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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/1597-0.txt b/1597-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ff3172e --- /dev/null +++ b/1597-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6207 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Andersen's Fairy Tales, by Hans Christian Andersen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Andersen's Fairy Tales + +Author: Hans Christian Andersen + +Posting Date: October 10, 2008 [EBook #1597] +Release Date: January, 1999 +Last Updated: March 14, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-9 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean + + + + + +ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES + +By Hans Christian Andersen + + + +CONTENTS + + + The Emperor's New Clothes + The Swineherd + The Real Princess + The Shoes of Fortune + The Fir Tree + The Snow Queen + The Leap-Frog + The Elderbush + The Bell + The Old House + The Happy Family + The Story of a Mother + The False Collar + The Shadow + The Little Match Girl + The Dream of Little Tuk + The Naughty Boy + The Red Shoes + + + + +THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES + +Many years ago, there was an Emperor, who was so excessively fond of +new clothes, that he spent all his money in dress. He did not trouble +himself in the least about his soldiers; nor did he care to go either to +the theatre or the chase, except for the opportunities then afforded him +for displaying his new clothes. He had a different suit for each hour of +the day; and as of any other king or emperor, one is accustomed to say, +“he is sitting in council,” it was always said of him, “The Emperor is +sitting in his wardrobe.” + +Time passed merrily in the large town which was his capital; strangers +arrived every day at the court. One day, two rogues, calling themselves +weavers, made their appearance. They gave out that they knew how to +weave stuffs of the most beautiful colors and elaborate patterns, the +clothes manufactured from which should have the wonderful property of +remaining invisible to everyone who was unfit for the office he held, or +who was extraordinarily simple in character. + +“These must, indeed, be splendid clothes!” thought the Emperor. “Had I +such a suit, I might at once find out what men in my realms are unfit +for their office, and also be able to distinguish the wise from the +foolish! This stuff must be woven for me immediately.” And he caused +large sums of money to be given to both the weavers in order that they +might begin their work directly. + +So the two pretended weavers set up two looms, and affected to work very +busily, though in reality they did nothing at all. They asked for the +most delicate silk and the purest gold thread; put both into their own +knapsacks; and then continued their pretended work at the empty looms +until late at night. + +“I should like to know how the weavers are getting on with my cloth,” + said the Emperor to himself, after some little time had elapsed; he was, +however, rather embarrassed, when he remembered that a simpleton, or +one unfit for his office, would be unable to see the manufacture. To be +sure, he thought he had nothing to risk in his own person; but yet, he +would prefer sending somebody else, to bring him intelligence about the +weavers, and their work, before he troubled himself in the affair. All +the people throughout the city had heard of the wonderful property the +cloth was to possess; and all were anxious to learn how wise, or how +ignorant, their neighbors might prove to be. + +“I will send my faithful old minister to the weavers,” said the Emperor +at last, after some deliberation, “he will be best able to see how the +cloth looks; for he is a man of sense, and no one can be more suitable +for his office than he is.” + +So the faithful old minister went into the hall, where the knaves were +working with all their might, at their empty looms. “What can be the +meaning of this?” thought the old man, opening his eyes very wide. “I +cannot discover the least bit of thread on the looms.” However, he did +not express his thoughts aloud. + +The impostors requested him very courteously to be so good as to come +nearer their looms; and then asked him whether the design pleased +him, and whether the colors were not very beautiful; at the same time +pointing to the empty frames. The poor old minister looked and looked, +he could not discover anything on the looms, for a very good reason, +viz: there was nothing there. “What!” thought he again. “Is it possible +that I am a simpleton? I have never thought so myself; and no one must +know it now if I am so. Can it be, that I am unfit for my office? No, +that must not be said either. I will never confess that I could not see +the stuff.” + +“Well, Sir Minister!” said one of the knaves, still pretending to work. +“You do not say whether the stuff pleases you.” + +“Oh, it is excellent!” replied the old minister, looking at the loom +through his spectacles. “This pattern, and the colors, yes, I will tell +the Emperor without delay, how very beautiful I think them.” + +“We shall be much obliged to you,” said the impostors, and then they +named the different colors and described the pattern of the pretended +stuff. The old minister listened attentively to their words, in order +that he might repeat them to the Emperor; and then the knaves asked for +more silk and gold, saying that it was necessary to complete what +they had begun. However, they put all that was given them into their +knapsacks; and continued to work with as much apparent diligence as +before at their empty looms. + +The Emperor now sent another officer of his court to see how the men +were getting on, and to ascertain whether the cloth would soon be +ready. It was just the same with this gentleman as with the minister; +he surveyed the looms on all sides, but could see nothing at all but the +empty frames. + +“Does not the stuff appear as beautiful to you, as it did to my lord the +minister?” asked the impostors of the Emperor's second ambassador; at +the same time making the same gestures as before, and talking of the +design and colors which were not there. + +“I certainly am not stupid!” thought the messenger. “It must be, that I +am not fit for my good, profitable office! That is very odd; however, no +one shall know anything about it.” And accordingly he praised the stuff +he could not see, and declared that he was delighted with both colors +and patterns. “Indeed, please your Imperial Majesty,” said he to his +sovereign when he returned, “the cloth which the weavers are preparing +is extraordinarily magnificent.” + +The whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which the Emperor had +ordered to be woven at his own expense. + +And now the Emperor himself wished to see the costly manufacture, while +it was still in the loom. Accompanied by a select number of officers of +the court, among whom were the two honest men who had already admired +the cloth, he went to the crafty impostors, who, as soon as they were +aware of the Emperor's approach, went on working more diligently than +ever; although they still did not pass a single thread through the +looms. + +“Is not the work absolutely magnificent?” said the two officers of the +crown, already mentioned. “If your Majesty will only be pleased to look +at it! What a splendid design! What glorious colors!” and at the same +time they pointed to the empty frames; for they imagined that everyone +else could see this exquisite piece of workmanship. + +“How is this?” said the Emperor to himself. “I can see nothing! This +is indeed a terrible affair! Am I a simpleton, or am I unfit to be an +Emperor? That would be the worst thing that could happen--Oh! the cloth +is charming,” said he, aloud. “It has my complete approbation.” And he +smiled most graciously, and looked closely at the empty looms; for on no +account would he say that he could not see what two of the officers of +his court had praised so much. All his retinue now strained their eyes, +hoping to discover something on the looms, but they could see no more +than the others; nevertheless, they all exclaimed, “Oh, how beautiful!” + and advised his majesty to have some new clothes made from this splendid +material, for the approaching procession. “Magnificent! Charming! +Excellent!” resounded on all sides; and everyone was uncommonly gay. The +Emperor shared in the general satisfaction; and presented the impostors +with the riband of an order of knighthood, to be worn in their +button-holes, and the title of “Gentlemen Weavers.” + +The rogues sat up the whole of the night before the day on which the +procession was to take place, and had sixteen lights burning, so that +everyone might see how anxious they were to finish the Emperor's new +suit. They pretended to roll the cloth off the looms; cut the air with +their scissors; and sewed with needles without any thread in them. +“See!” cried they, at last. “The Emperor's new clothes are ready!” + +And now the Emperor, with all the grandees of his court, came to the +weavers; and the rogues raised their arms, as if in the act of holding +something up, saying, “Here are your Majesty's trousers! Here is the +scarf! Here is the mantle! The whole suit is as light as a cobweb; +one might fancy one has nothing at all on, when dressed in it; that, +however, is the great virtue of this delicate cloth.” + +“Yes indeed!” said all the courtiers, although not one of them could see +anything of this exquisite manufacture. + +“If your Imperial Majesty will be graciously pleased to take off your +clothes, we will fit on the new suit, in front of the looking glass.” + +The Emperor was accordingly undressed, and the rogues pretended to +array him in his new suit; the Emperor turning round, from side to side, +before the looking glass. + +“How splendid his Majesty looks in his new clothes, and how well they +fit!” everyone cried out. “What a design! What colors! These are indeed +royal robes!” + +“The canopy which is to be borne over your Majesty, in the procession, +is waiting,” announced the chief master of the ceremonies. + +“I am quite ready,” answered the Emperor. “Do my new clothes fit well?” + asked he, turning himself round again before the looking glass, in order +that he might appear to be examining his handsome suit. + +The lords of the bedchamber, who were to carry his Majesty's train felt +about on the ground, as if they were lifting up the ends of the mantle; +and pretended to be carrying something; for they would by no means +betray anything like simplicity, or unfitness for their office. + +So now the Emperor walked under his high canopy in the midst of the +procession, through the streets of his capital; and all the people +standing by, and those at the windows, cried out, “Oh! How beautiful +are our Emperor's new clothes! What a magnificent train there is to +the mantle; and how gracefully the scarf hangs!” in short, no one would +allow that he could not see these much-admired clothes; because, in +doing so, he would have declared himself either a simpleton or unfit +for his office. Certainly, none of the Emperor's various suits, had ever +made so great an impression, as these invisible ones. + +“But the Emperor has nothing at all on!” said a little child. + +“Listen to the voice of innocence!” exclaimed his father; and what the +child had said was whispered from one to another. + +“But he has nothing at all on!” at last cried out all the people. +The Emperor was vexed, for he knew that the people were right; but he +thought the procession must go on now! And the lords of the bedchamber +took greater pains than ever, to appear holding up a train, although, in +reality, there was no train to hold. + + + + +THE SWINEHERD + +There was once a poor Prince, who had a kingdom. His kingdom was very +small, but still quite large enough to marry upon; and he wished to +marry. + +It was certainly rather cool of him to say to the Emperor's daughter, +“Will you have me?” But so he did; for his name was renowned far and +wide; and there were a hundred princesses who would have answered, +“Yes!” and “Thank you kindly.” We shall see what this princess said. + +Listen! + +It happened that where the Prince's father lay buried, there grew a rose +tree--a most beautiful rose tree, which blossomed only once in every +five years, and even then bore only one flower, but that was a rose! +It smelt so sweet that all cares and sorrows were forgotten by him who +inhaled its fragrance. + +And furthermore, the Prince had a nightingale, who could sing in such a +manner that it seemed as though all sweet melodies dwelt in her little +throat. So the Princess was to have the rose, and the nightingale; and +they were accordingly put into large silver caskets, and sent to her. + +The Emperor had them brought into a large hall, where the Princess was +playing at “Visiting,” with the ladies of the court; and when she saw +the caskets with the presents, she clapped her hands for joy. + +“Ah, if it were but a little pussy-cat!” said she; but the rose tree, +with its beautiful rose came to view. + +“Oh, how prettily it is made!” said all the court ladies. + +“It is more than pretty,” said the Emperor, “it is charming!” + +But the Princess touched it, and was almost ready to cry. + +“Fie, papa!” said she. “It is not made at all, it is natural!” + +“Let us see what is in the other casket, before we get into a bad +humor,” said the Emperor. So the nightingale came forth and sang so +delightfully that at first no one could say anything ill-humored of her. + +“Superbe! Charmant!” exclaimed the ladies; for they all used to chatter +French, each one worse than her neighbor. + +“How much the bird reminds me of the musical box that belonged to our +blessed Empress,” said an old knight. “Oh yes! These are the same tones, +the same execution.” + +“Yes! yes!” said the Emperor, and he wept like a child at the +remembrance. + +“I will still hope that it is not a real bird,” said the Princess. + +“Yes, it is a real bird,” said those who had brought it. “Well then let +the bird fly,” said the Princess; and she positively refused to see the +Prince. + +However, he was not to be discouraged; he daubed his face over brown and +black; pulled his cap over his ears, and knocked at the door. + +“Good day to my lord, the Emperor!” said he. “Can I have employment at +the palace?” + +“Why, yes,” said the Emperor. “I want some one to take care of the pigs, +for we have a great many of them.” + +So the Prince was appointed “Imperial Swineherd.” He had a dirty little +room close by the pigsty; and there he sat the whole day, and worked. By +the evening he had made a pretty little kitchen-pot. Little bells were +hung all round it; and when the pot was boiling, these bells tinkled in +the most charming manner, and played the old melody, + + “Ach! du lieber Augustin, + Alles ist weg, weg, weg!”* + + * “Ah! dear Augustine! + All is gone, gone, gone!” + + +But what was still more curious, whoever held his finger in the smoke of +the kitchen-pot, immediately smelt all the dishes that were cooking on +every hearth in the city--this, you see, was something quite different +from the rose. + +Now the Princess happened to walk that way; and when she heard the tune, +she stood quite still, and seemed pleased; for she could play “Lieber +Augustine”; it was the only piece she knew; and she played it with one +finger. + +“Why there is my piece,” said the Princess. “That swineherd must +certainly have been well educated! Go in and ask him the price of the +instrument.” + +So one of the court-ladies must run in; however, she drew on wooden +slippers first. + +“What will you take for the kitchen-pot?” said the lady. + +“I will have ten kisses from the Princess,” said the swineherd. + +“Yes, indeed!” said the lady. + +“I cannot sell it for less,” rejoined the swineherd. + +“He is an impudent fellow!” said the Princess, and she walked on; but +when she had gone a little way, the bells tinkled so prettily + + “Ach! du lieber Augustin, + Alles ist weg, weg, weg!” + +“Stay,” said the Princess. “Ask him if he will have ten kisses from the +ladies of my court.” + +“No, thank you!” said the swineherd. “Ten kisses from the Princess, or I +keep the kitchen-pot myself.” + +“That must not be, either!” said the Princess. “But do you all stand +before me that no one may see us.” + +And the court-ladies placed themselves in front of her, and spread +out their dresses--the swineherd got ten kisses, and the Princess--the +kitchen-pot. + +That was delightful! The pot was boiling the whole evening, and the +whole of the following day. They knew perfectly well what was cooking at +every fire throughout the city, from the chamberlain's to the cobbler's; +the court-ladies danced and clapped their hands. + +“We know who has soup, and who has pancakes for dinner to-day, who has +cutlets, and who has eggs. How interesting!” + +“Yes, but keep my secret, for I am an Emperor's daughter.” + +The swineherd--that is to say--the Prince, for no one knew that he was +other than an ill-favored swineherd, let not a day pass without working +at something; he at last constructed a rattle, which, when it was swung +round, played all the waltzes and jig tunes, which have ever been heard +since the creation of the world. + +“Ah, that is superbe!” said the Princess when she passed by. “I have +never heard prettier compositions! Go in and ask him the price of the +instrument; but mind, he shall have no more kisses!” + +“He will have a hundred kisses from the Princess!” said the lady who had +been to ask. + +“I think he is not in his right senses!” said the Princess, and walked +on, but when she had gone a little way, she stopped again. “One must +encourage art,” said she, “I am the Emperor's daughter. Tell him he +shall, as on yesterday, have ten kisses from me, and may take the rest +from the ladies of the court.” + +“Oh--but we should not like that at all!” said they. “What are you +muttering?” asked the Princess. “If I can kiss him, surely you can. +Remember that you owe everything to me.” So the ladies were obliged to +go to him again. + +“A hundred kisses from the Princess,” said he, “or else let everyone +keep his own!” + +“Stand round!” said she; and all the ladies stood round her whilst the +kissing was going on. + +“What can be the reason for such a crowd close by the pigsty?” said the +Emperor, who happened just then to step out on the balcony; he rubbed +his eyes, and put on his spectacles. “They are the ladies of the +court; I must go down and see what they are about!” So he pulled up his +slippers at the heel, for he had trodden them down. + +As soon as he had got into the court-yard, he moved very softly, and the +ladies were so much engrossed with counting the kisses, that all might +go on fairly, that they did not perceive the Emperor. He rose on his +tiptoes. + +“What is all this?” said he, when he saw what was going on, and he boxed +the Princess's ears with his slipper, just as the swineherd was taking +the eighty-sixth kiss. + +“March out!” said the Emperor, for he was very angry; and both Princess +and swineherd were thrust out of the city. + +The Princess now stood and wept, the swineherd scolded, and the rain +poured down. + +“Alas! Unhappy creature that I am!” said the Princess. “If I had but +married the handsome young Prince! Ah! how unfortunate I am!” + +And the swineherd went behind a tree, washed the black and brown color +from his face, threw off his dirty clothes, and stepped forth in his +princely robes; he looked so noble that the Princess could not help +bowing before him. + +“I am come to despise thee,” said he. “Thou would'st not have an +honorable Prince! Thou could'st not prize the rose and the nightingale, +but thou wast ready to kiss the swineherd for the sake of a trumpery +plaything. Thou art rightly served.” + +He then went back to his own little kingdom, and shut the door of his +palace in her face. Now she might well sing, + + “Ach! du lieber Augustin, + Alles ist weg, weg, weg!” + + + + +THE REAL PRINCESS + +There was once a Prince who wished to marry a Princess; but then she +must be a real Princess. He travelled all over the world in hopes of +finding such a lady; but there was always something wrong. Princesses he +found in plenty; but whether they were real Princesses it was impossible +for him to decide, for now one thing, now another, seemed to him not +quite right about the ladies. At last he returned to his palace quite +cast down, because he wished so much to have a real Princess for his +wife. + +One evening a fearful tempest arose, it thundered and lightened, and the +rain poured down from the sky in torrents: besides, it was as dark as +pitch. All at once there was heard a violent knocking at the door, and +the old King, the Prince's father, went out himself to open it. + +It was a Princess who was standing outside the door. What with the rain +and the wind, she was in a sad condition; the water trickled down from +her hair, and her clothes clung to her body. She said she was a real +Princess. + +“Ah! we shall soon see that!” thought the old Queen-mother; however, she +said not a word of what she was going to do; but went quietly into the +bedroom, took all the bed-clothes off the bed, and put three little peas +on the bedstead. She then laid twenty mattresses one upon another over +the three peas, and put twenty feather beds over the mattresses. + +Upon this bed the Princess was to pass the night. + +The next morning she was asked how she had slept. “Oh, very badly +indeed!” she replied. “I have scarcely closed my eyes the whole night +through. I do not know what was in my bed, but I had something hard +under me, and am all over black and blue. It has hurt me so much!” + +Now it was plain that the lady must be a real Princess, since she had +been able to feel the three little peas through the twenty mattresses +and twenty feather beds. None but a real Princess could have had such a +delicate sense of feeling. + +The Prince accordingly made her his wife; being now convinced that he +had found a real Princess. The three peas were however put into the +cabinet of curiosities, where they are still to be seen, provided they +are not lost. + +Wasn't this a lady of real delicacy? + + + + +THE SHOES OF FORTUNE + +I. A Beginning + +Every author has some peculiarity in his descriptions or in his style +of writing. Those who do not like him, magnify it, shrug up their +shoulders, and exclaim--there he is again! I, for my part, know very +well how I can bring about this movement and this exclamation. It would +happen immediately if I were to begin here, as I intended to do, with: +“Rome has its Corso, Naples its Toledo”--“Ah! that Andersen; there he is +again!” they would cry; yet I must, to please my fancy, continue quite +quietly, and add: “But Copenhagen has its East Street.” + +Here, then, we will stay for the present. In one of the houses not far +from the new market a party was invited--a very large party, in order, +as is often the case, to get a return invitation from the others. One +half of the company was already seated at the card-table, the other half +awaited the result of the stereotype preliminary observation of the lady +of the house: + +“Now let us see what we can do to amuse ourselves.” + +They had got just so far, and the conversation began to crystallise, +as it could but do with the scanty stream which the commonplace world +supplied. Amongst other things they spoke of the middle ages: some +praised that period as far more interesting, far more poetical than our +own too sober present; indeed Councillor Knap defended this opinion +so warmly, that the hostess declared immediately on his side, and both +exerted themselves with unwearied eloquence. The Councillor boldly +declared the time of King Hans to be the noblest and the most happy +period.* + +* A.D. 1482-1513 + + +While the conversation turned on this subject, and was only for a moment +interrupted by the arrival of a journal that contained nothing worth +reading, we will just step out into the antechamber, where cloaks, +mackintoshes, sticks, umbrellas, and shoes, were deposited. Here sat two +female figures, a young and an old one. One might have thought at first +they were servants come to accompany their mistresses home; but on +looking nearer, one soon saw they could scarcely be mere servants; their +forms were too noble for that, their skin too fine, the cut of their +dress too striking. Two fairies were they; the younger, it is true, +was not Dame Fortune herself, but one of the waiting-maids of her +handmaidens who carry about the lesser good things that she distributes; +the other looked extremely gloomy--it was Care. She always attends to +her own serious business herself, as then she is sure of having it done +properly. + +They were telling each other, with a confidential interchange of ideas, +where they had been during the day. The messenger of Fortune had only +executed a few unimportant commissions, such as saving a new bonnet from +a shower of rain, etc.; but what she had yet to perform was something +quite unusual. + +“I must tell you,” said she, “that to-day is my birthday; and in honor +of it, a pair of walking-shoes or galoshes has been entrusted to me, +which I am to carry to mankind. These shoes possess the property of +instantly transporting him who has them on to the place or the period +in which he most wishes to be; every wish, as regards time or place, or +state of being, will be immediately fulfilled, and so at last man will +be happy, here below.” + +“Do you seriously believe it?” replied Care, in a severe tone of +reproach. “No; he will be very unhappy, and will assuredly bless the +moment when he feels that he has freed himself from the fatal shoes.” + +“Stupid nonsense!” said the other angrily. “I will put them here by +the door. Some one will make a mistake for certain and take the wrong +ones--he will be a happy man.” + +Such was their conversation. + + +II. What Happened to the Councillor + +It was late; Councillor Knap, deeply occupied with the times of King +Hans, intended to go home, and malicious Fate managed matters so that +his feet, instead of finding their way to his own galoshes, slipped +into those of Fortune. Thus caparisoned the good man walked out of the +well-lighted rooms into East Street. By the magic power of the shoes he +was carried back to the times of King Hans; on which account his foot +very naturally sank in the mud and puddles of the street, there having +been in those days no pavement in Copenhagen. + +“Well! This is too bad! How dirty it is here!” sighed the Councillor. +“As to a pavement, I can find no traces of one, and all the lamps, it +seems, have gone to sleep.” + +The moon was not yet very high; it was besides rather foggy, so that +in the darkness all objects seemed mingled in chaotic confusion. At the +next corner hung a votive lamp before a Madonna, but the light it gave +was little better than none at all; indeed, he did not observe it before +he was exactly under it, and his eyes fell upon the bright colors of the +pictures which represented the well-known group of the Virgin and the +infant Jesus. + +“That is probably a wax-work show,” thought he; “and the people delay +taking down their sign in hopes of a late visitor or two.” + +A few persons in the costume of the time of King Hans passed quickly by +him. + +“How strange they look! The good folks come probably from a masquerade!” + +Suddenly was heard the sound of drums and fifes; the bright blaze of a +fire shot up from time to time, and its ruddy gleams seemed to contend +with the bluish light of the torches. The Councillor stood still, and +watched a most strange procession pass by. First came a dozen drummers, +who understood pretty well how to handle their instruments; then came +halberdiers, and some armed with cross-bows. The principal person in the +procession was a priest. Astonished at what he saw, the Councillor asked +what was the meaning of all this mummery, and who that man was. + +“That's the Bishop of Zealand,” was the answer. + +“Good Heavens! What has taken possession of the Bishop?” sighed the +Councillor, shaking his head. It certainly could not be the Bishop; even +though he was considered the most absent man in the whole kingdom, and +people told the drollest anecdotes about him. Reflecting on the matter, +and without looking right or left, the Councillor went through East +Street and across the Habro-Platz. The bridge leading to Palace Square +was not to be found; scarcely trusting his senses, the nocturnal +wanderer discovered a shallow piece of water, and here fell in with two +men who very comfortably were rocking to and fro in a boat. + +“Does your honor want to cross the ferry to the Holme?” asked they. + +“Across to the Holme!” said the Councillor, who knew nothing of the age +in which he at that moment was. “No, I am going to Christianshafen, to +Little Market Street.” + +Both men stared at him in astonishment. + +“Only just tell me where the bridge is,” said he. “It is really +unpardonable that there are no lamps here; and it is as dirty as if one +had to wade through a morass.” + +The longer he spoke with the boatmen, the more unintelligible did their +language become to him. + +“I don't understand your Bornholmish dialect,” said he at last, angrily, +and turning his back upon them. He was unable to find the bridge: there +was no railway either. “It is really disgraceful what a state this place +is in,” muttered he to himself. Never had his age, with which, however, +he was always grumbling, seemed so miserable as on this evening. “I'll +take a hackney-coach!” thought he. But where were the hackney-coaches? +Not one was to be seen. + +“I must go back to the New Market; there, it is to be hoped, I +shall find some coaches; for if I don't, I shall never get safe to +Christianshafen.” + +So off he went in the direction of East Street, and had nearly got to +the end of it when the moon shone forth. + +“God bless me! What wooden scaffolding is that which they have set up +there?” cried he involuntarily, as he looked at East Gate, which, in +those days, was at the end of East Street. + +He found, however, a little side-door open, and through this he went, +and stepped into our New Market of the present time. It was a huge +desolate plain; some wild bushes stood up here and there, while across +the field flowed a broad canal or river. Some wretched hovels for the +Dutch sailors, resembling great boxes, and after which the place was +named, lay about in confused disorder on the opposite bank. + +“I either behold a fata morgana, or I am regularly tipsy,” whimpered out +the Councillor. “But what's this?” + +He turned round anew, firmly convinced that he was seriously ill. He +gazed at the street formerly so well known to him, and now so strange in +appearance, and looked at the houses more attentively: most of them were +of wood, slightly put together; and many had a thatched roof. + +“No--I am far from well,” sighed he; “and yet I drank only one glass of +punch; but I cannot suppose it--it was, too, really very wrong to give +us punch and hot salmon for supper. I shall speak about it at the first +opportunity. I have half a mind to go back again, and say what I suffer. +But no, that would be too silly; and Heaven only knows if they are up +still.” + +He looked for the house, but it had vanished. + +“It is really dreadful,” groaned he with increasing anxiety; “I cannot +recognise East Street again; there is not a single decent shop from one +end to the other! Nothing but wretched huts can I see anywhere; just +as if I were at Ringstead. Oh! I am ill! I can scarcely bear myself any +longer. Where the deuce can the house be? It must be here on this very +spot; yet there is not the slightest idea of resemblance, to such a +degree has everything changed this night! At all events here are some +people up and stirring. Oh! oh! I am certainly very ill.” + +He now hit upon a half-open door, through a chink of which a faint light +shone. It was a sort of hostelry of those times; a kind of public-house. +The room had some resemblance to the clay-floored halls in Holstein; a +pretty numerous company, consisting of seamen, Copenhagen burghers, and +a few scholars, sat here in deep converse over their pewter cans, and +gave little heed to the person who entered. + +“By your leave!” said the Councillor to the Hostess, who came bustling +towards him. “I've felt so queer all of a sudden; would you have the +goodness to send for a hackney-coach to take me to Christianshafen?” + +The woman examined him with eyes of astonishment, and shook her head; +she then addressed him in German. The Councillor thought she did not +understand Danish, and therefore repeated his wish in German. This, in +connection with his costume, strengthened the good woman in the belief +that he was a foreigner. That he was ill, she comprehended directly; so +she brought him a pitcher of water, which tasted certainly pretty strong +of the sea, although it had been fetched from the well. + +The Councillor supported his head on his hand, drew a long breath, and +thought over all the wondrous things he saw around him. + +“Is this the Daily News of this evening?” he asked mechanically, as he +saw the Hostess push aside a large sheet of paper. + +The meaning of this councillorship query remained, of course, a riddle +to her, yet she handed him the paper without replying. It was a coarse +wood-cut, representing a splendid meteor “as seen in the town of +Cologne,” which was to be read below in bright letters. + +“That is very old!” said the Councillor, whom this piece of antiquity +began to make considerably more cheerful. “Pray how did you come into +possession of this rare print? It is extremely interesting, although the +whole is a mere fable. Such meteorous appearances are to be explained in +this way--that they are the reflections of the Aurora Borealis, and it +is highly probable they are caused principally by electricity.” + +Those persons who were sitting nearest him and heard his speech, +stared at him in wonderment; and one of them rose, took off his hat +respectfully, and said with a serious countenance, “You are no doubt a +very learned man, Monsieur.” + +“Oh no,” answered the Councillor, “I can only join in conversation on +this topic and on that, as indeed one must do according to the demands +of the world at present.” + +“Modestia is a fine virtue,” continued the gentleman; “however, as to +your speech, I must say mihi secus videtur: yet I am willing to suspend +my judicium.” + +“May I ask with whom I have the pleasure of speaking?” asked the +Councillor. + +“I am a Bachelor in Theologia,” answered the gentleman with a stiff +reverence. + +This reply fully satisfied the Councillor; the title suited the dress. +“He is certainly,” thought he, “some village schoolmaster--some queer +old fellow, such as one still often meets with in Jutland.” + +“This is no locus docendi, it is true,” began the clerical gentleman; +“yet I beg you earnestly to let us profit by your learning. Your reading +in the ancients is, sine dubio, of vast extent?” + +“Oh yes, I've read something, to be sure,” replied the Councillor. “I +like reading all useful works; but I do not on that account despise the +modern ones; 'tis only the unfortunate 'Tales of Every-day Life' that I +cannot bear--we have enough and more than enough such in reality.” + +“'Tales of Every-day Life?'” said our Bachelor inquiringly. + +“I mean those new fangled novels, twisting and writhing themselves in +the dust of commonplace, which also expect to find a reading public.” + +“Oh,” exclaimed the clerical gentleman smiling, “there is much wit in +them; besides they are read at court. The King likes the history of Sir +Iffven and Sir Gaudian particularly, which treats of King Arthur, and +his Knights of the Round Table; he has more than once joked about it +with his high vassals.” + +“I have not read that novel,” said the Councillor; “it must be quite a +new one, that Heiberg has published lately.” + +“No,” answered the theologian of the time of King Hans: “that book is +not written by a Heiberg, but was imprinted by Godfrey von Gehmen.” + +“Oh, is that the author's name?” said the Councillor. “It is a very +old name, and, as well as I recollect, he was the first printer that +appeared in Denmark.” + +“Yes, he is our first printer,” replied the clerical gentleman hastily. + +So far all went on well. Some one of the worthy burghers now spoke of +the dreadful pestilence that had raged in the country a few years back, +meaning that of 1484. The Councillor imagined it was the cholera that +was meant, which people made so much fuss about; and the discourse +passed off satisfactorily enough. The war of the buccaneers of 1490 was +so recent that it could not fail being alluded to; the English +pirates had, they said, most shamefully taken their ships while in the +roadstead; and the Councillor, before whose eyes the Herostratic [*] +event of 1801 still floated vividly, agreed entirely with the others in +abusing the rascally English. With other topics he was not so fortunate; +every moment brought about some new confusion, and threatened to become +a perfect Babel; for the worthy Bachelor was really too ignorant, and +the simplest observations of the Councillor sounded to him too daring +and phantastical. They looked at one another from the crown of the head +to the soles of the feet; and when matters grew to too high a +pitch, then the Bachelor talked Latin, in the hope of being better +understood--but it was of no use after all. + + * Herostratus, or Eratostratus--an Ephesian, who wantonly + set fire to the famous temple of Diana, in order to + commemorate his name by so uncommon an action. + +“What's the matter?” asked the Hostess, plucking the Councillor by the +sleeve; and now his recollection returned, for in the course of the +conversation he had entirely forgotten all that had preceded it. + +“Merciful God, where am I!” exclaimed he in agony; and while he so +thought, all his ideas and feelings of overpowering dizziness, against +which he struggled with the utmost power of desperation, encompassed +him with renewed force. “Let us drink claret and mead, and Bremen beer,” + shouted one of the guests--“and you shall drink with us!” + +Two maidens approached. One wore a cap of two staring colors, denoting +the class of persons to which she belonged. They poured out the liquor, +and made the most friendly gesticulations; while a cold perspiration +trickled down the back of the poor Councillor. + +“What's to be the end of this! What's to become of me!” groaned he; but +he was forced, in spite of his opposition, to drink with the rest. They +took hold of the worthy man; who, hearing on every side that he was +intoxicated, did not in the least doubt the truth of this certainly +not very polite assertion; but on the contrary, implored the ladies +and gentlemen present to procure him a hackney-coach: they, however, +imagined he was talking Russian. + +Never before, he thought, had he been in such a coarse and ignorant +company; one might almost fancy the people had turned heathens again. +“It is the most dreadful moment of my life: the whole world is leagued +against me!” But suddenly it occurred to him that he might stoop down +under the table, and then creep unobserved out of the door. He did so; +but just as he was going, the others remarked what he was about; they +laid hold of him by the legs; and now, happily for him, off fell his +fatal shoes--and with them the charm was at an end. + +The Councillor saw quite distinctly before him a lantern burning, and +behind this a large handsome house. All seemed to him in proper order as +usual; it was East Street, splendid and elegant as we now see it. He lay +with his feet towards a doorway, and exactly opposite sat the watchman +asleep. + +“Gracious Heaven!” said he. “Have I lain here in the street and dreamed? +Yes; 'tis East Street! How splendid and light it is! But really it is +terrible what an effect that one glass of punch must have had on me!” + +Two minutes later, he was sitting in a hackney-coach and driving to +Frederickshafen. He thought of the distress and agony he had endured, +and praised from the very bottom of his heart the happy reality--our own +time--which, with all its deficiencies, is yet much better than that in +which, so much against his inclination, he had lately been. + + +III. The Watchman's Adventure + +“Why, there is a pair of galoshes, as sure as I'm alive!” said the +watchman, awaking from a gentle slumber. “They belong no doubt to the +lieutenant who lives over the way. They lie close to the door.” + +The worthy man was inclined to ring and deliver them at the house, for +there was still a light in the window; but he did not like disturbing +the other people in their beds, and so very considerately he left the +matter alone. + +“Such a pair of shoes must be very warm and comfortable,” said he; “the +leather is so soft and supple.” They fitted his feet as though they +had been made for him. “'Tis a curious world we live in,” continued he, +soliloquizing. “There is the lieutenant, now, who might go quietly to +bed if he chose, where no doubt he could stretch himself at his ease; +but does he do it? No; he saunters up and down his room, because, +probably, he has enjoyed too many of the good things of this world at +his dinner. That's a happy fellow! He has neither an infirm mother, nor +a whole troop of everlastingly hungry children to torment him. Every +evening he goes to a party, where his nice supper costs him nothing: +would to Heaven I could but change with him! How happy should I be!” + +While expressing his wish, the charm of the shoes, which he had put on, +began to work; the watchman entered into the being and nature of the +lieutenant. He stood in the handsomely furnished apartment, and held +between his fingers a small sheet of rose-colored paper, on which some +verses were written--written indeed by the officer himself; for who has +not, at least once in his life, had a lyrical moment? And if one then +marks down one's thoughts, poetry is produced. But here was written: + + OH, WERE I RICH! + + “Oh, were I rich! Such was my wish, yea such + When hardly three feet high, I longed for much. + Oh, were I rich! an officer were I, + With sword, and uniform, and plume so high. + And the time came, and officer was I! + But yet I grew not rich. Alas, poor me! + Have pity, Thou, who all man's wants dost see. + + “I sat one evening sunk in dreams of bliss, + A maid of seven years old gave me a kiss, + I at that time was rich in poesy + And tales of old, though poor as poor could be; + But all she asked for was this poesy. + Then was I rich, but not in gold, poor me! + As Thou dost know, who all men's hearts canst see. + + “Oh, were I rich! Oft asked I for this boon. + The child grew up to womanhood full soon. + She is so pretty, clever, and so kind + Oh, did she know what's hidden in my mind-- + A tale of old. Would she to me were kind! + But I'm condemned to silence! oh, poor me! + As Thou dost know, who all men's hearts canst see. + + “Oh, were I rich in calm and peace of mind, + My grief you then would not here written find! + O thou, to whom I do my heart devote, + Oh read this page of glad days now remote, + A dark, dark tale, which I tonight devote! + Dark is the future now. Alas, poor me! + Have pity Thou, who all men's pains dost see.” + +Such verses as these people write when they are in love! But no man +in his senses ever thinks of printing them. Here one of the sorrows of +life, in which there is real poetry, gave itself vent; not that +barren grief which the poet may only hint at, but never depict in its +detail--misery and want: that animal necessity, in short, to snatch +at least at a fallen leaf of the bread-fruit tree, if not at the fruit +itself. The higher the position in which one finds oneself transplanted, +the greater is the suffering. Everyday necessity is the stagnant pool of +life--no lovely picture reflects itself therein. Lieutenant, love, and +lack of money--that is a symbolic triangle, or much the same as the +half of the shattered die of Fortune. This the lieutenant felt most +poignantly, and this was the reason he leant his head against the +window, and sighed so deeply. + +“The poor watchman out there in the street is far happier than I. He +knows not what I term privation. He has a home, a wife, and children, +who weep with him over his sorrows, who rejoice with him when he is +glad. Oh, far happier were I, could I exchange with him my being--with +his desires and with his hopes perform the weary pilgrimage of life! Oh, +he is a hundred times happier than I!” + +In the same moment the watchman was again watchman. It was the shoes +that caused the metamorphosis by means of which, unknown to himself, he +took upon him the thoughts and feelings of the officer; but, as we have +just seen, he felt himself in his new situation much less contented, +and now preferred the very thing which but some minutes before he had +rejected. So then the watchman was again watchman. + +“That was an unpleasant dream,” said he; “but 'twas droll enough +altogether. I fancied that I was the lieutenant over there: and yet +the thing was not very much to my taste after all. I missed my good old +mother and the dear little ones; who almost tear me to pieces for sheer +love.” + +He seated himself once more and nodded: the dream continued to haunt +him, for he still had the shoes on his feet. A falling star shone in the +dark firmament. + +“There falls another star,” said he: “but what does it matter; there +are always enough left. I should not much mind examining the little +glimmering things somewhat nearer, especially the moon; for that would +not slip so easily through a man's fingers. When we die--so at least +says the student, for whom my wife does the washing--we shall fly about +as light as a feather from one such a star to the other. That's, of +course, not true: but 'twould be pretty enough if it were so. If I could +but once take a leap up there, my body might stay here on the steps for +what I care.” + +Behold--there are certain things in the world to which one ought never +to give utterance except with the greatest caution; but doubly careful +must one be when we have the Shoes of Fortune on our feet. Now just +listen to what happened to the watchman. + +As to ourselves, we all know the speed produced by the employment of +steam; we have experienced it either on railroads, or in boats when +crossing the sea; but such a flight is like the travelling of a sloth in +comparison with the velocity with which light moves. It flies nineteen +million times faster than the best race-horse; and yet electricity is +quicker still. Death is an electric shock which our heart receives; the +freed soul soars upwards on the wings of electricity. The sun's light +wants eight minutes and some seconds to perform a journey of more than +twenty million of our Danish [*] miles; borne by electricity, the soul +wants even some minutes less to accomplish the same flight. To it the +space between the heavenly bodies is not greater than the distance +between the homes of our friends in town is for us, even if they live a +short way from each other; such an electric shock in the heart, however, +costs us the use of the body here below; unless, like the watchman of +East Street, we happen to have on the Shoes of Fortune. + + * A Danish mile is nearly 4 3/4 English. + + +In a few seconds the watchman had done the fifty-two thousand of our +miles up to the moon, which, as everyone knows, was formed out of +matter much lighter than our earth; and is, so we should say, as soft +as newly-fallen snow. He found himself on one of the many circumjacent +mountain-ridges with which we are acquainted by means of Dr. Madler's +“Map of the Moon.” Within, down it sunk perpendicularly into a caldron, +about a Danish mile in depth; while below lay a town, whose appearance +we can, in some measure, realize to ourselves by beating the white of +an egg in a glass of water. The matter of which it was built was just as +soft, and formed similar towers, and domes, and pillars, transparent and +rocking in the thin air; while above his head our earth was rolling like +a large fiery ball. + +He perceived immediately a quantity of beings who were certainly what +we call “men”; yet they looked different to us. A far more correct +imagination than that of the pseudo-Herschel* had created them; and +if they had been placed in rank and file, and copied by some skilful +painter's hand, one would, without doubt, have exclaimed involuntarily, +“What a beautiful arabesque!” + +*This relates to a book published some years ago in Germany, and said +to be by Herschel, which contained a description of the moon and its +inhabitants, written with such a semblance of truth that many were +deceived by the imposture. + +Probably a translation of the celebrated Moon hoax, written by Richard +A. Locke, and originally published in New York. + + +They had a language too; but surely nobody can expect that the soul of +the watchman should understand it. Be that as it may, it did comprehend +it; for in our souls there germinate far greater powers than we poor +mortals, despite all our cleverness, have any notion of. Does she +not show us--she the queen in the land of enchantment--her astounding +dramatic talent in all our dreams? There every acquaintance appears and +speaks upon the stage, so entirely in character, and with the same tone +of voice, that none of us, when awake, were able to imitate it. How +well can she recall persons to our mind, of whom we have not thought for +years; when suddenly they step forth “every inch a man,” resembling the +real personages, even to the finest features, and become the heroes +or heroines of our world of dreams. In reality, such remembrances are +rather unpleasant: every sin, every evil thought, may, like a clock with +alarm or chimes, be repeated at pleasure; then the question is if we can +trust ourselves to give an account of every unbecoming word in our heart +and on our lips. + +The watchman's spirit understood the language of the inhabitants of the +moon pretty well. The Selenites* disputed variously about our earth, +and expressed their doubts if it could be inhabited: the air, they said, +must certainly be too dense to allow any rational dweller in the moon +the necessary free respiration. They considered the moon alone to +be inhabited: they imagined it was the real heart of the universe or +planetary system, on which the genuine Cosmopolites, or citizens of the +world, dwelt. What strange things men--no, what strange things Selenites +sometimes take into their heads! + +* Dwellers in the moon. + + +About politics they had a good deal to say. But little Denmark must +take care what it is about, and not run counter to the moon; that +great realm, that might in an ill-humor bestir itself, and dash down a +hail-storm in our faces, or force the Baltic to overflow the sides of +its gigantic basin. + +We will, therefore, not listen to what was spoken, and on no condition +run in the possibility of telling tales out of school; but we will +rather proceed, like good quiet citizens, to East Street, and observe +what happened meanwhile to the body of the watchman. + +He sat lifeless on the steps: the morning-star,* that is to say, the +heavy wooden staff, headed with iron spikes, and which had nothing else +in common with its sparkling brother in the sky, had glided from his +hand; while his eyes were fixed with glassy stare on the moon, looking +for the good old fellow of a spirit which still haunted it. + +*The watchmen in Germany, had formerly, and in some places they still +carry with them, on their rounds at night, a sort of mace or club, known +in ancient times by the above denomination. + + +“What's the hour, watchman?” asked a passer-by. But when the watchman +gave no reply, the merry roysterer, who was now returning home from a +noisy drinking bout, took it into his head to try what a tweak of the +nose would do, on which the supposed sleeper lost his balance, the body +lay motionless, stretched out on the pavement: the man was dead. When +the patrol came up, all his comrades, who comprehended nothing of the +whole affair, were seized with a dreadful fright, for dead he was, +and he remained so. The proper authorities were informed of the +circumstance, people talked a good deal about it, and in the morning the +body was carried to the hospital. + +Now that would be a very pretty joke, if the spirit when it came back +and looked for the body in East Street, were not to find one. No doubt +it would, in its anxiety, run off to the police, and then to the +“Hue and Cry” office, to announce that “the finder will be handsomely +rewarded,” and at last away to the hospital; yet we may boldly assert +that the soul is shrewdest when it shakes off every fetter, and every +sort of leading-string--the body only makes it stupid. + +The seemingly dead body of the watchman wandered, as we have said, to +the hospital, where it was brought into the general viewing-room: +and the first thing that was done here was naturally to pull off the +galoshes--when the spirit, that was merely gone out on adventures, must +have returned with the quickness of lightning to its earthly tenement. +It took its direction towards the body in a straight line; and a few +seconds after, life began to show itself in the man. He asserted that +the preceding night had been the worst that ever the malice of fate had +allotted him; he would not for two silver marks again go through what he +had endured while moon-stricken; but now, however, it was over. + +The same day he was discharged from the hospital as perfectly cured; but +the Shoes meanwhile remained behind. + + +IV. A Moment of Head Importance--An Evening's “Dramatic Readings”--A +Most Strange Journey + +Every inhabitant of Copenhagen knows, from personal inspection, how +the entrance to Frederick's Hospital looks; but as it is possible that +others, who are not Copenhagen people, may also read this little work, +we will beforehand give a short description of it. + +The extensive building is separated from the street by a pretty high +railing, the thick iron bars of which are so far apart, that in +all seriousness, it is said, some very thin fellow had of a night +occasionally squeezed himself through to go and pay his little visits +in the town. The part of the body most difficult to manage on such +occasions was, no doubt, the head; here, as is so often the case in +the world, long-headed people get through best. So much, then, for the +introduction. + +One of the young men, whose head, in a physical sense only, might be +said to be of the thickest, had the watch that evening. The rain poured +down in torrents; yet despite these two obstacles, the young man was +obliged to go out, if it were but for a quarter of an hour; and as +to telling the door-keeper about it, that, he thought, was quite +unnecessary, if, with a whole skin, he were able to slip through the +railings. There, on the floor lay the galoshes, which the watchman +had forgotten; he never dreamed for a moment that they were those of +Fortune; and they promised to do him good service in the wet; so he put +them on. The question now was, if he could squeeze himself through the +grating, for he had never tried before. Well, there he stood. + +“Would to Heaven I had got my head through!” said he, involuntarily; and +instantly through it slipped, easily and without pain, notwithstanding +it was pretty large and thick. But now the rest of the body was to be +got through! + +“Ah! I am much too stout,” groaned he aloud, while fixed as in a vice. +“I had thought the head was the most difficult part of the matter--oh! +oh! I really cannot squeeze myself through!” + +He now wanted to pull his over-hasty head back again, but he could not. +For his neck there was room enough, but for nothing more. His first +feeling was of anger; his next that his temper fell to zero. The +Shoes of Fortune had placed him in the most dreadful situation; and, +unfortunately, it never occurred to him to wish himself free. The +pitch-black clouds poured down their contents in still heavier torrents; +not a creature was to be seen in the streets. To reach up to the bell +was what he did not like; to cry aloud for help would have availed him +little; besides, how ashamed would he have been to be found caught in a +trap, like an outwitted fox! How was he to twist himself through! He saw +clearly that it was his irrevocable destiny to remain a prisoner till +dawn, or, perhaps, even late in the morning; then the smith must be +fetched to file away the bars; but all that would not be done so quickly +as he could think about it. The whole Charity School, just opposite, +would be in motion; all the new booths, with their not very +courtier-like swarm of seamen, would join them out of curiosity, and +would greet him with a wild “hurrah!” while he was standing in his +pillory: there would be a mob, a hissing, and rejoicing, and jeering, +ten times worse than in the rows about the Jews some years ago--“Oh, my +blood is mounting to my brain; 'tis enough to drive one mad! I shall go +wild! I know not what to do. Oh! were I but loose; my dizziness would +then cease; oh, were my head but loose!” + +You see he ought to have said that sooner; for the moment he expressed +the wish his head was free; and cured of all his paroxysms of love, he +hastened off to his room, where the pains consequent on the fright the +Shoes had prepared for him, did not so soon take their leave. + +But you must not think that the affair is over now; it grows much worse. + +The night passed, the next day also; but nobody came to fetch the Shoes. + +In the evening “Dramatic Readings” were to be given at the little +theatre in King Street. The house was filled to suffocation; and among +other pieces to be recited was a new poem by H. C. Andersen, called, My +Aunt's Spectacles; the contents of which were pretty nearly as follows: + +“A certain person had an aunt, who boasted of particular skill in +fortune-telling with cards, and who was constantly being stormed by +persons that wanted to have a peep into futurity. But she was full of +mystery about her art, in which a certain pair of magic spectacles +did her essential service. Her nephew, a merry boy, who was his aunt's +darling, begged so long for these spectacles, that, at last, she lent +him the treasure, after having informed him, with many exhortations, +that in order to execute the interesting trick, he need only repair to +some place where a great many persons were assembled; and then, from a +higher position, whence he could overlook the crowd, pass the company in +review before him through his spectacles. Immediately 'the inner man' of +each individual would be displayed before him, like a game of cards, in +which he unerringly might read what the future of every person presented +was to be. Well pleased the little magician hastened away to prove the +powers of the spectacles in the theatre; no place seeming to him more +fitted for such a trial. He begged permission of the worthy audience, +and set his spectacles on his nose. A motley phantasmagoria presents +itself before him, which he describes in a few satirical touches, yet +without expressing his opinion openly: he tells the people enough to set +them all thinking and guessing; but in order to hurt nobody, he wraps +his witty oracular judgments in a transparent veil, or rather in a lurid +thundercloud, shooting forth bright sparks of wit, that they may fall in +the powder-magazine of the expectant audience.” + +The humorous poem was admirably recited, and the speaker much applauded. +Among the audience was the young man of the hospital, who seemed to have +forgotten his adventure of the preceding night. He had on the Shoes; for +as yet no lawful owner had appeared to claim them; and besides it was so +very dirty out-of-doors, they were just the thing for him, he thought. + +The beginning of the poem he praised with great generosity: he even +found the idea original and effective. But that the end of it, like the +Rhine, was very insignificant, proved, in his opinion, the author's +want of invention; he was without genius, etc. This was an excellent +opportunity to have said something clever. + +Meanwhile he was haunted by the idea--he should like to possess such a +pair of spectacles himself; then, perhaps, by using them circumspectly, +one would be able to look into people's hearts, which, he thought, would +be far more interesting than merely to see what was to happen next year; +for that we should all know in proper time, but the other never. + +“I can now,” said he to himself, “fancy the whole row of ladies and +gentlemen sitting there in the front row; if one could but see into +their hearts--yes, that would be a revelation--a sort of bazar. In that +lady yonder, so strangely dressed, I should find for certain a large +milliner's shop; in that one the shop is empty, but it wants cleaning +plain enough. But there would also be some good stately shops among +them. Alas!” sighed he, “I know one in which all is stately; but there +sits already a spruce young shopman, which is the only thing that's +amiss in the whole shop. All would be splendidly decked out, and we +should hear, 'Walk in, gentlemen, pray walk in; here you will find all +you please to want.' Ah! I wish to Heaven I could walk in and take a +trip right through the hearts of those present!” + +And behold! to the Shoes of Fortune this was the cue; the whole man +shrunk together and a most uncommon journey through the hearts of the +front row of spectators, now began. The first heart through which he +came, was that of a middle-aged lady, but he instantly fancied himself +in the room of the “Institution for the cure of the crooked and +deformed,” where casts of mis-shapen limbs are displayed in naked +reality on the wall. Yet there was this difference, in the institution +the casts were taken at the entry of the patient; but here they were +retained and guarded in the heart while the sound persons went away. +They were, namely, casts of female friends, whose bodily or mental +deformities were here most faithfully preserved. + +With the snake-like writhings of an idea he glided into another female +heart; but this seemed to him like a large holy fane. [*] The white dove of +innocence fluttered over the altar. How gladly would he have sunk upon +his knees; but he must away to the next heart; yet he still heard the +pealing tones of the organ, and he himself seemed to have become a newer +and a better man; he felt unworthy to tread the neighboring sanctuary +which a poor garret, with a sick bed-rid mother, revealed. But God's +warm sun streamed through the open window; lovely roses nodded from +the wooden flower-boxes on the roof, and two sky-blue birds sang +rejoicingly, while the sick mother implored God's richest blessings on +her pious daughter. + + * temple + + +He now crept on hands and feet through a butcher's shop; at least on +every side, and above and below, there was nought but flesh. It was the +heart of a most respectable rich man, whose name is certain to be found +in the Directory. + +He was now in the heart of the wife of this worthy gentleman. It was an +old, dilapidated, mouldering dovecot. The husband's portrait was used as +a weather-cock, which was connected in some way or other with the doors, +and so they opened and shut of their own accord, whenever the stern old +husband turned round. + +Hereupon he wandered into a boudoir formed entirely of mirrors, like +the one in Castle Rosenburg; but here the glasses magnified to an +astonishing degree. On the floor, in the middle of the room, sat, like a +Dalai-Lama, the insignificant “Self” of the person, quite confounded at +his own greatness. He then imagined he had got into a needle-case full +of pointed needles of every size. + +“This is certainly the heart of an old maid,” thought he. But he was +mistaken. It was the heart of a young military man; a man, as people +said, of talent and feeling. + +In the greatest perplexity, he now came out of the last heart in the +row; he was unable to put his thoughts in order, and fancied that his +too lively imagination had run away with him. + +“Good Heavens!” sighed he. “I have surely a disposition to madness--'tis +dreadfully hot here; my blood boils in my veins and my head is burning +like a coal.” And he now remembered the important event of the evening +before, how his head had got jammed in between the iron railings of the +hospital. “That's what it is, no doubt,” said he. “I must do something +in time: under such circumstances a Russian bath might do me good. I +only wish I were already on the upper bank.” [*] + + *In these Russian (vapor) baths the person extends himself + on a bank or form, and as he gets accustomed to the heat, + moves to another higher up towards the ceiling, where, of + course, the vapor is warmest. In this manner he ascends + gradually to the highest. + +And so there he lay on the uppermost bank in the vapor-bath; but with +all his clothes on, in his boots and galoshes, while the hot drops fell +scalding from the ceiling on his face. + +“Holloa!” cried he, leaping down. The bathing attendant, on his side, +uttered a loud cry of astonishment when he beheld in the bath, a man +completely dressed. + +The other, however, retained sufficient presence of mind to whisper to +him, “'Tis a bet, and I have won it!” But the first thing he did as soon +as he got home, was to have a large blister put on his chest and back to +draw out his madness. + +The next morning he had a sore chest and a bleeding back; and, excepting +the fright, that was all that he had gained by the Shoes of Fortune. + + +V. Metamorphosis of the Copying-Clerk + +The watchman, whom we have certainly not forgotten, thought meanwhile +of the galoshes he had found and taken with him to the hospital; he now +went to fetch them; and as neither the lieutenant, nor anybody else in +the street, claimed them as his property, they were delivered over to +the police-office.