JKBOSE 9th Class English Solutions chapter –  22 THE HAPPY PRINCE

A beautiful statue had been set up on a tall column high above the city. It was the statue of the Happy Prince. It was covered with gold. It had sapphires in its eyes and a ruby on its sword hilt.

The Happy Prince was always happy when he was alive. He lived in the palace of happiness. He did not know what tears were. So his courtiers called him the Happy Prince. After his death, his statue was set up so high that he could see the misery of his city all around and would weep. He wanted to help his people, but was helpless. His feet were tied to the pedestal. Still he helped the needy people through a little bird.

One day, the Prince saw a swallow resting between his feet. He told the swallow that there was a poor house far away in a street. A poor woman lived there. Her little boy was lying ill. He had fever and was asking for oranges. But the poor woman had no money to buy oranges. The Prince asked the swallow to pick out the ruby from his sword and take it to her. The swallow did as it was told and laid the ruby beside the poor woman. It also fanned the sick boy’s forehead with its wings.

Then the Prince saw a young man who lived in a garret. The young man was writing a play. But it was so cold that he couldn’t write any more. He had no firewood to keep himself warm. The Happy Prince asked the swallow to pick out the sapphire from his one eye and give it to the young man. The swallow began to weep. It did not want to make the Happy Prince blind in one eye. But the Prince commanded the swallow to do so. He gave away his sapphire so that the man could buy firewood and finish his play.

The next day, the Prince saw a match girl who had let her matches fall into a gutter. She was crying because her father would beat her if she did not take home some money. The Happy Prince asked the swallow to take the sapphire from his other eye and give it to the poor little girl. The swallow was not ready to do so because that would make the Prince completely blind. But the Prince forced the swallow do as he desired. And when the little girl got the sapphire, she was very to happy.

The Prince became blind now. So the swallow decided to stay with the Prince always. The Prince asked the swallow to fly over his city and tell him what it saw there. The swallow informed the Prince that the poor were leading a miserable life.

The Prince said to the swallow, “I am covered with fine gold. Take it off, leaf by leaf, and give it to the poor.” The swallow picked leaf after leaf and took them to the poor people of the city. The poor children had now bread to eat. They laughed and played games in the street. Their faces grew rosier. But when all the gold was removed, the Prince looked very ugly. That winter, the poor swallow died of cold at the Prince’s feet. The Prince’s leaden heart broke when his beloved swallow died.

The next morning, the city Mayor passed that way and saw the statue that now looked very ugly. He ordered it to be pulled down. The statue was melted in a but the broken leaden heart would not melt. So it was thrown on a dust heap where the dead swallow was also lying.

God sent one of His angels to the earth. He asked the angel to bring Him two most precious things from the city. The angel took the leaden heart and the dead swallow to God.

God was very happy with the angel. He said that the angel had chosen rightly. He kept the swallow in His garden of Paradise. The Happy Prince was admitted in God’s city of gold where he sang for ever in praise of God.

नगर में एक ऊंचे स्तम्भ के ऊपर एक सुन्दर बुत लगा हुआ था। यह प्रसन्नचित्त राजकुमार का बुत था । वह सोने की पत्तियों से ढका था। इसकी आंखें नीलम से बनी थीं और इसकी तलवार की मूठ पर एक लाल माणिक जड़ा हुआ था।

प्रसन्नचित्त राजकुमार जब जीवित था तो वह एक खुशी भरे महल में रहता था और सदैव प्रसन्न रहता था। उसे पता नहीं था कि आंसू क्या होते हैं। इसलिए उसके दरबारी उसे हैपी प्रिन्स (प्रसन्नचित्त राजकुमार) कहा करते थे। उसकी मृत्यु के बाद उसका बुत इतनी ऊंचाई पर स्थापित किया गया कि उसे नगर में रहने वाले सभी लोगों का दुःखी जीवन स्पष्ट दिखलाई देता था। जब वह यह सब देखता तो उसकी आंखों में आंसू भर आते । वह ग़रीबों की सहायता करना चाहता था, किन्तु बेबस था क्योंकि उसके पांव बुत की चौकी के साथ बन्धे हुए थे। फिर भी उसने एक छोटे पक्षी के माध्यम से ज़रूरतमंदों की सहायता की ।

