Hehehhe.... Well... each year, each one of us would have to read a story :O) And of course, this had to take place before any of our presents were opened! :O) Usually, we would pick out little short poems or things, so that it would all end sooner! But you know, mom went first, and Mom would have some great long story :O) and dad would go last with the traditional *night before christmas* because that was the tradition... and sometimes we thought dad just got lucky huh?? LOL
Well.... Ive hunted around, and while this story isnt neccesarily christmas oriented, its a wonderful story! so check it out! :O)
Its called,
The Golden Prince
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.
He was very much admired indeed.
"He is as beautiful as a weathercock," remarked one of the
Town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for
having artistic tastes; "only not quite so useful," he added,
fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he
really was not.
"Why can't you be like the Happy Prince?" asked a sensible
mother of her little boy who was crying for the moon. "The
Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything."
"I am glad there is some one in the world who is quite
happy," muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at the
wonderful statue.
"He looks just like an angel," said the Charity Children as
they came out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks,
and their clean white pinafores.
"How do you know?" said the Mathematical Master, "you
have never seen one."
"Ah! but we have, in our dreams," answered the children;
and the Mathematical Master frowned and looked very
severe, for he did not approve of children dreaming.
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, for he was in love with the most beautiful
Reed. He had met her early in the spring as he was flying
down the river after a big yellow moth, and had been so
attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to
her.
"Shall I love you?" said the Swallow, who liked to come to
the point at once, and the Reed made him a low bow. So he
flew round and round her, touching the water with his
wings, and making silver ripples. This was his courtship, and
it lasted all through the summer.
"It is a ridiculous attachment," twittered the other
Swallows, "she has no money, and far too many relations;"
and indeed the river was quite full of Reeds. Then, when the
autumn came, they all flew away.
After they had gone he felt lonely, and began to tire of his
lady-love.
"She has no conversation," he said, "and I am afraid that
she is a coquette, for she is always flirting with the wind."
And certainly, whenever the wind blew, the Reed made the
most graceful curtsies. "I admit that she is domestic," he
continued, "but I love travelling, and my wife, consequently,
should love travelling also."
"Will you come away with me?" he said finally to her; but
the Reed shook her head, she was so attached to her home.
"You have been trifling with me," he cried, "I am off to the
Pyramids. Good-bye!" and he flew away.
All day long he flew, and at night-time he arrived at the city.
"Where shall I put up?" he said; "I hope the town has made
preparations."
Then he saw the statue on the tall column.