* + +*As on the continent, in all law and police practices nothing is verbal, +but any circumstance, however trifling, is reduced to writing, the +labor, as well as the number of papers that thus accumulate, is +enormous. In a police-office, consequently, we find copying-clerks among +many other scribes of various denominations, of which, it seems, our +hero was one. + + +“Why, I declare the Shoes look just like my own,” said one of the +clerks, eying the newly-found treasure, whose hidden powers, even he, +sharp as he was, was not able to discover. “One must have more than +the eye of a shoemaker to know one pair from the other,” said he, +soliloquizing; and putting, at the same time, the galoshes in search of +an owner, beside his own in the corner. + +“Here, sir!” said one of the men, who panting brought him a tremendous +pile of papers. + +The copying-clerk turned round and spoke awhile with the man about the +reports and legal documents in question; but when he had finished, and +his eye fell again on the Shoes, he was unable to say whether those to +the left or those to the right belonged to him. “At all events it must +be those which are wet,” thought he; but this time, in spite of his +cleverness, he guessed quite wrong, for it was just those of Fortune +which played as it were into his hands, or rather on his feet. And why, +I should like to know, are the police never to be wrong? So he put them +on quickly, stuck his papers in his pocket, and took besides a few under +his arm, intending to look them through at home to make the necessary +notes. It was noon; and the weather, that had threatened rain, began +to clear up, while gaily dressed holiday folks filled the streets. “A +little trip to Fredericksburg would do me no great harm,” thought he; +“for I, poor beast of burden that I am, have so much to annoy me, that I +don't know what a good appetite is. 'Tis a bitter crust, alas! at which +I am condemned to gnaw!” + +Nobody could be more steady or quiet than this young man; we therefore +wish him joy of the excursion with all our heart; and it will certainly +be beneficial for a person who leads so sedentary a life. In the park +he met a friend, one of our young poets, who told him that the following +day he should set out on his long-intended tour. + +“So you are going away again!” said the clerk. “You are a very free +and happy being; we others are chained by the leg and held fast to our +desk.” + +“Yes; but it is a chain, friend, which ensures you the blessed bread +of existence,” answered the poet. “You need feel no care for the coming +morrow: when you are old, you receive a pension.” + +“True,” said the clerk, shrugging his shoulders; “and yet you are +the better off. To sit at one's ease and poetise--that is a pleasure; +everybody has something agreeable to say to you, and you are always your +own master. No, friend, you should but try what it is to sit from one +year's end to the other occupied with and judging the most trivial +matters.” + +The poet shook his head, the copying-clerk did the same. Each one kept +to his own opinion, and so they separated. + +“It's a strange race, those poets!” said the clerk, who was very fond of +soliloquizing. “I should like some day, just for a trial, to take such +nature upon me, and be a poet myself; I am very sure I should make +no such miserable verses as the others. Today, methinks, is a most +delicious day for a poet. Nature seems anew to celebrate her awakening +into life. The air is so unusually clear, the clouds sail on so +buoyantly, and from the green herbage a fragrance is exhaled that fills +me with delight. For many a year have I not felt as at this moment.” + +We see already, by the foregoing effusion, that he is become a poet; to +give further proof of it, however, would in most cases be insipid, for +it is a most foolish notion to fancy a poet different from other men. +Among the latter there may be far more poetical natures than many an +acknowledged poet, when examined more closely, could boast of; the +difference only is, that the poet possesses a better mental memory, on +which account he is able to retain the feeling and the thought till they +can be embodied by means of words; a faculty which the others do not +possess. But the transition from a commonplace nature to one that is +richly endowed, demands always a more or less breakneck leap over a +certain abyss which yawns threateningly below; and thus must the sudden +change with the clerk strike the reader. + +“The sweet air!” continued he of the police-office, in his dreamy +imaginings; “how it reminds me of the violets in the garden of my aunt +Magdalena! Yes, then I was a little wild boy, who did not go to school +very regularly. O heavens! 'tis a long time since I have thought on +those times. The good old soul! She lived behind the Exchange. She +always had a few twigs or green shoots in water--let the winter rage +without as it might. The violets exhaled their sweet breath, whilst I +pressed against the windowpanes covered with fantastic frost-work the +copper coin I had heated on the stove, and so made peep-holes. +What splendid vistas were then opened to my view! What change--what +magnificence! Yonder in the canal lay the ships frozen up, and deserted +by their whole crews, with a screaming crow for the sole occupant. But +when the spring, with a gentle stirring motion, announced her arrival, +a new and busy life arose; with songs and hurrahs the ice was sawn +asunder, the ships were fresh tarred and rigged, that they might sail +away to distant lands. But I have remained here--must always remain +here, sitting at my desk in the office, and patiently see other people +fetch their passports to go abroad. Such is my fate! Alas!”--sighed he, +and was again silent. “Great Heaven! What is come to me! Never have I +thought or felt like this before! It must be the summer air that affects +me with feelings almost as disquieting as they are refreshing.” + +He felt in his pocket for the papers. “These police-reports will soon +stem the torrent of my ideas, and effectually hinder any rebellious +overflowing of the time-worn banks of official duties”; he said to +himself consolingly, while his eye ran over the first page. “DAME +TIGBRITH, tragedy in five acts.” “What is that? And yet it is undeniably +my own handwriting. Have I written the tragedy? Wonderful, very +wonderful!--And this--what have I here? 'INTRIGUE ON THE RAMPARTS; or +THE DAY OF REPENTANCE: vaudeville with new songs to the most favorite +airs.' The deuce! Where did I get all this rubbish? Some one must have +slipped it slyly into my pocket for a joke. There is too a letter to me; +a crumpled letter and the seal broken.” + +Yes; it was not a very polite epistle from the manager of a theatre, in +which both pieces were flatly refused. + +“Hem! hem!” said the clerk breathlessly, and quite exhausted he seated +himself on a bank. His thoughts were so elastic, his heart so tender; +and involuntarily he picked one of the nearest flowers. It is a simple +daisy, just bursting out of the bud. What the botanist tells us after +a number of imperfect lectures, the flower proclaimed in a minute. It +related the mythus of its birth, told of the power of the sun-light that +spread out its delicate leaves, and forced them to impregnate the air +with their incense--and then he thought of the manifold struggles of +life, which in like manner awaken the budding flowers of feeling in our +bosom. Light and air contend with chivalric emulation for the love of +the fair flower that bestowed her chief favors on the latter; full of +longing she turned towards the light, and as soon as it vanished, rolled +her tender leaves together and slept in the embraces of the air. “It is +the light which adorns me,” said the flower. + +“But 'tis the air which enables thee to breathe,” said the poet's voice. + +Close by stood a boy who dashed his stick into a wet ditch. The drops of +water splashed up to the green leafy roof, and the clerk thought of the +million of ephemera which in a single drop were thrown up to a height, +that was as great doubtless for their size, as for us if we were to +be hurled above the clouds. While he thought of this and of the whole +metamorphosis he had undergone, he smiled and said, “I sleep and dream; +but it is wonderful how one can dream so naturally, and know besides so +exactly that it is but a dream. If only to-morrow on awaking, I could +again call all to mind so vividly! I seem in unusually good spirits; my +perception of things is clear, I feel as light and cheerful as though +I were in heaven; but I know for a certainty, that if to-morrow a dim +remembrance of it should swim before my mind, it will then seem nothing +but stupid nonsense, as I have often experienced already--especially +before I enlisted under the banner of the police, for that dispels like +a whirlwind all the visions of an unfettered imagination. All we hear +or say in a dream that is fair and beautiful is like the gold of the +subterranean spirits; it is rich and splendid when it is given us, but +viewed by daylight we find only withered leaves. Alas!” he sighed quite +sorrowful, and gazed at the chirping birds that hopped contentedly from +branch to branch, “they are much better off than I! To fly must be a +heavenly art; and happy do I prize that creature in which it is innate. +Yes! Could I exchange my nature with any other creature, I fain would be +such a happy little lark!” + +He had hardly uttered these hasty words when the skirts and sleeves +of his coat folded themselves together into wings; the clothes became +feathers, and the galoshes claws. He observed it perfectly, and laughed +in his heart. “Now then, there is no doubt that I am dreaming; but I +never before was aware of such mad freaks as these.” And up he flew into +the green roof and sang; but in the song there was no poetry, for the +spirit of the poet was gone. The Shoes, as is the case with anybody who +does what he has to do properly, could only attend to one thing at a +time. He wanted to be a poet, and he was one; he now wished to be a +merry chirping bird: but when he was metamorphosed into one, the former +peculiarities ceased immediately. “It is really pleasant enough,” said +he: “the whole day long I sit in the office amid the driest +law-papers, and at night I fly in my dream as a lark in the gardens of +Fredericksburg; one might really write a very pretty comedy upon it.” He +now fluttered down into the grass, turned his head gracefully on every +side, and with his bill pecked the pliant blades of grass, which, in +comparison to his present size, seemed as majestic as the palm-branches +of northern Africa. + +Unfortunately the pleasure lasted but a moment. Presently black night +overshadowed our enthusiast, who had so entirely missed his part of +copying-clerk at a police-office; some vast object seemed to be thrown +over him. It was a large oil-skin cap, which a sailor-boy of the quay +had thrown over the struggling bird; a coarse hand sought its way +carefully in under the broad rim, and seized the clerk over the back +and wings. In the first moment of fear, he called, indeed, as loud as +he could--“You impudent little blackguard! I am a copying-clerk at +the police-office; and you know you cannot insult any belonging to the +constabulary force without a chastisement. Besides, you good-for-nothing +rascal, it is strictly forbidden to catch birds in the royal gardens of +Fredericksburg; but your blue uniform betrays where you come from.” + This fine tirade sounded, however, to the ungodly sailor-boy like a mere +“Pippi-pi.” He gave the noisy bird a knock on his beak, and walked on. + +He was soon met by two schoolboys of the upper class--that is to say as +individuals, for with regard to learning they were in the lowest class +in the school; and they bought the stupid bird. So the copying-clerk +came to Copenhagen as guest, or rather as prisoner in a family living in +Gother Street. + +“'Tis well that I'm dreaming,” said the clerk, “or I really should get +angry. First I was a poet; now sold for a few pence as a lark; no doubt +it was that accursed poetical nature which has metamorphosed me +into such a poor harmless little creature. It is really pitiable, +particularly when one gets into the hands of a little blackguard, +perfect in all sorts of cruelty to animals: all I should like to know +is, how the story will end.” + +The two schoolboys, the proprietors now of the transformed clerk, +carried him into an elegant room. A stout stately dame received them +with a smile; but she expressed much dissatisfaction that a common +field-bird, as she called the lark, should appear in such high society. +For to-day, however, she would allow it; and they must shut him in the +empty cage that was standing in the window. “Perhaps he will amuse my +good Polly,” added the lady, looking with a benignant smile at a large +green parrot that swung himself backwards and forwards most comfortably +in his ring, inside a magnificent brass-wired cage. “To-day is Polly's +birthday,” said she with stupid simplicity: “and the little brown +field-bird must wish him joy.” + +Mr. Polly uttered not a syllable in reply, but swung to and fro with +dignified condescension; while a pretty canary, as yellow as gold, that +had lately been brought from his sunny fragrant home, began to sing +aloud. + +“Noisy creature! Will you be quiet!” screamed the lady of the house, +covering the cage with an embroidered white pocket handkerchief. + +“Chirp, chirp!” sighed he. “That was a dreadful snowstorm”; and he +sighed again, and was silent. + +The copying-clerk, or, as the lady said, the brown field-bird, was +put into a small cage, close to the Canary, and not far from “my good +Polly.” The only human sounds that the Parrot could bawl out +were, “Come, let us be men!” Everything else that he said was as +unintelligible to everybody as the chirping of the Canary, except to the +clerk, who was now a bird too: he understood his companion perfectly. + +“I flew about beneath the green palms and the blossoming almond-trees,” + sang the Canary; “I flew around, with my brothers and sisters, over +the beautiful flowers, and over the glassy lakes, where the bright +water-plants nodded to me from below. There, too, I saw many +splendidly-dressed paroquets, that told the drollest stories, and the +wildest fairy tales without end.” + +“Oh! those were uncouth birds,” answered the Parrot. “They had no +education, and talked of whatever came into their head. + +“If my mistress and all her friends can laugh at what I say, so may you +too, I should think. It is a great fault to have no taste for what is +witty or amusing--come, let us be men.” + +“Ah, you have no remembrance of love for the charming maidens that +danced beneath the outspread tents beside the bright fragrant flowers? +Do you no longer remember the sweet fruits, and the cooling juice in +the wild plants of our never-to-be-forgotten home?” said the former +inhabitant of the Canary Isles, continuing his dithyrambic. + +“Oh, yes,” said the Parrot; “but I am far better off here. I am well +fed, and get friendly treatment. I know I am a clever fellow; and that +is all I care about. Come, let us be men. You are of a poetical nature, +as it is called--I, on the contrary, possess profound knowledge and +inexhaustible wit. You have genius; but clear-sighted, calm discretion +does not take such lofty flights, and utter such high natural tones. +For this they have covered you over--they never do the like to me; for +I cost more. Besides, they are afraid of my beak; and I have always a +witty answer at hand. Come, let us be men!” + +“O warm spicy land of my birth,” sang the Canary bird; “I will sing of +thy dark-green bowers, of the calm bays where the pendent boughs +kiss the surface of the water; I will sing of the rejoicing of all my +brothers and sisters where the cactus grows in wanton luxuriance.” + +“Spare us your elegiac tones,” said the Parrot giggling. “Rather speak +of something at which one may laugh heartily. Laughing is an infallible +sign of the highest degree of mental development. Can a dog, or a horse +laugh? No, but they can cry. The gift of laughing was given to man +alone. Ha! ha! ha!” screamed Polly, and added his stereotype witticism. +“Come, let us be men!” + +“Poor little Danish grey-bird,” said the Canary; “you have been caught +too. It is, no doubt, cold enough in your woods, but there at least +is the breath of liberty; therefore fly away. In the hurry they have +forgotten to shut your cage, and the upper window is open. Fly, my +friend; fly away. Farewell!” + +Instinctively the Clerk obeyed; with a few strokes of his wings he was +out of the cage; but at the same moment the door, which was only ajar, +and which led to the next room, began to creak, and supple and creeping +came the large tomcat into the room, and began to pursue him. The +frightened Canary fluttered about in his cage; the Parrot flapped his +wings, and cried, “Come, let us be men!” The Clerk felt a mortal fright, +and flew through the window, far away over the houses and streets. At +last he was forced to rest a little. + +The neighboring house had a something familiar about it; a window stood +open; he flew in; it was his own room. He perched upon the table. + +“Come, let us be men!” said he, involuntarily imitating the chatter of +the Parrot, and at the same moment he was again a copying-clerk; but he +was sitting in the middle of the table. + +“Heaven help me!” cried he. “How did I get up here--and so buried in +sleep, too? After all, that was a very unpleasant, disagreeable dream +that haunted me! The whole story is nothing but silly, stupid nonsense!” + + +VI. The Best That the Galoshes Gave + +The following day, early in the morning, while the Clerk was still in +bed, someone knocked at his door. It was his neighbor, a young Divine, +who lived on the same floor. He walked in. + +“Lend me your Galoshes,” said he; “it is so wet in the garden, though +the sun is shining most invitingly. I should like to go out a little.” + +He got the Galoshes, and he was soon below in a little duodecimo garden, +where between two immense walls a plumtree and an apple-tree were +standing. Even such a little garden as this was considered in the +metropolis of Copenhagen as a great luxury. + +The young man wandered up and down the narrow paths, as well as the +prescribed limits would allow; the clock struck six; without was heard +the horn of a post-boy. + +“To travel! to travel!” exclaimed he, overcome by most painful and +passionate remembrances. “That is the happiest thing in the world! That +is the highest aim of all my wishes! Then at last would the agonizing +restlessness be allayed, which destroys my existence! But it must be +far, far away! I would behold magnificent Switzerland; I would travel to +Italy, and--” + +It was a good thing that the power of the Galoshes worked as +instantaneously as lightning in a powder-magazine would do, otherwise +the poor man with his overstrained wishes would have travelled about +the world too much for himself as well as for us. In short, he was +travelling. He was in the middle of Switzerland, but packed up with +eight other passengers in the inside of an eternally-creaking diligence; +his head ached till it almost split, his weary neck could hardly bear +the heavy load, and his feet, pinched by his torturing boots, were +terribly swollen. He was in an intermediate state between sleeping and +waking; at variance with himself, with his company, with the country, +and with the government. In his right pocket he had his letter of +credit, in the left, his passport, and in a small leathern purse some +double louis d'or, carefully sewn up in the bosom of his waistcoat. +Every dream proclaimed that one or the other of these valuables was +lost; wherefore he started up as in a fever; and the first movement +which his hand made, described a magic triangle from the right pocket to +the left, and then up towards the bosom, to feel if he had them all safe +or not. From the roof inside the carriage, umbrellas, walking-sticks, +hats, and sundry other articles were depending, and hindered the view, +which was particularly imposing. He now endeavored as well as he +was able to dispel his gloom, which was caused by outward chance +circumstances merely, and on the bosom of nature imbibe the milk of +purest human enjoyment. + +Grand, solemn, and dark was the whole landscape around. The gigantic +pine-forests, on the pointed crags, seemed almost like little tufts of +heather, colored by the surrounding clouds. It began to snow, a cold +wind blew and roared as though it were seeking a bride. + +“Augh!” sighed he, “were we only on the other side the Alps, then we +should have summer, and I could get my letters of credit cashed. The +anxiety I feel about them prevents me enjoying Switzerland. Were I but +on the other side!” + +And so saying he was on the other side in Italy, between Florence and +Rome. Lake Thracymene, illumined by the evening sun, lay like flaming +gold between the dark-blue mountain-ridges; here, where Hannibal +defeated Flaminius, the rivers now held each other in their green +embraces; lovely, half-naked children tended a herd of black swine, +beneath a group of fragrant laurel-trees, hard by the road-side. +Could we render this inimitable picture properly, then would everybody +exclaim, “Beautiful, unparalleled Italy!” But neither the young Divine +said so, nor anyone of his grumbling companions in the coach of the +vetturino. + +The poisonous flies and gnats swarmed around by thousands; in vain one +waved myrtle-branches about like mad; the audacious insect population +did not cease to sting; nor was there a single person in the +well-crammed carriage whose face was not swollen and sore from their +ravenous bites. The poor horses, tortured almost to death, suffered most +from this truly Egyptian plague; the flies alighted upon them in large +disgusting swarms; and if the coachman got down and scraped them off, +hardly a minute elapsed before they were there again. The sun now set: a +freezing cold, though of short duration pervaded the whole creation; +it was like a horrid gust coming from a burial-vault on a warm summer's +day--but all around the mountains retained that wonderful green tone +which we see in some old pictures, and which, should we not have seen a +similar play of color in the South, we declare at once to be unnatural. +It was a glorious prospect; but the stomach was empty, the body tired; +all that the heart cared and longed for was good night-quarters; yet +how would they be? For these one looked much more anxiously than for the +charms of nature, which every where were so profusely displayed. + +The road led through an olive-grove, and here the solitary inn was +situated. Ten or twelve crippled-beggars had encamped outside. The +healthiest of them resembled, to use an expression of Marryat's, +“Hunger's eldest son when he had come of age”; the others were either +blind, had withered legs and crept about on their hands, or withered +arms and fingerless hands. It was the most wretched misery, dragged +from among the filthiest rags. “Excellenza, miserabili!” sighed they, +thrusting forth their deformed limbs to view. Even the hostess, with +bare feet, uncombed hair, and dressed in a garment of doubtful color, +received the guests grumblingly. The doors were fastened with a loop of +string; the floor of the rooms presented a stone paving half torn +up; bats fluttered wildly about the ceiling; and as to the smell +therein--no--that was beyond description. + +“You had better lay the cloth below in the stable,” said one of the +travellers; “there, at all events, one knows what one is breathing.” + +The windows were quickly opened, to let in a little fresh air. Quicker, +however, than the breeze, the withered, sallow arms of the beggars were +thrust in, accompanied by the eternal whine of “Miserabili, miserabili, +excellenza!” On the walls were displayed innumerable inscriptions, +written in nearly every language of Europe, some in verse, some in +prose, most of them not very laudatory of “bella Italia.” + +The meal was served. It consisted of a soup of salted water, seasoned +with pepper and rancid oil. The last ingredient played a very prominent +part in the salad; stale eggs and roasted cocks'-combs furnished the +grand dish of the repast; the wine even was not without a disgusting +taste--it was like a medicinal draught. + +At night the boxes and other effects of the passengers were placed +against the rickety doors. One of the travellers kept watch while the +others slept. The sentry was our young Divine. How close it was in the +chamber! The heat oppressive to suffocation--the gnats hummed and stung +unceasingly--the “miserabili” without whined and moaned in their sleep. + +“Travelling would be agreeable enough,” said he groaning, “if one only +had no body, or could send it to rest while the spirit went on its +pilgrimage unhindered, whither the voice within might call it. Wherever +I go, I am pursued by a longing that is insatiable--that I cannot +explain to myself, and that tears my very heart. I want something better +than what is but what is fled in an instant. But what is it, and where +is it to be found? Yet, I know in reality what it is I wish for. Oh! +most happy were I, could I but reach one aim--could but reach the +happiest of all!” + +And as he spoke the word he was again in his home; the long white +curtains hung down from the windows, and in the middle of the floor +stood the black coffin; in it he lay in the sleep of death. His wish +was fulfilled--the body rested, while the spirit went unhindered on its +pilgrimage. “Let no one deem himself happy before his end,” were the +words of Solon; and here was a new and brilliant proof of the wisdom of +the old apothegm. + +Every corpse is a sphynx of immortality; here too on the black coffin +the sphynx gave us no answer to what he who lay within had written two +days before: + + “O mighty Death! thy silence teaches nought, + Thou leadest only to the near grave's brink; + Is broken now the ladder of my thoughts? + Do I instead of mounting only sink? + + Our heaviest grief the world oft seeth not, + Our sorest pain we hide from stranger eyes: + And for the sufferer there is nothing left + But the green mound that o'er the coffin lies.” + +Two figures were moving in the chamber. We knew them both; it was the +fairy of Care, and the emissary of Fortune. They both bent over the +corpse. + +“Do you now see,” said Care, “what happiness your Galoshes have brought +to mankind?” + +“To him, at least, who slumbers here, they have brought an imperishable +blessing,” answered the other. + +“Ah no!” replied Care. “He took his departure himself; he was not called +away. His mental powers here below were not strong enough to reach the +treasures lying beyond this life, and which his destiny ordained he +should obtain. I will now confer a benefit on him.” + +And she took the Galoshes from his feet; his sleep of death was ended; +and he who had been thus called back again to life arose from his +dread couch in all the vigor of youth. Care vanished, and with her the +Galoshes. She has no doubt taken them for herself, to keep them to all +eternity. + + + + +THE FIR TREE + +Out in the woods stood a nice little Fir Tree. The place he had was a +very good one: the sun shone on him: as to fresh air, there was enough +of that, and round him grew many large-sized comrades, pines as well as +firs. But the little Fir wanted so very much to be a grown-up tree. + +He did not think of the warm sun and of the fresh air; he did not care +for the little cottage children that ran about and prattled when they +were in the woods looking for wild-strawberries. The children often came +with a whole pitcher full of berries, or a long row of them threaded on +a straw, and sat down near the young tree and said, “Oh, how pretty he +is! What a nice little fir!” But this was what the Tree could not bear +to hear. + +At the end of a year he had shot up a good deal, and after another year +he was another long bit taller; for with fir trees one can always tell +by the shoots how many years old they are. + +“Oh! Were I but such a high tree as the others are,” sighed he. “Then I +should be able to spread out my branches, and with the tops to look into +the wide world! Then would the birds build nests among my branches: and +when there was a breeze, I could bend with as much stateliness as the +others!” + +Neither the sunbeams, nor the birds, nor the red clouds which morning +and evening sailed above him, gave the little Tree any pleasure. + +In winter, when the snow lay glittering on the ground, a hare would +often come leaping along, and jump right over the little Tree. Oh, that +made him so angry! But two winters were past, and in the third the Tree +was so large that the hare was obliged to go round it. “To grow and +grow, to get older and be tall,” thought the Tree--“that, after all, is +the most delightful thing in the world!” + +In autumn the wood-cutters always came and felled some of the largest +trees. This happened every year; and the young Fir Tree, that had now +grown to a very comely size, trembled at the sight; for the magnificent +great trees fell to the earth with noise and cracking, the branches were +lopped off, and the trees looked long and bare; they were hardly to be +recognised; and then they were laid in carts, and the horses dragged +them out of the wood. + +Where did they go to? What became of them? + +In spring, when the swallows and the storks came, the Tree asked them, +“Don't you know where they have been taken? Have you not met them +anywhere?” + +The swallows did not know anything about it; but the Stork looked +musing, nodded his head, and said, “Yes; I think I know; I met many +ships as I was flying hither from Egypt; on the ships were magnificent +masts, and I venture to assert that it was they that smelt so of fir. +I may congratulate you, for they lifted themselves on high most +majestically!” + +“Oh, were I but old enough to fly across the sea! But how does the sea +look in reality? What is it like?” + +“That would take a long time to explain,” said the Stork, and with these +words off he went. + +“Rejoice in thy growth!” said the Sunbeams. “Rejoice in thy vigorous +growth, and in the fresh life that moveth within thee!” + +And the Wind kissed the Tree, and the Dew wept tears over him; but the +Fir understood it not. + +When Christmas came, quite young trees were cut down: trees which often +were not even as large or of the same age as this Fir Tree, who could +never rest, but always wanted to be off. These young trees, and they +were always the finest looking, retained their branches; they were laid +on carts, and the horses drew them out of the wood. + +“Where are they going to?” asked the Fir. “They are not taller than +I; there was one indeed that was considerably shorter; and why do they +retain all their branches? Whither are they taken?” + +“We know! We know!” chirped the Sparrows. “We have peeped in at the +windows in the town below! We know whither they are taken! The greatest +splendor and the greatest magnificence one can imagine await them. We +peeped through the windows, and saw them planted in the middle of the +warm room and ornamented with the most splendid things, with gilded +apples, with gingerbread, with toys, and many hundred lights!” + +“And then?” asked the Fir Tree, trembling in every bough. “And then? +What happens then?” + +“We did not see anything more: it was incomparably beautiful.” + +“I would fain know if I am destined for so glorious a career,” cried +the Tree, rejoicing. “That is still better than to cross the sea! What +a longing do I suffer! Were Christmas but come! I am now tall, and my +branches spread like the others that were carried off last year! Oh! +were I but already on the cart! Were I in the warm room with all the +splendor and magnificence! Yes; then something better, something still +grander, will surely follow, or wherefore should they thus ornament me? +Something better, something still grander must follow--but what? Oh, how +I long, how I suffer! I do not know myself what is the matter with me!” + +“Rejoice in our presence!” said the Air and the Sunlight. “Rejoice in +thy own fresh youth!” + +But the Tree did not rejoice at all; he grew and grew, and was green +both winter and summer. People that saw him said, “What a fine tree!” + and towards Christmas he was one of the first that was cut down. The axe +struck deep into the very pith; the Tree fell to the earth with a sigh; +he felt a pang--it was like a swoon; he could not think of happiness, +for he was sorrowful at being separated from his home, from the place +where he had sprung up. He well knew that he should never see his dear +old comrades, the little bushes and flowers around him, anymore; perhaps +not even the birds! The departure was not at all agreeable. + +The Tree only came to himself when he was unloaded in a court-yard with +the other trees, and heard a man say, “That one is splendid! We don't +want the others.” Then two servants came in rich livery and carried the +Fir Tree into a large and splendid drawing-room. Portraits were hanging +on the walls, and near the white porcelain stove stood two large Chinese +vases with lions on the covers. There, too, were large easy-chairs, +silken sofas, large tables full of picture-books and full of toys, worth +hundreds and hundreds of crowns--at least the children said so. And the +Fir Tree was stuck upright in a cask that was filled with sand; but no +one could see that it was a cask, for green cloth was hung all round it, +and it stood on a large gaily-colored carpet. Oh! how the Tree quivered! +What was to happen? The servants, as well as the young ladies, decorated +it. On one branch there hung little nets cut out of colored paper, and +each net was filled with sugarplums; and among the other boughs gilded +apples and walnuts were suspended, looking as though they had grown +there, and little blue and white tapers were placed among the leaves. +Dolls that looked for all the world like men--the Tree had never beheld +such before--were seen among the foliage, and at the very top a +large star of gold tinsel was fixed. It was really splendid--beyond +description splendid. + +“This evening!” they all said. “How it will shine this evening!” + +“Oh!” thought the Tree. “If the evening were but come! If the tapers +were but lighted! And then I wonder what will happen! Perhaps the other +trees from the forest will come to look at me! Perhaps the sparrows will +beat against the windowpanes! I wonder if I shall take root here, and +winter and summer stand covered with ornaments!” + +He knew very much about the matter--but he was so impatient that for +sheer longing he got a pain in his back, and this with trees is the same +thing as a headache with us. + +The candles were now lighted--what brightness! What splendor! The +Tree trembled so in every bough that one of the tapers set fire to the +foliage. It blazed up famously. + +“Help! Help!” cried the young ladies, and they quickly put out the fire. + +Now the Tree did not even dare tremble. What a state he was in! He was +so uneasy lest he should lose something of his splendor, that he was +quite bewildered amidst the glare and brightness; when suddenly both +folding-doors opened and a troop of children rushed in as if they would +upset the Tree. The older persons followed quietly; the little ones +stood quite still. But it was only for a moment; then they shouted that +the whole place re-echoed with their rejoicing; they danced round the +Tree, and one present after the other was pulled off. + +“What are they about?” thought the Tree. “What is to happen now!” And +the lights burned down to the very branches, and as they burned down +they were put out one after the other, and then the children had +permission to plunder the Tree. So they fell upon it with such violence +that all its branches cracked; if it had not been fixed firmly in the +ground, it would certainly have tumbled down. + +The children danced about with their beautiful playthings; no one looked +at the Tree except the old nurse, who peeped between the branches; but +it was only to see if there was a fig or an apple left that had been +forgotten. + +“A story! A story!” cried the children, drawing a little fat man towards +the Tree. He seated himself under it and said, “Now we are in the shade, +and the Tree can listen too. But I shall tell only one story. Now which +will you have; that about Ivedy-Avedy, or about Humpy-Dumpy, who +tumbled downstairs, and yet after all came to the throne and married the +princess?” + +“Ivedy-Avedy,” cried some; “Humpy-Dumpy,” cried the others. There was +such a bawling and screaming--the Fir Tree alone was silent, and he +thought to himself, “Am I not to bawl with the rest? Am I to do nothing +whatever?” for he was one of the company, and had done what he had to +do. + +And the man told about Humpy-Dumpy that tumbled down, who +notwithstanding came to the throne, and at last married the princess. +And the children clapped their hands, and cried. “Oh, go on! Do go on!” + They wanted to hear about Ivedy-Avedy too, but the little man only told +them about Humpy-Dumpy. The Fir Tree stood quite still and absorbed +in thought; the birds in the wood had never related the like of this. +“Humpy-Dumpy fell downstairs, and yet he married the princess! Yes, yes! +That's the way of the world!” thought the Fir Tree, and believed it all, +because the man who told the story was so good-looking. “Well, well! who +knows, perhaps I may fall downstairs, too, and get a princess as wife!” + And he looked forward with joy to the morrow, when he hoped to be decked +out again with lights, playthings, fruits, and tinsel. + +“I won't tremble to-morrow!” thought the Fir Tree. “I will enjoy to +the full all my splendor! To-morrow I shall hear again the story of +Humpy-Dumpy, and perhaps that of Ivedy-Avedy too.” And the whole night +the Tree stood still and in deep thought. + +In the morning the servant and the housemaid came in. + +“Now then the splendor will begin again,” thought the Fir. But they +dragged him out of the room, and up the stairs into the loft: and here, +in a dark corner, where no daylight could enter, they left him. “What's +the meaning of this?” thought the Tree. “What am I to do here? What +shall I hear now, I wonder?” And he leaned against the wall lost in +reverie. Time enough had he too for his reflections; for days and nights +passed on, and nobody came up; and when at last somebody did come, it +was only to put some great trunks in a corner, out of the way. There +stood the Tree quite hidden; it seemed as if he had been entirely +forgotten. + +“'Tis now winter out-of-doors!” thought the Tree. “The earth is hard and +covered with snow; men cannot plant me now, and therefore I have been +put up here under shelter till the spring-time comes! How thoughtful +that is! How kind man is, after all! If it only were not so dark here, +and so terribly lonely! Not even a hare! And out in the woods it was +so pleasant, when the snow was on the ground, and the hare leaped by; +yes--even when he jumped over me; but I did not like it then! It is +really terribly lonely here!” + +“Squeak! Squeak!” said a little Mouse, at the same moment, peeping out +of his hole. And then another little one came. They snuffed about the +Fir Tree, and rustled among the branches. + +“It is dreadfully cold,” said the Mouse. “But for that, it would be +delightful here, old Fir, wouldn't it?” + +“I am by no means old,” said the Fir Tree. “There's many a one +considerably older than I am.” + +“Where do you come from,” asked the Mice; “and what can you do?” They +were so extremely curious. “Tell us about the most beautiful spot on the +earth. Have you never been there? Were you never in the larder, where +cheeses lie on the shelves, and hams hang from above; where one dances +about on tallow candles: that place where one enters lean, and comes out +again fat and portly?” + +“I know no such place,” said the Tree. “But I know the wood, where the +sun shines and where the little birds sing.” And then he told all about +his youth; and the little Mice had never heard the like before; and they +listened and said, + +“Well, to be sure! How much you have seen! How happy you must have +been!” + +“I!” said the Fir Tree, thinking over what he had himself related. +“Yes, in reality those were happy times.” And then he told about +Christmas-eve, when he was decked out with cakes and candles. + +“Oh,” said the little Mice, “how fortunate you have been, old Fir Tree!” + +“I am by no means old,” said he. “I came from the wood this winter; I am +in my prime, and am only rather short for my age.” + +“What delightful stories you know,” said the Mice: and the next night +they came with four other little Mice, who were to hear what the Tree +recounted: and the more he related, the more he remembered himself; and +it appeared as if those times had really been happy times. “But they may +still come--they may still come! Humpy-Dumpy fell downstairs, and yet +he got a princess!” and he thought at the moment of a nice little Birch +Tree growing out in the woods: to the Fir, that would be a real charming +princess. + +“Who is Humpy-Dumpy?” asked the Mice. So then the Fir Tree told the +whole fairy tale, for he could remember every single word of it; and the +little Mice jumped for joy up to the very top of the Tree. Next night +two more Mice came, and on Sunday two Rats even; but they said the +stories were not interesting, which vexed the little Mice; and they, +too, now began to think them not so very amusing either. + +“Do you know only one story?” asked the Rats. + +“Only that one,” answered the Tree. “I heard it on my happiest evening; +but I did not then know how happy I was.” + +“It is a very stupid story! Don't you know one about bacon and tallow +candles? Can't you tell any larder stories?” + +“No,” said the Tree. + +“Then good-bye,” said the Rats; and they went home. + +At last the little Mice stayed away also; and the Tree sighed: “After +all, it was very pleasant when the sleek little Mice sat round me, and +listened to what I told them. Now that too is over. But I will take good +care to enjoy myself when I am brought out again.” + +But when was that to be? Why, one morning there came a quantity of +people and set to work in the loft. The trunks were moved, the tree was +pulled out and thrown--rather hard, it is true--down on the floor, but a +man drew him towards the stairs, where the daylight shone. + +“Now a merry life will begin again,” thought the Tree. He felt the fresh +air, the first sunbeam--and now he was out in the courtyard. All passed +so quickly, there was so much going on around him, the Tree quite forgot +to look to himself. The court adjoined a garden, and all was in flower; +the roses hung so fresh and odorous over the balustrade, the lindens +were in blossom, the Swallows flew by, and said, “Quirre-vit! My husband +is come!” but it was not the Fir Tree that they meant. + +“Now, then, I shall really enjoy life,” said he exultingly, and spread +out his branches; but, alas, they were all withered and yellow! It was +in a corner that he lay, among weeds and nettles. The golden star of +tinsel was still on the top of the Tree, and glittered in the sunshine. + +In the court-yard some of the merry children were playing who had danced +at Christmas round the Fir Tree, and were so glad at the sight of him. +One of the youngest ran and tore off the golden star. + +“Only look what is still on the ugly old Christmas tree!” said he, +trampling on the branches, so that they all cracked beneath his feet. + +And the Tree beheld all the beauty of the flowers, and the freshness in +the garden; he beheld himself, and wished he had remained in his dark +corner in the loft; he thought of his first youth in the wood, of the +merry Christmas-eve, and of the little Mice who had listened with so +much pleasure to the story of Humpy-Dumpy. + +“'Tis over--'tis past!” said the poor Tree. “Had I but rejoiced when I +had reason to do so! But now 'tis past, 'tis past!” + +And the gardener's boy chopped the Tree into small pieces; there was a +whole heap lying there. The wood flamed up splendidly under the large +brewing copper, and it sighed so deeply! Each sigh was like a shot. + +The boys played about in the court, and the youngest wore the gold star +on his breast which the Tree had had on the happiest evening of his +life. However, that was over now--the Tree gone, the story at an end. +All, all was over--every tale must end at last. + + + + +THE SNOW QUEEN + +FIRST STORY. Which Treats of a Mirror and of the Splinters + +Now then, let us begin. When we are at the end of the story, we shall +know more than we know now: but to begin. + +Once upon a time there was a wicked sprite, indeed he was the most +mischievous of all sprites. One day he was in a very good humor, for +he had made a mirror with the power of causing all that was good and +beautiful when it was reflected therein, to look poor and mean; but +that which was good-for-nothing and looked ugly was shown magnified +and increased in ugliness. In this mirror the most beautiful landscapes +looked like boiled spinach, and the best persons were turned into +frights, or appeared to stand on their heads; their faces were so +distorted that they were not to be recognised; and if anyone had a mole, +you might be sure that it would be magnified and spread over both nose +and mouth. + +“That's glorious fun!” said the sprite. If a good thought passed through +a man's mind, then a grin was seen in the mirror, and the sprite laughed +heartily at his clever discovery. All the little sprites who went to his +school--for he kept a sprite school--told each other that a miracle had +happened; and that now only, as they thought, it would be possible to +see how the world really looked. They ran about with the mirror; and at +last there was not a land or a person who was not represented distorted +in the mirror. So then they thought they would fly up to the sky, +and have a joke there. The higher they flew with the mirror, the more +terribly it grinned: they could hardly hold it fast. Higher and higher +still they flew, nearer and nearer to the stars, when suddenly the +mirror shook so terribly with grinning, that it flew out of their hands +and fell to the earth, where it was dashed in a hundred million and more +pieces. And now it worked much more evil than before; for some of these +pieces were hardly so large as a grain of sand, and they flew about in +the wide world, and when they got into people's eyes, there they stayed; +and then people saw everything perverted, or only had an eye for that +which was evil. This happened because the very smallest bit had the +same power which the whole mirror had possessed. Some persons even got +a splinter in their heart, and then it made one shudder, for their heart +became like a lump of ice. Some of the broken pieces were so large that +they were used for windowpanes, through which one could not see one's +friends. Other pieces were put in spectacles; and that was a sad affair +when people put on their glasses to see well and rightly. Then the +wicked sprite laughed till he almost choked, for all this tickled his +fancy. The fine splinters still flew about in the air: and now we shall +hear what happened next. + + +SECOND STORY. A Little Boy and a Little Girl + +In a large town, where there are so many houses, and so many people, +that there is no roof left for everybody to have a little garden; and +where, on this account, most persons are obliged to content themselves +with flowers in pots; there lived two little children, who had a garden +somewhat larger than a flower-pot. They were not brother and sister; but +they cared for each other as much as if they were. Their parents lived +exactly opposite. They inhabited two garrets; and where the roof of the +one house joined that of the other, and the gutter ran along the extreme +end of it, there was to each house a small window: one needed only to +step over the gutter to get from one window to the other. + +The children's parents had large wooden boxes there, in which vegetables +for the kitchen were planted, and little rosetrees besides: there was a +rose in each box, and they grew splendidly. They now thought of placing +the boxes across the gutter, so that they nearly reached from one window +to the other, and looked just like two walls of flowers. The tendrils +of the peas hung down over the boxes; and the rose-trees shot up long +branches, twined round the windows, and then bent towards each other: it +was almost like a triumphant arch of foliage and flowers. The boxes were +very high, and the children knew that they must not creep over them; so +they often obtained permission to get out of the windows to each other, +and to sit on their little stools among the roses, where they could play +delightfully. In winter there was an end of this pleasure. The windows +were often frozen over; but then they heated copper farthings on the +stove, and laid the hot farthing on the windowpane, and then they had a +capital peep-hole, quite nicely rounded; and out of each peeped a gentle +friendly eye--it was the little boy and the little girl who were looking +out. His name was Kay, hers was Gerda. In summer, with one jump, they +could get to each other; but in winter they were obliged first to +go down the long stairs, and then up the long stairs again: and +out-of-doors there was quite a snow-storm. + +“It is the white bees that are swarming,” said Kay's old grandmother. + +“Do the white bees choose a queen?” asked the little boy; for he knew +that the honey-bees always have one. + +“Yes,” said the grandmother, “she flies where the swarm hangs in the +thickest clusters. She is the largest of all; and she can never remain +quietly on the earth, but goes up again into the black clouds. Many a +winter's night she flies through the streets of the town, and peeps in +at the windows; and they then freeze in so wondrous a manner that they +look like flowers.” + +“Yes, I have seen it,” said both the children; and so they knew that it +was true. + +“Can the Snow Queen come in?” said the little girl. + +“Only let her come in!” said the little boy. “Then I'd put her on the +stove, and she'd melt.” + +And then his grandmother patted his head and told him other stories. + +In the evening, when little Kay was at home, and half undressed, he +climbed up on the chair by the window, and peeped out of the little +hole. A few snow-flakes were falling, and one, the largest of all, +remained lying on the edge of a flower-pot. + +The flake of snow grew larger and larger; and at last it was like a +young lady, dressed in the finest white gauze, made of a million little +flakes like stars. She was so beautiful and delicate, but she was of +ice, of dazzling, sparkling ice; yet she lived; her eyes gazed fixedly, +like two stars; but there was neither quiet nor repose in them. She +nodded towards the window, and beckoned with her hand. The little boy +was frightened, and jumped down from the chair; it seemed to him as if, +at the same moment, a large bird flew past the window. + +The next day it was a sharp frost--and then the spring came; the sun +shone, the green leaves appeared, the swallows built their nests, the +windows were opened, and the little children again sat in their pretty +garden, high up on the leads at the top of the house. + +That summer the roses flowered in unwonted beauty. The little girl had +learned a hymn, in which there was something about roses; and then she +thought of her own flowers; and she sang the verse to the little boy, +who then sang it with her: + + “The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, + And angels descend there the children to greet.” + +And the children held each other by the hand, kissed the roses, looked +up at the clear sunshine, and spoke as though they really saw angels +there. What lovely summer-days those were! How delightful to be out in +the air, near the fresh rose-bushes, that seem as if they would never +finish blossoming! + +Kay and Gerda looked at the picture-book full of beasts and of birds; +and it was then--the clock in the church-tower was just striking +five--that Kay said, “Oh! I feel such a sharp pain in my heart; and now +something has got into my eye!” + +The little girl put her arms around his neck. He winked his eyes; now +there was nothing to be seen. + +“I think it is out now,” said he; but it was not. It was just one of +those pieces of glass from the magic mirror that had got into his eye; +and poor Kay had got another piece right in his heart. It will soon +become like ice. It did not hurt any longer, but there it was. + +“What are you crying for?” asked he. “You look so ugly! There's nothing +the matter with me. Ah,” said he at once, “that rose is cankered! And +look, this one is quite crooked! After all, these roses are very ugly! +They are just like the box they are planted