राजकुमार ने एक अबाबील को अपने पैरों के मध्य विश्राम करते देखा। उसने अबाबील से कहा कि दूर एक गली में किसी ग़रीब का घर था । एक निर्धन स्त्री वहां रहती थी । उसका पुत्र बीमार था । उसे बुखार था और वह सन्तरे खाना चाहता था । लेकिन निर्धन स्त्री के पास सन्तरे खरीदने के लिए कोई पैसे नहीं थे। राजकुमार ने अबाबील से कहा कि वह उसकी तलवार की मूठ से माणिक उखाड़ कर ले जाए और उस निर्धन स्त्री के पास पहुंचा दे। अबाबील ने वैसा ही किया और माणिक को ले जाकर निर्धन स्त्री के पास रख दिया। उसने लड़के के माथे पर अपने परों से पंखा भी किया।

इसके बाद राजकुमार ने अन्धेरे कमरे में बैठे हुए एक युवक को देखा । यह युवक एक नाटक लिख रहा था, किन्तु सर्दी इतनी ज्यादा थी कि वह आगे लिख नहीं पा रहा था । उसके पास जलाने की लकड़ी खरीदने के लिए कोई पैसे नहीं थे। राजकुमार ने अबाबील से कहा कि वह उसकी एक आंख में से नीलम निकाले तथा उस युवक के पास ले जाए। अबाबील रोने लगा क्योंकि वह ऐसा नहीं करना चाहता था। उसके ऐसा करने से राजकुमार एक आंख से अन्धा हो जाने वाला था। किन्तु राजकुमार ने अबाबील को आदेश दिया कि वह ऐसा ही करे और नीलम को निकाल कर उस युवक के पास ले जाए ताकि वह जलाने की लकड़ी खरीद सके और फिर अपना नाटक लिख कर पूरा कर सके।

दूसरे दिन राजकुमार ने अबाबील को बताया कि एक माचिस बेचने वाली लड़की की माचिस की डिब्बियां एक नाले में गिर गई थी । वह रो रही थी क्योंकि वह डरती थी कि यदि वह कुछ पैसे घर नहीं ले जाएगी, तो उसका पिता उसे पीटेगा। प्रसन्नचित्त राजकुमार ने अबाबील से कहा कि वह उसकी दूसरी आंख का नीलम निकाल कर उस नन्ही ग़रीब लड़की के पास ले जाए। अबाबील ऐसा नहीं करना चाहता था क्योंकि उसके ऐसा करने से राजकुमार पूरा अन्धा हो जाता। किन्तु राजकुमार ने अबाबील को आदेश दिया कि वह उसके कहे अनुसार नीलम को ग़रीब लड़की के पास ले जाए।

राजकुमार अब पूरी तरह अन्धा हो गया। इसलिए अबाबील ने हमेशा उसके साथ रहने का निश्चय कर लिया । राजकुमार ने अबाबील से कहा कि वह उड़ कर पूरे नगर में जाए और सभी जगह के दृश्यों के बारे में उसे बताए । अबाबील ने राजकुमार को सूचित किया कि ग़रीब लोग बहुत दुःखी जीवन व्यतीत कर रहे हैं।

राजकुमार ने अबाबील से कहा कि वह उसके बदन की सोने की पत्तियां एक-एक करके ग़रीबों के लिए ले जाए। अबाबील ने वैसा ही किया। ग़रीब बच्चों को अब खाने के लिए भोजन मिलने लगा। वे हंसने लगे और गलियों में खेलने लगे। उनके चेहरे गुलाब की तरह खिल गए । लेकिन सारा सोना उतरने के बाद राजकुमार का बुत अब बदसूरत लगने लगा। उसी सर्दी के कारण अबाबील की शीत ऋतु में अत्यधिक

