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again。 he did； though； for he was of a kindly disposition； and he
made a most brilliant descent in a shower of golden rain。 the
newspapers wrote about his performance in very flattering terms。
indeed； the court gazette called him a triumph of pylotechnic art。〃
〃pyrotechnic； pyrotechnic； you mean；〃 said a bengal light； 〃i know
it is pyrotechnic； for i saw it written on my own canister。〃
〃well； i said pylotechnic；〃 answered the rocket； in a severe tone
of voice； and the bengal light felt so crushed that he began at
once to bully the little squibs； in order to show that he was still
a person of some importance。
〃i was saying；〃 continued the rocket； 〃i was saying … what was i
saying？〃
〃you were talking about yourself；〃 replied the roman candle。
〃of course； i knew i was discussing some interesting subject when i
was so rudely interrupted。 i hate rudeness and bad manners of
every kind； for i am extremely sensitive。 no one in the whole
world is so sensitive as i am； i am quite sure of that。〃
〃what is a sensitive person？〃 said the cracker to the roman candle。
〃a person who； because he has corns himself； always treads on other
peoples toes；〃 answered the roman candle in a low whisper； and the
cracker nearly exploded with laughter。
〃pray； what are you laughing at？〃 inquired the rocket； 〃i am not
laughing。〃
〃i am laughing because i am happy；〃 replied the cracker。
〃that is a very selfish reason；〃 said the rocket angrily。 〃what
right have you to be happy？ you should be thinking about others。
in fact； you should be thinking about me。 i am always thinking
about myself； and i expect everybody else to do the same。 that is
what is called sympathy。 it is a beautiful virtue； and i possess
it in a high degree。 suppose； for instance； anything happened to
me to…night； what a misfortune that would be for every one！ the
prince and princess would never be happy again； their whole married
life would be spoiled； and as for the king； i know he would not get
over it。 really； when i begin to reflect on the importance of my
position； i am almost moved to tears。〃
〃if you want to give pleasure to others；〃 cried the roman candle；
〃you had better keep yourself dry。〃
〃certainly；〃 exclaimed the bengal light； who was now in better
spirits； 〃that is only mon sense。〃
〃mon sense； indeed！〃 said the rocket indignantly； 〃you forget
that i am very unmon； and very remarkable。 why； anybody can
have mon sense； provided that they have no imagination。 but i
have imagination； for i never think of things as they really are； i
always think of them as being quite different。 as for keeping
myself dry； there is evidently no one here who can at all
appreciate an emotional nature。 fortunately for myself； i dont
care。 the only thing that sustains one through life is the
consciousness of the immense inferiority of everybody else； and
this is a feeling that i have always cultivated。 but none of you
have any hearts。 here you are laughing and making merry just as if
the prince and princess had not just been married。〃
〃well； really；〃 exclaimed a small fire…balloon； 〃why not？ it is a
most joyful occasion； and when i soar up into the air i intend to
tell the stars all about it。 you will see them twinkle when i talk
to them about the pretty bride。〃
〃ah！ what a trivial view of life！〃 said the rocket； 〃but it is only
what i expected。 there is nothing in you； you are hollow and
empty。 why； perhaps the prince and princess may go to live in a
country where there is a deep river； and perhaps they may have one
only son； a little fair…haired boy with violet eyes like the prince
himself； and perhaps some day he may go out to walk with his nurse；
and perhaps the nurse may go to sleep under a great elder…tree； and
perhaps the little boy may fall into the deep river and be drowned。
what a terrible misfortune！ poor people； to lose their only son！
it is really too dreadful！ i shall never get over it。〃
〃but they have not lost their only son；〃 said the roman candle； 〃no
misfortune has happened to them at all。〃
〃i never said that they had；〃 replied the rocket； 〃i said that they
might。 if they had lost their only son there would be no use in
saying anything more about the matter。 i hate people who cry over
spilt milk。 but when i think that they might lose their only son；
i certainly am very much affected。〃
〃you certainly are！〃 cried the bengal light。 〃in fact； you are the
most affected person i ever met。〃
〃you are the rudest person i ever met；〃 said the rocket； 〃and you
cannot understand my friendship for the prince。〃
〃why； you dont even know him；〃 growled the roman candle。
〃i never said i knew him；〃 answered the rocket。 〃i dare say that
if i knew him i should not be his friend at all。 it is a very
dangerous thing to know ones friends。〃
〃you had really better keep yourself dry；〃 said the fire…balloon。
〃that is the important thing。〃
〃very important for you； i have no doubt；〃 answered the rocket；
〃but i shall weep if i choose〃； and he actually burst into real
tears； which flowed down his stick like rain…drops； and nearly
drowned two little beetles； who were just thinking of setting up
house together； and were looking for a nice dry spot to live in。
〃he must have a truly romantic nature；〃 said the catherine wheel；
〃for he weeps when there is nothing at all to weep about〃； and she
heaved a deep sigh； and thought about the deal box。
but the roman candle and the bengal light were quite indignant； and
kept saying； 〃humbug！ humbug！〃 at the top of their voices。 they
were extremely practical； and whenever they objected to anything
they called it humbug。
then the moon rose like a wonderful silver shield； and the stars
began to shine； and a sound of music came from the palace。
the prince and princess were leading the dance。 they danced so
beautifully that the tall white lilies peeped in at the window and
watched them； and the great red poppies nodded their heads and beat
time。
then ten oclock struck； and then eleven； and then twelve； and at
the last stroke of midnight every one came out on the terrace； and
the king sent for the royal pyrotechnist。
〃let the fireworks begin；〃 said the king； and the royal
pyrotechnist made a low bow； and marched down to the end of the
garden。 he had six attendants with him； each of whom carried a
lighted torch at the end of a long pole。
it was certainly a magnificent display。
whizz！ whizz！ went the catherine wheel； as she spun round and
round。 boom！ boom！ went the roman candle。 then the squibs danced
all over the place； and the bengal lights made everything look
scarlet。 〃good…bye；〃 cried the fire…balloon； as he soared away；
dropping tiny blue sparks。 bang！ bang！ answered the crackers； who
were enjoying themselves immensely。 every one was a great success
except the remarkable rocket。 he was so damp with crying that he
could not go off at all。 the best thing in him was the gunpowder；
and that was so wet with tears that it was of no use。 all his poor
relations； to whom he would never speak； except with a sneer； shot
up into the sky like wonderful golden flowers with blossoms of
fire。 huzza！ huzza！ cried the court； and the little princess
laughed with pleasure。
〃i suppose they are reserving me for some grand occasion；〃 said the
rocket； 〃no doubt that is what it means；〃 and he looked more
supercilious than ever。
the next day the workmen came to put everything tidy。 〃this is
evidently a deputation；〃 said the rocket； 〃i will receive them with
being dignity〃 so he put his nose in the air； and began to frown
severely as if he were thinking about some very important subject。
but they took no notice of him at all till they were just going
away。 then one of them caught sight of him。 〃hallo！〃 he cried；
〃what a bad rocket！〃 and he threw him over the wall into the ditch。
〃bad rocket？ bad rocket？〃 he said； as he whirled through the air；
〃impossible！ grand rocket； that is what