in!” And then he gave the +box a good kick with his foot, and pulled both the roses up. + +“What are you doing?” cried the little girl; and as he perceived her +fright, he pulled up another rose, got in at the window, and hastened +off from dear little Gerda. + +Afterwards, when she brought her picture-book, he asked, “What horrid +beasts have you there?” And if his grandmother told them stories, he +always interrupted her; besides, if he could manage it, he would get +behind her, put on her spectacles, and imitate her way of speaking; he +copied all her ways, and then everybody laughed at him. He was soon able +to imitate the gait and manner of everyone in the street. Everything +that was peculiar and displeasing in them--that Kay knew how to imitate: +and at such times all the people said, “The boy is certainly very +clever!” But it was the glass he had got in his eye; the glass that was +sticking in his heart, which made him tease even little Gerda, whose +whole soul was devoted to him. + +His games now were quite different to what they had formerly been, they +were so very knowing. One winter's day, when the flakes of snow were +flying about, he spread the skirts of his blue coat, and caught the snow +as it fell. + +“Look through this glass, Gerda,” said he. And every flake seemed +larger, and appeared like a magnificent flower, or beautiful star; it +was splendid to look at! + +“Look, how clever!” said Kay. “That's much more interesting than real +flowers! They are as exact as possible; there is not a fault in them, if +they did not melt!” + +It was not long after this, that Kay came one day with large gloves on, +and his little sledge at his back, and bawled right into Gerda's ears, +“I have permission to go out into the square where the others are +playing”; and off he was in a moment. + +There, in the market-place, some of the boldest of the boys used to tie +their sledges to the carts as they passed by, and so they were pulled +along, and got a good ride. It was so capital! Just as they were in the +very height of their amusement, a large sledge passed by: it was painted +quite white, and there was someone in it wrapped up in a rough white +mantle of fur, with a rough white fur cap on his head. The sledge drove +round the square twice, and Kay tied on his sledge as quickly as he +could, and off he drove with it. On they went quicker and quicker into +the next street; and the person who drove turned round to Kay, and +nodded to him in a friendly manner, just as if they knew each other. +Every time he was going to untie his sledge, the person nodded to him, +and then Kay sat quiet; and so on they went till they came outside +the gates of the town. Then the snow began to fall so thickly that the +little boy could not see an arm's length before him, but still on he +went: when suddenly he let go the string he held in his hand in order +to get loose from the sledge, but it was of no use; still the little +vehicle rushed on with the quickness of the wind. He then cried as loud +as he could, but no one heard him; the snow drifted and the sledge flew +on, and sometimes it gave a jerk as though they were driving over hedges +and ditches. He was quite frightened, and he tried to repeat the +Lord's Prayer; but all he could do, he was only able to remember the +multiplication table. + +The snow-flakes grew larger and larger, till at last they looked just +like great white fowls. Suddenly they flew on one side; the large sledge +stopped, and the person who drove rose up. It was a lady; her cloak and +cap were of snow. She was tall and of slender figure, and of a dazzling +whiteness. It was the Snow Queen. + +“We have travelled fast,” said she; “but it is freezingly cold. Come +under my bearskin.” And she put him in the sledge beside her, +wrapped the fur round him, and he felt as though he were sinking in a +snow-wreath. + +“Are you still cold?” asked she; and then she kissed his forehead. +Ah! it was colder than ice; it penetrated to his very heart, which was +already almost a frozen lump; it seemed to him as if he were about to +die--but a moment more and it was quite congenial to him, and he did not +remark the cold that was around him. + +“My sledge! Do not forget my sledge!” It was the first thing he thought +of. It was there tied to one of the white chickens, who flew along with +it on his back behind the large sledge. The Snow Queen kissed Kay once +more, and then he forgot little Gerda, grandmother, and all whom he had +left at his home. + +“Now you will have no more kisses,” said she, “or else I should kiss you +to death!” + +Kay looked at her. She was very beautiful; a more clever, or a more +lovely countenance he could not fancy to himself; and she no longer +appeared of ice as before, when she sat outside the window, and beckoned +to him; in his eyes she was perfect, he did not fear her at all, and +told her that he could calculate in his head and with fractions, even; +that he knew the number of square miles there were in the different +countries, and how many inhabitants they contained; and she smiled while +he spoke. It then seemed to him as if what he knew was not enough, and +he looked upwards in the large huge empty space above him, and on she +flew with him; flew high over the black clouds, while the storm moaned +and whistled as though it were singing some old tune. On they flew +over woods and lakes, over seas, and many lands; and beneath them the +chilling storm rushed fast, the wolves howled, the snow crackled; above +them flew large screaming crows, but higher up appeared the moon, quite +large and bright; and it was on it that Kay gazed during the long long +winter's night; while by day he slept at the feet of the Snow Queen. + + +THIRD STORY. Of the Flower-Garden At the Old Woman's Who Understood +Witchcraft + +But what became of little Gerda when Kay did not return? Where could he +be? Nobody knew; nobody could give any intelligence. All the boys knew +was, that they had seen him tie his sledge to another large and splendid +one, which drove down the street and out of the town. Nobody knew +where he was; many sad tears were shed, and little Gerda wept long and +bitterly; at last she said he must be dead; that he had been drowned in +the river which flowed close to the town. Oh! those were very long and +dismal winter evenings! + +At last spring came, with its warm sunshine. + +“Kay is dead and gone!” said little Gerda. + +“That I don't believe,” said the Sunshine. + +“Kay is dead and gone!” said she to the Swallows. + +“That I don't believe,” said they: and at last little Gerda did not +think so any longer either. + +“I'll put on my red shoes,” said she, one morning; “Kay has never seen +them, and then I'll go down to the river and ask there.” + +It was quite early; she kissed her old grandmother, who was still +asleep, put on her red shoes, and went alone to the river. + +“Is it true that you have taken my little playfellow? I will make you a +present of my red shoes, if you will give him back to me.” + +And, as it seemed to her, the blue waves nodded in a strange manner; +then she took off her red shoes, the most precious things she possessed, +and threw them both into the river. But they fell close to the bank, and +the little waves bore them immediately to land; it was as if the stream +would not take what was dearest to her; for in reality it had not got +little Kay; but Gerda thought that she had not thrown the shoes out far +enough, so she clambered into a boat which lay among the rushes, went +to the farthest end, and threw out the shoes. But the boat was not +fastened, and the motion which she occasioned, made it drift from the +shore. She observed this, and hastened to get back; but before she could +do so, the boat was more than a yard from the land, and was gliding +quickly onward. + +Little Gerda was very frightened, and began to cry; but no one heard her +except the sparrows, and they could not carry her to land; but they flew +along the bank, and sang as if to comfort her, “Here we are! Here we +are!” The boat drifted with the stream, little Gerda sat quite still +without shoes, for they were swimming behind the boat, but she could not +reach them, because the boat went much faster than they did. + +The banks on both sides were beautiful; lovely flowers, venerable trees, +and slopes with sheep and cows, but not a human being was to be seen. + +“Perhaps the river will carry me to little Kay,” said she; and then +she grew less sad. She rose, and looked for many hours at the beautiful +green banks. Presently she sailed by a large cherry-orchard, where was +a little cottage with curious red and blue windows; it was thatched, +and before it two wooden soldiers stood sentry, and presented arms when +anyone went past. + +Gerda called to them, for she thought they were alive; but they, of +course, did not answer. She came close to them, for the stream drifted +the boat quite near the land. + +Gerda called still louder, and an old woman then came out of the +cottage, leaning upon a crooked stick. She had a large broad-brimmed hat +on, painted with the most splendid flowers. + +“Poor little child!” said the old woman. “How did you get upon the large +rapid river, to be driven about so in the wide world!” And then the +old woman went into the water, caught hold of the boat with her crooked +stick, drew it to the bank, and lifted little Gerda out. + +And Gerda was so glad to be on dry land again; but she was rather afraid +of the strange old woman. + +“But come and tell me who you are, and how you came here,” said she. + +And Gerda told her all; and the old woman shook her head and said, +“A-hem! a-hem!” and when Gerda had told her everything, and asked her if +she had not seen little Kay, the woman answered that he had not passed +there, but he no doubt would come; and she told her not to be cast down, +but taste her cherries, and look at her flowers, which were finer than +any in a picture-book, each of which could tell a whole story. She then +took Gerda by the hand, led her into the little cottage, and locked the +door. + +The windows were very high up; the glass was red, blue, and green, and +the sunlight shone through quite wondrously in all sorts of colors. On +the table stood the most exquisite cherries, and Gerda ate as many as +she chose, for she had permission to do so. While she was eating, the +old woman combed her hair with a golden comb, and her hair curled and +shone with a lovely golden color around that sweet little face, which +was so round and so like a rose. + +“I have often longed for such a dear little girl,” said the old woman. +“Now you shall see how well we agree together”; and while she combed +little Gerda's hair, the child forgot her foster-brother Kay more and +more, for the old woman understood magic; but she was no evil being, she +only practised witchcraft a little for her own private amusement, and +now she wanted very much to keep little Gerda. She therefore went out +in the garden, stretched out her crooked stick towards the rose-bushes, +which, beautifully as they were blowing, all sank into the earth and no +one could tell where they had stood. The old woman feared that if Gerda +should see the roses, she would then think of her own, would remember +little Kay, and run away from her. + +She now led Gerda into the flower-garden. Oh, what odour and what +loveliness was there! Every flower that one could think of, and of every +season, stood there in fullest bloom; no picture-book could be gayer or +more beautiful. Gerda jumped for joy, and played till the sun set behind +the tall cherry-tree; she then had a pretty bed, with a red silken +coverlet filled with blue violets. She fell asleep, and had as pleasant +dreams as ever a queen on her wedding-day. + +The next morning she went to play with the flowers in the warm sunshine, +and thus passed away a day. Gerda knew every flower; and, numerous as +they were, it still seemed to Gerda that one was wanting, though she +did not know which. One day while she was looking at the hat of the old +woman painted with flowers, the most beautiful of them all seemed to her +to be a rose. The old woman had forgotten to take it from her hat +when she made the others vanish in the earth. But so it is when one's +thoughts are not collected. “What!” said Gerda. “Are there no roses +here?” and she ran about amongst the flowerbeds, and looked, and looked, +but there was not one to be found. She then sat down and wept; but her +hot tears fell just where a rose-bush had sunk; and when her warm tears +watered the ground, the tree shot up suddenly as fresh and blooming as +when it had been swallowed up. Gerda kissed the roses, thought of her +own dear roses at home, and with them of little Kay. + +“Oh, how long I have stayed!” said the little girl. “I intended to look +for Kay! Don't you know where he is?” she asked of the roses. “Do you +think he is dead and gone?” + +“Dead he certainly is not,” said the Roses. “We have been in the earth +where all the dead are, but Kay was not there.” + +“Many thanks!” said little Gerda; and she went to the other flowers, +looked into their cups, and asked, “Don't you know where little Kay is?” + +But every flower stood in the sunshine, and dreamed its own fairy tale +or its own story: and they all told her very many things, but not one +knew anything of Kay. + +Well, what did the Tiger-Lily say? + +“Hearest thou not the drum? Bum! Bum! Those are the only two tones. +Always bum! Bum! Hark to the plaintive song of the old woman, to the +call of the priests! The Hindoo woman in her long robe stands upon the +funeral pile; the flames rise around her and her dead husband, but the +Hindoo woman thinks on the living one in the surrounding circle; on him +whose eyes burn hotter than the flames--on him, the fire of whose eyes +pierces her heart more than the flames which soon will burn her body to +ashes. Can the heart's flame die in the flame of the funeral pile?” + +“I don't understand that at all,” said little Gerda. + +“That is my story,” said the Lily. + +What did the Convolvulus say? + +“Projecting over a narrow mountain-path there hangs an old feudal +castle. Thick evergreens grow on the dilapidated walls, and around the +altar, where a lovely maiden is standing: she bends over the railing and +looks out upon the rose. No fresher rose hangs on the branches than she; +no appleblossom carried away by the wind is more buoyant! How her silken +robe is rustling! + +“'Is he not yet come?'” + +“Is it Kay that you mean?” asked little Gerda. + +“I am speaking about my story--about my dream,” answered the +Convolvulus. + +What did the Snowdrops say? + +“Between the trees a long board is hanging--it is a swing. Two little +girls are sitting in it, and swing themselves backwards and forwards; +their frocks are as white as snow, and long green silk ribands flutter +from their bonnets. Their brother, who is older than they are, stands up +in the swing; he twines his arms round the cords to hold himself fast, +for in one hand he has a little cup, and in the other a clay-pipe. He is +blowing soap-bubbles. The swing moves, and the bubbles float in charming +changing colors: the last is still hanging to the end of the pipe, and +rocks in the breeze. The swing moves. The little black dog, as light as +a soap-bubble, jumps up on his hind legs to try to get into the swing. +It moves, the dog falls down, barks, and is angry. They tease him; the +bubble bursts! A swing, a bursting bubble--such is my song!” + +“What you relate may be very pretty, but you tell it in so melancholy a +manner, and do not mention Kay.” + +What do the Hyacinths say? + +“There were once upon a time three sisters, quite transparent, and very +beautiful. The robe of the one was red, that of the second blue, and +that of the third white. They danced hand in hand beside the calm +lake in the clear moonshine. They were not elfin maidens, but mortal +children. A sweet fragrance was smelt, and the maidens vanished in the +wood; the fragrance grew stronger--three coffins, and in them three +lovely maidens, glided out of the forest and across the lake: the +shining glow-worms flew around like little floating lights. Do the +dancing maidens sleep, or are they dead? The odour of the flowers says +they are corpses; the evening bell tolls for the dead!” + +“You make me quite sad,” said little Gerda. “I cannot help thinking of +the dead maidens. Oh! is little Kay really dead? The Roses have been in +the earth, and they say no.” + +“Ding, dong!” sounded the Hyacinth bells. “We do not toll for little +Kay; we do not know him. That is our way of singing, the only one we +have.” + +And Gerda went to the Ranunculuses, that looked forth from among the +shining green leaves. + +“You are a little bright sun!” said Gerda. “Tell me if you know where I +can find my playfellow.” + +And the Ranunculus shone brightly, and looked again at Gerda. What +song could the Ranunculus sing? It was one that said nothing about Kay +either. + +“In a small court the bright sun was shining in the first days of +spring. The beams glided down the white walls of a neighbor's house, and +close by the fresh yellow flowers were growing, shining like gold in +the warm sun-rays. An old grandmother was sitting in the air; her +grand-daughter, the poor and lovely servant just come for a short visit. +She knows her grandmother. There was gold, pure virgin gold in that +blessed kiss. There, that is my little story,” said the Ranunculus. + +“My poor old grandmother!” sighed Gerda. “Yes, she is longing for me, +no doubt: she is sorrowing for me, as she did for little Kay. But I +will soon come home, and then I will bring Kay with me. It is of no use +asking the flowers; they only know their own old rhymes, and can tell me +nothing.” And she tucked up her frock, to enable her to run quicker; but +the Narcissus gave her a knock on the leg, just as she was going to +jump over it. So she stood still, looked at the long yellow flower, and +asked, “You perhaps know something?” and she bent down to the Narcissus. +And what did it say? + +“I can see myself--I can see myself! Oh, how odorous I am! Up in the +little garret there stands, half-dressed, a little Dancer. She stands +now on one leg, now on both; she despises the whole world; yet she lives +only in imagination. She pours water out of the teapot over a piece of +stuff which she holds in her hand; it is the bodice; cleanliness is a +fine thing. The white dress is hanging on the hook; it was washed in the +teapot, and dried on the roof. She puts it on, ties a saffron-colored +kerchief round her neck, and then the gown looks whiter. I can see +myself--I can see myself!” + +“That's nothing to me,” said little Gerda. “That does not concern me.” + And then off she ran to the further end of the garden. + +The gate was locked, but she shook the rusted bolt till it was loosened, +and the gate opened; and little Gerda ran off barefooted into the wide +world. She looked round her thrice, but no one followed her. At last she +could run no longer; she sat down on a large stone, and when she looked +about her, she saw that the summer had passed; it was late in the +autumn, but that one could not remark in the beautiful garden, where +there was always sunshine, and where there were flowers the whole year +round. + +“Dear me, how long I have staid!” said Gerda. “Autumn is come. I must +not rest any longer.” And she got up to go further. + +Oh, how tender and wearied her little feet were! All around it looked +so cold and raw: the long willow-leaves were quite yellow, and the fog +dripped from them like water; one leaf fell after the other: the sloes +only stood full of fruit, which set one's teeth on edge. Oh, how dark +and comfortless it was in the dreary world! + + +FOURTH STORY. The Prince and Princess + +Gerda was obliged to rest herself again, when, exactly opposite to her, +a large Raven came hopping over the white snow. He had long been looking +at Gerda and shaking his head; and now he said, “Caw! Caw!” Good day! +Good day! He could not say it better; but he felt a sympathy for the +little girl, and asked her where she was going all alone. The word +“alone” Gerda understood quite well, and felt how much was expressed +by it; so she told the Raven her whole history, and asked if he had not +seen Kay. + +The Raven nodded very gravely, and said, “It may be--it may be!” + +“What, do you really think so?” cried the little girl; and she nearly +squeezed the Raven to death, so much did she kiss him. + +“Gently, gently,” said the Raven. “I think I know; I think that it may +be little Kay. But now he has forgotten you for the Princess.” + +“Does he live with a Princess?” asked Gerda. + +“Yes--listen,” said the Raven; “but it will be difficult for me to +speak your language. If you understand the Raven language I can tell you +better.” + +“No, I have not learnt it,” said Gerda; “but my grandmother understands +it, and she can speak gibberish too. I wish I had learnt it.” + +“No matter,” said the Raven; “I will tell you as well as I can; however, +it will be bad enough.” And then he told all he knew. + +“In the kingdom where we now are there lives a Princess, who is +extraordinarily clever; for she has read all the newspapers in the whole +world, and has forgotten them again--so clever is she. She was lately, +it is said, sitting on her throne--which is not very amusing after +all--when she began humming an old tune, and it was just, 'Oh, why +should I not be married?' 'That song is not without its meaning,' said +she, and so then she was determined to marry; but she would have a +husband who knew how to give an answer when he was spoken to--not +one who looked only as if he were a great personage, for that is so +tiresome. She then had all the ladies of the court drummed together; and +when they heard her intention, all were very pleased, and said, 'We are +very glad to hear it; it is the very thing we were thinking of.' You may +believe every word I say,” said the Raven; “for I have a tame sweetheart +that hops about in the palace quite free, and it was she who told me all +this. + +“The newspapers appeared forthwith with a border of hearts and the +initials of the Princess; and therein you might read that every +good-looking young man was at liberty to come to the palace and speak to +the Princess; and he who spoke in such wise as showed he felt himself at +home there, that one the Princess would choose for her husband. + +“Yes, Yes,” said the Raven, “you may believe it; it is as true as I am +sitting here. People came in crowds; there was a crush and a hurry, but +no one was successful either on the first or second day. They could all +talk well enough when they were out in the street; but as soon as +they came inside the palace gates, and saw the guard richly dressed +in silver, and the lackeys in gold on the staircase, and the large +illuminated saloons, then they were abashed; and when they stood before +the throne on which the Princess was sitting, all they could do was +to repeat the last word they had uttered, and to hear it again did not +interest her very much. It was just as if the people within were under +a charm, and had fallen into a trance till they came out again into the +street; for then--oh, then--they could chatter enough. There was a whole +row of them standing from the town-gates to the palace. I was there +myself to look,” said the Raven. “They grew hungry and thirsty; but from +the palace they got nothing whatever, not even a glass of water. Some +of the cleverest, it is true, had taken bread and butter with them: +but none shared it with his neighbor, for each thought, 'Let him look +hungry, and then the Princess won't have him.'” + +“But Kay--little Kay,” said Gerda, “when did he come? Was he among the +number?” + +“Patience, patience; we are just come to him. It was on the third day +when a little personage without horse or equipage, came marching right +boldly up to the palace; his eyes shone like yours, he had beautiful +long hair, but his clothes were very shabby.” + +“That was Kay,” cried Gerda, with a voice of delight. “Oh, now I've +found him!” and she clapped her hands for joy. + +“He had a little knapsack at his back,” said the Raven. + +“No, that was certainly his sledge,” said Gerda; “for when he went away +he took his sledge with him.” + +“That may be,” said the Raven; “I did not examine him so minutely; but +I know from my tame sweetheart, that when he came into the court-yard +of the palace, and saw the body-guard in silver, the lackeys on the +staircase, he was not the least abashed; he nodded, and said to them, +'It must be very tiresome to stand on the stairs; for my part, I shall +go in.' The saloons were gleaming with lustres--privy councillors and +excellencies were walking about barefooted, and wore gold keys; it was +enough to make any one feel uncomfortable. His boots creaked, too, so +loudly, but still he was not at all afraid.” + +“That's Kay for certain,” said Gerda. “I know he had on new boots; I +have heard them creaking in grandmama's room.” + +“Yes, they creaked,” said the Raven. “And on he went boldly up to the +Princess, who was sitting on a pearl as large as a spinning-wheel. +All the ladies of the court, with their attendants and attendants' +attendants, and all the cavaliers, with their gentlemen and gentlemen's +gentlemen, stood round; and the nearer they stood to the door, the +prouder they looked. It was hardly possible to look at the gentleman's +gentleman, so very haughtily did he stand in the doorway.” + +“It must have been terrible,” said little Gerda. “And did Kay get the +Princess?” + +“Were I not a Raven, I should have taken the Princess myself, although +I am promised. It is said he spoke as well as I speak when I talk Raven +language; this I learned from my tame sweetheart. He was bold and nicely +behaved; he had not come to woo the Princess, but only to hear her +wisdom. She pleased him, and he pleased her.” + +“Yes, yes; for certain that was Kay,” said Gerda. “He was so clever; +he could reckon fractions in his head. Oh, won't you take me to the +palace?” + +“That is very easily said,” answered the Raven. “But how are we to +manage it? I'll speak to my tame sweetheart about it: she must advise +us; for so much I must tell you, such a little girl as you are will +never get permission to enter.” + +“Oh, yes I shall,” said Gerda; “when Kay hears that I am here, he will +come out directly to fetch me.” + +“Wait for me here on these steps,” said the Raven. He moved his head +backwards and forwards and flew away. + +The evening was closing in when the Raven returned. “Caw--caw!” said he. +“She sends you her compliments; and here is a roll for you. She took +it out of the kitchen, where there is bread enough. You are hungry, +no doubt. It is not possible for you to enter the palace, for you are +barefooted: the guards in silver, and the lackeys in gold, would not +allow it; but do not cry, you shall come in still. My sweetheart knows a +little back stair that leads to the bedchamber, and she knows where she +can get the key of it.” + +And they went into the garden in the large avenue, where one leaf was +falling after the other; and when the lights in the palace had all +gradually disappeared, the Raven led little Gerda to the back door, +which stood half open. + +Oh, how Gerda's heart beat with anxiety and longing! It was just as if +she had been about to do something wrong; and yet she only wanted to +know if little Kay was there. Yes, he must be there. She called to mind +his intelligent eyes, and his long hair, so vividly, she could quite see +him as he used to laugh when they were sitting under the roses at home. +“He will, no doubt, be glad to see you--to hear what a long way you have +come for his sake; to know how unhappy all at home were when he did not +come back.” + +Oh, what a fright and a joy it was! + +They were now on the stairs. A single lamp was burning there; and on the +floor stood the tame Raven, turning her head on every side and looking +at Gerda, who bowed as her grandmother had taught her to do. + +“My intended has told me so much good of you, my dear young lady,” said +the tame Raven. “Your tale is very affecting. If you will take the lamp, +I will go before. We will go straight on, for we shall meet no one.” + +“I think there is somebody just behind us,” said Gerda; and something +rushed past: it was like shadowy figures on the wall; horses with +flowing manes and thin legs, huntsmen, ladies and gentlemen on +horseback. + +“They are only dreams,” said the Raven. “They come to fetch the thoughts +of the high personages to the chase; 'tis well, for now you can observe +them in bed all the better. But let me find, when you enjoy honor and +distinction, that you possess a grateful heart.” + +“Tut! That's not worth talking about,” said the Raven of the woods. + +They now entered the first saloon, which was of rose-colored satin, with +artificial flowers on the wall. Here the dreams were rushing past, +but they hastened by so quickly that Gerda could not see the high +personages. One hall was more magnificent than the other; one might +indeed well be abashed; and at last they came into the bedchamber. The +ceiling of the room resembled a large palm-tree with leaves of glass, +of costly glass; and in the middle, from a thick golden stem, hung two +beds, each of which resembled a lily. One was white, and in this lay the +Princess; the other was red, and it was here that Gerda was to look for +little Kay. She bent back one of the red leaves, and saw a brown neck. +Oh! that was Kay! She called him quite loud by name, held the lamp +towards him--the dreams rushed back again into the chamber--he awoke, +turned his head, and--it was not little Kay! + +The Prince was only like him about the neck; but he was young and +handsome. And out of the white lily leaves the Princess peeped, too, +and asked what was the matter. Then little Gerda cried, and told her her +whole history, and all that the Ravens had done for her. + +“Poor little thing!” said the Prince and the Princess. They praised the +Ravens very much, and told them they were not at all angry with them, +but they were not to do so again. However, they should have a reward. +“Will you fly about here at liberty,” asked the Princess; “or would you +like to have a fixed appointment as court ravens, with all the broken +bits from the kitchen?” + +And both the Ravens nodded, and begged for a fixed appointment; for +they thought of their old age, and said, “It is a good thing to have a +provision for our old days.” + +And the Prince got up and let Gerda sleep in his bed, and more than this +he could not do. She folded her little hands and thought, “How good men +and animals are!” and she then fell asleep and slept soundly. All the +dreams flew in again, and they now looked like the angels; they drew +a little sledge, in which little Kay sat and nodded his head; but the +whole was only a dream, and therefore it all vanished as soon as she +awoke. + +The next day she was dressed from head to foot in silk and velvet. They +offered to let her stay at the palace, and lead a happy life; but she +begged to have a little carriage with a horse in front, and for a small +pair of shoes; then, she said, she would again go forth in the wide +world and look for Kay. + +Shoes and a muff were given her; she was, too, dressed very nicely; and +when she was about to set off, a new carriage stopped before the door. +It was of pure gold, and the arms of the Prince and Princess shone +like a star upon it; the coachman, the footmen, and the outriders, for +outriders were there, too, all wore golden crowns. The Prince and the +Princess assisted her into the carriage themselves, and wished her all +success. The Raven of the woods, who was now married, accompanied her +for the first three miles. He sat beside Gerda, for he could not bear +riding backwards; the other Raven stood in the doorway, and flapped her +wings; she could not accompany Gerda, because she suffered from headache +since she had had a fixed appointment and ate so much. The carriage +was lined inside with sugar-plums, and in the seats were fruits and +gingerbread. + +“Farewell! Farewell!” cried Prince and Princess; and Gerda wept, and +the Raven wept. Thus passed the first miles; and then the Raven bade her +farewell, and this was the most painful separation of all. He flew into +a tree, and beat his black wings as long as he could see the carriage, +that shone from afar like a sunbeam. + + +FIFTH STORY. The Little Robber Maiden + +They drove through the dark wood; but the carriage shone like a torch, +and it dazzled the eyes of the robbers, so that they could not bear to +look at it. + +“'Tis gold! 'Tis gold!” they cried; and they rushed forward, seized +the horses, knocked down the little postilion, the coachman, and the +servants, and pulled little Gerda out of the carriage. + +“How plump, how beautiful she is! She must have been fed on +nut-kernels,” said the old female robber, who had a long, scrubby beard, +and bushy eyebrows that hung down over her eyes. “She is as good as a +fatted lamb! How nice she will be!” And then she drew out a knife, the +blade of which shone so that it was quite dreadful to behold. + +“Oh!” cried the woman at the same moment. She had been bitten in the ear +by her own little daughter, who hung at her back; and who was so wild +and unmanageable, that it was quite amusing to see her. “You naughty +child!” said the mother: and now she had not time to kill Gerda. + +“She shall play with me,” said the little robber child. “She shall give +me her muff, and her pretty frock; she shall sleep in my bed!” And then +she gave her mother another bite, so that she jumped, and ran round with +the pain; and the Robbers laughed, and said, “Look, how she is dancing +with the little one!” + +“I will go into the carriage,” said the little robber maiden; and she +would have her will, for she was very spoiled and very headstrong. She +and Gerda got in; and then away they drove over the stumps of felled +trees, deeper and deeper into the woods. The little robber maiden was as +tall as Gerda, but stronger, broader-shouldered, and of dark complexion; +her eyes were quite black; they looked almost melancholy. She embraced +little Gerda, and said, “They shall not kill you as long as I am not +displeased with you. You are, doubtless, a Princess?” + +“No,” said little Gerda; who then related all that had happened to her, +and how much she cared about little Kay. + +The little robber maiden looked at her with a serious air, nodded her +head slightly, and said, “They shall not kill you, even if I am angry +with you: then I will do it myself”; and she dried Gerda's eyes, and put +both her hands in the handsome muff, which was so soft and warm. + +At length the carriage stopped. They were in the midst of the court-yard +of a robber's castle. It was full of cracks from top to bottom; and out +of the openings magpies and rooks were flying; and the great bull-dogs, +each of which looked as if he could swallow a man, jumped up, but they +did not bark, for that was forbidden. + +In the midst of the large, old, smoking hall burnt a great fire on the +stone floor. The smoke disappeared under the stones, and had to seek +its own egress. In an immense caldron soup was boiling; and rabbits and +hares were being roasted on a spit. + +“You shall sleep with me to-night, with all my animals,” said the little +robber maiden. They had something to eat and drink; and then went into +a corner, where straw and carpets were lying. Beside them, on laths and +perches, sat nearly a hundred pigeons, all asleep, seemingly; but yet +they moved a little when the robber maiden came. “They are all mine,” + said she, at the same time seizing one that was next to her by the legs +and shaking it so that its wings fluttered. “Kiss it,” cried the little +girl, and flung the pigeon in Gerda's face. “Up there is the rabble of +the wood,” continued she, pointing to several laths which were fastened +before a hole high up in the wall; “that's the rabble; they would all +fly away immediately, if they were not well fastened in. And here is my +dear old Bac”; and she laid hold of the horns of a reindeer, that had a +bright copper ring round its neck, and was tethered to the spot. “We are +obliged to lock this fellow in too, or he would make his escape. Every +evening I tickle his neck with my sharp knife; he is so frightened at +it!” and the little girl drew forth a long knife, from a crack in the +wall, and let it glide over the Reindeer's neck. The poor animal kicked; +the girl laughed, and pulled Gerda into bed with her. + +“Do you intend to keep your knife while you sleep?” asked Gerda; looking +at it rather fearfully. + +“I always sleep with the knife,” said the little robber maiden. “There +is no knowing what may happen. But tell me now, once more, all about +little Kay; and why you have started off in the wide world alone.” And +Gerda related all, from the very beginning: the Wood-pigeons cooed above +in their cage, and the others slept. The little robber maiden wound her +arm round Gerda's neck, held the knife in the other hand, and snored so +loud that everybody could hear her; but Gerda could not close her eyes, +for she did not know whether she was to live or die. The robbers sat +round the fire, sang and drank; and the old female robber jumped about +so, that it was quite dreadful for Gerda to see her. + +Then the Wood-pigeons said, “Coo! Coo! We have seen little Kay! A white +hen carries his sledge; he himself sat in the carriage of the Snow +Queen, who passed here, down just over the wood, as we lay in our nest. +She blew upon us young ones; and all died except we two. Coo! Coo!” + +“What is that you say up there?” cried little Gerda. “Where did the Snow +Queen go to? Do you know anything about it?” + +“She is no doubt gone to Lapland; for there is always snow and ice +there. Only ask the Reindeer, who is tethered there.” + +“Ice and snow is there! There it is, glorious and beautiful!” said the +Reindeer. “One can spring about in the large shining valleys! The Snow +Queen has her summer-tent there; but her fixed abode is high up towards +the North Pole, on the Island called Spitzbergen.” + +“Oh, Kay! Poor little Kay!” sighed Gerda. + +“Do you choose to be quiet?” said the robber maiden. “If you don't, I +shall make you.” + +In the morning Gerda told her all that the Wood-pigeons had said; and +the little maiden looked very serious, but she nodded her head, and +said, “That's no matter--that's no matter. Do you know where Lapland +lies!” she asked of the Reindeer. + +“Who should know better than I?” said the animal; and his eyes rolled in +his head. “I was born and bred there--there I leapt about on the fields +of snow.” + +“Listen,” said the robber maiden to Gerda. “You see that the men are +gone; but my mother is still here, and will remain. However, towards +morning she takes a draught out of the large flask, and then she sleeps +a little: then I will do something for you.” She now jumped out of bed, +flew to her mother; with her arms round her neck, and pulling her by the +beard, said, “Good morrow, my own sweet nanny-goat of a mother.” And her +mother took hold of her nose, and pinched it till it was red and blue; +but this was all done out of pure love. + +When the mother had taken a sup at her flask, and was having a nap, the +little robber maiden went to the Reindeer, and said, “I should very much +like to give you still many a tickling with the sharp knife, for then +you are so amusing; however, I will untether you, and help you out, +so that you may go back to Lapland. But you must make good use of your +legs; and take this little girl for me to the palace of the Snow Queen, +where her playfellow is. You have heard, I suppose, all she said; for +she spoke loud enough, and you were listening.” + +The Reindeer gave a bound for joy. The robber maiden lifted up little +Gerda, and took the precaution to bind her fast on the Reindeer's back; +she even gave her a small cushion to sit on. “Here are your worsted +leggins, for it will be cold; but the muff I shall keep for myself, for +it is so very pretty. But I do not wish you to be cold. Here is a pair +of lined gloves of my mother's; they just reach up to your elbow. On +with them! Now you look about the hands just like my ugly old mother!” + +And Gerda wept for joy. + +“I can't bear to see you fretting,” said the little robber maiden. “This +is just the time when you ought to look pleased. Here are two loaves and +a ham for you, so that you won't starve.” The bread and the meat were +fastened to the Reindeer's back; the little maiden opened the door, +called in all the dogs, and then with her knife cut the rope that +fastened the animal, and said to him, “Now, off with you; but take good +care of the little girl!” + +And Gerda stretched out her hands with the large wadded gloves towards +the robber maiden, and said, “Farewell!” and the Reindeer flew on over +bush and bramble through the great wood, over moor and heath, as fast as +he could go. + +“Ddsa! Ddsa!” was heard in the sky. It was just as if somebody was +sneezing. + +“These are my old northern-lights,” said the Reindeer, “look how they +gleam!” And on he now sped still quicker--day and night on he went: the +loaves were consumed, and the ham too; and now they were in Lapland. + + +SIXTH STORY. The Lapland Woman and the Finland Woman + +Suddenly they stopped before a little house, which looked very +miserable. The roof reached to the ground; and the door was so low, that +the family were obliged to creep upon their stomachs when they went in +or out. Nobody was at home except an old Lapland woman, who was dressing +fish by the light of an oil lamp. And the Reindeer told her the whole +of Gerda's history, but first of all his own; for that seemed to him of +much greater importance. Gerda was so chilled that she could not speak. + +“Poor thing,” said the Lapland woman, “you have far to run still. You +have more than a hundred miles to go before you get to Finland; there +the Snow Queen has her country-house, and burns blue lights every +evening. I will give you a few words from me, which I will write on a +dried haberdine, for paper I have none; this you can take with you to +the Finland woman, and she will be able to give you more information +than I can.” + +When Gerda had warmed herself, and had eaten and drunk, the Lapland +woman wrote a few words on a dried haberdine, begged Gerda to take care +of them, put her on the Reindeer, bound her fast, and away sprang the +animal. “Ddsa! Ddsa!” was again heard in the air; the most charming +blue lights burned the whole night in the sky, and at last they came to +Finland. They knocked at the chimney of the Finland woman; for as to a +door, she had none. + +There was such a heat inside that the Finland woman herself went about +almost naked. She was diminutive and dirty. She immediately loosened +little Gerda's clothes, pulled off her thick gloves and boots; for +otherwise the heat would have been too great--and after laying a piece +of ice on the Reindeer's head, read what was written on the fish-skin. +She read it three times: she then knew it by heart; so she put the fish +into the cupboard--for it might very well be eaten, and she never threw +anything away. + +Then the Reindeer related his own story first, and afterwards that of +little Gerda; and the Finland woman winked her eyes, but said nothing. + +“You are so clever,” said the Reindeer; “you can, I know, twist all the +winds of the world together in a knot. If the seaman loosens one knot, +then he has a good wind; if a second, then it blows pretty stiffly; if +he undoes the third and fourth, then it rages so that the forests are +upturned. Will you give the little maiden a potion, that she may possess +the strength of twelve men, and vanquish the Snow Queen?” + +“The strength of twelve men!” said the Finland woman. “Much good that +would be!” Then she went to a cupboard, and drew out a large skin rolled +up. When she had unrolled it, strange characters were to be seen written +thereon; and the Finland woman read at such a rate that the perspiration +trickled down her forehead. + +But the Reindeer begged so hard for little Gerda, and Gerda looked so +imploringly with tearful eyes at the Finland woman, that she winked, and +drew the Reindeer aside into a corner, where they whispered together, +while the animal got some fresh ice put on his head. + +“'Tis true little Kay is at the Snow Queen's, and finds everything there +quite to his taste; and he thinks it the very best place in the world; +but the reason of that is, he has a splinter of glass in his eye, and in +his heart. These must be got out first; otherwise he will never go back +to mankind, and the Snow Queen will retain her power over him.” + +“But can you give little Gerda nothing to take which will endue her with +power over the whole?” + +“I can give her no more power than what she has already. Don't you see +how great it is? Don't you see how men and animals are forced to serve +her; how well she gets through the world barefooted? She must not hear +of her power from us; that power lies in her heart, because she is +a sweet and innocent child! If she cannot get to the Snow Queen by +herself, and rid little Kay of the glass, we cannot help her. Two miles +hence the garden of the Snow Queen begins; thither you may carry the +little girl. Set her down by the large bush with red berries, standing +in the snow; don't stay talking, but hasten back as fast as possible.” + And now the Finland woman placed little Gerda on the Reindeer's back, +and off he ran with all imaginable speed. + +“Oh! I have not got my boots! I have not brought my gloves!” cried +little Gerda. She remarked she was without them from the cutting frost; +but the Reindeer dared not stand still; on he ran till he came to the +great bush with the red berries, and there he set Gerda down, kissed her +mouth, while large bright tears flowed from the animal's eyes, and then +back he went as fast as possible. There stood poor Gerda now, without +shoes or gloves, in the very middle of dreadful icy Finland. + +She ran on as fast as she could. There then came a whole regiment of +snow-flakes, but they did not fall from above, and they were quite +bright and shining from the Aurora Borealis. The flakes ran along +the ground, and the nearer they came the larger they grew. Gerda well +remembered how large and strange the snow-flakes appeared when she +once saw them through a magnifying-glass; but now they were large and +terrific in another manner--they were all alive. They were the outposts +of the Snow Queen. They had the most wondrous shapes; some looked like +large ugly porcupines; others like snakes knotted together, with their +heads sticking out; and others, again, like small fat bears, with the +hair standing on end: all were of dazzling whiteness--all were living +snow-flakes. + +Little Gerda repeated the Lord's Prayer. The cold was so intense that +she could see her own breath, which came like smoke out of her mouth. It +grew thicker and thicker, and took the form of little angels, that grew +more and more when they touched the earth. All had helms on their heads, +and lances and shields in their hands; they increased in numbers; and +when Gerda had finished the Lord's Prayer, she was surrounded by a whole +legion. They thrust at the horrid snow-flakes with their spears, so that +they flew into a thousand pieces; and little Gerda walked on bravely and +in security. The angels patted her hands and feet; and then she felt the +cold less, and went on quickly towards the palace of the Snow Queen. + +But now we shall see how Kay fared. He never thought of Gerda, and least +of all that she was standing before the palace. + + +SEVENTH STORY. What Took Place in the Palace of the Snow Queen, and what +Happened Afterward. + +The walls of the palace were of driving snow, and the windows and doors +of cutting winds. There were more than a hundred halls there, according +as the snow was driven by the winds. The largest was many miles in +extent; all were lighted up by the powerful Aurora Borealis, and all +were so large, so empty, so icy cold, and so resplendent! Mirth never +reigned there; there was never even a little bear-ball, with the storm +for music, while the polar bears went on their hind legs and showed off +their steps. Never a little tea-party of white young lady foxes; vast, +cold, and empty were the halls of the Snow Queen. The northern-lights +shone with such precision that one could tell exactly when they were +at their highest or lowest degree of brightness. In the middle of the +empty, endless hall of snow, was a frozen lake; it was cracked in a +thousand pieces, but each piece was so like the other, that it seemed +the work of a cunning artificer. In the middle of this lake sat the Snow +Queen when she was at home; and then she said she was sitting in the +Mirror of Understanding, and that this was the only one and the best +thing in the world. + +Little Kay was quite blue, yes nearly black with cold; but he did not +observe it, for she had kissed away all feeling of cold from his body, +and his heart was a lump of ice. He was dragging along some pointed +flat pieces of ice, which he laid together in all possible ways, for he +wanted to make something with them; just as we have little flat pieces +of wood to make geometrical figures with, called the Chinese Puzzle. +Kay made all sorts of figures, the most complicated, for it was +an ice-puzzle for the understanding. In his eyes the figures were +extraordinarily beautiful, and of the utmost importance; for the bit +of glass which was in his eye caused this. He found whole figures which +represented a written word; but he never could manage to represent just +the word he wanted--that word was “eternity”; and the Snow Queen had +said, “If you can discover that figure, you shall be your own master, +and I will make you a present of the whole world and a pair of new +skates.” But he could not find it out. + +“I am going now to warm lands,” said the Snow Queen. “I must have a look +down into the black caldrons.” It was the volcanoes Vesuvius and Etna +that she meant. “I will just give them a coating of white, for that is +as it ought to be; besides, it is good for the oranges and the grapes.” + And then away she flew, and Kay sat quite alone in the empty halls of +ice that were miles long, and looked at the blocks of ice, and thought +and thought till his skull was almost cracked. There he sat quite +benumbed and motionless; one would have imagined he was frozen to death. + +Suddenly little Gerda stepped through the great portal into the palace. +The gate was formed of cutting winds; but Gerda repeated her evening +prayer, and the winds were laid as though they slept; and the little +maiden entered the vast, empty, cold halls. There she beheld Kay: she +recognised him, flew to embrace him, and cried out, her arms firmly +holding him the while, “Kay, sweet little Kay! Have I then found you at +last?” + +But he sat quite still, benumbed and cold. Then little Gerda shed +burning tears; and they fell on his bosom, they penetrated to his +heart, they thawed the lumps of ice, and consumed the splinters of the +looking-glass; he looked at her, and she sang the hymn: + +“The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, And angels descend there +the children to greet.” + +Hereupon Kay burst into tears; he wept so much that the splinter rolled +out of his eye, and he recognised her, and shouted, “Gerda, sweet little +Gerda! Where have you been so long? And where have I been?” He looked +round him. “How cold it is here!” said he. “How empty and cold!” And he +held fast by Gerda, who laughed and wept for joy. It was so beautiful, +that even the blocks of ice danced about for joy; and when they were +tired and laid themselves down, they formed exactly the letters which +the Snow Queen had told him to find out; so now he was his own master, +and he would have the whole world and a pair of new skates into the +bargain. + +Gerda kissed his cheeks, and they grew quite blooming; she kissed his +eyes, and they shone like her own; she kissed his hands and feet, and he +was again well and merry. The Snow Queen might come back as soon as she +liked; there stood his discharge written in resplendent masses of ice. + +They took each other by the hand, and wandered forth out of the large +hall; they talked of their old grandmother, and of the roses upon the +roof; and wherever they went, the winds ceased raging, and the sun burst +forth. And when they reached the bush with the red berries, they found +the Reindeer waiting for them. He had brought another, a young one, with +him, whose udder was filled with milk, which he gave to the little ones, +and kissed their lips. They then carried Kay and Gerda--first to the +Finland woman, where they warmed themselves in the warm room, and +learned what they were to do on their journey home; and they went to +the Lapland woman, who made some new clothes for them and repaired their +sledges. + +The Reindeer and the young hind leaped along beside them, and +accompanied them to the boundary of the country. Here the first +vegetation peeped forth; here Kay and Gerda took leave of the Lapland +woman. “Farewell! Farewell!” they all said. And the first green buds +appeared, the first little birds began to chirrup; and out of the wood +came, riding on a magnificent horse, which Gerda knew (it was one of the +leaders in the golden carriage), a young damsel with a bright-red cap on +her head, and armed with pistols. It was the little robber maiden, who, +tired of being at home, had determined to make a journey to the north; +and afterwards in another direction, if that did not please her. She +recognised Gerda immediately, and Gerda knew her too. It was a joyful +meeting. + +“You are a fine fellow for tramping about,” said she to little Kay; “I +should like to know, faith, if you deserve that one should run from one +end of the world to the other for your sake?” + +But Gerda patted her cheeks, and inquired for the Prince and Princess. + +“They are gone abroad,” said the other. + +“But the Raven?” asked little Gerda. + +“Oh! The Raven is dead,” she answered. “His tame sweetheart is a +widow, and wears a bit of black worsted round her leg; she laments most +piteously, but it's all mere talk and stuff! Now tell me what you've +been doing and how you managed to catch him.” + +And Gerda and Kay both told their story. + +And “Schnipp-schnapp-schnurre-basselurre,” said the robber maiden; and +she took the hands of each, and promised that if she should some day +pass through the town where they lived, she would come and visit them; +and then away she rode. Kay and Gerda took each other's hand: it was +lovely spring weather, with abundance of flowers and of verdure. The +church-bells rang, and the children recognised the high towers, and the +large town; it was that in which they dwelt. They entered and hastened +up to their grandmother's room, where everything was standing as +formerly. The clock said “tick! tack!” and the finger moved round; but +as they entered, they remarked that they were now grown up. The roses +on the leads hung blooming in at the open window; there stood the little +children's chairs, and Kay and Gerda sat down on them, holding each +other by the hand; they both had forgotten the cold empty splendor of +the Snow Queen, as though it had been a dream. The grandmother sat in +the bright sunshine, and read aloud from the Bible: “Unless ye become as +little children, ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” + +And Kay and Gerda looked in each other's eyes, and all at once they +understood the old hymn: + +“The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, And angels descend there +the children to greet.” + +There sat the two grown-up persons; grown-up, and yet children; children +at least in heart; and it was summer-time; summer, glorious summer! + + + + +THE LEAP-FROG + +A Flea, a Grasshopper, and a Leap-frog once wanted to see which could +jump highest; and they invited the whole world, and everybody else +besides who chose to come to see the festival. Three famous jumpers were +they, as everyone would say, when they all met together in the room. + +“I will give my daughter to him who jumps highest,” exclaimed the King; +“for it is not so amusing where there is no prize to jump for.” + +The Flea was the first to step forward. He had exquisite manners, and +bowed to the company on all sides; for he had noble blood, and was, +moreover, accustomed to the society of man alone; and that makes a great +difference. + +Then came the Grasshopper. He was considerably heavier, but he was +well-mannered, and wore a green uniform, which he had by right of birth; +he said, moreover, that he belonged to a very ancient Egyptian family, +and that in the house where he then was, he was thought much of. The +fact was, he had been just brought out of the fields, and put in a +pasteboard house, three stories high, all made of court-cards, with the +colored side inwards; and doors and windows cut out of the body of +the Queen of Hearts. “I sing so well,” said he, “that sixteen native +grasshoppers who have chirped from infancy, and yet got no house built +of cards to live in, grew thinner than they were before for sheer +vexation when they heard me.” + +It was thus that the Flea and the Grasshopper gave an account of +themselves, and thought they were quite good enough to marry a Princess. + +The Leap-frog said nothing; but people gave it as their opinion, that +he therefore thought the more; and when the housedog snuffed at him +with his nose, he confessed the Leap-frog was of good family. The old +councillor, who had had three orders given him to make him hold his +tongue, asserted that the Leap-frog was a prophet; for that one could +see on his back, if there would be a severe or mild winter, and that +was what one could not see even on the back of the man who writes the +almanac. + +“I say nothing, it is true,” exclaimed the King; “but I have my own +opinion, notwithstanding.” + +Now the trial was to take place. The Flea jumped so high that nobody +could see where he went to; so they all asserted he had not jumped at +all; and that was dishonorable. + +The Grasshopper jumped only half as high; but he leaped into the King's +face, who said that was ill-mannered. + +The Leap-frog stood still for a long time lost in thought; it was +believed at last he would not jump at all. + +“I only hope he is not unwell,” said the house-dog; when, pop! he made a +jump all on one side into the lap of the Princess, who was sitting on a +little golden stool close by. + +Hereupon the King said, “There is nothing above my daughter; therefore +to bound up to her is the highest jump that can be made; but for this, +one must possess understanding, and the Leap-frog has shown that he has +understanding. He is brave and intellectual.” + +And so he won the Princess. + +“It's all the same to me,” said the Flea. “She may have the old +Leap-frog, for all I care. I jumped the highest; but in this world +merit seldom meets its reward. A fine exterior is what people look at +now-a-days.” + +The Flea then went into foreign service, where, it is said, he was +killed. + +The Grasshopper sat without on a green bank, and reflected on worldly +things; and he said too, “Yes, a fine exterior is everything--a fine +exterior is what people care about.” And then he began chirping his +peculiar melancholy song, from which we have taken this history; and +which may, very possibly, be all untrue, although it does stand here +printed in black and white. + + + + +THE ELDERBUSH + +Once upon a time there was a little boy who had taken cold. He had +gone out and got his feet wet; though nobody could imagine how it had +happened, for it was quite dry weather. So his mother undressed him, put +him to bed, and had the tea-pot brought in, to make him a good cup of +Elderflower tea. Just at that moment the merry old man came in who +lived up a-top of the house all alone; for he had neither wife nor +children--but he liked children very much, and knew so many fairy tales, +that it was quite delightful. + +“Now drink your tea,” said the boy's mother; “then, perhaps, you may +hear a fairy tale.” + +“If I had but something new to tell,” said the old man. “But how did the +child get his feet wet?” + +“That is the very thing that nobody can make out,” said his mother. + +“Am I to hear a fairy tale?” asked the little boy. + +“Yes, if you can tell me exactly--for I must know that first--how deep +the gutter is in the little street opposite, that you pass through in +going to school.” + +“Just up to the middle of my boot,” said the child; “but then I must go +into the deep hole.” + +“Ah, ah! That's where the wet feet came from,” said the old man. “I +ought now to tell you a story; but I don't know any more.” + +“You can make one in a moment,” said the little boy. “My mother says +that all you look at can be turned into a fairy tale: and that you can +find a story in everything.” + +“Yes, but such tales and stories are good for nothing. The right sort +come of themselves; they tap at my forehead and say, 'Here we are.'” + +“Won't there be a tap soon?” asked the little boy. And his mother +laughed, put some Elder-flowers in the tea-pot, and poured boiling water +upon them. + +“Do tell me something! Pray do!” + +“Yes, if a fairy tale would come of its own accord; but they are proud +and haughty, and come only when they choose. Stop!” said he, all on a +sudden. “I have it! Pay attention! There is one in the tea-pot!” + +And the little boy looked at the tea-pot. The cover rose more and more; +and the Elder-flowers came forth so fresh and white, and shot up long +branches. Out of the spout even did they spread themselves on all sides, +and grew larger and larger; it was a splendid Elderbush, a whole tree; +and it reached into the very bed, and pushed the curtains aside. How +it bloomed! And what an odour! In the middle of the bush sat a +friendly-looking old woman in a most strange dress. It was quite +green, like the leaves of the elder, and was trimmed with large white +Elder-flowers; so that at first one could not tell whether it was a +stuff, or a natural green and real flowers. + +“What's that woman's name?” asked the little boy. + +“The Greeks and Romans,” said the old man, “called her a Dryad; but that +we do not understand. The people who live in the New Booths [*] have a much +better name for her; they call her 'old Granny'--and she it is to +whom you are to pay attention. Now listen, and look at the beautiful +Elderbush. + + * A row of buildings for seamen in Copenhagen. + +“Just such another large blooming Elder Tree stands near the New Booths. +It grew there in the corner of a little miserable court-yard; and under +it sat, of an afternoon, in the most splendid sunshine, two old +people; an old, old seaman, and his old, old wife. They had +great-grand-children, and were soon to celebrate the fiftieth +anniversary of their marriage; but they could not exactly recollect the +date: and old Granny sat in the tree, and looked as pleased as now. 