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The Happy Prince is a story for children by Oscar Wilde first published in May 1888. The message conveyed through the story is that the meaning of life lies in dedication rather than what we get.

Synopsis: In a town, a swallow sees a statue of the late "Happy Prince", who in reality has never experienced true happiness. Viewing people suffering in poverty, the Happy Prince asks the swallow to take the ruby from his hilt, the sapphires from his eyes, and the gold leaf covering his body to give to the poor. As winter comes and the Happy Prince is stripped of all of his beauty, his lead heart breaks when the swallow dies as a result of his selfless deeds and severe cold. The statue is then torn down and melted, leaving behind the statue’s broken heart and the dead swallow. An angel takes these to heaven, where God deems them to be the two most precious things in the city.