the happy prince is a short story by oscar wilde 

The story is allegory. it bring out the importance of charity. we learn that love and sacrifice can endear us to God. the prince in the story is no living prince. He is the statue of a dead prince decorated with gold leaves and precious stones. He is know as the happy prince because there is smile on his lips. But the smile gradually give way to tears. The happy prince cannot help crying over the scene of misery in the house of poor. He decides to help them with gold leaves and costly stones.

The little swallow act as his messenger and he give away all his wealth. the swallow was on his back to his homeland when the happy prince had detained him to help the poor. He still wished to go back but now it too late. The intense cold killed him. Thus the little swallow lost his life in helping the poor. His death broke the prince's heart. So the swallow and the prince perished for a noble cause. But their death wast not the end. It made them immortal. That is why angle selected the dead swallow and the lifeless heart of the prince as the noblest thing on the earth. The story teaches a very useful and very true lesson. We learn that God loves those who love their fellow human beings.