'I +know the date,' said she; but those below did not hear her, for they +were talking about old times. + +“'Yes, can't you remember when we were very little,' said the old +seaman, 'and ran and played about? It was the very same court-yard where +we now are, and we stuck slips in the ground, and made a garden.' + +“'I remember it well,' said the old woman; 'I remember it quite well. We +watered the slips, and one of them was an Elderbush. It took root, put +forth green shoots, and grew up to be the large tree under which we old +folks are now sitting.' + +“'To be sure,' said he. 'And there in the corner stood a waterpail, +where I used to swim my boats.' + +“'True; but first we went to school to learn somewhat,' said she; 'and +then we were confirmed. We both cried; but in the afternoon we went up +the Round Tower, and looked down on Copenhagen, and far, far away over +the water; then we went to Friedericksberg, where the King and the Queen +were sailing about in their splendid barges.' + +“'But I had a different sort of sailing to that, later; and that, too, +for many a year; a long way off, on great voyages.' + +“'Yes, many a time have I wept for your sake,' said she. 'I thought you +were dead and gone, and lying down in the deep waters. Many a night have +I got up to see if the wind had not changed: and changed it had, sure +enough; but you never came. I remember so well one day, when the rain +was pouring down in torrents, the scavengers were before the house where +I was in service, and I had come up with the dust, and remained standing +at the door--it was dreadful weather--when just as I was there, the +postman came and gave me a letter. It was from you! What a tour that +letter had made! I opened it instantly and read: I laughed and wept. +I was so happy. In it I read that you were in warm lands where the +coffee-tree grows. What a blessed land that must be! You related so +much, and I saw it all the while the rain was pouring down, and I +standing there with the dust-box. At the same moment came someone who +embraced me.' + +“'Yes; but you gave him a good box on his ear that made it tingle!' + +“'But I did not know it was you. You arrived as soon as your letter, +and you were so handsome--that you still are--and had a long yellow silk +handkerchief round your neck, and a bran new hat on; oh, you were so +dashing! Good heavens! What weather it was, and what a state the street +was in!' + +“'And then we married,' said he. 'Don't you remember? And then we +had our first little boy, and then Mary, and Nicholas, and Peter, and +Christian.' + +“'Yes, and how they all grew up to be honest people, and were beloved by +everybody.' + +“'And their children also have children,' said the old sailor; 'yes, +those are our grand-children, full of strength and vigor. It was, +methinks about this season that we had our wedding.' + +“'Yes, this very day is the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage,' said +old Granny, sticking her head between the two old people; who thought +it was their neighbor who nodded to them. They looked at each other and +held one another by the hand. Soon after came their children, and their +grand-children; for they knew well enough that it was the day of the +fiftieth anniversary, and had come with their gratulations that very +morning; but the old people had forgotten it, although they were able +to remember all that had happened many years ago. And the Elderbush sent +forth a strong odour in the sun, that was just about to set, and shone +right in the old people's faces. They both looked so rosy-cheeked; and +the youngest of the grandchildren danced around them, and called out +quite delighted, that there was to be something very splendid that +evening--they were all to have hot potatoes. And old Nanny nodded in the +bush, and shouted 'hurrah!' with the rest.” + +“But that is no fairy tale,” said the little boy, who was listening to +the story. + +“The thing is, you must understand it,” said the narrator; “let us ask +old Nanny.” + +“That was no fairy tale, 'tis true,” said old Nanny; “but now it's +coming. The most wonderful fairy tales grow out of that which is +reality; were that not the case, you know, my magnificent Elderbush +could not have grown out of the tea-pot.” And then she took the little +boy out of bed, laid him on her bosom, and the branches of the Elder +Tree, full of flowers, closed around her. They sat in an aerial +dwelling, and it flew with them through the air. Oh, it was wondrous +beautiful! Old Nanny had grown all of a sudden a young and pretty +maiden; but her robe was still the same green stuff with white flowers, +which she had worn before. On her bosom she had a real Elderflower, +and in her yellow waving hair a wreath of the flowers; her eyes were so +large and blue that it was a pleasure to look at them; she kissed the +boy, and now they were of the same age and felt alike. + +Hand in hand they went out of the bower, and they were standing in the +beautiful garden of their home. Near the green lawn papa's walking-stick +was tied, and for the little ones it seemed to be endowed with life; for +as soon as they got astride it, the round polished knob was turned into +a magnificent neighing head, a long black mane fluttered in the breeze, +and four slender yet strong legs shot out. The animal was strong and +handsome, and away they went at full gallop round the lawn. + +“Huzza! Now we are riding miles off,” said the boy. “We are riding away +to the castle where we were last year!” + +And on they rode round the grass-plot; and the little maiden, who, we +know, was no one else but old Nanny, kept on crying out, “Now we are in +the country! Don't you see the farm-house yonder? And there is an Elder +Tree standing beside it; and the cock is scraping away the earth for the +hens, look, how he struts! And now we are close to the church. It lies +high upon the hill, between the large oak-trees, one of which is half +decayed. And now we are by the smithy, where the fire is blazing, and +where the half-naked men are banging with their hammers till the sparks +fly about. Away! away! To the beautiful country-seat!” + +And all that the little maiden, who sat behind on the stick, spoke of, +flew by in reality. The boy saw it all, and yet they were only going +round the grass-plot. Then they played in a side avenue, and marked out +a little garden on the earth; and they took Elder-blossoms from their +hair, planted them, and they grew just like those the old people planted +when they were children, as related before. They went hand in hand, as +the old people had done when they were children; but not to the Round +Tower, or to Friedericksberg; no, the little damsel wound her arms round +the boy, and then they flew far away through all Denmark. And spring +came, and summer; and then it was autumn, and then winter; and a +thousand pictures were reflected in the eye and in the heart of the boy; +and the little girl always sang to him, “This you will never forget.” + And during their whole flight the Elder Tree smelt so sweet and odorous; +he remarked the roses and the fresh beeches, but the Elder Tree had +a more wondrous fragrance, for its flowers hung on the breast of the +little maiden; and there, too, did he often lay his head during the +flight. + +“It is lovely here in spring!” said the young maiden. And they stood in +a beech-wood that had just put on its first green, where the woodroof [*] +at their feet sent forth its fragrance, and the pale-red anemony looked +so pretty among the verdure. “Oh, would it were always spring in the +sweetly-smelling Danish beech-forests!” + + * Asperula odorata. + +“It is lovely here in summer!” said she. And she flew past old castles +of by-gone days of chivalry, where the red walls and the embattled +gables were mirrored in the canal, where the swans were swimming, and +peered up into the old cool avenues. In the fields the corn was waving +like the sea; in the ditches red and yellow flowers were growing; while +wild-drone flowers, and blooming convolvuluses were creeping in the +hedges; and towards evening the moon rose round and large, and the +haycocks in the meadows smelt so sweetly. “This one never forgets!” + +“It is lovely here in autumn!” said the little maiden. And suddenly the +atmosphere grew as blue again as before; the forest grew red, and green, +and yellow-colored. The dogs came leaping along, and whole flocks of +wild-fowl flew over the cairn, where blackberry-bushes were hanging +round the old stones. The sea was dark blue, covered with ships full +of white sails; and in the barn old women, maidens, and children were +sitting picking hops into a large cask; the young sang songs, but the +old told fairy tales of mountain-sprites and soothsayers. Nothing could +be more charming. + +“It is delightful here in winter!” said the little maiden. And all the +trees were covered with hoar-frost; they looked like white corals; the +snow crackled under foot, as if one had new boots on; and one falling +star after the other was seen in the sky. The Christmas-tree was lighted +in the room; presents were there, and good-humor reigned. In the country +the violin sounded in the room of the peasant; the newly-baked cakes +were attacked; even the poorest child said, “It is really delightful +here in winter!” + +Yes, it was delightful; and the little maiden showed the boy everything; +and the Elder Tree still was fragrant, and the red flag, with the white +cross, was still waving: the flag under which the old seaman in the New +Booths had sailed. And the boy grew up to be a lad, and was to go forth +in the wide world-far, far away to warm lands, where the coffee-tree +grows; but at his departure the little maiden took an Elder-blossom from +her bosom, and gave it him to keep; and it was placed between the leaves +of his Prayer-Book; and when in foreign lands he opened the book, it +was always at the place where the keepsake-flower lay; and the more he +looked at it, the fresher it became; he felt as it were, the fragrance +of the Danish groves; and from among the leaves of the flowers he could +distinctly see the little maiden, peeping forth with her bright blue +eyes--and then she whispered, “It is delightful here in Spring, Summer, +Autumn, and Winter”; and a hundred visions glided before his mind. + +Thus passed many years, and he was now an old man, and sat with his old +wife under the blooming tree. They held each other by the hand, as the +old grand-father and grand-mother yonder in the New Booths did, and they +talked exactly like them of old times, and of the fiftieth anniversary +of their wedding. The little maiden, with the blue eyes, and with +Elder-blossoms in her hair, sat in the tree, nodded to both of them, +and said, “To-day is the fiftieth anniversary!” And then she took two +flowers out of her hair, and kissed them. First, they shone like silver, +then like gold; and when they laid them on the heads of the old people, +each flower became a golden crown. So there they both sat, like a king +and a queen, under the fragrant tree, that looked exactly like an elder: +the old man told his wife the story of “Old Nanny,” as it had been told +him when a boy. And it seemed to both of them it contained much that +resembled their own history; and those parts that were like it pleased +them best. + +“Thus it is,” said the little maiden in the tree, “some call me 'Old +Nanny,' others a 'Dryad,' but, in reality, my name is 'Remembrance'; +'tis I who sit in the tree that grows and grows! I can remember; I can +tell things! Let me see if you have my flower still?” + +And the old man opened his Prayer-Book. There lay the Elder-blossom, +as fresh as if it had been placed there but a short time before; and +Remembrance nodded, and the old people, decked with crowns of gold, sat +in the flush of the evening sun. They closed their eyes, and--and--! +Yes, that's the end of the story! + +The little boy lay in his bed; he did not know if he had dreamed or +not, or if he had been listening while someone told him the story. The +tea-pot was standing on the table, but no Elder Tree was growing out +of it! And the old man, who had been talking, was just on the point of +going out at the door, and he did go. + +“How splendid that was!” said the little boy. “Mother, I have been to +warm countries.” + +“So I should think,” said his mother. “When one has drunk two good +cupfuls of Elder-flower tea, 'tis likely enough one goes into warm +climates”; and she tucked him up nicely, least he should take cold. “You +have had a good sleep while I have been sitting here, and arguing with +him whether it was a story or a fairy tale.” + +“And where is old Nanny?” asked the little boy. + +“In the tea-pot,” said his mother; “and there she may remain.” + + + + +THE BELL + +People said “The Evening Bell is sounding, the sun is setting.” For a +strange wondrous tone was heard in the narrow streets of a large town. +It was like the sound of a church-bell: but it was only heard for a +moment, for the rolling of the carriages and the voices of the multitude +made too great a noise. + +Those persons who were walking outside the town, where the houses were +farther apart, with gardens or little fields between them, could see +the evening sky still better, and heard the sound of the bell much +more distinctly. It was as if the tones came from a church in the still +forest; people looked thitherward, and felt their minds attuned most +solemnly. + +A long time passed, and people said to each other--“I wonder if there +is a church out in the wood? The bell has a tone that is wondrous sweet; +let us stroll thither, and examine the matter nearer.” And the rich +people drove out, and the poor walked, but the way seemed strangely +long to them; and when they came to a clump of willows which grew on the +skirts of the forest, they sat down, and looked up at the long +branches, and fancied they were now in the depth of the green wood. The +confectioner of the town came out, and set up his booth there; and soon +after came another confectioner, who hung a bell over his stand, as +a sign or ornament, but it had no clapper, and it was tarred over to +preserve it from the rain. When all the people returned home, they said +it had been very romantic, and that it was quite a different sort of +thing to a pic-nic or tea-party. There were three persons who asserted +they had penetrated to the end of the forest, and that they had always +heard the wonderful sounds of the bell, but it had seemed to them as if +it had come from the town. One wrote a whole poem about it, and said the +bell sounded like the voice of a mother to a good dear child, and +that no melody was sweeter than the tones of the bell. The king of the +country was also observant of it, and vowed that he who could discover +whence the sounds proceeded, should have the title of “Universal +Bell-ringer,” even if it were not really a bell. + +Many persons now went to the wood, for the sake of getting the place, +but one only returned with a sort of explanation; for nobody went far +enough, that one not further than the others. However, he said that +the sound proceeded from a very large owl, in a hollow tree; a sort of +learned owl, that continually knocked its head against the branches. But +whether the sound came from his head or from the hollow tree, that no +one could say with certainty. So now he got the place of “Universal +Bell-ringer,” and wrote yearly a short treatise “On the Owl”; but +everybody was just as wise as before. + +It was the day of confirmation. The clergyman had spoken so touchingly, +the children who were confirmed had been greatly moved; it was +an eventful day for them; from children they become all at once +grown-up-persons; it was as if their infant souls were now to fly all +at once into persons with more understanding. The sun was shining +gloriously; the children that had been confirmed went out of the town; +and from the wood was borne towards them the sounds of the unknown bell +with wonderful distinctness. They all immediately felt a wish to go +thither; all except three. One of them had to go home to try on a +ball-dress; for it was just the dress and the ball which had caused her +to be confirmed this time, for otherwise she would not have come; +the other was a poor boy, who had borrowed his coat and boots to be +confirmed in from the innkeeper's son, and he was to give them back by +a certain hour; the third said that he never went to a strange place +if his parents were not with him--that he had always been a good boy +hitherto, and would still be so now that he was confirmed, and that one +ought not to laugh at him for it: the others, however, did make fun of +him, after all. + +There were three, therefore, that did not go; the others hastened on. +The sun shone, the birds sang, and the children sang too, and each held +the other by the hand; for as yet they had none of them any high office, +and were all of equal rank in the eye of God. + +But two of the youngest soon grew tired, and both returned to town; two +little girls sat down, and twined garlands, so they did not go either; +and when the others reached the willow-tree, where the confectioner was, +they said, “Now we are there! In reality the bell does not exist; it is +only a fancy that people have taken into their heads!” + +At the same moment the bell sounded deep in the wood, so clear and +solemnly that five or six determined to penetrate somewhat further. It +was so thick, and the foliage so dense, that it was quite fatiguing +to proceed. Woodroof and anemonies grew almost too high; blooming +convolvuluses and blackberry-bushes hung in long garlands from tree to +tree, where the nightingale sang and the sunbeams were playing: it was +very beautiful, but it was no place for girls to go; their clothes would +get so torn. Large blocks of stone lay there, overgrown with moss of +every color; the fresh spring bubbled forth, and made a strange gurgling +sound. + +“That surely cannot be the bell,” said one of the children, lying down +and listening. “This must be looked to.” So he remained, and let the +others go on without him. + +They afterwards came to a little house, made of branches and the bark of +trees; a large wild apple-tree bent over it, as if it would shower down +all its blessings on the roof, where roses were blooming. The long stems +twined round the gable, on which there hung a small bell. + +Was it that which people had heard? Yes, everybody was unanimous on the +subject, except one, who said that the bell was too small and too fine +to be heard at so great a distance, and besides it was very different +tones to those that could move a human heart in such a manner. It was a +king's son who spoke; whereon the others said, “Such people always want +to be wiser than everybody else.” + +They now let him go on alone; and as he went, his breast was filled more +and more with the forest solitude; but he still heard the little bell +with which the others were so satisfied, and now and then, when the +wind blew, he could also hear the people singing who were sitting at tea +where the confectioner had his tent; but the deep sound of the bell rose +louder; it was almost as if an organ were accompanying it, and the tones +came from the left hand, the side where the heart is placed. A rustling +was heard in the bushes, and a little boy stood before the King's Son, a +boy in wooden shoes, and with so short a jacket that one could see what +long wrists he had. Both knew each other: the boy was that one among +the children who could not come because he had to go home and return his +jacket and boots to the innkeeper's son. This he had done, and was now +going on in wooden shoes and in his humble dress, for the bell sounded +with so deep a tone, and with such strange power, that proceed he must. + +“Why, then, we can go together,” said the King's Son. But the poor +child that had been confirmed was quite ashamed; he looked at his wooden +shoes, pulled at the short sleeves of his jacket, and said that he was +afraid he could not walk so fast; besides, he thought that the bell must +be looked for to the right; for that was the place where all sorts of +beautiful things were to be found. + +“But there we shall not meet,” said the King's Son, nodding at the same +time to the poor boy, who went into the darkest, thickest part of the +wood, where thorns tore his humble dress, and scratched his face and +hands and feet till they bled. The King's Son got some scratches too; +but the sun shone on his path, and it is him that we will follow, for he +was an excellent and resolute youth. + +“I must and will find the bell,” said he, “even if I am obliged to go to +the end of the world.” + +The ugly apes sat upon the trees, and grinned. “Shall we thrash him?” + said they. “Shall we thrash him? He is the son of a king!” + +But on he went, without being disheartened, deeper and deeper into the +wood, where the most wonderful flowers were growing. There stood white +lilies with blood-red stamina, skyblue tulips, which shone as they waved +in the winds, and apple-trees, the apples of which looked exactly like +large soapbubbles: so only think how the trees must have sparkled in the +sunshine! Around the nicest green meads, where the deer were playing in +the grass, grew magnificent oaks and beeches; and if the bark of one of +the trees was cracked, there grass and long creeping plants grew in +the crevices. And there were large calm lakes there too, in which white +swans were swimming, and beat the air with their wings. The King's Son +often stood still and listened. He thought the bell sounded from the +depths of these still lakes; but then he remarked again that the tone +proceeded not from there, but farther off, from out the depths of the +forest. + +The sun now set: the atmosphere glowed like fire. It was still in the +woods, so very still; and he fell on his knees, sung his evening hymn, +and said: “I cannot find what I seek; the sun is going down, and night +is coming--the dark, dark night. Yet perhaps I may be able once more +to see the round red sun before he entirely disappears. I will climb up +yonder rock.” + +And he seized hold of the creeping-plants, and the roots of +trees--climbed up the moist stones where the water-snakes were writhing +and the toads were croaking--and he gained the summit before the sun +had quite gone down. How magnificent was the sight from this height! The +sea--the great, the glorious sea, that dashed its long waves against the +coast--was stretched out before him. And yonder, where sea and sky meet, +stood the sun, like a large shining altar, all melted together in the +most glowing colors. And the wood and the sea sang a song of rejoicing, +and his heart sang with the rest: all nature was a vast holy church, +in which the trees and the buoyant clouds were the pillars, flowers and +grass the velvet carpeting, and heaven itself the large cupola. The red +colors above faded away as the sun vanished, but a million stars were +lighted, a million lamps shone; and the King's Son spread out his arms +towards heaven, and wood, and sea; when at the same moment, coming by +a path to the right, appeared, in his wooden shoes and jacket, the poor +boy who had been confirmed with him. He had followed his own path, and +had reached the spot just as soon as the son of the king had done. They +ran towards each other, and stood together hand in hand in the vast +church of nature and of poetry, while over them sounded the invisible +holy bell: blessed spirits floated around them, and lifted up their +voices in a rejoicing hallelujah! + + + + +THE OLD HOUSE + +In the street, up there, was an old, a very old house--it was almost +three hundred years old, for that might be known by reading the great +beam on which the date of the year was carved: together with tulips and +hop-binds there were whole verses spelled as in former times, and over +every window was a distorted face cut out in the beam. The one story +stood forward a great way over the other; and directly under the eaves +was a leaden spout with a dragon's head; the rain-water should have run +out of the mouth, but it ran out of the belly, for there was a hole in +the spout. + +All the other houses in the street were so new and so neat, with large +window panes and smooth walls, one could easily see that they would have +nothing to do with the old house: they certainly thought, “How long is +that old decayed thing to stand here as a spectacle in the street? And +then the projecting windows stand so far out, that no one can see from +our windows what happens in that direction! The steps are as broad as +those of a palace, and as high as to a church tower. The iron railings +look just like the door to an old family vault, and then they have brass +tops--that's so stupid!” + +On the other side of the street were also new and neat houses, and they +thought just as the others did; but at the window opposite the old house +there sat a little boy with fresh rosy cheeks and bright beaming eyes: +he certainly liked the old house best, and that both in sunshine and +moonshine. And when he looked across at the wall where the mortar +had fallen out, he could sit and find out there the strangest figures +imaginable; exactly as the street had appeared before, with steps, +projecting windows, and pointed gables; he could see soldiers with +halberds, and spouts where the water ran, like dragons and serpents. +That was a house to look at; and there lived an old man, who wore plush +breeches; and he had a coat with large brass buttons, and a wig that one +could see was a real wig. Every morning there came an old fellow to him +who put his rooms in order, and went on errands; otherwise, the old man +in the plush breeches was quite alone in the old house. Now and then he +came to the window and looked out, and the little boy nodded to him, +and the old man nodded again, and so they became acquaintances, and then +they were friends, although they had never spoken to each other--but +that made no difference. The little boy heard his parents say, “The old +man opposite is very well off, but he is so very, very lonely!” + +The Sunday following, the little boy took something, and wrapped it up +in a piece of paper, went downstairs, and stood in the doorway; and when +the man who went on errands came past, he said to him-- + +“I say, master! will you give this to the old man over the way from me? +I have two pewter soldiers--this is one of them, and he shall have it, +for I know he is so very, very lonely.” + +And the old errand man looked quite pleased, nodded, and took the pewter +soldier over to the old house. Afterwards there came a message; it was +to ask if the little boy himself had not a wish to come over and pay a +visit; and so he got permission of his parents, and then went over to +the old house. + +And the brass balls on the iron railings shone much brighter than ever; +one would have thought they were polished on account of the visit; and +it was as if the carved-out trumpeters--for there were trumpeters, who +stood in tulips, carved out on the door--blew with all their +might, their cheeks appeared so much rounder than before. Yes, they +blew--“Trateratra! The little boy comes! Trateratra!”--and then the door +opened. + +The whole passage was hung with portraits of knights in armor, and +ladies in silken gowns; and the armor rattled, and the silken gowns +rustled! And then there was a flight of stairs which went a good way +upwards, and a little way downwards, and then one came on a balcony +which was in a very dilapidated state, sure enough, with large holes and +long crevices, but grass grew there and leaves out of them altogether, +for the whole balcony outside, the yard, and the walls, were overgrown +with so much green stuff, that it looked like a garden; only a balcony. +Here stood old flower-pots with faces and asses' ears, and the flowers +grew just as they liked. One of the pots was quite overrun on all sides +with pinks, that is to say, with the green part; shoot stood by shoot, +and it said quite distinctly, “The air has cherished me, the sun has +kissed me, and promised me a little flower on Sunday! a little flower on +Sunday!” + +And then they entered a chamber where the walls were covered with hog's +leather, and printed with gold flowers. + + “The gilding decays, + But hog's leather stays!” + +said the walls. + +And there stood easy-chairs, with such high backs, and so carved out, +and with arms on both sides. “Sit down! sit down!” said they. “Ugh! how +I creak; now I shall certainly get the gout, like the old clothespress, +ugh!” + +And then the little boy came into the room where the projecting windows +were, and where the old man sat. + +“I thank you for the pewter soldier, my little friend!” said the old +man. “And I thank you because you come over to me.” + +“Thankee! thankee!” or “cranky! cranky!” sounded from all the furniture; +there was so much of it, that each article stood in the other's way, to +get a look at the little boy. + +In the middle of the wall hung a picture representing a beautiful lady, +so young, so glad, but dressed quite as in former times, with clothes +that stood quite stiff, and with powder in her hair; she neither said +“thankee, thankee!” nor “cranky, cranky!” but looked with her mild eyes +at the little boy, who directly asked the old man, “Where did you get +her?” + +“Yonder, at the broker's,” said the old man, “where there are so many +pictures hanging. No one knows or cares about them, for they are all of +them buried; but I knew her in by-gone days, and now she has been dead +and gone these fifty years!” + +Under the picture, in a glazed frame, there hung a bouquet of withered +flowers; they were almost fifty years old; they looked so very old! + +The pendulum of the great clock went to and fro, and the hands turned, +and everything in the room became still older; but they did not observe +it. + +“They say at home,” said the little boy, “that you are so very, very +lonely!” + +“Oh!” said he. “The old thoughts, with what they may bring with them, +come and visit me, and now you also come! I am very well off!” + +Then he took a book with pictures in it down from the shelf; there were +whole long processions and pageants, with the strangest characters, +which one never sees now-a-days; soldiers like the knave of clubs, +and citizens with waving flags: the tailors had theirs, with a pair of +shears held by two lions--and the shoemakers theirs, without boots, +but with an eagle that had two heads, for the shoemakers must have +everything so that they can say, it is a pair! Yes, that was a picture +book! + +The old man now went into the other room to fetch preserves, apples, and +nuts--yes, it was delightful over there in the old house. + +“I cannot bear it any longer!” said the pewter soldier, who sat on the +drawers. “It is so lonely and melancholy here! But when one has been in +a family circle one cannot accustom oneself to this life! I cannot bear +it any longer! The whole day is so long, and the evenings are still +longer! Here it is not at all as it is over the way at your home, where +your father and mother spoke so pleasantly, and where you and all your +sweet children made such a delightful noise. Nay, how lonely the old man +is--do you think that he gets kisses? Do you think he gets mild eyes, +or a Christmas tree? He will get nothing but a grave! I can bear it no +longer!” + +“You must not let it grieve you so much,” said the little boy. “I find +it so very delightful here, and then all the old thoughts, with what +they may bring with them, they come and visit here.” + +“Yes, it's all very well, but I see nothing of them, and I don't know +them!” said the pewter soldier. “I cannot bear it!” + +“But you must!” said the little boy. + +Then in came the old man with the most pleased and happy face, the most +delicious preserves, apples, and nuts, and so the little boy thought no +more about the pewter soldier. + +The little boy returned home happy and pleased, and weeks and days +passed away, and nods were made to the old house, and from the old +house, and then the little boy went over there again. + +The carved trumpeters blew, “Trateratra! There is the little boy! +Trateratra!” and the swords and armor on the knights' portraits rattled, +and the silk gowns rustled; the hog's leather spoke, and the old chairs +had the gout in their legs and rheumatism in their backs: Ugh! it was +exactly like the first time, for over there one day and hour was just +like another. + +“I cannot bear it!” said the pewter soldier. “I have shed pewter tears! +It is too melancholy! Rather let me go to the wars and lose arms and +legs! It would at least be a change. I cannot bear it longer! Now, I +know what it is to have a visit from one's old thoughts, with what they +may bring with them! I have had a visit from mine, and you may be sure +it is no pleasant thing in the end; I was at last about to jump down +from the drawers. + +“I saw you all over there at home so distinctly, as if you really were +here; it was again that Sunday morning; all you children stood before +the table and sung your Psalms, as you do every morning. You stood +devoutly with folded hands; and father and mother were just as pious; +and then the door was opened, and little sister Mary, who is not two +years old yet, and who always dances when she hears music or singing, of +whatever kind it may be, was put into the room--though she ought not to +have been there--and then she began to dance, but could not keep time, +because the tones were so long; and then she stood, first on the one +leg, and bent her head forwards, and then on the other leg, and bent +her head forwards--but all would not do. You stood very seriously all +together, although it was difficult enough; but I laughed to myself, and +then I fell off the table, and got a bump, which I have still--for it +was not right of me to laugh. But the whole now passes before me again +in thought, and everything that I have lived to see; and these are the +old thoughts, with what they may bring with them. + +“Tell me if you still sing on Sundays? Tell me something about little +Mary! And how my comrade, the other pewter soldier, lives! Yes, he is +happy enough, that's sure! I cannot bear it any longer!” + +“You are given away as a present!” said the little boy. “You must +remain. Can you not understand that?” + +The old man now came with a drawer, in which there was much to be seen, +both “tin boxes” and “balsam boxes,” old cards, so large and so gilded, +such as one never sees them now. And several drawers were opened, and +the piano was opened; it had landscapes on the inside of the lid, and it +was so hoarse when the old man played on it! and then he hummed a song. + +“Yes, she could sing that!” said he, and nodded to the portrait, which +he had bought at the broker's, and the old man's eyes shone so bright! + +“I will go to the wars! I will go to the wars!” shouted the pewter +soldier as loud as he could, and threw himself off the drawers right +down on the floor. What became of him? The old man sought, and the +little boy sought; he was away, and he stayed away. + +“I shall find him!” said the old man; but he never found him. The floor +was too open--the pewter soldier had fallen through a crevice, and there +he lay as in an open tomb. + +That day passed, and the little boy went home, and that week passed, +and several weeks too. The windows were quite frozen, the little boy was +obliged to sit and breathe on them to get a peep-hole over to the old +house, and there the snow had been blown into all the carved work and +inscriptions; it lay quite up over the steps, just as if there was no +one at home--nor was there any one at home--the old man was dead! + +In the evening there was a hearse seen before the door, and he was borne +into it in his coffin: he was now to go out into the country, to lie in +his grave. He was driven out there, but no one followed; all his friends +were dead, and the little boy kissed his hand to the coffin as it was +driven away. + +Some days afterwards there was an auction at the old house, and the +little boy saw from his window how they carried the old knights and the +old ladies away, the flower-pots with the long ears, the old chairs, and +the old clothes-presses. Something came here, and something came there; +the portrait of her who had been found at the broker's came to the +broker's again; and there it hung, for no one knew her more--no one +cared about the old picture. + +In the spring they pulled the house down, for, as people said, it was +a ruin. One could see from the street right into the room with the +hog's-leather hanging, which was slashed and torn; and the green grass +and leaves about the balcony hung quite wild about the falling beams. +And then it was put to rights. + +“That was a relief,” said the neighboring houses. + +A fine house was built there, with large windows, and smooth white +walls; but before it, where the old house had in fact stood, was a +little garden laid out, and a wild grapevine ran up the wall of the +neighboring house. Before the garden there was a large iron railing +with an iron door, it looked quite splendid, and people stood still and +peeped in, and the sparrows hung by scores in the vine, and chattered +away at each other as well as they could, but it was not about the old +house, for they could not remember it, so many years had passed--so many +that the little boy had grown up to a whole man, yes, a clever man, and +a pleasure to his parents; and he had just been married, and, together +with his little wife, had come to live in the house here, where the +garden was; and he stood by her there whilst she planted a field-flower +that she found so pretty; she planted it with her little hand, and +pressed the earth around it with her fingers. Oh! what was that? She +had stuck herself. There sat something pointed, straight out of the soft +mould. + +It was--yes, guess! It was the pewter soldier, he that was lost up at +the old man's, and had tumbled and turned about amongst the timber and +the rubbish, and had at last laid for many years in the ground. + +The young wife wiped the dirt off the soldier, first with a green leaf, +and then with her fine handkerchief--it had such a delightful smell, +that it was to the pewter soldier just as if he had awaked from a +trance. + +“Let me see him,” said the young man. He laughed, and then shook his +head. “Nay, it cannot be he; but he reminds me of a story about a pewter +soldier which I had when I was a little boy!” And then he told his wife +about the old house, and the old man, and about the pewter soldier that +he sent over to him because he was so very, very lonely; and he told it +as correctly as it had really been, so that the tears came into the eyes +of his young wife, on account of the old house and the old man. + +“It may possibly be, however, that it is the same pewter soldier!” said +she. “I will take care of it, and remember all that you have told me; +but you must show me the old man's grave!” + +“But I do not know it,” said he, “and no one knows it! All his friends +were dead, no one took care of it, and I was then a little boy!” + +“How very, very lonely he must have been!” said she. + +“Very, very lonely!” said the pewter soldier. “But it is delightful not +to be forgotten!” + +“Delightful!” shouted something close by; but no one, except the pewter +soldier, saw that it was a piece of the hog's-leather hangings; it had +lost all its gilding, it looked like a piece of wet clay, but it had an +opinion, and it gave it: + + “The gilding decays, + But hog's leather stays!” + +This the pewter soldier did not believe. + + + + +THE HAPPY FAMILY + +Really, the largest green leaf in this country is a dock-leaf; if one +holds it before one, it is like a whole apron, and if one holds it over +one's head in rainy weather, it is almost as good as an umbrella, for +it is so immensely large. The burdock never grows alone, but where there +grows one there always grow several: it is a great delight, and all this +delightfulness is snails' food. The great white snails which persons of +quality in former times made fricassees of, ate, and said, “Hem, +hem! how delicious!” for they thought it tasted so delicate--lived on +dock-leaves, and therefore burdock seeds were sown. + +Now, there was an old manor-house, where they no longer ate snails, they +were quite extinct; but the burdocks were not extinct, they grew and +grew all over the walks and all the beds; they could not get the mastery +over them--it was a whole forest of burdocks. Here and there stood an +apple and a plum-tree, or else one never would have thought that it was +a garden; all was burdocks, and there lived the two last venerable old +snails. + +They themselves knew not how old they were, but they could remember +very well that there had been many more; that they were of a family +from foreign lands, and that for them and theirs the whole forest was +planted. They had never been outside it, but they knew that there was +still something more in the world, which was called the manor-house, and +that there they were boiled, and then they became black, and were then +placed on a silver dish; but what happened further they knew not; or, in +fact, what it was to be boiled, and to lie on a silver dish, they could +not possibly imagine; but it was said to be delightful, and particularly +genteel. Neither the chafers, the toads, nor the earth-worms, whom they +asked about it could give them any information--none of them had been +boiled or laid on a silver dish. + +The old white snails were the first persons of distinction in the +world, that they knew; the forest was planted for their sake, and the +manor-house was there that they might be boiled and laid on a silver +dish. + +Now they lived a very lonely and happy life; and as they had no children +themselves, they had adopted a little common snail, which they brought +up as their own; but the little one would not grow, for he was of a +common family; but the old ones, especially Dame Mother Snail, thought +they could observe how he increased in size, and she begged father, +if he could not see it, that he would at least feel the little snail's +shell; and then he felt it, and found the good dame was right. + +One day there was a heavy storm of rain. + +“Hear how it beats like a drum on the dock-leaves!” said Father Snail. + +“There are also rain-drops!” said Mother Snail. “And now the rain pours +right down the stalk! You will see that it will be wet here! I am very +happy to think that we have our good house, and the little one has +his also! There is more done for us than for all other creatures, sure +enough; but can you not see that we are folks of quality in the world? +We are provided with a house from our birth, and the burdock forest is +planted for our sakes! I should like to know how far it extends, and +what there is outside!” + +“There is nothing at all,” said Father Snail. “No place can be better +than ours, and I have nothing to wish for!” + +“Yes,” said the dame. “I would willingly go to the manorhouse, be +boiled, and laid on a silver dish; all our forefathers have been treated +so; there is something extraordinary in it, you may be sure!” + +“The manor-house has most likely fallen to ruin!” said Father Snail. “Or +the burdocks have grown up over it, so that they cannot come out. There +need not, however, be any haste about that; but you are always in such a +tremendous hurry, and the little one is beginning to be the same. Has he +not been creeping up that stalk these three days? It gives me a headache +when I look up to him!” + +“You must not scold him,” said Mother Snail. “He creeps so carefully; he +will afford us much pleasure--and we have nothing but him to live for! +But have you not thought of it? Where shall we get a wife for him? Do +you not think that there are some of our species at a great distance in +the interior of the burdock forest?” + +“Black snails, I dare say, there are enough of,” said the old one. +“Black snails without a house--but they are so common, and so conceited. +But we might give the ants a commission to look out for us; they run +to and fro as if they had something to do, and they certainly know of a +wife for our little snail!” + +“I know one, sure enough--the most charming one!” said one of the ants. +“But I am afraid we shall hardly succeed, for she is a queen!” + +“That is nothing!” said the old folks. “Has she a house?” + +“She has a palace!” said the ant. “The finest ant's palace, with seven +hundred passages!” + +“I thank you!” said Mother Snail. “Our son shall not go into an +ant-hill; if you know nothing better than that, we shall give the +commission to the white gnats. They fly far and wide, in rain and +sunshine; they know the whole forest here, both within and without.” + +“We have a wife for him,” said the gnats. “At a hundred human paces from +here there sits a little snail in her house, on a gooseberry bush; she +is quite lonely, and old enough to be married. It is only a hundred +human paces!” + +“Well, then, let her come to him!” said the old ones. “He has a whole +forest of burdocks, she has only a bush!” + +And so they went and fetched little Miss Snail. It was a whole week +before she arrived; but therein was just the very best of it, for one +could thus see that she was of the same species. + +And then the marriage was celebrated. Six earth-worms shone as well as +they could. In other respects the whole went off very quietly, for the +old folks could not bear noise and merriment; but old Dame Snail made +a brilliant speech. Father Snail could not speak, he was too much +affected; and so they gave them as a dowry and inheritance, the whole +forest of burdocks, and said--what they had always said--that it was +the best in the world; and if they lived honestly and decently, and +increased and multiplied, they and their children would once in the +course of time come to the manor-house, be boiled black, and laid on +silver dishes. After this speech was made, the old ones crept into their +shells, and never more came out. They slept; the young couple governed +in the forest, and had a numerous progeny, but they were never boiled, +and never came on the silver dishes; so from this they concluded that +the manor-house had fallen to ruins, and that all the men in the world +were extinct; and as no one contradicted them, so, of course it was so. +And the rain beat on the dock-leaves to make drum-music for their sake, +and the sun shone in order to give the burdock forest a color for their +sakes; and they were very happy, and the whole family was happy; for +they, indeed were so. + + + + +THE STORY OF A MOTHER + +A mother sat there with her little child. She was so downcast, so +afraid that it should die! It was so pale, the small eyes had closed +themselves, and it drew its breath so softly, now and then, with a +deep respiration, as if it sighed; and the mother looked still more +sorrowfully on the little creature. + +Then a knocking was heard at the door, and in came a poor old man +wrapped up as in a large horse-cloth, for it warms one, and he needed +it, as it was the cold winter season! Everything out-of-doors was +covered with ice and snow, and the wind blew so that it cut the face. + +As the old man trembled with cold, and the little child slept a moment, +the mother went and poured some ale into a pot and set it on the stove, +that it might be warm for him; the old man sat and rocked the cradle, +and the mother sat down on a chair close by him, and looked at her +little sick child that drew its breath so deep, and raised its little +hand. + +“Do you not think that I shall save him?” said she. “Our Lord will not +take him from me!” + +And the old man--it was Death himself--he nodded so strangely, it could +just as well signify yes as no. And the mother looked down in her lap, +and the tears ran down over her cheeks; her head became so heavy--she +had not closed her eyes for three days and nights; and now she slept, +but only for a minute, when she started up and trembled with cold. + +“What is that?” said she, and looked on all sides; but the old man was +gone, and her little child was gone--he had taken it with him; and the +old clock in the corner burred, and burred, the great leaden weight ran +down to the floor, bump! and then the clock also stood still. + +But the poor mother ran out of the house and cried aloud for her child. + +Out there, in the midst of the snow, there sat a woman in long, black +clothes; and she said, “Death has been in thy chamber, and I saw him +hasten away with thy little child; he goes faster than the wind, and he +never brings back what he takes!” + +“Oh, only tell me which way he went!” said the mother. “Tell me the way, +and I shall find him!” + +“I know it!” said the woman in the black clothes. “But before I tell it, +thou must first sing for me all the songs thou hast sung for thy child! +I am fond of them. I have heard them before; I am Night; I saw thy tears +whilst thou sang'st them!” + +“I will sing them all, all!” said the mother. “But do not stop me now--I +may overtake him--I may find my child!” + +But Night stood still and mute. Then the mother wrung her hands, sang +and wept, and there were many songs, but yet many more tears; and then +Night said, “Go to the right, into the dark pine forest; thither I saw +Death take his way with thy little child!” + +The roads crossed each other in the depths of the forest, and she no +longer knew whither she should go! then there stood a thorn-bush; +there was neither leaf nor flower on it, it was also in the cold winter +season, and ice-flakes hung on the branches. + +“Hast thou not seen Death go past with my little child?” said the +mother. + +“Yes,” said the thorn-bush; “but I will not tell thee which way he took, +unless thou wilt first warm me up at thy heart. I am freezing to death; +I shall become a lump of ice!” + +And she pressed the thorn-bush to her breast, so firmly, that it might +be thoroughly warmed, and the thorns went right into her flesh, and her +blood flowed in large drops, but the thornbush shot forth fresh green +leaves, and there came flowers on it in the cold winter night, the heart +of the afflicted mother was so warm; and the thorn-bush told her the way +she should go. + +She then came to a large lake, where there was neither ship nor boat. +The lake was not frozen sufficiently to bear her; neither was it open, +nor low enough that she could wade through it; and across it she must go +if she would find her child! Then she lay down to drink up the lake, and +that was an impossibility for a human being, but the afflicted mother +thought that a miracle might happen nevertheless. + +“Oh, what would I not give to come to my child!” said the weeping +mother; and she wept still more, and her eyes sunk down in the depths of +the waters, and became two precious pearls; but the water bore her up, +as if she sat in a swing, and she flew in the rocking waves to the shore +on the opposite side, where there stood a mile-broad, strange house, one +knew not if it were a mountain with forests and caverns, or if it were +built up; but the poor mother could not see it; she had wept her eyes +out. + +“Where shall I find Death, who took away my little child?” said she. + +“He has not come here yet!” said the old grave woman, who was appointed +to look after Death's great greenhouse! “How have you been able to find +the way hither? And who has helped you?” + +“OUR LORD has helped me,” said she. “He is merciful, and you will also +be so! Where shall I find my little child?” + +“Nay, I know not,” said the woman, “and you cannot see! Many flowers and +trees have withered this night; Death will soon come and plant them over +again! You certainly know that every person has his or her life's tree +or flower, just as everyone happens to be settled; they look like other +plants, but they have pulsations of the heart. Children's hearts can +also beat; go after yours, perhaps you may know your child's; but what +will you give me if I tell you what you shall do more?” + +“I have nothing to give,” said the afflicted mother, “but I will go to +the world's end for you!” + +“Nay, I have nothing to do there!” said the woman. “But you can give +me your long black hair; you know yourself that it is fine, and that +I like! You shall have my white hair instead, and that's always +something!” + +“Do you demand nothing else?” said she. “That I will gladly give you!” + And she gave her her fine black hair, and got the old woman's snow-white +hair instead. + +So they went into Death's great greenhouse, where flowers and trees +grew strangely into one another. There stood fine hyacinths under glass +bells, and there stood strong-stemmed peonies; there grew water plants, +some so fresh, others half sick, the water-snakes lay down on them, +and black crabs pinched their stalks. There stood beautiful palm-trees, +oaks, and plantains; there stood parsley and flowering thyme: every tree +and every flower had its name; each of them was a human life, the human +frame still lived--one in China, and another in Greenland--round about +in the world. There were large trees in small pots, so that they stood +so stunted in growth, and ready to burst the pots; in other places, +there was a little dull flower in rich mould, with moss round about it, +and it was so petted and nursed. But the distressed mother bent down +over all the smallest plants, and heard within them how the human heart +beat; and amongst millions she knew her child's. + +“There it is!” cried she, and stretched her hands out over a little blue +crocus, that hung quite sickly on one side. + +“Don't touch the flower!” said the old woman. “But place yourself here, +and when Death comes--I expect him every moment--do not let him pluck +the flower up, but threaten him that you will do the same with the +others. Then he will be afraid! He is responsible for them to OUR LORD, +and no one dares to pluck them up before HE gives leave.” + +All at once an icy cold rushed through the great hall, and the blind +mother could feel that it was Death that came. + +“How hast thou been able to find thy way hither?” he asked. “How couldst +thou come quicker than I?” + +“I am a mother,” said she. + +And Death stretched out his long hand towards the fine little flower, +but she held her hands fast around his, so tight, and yet afraid that +she should touch one of the leaves. Then Death blew on her hands, and +she felt that it was colder than the cold wind, and her hands fell down +powerless. + +“Thou canst not do anything against me!” said Death. + +“But OUR LORD can!” said she. + +“I only do His bidding!” said Death. “I am His gardener, I take all His +flowers and trees, and plant them out in the great garden of Paradise, +in the unknown land; but how they grow there, and how it is there I dare +not tell thee.” + +“Give me back my child!” said the mother, and she wept and prayed. At +once she seized hold of two beautiful flowers close by, with each hand, +and cried out to Death, “I will tear all thy flowers off, for I am in +despair.” + +“Touch them not!” said Death. “Thou say'st that thou art so unhappy, and +now thou wilt make another mother equally unhappy.” + +“Another mother!” said the poor woman, and directly let go her hold of +both the flowers. + +“There, thou hast thine eyes,” said Death; “I fished them up from the +lake, they shone so bright; I knew not they were thine. Take them again, +they are now brighter than before; now look down into the deep well +close by; I shall tell thee the names of the two flowers thou wouldst +have torn up, and thou wilt see their whole future life--their whole +human existence: and see what thou wast about to disturb and destroy.” + +And she looked down into the well; and it was a happiness to see how the +one became a blessing to the world, to see how much happiness and joy +were felt everywhere. And she saw the other's life, and it was sorrow +and distress, horror, and wretchedness. + +“Both of them are God's will!” said Death. + +“Which of them is Misfortune's flower and which is that of Happiness?” + asked she. + +“That I will not tell thee,” said Death; “but this thou shalt know from +me, that the one flower was thy own child! it was thy child's fate thou +saw'st--thy own child's future life!” + +Then the mother screamed with terror, “Which of them was my child? Tell +it me! Save the innocent! Save my child from all that misery! Rather +take it away! Take it into God's kingdom! Forget my tears, forget my +prayers, and all that I have done!” + +“I do not understand thee!” said Death. “Wilt thou have thy child again, +or shall I go with it there, where thou dost not know!” + +Then the mother wrung her hands, fell on her knees, and prayed to our +Lord: “Oh, hear me not when I pray against Thy will, which is the best! +hear me not! hear me not!” + +And she bowed her head down in her lap, and Death took her child and +went with it into the unknown land. + + + + +THE FALSE COLLAR + +There was once a fine gentleman, all of whose moveables were a boot-jack +and a hair-comb: but he had the finest false collars in the world; and +it is about one of these collars that we are now to hear a story. + +It was so old, that it began to think of marriage; and it happened that +it came to be washed in company with a garter. + +“Nay!” said the collar. “I never did see anything so slender and so +fine, so soft and so neat. May I not ask your name?” + +“That I shall not tell you!” said the garter. + +“Where do you live?” asked the collar. + +But the garter was so bashful, so modest, and thought it was a strange +question to answer. + +“You are certainly a girdle,” said the collar; “that is to say an inside +girdle. I see well that you are both for use and ornament, my dear young +lady.” + +“I will thank you not to speak to me,” said the garter. “I think I have +not given the least occasion for it.” + +“Yes! When one is as handsome as you,” said the collar, “that is +occasion enough.” + +“Don't come so near me, I beg of you!” said the garter. “You look so +much like those men-folks.” + +“I am also a fine gentleman,” said the collar. “I have a bootjack and a +hair-comb.” + +But that was not true, for it was his master who had them: but he +boasted. + +“Don't come so near me,” said the garter: “I am not accustomed to it.” + +“Prude!” exclaimed the collar; and then it was taken out of the +washing-tub. It was starched, hung over the back of a chair in the +sunshine, and was then laid on the ironing-blanket; then came the warm +box-iron. “Dear lady!” said the collar. “Dear widow-lady! I feel quite +hot. I am quite changed. I begin to unfold myself. You will burn a hole +in me. Oh! I offer you my hand.” + +“Rag!” said the box-iron; and went proudly over the collar: for she +fancied she was a steam-engine, that would go on the railroad and draw +the waggons. “Rag!” said the box-iron. + +The collar was a little jagged at the edge, and so came the long +scissors to cut off the jagged part. “Oh!” said the collar. “You are +certainly the first opera dancer. How well you can stretch your legs +out! It is the most graceful performance I have ever seen. No one can +imitate you.” + +“I know it,” said the scissors. + +“You deserve to be a baroness,” said the collar. “All that I have is a +fine gentleman, a boot-jack, and a hair-comb. If I only had the barony!” + +“Do you seek my hand?” said the scissors; for she was angry; and without +more ado, she CUT HIM, and then he was condemned. + +“I shall now be obliged to ask the hair-comb. It is surprising how well +you preserve your teeth, Miss,” said the collar. “Have you never thought +of being betrothed?” + +“Yes, of course! you may be sure of that,” said the hair-comb. “I AM +betrothed--to the boot-jack!” + +“Betrothed!” exclaimed the collar. Now there was no other to court, and +so he despised it. + +A long time passed away, then the collar came into the rag chest at the +paper mill; there was a large company of rags, the fine by themselves, +and the coarse by themselves, just as it should be. They all had much to +say, but the collar the most; for he was a real boaster. + +“I have had such an immense number of sweethearts!” said the collar. +“I could not be in peace! It is true, I was always a fine starched-up +gentleman! I had both a boot-jack and a hair-comb, which I never used! +You should have seen me then, you should have seen me when I lay down! +I shall never forget MY FIRST LOVE--she was a girdle, so fine, so soft, +and so charming, she threw herself into a tub of water for my sake! +There was also a widow, who became glowing hot, but I left her standing +till she got black again; there was also the first opera dancer, she +gave me that cut which I now go with, she was so ferocious! My +own hair-comb was in love with me, she lost all her teeth from the +heart-ache; yes, I have lived to see much of that sort of thing; but I +am extremely sorry for the garter--I mean the girdle--that went into the +water-tub. I have much on my conscience, I want to become white paper!” + +And it became so, all the rags were turned into white paper; but the +collar came to be just this very piece of white paper we here see, +and on which the story is printed; and that was because it boasted so +terribly afterwards of what had never happened to it. It would be well +for us to beware, that we may not act in a similar manner, for we can +never know if we may not, in the course of time, also come into the +rag chest, and be made into white paper, and then have our whole life's +history printed on it, even the most secret, and be obliged to run about +and tell it ourselves, just like this collar. + + + + +THE SHADOW + +It is in the hot lands that the sun burns, sure enough! there the people +become quite a mahogany brown, ay, and in the HOTTEST lands they are +burnt to Negroes. But now it was only to the HOT lands that a learned +man had come from the cold; there he thought that he could run about +just as when at home, but he soon found out his mistake. + +He, and all sensible folks, were obliged to stay within doors--the +window-shutters and doors were closed the whole day; it looked as if the +whole house slept, or there was no one at home. + +The narrow street with the high houses, was built so that the sunshine +must fall there from morning till evening--it was really not to be +borne. + +The learned man from the cold lands--he was a young man, and seemed to +be a clever man--sat in a glowing oven; it took effect on him, he became +quite meagre--even his shadow shrunk in, for the sun had also an effect +on it. It was first towards evening when the sun was down, that they +began to freshen up again. + +In the warm lands every window has a balcony, and the people came out on +all the balconies in the street--for one must have air, even if one be +accustomed to be mahogany!