मृत्यु हो गई। उसका मृत शरीर राजकुमार के पैरों में जा गिरा। राजकुमार का दिल टूट गया, यद्यपि वह सीसे का बना हुआ था। यह देखकर अगली सुबह जब नगर का मेयर उधर से गुजरा तो उसने उस भद्दे बुत को देखा। उसने तुरन्त उसे गिराने का दे दिया। बुत को एक भट्टी में पिघला दिया गया, लेकिन टूटा हुआ दिल न पिघल सका। इसलिए उसे एक कूड़े के ढेर पर फेंक दिया गया जहां मृत अबाबील भी पड़ा आदेश हुआ था।

ईश्वर ने अपने दूतों में से एक दूत को भेजा कि वह उस नगर की दो सर्वाधिक मूल्यवान चीजें चुन कर लाए । दूत ने उस सीसे के दिल को तथा मृत अबाबील को चुना । ईश्वर दूत से बहुत प्रसन्न हुआ। उसने कहा कि दूत का चुनाव बिल्कुल सही था। ईश्वर ने उन दोनों को अपने स्वर्ग में स्थान प्रदान किया। ईश्वर ने कहा कि नन्हा पक्षी उसके बाग़ में गाया करेगा और प्रसन्नचित्त राजकुमार (हैपी प्रिन्स) ईश्वर का गुणगान किया करेगा।

(Page 107) High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword hilt. One night there flew over the city a little swallow. His friends had gone away to Egypt six weeks before, but he had stayed behind; then he decided to go to Egypt too.

All day long he flew, and at night time he arrived at the city.

1. Where did the statue of the Happy Prince stand ?

2. What was it covered with ?

3. What did it have for eyes ?

4. When did the swallow arrive at the city ?

1. It stood on a high column above the city.

2. It was covered with thin leaves of fine gold.

3. It had two bright sapphires for its eyes.

4. The swallow arrived at the city at night.

(Page 108) “I have a golden bedroom,” he said softly to himself as he looked round, and he prepared to go to sleep; but just as he was putting his head under his wing, a large drop of water fell on him. “What a curious thing !” he cried. “There is not a single cloud in the sky, the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining.”

Then another drop fell.

“What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off ?” he said. “I must look for a good chimney pot,” and he determined to fly away.

(A) (i) What has been called a ‘golden bedroom’ ?

(ii) What happened when the swallow was going to sleep ?

(iii) What curious thing did the swallow notice ?

(B) Choose the most appropriate options:

(i) The ‘golden bedroom’ was actually a place ……… .

(a) between the feet of the statue   (b) in the clear sky

(c) with a fine weather                     (d) in his own imagination.

(ii) The word ‘softly’ is ………. .

(a) a compound word   (b) an adverb

(c) an adjective             (d) an infinitive.

(iii) The weather prevailing at that time was such that ………. .

(a) the sky was clear         (b) there were no clouds

(c) the stars were bright   (d) all of these three.

(C) Why did the swallow decide to leave his shelter and fly away ?

(A) (i) The swallow had taken shelter between the feet of the statue of the Happy Prince. Since the statue was made of leaves of gold, the swallow called his resting place a golden bedroom’.

(ii) As the swallow was preparing for sleep, a large drop of water fell on him although it was not raining that time.

(iii) The curious thing he noticed was that a large drop of water fell on him, though it was not raining.

(B) (i) (a) between the feet of the statue (ii) (b) an adverb (iii) (d) all of these three.

(C) A large drop of water had fallen on the swallow although it was not raining. He decided to fly away since the statue had failed to give him a safe shelter.

(Page 108) “When I was alive and had a human heart,” answered the statue, “I did not know what tears were, for I lived in the Palace, where sorrow was not allowed to enter. My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and happy indeed I was. So I lived, and so I died. And now that I am dead they have set me up here so high that I can see the ugliness and all the misery of my city and though my heart is made of lead, yet I cannot choose but weep.”

“What! Is he not solid gold ?” said the swallow to himself. He was too polite to make any personal remarks.

