors Mayor Prince Professor University birds dust-heap ruby