* It was lively both up and down the +street. Tailors, and shoemakers, and all the folks, moved out into the +street--chairs and tables were brought forth--and candles burnt--yes, +above a thousand lights were burning--and the one talked and the other +sung; and people walked and church-bells rang, and asses went along with +a dingle-dingle-dong! for they too had bells on. The street boys were +screaming and hooting, and shouting and shooting, with devils and +detonating balls--and there came corpse bearers and hood wearers--for +there were funerals with psalm and hymn--and then the din of carriages +driving and company arriving: yes, it was, in truth, lively enough down +in the street. Only in that single house, which stood opposite that in +which the learned foreigner lived, it was quite still; and yet some one +lived there, for there stood flowers in the balcony--they grew so +well in the sun's heat! and that they could not do unless they were +watered--and some one must water them--there must be somebody there. +The door opposite was also opened late in the evening, but it was dark +within, at least in the front room; further in there was heard the sound +of music. The learned foreigner thought it quite marvellous, but now--it +might be that he only imagined it--for he found everything marvellous +out there, in the warm lands, if there had only been no sun. The +stranger's landlord said that he didn't know who had taken the house +opposite, one saw no person about, and as to the music, it appeared +to him to be extremely tiresome. “It is as if some one sat there, and +practised a piece that he could not master--always the same piece. 'I +shall master it!' says he; but yet he cannot master it, however long he +plays.” + +* The word mahogany can be understood, in Danish, as having two +meanings. In general, it means the reddish-brown wood itself; but in +jest, it signifies “excessively fine,” which arose from an anecdote of +Nyboder, in Copenhagen, (the seamen's quarter.) A sailor's wife, who was +always proud and fine, in her way, came to her neighbor, and complained +that she had got a splinter in her finger. “What of?” asked the +neighbor's wife. “It is a mahogany splinter,” said the other. “Mahogany! +It cannot be less with you!” exclaimed the woman--and thence the +proverb, “It is so mahogany!”--(that is, so excessively fine)--is +derived. + + +One night the stranger awoke--he slept with the doors of the balcony +open--the curtain before it was raised by the wind, and he thought +that a strange lustre came from the opposite neighbor's house; all the +flowers shone like flames, in the most beautiful colors, and in the +midst of the flowers stood a slender, graceful maiden--it was as if she +also shone; the light really hurt his eyes. He now opened them quite +wide--yes, he was quite awake; with one spring he was on the floor; he +crept gently behind the curtain, but the maiden was gone; the flowers +shone no longer, but there they stood, fresh and blooming as ever; +the door was ajar, and, far within, the music sounded so soft and +delightful, one could really melt away in sweet thoughts from it. Yet +it was like a piece of enchantment. And who lived there? Where was the +actual entrance? The whole of the ground-floor was a row of shops, and +there people could not always be running through. + +One evening the stranger sat out on the balcony. The light burnt in the +room behind him; and thus it was quite natural that his shadow should +fall on his opposite neighbor's wall. Yes! there it sat, directly +opposite, between the flowers on the balcony; and when the stranger +moved, the shadow also moved: for that it always does. + +“I think my shadow is the only living thing one sees over there,” said +the learned man. “See, how nicely it sits between the flowers. The door +stands half-open: now the shadow should be cunning, and go into the +room, look about, and then come and tell me what it had seen. Come, now! +Be useful, and do me a service,” said he, in jest. “Have the kindness to +step in. Now! Art thou going?” and then he nodded to the shadow, and the +shadow nodded again. “Well then, go! But don't stay away.” + +The stranger rose, and his shadow on the opposite neighbor's balcony +rose also; the stranger turned round and the shadow also turned round. +Yes! if anyone had paid particular attention to it, they would have +seen, quite distinctly, that the shadow went in through the half-open +balcony-door of their opposite neighbor, just as the stranger went into +his own room, and let the long curtain fall down after him. + +Next morning, the learned man went out to drink coffee and read the +newspapers. + +“What is that?” said he, as he came out into the sunshine. “I have no +shadow! So then, it has actually gone last night, and not come again. It +is really tiresome!” + +This annoyed him: not so much because the shadow was gone, but because +he knew there was a story about a man without a shadow.* It was known +to everybody at home, in the cold lands; and if the learned man now came +there and told his story, they would say that he was imitating it, and +that he had no need to do. He would, therefore, not talk about it at +all; and that was wisely thought. + +*Peter Schlemihl, the shadowless man. + + +In the evening he went out again on the balcony. He had placed the light +directly behind him, for he knew that the shadow would always have its +master for a screen, but he could not entice it. He made himself little; +he made himself great: but no shadow came again. He said, “Hem! hem!” + but it was of no use. + +It was vexatious; but in the warm lands everything grows so quickly; and +after the lapse of eight days he observed, to his great joy, that a new +shadow came in the sunshine. In the course of three weeks he had a very +fair shadow, which, when he set out for his home in the northern lands, +grew more and more in the journey, so that at last it was so long and so +large, that it was more than sufficient. + +The learned man then came home, and he wrote books about what was true +in the world, and about what was good and what was beautiful; and there +passed days and years--yes! many years passed away. + +One evening, as he was sitting in his room, there was a gentle knocking +at the door. + +“Come in!” said he; but no one came in; so he opened the door, and there +stood before him such an extremely lean man, that he felt quite strange. +As to the rest, the man was very finely dressed--he must be a gentleman. + +“Whom have I the honor of speaking?” asked the learned man. + +“Yes! I thought as much,” said the fine man. “I thought you would not +know me. I have got so much body. I have even got flesh and clothes. You +certainly never thought of seeing me so well off. Do you not know your +old shadow? You certainly thought I should never more return. Things +have gone on well with me since I was last with you. I have, in all +respects, become very well off. Shall I purchase my freedom from +service? If so, I can do it”; and then he rattled a whole bunch of +valuable seals that hung to his watch, and he stuck his hand in the +thick gold chain he wore around his neck--nay! how all his fingers +glittered with diamond rings; and then all were pure gems. + +“Nay; I cannot recover from my surprise!” said the learned man. “What is +the meaning of all this?” + +“Something common, is it not,” said the shadow. “But you yourself do not +belong to the common order; and I, as you know well, have from a child +followed in your footsteps. As soon as you found I was capable to go +out alone in the world, I went my own way. I am in the most brilliant +circumstances, but there came a sort of desire over me to see you once +more before you die; you will die, I suppose? I also wished to see this +land again--for you know we always love our native land. I know you have +got another shadow again; have I anything to pay to it or you? If so, +you will oblige me by saying what it is.” + +“Nay, is it really thou?” said the learned man. “It is most remarkable: +I never imagined that one's old shadow could come again as a man.” + +“Tell me what I have to pay,” said the shadow; “for I don't like to be +in any sort of debt.” + +“How canst thou talk so?” said the learned man. “What debt is there to +talk about? Make thyself as free as anyone else. I am extremely glad to +hear of thy good fortune: sit down, old friend, and tell me a little +how it has gone with thee, and what thou hast seen at our opposite +neighbor's there--in the warm lands.” + +“Yes, I will tell you all about it,” said the shadow, and sat down: “but +then you must also promise me, that, wherever you may meet me, you will +never say to anyone here in the town that I have been your shadow. I +intend to get betrothed, for I can provide for more than one family.” + +“Be quite at thy ease about that,” said the learned man; “I shall not +say to anyone who thou actually art: here is my hand--I promise it, and +a man's bond is his word.” + +“A word is a shadow,” said the shadow, “and as such it must speak.” + +It was really quite astonishing how much of a man it was. It was dressed +entirely in black, and of the very finest cloth; it had patent leather +boots, and a hat that could be folded together, so that it was bare +crown and brim; not to speak of what we already know it had--seals, gold +neck-chain, and diamond rings; yes, the shadow was well-dressed, and it +was just that which made it quite a man. + +“Now I shall tell you my adventures,” said the shadow; and then he +sat, with the polished boots, as heavily as he could, on the arm of the +learned man's new shadow, which lay like a poodle-dog at his feet. +Now this was perhaps from arrogance; and the shadow on the ground kept +itself so still and quiet, that it might hear all that passed: it wished +to know how it could get free, and work its way up, so as to become its +own master. + +“Do you know who lived in our opposite neighbor's house?” said the +shadow. “It was the most charming of all beings, it was Poesy! I was +there for three weeks, and that has as much effect as if one had lived +three thousand years, and read all that was composed and written; +that is what I say, and it is right. I have seen everything and I know +everything!” + +“Poesy!” cried the learned man. “Yes, yes, she often dwells a recluse +in large cities! Poesy! Yes, I have seen her--a single short moment, +but sleep came into my eyes! She stood on the balcony and shone as the +Aurora Borealis shines. Go on, go on--thou wert on the balcony, and went +through the doorway, and then--” + +“Then I was in the antechamber,” said the shadow. “You always sat and +looked over to the antechamber. There was no light; there was a sort +of twilight, but the one door stood open directly opposite the other +through a long row of rooms and saloons, and there it was lighted up. I +should have been completely killed if I had gone over to the maiden; but +I was circumspect, I took time to think, and that one must always do.” + +“And what didst thou then see?” asked the learned man. + +“I saw everything, and I shall tell all to you: but--it is no pride on +my part--as a free man, and with the knowledge I have, not to speak of +my position in life, my excellent circumstances--I certainly wish that +you would say YOU* to me!” + +* It is the custom in Denmark for intimate acquaintances to use the +second person singular, “Du,” (thou) when speaking to each other. When +a friendship is formed between men, they generally affirm it, when +occasion offers, either in public or private, by drinking to each other +and exclaiming, “thy health,” at the same time striking their glasses +together. This is called drinking “Duus”: they are then, “Duus Brodre,” + (thou brothers) and ever afterwards use the pronoun “thou,” to each +other, it being regarded as more familiar than “De,” (you). Father and +mother, sister and brother say thou to one another--without regard to +age or rank. Master and mistress say thou to their servants the superior +to the inferior. But servants and inferiors do not use the same term +to their masters, or superiors--nor is it ever used when speaking to a +stranger, or anyone with whom they are but slightly acquainted--they +then say as in English--you. + + +“I beg your pardon,” said the learned man; “it is an old habit with me. +YOU are perfectly right, and I shall remember it; but now you must tell +me all YOU saw!” + +“Everything!” said the shadow. “For I saw everything, and I know +everything!” + +“How did it look in the furthest saloon?” asked the learned man. “Was it +there as in the fresh woods? Was it there as in a holy church? Were the +saloons like the starlit firmament when we stand on the high mountains?” + +“Everything was there!” said the shadow. “I did not go quite in, I +remained in the foremost room, in the twilight, but I stood there +quite well; I saw everything, and I know everything! I have been in the +antechamber at the court of Poesy.” + +“But WHAT DID you see? Did all the gods of the olden times pass through +the large saloons? Did the old heroes combat there? Did sweet children +play there, and relate their dreams?” + +“I tell you I was there, and you can conceive that I saw everything +there was to be seen. Had you come over there, you would not have been +a man; but I became so! And besides, I learned to know my inward nature, +my innate qualities, the relationship I had with Poesy. At the time I +was with you, I thought not of that, but always--you know it well--when +the sun rose, and when the sun went down, I became so strangely great; +in the moonlight I was very near being more distinct than yourself; at +that time I did not understand my nature; it was revealed to me in the +antechamber! I became a man! I came out matured; but you were no longer +in the warm lands; as a man I was ashamed to go as I did. I was in +want of boots, of clothes, of the whole human varnish that makes a man +perceptible. I took my way--I tell it to you, but you will not put it in +any book--I took my way to the cake woman--I hid myself behind her; +the woman didn't think how much she concealed. I went out first in the +evening; I ran about the streets in the moonlight; I made myself long up +the walls--it tickles the back so delightfully! I ran up, and ran down, +peeped into the highest windows, into the saloons, and on the roofs, I +peeped in where no one could peep, and I saw what no one else saw, what +no one else should see! This is, in fact, a base world! I would not be a +man if it were not now once accepted and regarded as something to be so! +I saw the most unimaginable things with the women, with the men, with +parents, and with the sweet, matchless children; I saw,” said the +shadow, “what no human being must know, but what they would all +so willingly know--what is bad in their neighbor. Had I written a +newspaper, it would have been read! But I wrote direct to the persons +themselves, and there was consternation in all the towns where I came. +They were so afraid of me, and yet they were so excessively fond of +me. The professors made a professor of me; the tailors gave me new +clothes--I am well furnished; the master of the mint struck new coin for +me, and the women said I was so handsome! And so I became the man I am. +And I now bid you farewell. Here is my card--I live on the sunny side +of the street, and am always at home in rainy weather!” And so away went +the shadow. “That was most extraordinary!” said the learned man. Years +and days passed away, then the shadow came again. “How goes it?” said +the shadow. + +“Alas!” said the learned man. “I write about the true, and the good, +and the beautiful, but no one cares to hear such things; I am quite +desperate, for I take it so much to heart!” + +“But I don't!” said the shadow. “I become fat, and it is that one wants +to become! You do not understand the world. You will become ill by it. +You must travel! I shall make a tour this summer; will you go with me? +I should like to have a travelling companion! Will you go with me, as +shadow? It will be a great pleasure for me to have you with me; I shall +pay the travelling expenses!” + +“Nay, this is too much!” said the learned man. + +“It is just as one takes it!” said the shadow. “It will do you much good +to travel! Will you be my shadow? You shall have everything free on the +journey!” + +“Nay, that is too bad!” said the learned man. + +“But it is just so with the world!” said the shadow, “and so it will +be!” and away it went again. + +The learned man was not at all in the most enviable state; grief and +torment followed him, and what he said about the true, and the good, and +the beautiful, was, to most persons, like roses for a cow! He was quite +ill at last. + +“You really look like a shadow!” said his friends to him; and the +learned man trembled, for he thought of it. + +“You must go to a watering-place!” said the shadow, who came and visited +him. “There is nothing else for it! I will take you with me for old +acquaintance' sake; I will pay the travelling expenses, and you write +the descriptions--and if they are a little amusing for me on the way! +I will go to a watering-place--my beard does not grow out as it +ought--that is also a sickness--and one must have a beard! Now you be +wise and accept the offer; we shall travel as comrades!” + +And so they travelled; the shadow was master, and the master was the +shadow; they drove with each other, they rode and walked together, side +by side, before and behind, just as the sun was; the shadow always took +care to keep itself in the master's place. Now the learned man didn't +think much about that; he was a very kind-hearted man, and particularly +mild and friendly, and so he said one day to the shadow: “As we have +now become companions, and in this way have grown up together from +childhood, shall we not drink 'thou' together, it is more familiar?” + +“You are right,” said the shadow, who was now the proper master. “It is +said in a very straight-forward and well-meant manner. You, as a learned +man, certainly know how strange nature is. Some persons cannot bear to +touch grey paper, or they become ill; others shiver in every limb if one +rub a pane of glass with a nail: I have just such a feeling on hearing +you say thou to me; I feel myself as if pressed to the earth in my first +situation with you. You see that it is a feeling; that it is not pride: +I cannot allow you to say THOU to me, but I will willingly say THOU to +you, so it is half done!” + +So the shadow said THOU to its former master. + +“This is rather too bad,” thought he, “that I must say YOU and he say +THOU,” but he was now obliged to put up with it. + +So they came to a watering-place where there were many strangers, and +amongst them was a princess, who was troubled with seeing too well; and +that was so alarming! + +She directly observed that the stranger who had just come was quite a +different sort of person to all the others; “He has come here in order +to get his beard to grow, they say, but I see the real cause, he cannot +cast a shadow.” + +She had become inquisitive; and so she entered into conversation +directly with the strange gentleman, on their promenades. As the +daughter of a king, she needed not to stand upon trifles, so she said, +“Your complaint is, that you cannot cast a shadow?” + +“Your Royal Highness must be improving considerably,” said the shadow, +“I know your complaint is, that you see too clearly, but it has +decreased, you are cured. I just happen to have a very unusual shadow! +Do you not see that person who always goes with me? Other persons have +a common shadow, but I do not like what is common to all. We give our +servants finer cloth for their livery than we ourselves use, and so I +had my shadow trimmed up into a man: yes, you see I have even given him +a shadow. It is somewhat expensive, but I like to have something for +myself!” + +“What!” thought the princess. “Should I really be cured! These baths are +the first in the world! In our time water has wonderful powers. But I +shall not leave the place, for it now begins to be amusing here. I am +extremely fond of that stranger: would that his beard should not grow, +for in that case he will leave us!” + +In the evening, the princess and the shadow danced together in the large +ball-room. She was light, but he was still lighter; she had never had +such a partner in the dance. She told him from what land she came, and +he knew that land; he had been there, but then she was not at home; he +had peeped in at the window, above and below--he had seen both the +one and the other, and so he could answer the princess, and make +insinuations, so that she was quite astonished; he must be the wisest +man in the whole world! She felt such respect for what he knew! So that +when they again danced together she fell in love with him; and that the +shadow could remark, for she almost pierced him through with her eyes. +So they danced once more together; and she was about to declare herself, +but she was discreet; she thought of her country and kingdom, and of the +many persons she would have to reign over. + +“He is a wise man,” said she to herself--“It is well; and he dances +delightfully--that is also good; but has he solid knowledge? That is +just as important! He must be examined.” + +So she began, by degrees, to question him about the most difficult +things she could think of, and which she herself could not have +answered; so that the shadow made a strange face. + +“You cannot answer these questions?” said the princess. + +“They belong to my childhood's learning,” said the shadow. “I really +believe my shadow, by the door there, can answer them!” + +“Your shadow!” said the princess. “That would indeed be marvellous!” + +“I will not say for a certainty that he can,” said the shadow, “but I +think so; he has now followed me for so many years, and listened to my +conversation--I should think it possible. But your royal highness will +permit me to observe, that he is so proud of passing himself off for +a man, that when he is to be in a proper humor--and he must be so to +answer well--he must be treated quite like a man.” + +“Oh! I like that!” said the princess. + +So she went to the learned man by the door, and she spoke to him about +the sun and the moon, and about persons out of and in the world, and he +answered with wisdom and prudence. + +“What a man that must be who has so wise a shadow!” thought she. “It +will be a real blessing to my people and kingdom if I choose him for my +consort--I will do it!” + +They were soon agreed, both the princess and the shadow; but no one was +to know about it before she arrived in her own kingdom. + +“No one--not even my shadow!” said the shadow, and he had his own +thoughts about it! + +Now they were in the country where the princess reigned when she was at +home. + +“Listen, my good friend,” said the shadow to the learned man. “I have +now become as happy and mighty as anyone can be; I will, therefore, do +something particular for thee! Thou shalt always live with me in the +palace, drive with me in my royal carriage, and have ten thousand +pounds a year; but then thou must submit to be called SHADOW by all and +everyone; thou must not say that thou hast ever been a man; and once +a year, when I sit on the balcony in the sunshine, thou must lie at my +feet, as a shadow shall do! I must tell thee: I am going to marry the +king's daughter, and the nuptials are to take place this evening!” + +“Nay, this is going too far!” said the learned man. “I will not have it; +I will not do it! It is to deceive the whole country and the princess +too! I will tell everything! That I am a man, and that thou art a +shadow--thou art only dressed up!” + +“There is no one who will believe it!” said the shadow. “Be reasonable, +or I will call the guard!” + +“I will go directly to the princess!” said the learned man. + +“But I will go first!” said the shadow. “And thou wilt go to prison!” + and that he was obliged to do--for the sentinels obeyed him whom they +knew the king's daughter was to marry. + +“You tremble!” said the princess, as the shadow came into her chamber. +“Has anything happened? You must not be unwell this evening, now that we +are to have our nuptials celebrated.” + +“I have lived to see the most cruel thing that anyone can live to +see!” said the shadow. “Only imagine--yes, it is true, such a poor +shadow-skull cannot bear much--only think, my shadow has become mad; +he thinks that he is a man, and that I--now only think--that I am his +shadow!” + +“It is terrible!” said the princess; “but he is confined, is he not?” + +“That he is. I am afraid that he will never recover.” + +“Poor shadow!” said the princess. “He is very unfortunate; it would be +a real work of charity to deliver him from the little life he has, and, +when I think properly over the matter, I am of opinion that it will be +necessary to do away with him in all stillness!” + +“It is certainly hard,” said the shadow, “for he was a faithful +servant!” and then he gave a sort of sigh. + +“You are a noble character!” said the princess. + +The whole city was illuminated in the evening, and the cannons went off +with a bum! bum! and the soldiers presented arms. That was a marriage! +The princess and the shadow went out on the balcony to show themselves, +and get another hurrah! + +The learned man heard nothing of all this--for they had deprived him of +life. + + + + +THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL + +Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and +evening--the last evening of the year. In this cold and darkness there +went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and with naked +feet. When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but what was +the good of that? They were very large slippers, which her mother had +hitherto worn; so large were they; and the poor little thing lost them +as she scuffled away across the street, because of two carriages that +rolled by dreadfully fast. + +One slipper was nowhere to be found; the other had been laid hold of by +an urchin, and off he ran with it; he thought it would do capitally for +a cradle when he some day or other should have children himself. So the +little maiden walked on with her tiny naked feet, that were quite red +and blue from cold. She carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, +and she held a bundle of them in her hand. Nobody had bought anything of +her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a single farthing. + +She crept along trembling with cold and hunger--a very picture of +sorrow, the poor little thing! + +The flakes of snow covered her long fair hair, which fell in beautiful +curls around her neck; but of that, of course, she never once now +thought. From all the windows the candles were gleaming, and it smelt so +deliciously of roast goose, for you know it was New Year's Eve; yes, of +that she thought. + +In a corner formed by two houses, of which one advanced more than the +other, she seated herself down and cowered together. Her little feet +she had drawn close up to her, but she grew colder and colder, and to go +home she did not venture, for she had not sold any matches and could +not bring a farthing of money: from her father she would certainly get +blows, and at home it was cold too, for above her she had only the roof, +through which the wind whistled, even though the largest cracks were +stopped up with straw and rags. + +Her little hands were almost numbed with cold. Oh! a match might afford +her a world of comfort, if she only dared take a single one out of the +bundle, draw it against the wall, and warm her fingers by it. She drew +one out. “Rischt!” how it blazed, how it burnt! It was a warm, bright +flame, like a candle, as she held her hands over it: it was a wonderful +light. It seemed really to the little maiden as though she were sitting +before a large iron stove, with burnished brass feet and a brass +ornament at top. The fire burned with such blessed influence; it warmed +so delightfully. The little girl had already stretched out her feet to +warm them too; but--the small flame went out, the stove vanished: she +had only the remains of the burnt-out match in her hand. + +She rubbed another against the wall: it burned brightly, and where the +light fell on the wall, there the wall became transparent like a +veil, so that she could see into the room. On the table was spread a +snow-white tablecloth; upon it was a splendid porcelain service, and the +roast goose was steaming famously with its stuffing of apple and dried +plums. And what was still more capital to behold was, the goose hopped +down from the dish, reeled about on the floor with knife and fork in its +breast, till it came up to the poor little girl; when--the match went +out and nothing but the thick, cold, damp wall was left behind. +She lighted another match. Now there she was sitting under the most +magnificent Christmas tree: it was still larger, and more decorated than +the one which she had seen through the glass door in the rich merchant's +house. + +Thousands of lights were burning on the green branches, and +gaily-colored pictures, such as she had seen in the shop-windows, looked +down upon her. The little maiden stretched out her hands towards them +when--the match went out. The lights of the Christmas tree rose higher +and higher, she saw them now as stars in heaven; one fell down and +formed a long trail of fire. + +“Someone is just dead!” said the little girl; for her old grandmother, +the only person who had loved her, and who was now no more, had told +her, that when a star falls, a soul ascends to God. + +She drew another match against the wall: it was again light, and in the +lustre there stood the old grandmother, so bright and radiant, so mild, +and with such an expression of love. + +“Grandmother!” cried the little one. “Oh, take me with you! You go +away when the match burns out; you vanish like the warm stove, like the +delicious roast goose, and like the magnificent Christmas tree!” And +she rubbed the whole bundle of matches quickly against the wall, for +she wanted to be quite sure of keeping her grandmother near her. And +the matches gave such a brilliant light that it was brighter than at +noon-day: never formerly had the grandmother been so beautiful and +so tall. She took the little maiden, on her arm, and both flew in +brightness and in joy so high, so very high, and then above was neither +cold, nor hunger, nor anxiety--they were with God. + +But in the corner, at the cold hour of dawn, sat the poor girl, with +rosy cheeks and with a smiling mouth, leaning against the wall--frozen +to death on the last evening of the old year. Stiff and stark sat the +child there with her matches, of which one bundle had been burnt. “She +wanted to warm herself,” people said. No one had the slightest suspicion +of what beautiful things she had seen; no one even dreamed of the +splendor in which, with her grandmother she had entered on the joys of a +new year. + + + + +THE DREAM OF LITTLE TUK + +Ah! yes, that was little Tuk: in reality his name was not Tuk, but that +was what he called himself before he could speak plain: he meant it for +Charles, and it is all well enough if one does but know it. He had now +to take care of his little sister Augusta, who was much younger than +himself, and he was, besides, to learn his lesson at the same time; but +these two things would not do together at all. There sat the poor little +fellow, with his sister on his lap, and he sang to her all the songs he +knew; and he glanced the while from time to time into the geography-book +that lay open before him. By the next morning he was to have learnt +all the towns in Zealand by heart, and to know about them all that is +possible to be known. + +His mother now came home, for she had been out, and took little Augusta +on her arm. Tuk ran quickly to the window, and read so eagerly that he +pretty nearly read his eyes out; for it got darker and darker, but his +mother had no money to buy a candle. + +“There goes the old washerwoman over the way,” said his mother, as she +looked out of the window. “The poor woman can hardly drag herself along, +and she must now drag the pail home from the fountain. Be a good boy, +Tukey, and run across and help the old woman, won't you?” + +So Tuk ran over quickly and helped her; but when he came back again into +the room it was quite dark, and as to a light, there was no thought of +such a thing. He was now to go to bed; that was an old turn-up bedstead; +in it he lay and thought about his geography lesson, and of Zealand, and +of all that his master had told him. He ought, to be sure, to have read +over his lesson again, but that, you know, he could not do. He therefore +put his geography-book under his pillow, because he had heard that was +a very good thing to do when one wants to learn one's lesson; but one +cannot, however, rely upon it entirely. Well, there he lay, and thought +and thought, and all at once it was just as if someone kissed his eyes +and mouth: he slept, and yet he did not sleep; it was as though the old +washerwoman gazed on him with her mild eyes and said, “It were a great +sin if you were not to know your lesson tomorrow morning. You have aided +me, I therefore will now help you; and the loving God will do so at all +times.” And all of a sudden the book under Tuk's pillow began scraping +and scratching. + +“Kickery-ki! kluk! kluk! kluk!”--that was an old hen who came creeping +along, and she was from Kjoge. “I am a Kjoger hen,” [*] said she, and then +she related how many inhabitants there were there, and about the battle +that had taken place, and which, after all, was hardly worth talking +about. + + * Kjoge, a town in the bay of Kjoge. “To see the Kjoge + hens,” is an expression similar to “showing a child London,” + which is said to be done by taking his head in both bands, + and so lifting him off the ground. At the invasion of the + English in 1807, an encounter of a no very glorious nature + took place between the British troops and the undisciplined + Danish militia. + +“Kribledy, krabledy--plump!” down fell somebody: it was a wooden bird, +the popinjay used at the shooting-matches at Prastoe. Now he said that +there were just as many inhabitants as he had nails in his body; and he +was very proud. “Thorwaldsen lived almost next door to me.* Plump! Here +I lie capitally.” + +* Prastoe, a still smaller town than Kjoge. Some hundred paces from +it lies the manor-house Ny Soe, where Thorwaldsen, the famed sculptor, +generally sojourned during his stay in Denmark, and where he called many +of his immortal works into existence. + + +But little Tuk was no longer lying down: all at once he was on +horseback. On he went at full gallop, still galloping on and on. A +knight with a gleaming plume, and most magnificently dressed, held him +before him on the horse, and thus they rode through the wood to the old +town of Bordingborg, and that was a large and very lively town. High +towers rose from the castle of the king, and the brightness of many +candles streamed from all the windows; within was dance and song, +and King Waldemar and the young, richly-attired maids of honor danced +together. The morn now came; and as soon as the sun appeared, the whole +town and the king's palace crumbled together, and one tower after the +other; and at last only a single one remained standing where the castle +had been before,* and the town was so small and poor, and the school +boys came along with their books under their arms, and said, “2000 +inhabitants!” but that was not true, for there were not so many. + +*Bordingborg, in the reign of King Waldemar, a considerable place, now +an unimportant little town. One solitary tower only, and some remains of +a wall, show where the castle once stood. + + +And little Tukey lay in his bed: it seemed to him as if he dreamed, and +yet as if he were not dreaming; however, somebody was close beside him. + +“Little Tukey! Little Tukey!” cried someone near. It was a seaman, +quite a little personage, so little as if he were a midshipman; but a +midshipman it was not. + +“Many remembrances from Corsor.* That is a town that is just rising +into importance; a lively town that has steam-boats and stagecoaches: +formerly people called it ugly, but that is no longer true. I lie on +the sea,” said Corsor; “I have high roads and gardens, and I have given +birth to a poet who was witty and amusing, which all poets are not. I +once intended to equip a ship that was to sail all round the earth; but +I did not do it, although I could have done so: and then, too, I smell +so deliciously, for close before the gate bloom the most beautiful +roses.” + +*Corsor, on the Great Belt, called, formerly, before the introduction +of steam-vessels, when travellers were often obliged to wait a long time +for a favorable wind, “the most tiresome of towns.” The poet Baggesen +was born here. + + +Little Tuk looked, and all was red and green before his eyes; but as +soon as the confusion of colors was somewhat over, all of a sudden there +appeared a wooded slope close to the bay, and high up above stood a +magnificent old church, with two high pointed towers. From out the +hill-side spouted fountains in thick streams of water, so that there +was a continual splashing; and close beside them sat an old king with +a golden crown upon his white head: that was King Hroar, near the +fountains, close to the town of Roeskilde, as it is now called. And up +the slope into the old church went all the kings and queens of Denmark, +hand in hand, all with their golden crowns; and the organ played and +the fountains rustled. Little Tuk saw all, heard all. “Do not forget the +diet,” said King Hroar.* + +*Roeskilde, once the capital of Denmark. The town takes its name from +King Hroar, and the many fountains in the neighborhood. In the beautiful +cathedral the greater number of the kings and queens of Denmark are +interred. In Roeskilde, too, the members of the Danish Diet assemble. + + +Again all suddenly disappeared. Yes, and whither? It seemed to him +just as if one turned over a leaf in a book. And now stood there an +old peasant-woman, who came from Soroe,* where grass grows in the +market-place. She had an old grey linen apron hanging over her head and +back: it was so wet, it certainly must have been raining. “Yes, that it +has,” said she; and she now related many pretty things out of Holberg's +comedies, and about Waldemar and Absalon; but all at once she cowered +together, and her head began shaking backwards and forwards, and she +looked as she were going to make a spring. “Croak! croak!” said she. +“It is wet, it is wet; there is such a pleasant deathlike stillness in +Sorbe!” She was now suddenly a frog, “Croak”; and now she was an old +woman. “One must dress according to the weather,” said she. “It is wet; +it is wet. My town is just like a bottle; and one gets in by the neck, +and by the neck one must get out again! In former times I had the +finest fish, and now I have fresh rosy-cheeked boys at the bottom of the +bottle, who learn wisdom, Hebrew, Greek--Croak!” + +* Sorbe, a very quiet little town, beautifully situated, surrounded by +woods and lakes. Holberg, Denmark's Moliere, founded here an academy +for the sons of the nobles. The poets Hauch and Ingemann were appointed +professors here. The latter lives there still. + + +When she spoke it sounded just like the noise of frogs, or as if one +walked with great boots over a moor; always the same tone, so uniform +and so tiring that little Tuk fell into a good sound sleep, which, by +the bye, could not do him any harm. + +But even in this sleep there came a dream, or whatever else it was: his +little sister Augusta, she with the blue eyes and the fair curling hair, +was suddenly a tall, beautiful girl, and without having wings was yet +able to fly; and she now flew over Zealand--over the green woods and the +blue lakes. + +“Do you hear the cock crow, Tukey? Cock-a-doodle-doo! The cocks are +flying up from Kjoge! You will have a farm-yard, so large, oh! so very +large! You will suffer neither hunger nor thirst! You will get on in the +world! You will be a rich and happy man! Your house will exalt itself +like King Waldemar's tower, and will be richly decorated with marble +statues, like that at Prastoe. You understand what I mean. Your name +shall circulate with renown all round the earth, like unto the ship that +was to have sailed from Corsor; and in Roeskilde--” + +“Do not forget the diet!” said King Hroar. + +“Then you will speak well and wisely, little Tukey; and when at last you +sink into your grave, you shall sleep as quietly--” + +“As if I lay in Soroe,” said Tuk, awaking. It was bright day, and he was +now quite unable to call to mind his dream; that, however, was not at +all necessary, for one may not know what the future will bring. + +And out of bed he jumped, and read in his book, and now all at once he +knew his whole lesson. And the old washerwoman popped her head in at the +door, nodded to him friendly, and said, “Thanks, many thanks, my good +child, for your help! May the good ever-loving God fulfil your loveliest +dream!” + +Little Tukey did not at all know what he had dreamed, but the loving God +knew it. + + + + +THE NAUGHTY BOY + +Along time ago, there lived an old poet, a thoroughly kind old poet. As +he was sitting one evening in his room, a dreadful storm arose without, +and the rain streamed down from heaven; but the old poet sat warm +and comfortable in his chimney-corner, where the fire blazed and the +roasting apple hissed. + +“Those who have not a roof over their heads will be wetted to the skin,” + said the good old poet. + +“Oh let me in! Let me in! I am cold, and I'm so wet!” exclaimed suddenly +a child that stood crying at the door and knocking for admittance, while +the rain poured down, and the wind made all the windows rattle. + +“Poor thing!” said the old poet, as he went to open the door. There +stood a little boy, quite naked, and the water ran down from his long +golden hair; he trembled with cold, and had he not come into a warm room +he would most certainly have perished in the frightful tempest. + +“Poor child!” said the old poet, as he took the boy by the hand. “Come +in, come in, and I will soon restore thee! Thou shalt have wine and +roasted apples, for thou art verily a charming child!” And the boy was +so really. His eyes were like two bright stars; and although the water +trickled down his hair, it waved in beautiful curls. He looked exactly +like a little angel, but he was so pale, and his whole body trembled +with cold. He had a nice little bow in his hand, but it was quite +spoiled by the rain, and the tints of his many-colored arrows ran one +into the other. + +The old poet seated himself beside his hearth, and took the little +fellow on his lap; he squeezed the water out of his dripping hair, +warmed his hands between his own, and boiled for him some sweet wine. +Then the boy recovered, his cheeks again grew rosy, he jumped down from +the lap where he was sitting, and danced round the kind old poet. + +“You are a merry fellow,” said the old man. “What's your name?” + +“My name is Cupid,” answered the boy. “Don't you know me? There lies my +bow; it shoots well, I can assure you! Look, the weather is now clearing +up, and the moon is shining clear again through the window.” + +“Why, your bow is quite spoiled,” said the old poet. + +“That were sad indeed,” said the boy, and he took the bow in his hand +and examined it on every side. “Oh, it is dry again, and is not hurt at +all; the string is quite tight. I will try it directly.” And he bent his +bow, took aim, and shot an arrow at the old poet, right into his heart. +“You see now that my bow was not spoiled,” said he laughing; and away he +ran. + +The naughty boy, to shoot the old poet in that way; he who had taken him +into his warm room, who had treated him so kindly, and who had given him +warm wine and the very best apples! + +The poor poet lay on the earth and wept, for the arrow had really flown +into his heart. + +“Fie!” said he. “How naughty a boy Cupid is! I will tell all children +about him, that they may take care and not play with him, for he will +only cause them sorrow and many a heartache.” + +And all good children to whom he related this story, took great heed +of this naughty Cupid; but he made fools of them still, for he is +astonishingly cunning. When the university students come from the +lectures, he runs beside them in a black coat, and with a book under his +arm. It is quite impossible for them to know him, and they walk along +with him arm in arm, as if he, too, were a student like themselves; and +then, unperceived, he thrusts an arrow to their bosom. When the young +maidens come from being examined by the clergyman, or go to church to +be confirmed, there he is again close behind them. Yes, he is forever +following people. At the play, he sits in the great chandelier and burns +in bright flames, so that people think it is really a flame, but they +soon discover it is something else. He roves about in the garden of the +palace and upon the ramparts: yes, once he even shot your father and +mother right in the heart. Ask them only and you will hear what they'll +tell you. Oh, he is a naughty boy, that Cupid; you must never have +anything to do with him. He is forever running after everybody. Only +think, he shot an arrow once at your old grandmother! But that is a +long time ago, and it is all past now; however, a thing of that sort she +never forgets. Fie, naughty Cupid! But now you know him, and you know, +too, how ill-behaved he is! + + + + +THE RED SHOES + +There was once a little girl who was very pretty and delicate, but in +summer she was forced to run about with bare feet, she was so poor, and +in winter wear very large wooden shoes, which made her little insteps +quite red, and that looked so dangerous! + +In the middle of the village lived old Dame Shoemaker; she sat and sewed +together, as well as she could, a little pair of shoes out of old red +strips of cloth; they were very clumsy, but it was a kind thought. They +were meant for the little girl. The little girl was called Karen. + +On the very day her mother was buried, Karen received the red shoes, +and wore them for the first time. They were certainly not intended for +mourning, but she had no others, and with stockingless feet she followed +the poor straw coffin in them. + +Suddenly a large old carriage drove up, and a large old lady sat in it: +she looked at the little girl, felt compassion for her, and then said to +the clergyman: + +“Here, give me the little girl. I will adopt her!” + +And Karen believed all this happened on account of the red shoes, but +the old lady thought they were horrible, and they were burnt. But Karen +herself was cleanly and nicely dressed; she must learn to read and sew; +and people said she was a nice little thing, but the looking-glass said: +“Thou art more than nice, thou art beautiful!” + +Now the queen once travelled through the land, and she had her little +daughter with her. And this little daughter was a princess, and people +streamed to the castle, and Karen was there also, and the little +princess stood in her fine white dress, in a window, and let herself be +stared at; she had neither a train nor a golden crown, but splendid +red morocco shoes. They were certainly far handsomer than those Dame +Shoemaker had made for little Karen. Nothing in the world can be +compared with red shoes. + +Now Karen was old enough to be confirmed; she had new clothes and was to +have new shoes also. The rich shoemaker in the city took the measure of +her little foot. This took place at his house, in his room; where stood +large glass-cases, filled with elegant shoes and brilliant boots. All +this looked charming, but the old lady could not see well, and so had +no pleasure in them. In the midst of the shoes stood a pair of red ones, +just like those the princess had worn. How beautiful they were! The +shoemaker said also they had been made for the child of a count, but had +not fitted. + +“That must be patent leather!” said the old lady. “They shine so!” + +“Yes, they shine!” said Karen, and they fitted, and were bought, but the +old lady knew nothing about their being red, else she would never have +allowed Karen to have gone in red shoes to be confirmed. Yet such was +the case. + +Everybody looked at her feet; and when she stepped through the chancel +door on the church pavement, it seemed to her as if the old figures on +the tombs, those portraits of old preachers and preachers' wives, with +stiff ruffs, and long black dresses, fixed their eyes on her red shoes. +And she thought only of them as the clergyman laid his hand upon her +head, and spoke of the holy baptism, of the covenant with God, and how +she should be now a matured Christian; and the organ pealed so solemnly; +the sweet children's voices sang, and the old music-directors sang, but +Karen only thought of her red shoes. + +In the afternoon, the old lady heard from everyone that the shoes had +been red, and she said that it was very wrong of Karen, that it was not +at all becoming, and that in future Karen should only go in black shoes +to church, even when she should be older. + +The next Sunday there was the sacrament, and Karen looked at the black +shoes, looked at the red ones--looked at them again, and put on the red +shoes. + +The sun shone gloriously; Karen and the old lady walked along the path +through the corn; it was rather dusty there. + +At the church door stood an old soldier with a crutch, and with a +wonderfully long beard, which was more red than white, and he bowed to +the ground, and asked the old lady whether he might dust her shoes. And +Karen stretched out her little foot. + +“See, what beautiful dancing shoes!” said the soldier. “Sit firm when +you dance”; and he put his hand out towards the soles. + +And the old lady gave the old soldier alms, and went into the church +with Karen. + +And all the people in the church looked at Karen's red shoes, and all +the pictures, and as Karen knelt before the altar, and raised the cup to +her lips, she only thought of the red shoes, and they seemed to swim +in it; and she forgot to sing her psalm, and she forgot to pray, “Our +Father in Heaven!” + +Now all the people went out of church, and the old lady got into her +carriage. Karen raised her foot to get in after her, when the old +soldier said, + +“Look, what beautiful dancing shoes!” + +And Karen could not help dancing a step or two, and when she began her +feet continued to dance; it was just as though the shoes had power over +them. She danced round the church corner, she could not leave off; the +coachman was obliged to run after and catch hold of her, and he lifted +her in the carriage, but her feet continued to dance so that she trod on +the old lady dreadfully. At length she took the shoes off, and then her +legs had peace. + +The shoes were placed in a closet at home, but Karen could not avoid +looking at them. + +Now the old lady was sick, and it was said she could not recover. She +must be nursed and waited upon, and there was no one whose duty it was +so much as Karen's. But there was a great ball in the city, to which +Karen was invited. She looked at the old lady, who could not recover, +she looked at the red shoes, and she thought there could be no sin in +it; she put on the red shoes, she might do that also, she thought. But +then she went to the ball and began to dance. + +When she wanted to dance to the right, the shoes would dance to the +left, and when she wanted to dance up the room, the shoes danced back +again, down the steps, into the street, and out of the city gate. She +danced, and was forced to dance straight out into the gloomy wood. + +Then it was suddenly light up among the trees, and she fancied it must +be the moon, for there was a face; but it was the old soldier with +the red beard; he sat there, nodded his head, and said, “Look, what +beautiful dancing shoes!” + +Then she was terrified, and wanted to fling off the red shoes, but they +clung fast; and she pulled down her stockings, but the shoes seemed to +have grown to her feet. And she danced, and must dance, over fields and +meadows, in rain and sunshine, by night and day; but at night it was the +most fearful. + +She danced over the churchyard, but the dead did not dance--they had +something better to do than to dance. She wished to seat herself on a +poor man's grave, where the bitter tansy grew; but for her there was +neither peace nor rest; and when she danced towards the open church +door, she saw an angel standing there. He wore long, white garments; he +had wings which reached from his shoulders to the earth; his countenance +was severe and grave; and in his hand he held a sword, broad and +glittering. + +“Dance shalt thou!” said he. “Dance in thy red shoes till thou art pale +and cold! Till thy skin shrivels up and thou art a skeleton! Dance shalt +thou from door to door, and where proud, vain children dwell, thou shalt +knock, that they may hear thee and tremble! Dance shalt thou--!” + +“Mercy!” cried Karen. But she did not hear the angel's reply, for the +shoes carried her through the gate into the fields, across roads and +bridges, and she must keep ever dancing. + +One morning she danced past a door which she well knew. Within sounded +a psalm; a coffin, decked with flowers, was borne forth. Then she knew +that the old lady was dead, and felt that she was abandoned by all, and +condemned by the angel of God. + +She danced, and she was forced to dance through the gloomy night. The +shoes carried her over stack and stone; she was torn till she bled; she +danced over the heath till she came to a little house. Here, she knew, +dwelt the executioner; and she tapped with her fingers at the window, +and said, “Come out! Come out! I cannot come in, for I am forced to +dance!” + +And the executioner said, “Thou dost not know who I am, I fancy? I +strike bad people's heads off; and I hear that my axe rings!” + +“Don't strike my head off!” said Karen. “Then I can't repent of my sins! +But strike off my feet in the red shoes!” + +And then she confessed her entire sin, and the executioner struck off +her feet with the red shoes, but the shoes danced away with the little +feet across the field into the deep wood. + +And he carved out little wooden feet for her, and crutches, taught +her the psalm criminals always sing; and she kissed the hand which had +wielded the axe, and went over the heath. + +“Now I have suffered enough for the red shoes!” said she. “Now I will +go into the church that people may see me!” And she hastened towards the +church door: but when she was near it, the red shoes danced before her, +and she was terrified, and turned round. The whole week she was unhappy, +and wept many bitter tears; but when Sunday returned, she said, “Well, +now I have suffered and struggled enough! I really believe I am as good +as many a one who sits in the church, and holds her head so high!” + +And away she went boldly; but she had not got farther than the +churchyard gate before she saw the red shoes dancing before her; and she +was frightened, and turned back, and repented of her sin from her heart. + +And she went to the parsonage, and begged that they would take her +into service; she would be very industrious, she said, and would do +everything she could; she did not care about the wages, only she wished +to have a home, and be with good people. And the clergyman's wife was +sorry for her and took her into service; and she was industrious and +thoughtful. She sat still and listened when the clergyman read the Bible +in the evenings. All the children thought a great deal of her; but when +they spoke of dress, and grandeur, and beauty, she shook her head. + +The following Sunday, when the family was going to church, they asked +her whether she would not go with them; but she glanced sorrowfully, +with tears in her eyes, at her crutches. The family went to hear the +word of God; but she went alone into her little chamber; there was only +room for a bed and chair to stand in it; and here she sat down with her +Prayer-Book; and whilst she read with a pious mind, the wind bore +the strains of the organ towards her, and she raised her tearful +countenance, and said, “O God, help me!” + +And the sun shone so clearly, and straight before her stood the angel +of God in white garments, the same she had seen that night at the church +door; but he no longer carried the sharp sword, but in its stead a +splendid green spray, full of roses. And he touched the ceiling with the +spray, and the ceiling rose so high, and where he had touched it there +gleamed a golden star. And he touched the walls, and they widened out, +and she saw the organ which was playing; she saw the old pictures of the +preachers and the preachers' wives. The congregation sat in cushioned +seats, and sang out of their Prayer-Books. For the church itself had +come to the poor girl in her narrow chamber, or else she had come into +the church. She sat in the pew with the clergyman's family, and when +they had ended the psalm and looked up, they nodded and said, “It is +right that thou art come!” + +“It was through mercy!” she said. + +And the organ pealed, and the children's voices in the choir sounded so +sweet and soft! The clear sunshine streamed so warmly through the window +into the pew where Karen sat! Her heart was so full of sunshine, peace, +and joy, that it broke. Her soul flew on the sunshine to God, and there +no one asked after the RED SHOES. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Andersen's Fairy Tales, by Hans Christian Andersen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 1597-0.txt or 1597-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/9/1597/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Andersen's Fairy Tales + +Author: Hans Christian Andersen + +Release Date: October 10, 2008 [EBook #1597] +Last Updated: March 14, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Hans Christian Andersen + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> THE SWINEHERD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> THE REAL PRINCESS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> THE SHOES OF FORTUNE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> THE FIR TREE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> THE SNOW QUEEN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> THE LEAP-FROG </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> THE ELDERBUSH </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> THE BELL </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> THE OLD HOUSE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> THE HAPPY FAMILY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> THE STORY OF A MOTHER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> THE FALSE COLLAR </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> THE SHADOW </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> THE DREAM OF LITTLE TUK </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> THE NAUGHTY BOY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> THE RED SHOES </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES + </h2> + <p> + Many years ago, there was an Emperor, who was so excessively fond of new + clothes, that he spent all his money in dress. He did not trouble himself + in the least about his soldiers; nor did he care to go either to the + theatre or the chase, except for the opportunities then afforded him for + displaying his new clothes. He had a different suit for each hour of the + day; and as of any other king or emperor, one is accustomed to say, “he is + sitting in council,” it was always said of him, “The Emperor is sitting in + his wardrobe.” + </p> + <p> + Time passed merrily in the large town which was his capital; strangers + arrived every day at the court. One day, two rogues, calling themselves + weavers, made their appearance. They gave out that they knew how to weave + stuffs of the most beautiful colors and elaborate patterns, the clothes + manufactured from which should have the wonderful property of remaining + invisible to everyone who was unfit for the office he held, or who was + extraordinarily simple in character. + </p> + <p> + “These must, indeed, be splendid clothes!” thought the Emperor. “Had I + such a suit, I might at once find out what men in my realms are unfit for + their office, and also be able to distinguish the wise from the foolish! + This stuff must be woven for me immediately.” And he caused large sums of + money to be given to both the weavers in order that they might begin their + work directly. + </p> + <p> + So the two pretended weavers set up two looms, and affected to work very + busily, though in reality they did nothing at all. They asked for the most + delicate silk and the purest gold thread; put both into their own + knapsacks; and then continued their pretended work at the empty looms + until late at night. + </p> + <p> + “I should like to know how the weavers are getting on with my cloth,” said + the Emperor to himself, after some little time had elapsed; he was, + however, rather embarrassed, when he remembered that a simpleton, or one + unfit for his office, would be unable to see the manufacture. To be sure, + he thought he had nothing to risk in his own person; but yet, he would + prefer sending somebody else, to bring him intelligence about the weavers, + and their work, before he troubled himself in the affair. All the people + throughout the city had heard of the wonderful property the cloth was to + possess; and all were anxious to learn how wise, or how ignorant, their + neighbors might prove to be. + </p> + <p> + “I will send my faithful old minister to the weavers,” said the Emperor at + last, after some deliberation, “he will be best able to see how the cloth + looks; for he is a man of sense, and no one can be more suitable for his + office than he is.” + </p> + <p> + So the faithful old minister went into the hall, where the knaves were + working with all their might, at their empty looms. “What can be the + meaning of this?” thought the old man, opening his eyes very wide. “I + cannot discover the least bit of thread on the looms.” However, he did not + express his thoughts aloud. + </p> + <p> + The impostors requested him very courteously to be so good as to come + nearer their looms; and then asked him whether the design pleased him, and + whether the colors were not very beautiful; at the same time pointing to + the empty frames. The poor old minister looked and looked, he could not + discover anything on the looms, for a very good reason, viz: there was + nothing there. “What!” thought he again. “Is it possible that I am a + simpleton? I have never thought so myself; and no one must know it now if + I am so. Can it be, that I am unfit for my office? No, that must not be + said either. I will never confess that I could not see the stuff.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Sir Minister!” said one of the knaves, still pretending to work. + “You do not say whether the stuff pleases you.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, it is excellent!” replied the old minister, looking at the loom + through his spectacles. “This pattern, and the colors, yes, I will tell + the Emperor without delay, how very beautiful I think them.” + </p> + <p> + “We shall be much obliged to you,” said the impostors, and then they named + the different colors and described the pattern of the pretended stuff. The + old minister listened attentively to their words, in order that he might + repeat them to the Emperor; and then the knaves asked for more silk and + gold, saying that it was necessary to complete what they had begun. + However, they put all that was given them into their knapsacks; and + continued to work with as much apparent diligence as before at their empty + looms. + </p> + <p> + The Emperor now sent another officer of his court to see how the men were + getting on, and to ascertain whether the cloth would soon be ready. It was + just the same with this gentleman as with the minister; he surveyed the + looms on all sides, but could see nothing at all but the empty frames. + </p> + <p> + “Does not the stuff appear as beautiful to you, as it did to my lord the + minister?” asked the impostors of the Emperor's second ambassador; at the + same time making the same gestures as before, and talking of the design + and colors which were not there. + </p> + <p> + “I certainly am not stupid!” thought the messenger. “It must be, that I am + not fit for my good, profitable office! That is very odd; however, no one + shall know anything about it.” And accordingly he praised the stuff he + could not see, and declared that he was delighted with both colors and + patterns. “Indeed, please your Imperial Majesty,” said he to his sovereign + when he returned, “the cloth which the weavers are preparing is + extraordinarily magnificent.” + </p> + <p> + The whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which the Emperor had + ordered to be woven at his own expense. + </p> + <p> + And now the Emperor himself wished to see the costly manufacture, while it + was still in the loom. Accompanied by a select number of officers of the + court, among whom were the two honest men who had already admired the + cloth, he went to the crafty impostors, who, as soon as they were aware of + the Emperor's approach, went on working more diligently than ever; + although they still did not pass a single thread through the looms. + </p> + <p> + “Is not the work absolutely magnificent?” said the two officers of the + crown, already mentioned. “If your Majesty will only be pleased to look at + it! What a splendid design! What glorious colors!” and at the same time + they pointed to the empty frames; for they imagined that everyone else + could see this exquisite piece of workmanship. + </p> + <p> + “How is this?” said the Emperor to himself. “I can see nothing! This is + indeed a terrible affair! Am I a simpleton, or am I unfit to be an + Emperor? That would be the worst thing that could happen—Oh! the + cloth is charming,” said he, aloud. “It has my complete approbation.” And + he smiled most graciously, and looked closely at the empty looms; for on + no account would he say that he could not see what two of the officers of + his court had praised so much. All his retinue now strained their eyes, + hoping to discover something on the looms, but they could see no more than + the others; nevertheless, they all exclaimed, “Oh, how beautiful!” and + advised his majesty to have some new clothes made from this splendid + material, for the approaching procession. “Magnificent! Charming! + Excellent!” resounded on all sides; and everyone was uncommonly gay. The + Emperor shared in the general satisfaction; and presented the impostors + with the riband of an order of knighthood, to be worn in their + button-holes, and the title of “Gentlemen Weavers.” + </p> + <p> + The rogues sat up the whole of the night before the day on which the + procession was to take place, and had sixteen lights burning, so that + everyone might see how anxious they were to finish the Emperor's new suit. + They pretended to roll the cloth off the looms; cut the air with their + scissors; and sewed with needles without any thread in them. “See!” cried + they, at last. “The Emperor's new clothes are ready!” + </p> + <p> + And now the Emperor, with all the grandees of his court, came to the + weavers; and the rogues raised their arms, as if in the act of holding + something up, saying, “Here are your Majesty's trousers! Here is the + scarf! Here is the mantle! The whole suit is as light as a cobweb; one + might fancy one has nothing at all on, when dressed in it; that, however, + is the great virtue of this delicate cloth.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes indeed!” said all the courtiers, although not one of them could see + anything of this exquisite manufacture. + </p> + <p> + “If your Imperial Majesty will be graciously pleased to take off your + clothes, we will fit on the new suit, in front of the looking glass.” + </p> + <p> + The Emperor was accordingly undressed, and the rogues pretended to array + him in his new suit; the Emperor turning round, from side to side, before + the looking glass. + </p> + <p> + “How splendid his Majesty looks in his new clothes, and how well they + fit!” everyone cried out. “What a design! What colors! These are indeed + royal robes!” + </p> + <p> + “The canopy which is to be borne over your Majesty, in the procession, is + waiting,” announced the chief master of the ceremonies. + </p> + <p> + “I am quite ready,” answered the Emperor. “Do my new clothes fit well?” + asked he, turning himself round again before the looking glass, in order + that he might appear to be examining his handsome suit. + </p> + <p> + The lords of the bedchamber, who were to carry his Majesty's train felt + about on the ground, as if they were lifting up the ends of the mantle; + and pretended to be carrying something; for they would by no means betray + anything like simplicity, or unfitness for their office. + </p> + <p> + So now the Emperor walked under his high canopy in the midst of the + procession, through the streets of his capital; and all the people + standing by, and those at the windows, cried out, “Oh! How beautiful are + our Emperor's new clothes! What a magnificent train there is to the + mantle; and how gracefully the scarf hangs!” in short, no one would allow + that he could not see these much-admired clothes; because, in doing so, he + would have declared himself either a simpleton or unfit for his office. + Certainly, none of the Emperor's various suits, had ever made so great an + impression, as these invisible ones. + </p> + <p> + “But the Emperor has nothing at all on!” said a little child. + </p> + <p> + “Listen to the voice of innocence!” exclaimed his father; and what the + child had said was whispered from one to another. + </p> + <p> + “But he has nothing at all on!” at last cried out all the people. The + Emperor was vexed, for he knew that the people were right; but he thought + the procession must go on now! And the lords of the bedchamber took + greater pains than ever, to appear holding up a train, although, in + reality, there was no train to hold. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE SWINEHERD + </h2> + <p> + There was once a poor Prince, who had a kingdom. His kingdom was very + small, but still quite large enough to marry upon; and he wished to marry. + </p> + <p> + It was certainly rather cool of him to say to the Emperor's daughter, + “Will you have me?” But so he did; for his name was renowned far and wide; + and there were a hundred princesses who would have answered, “Yes!” and + “Thank you kindly.” We shall see what this princess said. + </p> + <p> + Listen! + </p> + <p> + It happened that where the Prince's father lay buried, there grew a rose + tree—a most beautiful rose tree, which blossomed only once in every + five years, and even then bore only one flower, but that was a rose! It + smelt so sweet that all cares and sorrows were forgotten by him who + inhaled its fragrance. + </p> + <p> + And furthermore, the Prince had a nightingale, who could sing in such a + manner that it seemed as though all sweet melodies dwelt in her little + throat. So the Princess was to have the rose, and the nightingale; and + they were accordingly put into large silver caskets, and sent to her. + </p> + <p> + The Emperor had them brought into a large hall, where the Princess was + playing at “Visiting,” with the ladies of the court; and when she saw the + caskets with the presents, she clapped her hands for joy. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, if it were but a little pussy-cat!” said she; but the rose tree, with + its beautiful rose came to view. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, how prettily it is made!” said all the court ladies. + </p> + <p> + “It is more than pretty,” said the Emperor, “it is charming!” + </p> + <p> + But the Princess touched it, and was almost ready to cry. + </p> + <p> + “Fie, papa!” said she. “It is not made at all, it is natural!” + </p> + <p> + “Let us see what is in the other casket, before we get into a bad humor,” + said the Emperor. So the nightingale came forth and sang so delightfully + that at first no one could say anything ill-humored of her. + </p> + <p> + “Superbe! Charmant!” exclaimed the ladies; for they all used to chatter + French, each one worse than her neighbor. + </p> + <p> + “How much the bird reminds me of the musical box that belonged to our + blessed Empress,” said an old knight. “Oh yes! These are the same tones, + the same execution.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes! yes!” said the Emperor, and he wept like a child at the remembrance. + </p> + <p> + “I will still hope that it is not a real bird,” said the Princess. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, it is a real bird,” said those who had brought it. “Well then let + the bird fly,” said the Princess; and she positively refused to see the + Prince. + </p> + <p> + However, he was not to be discouraged; he daubed his face over brown and + black; pulled his cap over his ears, and knocked at the door. + </p> + <p> + “Good day to my lord, the Emperor!” said he. “Can I have employment at the + palace?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, yes,” said the Emperor. “I want some one to take care of the pigs, + for we have a great many of them.” + </p> + <p> + So the Prince was appointed “Imperial Swineherd.” He had a dirty little + room close by the pigsty; and there he sat the whole day, and worked. By + the evening he had made a pretty little kitchen-pot. Little bells were + hung all round it; and when the pot was boiling, these bells tinkled in + the most charming manner, and played the old melody, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Ach! du lieber Augustin, + Alles ist weg, weg, weg!”* + + * “Ah! dear Augustine! + All is gone, gone, gone!” + </pre> + <p> + But what was still more curious, whoever held his finger in the smoke of + the kitchen-pot, immediately smelt all the dishes that were cooking on + every hearth in the city—this, you see, was something quite + different from the rose. + </p> + <p> + Now the Princess happened to walk that way; and when she heard the tune, + she stood quite still, and seemed pleased; for she could play “Lieber + Augustine”; it was the only piece she knew; and she played it with one + finger. + </p> + <p> + “Why there is my piece,” said the Princess. “That swineherd must certainly + have been well educated! Go in and ask him the price of the instrument.” + </p> + <p> + So one of the court-ladies must run in; however, she drew on wooden + slippers first. + </p> + <p> + “What will you take for the kitchen-pot?” said the lady. + </p> + <p> + “I will have ten kisses from the Princess,” said the swineherd. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, indeed!” said the lady. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot sell it for less,” rejoined the swineherd. + </p> + <p> + “He is an impudent fellow!” said the Princess, and she walked on; but when + she had gone a little way, the bells tinkled so prettily + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Ach! du lieber Augustin, + Alles ist weg, weg, weg!” + </pre> + <p> + “Stay,” said the Princess. “Ask him if he will have ten kisses from the + ladies of my court.” + </p> + <p> + “No, thank you!” said the swineherd. “Ten kisses from the Princess, or I + keep the kitchen-pot myself.” + </p> + <p> + “That must not be, either!” said the Princess. “But do you all stand + before me that no one may see us.” + </p> + <p> + And the court-ladies placed themselves in front of her, and spread out + their dresses—the swineherd got ten kisses, and the Princess—the + kitchen-pot. + </p> + <p> + That was delightful! The pot was boiling the whole evening, and the whole + of the following day. They knew perfectly well what was cooking at every + fire throughout the city, from the chamberlain's to the cobbler's; the + court-ladies danced and clapped their hands. + </p> + <p> + “We know who has soup, and who has pancakes for dinner to-day, who has + cutlets, and who has eggs. How interesting!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but keep my secret, for I am an Emperor's daughter.” + </p> + <p> + The swineherd—that is to say—the Prince, for no one knew that + he was other than an ill-favored swineherd, let not a day pass without + working at something; he at last constructed a rattle, which, when it was + swung round, played all the waltzes and jig tunes, which have ever been + heard since the creation of the world. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, that is superbe!” said the Princess when she passed by. “I have never + heard prettier compositions! Go in and ask him the price of the + instrument; but mind, he shall have no more kisses!” + </p> + <p> + “He will have a hundred kisses from the Princess!” said the lady who had + been to ask. + </p> + <p> + “I think he is not in his right senses!” said the Princess, and walked on, + but when she had gone a little way, she stopped again. “One must encourage + art,” said she, “I am the Emperor's daughter. Tell him he shall, as on + yesterday, have ten kisses from me, and may take the rest from the ladies + of the court.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh—but we should not like that at all!” said they. “What are you + muttering?” asked the Princess. “If I can kiss him, surely you can. + Remember that you owe everything to me.” So the ladies were obliged to go + to him again. + </p> + <p> + “A hundred kisses from the Princess,” said he, “or else let everyone keep + his own!” + </p> + <p> + “Stand round!” said she; and all the ladies stood round her whilst the + kissing was going on. + </p> + <p> + “What can be the reason for such a crowd close by the pigsty?” said the + Emperor, who happened just then to step out on the balcony; he rubbed his + eyes, and put on his spectacles. “They are the ladies of the court; I must + go down and see what they are about!” So he pulled up his slippers at the + heel, for he had trodden them down. + </p> + <p> + As soon as he had got into the court-yard, he moved very softly, and the + ladies were so much engrossed with counting the kisses, that all might go + on fairly, that they did not perceive the Emperor. He rose on his tiptoes. + </p> + <p> + “What is all this?” said he, when he saw what was going on, and he boxed + the Princess's ears with his slipper, just as the swineherd was taking the + eighty-sixth kiss. + </p> + <p> + “March out!” said the Emperor, for he was very angry; and both Princess + and swineherd were thrust out of the city. + </p> + <p> + The Princess now stood and wept, the swineherd scolded, and the rain + poured down. + </p> + <p> + “Alas! Unhappy creature that I am!” said the Princess. “If I had but + married the handsome young Prince! Ah! how unfortunate I am!” + </p> + <p> + And the swineherd went behind a tree, washed the black and brown color + from his face, threw off his dirty clothes, and stepped forth in his + princely robes; he looked so noble that the Princess could not help bowing + before him. + </p> + <p> + “I am come to despise thee,” said he. “Thou would'st not have an honorable + Prince! Thou could'st not prize the rose and the nightingale, but thou + wast ready to kiss the swineherd for the sake of a trumpery plaything. + Thou art rightly served.” + </p> + <p> + He then went back to his own little kingdom, and shut the door of his + palace in her face. Now she might well sing, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Ach! du lieber Augustin, + Alles ist weg, weg, weg!” + </pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE REAL PRINCESS + </h2> + <p> + There was once a Prince who wished to marry a Princess; but then she must + be a real Princess. He travelled all over the world in hopes of finding + such a lady; but there was always something wrong. Princesses he found in + plenty; but whether they were real Princesses it was impossible for him to + decide, for now one thing, now another, seemed to him not quite right + about the ladies. At last he returned to his palace quite cast down, + because he wished so much to have a real Princess for his wife. + </p> + <p> + One evening a fearful tempest arose, it thundered and lightened, and the + rain poured down from the sky in torrents: besides, it was as dark as + pitch. All at once there was heard a violent knocking at the door, and the + old King, the Prince's father, went out himself to open it. + </p> + <p> + It was a Princess who was standing outside the door. What with the rain + and the wind, she was in a sad condition; the water trickled down from her + hair, and her clothes clung to her body. She said she was a real Princess. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! we shall soon see that!” thought the old Queen-mother; however, she + said not a word of what she was going to do; but went quietly into the + bedroom, took all the bed-clothes off the bed, and put three little peas + on the bedstead. She then laid twenty mattresses one upon another over the + three peas, and put twenty feather beds over the mattresses. + </p> + <p> + Upon this bed the Princess was to pass the night. + </p> + <p> + The next morning she was asked how she had slept. “Oh, very badly indeed!” + she replied. “I have scarcely closed my eyes the whole night through. I do + not know what was in my bed, but I had something hard under me, and am all + over black and blue. It has hurt me so much!” + </p> + <p> + Now it was plain that the lady must be a real Princess, since she had been + able to feel the three little peas through the twenty mattresses and + twenty feather beds. None but a real Princess could have had such a + delicate sense of feeling. + </p> + <p> + The Prince accordingly made her his wife; being now convinced that he had + found a real Princess. The three peas were however put into the cabinet of + curiosities, where they are still to be seen, provided they are not lost. + </p> + <p> + Wasn't this a lady of real delicacy? + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE SHOES OF FORTUNE + </h2> + <h3> + I. A Beginning + </h3> + <p> + Every author has some peculiarity in his descriptions or in his style of + writing. Those who do not like him, magnify it, shrug up their shoulders, + and exclaim—there he is again! I, for my part, know very well how I + can bring about this movement and this exclamation. It would happen + immediately if I were to begin here, as I intended to do, with: “Rome has + its Corso, Naples its Toledo”—“Ah! that Andersen; there he is + again!” they would cry; yet I must, to please my fancy, continue quite + quietly, and add: “But Copenhagen has its East Street.” + </p> + <p> + Here, then, we will stay for the present. In one of the houses not far + from the new market a party was invited—a very large party, in + order, as is often the case, to get a return invitation from the others. + One half of the company was already seated at the card-table, the other + half awaited the result of the stereotype preliminary observation of the + lady of the house: + </p> + <p> + “Now let us see what we can do to amuse ourselves.” + </p> + <p> + They had got just so far, and the conversation began to crystallise, as it + could but do with the scanty stream which the commonplace world supplied. + Amongst other things they spoke of the middle ages: some praised that + period as far more interesting, far more poetical than our own too sober + present; indeed Councillor Knap defended this opinion so warmly, that the + hostess declared immediately on his side, and both exerted themselves with + unwearied eloquence. The Councillor boldly declared the time of King Hans + to be the noblest and the most happy period.* + </p> + <p> + * A.D. 1482-1513 + </p> + <p> + While the conversation turned on this subject, and was only for a moment + interrupted by the arrival of a journal that contained nothing worth + reading, we will just step out into the antechamber, where cloaks, + mackintoshes, sticks, umbrellas, and shoes, were deposited. Here sat two + female figures, a young and an old one. One might have thought at first + they were servants come to accompany their mistresses home; but on looking + nearer, one soon saw they could scarcely be mere servants; their forms + were too noble for that, their skin too fine, the cut of their dress too + striking. Two fairies were they; the younger, it is true, was not Dame + Fortune herself, but one of the waiting-maids of her handmaidens who carry + about the lesser good things that she distributes; the other looked + extremely gloomy—it was Care. She always attends to her own serious + business herself, as then she is sure of having it done properly. + </p> + <p> + They were telling each other, with a confidential interchange of ideas, + where they had been during the day. The messenger of Fortune had only + executed a few unimportant commissions, such as saving a new bonnet from a + shower of rain, etc.; but what she had yet to perform was something quite + unusual. + </p> + <p> + “I must tell you,” said she, “that to-day is my birthday; and in honor of + it, a pair of walking-shoes or galoshes has been entrusted to me, which I + am to carry to mankind. These shoes possess the property of instantly + transporting him who has them on to the place or the period in which he + most wishes to be; every wish, as regards time or place, or state of + being, will be immediately fulfilled, and so at last man will be happy, + here below.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you seriously believe it?” replied Care, in a severe tone of reproach. + “No; he will be very unhappy, and will assuredly bless the moment when he + feels that he has freed himself from the fatal shoes.” + </p> + <p> + “Stupid nonsense!” said the other angrily. “I will put them here by the + door. Some one will make a mistake for certain and take the wrong ones—he + will be a happy man.” + </p> + <p> + Such was their conversation. + </p> + <p> + II. What Happened to the Councillor + </p> + <p> + It was late; Councillor Knap, deeply occupied with the times of King Hans, + intended to go home, and malicious Fate managed matters so that his feet, + instead of finding their way to his own galoshes, slipped into those of + Fortune. Thus caparisoned the good man walked out of the well-lighted + rooms into East Street. By the magic power of the shoes he was carried + back to the times of King Hans; on which account his foot very naturally + sank in the mud and puddles of the street, there having been in those days + no pavement in Copenhagen. + </p> + <p> + “Well! This is too bad! How dirty it is here!” sighed the Councillor. “As + to a pavement, I can find no traces of one, and all the lamps, it seems, + have gone to sleep.” + </p> + <p> + The moon was not yet very high; it was besides rather foggy, so that in + the darkness all objects seemed mingled in chaotic confusion. At the next + corner hung a votive lamp before a Madonna, but the light it gave was + little better than none at all; indeed, he did not observe it before he + was exactly under it, and his eyes fell upon the bright colors of the + pictures which represented the well-known group of the Virgin and the + infant Jesus. + </p> + <p> + “That is probably a wax-work show,” thought he; “and the people delay + taking down their sign in hopes of a late visitor or two.” + </p> + <p> + A few persons in the costume of the time of King Hans passed quickly by + him. + </p> + <p> + “How strange they look! The good folks come probably from a masquerade!” + </p> + <p> + Suddenly was heard the sound of drums and fifes; the bright blaze of a + fire shot up from time to time, and its ruddy gleams seemed to contend + with the bluish light of the torches. The Councillor stood still, and + watched a most strange procession pass by. First came a dozen drummers, + who understood pretty well how to handle their instruments; then came + halberdiers, and some armed with cross-bows. The principal person in the + procession was a priest. Astonished at what he saw, the Councillor asked + what was the meaning of all this mummery, and who that man was. + </p> + <p> + “That's the Bishop of Zealand,” was the answer. + </p> + <p> + “Good Heavens! What has taken possession of the Bishop?” sighed the + Councillor, shaking his head. It certainly could not be the Bishop; even + though he was considered the most absent man in the whole kingdom, and + people told the drollest anecdotes about him. Reflecting on the matter, + and without looking right or left, the Councillor went through East Street + and across the Habro-Platz. The bridge leading to Palace Square was not to + be found; scarcely trusting his senses, the nocturnal wanderer discovered + a shallow piece of water, and here fell in with two men who very + comfortably were rocking to and fro in a boat. + </p> + <p> + “Does your honor want to cross the ferry to the Holme?” asked they. + </p> + <p> + “Across to the Holme!” said the Councillor, who knew nothing of the age in + which he at that moment was. “No, I am going to Christianshafen, to Little + Market Street.” + </p> + <p> + Both men stared at him in astonishment. + </p> + <p> + “Only just tell me where the bridge is,” said he. “It is really + unpardonable that there are no lamps here; and it is as dirty as if one + had to wade through a morass.” + </p> + <p> + The longer he spoke with the boatmen, the more unintelligible did their + language become to him. + </p> + <p> + “I don't understand your Bornholmish dialect,” said he at last, angrily, + and turning his back upon them. He was unable to find the bridge: there + was no railway either. “It is really disgraceful what a state this place + is in,” muttered he to himself. Never had his age, with which, however, he + was always grumbling, seemed so miserable as on this evening. “I'll take a + hackney-coach!” thought he. But where were the hackney-coaches? Not one + was to be seen. + </p> + <p> + “I must go back to the New Market; there, it is to be hoped, I shall find + some coaches; for if I don't, I shall never get safe to Christianshafen.” + </p> + <p> + So off he went in the direction of East Street, and had nearly got to the + end of it when the moon shone forth. + </p> + <p> + “God bless me! What wooden scaffolding is that which they have set up + there?” cried he involuntarily, as he looked at East Gate, which, in those + days, was at the end of East Street. + </p> + <p> + He found, however, a little side-door open, and through this he went, and + stepped into our New Market of the present time. It was a huge desolate + plain; some wild bushes stood up here and there, while across the field + flowed a broad canal or river. Some wretched hovels for the Dutch sailors, + resembling great boxes, and after which the place was named, lay about in + confused disorder on the opposite bank. + </p> + <p> + “I either behold a fata morgana, or I am regularly tipsy,” whimpered out + the Councillor. “But what's this?” + </p> + <p> + He turned round anew, firmly convinced that he was seriously ill. He gazed + at the street formerly so well known to him, and now so strange in + appearance, and looked at the houses more attentively: most of them were + of wood, slightly put together; and many had a thatched roof. + </p> + <p> + “No—I am far from well,” sighed he; “and yet I drank only one glass + of punch; but I cannot suppose it—it was, too, really very wrong to + give us punch and hot salmon for supper. I shall speak about it at the + first opportunity. I have half a mind to go back again, and say what I + suffer. But no, that would be too silly; and Heaven only knows if they are + up still.” + </p> + <p> + He looked for the house, but it had vanished. + </p> + <p> + “It is really dreadful,” groaned he with increasing anxiety; “I cannot + recognise East Street again; there is not a single decent shop from one + end to the other! Nothing but wretched huts can I see anywhere; just as if + I were at Ringstead. Oh! I am ill! I can scarcely bear myself any longer. + Where the deuce can the house be? It must be here on this very spot; yet + there is not the slightest idea of resemblance, to such a degree has + everything changed this night! At all events here are some people up and + stirring. Oh! oh! I am certainly very ill.” + </p> + <p> + He now hit upon a half-open door, through a chink of which a faint light + shone. It was a sort of hostelry of those times; a kind of public-house. + The room had some resemblance to the clay-floored halls in Holstein; a + pretty numerous company, consisting of seamen, Copenhagen burghers, and a + few scholars, sat here in deep converse over their pewter cans, and gave + little heed to the person who entered. + </p> + <p> + “By your leave!” said the Councillor to the Hostess, who came bustling + towards him. “I've felt so queer all of a sudden; would you have the + goodness to send for a hackney-coach to take me to Christianshafen?” + </p> + <p> + The woman examined him with eyes of astonishment, and shook her head; she + then addressed him in German. The Councillor thought she did not + understand Danish, and therefore repeated his wish in German. This, in + connection with his costume, strengthened the good woman in the belief + that he was a foreigner. That he was ill, she comprehended directly; so + she brought him a pitcher of water, which tasted certainly pretty strong + of the sea, although it had been fetched from the well. + </p> + <p> + The Councillor supported his head on his hand, drew a long breath, and + thought over all the wondrous things he saw around him. + </p> + <p> + “Is this the Daily News of this evening?” he asked mechanically, as he saw + the Hostess push aside a large sheet of paper. + </p> + <p> + The meaning of this councillorship query remained, of course, a riddle to + her, yet she handed him the paper without replying. It was a coarse + wood-cut, representing a splendid meteor “as seen in the town of Cologne,” + which was to be read below in bright letters. + </p> + <p> + “That is very old!” said the Councillor, whom this piece of antiquity + began to make considerably more cheerful. “Pray how did you come into + possession of this rare print? It is extremely interesting, although the + whole is a mere fable. Such meteorous appearances are to be explained in + this way—that they are the reflections of the Aurora Borealis, and + it is highly probable they are caused principally by electricity.” + </p> + <p> + Those persons who were sitting nearest him and heard his speech, stared at + him in wonderment; and one of them rose, took off his hat respectfully, + and said with a serious countenance, “You are no doubt a very learned man, + Monsieur.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh no,” answered the Councillor, “I can only join in conversation on this + topic and on that, as indeed one must do according to the demands of the + world at present.” + </p> + <p> + “Modestia is a fine virtue,” continued the gentleman; “however, as to your + speech, I must say mihi secus videtur: yet I am willing to suspend my + judicium.” + </p> + <p> + “May I ask with whom I have the pleasure of speaking?” asked the + Councillor. + </p> + <p> + “I am a Bachelor in Theologia,” answered the gentleman with a stiff + reverence. + </p> + <p> + This reply fully satisfied the Councillor; the title suited the dress. “He + is certainly,” thought he, “some village schoolmaster—some queer old + fellow, such as one still often meets with in Jutland.” + </p> + <p> + “This is no locus docendi, it is true,” began the clerical gentleman; “yet + I beg you earnestly to let us profit by your learning. Your reading in the + ancients is, sine dubio, of vast extent?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh yes, I've read something, to be sure,” replied the Councillor. “I like + reading all useful works; but I do not on that account despise the modern + ones; 'tis only the unfortunate 'Tales of Every-day Life' that I cannot + bear—we have enough and more than enough such in reality.” + </p> + <p> + “'Tales of Every-day Life?'” said our Bachelor inquiringly. + </p> + <p> + “I mean those new fangled novels, twisting and writhing themselves in the + dust of commonplace, which also expect to find a reading public.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” exclaimed the clerical gentleman smiling, “there is much wit in + them; besides they are read at court. The King likes the history of Sir + Iffven and Sir Gaudian particularly, which treats of King Arthur, and his + Knights of the Round Table; he has more than once joked about it with his + high vassals.” + </p> + <p> + “I have not read that novel,” said the Councillor; “it must be quite a new + one, that Heiberg has published lately.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” answered the theologian of the time of King Hans: “that book is not + written by a Heiberg, but was imprinted by Godfrey von Gehmen.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, is that the author's name?” said the Councillor. “It is a very old + name, and, as well as I recollect, he was the first printer that appeared + in Denmark.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, he is our first printer,” replied the clerical gentleman hastily. + </p> + <p> + So far all went on well. Some one of the worthy burghers now spoke of the + dreadful pestilence that had raged in the country a few years back, + meaning that of 1484. The Councillor imagined it was the cholera that was + meant, which people made so much fuss about; and the discourse passed off + satisfactorily enough. The war of the buccaneers of 1490 was so recent + that it could not fail being alluded to; the English pirates had, they + said, most shamefully taken their ships while in the roadstead; and the + Councillor, before whose eyes the Herostratic [*] event of 1801 still + floated vividly, agreed entirely with the others in abusing the rascally + English. With other topics he was not so fortunate; every moment brought + about some new confusion, and threatened to become a perfect Babel; for + the worthy Bachelor was really too ignorant, and the simplest observations + of the Councillor sounded to him too daring and phantastical. They looked + at one another from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet; and + when matters grew to too high a pitch, then the Bachelor talked Latin, in + the hope of being better understood—but it was of no use after all. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Herostratus, or Eratostratus—an Ephesian, who wantonly + set fire to the famous temple of Diana, in order to + commemorate his name by so uncommon an action. +</pre> + <p> + “What's the matter?” asked the Hostess, plucking the Councillor by the + sleeve; and now his recollection returned, for in the course of the + conversation he had entirely forgotten all that had preceded it. + </p> + <p> + “Merciful God, where am I!” exclaimed he in agony; and while he so + thought, all his ideas and feelings of overpowering dizziness, against + which he struggled with the utmost power of desperation, encompassed him + with renewed force. “Let us drink claret and mead, and Bremen beer,” + shouted one of the guests—“and you shall drink with us!” + </p> + <p> + Two maidens approached. One wore a cap of two staring colors, denoting the + class of persons to which she belonged. They poured out the liquor, and + made the most friendly gesticulations; while a cold perspiration trickled + down the back of the poor Councillor. + </p> + <p> + “What's to be the end of this! What's to become of me!” groaned he; but he + was forced, in spite of his opposition, to drink with the rest. They took + hold of the worthy man; who, hearing on every side that he was + intoxicated, did not in the least doubt the truth of this certainly not + very polite assertion; but on the contrary, implored the ladies and + gentlemen present to procure him a hackney-coach: they, however, imagined + he was talking Russian. + </p> + <p> + Never before, he thought, had he been in such a coarse and ignorant + company; one might almost fancy the people had turned heathens again. “It + is the most dreadful moment of my life: the whole world is leagued against + me!” But suddenly it occurred to him that he might stoop down under the + table, and then creep unobserved out of the door. He did so; but just as + he was going, the others remarked what he was about; they laid hold of him + by the legs; and now, happily for him, off fell his fatal shoes—and + with them the charm was at an end. + </p> + <p> + The Councillor saw quite distinctly before him a lantern burning, and + behind this a large handsome house. All seemed to him in proper order as + usual; it was East Street, splendid and elegant as we now see it. He lay + with his feet towards a doorway, and exactly opposite sat the watchman + asleep. + </p> + <p> + “Gracious Heaven!” said he. “Have I lain here in the street and dreamed? + Yes; 'tis East Street! How splendid and light it is! But really it is + terrible what an effect that one glass of punch must have had on me!” + </p> + <p> + Two minutes later, he was sitting in a hackney-coach and driving to + Frederickshafen. He thought of the distress and agony he had endured, and + praised from the very bottom of his heart the happy reality—our own + time—which, with all its deficiencies, is yet much better than that + in which, so much against his inclination, he had lately been. + </p> + <p> + III. The Watchman's Adventure + </p> + <p> + “Why, there is a pair of galoshes, as sure as I'm alive!” said the + watchman, awaking from a gentle slumber. “They belong no doubt to the + lieutenant who lives over the way. They lie close to the door.” + </p> + <p> + The worthy man was inclined to ring and deliver them at the house, for + there was still a light in the window; but he did not like disturbing the + other people in their beds, and so very considerately he left the matter + alone. + </p> + <p> + “Such a pair of shoes must be very warm and comfortable,” said he; “the + leather is so soft and supple.” They fitted his feet as though they had + been made for him. “'Tis a curious world we live in,” continued he, + soliloquizing. “There is the lieutenant, now, who might go quietly to bed + if he chose, where no doubt he could stretch himself at his ease; but does + he do it? No; he saunters up and down his room, because, probably, he has + enjoyed too many of the good things of this world at his dinner. That's a + happy fellow! He has neither an infirm mother, nor a whole troop of + everlastingly hungry children to torment him. Every evening he goes to a + party, where his nice supper costs him nothing: would to Heaven I could + but change with him! How happy should I be!” + </p> + <p> + While expressing his wish, the charm of the shoes, which he had put on, + began to work; the watchman entered into the being and nature of the + lieutenant. He stood in the handsomely furnished apartment, and held + between his fingers a small sheet of rose-colored paper, on which some + verses were written—written indeed by the officer himself; for who + has not, at least once in his life, had a lyrical moment? And if one then + marks down one's thoughts, poetry is produced. But here was written: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + OH, WERE I RICH! + + “Oh, were I rich! Such was my wish, yea such + When hardly three feet high, I longed for much. + Oh, were I rich! an officer were I, + With sword, and uniform, and plume so high. + And the time came, and officer was I! + But yet I grew not rich. Alas, poor me! + Have pity, Thou, who all man's wants dost see. + + “I sat one evening sunk in dreams of bliss, + A maid of seven years old gave me a kiss, + I at that time was rich in poesy + And tales of old, though poor as poor could be; + But all she asked for was this poesy. + Then was I rich, but not in gold, poor me! + As Thou dost know, who all men's hearts canst see. + + “Oh, were I rich! Oft asked I for this boon. + The child grew up to womanhood full soon. + She is so pretty, clever, and so kind + Oh, did she know what's hidden in my mind— + A tale of old. Would she to me were kind! + But I'm condemned to silence! oh, poor me! + As Thou dost know, who all men's hearts canst see. + + “Oh, were I rich in calm and peace of mind, + My grief you then would not here written find! + O thou, to whom I do my heart devote, + Oh read this page of glad days now remote, + A dark, dark tale, which I tonight devote! + Dark is the future now. Alas, poor me! + Have pity Thou, who all men's pains dost see.” + </pre> + <p> + Such verses as these people write when they are in love! But no man in his + senses ever thinks of printing them. Here one of the sorrows of life, in + which there is real poetry, gave itself vent; not that barren grief which + the poet may only hint at, but never depict in its detail—misery and + want: that animal necessity, in short, to snatch at least at a fallen leaf + of the bread-fruit tree, if not at the fruit itself. The higher the + position in which one finds oneself transplanted, the greater is the + suffering. Everyday necessity is the stagnant pool of life—no lovely + picture reflects itself therein. Lieutenant, love, and lack of money—that + is a symbolic triangle, or much the same as the half of the shattered die + of Fortune. This the lieutenant felt most poignantly, and this was the + reason he leant his head against the window, and sighed so deeply. + </p> + <p> + “The poor watchman out there in the street is far happier than I. He knows + not what I term privation. He has a home, a wife, and children, who weep + with him over his sorrows, who rejoice with him when he is glad. Oh, far + happier were I, could I exchange with him my being—with his desires + and with his hopes perform the weary pilgrimage of life! Oh, he is a + hundred times happier than I!” + </p> + <p> + In the same moment the watchman was again watchman. It was the shoes that + caused the metamorphosis by means of which, unknown to himself, he took + upon him the thoughts and feelings of the officer; but, as we have just + seen, he felt himself in his new situation much less contented, and now + preferred the very thing which but some minutes before he had rejected. So + then the watchman was again watchman. + </p> + <p> + “That was an unpleasant dream,” said he; “but 'twas droll enough + altogether. I fancied that I was the lieutenant over there: and yet the + thing was not very much to my taste after all. I missed my good old mother + and the dear little ones; who almost tear me to pieces for sheer love.” + </p> + <p> + He seated himself once more and nodded: the dream continued to haunt him, + for he still had the shoes on his feet. A falling star shone in the dark + firmament. + </p> + <p> + “There falls another star,” said he: “but what does it matter; there are + always enough left. I should not much mind examining the little glimmering + things somewhat nearer, especially the moon; for that would not slip so + easily through a man's fingers. When we die—so at least says the + student, for whom my wife does the washing—we shall fly about as + light as a feather from one such a star to the other. That's, of course, + not true: but 'twould be pretty enough if it were so. If I could but once + take a leap up there, my body might stay here on the steps for what I + care.” + </p> + <p> + Behold—there are certain things in the world to which one ought + never to give utterance except with the greatest caution; but doubly + careful must one be when we have the Shoes of Fortune on our feet. Now + just listen to what happened to the watchman. + </p> + <p> + As to ourselves, we all know the speed produced by the employment of + steam; we have experienced it either on railroads, or in boats when + crossing the sea; but such a flight is like the travelling of a sloth in + comparison with the velocity with which light moves. It flies nineteen + million times faster than the best race-horse; and yet electricity is + quicker still. Death is an electric shock which our heart receives; the + freed soul soars upwards on the wings of electricity. The sun's light + wants eight minutes and some seconds to perform a journey of more than + twenty million of our Danish [*] miles; borne by electricity, the soul + wants even some minutes less to accomplish the same flight. To it the + space between the heavenly bodies is not greater than the distance between + the homes of our friends in town is for us, even if they live a short way + from each other; such an electric shock in the heart, however, costs us + the use of the body here below; unless, like the watchman of East Street, + we happen to have on the Shoes of Fortune. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A Danish mile is nearly 4 3/4 English. +</pre> + <p> + In a few seconds the watchman had done the fifty-two thousand of our miles + up to the moon, which, as everyone knows, was formed out of matter much + lighter than our earth; and is, so we should say, as soft as newly-fallen + snow. He found himself on one of the many circumjacent mountain-ridges + with which we are acquainted by means of Dr. Madler's “Map of the Moon.” + Within, down it sunk perpendicularly into a caldron, about a Danish mile + in depth; while below lay a town, whose appearance we can, in some + measure, realize to ourselves by beating the white of an egg in a glass of + water. The matter of which it was built was just as soft, and formed + similar towers, and domes, and pillars, transparent and rocking in the + thin air; while above his head our earth was rolling like a large fiery + ball. + </p> + <p> + He perceived immediately a quantity of beings who were certainly what we + call “men”; yet they looked different to us. A far more correct + imagination than that of the pseudo-Herschel* had created them; and if + they had been placed in rank and file, and copied by some skilful + painter's hand, one would, without doubt, have exclaimed involuntarily, + “What a beautiful arabesque!” + </p> + <p> + *This relates to a book published some years ago in Germany, and said to + be by Herschel, which contained a description of the moon and its + inhabitants, written with such a semblance of truth that many were + deceived by the imposture. + </p> + <p> + Probably a translation of the celebrated Moon hoax, written by Richard A. + Locke, and originally published in New York. + </p> + <p> + They had a language too; but surely nobody can expect that the soul of the + watchman should understand it. Be that as it may, it did comprehend it; + for in our souls there germinate far greater powers than we poor mortals, + despite all our cleverness, have any notion of. Does she not show us—she + the queen in the land of enchantment—her astounding dramatic talent + in all our dreams? There every acquaintance appears and speaks upon the + stage, so entirely in character, and with the same tone of voice, that + none of us, when awake, were able to imitate it. How well can she recall + persons to our mind, of whom we have not thought for years; when suddenly + they step forth “every inch a man,” resembling the real personages, even + to the finest features, and become the heroes or heroines of our world of + dreams. In reality, such remembrances are rather unpleasant: every sin, + every evil thought, may, like a clock with alarm or chimes, be repeated at + pleasure; then the question is if we can trust ourselves to give an + account of every unbecoming word in our heart and on our lips. + </p> + <p> + The watchman's spirit understood the language of the inhabitants of the + moon pretty well. The Selenites* disputed variously about our earth, and + expressed their doubts if it could be inhabited: the air, they said, must + certainly be too dense to allow any rational dweller in the moon the + necessary free respiration. They considered the moon alone to be + inhabited: they imagined it was the real heart of the universe or + planetary system, on which the genuine Cosmopolites, or citizens of the + world, dwelt. What strange things men—no, what strange things + Selenites sometimes take into their heads! + </p> + <p> + * Dwellers in the moon. + </p> + <p> + About politics they had a good deal to say. But little Denmark must take + care what it is about, and not run counter to the moon; that great realm, + that might in an ill-humor bestir itself, and dash down a hail-storm in + our faces, or force the Baltic to overflow the sides of its gigantic + basin. + </p> + <p> + We will, therefore, not listen to what was spoken, and on no condition run + in the possibility of telling tales out of school; but we will rather + proceed, like good quiet citizens, to East Street, and observe what + happened meanwhile to the body of the watchman. + </p> + <p> + He sat lifeless on the steps: the morning-star,* that is to say, the heavy + wooden staff, headed with iron spikes, and which had nothing else in + common with its sparkling brother in the sky, had glided from his hand; + while his eyes were fixed with glassy stare on the moon, looking for the + good old fellow of a spirit which still haunted it. + </p> + <p> + *The watchmen in Germany, had formerly, and in some places they still + carry with them, on their rounds at night, a sort of mace or club, known + in ancient times by the above denomination. + </p> + <p> + “What's the hour, watchman?” asked a passer-by. But when the watchman gave + no reply, the merry roysterer, who was now returning home from a noisy + drinking bout, took it into his head to try what a tweak of the nose would + do, on which the supposed sleeper lost his balance, the body lay + motionless, stretched out on the pavement: the man was dead. When the + patrol came up, all his comrades, who comprehended nothing of the whole + affair, were seized with a dreadful fright, for dead he was, and he + remained so. The proper authorities were informed of the circumstance, + people talked a good deal about it, and in the morning the body was + carried to the hospital. + </p> + <p> + Now that would be a very pretty joke, if the spirit when it came back and + looked for the body in East Street, were not to find one. No doubt it + would, in its anxiety, run off to the police, and then to the “Hue and + Cry” office, to announce that “the finder will be handsomely rewarded,” + and at last away to the hospital; yet we may boldly assert that the soul + is shrewdest when it shakes off every fetter, and every sort of + leading-string—the body only makes it stupid. + </p> + <p> + The seemingly dead body of the watchman wandered, as we have said, to the + hospital, where it was brought into the general viewing-room: and the + first thing that was done here was naturally to pull off the galoshes—when + the spirit, that was merely gone out on adventures, must have returned + with the quickness of lightning to its earthly tenement. It took its + direction towards the body in a straight line; and a few seconds after, + life began to show itself in the man. He asserted that the preceding night + had been the worst that ever the malice of fate had allotted him; he would + not for two silver marks again go through what he had endured while + moon-stricken; but now, however, it was over. + </p> + <p> + The same day he was discharged from the hospital as perfectly cured; but + the Shoes meanwhile remained behind. + </p> + <p> + IV. A Moment of Head Importance—An Evening's “Dramatic Readings”—A + Most Strange Journey + </p> + <p> + Every inhabitant of Copenhagen knows, from personal inspection, how the + entrance to Frederick's Hospital looks; but as it is possible that others, + who are not Copenhagen people, may also read this little work, we will + beforehand give a short description of it. + </p> + <p> + The extensive building is separated from the street by a pretty high + railing, the thick iron bars of which are so far apart, that in all + seriousness, it is said, some very thin fellow had of a night occasionally + squeezed himself through to go and pay his little visits in the town. The + part of the body most difficult to manage on such occasions was, no doubt, + the head; here, as is so often the case in the world, long-headed people + get through best. So much, then, for the introduction. + </p> + <p> + One of the young men, whose head, in a physical sense only, might be said + to be of the thickest, had the watch that evening. The rain poured down in + torrents; yet despite these two obstacles, the young man was obliged to go + out, if it were but for a quarter of an hour; and as to telling the + door-keeper about it, that, he thought, was quite unnecessary, if, with a + whole skin, he were able to slip through the railings. There, on the floor + lay the galoshes, which the watchman had forgotten; he never dreamed for a + moment that they were those of Fortune; and they promised to do him good + service in the wet; so he put them on. The question now was, if he could + squeeze himself through the grating, for he had never tried before. Well, + there he stood. + </p> + <p> + “Would to Heaven I had got my head through!” said he, involuntarily; and + instantly through it slipped, easily and without pain, notwithstanding it + was pretty large and thick. But now the rest of the body was to be got + through! + </p> + <p> + “Ah! I am much too stout,” groaned he aloud, while fixed as in a vice. “I + had thought the head was the most difficult part of the matter—oh! + oh! I really cannot squeeze myself through!” + </p> + <p> + He now wanted to pull his over-hasty head back again, but he could not. + For his neck there was room enough, but for nothing more. His first + feeling was of anger; his next that his temper fell to zero. The Shoes of + Fortune had placed him in the most dreadful situation; and, unfortunately, + it never occurred to him to wish himself free. The pitch-black clouds + poured down their contents in still heavier torrents; not a creature was + to be seen in the streets. To reach up to the bell was what he did not + like; to cry aloud for help would have availed him little; besides, how + ashamed would he have been to be found caught in a trap, like an outwitted + fox! How was he to twist himself through! He saw clearly that it was his + irrevocable destiny to remain a prisoner till dawn, or, perhaps, even late + in the morning; then the smith must be fetched to file away the bars; but + all that would not be done so quickly as he could think about it. The + whole Charity School, just opposite, would be in motion; all the new + booths, with their not very courtier-like swarm of seamen, would join them + out of curiosity, and would greet him with a wild “hurrah!” while he was + standing in his pillory: there would be a mob, a hissing, and rejoicing, + and jeering, ten times worse than in the rows about the Jews some years + ago—“Oh, my blood is mounting to my brain; 'tis enough to drive one + mad! I shall go wild! I know not what to do. Oh! were I but loose; my + dizziness would then cease; oh, were my head but loose!” + </p> + <p> + You see he ought to have said that sooner; for the moment he expressed the + wish his head was free; and cured of all his paroxysms of love, he + hastened off to his room, where the pains consequent on the fright the + Shoes had prepared for him, did not so soon take their leave. + </p> + <p> + But you must not think that the affair is over now; it grows much worse. + </p> + <p> + The night passed, the next day also; but nobody came to fetch the Shoes. + </p> + <p> + In the evening “Dramatic Readings” were to be given at the little theatre + in King Street. The house was filled to suffocation; and among other + pieces to be recited was a new poem by H. C. Andersen, called, My Aunt's + Spectacles; the contents of which were pretty nearly as follows: + </p> + <p> + “A certain person had an aunt, who boasted of particular skill in + fortune-telling with cards, and who was constantly being stormed by + persons that wanted to have a peep into futurity. But she was full of + mystery about her art, in which a certain pair of magic spectacles did her + essential service. Her nephew, a merry boy, who was his aunt's darling, + begged so long for these spectacles, that, at last, she lent him the + treasure, after having informed him, with many exhortations, that in order + to execute the interesting trick, he need only repair to some place where + a great many persons were assembled; and then, from a higher position, + whence he could overlook the crowd, pass the company in review before him + through his spectacles. Immediately 'the inner man' of each individual + would be displayed before him, like a game of cards, in which he + unerringly might read what the future of every person presented was to be. + Well pleased the little magician hastened away to prove the powers of the + spectacles in the theatre; no place seeming to him more fitted for such a + trial. He begged permission of the worthy audience, and set his spectacles + on his nose. A motley phantasmagoria presents itself before him, which he + describes in a few satirical touches, yet without expressing his opinion + openly: he tells the people enough to set them all thinking and guessing; + but in order to hurt nobody, he wraps his witty oracular judgments in a + transparent veil, or rather in a lurid thundercloud, shooting forth bright + sparks of wit, that they may fall in the powder-magazine of the expectant + audience.” + </p> + <p> + The humorous poem was admirably recited, and the speaker much applauded. + Among the audience was the young man of the hospital, who seemed to have + forgotten his adventure of the preceding night. He had on the Shoes; for + as yet no lawful owner had appeared to claim them; and besides it was so + very dirty out-of-doors, they were just the thing for him, he thought. + </p> + <p> + The beginning of the poem he praised with great generosity: he even found + the idea original and effective. But that the end of it, like the Rhine, + was very insignificant, proved, in his opinion, the author's want of + invention; he was without genius, etc. This was an excellent opportunity + to have said something clever. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile he was haunted by the idea—he should like to possess such + a pair of spectacles himself; then, perhaps, by using them circumspectly, + one would be able to look into people's hearts, which, he thought, would + be far more interesting than merely to see what was to happen next year; + for that we should all know in proper time, but the other never. + </p> + <p> + “I can now,” said he to himself, “fancy the whole row of ladies and + gentlemen sitting there in the front row; if one could but see into their + hearts—yes, that would be a revelation—a sort of bazar. In + that lady yonder, so strangely dressed, I should find for certain a large + milliner's shop; in that one the shop is empty, but it wants cleaning + plain enough. But there would also be some good stately shops among them. + Alas!” sighed he, “I know one in which all is stately; but there sits + already a spruce young shopman, which is the only thing that's amiss in + the whole shop. All would be splendidly decked out, and we should hear, + 'Walk in, gentlemen, pray walk in; here you will find all you please to + want.' Ah! I wish to Heaven I could walk in and take a trip right through + the hearts of those present!” + </p> + <p> + And behold! to the Shoes of Fortune this was the cue; the whole man shrunk + together and a most uncommon journey through the hearts of the front row + of spectators, now began. The first heart through which he came, was that + of a middle-aged lady, but he instantly fancied himself in the room of the + “Institution for the cure of the crooked and deformed,” where casts of + mis-shapen limbs are displayed in naked reality on the wall. Yet there was + this difference, in the institution the casts were taken at the entry of + the patient; but here they were retained and guarded in the heart while + the sound persons went away. They were, namely, casts of female friends, + whose bodily or mental deformities were here most faithfully preserved. + </p> + <p> + With the snake-like writhings of an idea he glided into another female + heart; but this seemed to him like a large holy fane. [*] The white dove + of innocence fluttered over the altar. How gladly would he have sunk upon + his knees; but he must away to the next heart; yet he still heard the + pealing tones of the organ, and he himself seemed to have become a newer + and a better man; he felt unworthy to tread the neighboring sanctuary + which a poor garret, with a sick bed-rid mother, revealed. But God's warm + sun streamed through the open window; lovely roses nodded from the wooden + flower-boxes on the roof, and two sky-blue birds sang rejoicingly, while + the sick mother implored God's richest blessings on her pious daughter. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * temple +</pre> + <p> + He now crept on hands and feet through a butcher's shop; at least on every + side, and above and below, there was nought but flesh. It was the heart of + a most respectable rich man, whose name is certain to be found in the + Directory. + </p> + <p> + He was now in the heart of the wife of this worthy gentleman. It was an + old, dilapidated, mouldering dovecot. The husband's portrait was used as a + weather-cock, which was connected in some way or other with the doors, and + so they opened and shut of their own accord, whenever the stern old + husband turned round. + </p> + <p> + Hereupon he wandered into a boudoir formed entirely of mirrors, like the + one in Castle Rosenburg; but here the glasses magnified to an astonishing + degree. On the floor, in the middle of the room, sat, like a Dalai-Lama, + the insignificant “Self” of the person, quite confounded at his own + greatness. He then imagined he had got into a needle-case full of pointed + needles of every size. + </p> + <p> + “This is certainly the heart of an old maid,” thought he. But he was + mistaken. It was the heart of a young military man; a man, as people said, + of talent and feeling. + </p> + <p> + In the greatest perplexity, he now came out of the last heart in the row; + he was unable to put his thoughts in order, and fancied that his too + lively imagination had run away with him. + </p> + <p> + “Good Heavens!” sighed he. “I have surely a disposition to madness—'tis + dreadfully hot here; my blood boils in my veins and my head is burning + like a coal.” And he now remembered the important event of the evening + before, how his head had got jammed in between the iron railings of the + hospital. “That's what it is, no doubt,” said he. “I must do something in + time: under such circumstances a Russian bath might do me good. I only + wish I were already on the upper bank.” [*] + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + *In these Russian (vapor) baths the person extends himself + on a bank or form, and as he gets accustomed to the heat, + moves to another higher up towards the ceiling, where, of + course, the vapor is warmest. In this manner he ascends + gradually to the highest. +</pre> + <p> + And so there he lay on the uppermost bank in the vapor-bath; but with all + his clothes on, in his boots and galoshes, while the hot drops fell + scalding from the ceiling on his face. + </p> + <p> + “Holloa!” cried he, leaping down. The bathing attendant, on his side, + uttered a loud cry of astonishment when he beheld in the bath, a man + completely dressed. + </p> + <p> + The other, however, retained sufficient presence of mind to whisper to + him, “'Tis a bet, and I have won it!” But the first thing he did as soon + as he got home, was to have a large blister put on his chest and back to + draw out his madness. + </p> + <p> + The next morning he had a sore chest and a bleeding back; and, excepting + the fright, that was all that he had gained by the Shoes of Fortune. + </p> + <p> + V. Metamorphosis of the Copying-Clerk + </p> + <p> + The watchman, whom we have certainly not forgotten, thought meanwhile of + the galoshes he had found and taken with him to the hospital; he now went + to fetch them; and as neither the lieutenant, nor anybody else in the + street, claimed them as his property, they were delivered over to the + police-office.* + </p> + <p> + *As on the continent, in all law and police practices nothing is verbal, + but any circumstance, however trifling, is reduced to writing, the labor, + as well as the number of papers that thus accumulate, is enormous. In a + police-office, consequently, we find copying-clerks among many other + scribes of various denominations, of which, it seems, our hero was one. + </p> + <p> + “Why, I declare the Shoes look just like my own,” said one of the clerks, + eying the newly-found treasure, whose hidden powers, even he, sharp as he + was, was not able to discover. “One must have more than the eye of a + shoemaker to know one pair from the other,” said he, soliloquizing; and + putting, at the same time, the galoshes in search of an owner, beside his + own in the corner. + </p> + <p> + “Here, sir!” said one of the men, who panting brought him a tremendous + pile of papers. + </p> + <p> + The copying-clerk turned round and spoke awhile with the man about the + reports and legal documents in question; but when he had finished, and his + eye fell again on the Shoes, he was unable to say whether those to the + left or those to the right belonged to him. “At all events it must be + those which are wet,” thought he; but this time, in spite of his + cleverness, he guessed quite wrong, for it was just those of Fortune which + played as it were into his hands, or rather on his feet. And why, I should + like to know, are the police never to be wrong? So he put them on quickly, + stuck his papers in his pocket, and took besides a few under his arm, + intending to look them through at home to make the necessary notes. It was + noon; and the weather, that had threatened rain, began to clear up, while + gaily dressed holiday folks filled the streets. “A little trip to + Fredericksburg would do me no great harm,” thought he; “for I, poor beast + of burden that I am, have so much to annoy me, that I don't know what a + good appetite is. 'Tis a bitter crust, alas! at which I am condemned to + gnaw!” + </p> + <p> + Nobody could be more steady or quiet than this young man; we therefore + wish him joy of the excursion with all our heart; and it will certainly be + beneficial for a person who leads so sedentary a life. In the park he met + a friend, one of our young poets, who told him that the following day he + should set out on his long-intended tour. + </p> + <p> + “So you are going away again!” said the clerk. “You are a very free and + happy being; we others are chained by the leg and held fast to our desk.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; but it is a chain, friend, which ensures you the blessed bread of + existence,” answered the poet. “You need feel no care for the coming + morrow: when you are old, you receive a pension.” + </p> + <p> + “True,” said the clerk, shrugging his shoulders; “and yet you are the + better off. To sit at one's ease and poetise—that is a pleasure; + everybody has something agreeable to say to you, and you are always your + own master. No, friend, you should but try what it is to sit from one + year's end to the other occupied with and judging the most trivial + matters.” + </p> + <p> + The poet shook his head, the copying-clerk did the same. Each one kept to + his own opinion, and so they separated. + </p> + <p> + “It's a strange race, those poets!” said the clerk, who was very fond of + soliloquizing. “I should like some day, just for a trial, to take such + nature upon me, and be a poet myself; I am very sure I should make no such + miserable verses as the others. Today, methinks, is a most delicious day + for a poet. Nature seems anew to celebrate her awakening into life. The + air is so unusually clear, the clouds sail on so buoyantly, and from the + green herbage a fragrance is exhaled that fills me with delight. For many + a year have I not felt as at this moment.” + </p> + <p> + We see already, by the foregoing effusion, that he is become a poet; to + give further proof of it, however, would in most cases be insipid, for it + is a most foolish notion to fancy a poet different from other men. Among + the latter there may be far more poetical natures than many an + acknowledged poet, when examined more closely, could boast of; the + difference only is, that the poet possesses a better mental memory, on + which account he is able to retain the feeling and the thought till they + can be embodied by means of words; a faculty which the others do not + possess. But the transition from a commonplace nature to one that is + richly endowed, demands always a more or less breakneck leap over a + certain abyss which yawns threateningly below; and thus must the sudden + change with the clerk strike the reader. + </p> + <p> + “The sweet air!” continued he of the police-office, in his dreamy + imaginings; “how it reminds me of the violets in the garden of my aunt + Magdalena! Yes, then I was a little wild boy, who did not go to school + very regularly. O heavens! 'tis a long time since I have thought on those + times. The good old soul! She lived behind the Exchange. She always had a + few twigs or green shoots in water—let the winter rage without as it + might. The violets exhaled their sweet breath, whilst I pressed against + the windowpanes covered with fantastic frost-work the copper coin I had + heated on the stove, and so made peep-holes. What splendid vistas were + then opened to my view! What change—what magnificence! Yonder in the + canal lay the ships frozen up, and deserted by their whole crews, with a + screaming crow for the sole occupant. But when the spring, with a gentle + stirring motion, announced her arrival, a new and busy life arose; with + songs and hurrahs the ice was sawn asunder, the ships were fresh tarred + and rigged, that they might sail away to distant lands. But I have + remained here—must always remain here, sitting at my desk in the + office, and patiently see other people fetch their passports to go abroad. + Such is my fate! Alas!”—sighed he, and was again silent. “Great + Heaven! What is come to me! Never have I thought or felt like this before! + It must be the summer air that affects me with feelings almost as + disquieting as they are refreshing.” + </p> + <p> + He felt in his pocket for the papers. “These police-reports will soon stem + the torrent of my ideas, and effectually hinder any rebellious overflowing + of the time-worn banks of official duties”; he said to himself + consolingly, while his eye ran over the first page. “DAME TIGBRITH, + tragedy in five acts.” “What is that? And yet it is undeniably my own + handwriting. Have I written the tragedy? Wonderful, very wonderful!—And + this—what have I here? 'INTRIGUE ON THE RAMPARTS; or THE DAY OF + REPENTANCE: vaudeville with new songs to the most favorite airs.' The + deuce! Where did I get all this rubbish? Some one must have slipped it + slyly into my pocket for a joke. There is too a letter to me; a crumpled + letter and the seal broken.” + </p> + <p> + Yes; it was not a very polite epistle from the manager of a theatre, in + which both pieces were flatly refused. + </p> + <p> + “Hem! hem!” said the clerk breathlessly, and quite exhausted he seated + himself on a bank. His thoughts were so elastic, his heart so tender; and + involuntarily he picked one of the nearest flowers. It is a simple daisy, + just bursting out of the bud. What the botanist tells us after a number of + imperfect lectures, the flower proclaimed in a minute. It related the + mythus of its birth, told of the power of the sun-light that spread out + its delicate leaves, and forced them to impregnate the air with their + incense—and then he thought of the manifold struggles of life, which + in like manner awaken the budding flowers of feeling in our bosom. Light + and air contend with chivalric emulation for the love of the fair flower + that bestowed her chief favors on the latter; full of longing she turned + towards the light, and as soon as it vanished, rolled her tender leaves + together and slept in the embraces of the air. “It is the light which + adorns me,” said the flower. + </p> + <p> + “But 'tis the air which enables thee to breathe,” said the poet's voice. + </p> + <p> + Close by stood a boy who dashed his stick into a wet ditch. The drops of + water splashed up to the green leafy roof, and the clerk thought of the + million of ephemera which in a single drop were thrown up to a height, + that was as great doubtless for their size, as for us if we were to be + hurled above the clouds. While he thought of this and of the whole + metamorphosis he had undergone, he smiled and said, “I sleep and dream; + but it is wonderful how one can dream so naturally, and know besides so + exactly that it is but a dream. If only to-morrow on awaking, I could + again call all to mind so vividly! I seem in unusually good spirits; my + perception of things is clear, I feel as light and cheerful as though I + were in heaven; but I know for a certainty, that if to-morrow a dim + remembrance of it should swim before my mind, it will then seem nothing + but stupid nonsense, as I have often experienced already—especially + before I enlisted under the banner of the police, for that dispels like a + whirlwind all the visions of an unfettered imagination. All we hear or say + in a dream that is fair and beautiful is like the gold of the subterranean + spirits; it is rich and splendid when it is given us, but viewed by + daylight we find only withered leaves. Alas!” he sighed quite sorrowful, + and gazed at the chirping birds that hopped contentedly from branch to + branch, “they are much better off than I! To fly must be a heavenly art; + and happy do I prize that creature in which it is innate. Yes! Could I + exchange my nature with any other creature, I fain would be such a happy + little lark!” + </p> + <p> + He had hardly uttered these hasty words when the skirts and sleeves of his + coat folded themselves together into wings; the clothes became feathers, + and the galoshes claws. He observed it perfectly, and laughed in his + heart. “Now then, there is no doubt that I am dreaming; but I never before + was aware of such mad freaks as these.” And up he flew into the green roof + and sang; but in the song there was no poetry, for the spirit of the poet + was gone. The Shoes, as is the case with anybody who does what he has to + do properly, could only attend to one thing at a time. He wanted to be a + poet, and he was one; he now wished to be a merry chirping bird: but when + he was metamorphosed into one, the former peculiarities ceased + immediately. “It is really pleasant enough,” said he: “the whole day long + I sit in the office amid the driest law-papers, and at night I fly in my + dream as a lark in the gardens of Fredericksburg; one might really write a + very pretty comedy upon it.” He now fluttered down into the grass, turned + his head gracefully on every side, and with his bill pecked the pliant + blades of grass, which, in comparison to his present size, seemed as + majestic as the palm-branches of northern Africa. + </p> + <p> + Unfortunately the pleasure lasted but a moment. Presently black night + overshadowed our enthusiast, who had so entirely missed his part of + copying-clerk at a police-office; some vast object seemed to be thrown + over him. It was a large oil-skin cap, which a sailor-boy of the quay had + thrown over the struggling bird; a coarse hand sought its way carefully in + under the broad rim, and seized the clerk over the back and wings. In the + first moment of fear, he called, indeed, as loud as he could—“You + impudent little blackguard! I am a copying-clerk at the police-office; and + you know you cannot insult any belonging to the constabulary force without + a chastisement. Besides, you good-for-nothing rascal, it is strictly + forbidden to catch birds in the royal gardens of Fredericksburg; but your + blue uniform betrays where you come from.” This fine tirade sounded, + however, to the ungodly sailor-boy like a mere “Pippi-pi.” He gave the + noisy bird a knock on his beak, and walked on. + </p> + <p> + He was soon met by two schoolboys of the upper class—that is to say + as individuals, for with regard to learning they were in the lowest class + in the school; and they bought the stupid bird. So the copying-clerk came + to Copenhagen as guest, or rather as prisoner in a family living in Gother + Street. + </p> + <p> + “'Tis well that I'm dreaming,” said the clerk, “or I really should get + angry. First I was a poet; now sold for a few pence as a lark; no doubt it + was that accursed poetical nature which has metamorphosed me into such a + poor harmless little creature. It is really pitiable, particularly when + one gets into the hands of a little blackguard, perfect in all sorts of + cruelty to animals: all I should like to know is, how the story will end.” + </p> + <p> + The two schoolboys, the proprietors now of the transformed clerk, carried + him into an elegant room. A stout stately dame received them with a smile; + but she expressed much dissatisfaction that a common field-bird, as she + called the lark, should appear in such high society. For to-day, however, + she would allow it; and they must shut him in the empty cage that was + standing in the window. “Perhaps he will amuse my good Polly,” added the + lady, looking with a benignant smile at a large green parrot that swung + himself backwards and forwards most comfortably in his ring, inside a + magnificent brass-wired cage. “To-day is Polly's birthday,” said she with + stupid simplicity: “and the little brown field-bird must wish him joy.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Polly uttered not a syllable in reply, but swung to and fro with + dignified condescension; while a pretty canary, as yellow as gold, that + had lately been brought from his sunny fragrant home, began to sing aloud. + </p> + <p> + “Noisy creature! Will you be quiet!” screamed the lady of the house, + covering the cage with an embroidered white pocket handkerchief. + </p> + <p> + “Chirp, chirp!” sighed he. “That was a dreadful snowstorm”; and he sighed + again, and was silent. + </p> + <p> + The copying-clerk, or, as the lady said, the brown field-bird, was put + into a small cage, close to the Canary, and not far from “my good Polly.” + The only human sounds that the Parrot could bawl out were, “Come, let us + be men!” Everything else that he said was as unintelligible to everybody + as the chirping of the Canary, except to the clerk, who was now a bird + too: he understood his companion perfectly. + </p> + <p> + “I flew about beneath the green palms and the blossoming almond-trees,” + sang the Canary; “I flew around, with my brothers and sisters, over the + beautiful flowers, and over the glassy lakes, where the bright + water-plants nodded to me from below. There, too, I saw many + splendidly-dressed paroquets, that told the drollest stories, and the + wildest fairy tales without end.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! those were uncouth birds,” answered the Parrot. “They had no + education, and talked of whatever came into their head. + </p> + <p> + “If my mistress and all her friends can laugh at what I say, so may you + too, I should think. It is a great fault to have no taste for what is + witty or amusing—come, let us be men.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, you have no remembrance of love for the charming maidens that danced + beneath the outspread tents beside the bright fragrant flowers? Do you no + longer remember the sweet fruits, and the cooling juice in the wild plants + of our never-to-be-forgotten home?” said the former inhabitant of the + Canary Isles, continuing his dithyrambic. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes,” said the Parrot; “but I am far better off here. I am well fed, + and get friendly treatment. I know I am a clever fellow; and that is all I + care about. Come, let us be men. You are of a poetical nature, as it is + called—I, on the contrary, possess profound knowledge and + inexhaustible wit. You have genius; but clear-sighted, calm discretion + does not take such lofty flights, and utter such high natural tones. For + this they have covered you over—they never do the like to me; for I + cost more. Besides, they are afraid of my beak; and I have always a witty + answer at hand. Come, let us be men!” + </p> + <p> + “O warm spicy land of my birth,” sang the Canary bird; “I will sing of thy + dark-green bowers, of the calm bays where the pendent boughs kiss the + surface of the water; I will sing of the rejoicing of all my brothers and + sisters where the cactus grows in wanton luxuriance.” + </p> + <p> + “Spare us your elegiac tones,” said the Parrot giggling. “Rather speak of + something at which one may laugh heartily. Laughing is an infallible sign + of the highest degree of mental development. Can a dog, or a horse laugh? + No, but they can cry. The gift of laughing was given to man alone. Ha! ha! + ha!” screamed Polly, and added his stereotype witticism. “Come, let us be + men!” + </p> + <p> + “Poor little Danish grey-bird,” said the Canary; “you have been caught + too. It is, no doubt, cold enough in your woods, but there at least is the + breath of liberty; therefore fly away. In the hurry they have forgotten to + shut your cage, and the upper window is open. Fly, my friend; fly away. + Farewell!” + </p> + <p> + Instinctively the Clerk obeyed; with a few strokes of his wings he was out + of the cage; but at the same moment the door, which was only ajar, and + which led to the next room, began to creak, and supple and creeping came + the large tomcat into the room, and began to pursue him. The frightened + Canary fluttered about in his cage; the Parrot flapped his wings, and + cried, “Come, let us be men!” The Clerk felt a mortal fright, and flew + through the window, far away over the houses and streets. At last he was + forced to rest a little. + </p> + <p> + The neighboring house had a something familiar about it; a window stood + open; he flew in; it was his own room. He perched upon the table. + </p> + <p> + “Come, let us be men!” said he, involuntarily imitating the chatter of the + Parrot, and at the same moment he was again a copying-clerk; but he was + sitting in the middle of the table. + </p> + <p> + “Heaven help me!” cried he. “How did I get up here—and so buried in + sleep, too? After all, that was a very unpleasant, disagreeable dream that + haunted me! The whole story is nothing but silly, stupid nonsense!” + </p> + <p> + VI. The Best That the Galoshes Gave + </p> + <p> + The following day, early in the morning, while the Clerk was still in bed, + someone knocked at his door. It was his neighbor, a young Divine, who + lived on the same floor. He walked in. + </p> + <p> + “Lend me your Galoshes,” said he; “it is so wet in the garden, though the + sun is shining most invitingly. I should like to go out a little.” + </p> + <p> + He got the Galoshes, and he was soon below in a little duodecimo garden, + where between two immense walls a plumtree and an apple-tree were + standing. Even such a little garden as this was considered in the + metropolis of Copenhagen as a great luxury. + </p> + <p> + The young man wandered up and down the narrow paths, as well as the + prescribed limits would allow; the clock struck six; without was heard the + horn of a post-boy. + </p> + <p> + “To travel! to travel!” exclaimed he, overcome by most painful and + passionate remembrances. “That is the happiest thing in the world! That is + the highest aim of all my wishes! Then at last would the agonizing + restlessness be allayed, which destroys my existence! But it must be far, + far away! I would behold magnificent Switzerland; I would travel to Italy, + and—” + </p> + <p> + It was a good thing that the power of the Galoshes worked as + instantaneously as lightning in a powder-magazine would do, otherwise the + poor man with his overstrained wishes would have travelled about the world + too much for himself as well as for us. In short, he was travelling. He + was in the middle of Switzerland, but packed up with eight other + passengers in the inside of an eternally-creaking diligence; his head + ached till it almost split, his weary neck could hardly bear the heavy + load, and his feet, pinched by his torturing boots, were terribly swollen. + He was in an intermediate state between sleeping and waking; at variance + with himself, with his company, with the country, and with the government. + In his right pocket he had his letter of credit, in the left, his + passport, and in a small leathern purse some double louis d'or, carefully + sewn up in the bosom of his waistcoat. Every dream proclaimed that one or + the other of these valuables was lost; wherefore he started up as in a + fever; and the first movement which his hand made, described a magic + triangle from the right pocket to the left, and then up towards the bosom, + to feel if he had them all safe or not. From the roof inside the carriage, + umbrellas, walking-sticks, hats, and sundry other articles were depending, + and hindered the view, which was particularly imposing. He now endeavored + as well as he was able to dispel his gloom, which was caused by outward + chance circumstances merely, and on the bosom of nature imbibe the milk of + purest human enjoyment. + </p> + <p> + Grand, solemn, and dark was the whole landscape around. The gigantic + pine-forests, on the pointed crags, seemed almost like little tufts of + heather, colored by the surrounding clouds. It began to snow, a cold wind + blew and roared as though it were seeking a bride. + </p> + <p> + “Augh!” sighed he, “were we only on the other side the Alps, then we + should have summer, and I could get my letters of credit cashed. The + anxiety I feel about them prevents me enjoying Switzerland. Were I but on + the other side!” + </p> + <p> + And so saying he was on the other side in Italy, between Florence and + Rome. Lake Thracymene, illumined by the evening sun, lay like flaming gold + between the dark-blue mountain-ridges; here, where Hannibal defeated + Flaminius, the rivers now held each other in their green embraces; lovely, + half-naked children tended a herd of black swine, beneath a group of + fragrant laurel-trees, hard by the road-side. Could we render this + inimitable picture properly, then would everybody exclaim, “Beautiful, + unparalleled Italy!” But neither the young Divine said so, nor anyone of + his grumbling companions in the coach of the vetturino. + </p> + <p> + The poisonous flies and gnats swarmed around by thousands; in vain one + waved myrtle-branches about like mad; the audacious insect population did + not cease to sting; nor was there a single person in the well-crammed + carriage whose face was not swollen and sore from their ravenous bites. + The poor horses, tortured almost to death, suffered most from this truly + Egyptian plague; the flies alighted upon them in large disgusting swarms; + and if the coachman got down and scraped them off, hardly a minute elapsed + before they were there again. The sun now set: a freezing cold, though of + short duration pervaded the whole creation; it was like a horrid gust + coming from a burial-vault on a warm summer's day—but all around the + mountains retained that wonderful green tone which we see in some old + pictures, and which, should we not have seen a similar play of color in + the South, we declare at once to be unnatural. It was a glorious prospect; + but the stomach was empty, the body tired; all that the heart cared and + longed for was good night-quarters; yet how would they be? For these one + looked much more anxiously than for the charms of nature, which every + where were so profusely displayed. + </p> + <p> + The road led through an olive-grove, and here the solitary inn was + situated. Ten or twelve crippled-beggars had encamped outside. The + healthiest of them resembled, to use an expression of Marryat's, “Hunger's + eldest son when he had come of age”; the others were either blind, had + withered legs and crept about on their hands, or withered arms and + fingerless hands. It was the most wretched misery, dragged from among the + filthiest rags. “Excellenza, miserabili!” sighed they, thrusting forth + their deformed limbs to view. Even the hostess, with bare feet, uncombed + hair, and dressed in a garment of doubtful color, received the guests + grumblingly. The doors were fastened with a loop of string; the floor of + the rooms presented a stone paving half torn up; bats fluttered wildly + about the ceiling; and as to the smell therein—no—that was + beyond description. + </p> + <p> + “You had better lay the cloth below in the stable,” said one of the + travellers; “there, at all events, one knows what one is breathing.” + </p> + <p> + The windows were quickly opened, to let in a little fresh air. Quicker, + however, than the breeze, the withered, sallow arms of the beggars were + thrust in, accompanied by the eternal whine of “Miserabili, miserabili, + excellenza!” On the walls were displayed innumerable inscriptions, written + in nearly every language of Europe, some in verse, some in prose, most of + them not very laudatory of “bella Italia.” + </p> + <p> + The meal was served. It consisted of a soup of salted water, seasoned with + pepper and rancid oil. The last ingredient played a very prominent part in + the salad; stale eggs and roasted cocks'-combs furnished the grand dish of + the repast; the wine even was not without a disgusting taste—it was + like a medicinal draught. + </p> + <p> + At night the boxes and other effects of the passengers were placed against + the rickety doors. One of the travellers kept watch while the others + slept. The sentry was our young Divine. How close it was in the chamber! + The heat oppressive to suffocation—the gnats hummed and stung + unceasingly—the “miserabili” without whined and moaned in their + sleep. + </p> + <p> + “Travelling would be agreeable enough,” said he groaning, “if one only had + no body, or could send it to rest while the spirit went on its pilgrimage + unhindered, whither the voice within might call it. Wherever I go, I am + pursued by a longing that is insatiable—that I cannot explain to + myself, and that tears my very heart. I want something better than what is + but what is fled in an instant. But what is it, and where is it to be + found? Yet, I know in reality what it is I wish for. Oh! most happy were + I, could I but reach one aim—could but reach the happiest of all!” + </p> + <p> + And as he spoke the word he was again in his home; the long white curtains + hung down from the windows, and in the middle of the floor stood the black + coffin; in it he lay in the sleep of death. His wish was fulfilled—the + body rested, while the spirit went unhindered on its pilgrimage. “Let no + one deem himself happy before his end,” were the words of Solon; and here + was a new and brilliant proof of the wisdom of the old apothegm. + </p> + <p> + Every corpse is a sphynx of immortality; here too on the black coffin the + sphynx gave us no answer to what he who lay within had written two days + before: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “O mighty Death! thy silence teaches nought, + Thou leadest only to the near grave's brink; + Is broken now the ladder of my thoughts? + Do I instead of mounting only sink? + + Our heaviest grief the world oft seeth not, + Our sorest pain we hide from stranger eyes: + And for the sufferer there is nothing left + But the green mound that o'er the coffin lies.” + </pre> + <p> + Two figures were moving in the chamber. We knew them both; it was the + fairy of Care, and the emissary of Fortune. They both bent over the + corpse. + </p> + <p> + “Do you now see,” said Care, “what happiness your Galoshes have brought to + mankind?” + </p> + <p> + “To him, at least, who slumbers here, they have brought an imperishable + blessing,” answered the other. + </p> + <p> + “Ah no!” replied Care. “He took his departure himself; he was not called + away. His mental powers here below were not strong enough to reach the + treasures lying beyond this life, and which his destiny ordained he should + obtain. I will now confer a benefit on him.” + </p> + <p> + And she took the Galoshes from his feet; his sleep of death was ended; and + he who had been thus called back again to life arose from his dread couch + in all the vigor of youth. Care vanished, and with her the Galoshes. She + has no doubt taken them for herself, to keep them to all eternity. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FIR TREE + </h2> + <p> + Out in the woods stood a nice little Fir Tree. The place he had was a very + good one: the sun shone on him: as to fresh air, there was enough of that, + and round him grew many large-sized comrades, pines as well as firs. But + the little Fir wanted so very much to be a grown-up tree. + </p> + <p> + He did not think of the warm sun and of the fresh air; he did not care for + the little cottage children that ran about and prattled when they were in + the woods looking for wild-strawberries. The children often came with a + whole pitcher full of berries, or a long row of them threaded on a straw, + and sat down near the young tree and said, “Oh, how pretty he is! What a + nice little fir!” But this was what the Tree could not bear to hear. + </p> + <p> + At the end of a year he had shot up a good deal, and after another year he + was another long bit taller; for with fir trees one can always tell by the + shoots how many years old they are. + </p> + <p> + “Oh! Were I but such a high tree as the others are,” sighed he. “Then I + should be able to spread out my branches, and with the tops to look into + the wide world! Then would the birds build nests among my branches: and + when there was a breeze, I could bend with as much stateliness as the + others!” + </p> + <p> + Neither the sunbeams, nor the birds, nor the red clouds which morning and + evening sailed above him, gave the little Tree any pleasure. + </p> + <p> + In winter, when the snow lay glittering on the ground, a hare would often + come leaping along, and jump right over the little Tree. Oh, that made him + so angry! But two winters were past, and in the third the Tree was so + large that the hare was obliged to go round it. “To grow and grow, to get + older and be tall,” thought the Tree—“that, after all, is the most + delightful thing in the world!” + </p> + <p> + In autumn the wood-cutters always came and felled some of the largest + trees. This happened every year; and the young Fir Tree, that had now + grown to a very comely size, trembled at the sight; for the magnificent + great trees fell to the earth with noise and cracking, the branches were + lopped off, and the trees looked long and bare; they were hardly to be + recognised; and then they were laid in carts, and the horses dragged them + out of the wood. + </p> + <p> + Where did they go to? What became of them? + </p> + <p> + In spring, when the swallows and the storks came, the Tree asked them, + “Don't you know where they have been taken? Have you not met them + anywhere?” + </p> + <p> + The swallows did not know anything about it; but the Stork looked musing, + nodded his head, and said, “Yes; I think I know; I met many ships as I was + flying hither from Egypt; on the ships were magnificent masts, and I + venture to assert that it was they that smelt so of fir. I may + congratulate you, for they lifted themselves on high most majestically!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, were I but old enough to fly across the sea! But how does the sea + look in reality? What is it like?” + </p> + <p> + “That would take a long time to explain,” said the Stork, and with these + words off he went. + </p> + <p> + “Rejoice in thy growth!” said the Sunbeams. “Rejoice in thy vigorous + growth, and in the fresh life that moveth within thee!” + </p> + <p> + And the Wind kissed the Tree, and the Dew wept tears over him; but the Fir + understood it not. + </p> + <p> + When Christmas came, quite young trees were cut down: trees which often + were not even as large or of the same age as this Fir Tree, who could + never rest, but always wanted to be off. These young trees, and they were + always the finest looking, retained their branches; they were laid on + carts, and the horses drew them out of the wood. + </p> + <p> + “Where are they going to?” asked the Fir. “They are not taller than I; + there was one indeed that was considerably shorter; and why do they retain + all their branches? Whither are they taken?” + </p> + <p> + “We know! We know!” chirped the Sparrows. “We have peeped in at the + windows in the town below! We know whither they are taken! The greatest + splendor and the greatest magnificence one can imagine await them. We + peeped through the windows, and saw them planted in the middle of the warm + room and ornamented with the most splendid things, with gilded apples, + with gingerbread, with toys, and many hundred lights!” + </p> + <p> + “And then?” asked the Fir Tree, trembling in every bough. “And then? What + happens then?” + </p> + <p> + “We did not see anything more: it was incomparably beautiful.” + </p> + <p> + “I would fain know if I am destined for so glorious a career,” cried the + Tree, rejoicing. “That is still better than to cross the sea! What a + longing do I suffer! Were Christmas but come! I am now tall, and my + branches spread like the others that were carried off last year! Oh! were + I but already on the cart! Were I in the warm room with all the splendor + and magnificence! Yes; then something better, something still grander, + will surely follow, or wherefore should they thus ornament me? Something + better, something still grander must follow—but what? Oh, how I + long, how I suffer! I do not know myself what is the matter with me!” + </p> + <p> + “Rejoice in our presence!” said the Air and the Sunlight. “Rejoice in thy + own fresh youth!” + </p> + <p> + But the Tree did not rejoice at all; he grew and grew, and was green both + winter and summer. People that saw him said, “What a fine tree!” and + towards Christmas he was one of the first that was cut down. The axe + struck deep into the very pith; the Tree fell to the earth with a sigh; he + felt a pang—it was like a swoon; he could not think of happiness, + for he was sorrowful at being separated from his home, from the place + where he had sprung up. He well knew that he should never see his dear old + comrades, the little bushes and flowers around him, anymore; perhaps not + even the birds! The departure was not at all agreeable. + </p> + <p> + The Tree only came to himself when he was unloaded in a court-yard with + the other trees, and heard a man say, “That one is splendid! We don't want + the others.” Then two servants came in rich livery and carried the Fir + Tree into a large and splendid drawing-room. Portraits were hanging on the + walls, and near the white porcelain stove stood two large Chinese vases + with lions on the covers. There, too, were large easy-chairs, silken + sofas, large tables full of picture-books and full of toys, worth hundreds + and hundreds of crowns—at least the children said so. And the Fir + Tree was stuck upright in a cask that was filled with sand; but no one + could see that it was a cask, for green cloth was hung all round it, and + it stood on a large gaily-colored carpet. Oh! how the Tree quivered! What + was to happen? The servants, as well as the young ladies, decorated it. On + one branch there hung little nets cut out of colored paper, and each net + was filled with sugarplums; and among the other boughs gilded apples and + walnuts were suspended, looking as though they had grown there, and little + blue and white tapers were placed among the leaves. Dolls that looked for + all the world like men—the Tree had never beheld such before—were + seen among the foliage, and at the very top a large star of gold tinsel + was fixed. It was really splendid—beyond description splendid. + </p> + <p> + “This evening!” they all said. “How it will shine this evening!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh!” thought the Tree. “If the evening were but come! If the tapers were + but lighted! And then I wonder what will happen! Perhaps the other trees + from the forest will come to look at me! Perhaps the sparrows will beat + against the windowpanes! I wonder if I shall take root here, and winter + and summer stand covered with ornaments!” + </p> + <p> + He knew very much about the matter—but he was so impatient that for + sheer longing he got a pain in his back, and this with trees is the same + thing as a headache with us. + </p> + <p> + The candles were now lighted—what brightness! What splendor! The + Tree trembled so in every bough that one of the tapers set fire to the + foliage. It blazed up famously. + </p> + <p> + “Help! Help!” cried the young ladies, and they quickly put out the fire. + </p> + <p> + Now the Tree did not even dare tremble. What a state he was in! He was so + uneasy lest he should lose something of his splendor, that he was quite + bewildered amidst the glare and brightness; when suddenly both + folding-doors opened and a troop of children rushed in as if they would + upset the Tree. The older persons followed quietly; the little ones stood + quite still. But it was only for a moment; then they shouted that the + whole place re-echoed with their rejoicing; they danced round the Tree, + and one present after the other was pulled off. + </p> + <p> + “What are they about?” thought the Tree. “What is to happen now!” And the + lights burned down to the very branches, and as they burned down they were + put out one after the other, and then the children had permission to + plunder the Tree. So they fell upon it with such violence that all its + branches cracked; if it had not been fixed firmly in the ground, it would + certainly have tumbled down. + </p> + <p> + The children danced about with their beautiful playthings; no one looked + at the Tree except the old nurse, who peeped between the branches; but it + was only to see if there was a fig or an apple left that had been + forgotten. + </p> + <p> + “A story! A story!” cried the children, drawing a little fat man towards + the Tree. He seated himself under it and said, “Now we are in the shade, + and the Tree can listen too. But I shall tell only one story. Now which + will you have; that about Ivedy-Avedy, or about Humpy-Dumpy, who tumbled + downstairs, and yet after all came to the throne and married the + princess?” + </p> + <p> + “Ivedy-Avedy,” cried some; “Humpy-Dumpy,” cried the others. There was such + a bawling and screaming—the Fir Tree alone was silent, and he + thought to himself, “Am I not to bawl with the rest? Am I to do nothing + whatever?” for he was one of the company, and had done what he had to do. + </p> + <p> + And the man told about Humpy-Dumpy that tumbled down, who notwithstanding + came to the throne, and at last married the princess. And the children + clapped their hands, and cried. “Oh, go on! Do go on!” They wanted to hear + about Ivedy-Avedy too, but the little man only told them about + Humpy-Dumpy. The Fir Tree stood quite still and absorbed in thought; the + birds in the wood had never related the like of this. “Humpy-Dumpy fell + downstairs, and yet he married the princess! Yes, yes! That's the way of + the world!” thought the Fir Tree, and believed it all, because the man who + told the story was so good-looking. “Well, well! who knows, perhaps I may + fall downstairs, too, and get a princess as wife!” And he looked forward + with joy to the morrow, when he hoped to be decked out again with lights, + playthings, fruits, and tinsel. + </p> + <p> + “I won't tremble to-morrow!” thought the Fir Tree. “I will enjoy to the + full all my splendor! To-morrow I shall hear again the story of + Humpy-Dumpy, and perhaps that of Ivedy-Avedy too.” And the whole night the + Tree stood still and in deep thought. + </p> + <p> + In the morning the servant and the housemaid came in. + </p> + <p> + “Now then the splendor will begin again,” thought the Fir. But they + dragged him out of the room, and up the stairs into the loft: and here, in + a dark corner, where no daylight could enter, they left him. “What's the + meaning of this?” thought the Tree. “What am I to do here? What shall I + hear now, I wonder?” And he leaned against the wall lost in reverie. Time + enough had he too for his reflections; for days and nights passed on, and + nobody came up; and when at last somebody did come, it was only to put + some great trunks in a corner, out of the way. There stood the Tree quite + hidden; it seemed as if he had been entirely forgotten. + </p> + <p> + “'Tis now winter out-of-doors!” thought the Tree. “The earth is hard and + covered with snow; men cannot plant me now, and therefore I have been put + up here under shelter till the spring-time comes! How thoughtful that is! + How kind man is, after all! If it only were not so dark here, and so + terribly lonely! Not even a hare! And out in the woods it was so pleasant, + when the snow was on the ground, and the hare leaped by; yes—even + when he jumped over me; but I did not like it then! It is really terribly + lonely here!” + </p> + <p> + “Squeak! Squeak!” said a little Mouse, at the same moment, peeping out of + his hole. And then another little one came. They snuffed about the Fir + Tree, and rustled among the branches. + </p> + <p> + “It is dreadfully cold,” said the Mouse. “But for that, it would be + delightful here, old Fir, wouldn't it?” + </p> + <p> + “I am by no means old,” said the Fir Tree. “There's many a one + considerably older than I am.” + </p> + <p> + “Where do you come from,” asked the Mice; “and what can you do?” They were + so extremely curious. “Tell us about the most beautiful spot on the earth. + Have you never been there? Were you never in the larder, where cheeses lie + on the shelves, and hams hang from above; where one dances about on tallow + candles: that place where one enters lean, and comes out again fat and + portly?” + </p> + <p> + “I know no such place,” said the Tree. “But I know the wood, where the sun + shines and where the little birds sing.” And then he told all about his + youth; and the little Mice had never heard the like before; and they + listened and said, + </p> + <p> + “Well, to be sure! How much you have seen! How happy you must have been!” + </p> + <p> + “I!” said the Fir Tree, thinking over what he had himself related. “Yes, + in reality those were happy times.” And then he told about Christmas-eve, + when he was decked out with cakes and candles. + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” said the little Mice, “how fortunate you have been, old Fir Tree!” + </p> + <p> + “I am by no means old,” said he. “I came from the wood this winter; I am + in my prime, and am only rather short for my age.” + </p> + <p> + “What delightful stories you know,” said the Mice: and the next night they + came with four other little Mice, who were to hear what the Tree + recounted: and the more he related, the more he remembered himself; and it + appeared as if those times had really been happy times. “But they may + still come—they may still come! Humpy-Dumpy fell downstairs, and yet + he got a princess!” and he thought at the moment of a nice little Birch + Tree growing out in the woods: to the Fir, that would be a real charming + princess. + </p> + <p> + “Who is Humpy-Dumpy?” asked the Mice. So then the Fir Tree told the whole + fairy tale, for he could remember every single word of it; and the little + Mice jumped for joy up to the very top of the Tree. Next night two more + Mice came, and on Sunday two Rats even; but they said the stories were not + interesting, which vexed the little Mice; and they, too, now began to + think them not so very amusing either. + </p> + <p> + “Do you know only one story?” asked the Rats. + </p> + <p> + “Only that one,” answered the Tree. “I heard it on my happiest evening; + but I did not then know how happy I was.” + </p> + <p> + “It is a very stupid story! Don't you know one about bacon and tallow + candles? Can't you tell any larder stories?