1. When did the statue have a human heart ?

2. What type of life did the Prince lead in his palace ?

3. What was he called by his courtiers ?

4. What made him weep ?

1. The statue (the Happy Prince) had a human heart when he was alive.

2. He led a very happy life in his palace.

3. They called him the Happy Prince.

4. He wept on seeing the suffering and misery of the poor.

(Page 108) “Far away,” continued the statue in a low musical voice, “far away in a little street there is a poor house. One of the windows is open, and through it I can see a woman seated at a table. Her face is thin and worn, and she has coarse, red hands, all pricked by the needle, for she is a seamstress. She is embroidering flowers on a satin gown for the loveliest of the Queen’s maids of honour, to wear at the next court ball. In a bed in the corner of the room her little boy is lying ill. He has fever and is asking his mother to give him oranges. His mother has nothing to give him but river water, so he is crying. Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow, will you not bring her the ruby out of my sword hilt? My feet are fastened to this pedestal and I cannot

move.”

(A) (i) Where did the poor seamstress live ?

(ii) Why was her little son in bed ?

(iii) What did the Prince ask the swallow to do ?

(B) Choose the most appropriate options :

(i) Where was the seamstress sitting ?

(a) At a table.           (b) On the ground.

(c) In an easy chair.  (d) At her sewing machine.

(ii) What was the seamstress embroidering ?

(a) Flowers on a satin gown.   (b) A fine scenery on a gown.

(c) Patterns on a cape.             (d) Forest scene on a gown.

(iii) Give the base word for the word, ‘loveliest’.

(a) Lovelier.                (b) Loved.

(c) Lovely.                  (d) More lovely.

(C) How has the seamstress been described ?

(A) (i) She lived in a poor house in a narrow street quite far away from where the statue of Happy Prince stood.

(ii) He was in bed because he was suffering from fever.

(iii) The Prince asked the swallow to pluck the ruby from his sword hilt and go and give it to the poor seamstress so that she could buy oranges for her yellow ailing son.

(B) (i) (a) At a table. (ii) (a) Flowers on a satin gown. (iii) (c) Lovely.

(C) She had a face that was thin and worn. Her hands were red and coarse because of pricks from the needle she used for the sewing work.

(Page 109) He passed by the cathedral tower, where the white marble angels were sculptured. He passed by the palace and heard the sound of dancing. A beautiful girl came out on the balcony with her lover.

I hope my dress will be ready in time for the State ball,” she said. “I have ordered flowers to be embroidered on it, but the seamstresses are so lazy.

He passed over the river, and saw the lanterns hanging on the masts of the ships. At last he came to the poor woman’s house and looked in. The boy was tossing feverishly on his bed, and the mother had fallen asleep; she was so tired. In he hopped, and laid the great ruby on the table beside the woman’s thimble. Then he flew gently round the bed, fanning the boy’s forehead with his wings. “How cool ] feel!” said the boy, “I must be getting better.” and he sank into a delicious slumber

1. What was sculpted on the cathedral tower ?

2. Where were the lanterns hanging ?

3. What did the swallow see in the poor woman’s house ?

4. Where did he place the ruby ?

5. How did the boy feel when the swallow fanned him ?

1. White marble angels were sculpted on the cathedral tower.

2. The lanterns were hanging on the masts of the ships.

3. The swallow saw a boy tossing restlessly in his bed.

4. He placed the ruby on the table near the woman’s thimble.

5. He felt cool and he said, “I must be getting better.”

(Page 110) “Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,” said the Prince, far away across the city I see a young man in a garret. He is leaning over a desk covered with papers, and in the glass by his side there is a bunch of withered violets. His hair is brown and crisp and his lips are red as a pomegranate, and he has large and dreamy eyes. He is trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre, but he is too cold to write any more. There is no fire in the grate, and hunger has made him faint.” “I will wait with you one night longer,” said the swallow, who really had a good heart. He asked if he should take another ruby to the young playwright.

(A) (1) What did the Prince see in the garret ?

(ii) What was the young man trying to do ?

(iii) Why couldn’t he write any more ?

(B) Choose the most appropriate options:

(i) The young man sitting in the garret was ……….. .

(a) a poor clerk          (b) a poet

(c) a playwright         (d) a comic writer.

(ii) The young man couldn’t write any more because ……… .

(a) he was too cold to write               (b) there was no fire in the grate

(c) he had not eaten for a long time  (d) all of these three.

(iii) Write the other two degrees for ‘longer’.

(a) long, longest                (b) short, shortest

(c) longish, more longish.  (d) longing, longings.

(C) What proves that the swallow had a pure and good heart ?

(A) (i) He saw that far away across the city, a young man was sitting in a garret.

(ii) He was a playwright and was trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre.

(iii) He couldn’t write any more because he was too cold and his hands had become stiff. There was no fire in the grate because he was too poor to buy firewood.

(B) (i) (c) a playwright (ii) (d) all of these three (iii) (a) long, longest.

(C) The swallow agreed to stay a week longer though he wanted to go and be with his friends in Egypt. He also agreed to do what the Prince desired.

(Page 110) So the swallow plucked out the Prince’s eye, and flew away to the young man’s garret. It was easy enough to get in, as there was a hole in the roof. Through this he darted, and came into the room. The young man had his head buried in his hands, so he did not hear the flutter of the bird’s wings, and when he looked up, he found the beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets.

(A) (i) Where did the swallow fly away ?

(ii) How did the swallow enter the room ?

(iii) Why didn’t the young man hear the flutter of the bird’s wings ?

(B) Choose the most appropriate options :

(i) The swallow flew towards the young man’s………. .

(a) house               (b) garret

(c) attic                  (d) ballroom.

(ii)  The word ‘darted’ has been used as ……….. .

(a) a noun        (b) an adjective

(c) a verb         (d) an adverb.

(iii) The young man had his head buried in ……….. .

(a) the cushions (b) the pillow

(c) his hands      (d) the sheet.

(C) What did the young man find when he looked up ?

(A) (i) The swallow flew away to the young man’s garret as desired by the Happy Prince.

(ii) He entered the young man’s room through a hole in the roof.

(iii) He couldn’t hear the noise because he had his head buried in his hands.

(B) (i) (b) garret (ii) (c) a verb (iii) (c) his hands.

(C) He found a beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets.

(Page 111) Leaf after leaf of the fine gold the swallow picked off, till the Happy Prince looked quite dull and grey. Leaf after leaf of the fine gold he brought to the poor and the children’s faces grew rosier, and they laughed and played in the streets. “We have bread now!” they cried.

Then the snow came, and after the snow came the frost. The streets looked as if they were made of silver. Everybody went about in furs, and the little boys wore scarlet caps and skated on the ice.

1. When did the statue of the Happy Prince look dull and grey ?

2. Who did the swallow give the fine leaves of gold to ?

3. What made the children happy ?

4. How did the streets look after the fall of snow and frost ?

5. What did the children do ?

1. When all its covering of gold had been taken off.

2. He gave them to the poor.

3. The children got bread to eat, so they were happy.

4. The streets looked as if they were made of silver.

5. They wore scarlet caps and skated on the ice.

Ans.— While the prince was alive, he lived in his palace. The prince was always happy. So the courtiers called him the Happy Prince. But after his death, his statue was put on a high pedestal. Now he could see the misery of poor people all around. It made him very sad.

Ans.— The Happy Prince sees that the poor woman’s son is ill. The boy is asking for oranges. But the poor woman has no money. So the Happy Prince sends a ruby for her. The swallow puts the ruby on a table. He fans the boy’s forehead with his wings.

Ans.— The prince sends one sapphire for a playwright. He sends the other for a poor match-girl. The playwright has no firewood to warm himself. The matchgirl’s matches have fallen into a gutter. She is crying. The prince wants to help both of them. So he sends his sapphires for them.

Ans.— The swallow sees the rich making merry in their beautiful houses. Beggars are sitting at their gates. Two little boys are lying under a bridge. They are lying in each other’s arms to keep themselves warm. A watchman drives them away from there.

Ans.— The prince had given the two sapphires of his eyes for the poor. Now he was completely blind. The swallow had a kind heart. He could not leave the prince in that state.

Ans.— The statue of the prince had lost all its gold, ruby and sapphires. It looked dull and grey. So it was called a useless thing looking like a beggar.

Ans.— The Mayor proclaimed that no birds were allowed to die at the feet of the statue of the Happy Prince.

Ans.— It shows that the Mayor was a total blockhead. Birds never choose the place of their death. The Mayor’s proclamation was nothing but rank stupidity.

Ans.— The two precious things the angel brought to God were the leaden heart of the prince and the dead swallow. They were precious because they had loving hearts. The prince gave his all for the poor. The swallow sacrificed his life for the sake of the prince. There was no selfishness in their love.

Ans.— The prince’s leaden heart broke into two when the swallow fell down dead at its feet. But it did not melt when it was put into the furnace. So it was thrown away. The end of the story arouses in us deep feelings of sympathy for the poor swallow and the Happy Prince.

1. Bring out (publish)-The new edition of this book has been brought out recently.

2. Bring up (look after)-It is the duty of parents to bring up their children.

3. Bring forth (to produce something)-Trees bring forth fruit.

4. Look up (to search for something in a book)-Look up the time of the next train in the timetable.

5. Look into (to investigate or examine)-The police is looking into the matter.

6. Look after (to care for somebody) Who is going to look after the children while you are away ?

7. Look down upon (to consider somebody inferior to oneself)-She looks down upon people who’ve never been to university.

8. Look around (to examine various possibilities)-We’re going to look around a little before deciding where to buy a house.

9. Fall in (to become involved with somebody) She fell in love with a doctor.

10. Hang in (persevere) She has managed to hang in despite years of bad

luck.

11. See through (to become aware of)-We saw through his trick.

12. See off (to say goodbye to somebody who is about to start a journey)-We all went to the airport to see her off.

(a) “Why are you weeping then ?” asked the swallow.

(b) “I don’t think I like boys,” answered

the swallow.

(c) “I hope my dress will be ready in time for the state ball,” she said. “I have ordered flowers to be embroidered on it, but the seamstresses are so lazy.”

(d) “Alas! I have no ruby now,” said the Prince. “My eyes are all that I have left.”

(e) “Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,” said the Prince, “do as I command you.”

(f) “Bring me the two most precious things in the city,” said God to one of His angels.

(g) “Swallow, little Swallow,” said the prince, “will you not stay with me one night longer ?”

(h) “You are blind now,” he said, “so I will stay with you always.”

(i) “I have come to bid you goodbye,” he cried.

(j) The little swallow says, “It is curious, but I feel quite warm now, although it is SO cold.”

(a) The swallow asked (the prince) why he was weeping.

(b) The swallow answered that he didn’t think he liked boys.

(c) She said that she hoped her dress would be ready in time for the state ball. te besh She added that she had ordered flowers to be embroidered on it, but the seamstresses were very lazy.

(d) The Prince exclaimed with sorrow that he had no ruby then and his eyes were all that he had been left with.

(e) The Prince pleaded with the little swallow to do as he commanded him.

(f) God asked one of His angels to bring him the two most precious things in the city.

(g) The prince earnestly requested the little swallow to stay with him one ate night longer.

(h) He said that since he was now blind, he would stay with him always.

(i) He cried that he had come to bid him goodbye.

(j) The little swallow says that it is curious, but he feels now quite warm although it is very cold.

Ans.— There can be no greater curse in life than being an orphan. To be bereft of the hugs, kisses, lullabies and caresses of parents is the biggest loss one can suffer. No material gifts can make up for it.

But orphans, too, have a life to live. It would be cruel on the part of society to leave them to their fate. Opening orphanages for them is no solution. Living in an orphanage is itself a demoralising thing. One is constantly and to reminded of the fact of being on orphan. The best way is to keep them with families that can treat them as their own children. Adopting an orphan and bringing him or her up as one’s own child is a double blessing. It proves a blessing for the adopted child and also earns God’s blessings for the family that adopts such children.

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