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the Tree. + </p> + <p> + “Then good-bye,” said the Rats; and they went home. + </p> + <p> + At last the little Mice stayed away also; and the Tree sighed: “After all, + it was very pleasant when the sleek little Mice sat round me, and listened + to what I told them. Now that too is over. But I will take good care to + enjoy myself when I am brought out again.” + </p> + <p> + But when was that to be? Why, one morning there came a quantity of people + and set to work in the loft. The trunks were moved, the tree was pulled + out and thrown—rather hard, it is true—down on the floor, but + a man drew him towards the stairs, where the daylight shone. + </p> + <p> + “Now a merry life will begin again,” thought the Tree. He felt the fresh + air, the first sunbeam—and now he was out in the courtyard. All + passed so quickly, there was so much going on around him, the Tree quite + forgot to look to himself. The court adjoined a garden, and all was in + flower; the roses hung so fresh and odorous over the balustrade, the + lindens were in blossom, the Swallows flew by, and said, “Quirre-vit! My + husband is come!” but it was not the Fir Tree that they meant. + </p> + <p> + “Now, then, I shall really enjoy life,” said he exultingly, and spread out + his branches; but, alas, they were all withered and yellow! It was in a + corner that he lay, among weeds and nettles. The golden star of tinsel was + still on the top of the Tree, and glittered in the sunshine. + </p> + <p> + In the court-yard some of the merry children were playing who had danced + at Christmas round the Fir Tree, and were so glad at the sight of him. One + of the youngest ran and tore off the golden star. + </p> + <p> + “Only look what is still on the ugly old Christmas tree!” said he, + trampling on the branches, so that they all cracked beneath his feet. + </p> + <p> + And the Tree beheld all the beauty of the flowers, and the freshness in + the garden; he beheld himself, and wished he had remained in his dark + corner in the loft; he thought of his first youth in the wood, of the + merry Christmas-eve, and of the little Mice who had listened with so much + pleasure to the story of Humpy-Dumpy. + </p> + <p> + “'Tis over—'tis past!” said the poor Tree. “Had I but rejoiced when + I had reason to do so! But now 'tis past, 'tis past!” + </p> + <p> + And the gardener's boy chopped the Tree into small pieces; there was a + whole heap lying there. The wood flamed up splendidly under the large + brewing copper, and it sighed so deeply! Each sigh was like a shot. + </p> + <p> + The boys played about in the court, and the youngest wore the gold star on + his breast which the Tree had had on the happiest evening of his life. + However, that was over now—the Tree gone, the story at an end. All, + all was over—every tale must end at last. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE SNOW QUEEN + </h2> + <h3> + FIRST STORY. Which Treats of a Mirror and of the Splinters + </h3> + <p> + Now then, let us begin. When we are at the end of the story, we shall know + more than we know now: but to begin. + </p> + <p> + Once upon a time there was a wicked sprite, indeed he was the most + mischievous of all sprites. One day he was in a very good humor, for he + had made a mirror with the power of causing all that was good and + beautiful when it was reflected therein, to look poor and mean; but that + which was good-for-nothing and looked ugly was shown magnified and + increased in ugliness. In this mirror the most beautiful landscapes looked + like boiled spinach, and the best persons were turned into frights, or + appeared to stand on their heads; their faces were so distorted that they + were not to be recognised; and if anyone had a mole, you might be sure + that it would be magnified and spread over both nose and mouth. + </p> + <p> + “That's glorious fun!” said the sprite. If a good thought passed through a + man's mind, then a grin was seen in the mirror, and the sprite laughed + heartily at his clever discovery. All the little sprites who went to his + school—for he kept a sprite school—told each other that a + miracle had happened; and that now only, as they thought, it would be + possible to see how the world really looked. They ran about with the + mirror; and at last there was not a land or a person who was not + represented distorted in the mirror. So then they thought they would fly + up to the sky, and have a joke there. The higher they flew with the + mirror, the more terribly it grinned: they could hardly hold it fast. + Higher and higher still they flew, nearer and nearer to the stars, when + suddenly the mirror shook so terribly with grinning, that it flew out of + their hands and fell to the earth, where it was dashed in a hundred + million and more pieces. And now it worked much more evil than before; for + some of these pieces were hardly so large as a grain of sand, and they + flew about in the wide world, and when they got into people's eyes, there + they stayed; and then people saw everything perverted, or only had an eye + for that which was evil. This happened because the very smallest bit had + the same power which the whole mirror had possessed. Some persons even got + a splinter in their heart, and then it made one shudder, for their heart + became like a lump of ice. Some of the broken pieces were so large that + they were used for windowpanes, through which one could not see one's + friends. Other pieces were put in spectacles; and that was a sad affair + when people put on their glasses to see well and rightly. Then the wicked + sprite laughed till he almost choked, for all this tickled his fancy. The + fine splinters still flew about in the air: and now we shall hear what + happened next. + </p> + <p> + SECOND STORY. A Little Boy and a Little Girl + </p> + <p> + In a large town, where there are so many houses, and so many people, that + there is no roof left for everybody to have a little garden; and where, on + this account, most persons are obliged to content themselves with flowers + in pots; there lived two little children, who had a garden somewhat larger + than a flower-pot. They were not brother and sister; but they cared for + each other as much as if they were. Their parents lived exactly opposite. + They inhabited two garrets; and where the roof of the one house joined + that of the other, and the gutter ran along the extreme end of it, there + was to each house a small window: one needed only to step over the gutter + to get from one window to the other. + </p> + <p> + The children's parents had large wooden boxes there, in which vegetables + for the kitchen were planted, and little rosetrees besides: there was a + rose in each box, and they grew splendidly. They now thought of placing + the boxes across the gutter, so that they nearly reached from one window + to the other, and looked just like two walls of flowers. The tendrils of + the peas hung down over the boxes; and the rose-trees shot up long + branches, twined round the windows, and then bent towards each other: it + was almost like a triumphant arch of foliage and flowers. The boxes were + very high, and the children knew that they must not creep over them; so + they often obtained permission to get out of the windows to each other, + and to sit on their little stools among the roses, where they could play + delightfully. In winter there was an end of this pleasure. The windows + were often frozen over; but then they heated copper farthings on the + stove, and laid the hot farthing on the windowpane, and then they had a + capital peep-hole, quite nicely rounded; and out of each peeped a gentle + friendly eye—it was the little boy and the little girl who were + looking out. His name was Kay, hers was Gerda. In summer, with one jump, + they could get to each other; but in winter they were obliged first to go + down the long stairs, and then up the long stairs again: and out-of-doors + there was quite a snow-storm. + </p> + <p> + “It is the white bees that are swarming,” said Kay's old grandmother. + </p> + <p> + “Do the white bees choose a queen?” asked the little boy; for he knew that + the honey-bees always have one. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said the grandmother, “she flies where the swarm hangs in the + thickest clusters. She is the largest of all; and she can never remain + quietly on the earth, but goes up again into the black clouds. Many a + winter's night she flies through the streets of the town, and peeps in at + the windows; and they then freeze in so wondrous a manner that they look + like flowers.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I have seen it,” said both the children; and so they knew that it + was true. + </p> + <p> + “Can the Snow Queen come in?” said the little girl. + </p> + <p> + “Only let her come in!” said the little boy. “Then I'd put her on the + stove, and she'd melt.” + </p> + <p> + And then his grandmother patted his head and told him other stories. + </p> + <p> + In the evening, when little Kay was at home, and half undressed, he + climbed up on the chair by the window, and peeped out of the little hole. + A few snow-flakes were falling, and one, the largest of all, remained + lying on the edge of a flower-pot. + </p> + <p> + The flake of snow grew larger and larger; and at last it was like a young + lady, dressed in the finest white gauze, made of a million little flakes + like stars. She was so beautiful and delicate, but she was of ice, of + dazzling, sparkling ice; yet she lived; her eyes gazed fixedly, like two + stars; but there was neither quiet nor repose in them. She nodded towards + the window, and beckoned with her hand. The little boy was frightened, and + jumped down from the chair; it seemed to him as if, at the same moment, a + large bird flew past the window. + </p> + <p> + The next day it was a sharp frost—and then the spring came; the sun + shone, the green leaves appeared, the swallows built their nests, the + windows were opened, and the little children again sat in their pretty + garden, high up on the leads at the top of the house. + </p> + <p> + That summer the roses flowered in unwonted beauty. The little girl had + learned a hymn, in which there was something about roses; and then she + thought of her own flowers; and she sang the verse to the little boy, who + then sang it with her: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, + And angels descend there the children to greet.” + </pre> + <p> + And the children held each other by the hand, kissed the roses, looked up + at the clear sunshine, and spoke as though they really saw angels there. + What lovely summer-days those were! How delightful to be out in the air, + near the fresh rose-bushes, that seem as if they would never finish + blossoming! + </p> + <p> + Kay and Gerda looked at the picture-book full of beasts and of birds; and + it was then—the clock in the church-tower was just striking five—that + Kay said, “Oh! I feel such a sharp pain in my heart; and now something has + got into my eye!” + </p> + <p> + The little girl put her arms around his neck. He winked his eyes; now + there was nothing to be seen. + </p> + <p> + “I think it is out now,” said he; but it was not. It was just one of those + pieces of glass from the magic mirror that had got into his eye; and poor + Kay had got another piece right in his heart. It will soon become like + ice. It did not hurt any longer, but there it was. + </p> + <p> + “What are you crying for?” asked he. “You look so ugly! There's nothing + the matter with me. Ah,” said he at once, “that rose is cankered! And + look, this one is quite crooked! After all, these roses are very ugly! + They are just like the box they are planted in!” And then he gave the box + a good kick with his foot, and pulled both the roses up. + </p> + <p> + “What are you doing?” cried the little girl; and as he perceived her + fright, he pulled up another rose, got in at the window, and hastened off + from dear little Gerda. + </p> + <p> + Afterwards, when she brought her picture-book, he asked, “What horrid + beasts have you there?” And if his grandmother told them stories, he + always interrupted her; besides, if he could manage it, he would get + behind her, put on her spectacles, and imitate her way of speaking; he + copied all her ways, and then everybody laughed at him. He was soon able + to imitate the gait and manner of everyone in the street. Everything that + was peculiar and displeasing in them—that Kay knew how to imitate: + and at such times all the people said, “The boy is certainly very clever!” + But it was the glass he had got in his eye; the glass that was sticking in + his heart, which made him tease even little Gerda, whose whole soul was + devoted to him. + </p> + <p> + His games now were quite different to what they had formerly been, they + were so very knowing. One winter's day, when the flakes of snow were + flying about, he spread the skirts of his blue coat, and caught the snow + as it fell. + </p> + <p> + “Look through this glass, Gerda,” said he. And every flake seemed larger, + and appeared like a magnificent flower, or beautiful star; it was splendid + to look at! + </p> + <p> + “Look, how clever!” said Kay. “That's much more interesting than real + flowers! They are as exact as possible; there is not a fault in them, if + they did not melt!” + </p> + <p> + It was not long after this, that Kay came one day with large gloves on, + and his little sledge at his back, and bawled right into Gerda's ears, “I + have permission to go out into the square where the others are playing”; + and off he was in a moment. + </p> + <p> + There, in the market-place, some of the boldest of the boys used to tie + their sledges to the carts as they passed by, and so they were pulled + along, and got a good ride. It was so capital! Just as they were in the + very height of their amusement, a large sledge passed by: it was painted + quite white, and there was someone in it wrapped up in a rough white + mantle of fur, with a rough white fur cap on his head. The sledge drove + round the square twice, and Kay tied on his sledge as quickly as he could, + and off he drove with it. On they went quicker and quicker into the next + street; and the person who drove turned round to Kay, and nodded to him in + a friendly manner, just as if they knew each other. Every time he was + going to untie his sledge, the person nodded to him, and then Kay sat + quiet; and so on they went till they came outside the gates of the town. + Then the snow began to fall so thickly that the little boy could not see + an arm's length before him, but still on he went: when suddenly he let go + the string he held in his hand in order to get loose from the sledge, but + it was of no use; still the little vehicle rushed on with the quickness of + the wind. He then cried as loud as he could, but no one heard him; the + snow drifted and the sledge flew on, and sometimes it gave a jerk as + though they were driving over hedges and ditches. He was quite frightened, + and he tried to repeat the Lord's Prayer; but all he could do, he was only + able to remember the multiplication table. + </p> + <p> + The snow-flakes grew larger and larger, till at last they looked just like + great white fowls. Suddenly they flew on one side; the large sledge + stopped, and the person who drove rose up. It was a lady; her cloak and + cap were of snow. She was tall and of slender figure, and of a dazzling + whiteness. It was the Snow Queen. + </p> + <p> + “We have travelled fast,” said she; “but it is freezingly cold. Come under + my bearskin.” And she put him in the sledge beside her, wrapped the fur + round him, and he felt as though he were sinking in a snow-wreath. + </p> + <p> + “Are you still cold?” asked she; and then she kissed his forehead. Ah! it + was colder than ice; it penetrated to his very heart, which was already + almost a frozen lump; it seemed to him as if he were about to die—but + a moment more and it was quite congenial to him, and he did not remark the + cold that was around him. + </p> + <p> + “My sledge! Do not forget my sledge!” It was the first thing he thought + of. It was there tied to one of the white chickens, who flew along with it + on his back behind the large sledge. The Snow Queen kissed Kay once more, + and then he forgot little Gerda, grandmother, and all whom he had left at + his home. + </p> + <p> + “Now you will have no more kisses,” said she, “or else I should kiss you + to death!” + </p> + <p> + Kay looked at her. She was very beautiful; a more clever, or a more lovely + countenance he could not fancy to himself; and she no longer appeared of + ice as before, when she sat outside the window, and beckoned to him; in + his eyes she was perfect, he did not fear her at all, and told her that he + could calculate in his head and with fractions, even; that he knew the + number of square miles there were in the different countries, and how many + inhabitants they contained; and she smiled while he spoke. It then seemed + to him as if what he knew was not enough, and he looked upwards in the + large huge empty space above him, and on she flew with him; flew high over + the black clouds, while the storm moaned and whistled as though it were + singing some old tune. On they flew over woods and lakes, over seas, and + many lands; and beneath them the chilling storm rushed fast, the wolves + howled, the snow crackled; above them flew large screaming crows, but + higher up appeared the moon, quite large and bright; and it was on it that + Kay gazed during the long long winter's night; while by day he slept at + the feet of the Snow Queen. + </p> + <p> + THIRD STORY. Of the Flower-Garden At the Old Woman's Who Understood + Witchcraft + </p> + <p> + But what became of little Gerda when Kay did not return? Where could he + be? Nobody knew; nobody could give any intelligence. All the boys knew + was, that they had seen him tie his sledge to another large and splendid + one, which drove down the street and out of the town. Nobody knew where he + was; many sad tears were shed, and little Gerda wept long and bitterly; at + last she said he must be dead; that he had been drowned in the river which + flowed close to the town. Oh! those were very long and dismal winter + evenings! + </p> + <p> + At last spring came, with its warm sunshine. + </p> + <p> + “Kay is dead and gone!” said little Gerda. + </p> + <p> + “That I don't believe,” said the Sunshine. + </p> + <p> + “Kay is dead and gone!” said she to the Swallows. + </p> + <p> + “That I don't believe,” said they: and at last little Gerda did not think + so any longer either. + </p> + <p> + “I'll put on my red shoes,” said she, one morning; “Kay has never seen + them, and then I'll go down to the river and ask there.” + </p> + <p> + It was quite early; she kissed her old grandmother, who was still asleep, + put on her red shoes, and went alone to the river. + </p> + <p> + “Is it true that you have taken my little playfellow? I will make you a + present of my red shoes, if you will give him back to me.” + </p> + <p> + And, as it seemed to her, the blue waves nodded in a strange manner; then + she took off her red shoes, the most precious things she possessed, and + threw them both into the river. But they fell close to the bank, and the + little waves bore them immediately to land; it was as if the stream would + not take what was dearest to her; for in reality it had not got little + Kay; but Gerda thought that she had not thrown the shoes out far enough, + so she clambered into a boat which lay among the rushes, went to the + farthest end, and threw out the shoes. But the boat was not fastened, and + the motion which she occasioned, made it drift from the shore. She + observed this, and hastened to get back; but before she could do so, the + boat was more than a yard from the land, and was gliding quickly onward. + </p> + <p> + Little Gerda was very frightened, and began to cry; but no one heard her + except the sparrows, and they could not carry her to land; but they flew + along the bank, and sang as if to comfort her, “Here we are! Here we are!” + The boat drifted with the stream, little Gerda sat quite still without + shoes, for they were swimming behind the boat, but she could not reach + them, because the boat went much faster than they did. + </p> + <p> + The banks on both sides were beautiful; lovely flowers, venerable trees, + and slopes with sheep and cows, but not a human being was to be seen. + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps the river will carry me to little Kay,” said she; and then she + grew less sad. She rose, and looked for many hours at the beautiful green + banks. Presently she sailed by a large cherry-orchard, where was a little + cottage with curious red and blue windows; it was thatched, and before it + two wooden soldiers stood sentry, and presented arms when anyone went + past. + </p> + <p> + Gerda called to them, for she thought they were alive; but they, of + course, did not answer. She came close to them, for the stream drifted the + boat quite near the land. + </p> + <p> + Gerda called still louder, and an old woman then came out of the cottage, + leaning upon a crooked stick. She had a large broad-brimmed hat on, + painted with the most splendid flowers. + </p> + <p> + “Poor little child!” said the old woman. “How did you get upon the large + rapid river, to be driven about so in the wide world!” And then the old + woman went into the water, caught hold of the boat with her crooked stick, + drew it to the bank, and lifted little Gerda out. + </p> + <p> + And Gerda was so glad to be on dry land again; but she was rather afraid + of the strange old woman. + </p> + <p> + “But come and tell me who you are, and how you came here,” said she. + </p> + <p> + And Gerda told her all; and the old woman shook her head and said, “A-hem! + a-hem!” and when Gerda had told her everything, and asked her if she had + not seen little Kay, the woman answered that he had not passed there, but + he no doubt would come; and she told her not to be cast down, but taste + her cherries, and look at her flowers, which were finer than any in a + picture-book, each of which could tell a whole story. She then took Gerda + by the hand, led her into the little cottage, and locked the door. + </p> + <p> + The windows were very high up; the glass was red, blue, and green, and the + sunlight shone through quite wondrously in all sorts of colors. On the + table stood the most exquisite cherries, and Gerda ate as many as she + chose, for she had permission to do so. While she was eating, the old + woman combed her hair with a golden comb, and her hair curled and shone + with a lovely golden color around that sweet little face, which was so + round and so like a rose. + </p> + <p> + “I have often longed for such a dear little girl,” said the old woman. + “Now you shall see how well we agree together”; and while she combed + little Gerda's hair, the child forgot her foster-brother Kay more and + more, for the old woman understood magic; but she was no evil being, she + only practised witchcraft a little for her own private amusement, and now + she wanted very much to keep little Gerda. She therefore went out in the + garden, stretched out her crooked stick towards the rose-bushes, which, + beautifully as they were blowing, all sank into the earth and no one could + tell where they had stood. The old woman feared that if Gerda should see + the roses, she would then think of her own, would remember little Kay, and + run away from her. + </p> + <p> + She now led Gerda into the flower-garden. Oh, what odour and what + loveliness was there! Every flower that one could think of, and of every + season, stood there in fullest bloom; no picture-book could be gayer or + more beautiful. Gerda jumped for joy, and played till the sun set behind + the tall cherry-tree; she then had a pretty bed, with a red silken + coverlet filled with blue violets. She fell asleep, and had as pleasant + dreams as ever a queen on her wedding-day. + </p> + <p> + The next morning she went to play with the flowers in the warm sunshine, + and thus passed away a day. Gerda knew every flower; and, numerous as they + were, it still seemed to Gerda that one was wanting, though she did not + know which. One day while she was looking at the hat of the old woman + painted with flowers, the most beautiful of them all seemed to her to be a + rose. The old woman had forgotten to take it from her hat when she made + the others vanish in the earth. But so it is when one's thoughts are not + collected. “What!” said Gerda. “Are there no roses here?” and she ran + about amongst the flowerbeds, and looked, and looked, but there was not + one to be found. She then sat down and wept; but her hot tears fell just + where a rose-bush had sunk; and when her warm tears watered the ground, + the tree shot up suddenly as fresh and blooming as when it had been + swallowed up. Gerda kissed the roses, thought of her own dear roses at + home, and with them of little Kay. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, how long I have stayed!” said the little girl. “I intended to look + for Kay! Don't you know where he is?” she asked of the roses. “Do you + think he is dead and gone?” + </p> + <p> + “Dead he certainly is not,” said the Roses. “We have been in the earth + where all the dead are, but Kay was not there.” + </p> + <p> + “Many thanks!” said little Gerda; and she went to the other flowers, + looked into their cups, and asked, “Don't you know where little Kay is?” + </p> + <p> + But every flower stood in the sunshine, and dreamed its own fairy tale or + its own story: and they all told her very many things, but not one knew + anything of Kay. + </p> + <p> + Well, what did the Tiger-Lily say? + </p> + <p> + “Hearest thou not the drum? Bum! Bum! Those are the only two tones. Always + bum! Bum! Hark to the plaintive song of the old woman, to the call of the + priests! The Hindoo woman in her long robe stands upon the funeral pile; + the flames rise around her and her dead husband, but the Hindoo woman + thinks on the living one in the surrounding circle; on him whose eyes burn + hotter than the flames—on him, the fire of whose eyes pierces her + heart more than the flames which soon will burn her body to ashes. Can the + heart's flame die in the flame of the funeral pile?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't understand that at all,” said little Gerda. + </p> + <p> + “That is my story,” said the Lily. + </p> + <p> + What did the Convolvulus say? + </p> + <p> + “Projecting over a narrow mountain-path there hangs an old feudal castle. + Thick evergreens grow on the dilapidated walls, and around the altar, + where a lovely maiden is standing: she bends over the railing and looks + out upon the rose. No fresher rose hangs on the branches than she; no + appleblossom carried away by the wind is more buoyant! How her silken robe + is rustling! + </p> + <p> + “'Is he not yet come?'” + </p> + <p> + “Is it Kay that you mean?” asked little Gerda. + </p> + <p> + “I am speaking about my story—about my dream,” answered the + Convolvulus. + </p> + <p> + What did the Snowdrops say? + </p> + <p> + “Between the trees a long board is hanging—it is a swing. Two little + girls are sitting in it, and swing themselves backwards and forwards; + their frocks are as white as snow, and long green silk ribands flutter + from their bonnets. Their brother, who is older than they are, stands up + in the swing; he twines his arms round the cords to hold himself fast, for + in one hand he has a little cup, and in the other a clay-pipe. He is + blowing soap-bubbles. The swing moves, and the bubbles float in charming + changing colors: the last is still hanging to the end of the pipe, and + rocks in the breeze. The swing moves. The little black dog, as light as a + soap-bubble, jumps up on his hind legs to try to get into the swing. It + moves, the dog falls down, barks, and is angry. They tease him; the bubble + bursts! A swing, a bursting bubble—such is my song!” + </p> + <p> + “What you relate may be very pretty, but you tell it in so melancholy a + manner, and do not mention Kay.” + </p> + <p> + What do the Hyacinths say? + </p> + <p> + “There were once upon a time three sisters, quite transparent, and very + beautiful. The robe of the one was red, that of the second blue, and that + of the third white. They danced hand in hand beside the calm lake in the + clear moonshine. They were not elfin maidens, but mortal children. A sweet + fragrance was smelt, and the maidens vanished in the wood; the fragrance + grew stronger—three coffins, and in them three lovely maidens, + glided out of the forest and across the lake: the shining glow-worms flew + around like little floating lights. Do the dancing maidens sleep, or are + they dead? The odour of the flowers says they are corpses; the evening + bell tolls for the dead!” + </p> + <p> + “You make me quite sad,” said little Gerda. “I cannot help thinking of the + dead maidens. Oh! is little Kay really dead? The Roses have been in the + earth, and they say no.” + </p> + <p> + “Ding, dong!” sounded the Hyacinth bells. “We do not toll for little Kay; + we do not know him. That is our way of singing, the only one we have.” + </p> + <p> + And Gerda went to the Ranunculuses, that looked forth from among the + shining green leaves. + </p> + <p> + “You are a little bright sun!” said Gerda. “Tell me if you know where I + can find my playfellow.” + </p> + <p> + And the Ranunculus shone brightly, and looked again at Gerda. What song + could the Ranunculus sing? It was one that said nothing about Kay either. + </p> + <p> + “In a small court the bright sun was shining in the first days of spring. + The beams glided down the white walls of a neighbor's house, and close by + the fresh yellow flowers were growing, shining like gold in the warm + sun-rays. An old grandmother was sitting in the air; her grand-daughter, + the poor and lovely servant just come for a short visit. She knows her + grandmother. There was gold, pure virgin gold in that blessed kiss. There, + that is my little story,” said the Ranunculus. + </p> + <p> + “My poor old grandmother!” sighed Gerda. “Yes, she is longing for me, no + doubt: she is sorrowing for me, as she did for little Kay. But I will soon + come home, and then I will bring Kay with me. It is of no use asking the + flowers; they only know their own old rhymes, and can tell me nothing.” + And she tucked up her frock, to enable her to run quicker; but the + Narcissus gave her a knock on the leg, just as she was going to jump over + it. So she stood still, looked at the long yellow flower, and asked, “You + perhaps know something?” and she bent down to the Narcissus. And what did + it say? + </p> + <p> + “I can see myself—I can see myself! Oh, how odorous I am! Up in the + little garret there stands, half-dressed, a little Dancer. She stands now + on one leg, now on both; she despises the whole world; yet she lives only + in imagination. She pours water out of the teapot over a piece of stuff + which she holds in her hand; it is the bodice; cleanliness is a fine + thing. The white dress is hanging on the hook; it was washed in the + teapot, and dried on the roof. She puts it on, ties a saffron-colored + kerchief round her neck, and then the gown looks whiter. I can see myself—I + can see myself!” + </p> + <p> + “That's nothing to me,” said little Gerda. “That does not concern me.” And + then off she ran to the further end of the garden. + </p> + <p> + The gate was locked, but she shook the rusted bolt till it was loosened, + and the gate opened; and little Gerda ran off barefooted into the wide + world. She looked round her thrice, but no one followed her. At last she + could run no longer; she sat down on a large stone, and when she looked + about her, she saw that the summer had passed; it was late in the autumn, + but that one could not remark in the beautiful garden, where there was + always sunshine, and where there were flowers the whole year round. + </p> + <p> + “Dear me, how long I have staid!” said Gerda. “Autumn is come. I must not + rest any longer.” And she got up to go further. + </p> + <p> + Oh, how tender and wearied her little feet were! All around it looked so + cold and raw: the long willow-leaves were quite yellow, and the fog + dripped from them like water; one leaf fell after the other: the sloes + only stood full of fruit, which set one's teeth on edge. Oh, how dark and + comfortless it was in the dreary world! + </p> + <p> + FOURTH STORY. The Prince and Princess + </p> + <p> + Gerda was obliged to rest herself again, when, exactly opposite to her, a + large Raven came hopping over the white snow. He had long been looking at + Gerda and shaking his head; and now he said, “Caw! Caw!” Good day! Good + day! He could not say it better; but he felt a sympathy for the little + girl, and asked her where she was going all alone. The word “alone” Gerda + understood quite well, and felt how much was expressed by it; so she told + the Raven her whole history, and asked if he had not seen Kay. + </p> + <p> + The Raven nodded very gravely, and said, “It may be—it may be!” + </p> + <p> + “What, do you really think so?” cried the little girl; and she nearly + squeezed the Raven to death, so much did she kiss him. + </p> + <p> + “Gently, gently,” said the Raven. “I think I know; I think that it may be + little Kay. But now he has forgotten you for the Princess.” + </p> + <p> + “Does he live with a Princess?” asked Gerda. + </p> + <p> + “Yes—listen,” said the Raven; “but it will be difficult for me to + speak your language. If you understand the Raven language I can tell you + better.” + </p> + <p> + “No, I have not learnt it,” said Gerda; “but my grandmother understands + it, and she can speak gibberish too. I wish I had learnt it.” + </p> + <p> + “No matter,” said the Raven; “I will tell you as well as I can; however, + it will be bad enough.” And then he told all he knew. + </p> + <p> + “In the kingdom where we now are there lives a Princess, who is + extraordinarily clever; for she has read all the newspapers in the whole + world, and has forgotten them again—so clever is she. She was + lately, it is said, sitting on her throne—which is not very amusing + after all—when she began humming an old tune, and it was just, 'Oh, + why should I not be married?' 'That song is not without its meaning,' said + she, and so then she was determined to marry; but she would have a husband + who knew how to give an answer when he was spoken to—not one who + looked only as if he were a great personage, for that is so tiresome. She + then had all the ladies of the court drummed together; and when they heard + her intention, all were very pleased, and said, 'We are very glad to hear + it; it is the very thing we were thinking of.' You may believe every word + I say,” said the Raven; “for I have a tame sweetheart that hops about in + the palace quite free, and it was she who told me all this. + </p> + <p> + “The newspapers appeared forthwith with a border of hearts and the + initials of the Princess; and therein you might read that every + good-looking young man was at liberty to come to the palace and speak to + the Princess; and he who spoke in such wise as showed he felt himself at + home there, that one the Princess would choose for her husband. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Yes,” said the Raven, “you may believe it; it is as true as I am + sitting here. People came in crowds; there was a crush and a hurry, but no + one was successful either on the first or second day. They could all talk + well enough when they were out in the street; but as soon as they came + inside the palace gates, and saw the guard richly dressed in silver, and + the lackeys in gold on the staircase, and the large illuminated saloons, + then they were abashed; and when they stood before the throne on which the + Princess was sitting, all they could do was to repeat the last word they + had uttered, and to hear it again did not interest her very much. It was + just as if the people within were under a charm, and had fallen into a + trance till they came out again into the street; for then—oh, then—they + could chatter enough. There was a whole row of them standing from the + town-gates to the palace. I was there myself to look,” said the Raven. + “They grew hungry and thirsty; but from the palace they got nothing + whatever, not even a glass of water. Some of the cleverest, it is true, + had taken bread and butter with them: but none shared it with his + neighbor, for each thought, 'Let him look hungry, and then the Princess + won't have him.'” + </p> + <p> + “But Kay—little Kay,” said Gerda, “when did he come? Was he among + the number?” + </p> + <p> + “Patience, patience; we are just come to him. It was on the third day when + a little personage without horse or equipage, came marching right boldly + up to the palace; his eyes shone like yours, he had beautiful long hair, + but his clothes were very shabby.” + </p> + <p> + “That was Kay,” cried Gerda, with a voice of delight. “Oh, now I've found + him!” and she clapped her hands for joy. + </p> + <p> + “He had a little knapsack at his back,” said the Raven. + </p> + <p> + “No, that was certainly his sledge,” said Gerda; “for when he went away he + took his sledge with him.” + </p> + <p> + “That may be,” said the Raven; “I did not examine him so minutely; but I + know from my tame sweetheart, that when he came into the court-yard of the + palace, and saw the body-guard in silver, the lackeys on the staircase, he + was not the least abashed; he nodded, and said to them, 'It must be very + tiresome to stand on the stairs; for my part, I shall go in.' The saloons + were gleaming with lustres—privy councillors and excellencies were + walking about barefooted, and wore gold keys; it was enough to make any + one feel uncomfortable. His boots creaked, too, so loudly, but still he + was not at all afraid.” + </p> + <p> + “That's Kay for certain,” said Gerda. “I know he had on new boots; I have + heard them creaking in grandmama's room.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, they creaked,” said the Raven. “And on he went boldly up to the + Princess, who was sitting on a pearl as large as a spinning-wheel. All the + ladies of the court, with their attendants and attendants' attendants, and + all the cavaliers, with their gentlemen and gentlemen's gentlemen, stood + round; and the nearer they stood to the door, the prouder they looked. It + was hardly possible to look at the gentleman's gentleman, so very + haughtily did he stand in the doorway.” + </p> + <p> + “It must have been terrible,” said little Gerda. “And did Kay get the + Princess?” + </p> + <p> + “Were I not a Raven, I should have taken the Princess myself, although I + am promised. It is said he spoke as well as I speak when I talk Raven + language; this I learned from my tame sweetheart. He was bold and nicely + behaved; he had not come to woo the Princess, but only to hear her wisdom. + She pleased him, and he pleased her.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes; for certain that was Kay,” said Gerda. “He was so clever; he + could reckon fractions in his head. Oh, won't you take me to the palace?” + </p> + <p> + “That is very easily said,” answered the Raven. “But how are we to manage + it? I'll speak to my tame sweetheart about it: she must advise us; for so + much I must tell you, such a little girl as you are will never get + permission to enter.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes I shall,” said Gerda; “when Kay hears that I am here, he will + come out directly to fetch me.” + </p> + <p> + “Wait for me here on these steps,” said the Raven. He moved his head + backwards and forwards and flew away. + </p> + <p> + The evening was closing in when the Raven returned. “Caw—caw!” said + he. “She sends you her compliments; and here is a roll for you. She took + it out of the kitchen, where there is bread enough. You are hungry, no + doubt. It is not possible for you to enter the palace, for you are + barefooted: the guards in silver, and the lackeys in gold, would not allow + it; but do not cry, you shall come in still. My sweetheart knows a little + back stair that leads to the bedchamber, and she knows where she can get + the key of it.” + </p> + <p> + And they went into the garden in the large avenue, where one leaf was + falling after the other; and when the lights in the palace had all + gradually disappeared, the Raven led little Gerda to the back door, which + stood half open. + </p> + <p> + Oh, how Gerda's heart beat with anxiety and longing! It was just as if she + had been about to do something wrong; and yet she only wanted to know if + little Kay was there. Yes, he must be there. She called to mind his + intelligent eyes, and his long hair, so vividly, she could quite see him + as he used to laugh when they were sitting under the roses at home. “He + will, no doubt, be glad to see you—to hear what a long way you have + come for his sake; to know how unhappy all at home were when he did not + come back.” + </p> + <p> + Oh, what a fright and a joy it was! + </p> + <p> + They were now on the stairs. A single lamp was burning there; and on the + floor stood the tame Raven, turning her head on every side and looking at + Gerda, who bowed as her grandmother had taught her to do. + </p> + <p> + “My intended has told me so much good of you, my dear young lady,” said + the tame Raven. “Your tale is very affecting. If you will take the lamp, I + will go before. We will go straight on, for we shall meet no one.” + </p> + <p> + “I think there is somebody just behind us,” said Gerda; and something + rushed past: it was like shadowy figures on the wall; horses with flowing + manes and thin legs, huntsmen, ladies and gentlemen on horseback. + </p> + <p> + “They are only dreams,” said the Raven. “They come to fetch the thoughts + of the high personages to the chase; 'tis well, for now you can observe + them in bed all the better. But let me find, when you enjoy honor and + distinction, that you possess a grateful heart.” + </p> + <p> + “Tut! That's not worth talking about,” said the Raven of the woods. + </p> + <p> + They now entered the first saloon, which was of rose-colored satin, with + artificial flowers on the wall. Here the dreams were rushing past, but + they hastened by so quickly that Gerda could not see the high personages. + One hall was more magnificent than the other; one might indeed well be + abashed; and at last they came into the bedchamber. The ceiling of the + room resembled a large palm-tree with leaves of glass, of costly glass; + and in the middle, from a thick golden stem, hung two beds, each of which + resembled a lily. One was white, and in this lay the Princess; the other + was red, and it was here that Gerda was to look for little Kay. She bent + back one of the red leaves, and saw a brown neck. Oh! that was Kay! She + called him quite loud by name, held the lamp towards him—the dreams + rushed back again into the chamber—he awoke, turned his head, and—it + was not little Kay! + </p> + <p> + The Prince was only like him about the neck; but he was young and + handsome. And out of the white lily leaves the Princess peeped, too, and + asked what was the matter. Then little Gerda cried, and told her her whole + history, and all that the Ravens had done for her. + </p> + <p> + “Poor little thing!” said the Prince and the Princess. They praised the + Ravens very much, and told them they were not at all angry with them, but + they were not to do so again. However, they should have a reward. “Will + you fly about here at liberty,” asked the Princess; “or would you like to + have a fixed appointment as court ravens, with all the broken bits from + the kitchen?” + </p> + <p> + And both the Ravens nodded, and begged for a fixed appointment; for they + thought of their old age, and said, “It is a good thing to have a + provision for our old days.” + </p> + <p> + And the Prince got up and let Gerda sleep in his bed, and more than this + he could not do. She folded her little hands and thought, “How good men + and animals are!” and she then fell asleep and slept soundly. All the + dreams flew in again, and they now looked like the angels; they drew a + little sledge, in which little Kay sat and nodded his head; but the whole + was only a dream, and therefore it all vanished as soon as she awoke. + </p> + <p> + The next day she was dressed from head to foot in silk and velvet. They + offered to let her stay at the palace, and lead a happy life; but she + begged to have a little carriage with a horse in front, and for a small + pair of shoes; then, she said, she would again go forth in the wide world + and look for Kay. + </p> + <p> + Shoes and a muff were given her; she was, too, dressed very nicely; and + when she was about to set off, a new carriage stopped before the door. It + was of pure gold, and the arms of the Prince and Princess shone like a + star upon it; the coachman, the footmen, and the outriders, for outriders + were there, too, all wore golden crowns. The Prince and the Princess + assisted her into the carriage themselves, and wished her all success. The + Raven of the woods, who was now married, accompanied her for the first + three miles. He sat beside Gerda, for he could not bear riding backwards; + the other Raven stood in the doorway, and flapped her wings; she could not + accompany Gerda, because she suffered from headache since she had had a + fixed appointment and ate so much. The carriage was lined inside with + sugar-plums, and in the seats were fruits and gingerbread. + </p> + <p> + “Farewell! Farewell!” cried Prince and Princess; and Gerda wept, and the + Raven wept. Thus passed the first miles; and then the Raven bade her + farewell, and this was the most painful separation of all. He flew into a + tree, and beat his black wings as long as he could see the carriage, that + shone from afar like a sunbeam. + </p> + <p> + FIFTH STORY. The Little Robber Maiden + </p> + <p> + They drove through the dark wood; but the carriage shone like a torch, and + it dazzled the eyes of the robbers, so that they could not bear to look at + it. + </p> + <p> + “'Tis gold! 'Tis gold!” they cried; and they rushed forward, seized the + horses, knocked down the little postilion, the coachman, and the servants, + and pulled little Gerda out of the carriage. + </p> + <p> + “How plump, how beautiful she is! She must have been fed on nut-kernels,” + said the old female robber, who had a long, scrubby beard, and bushy + eyebrows that hung down over her eyes. “She is as good as a fatted lamb! + How nice she will be!” And then she drew out a knife, the blade of which + shone so that it was quite dreadful to behold. + </p> + <p> + “Oh!” cried the woman at the same moment. She had been bitten in the ear + by her own little daughter, who hung at her back; and who was so wild and + unmanageable, that it was quite amusing to see her. “You naughty child!” + said the mother: and now she had not time to kill Gerda. + </p> + <p> + “She shall play with me,” said the little robber child. “She shall give me + her muff, and her pretty frock; she shall sleep in my bed!” And then she + gave her mother another bite, so that she jumped, and ran round with the + pain; and the Robbers laughed, and said, “Look, how she is dancing with + the little one!” + </p> + <p> + “I will go into the carriage,” said the little robber maiden; and she + would have her will, for she was very spoiled and very headstrong. She and + Gerda got in; and then away they drove over the stumps of felled trees, + deeper and deeper into the woods. The little robber maiden was as tall as + Gerda, but stronger, broader-shouldered, and of dark complexion; her eyes + were quite black; they looked almost melancholy. She embraced little + Gerda, and said, “They shall not kill you as long as I am not displeased + with you. You are, doubtless, a Princess?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said little Gerda; who then related all that had happened to her, + and how much she cared about little Kay. + </p> + <p> + The little robber maiden looked at her with a serious air, nodded her head + slightly, and said, “They shall not kill you, even if I am angry with you: + then I will do it myself”; and she dried Gerda's eyes, and put both her + hands in the handsome muff, which was so soft and warm. + </p> + <p> + At length the carriage stopped. They were in the midst of the court-yard + of a robber's castle. It was full of cracks from top to bottom; and out of + the openings magpies and rooks were flying; and the great bull-dogs, each + of which looked as if he could swallow a man, jumped up, but they did not + bark, for that was forbidden. + </p> + <p> + In the midst of the large, old, smoking hall burnt a great fire on the + stone floor. The smoke disappeared under the stones, and had to seek its + own egress. In an immense caldron soup was boiling; and rabbits and hares + were being roasted on a spit. + </p> + <p> + “You shall sleep with me to-night, with all my animals,” said the little + robber maiden. They had something to eat and drink; and then went into a + corner, where straw and carpets were lying. Beside them, on laths and + perches, sat nearly a hundred pigeons, all asleep, seemingly; but yet they + moved a little when the robber maiden came. “They are all mine,” said she, + at the same time seizing one that was next to her by the legs and shaking + it so that its wings fluttered. “Kiss it,” cried the little girl, and + flung the pigeon in Gerda's face. “Up there is the rabble of the wood,” + continued she, pointing to several laths which were fastened before a hole + high up in the wall; “that's the rabble; they would all fly away + immediately, if they were not well fastened in. And here is my dear old + Bac”; and she laid hold of the horns of a reindeer, that had a bright + copper ring round its neck, and was tethered to the spot. “We are obliged + to lock this fellow in too, or he would make his escape. Every evening I + tickle his neck with my sharp knife; he is so frightened at it!” and the + little girl drew forth a long knife, from a crack in the wall, and let it + glide over the Reindeer's neck. The poor animal kicked; the girl laughed, + and pulled Gerda into bed with her. + </p> + <p> + “Do you intend to keep your knife while you sleep?” asked Gerda; looking + at it rather fearfully. + </p> + <p> + “I always sleep with the knife,” said the little robber maiden. “There is + no knowing what may happen. But tell me now, once more, all about little + Kay; and why you have started off in the wide world alone.” And Gerda + related all, from the very beginning: the Wood-pigeons cooed above in + their cage, and the others slept. The little robber maiden wound her arm + round Gerda's neck, held the knife in the other hand, and snored so loud + that everybody could hear her; but Gerda could not close her eyes, for she + did not know whether she was to live or die. The robbers sat round the + fire, sang and drank; and the old female robber jumped about so, that it + was quite dreadful for Gerda to see her. + </p> + <p> + Then the Wood-pigeons said, “Coo! Coo! We have seen little Kay! A white + hen carries his sledge; he himself sat in the carriage of the Snow Queen, + who passed here, down just over the wood, as we lay in our nest. She blew + upon us young ones; and all died except we two. Coo! Coo!” + </p> + <p> + “What is that you say up there?” cried little Gerda. “Where did the Snow + Queen go to? Do you know anything about it?” + </p> + <p> + “She is no doubt gone to Lapland; for there is always snow and ice there. + Only ask the Reindeer, who is tethered there.” + </p> + <p> + “Ice and snow is there! There it is, glorious and beautiful!” said the + Reindeer. “One can spring about in the large shining valleys! The Snow + Queen has her summer-tent there; but her fixed abode is high up towards + the North Pole, on the Island called Spitzbergen.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Kay! Poor little Kay!” sighed Gerda. + </p> + <p> + “Do you choose to be quiet?” said the robber maiden. “If you don't, I + shall make you.” + </p> + <p> + In the morning Gerda told her all that the Wood-pigeons had said; and the + little maiden looked very serious, but she nodded her head, and said, + “That's no matter—that's no matter. Do you know where Lapland lies!” + she asked of the Reindeer. + </p> + <p> + “Who should know better than I?” said the animal; and his eyes rolled in + his head. “I was born and bred there—there I leapt about on the + fields of snow.” + </p> + <p> + “Listen,” said the robber maiden to Gerda. “You see that the men are gone; + but my mother is still here, and will remain. However, towards morning she + takes a draught out of the large flask, and then she sleeps a little: then + I will do something for you.” She now jumped out of bed, flew to her + mother; with her arms round her neck, and pulling her by the beard, said, + “Good morrow, my own sweet nanny-goat of a mother.” And her mother took + hold of her nose, and pinched it till it was red and blue; but this was + all done out of pure love. + </p> + <p> + When the mother had taken a sup at her flask, and was having a nap, the + little robber maiden went to the Reindeer, and said, “I should very much + like to give you still many a tickling with the sharp knife, for then you + are so amusing; however, I will untether you, and help you out, so that + you may go back to Lapland. But you must make good use of your legs; and + take this little girl for me to the palace of the Snow Queen, where her + playfellow is. You have heard, I suppose, all she said; for she spoke loud + enough, and you were listening.” + </p> + <p> + The Reindeer gave a bound for joy. The robber maiden lifted up little + Gerda, and took the precaution to bind her fast on the Reindeer's back; + she even gave her a small cushion to sit on. “Here are your worsted + leggins, for it will be cold; but the muff I shall keep for myself, for it + is so very pretty. But I do not wish you to be cold. Here is a pair of + lined gloves of my mother's; they just reach up to your elbow. On with + them! Now you look about the hands just like my ugly old mother!” + </p> + <p> + And Gerda wept for joy. + </p> + <p> + “I can't bear to see you fretting,” said the little robber maiden. “This + is just the time when you ought to look pleased. Here are two loaves and a + ham for you, so that you won't starve.” The bread and the meat were + fastened to the Reindeer's back; the little maiden opened the door, called + in all the dogs, and then with her knife cut the rope that fastened the + animal, and said to him, “Now, off with you; but take good care of the + little girl!” + </p> + <p> + And Gerda stretched out her hands with the large wadded gloves towards the + robber maiden, and said, “Farewell!” and the Reindeer flew on over bush + and bramble through the great wood, over moor and heath, as fast as he + could go. + </p> + <p> + “Ddsa! Ddsa!” was heard in the sky. It was just as if somebody was + sneezing. + </p> + <p> + “These are my old northern-lights,” said the Reindeer, “look how they + gleam!” And on he now sped still quicker—day and night on he went: + the loaves were consumed, and the ham too; and now they were in Lapland. + </p> + <p> + SIXTH STORY. The Lapland Woman and the Finland Woman + </p> + <p> + Suddenly they stopped before a little house, which looked very miserable. + The roof reached to the ground; and the door was so low, that the family + were obliged to creep upon their stomachs when they went in or out. Nobody + was at home except an old Lapland woman, who was dressing fish by the + light of an oil lamp. And the Reindeer told her the whole of Gerda's + history, but first of all his own; for that seemed to him of much greater + importance. Gerda was so chilled that she could not speak. + </p> + <p> + “Poor thing,” said the Lapland woman, “you have far to run still. You have + more than a hundred miles to go before you get to Finland; there the Snow + Queen has her country-house, and burns blue lights every evening. I will + give you a few words from me, which I will write on a dried haberdine, for + paper I have none; this you can take with you to the Finland woman, and + she will be able to give you more information than I can.” + </p> + <p> + When Gerda had warmed herself, and had eaten and drunk, the Lapland woman + wrote a few words on a dried haberdine, begged Gerda to take care of them, + put her on the Reindeer, bound her fast, and away sprang the animal. + “Ddsa! Ddsa!” was again heard in the air; the most charming blue lights + burned the whole night in the sky, and at last they came to Finland. They + knocked at the chimney of the Finland woman; for as to a door, she had + none. + </p> + <p> + There was such a heat inside that the Finland woman herself went about + almost naked. She was diminutive and dirty. She immediately loosened + little Gerda's clothes, pulled off her thick gloves and boots; for + otherwise the heat would have been too great—and after laying a + piece of ice on the Reindeer's head, read what was written on the + fish-skin. She read it three times: she then knew it by heart; so she put + the fish into the cupboard—for it might very well be eaten, and she + never threw anything away. + </p> + <p> + Then the Reindeer related his own story first, and afterwards that of + little Gerda; and the Finland woman winked her eyes, but said nothing. + </p> + <p> + “You are so clever,” said the Reindeer; “you can, I know, twist all the + winds of the world together in a knot. If the seaman loosens one knot, + then he has a good wind; if a second, then it blows pretty stiffly; if he + undoes the third and fourth, then it rages so that the forests are + upturned. Will you give the little maiden a potion, that she may possess + the strength of twelve men, and vanquish the Snow Queen?” + </p> + <p> + “The strength of twelve men!” said the Finland woman. “Much good that + would be!” Then she went to a cupboard, and drew out a large skin rolled + up. When she had unrolled it, strange characters were to be seen written + thereon; and the Finland woman read at such a rate that the perspiration + trickled down her forehead. + </p> + <p> + But the Reindeer begged so hard for little Gerda, and Gerda looked so + imploringly with tearful eyes at the Finland woman, that she winked, and + drew the Reindeer aside into a corner, where they whispered together, + while the animal got some fresh ice put on his head. + </p> + <p> + “'Tis true little Kay is at the Snow Queen's, and finds everything there + quite to his taste; and he thinks it the very best place in the world; but + the reason of that is, he has a splinter of glass in his eye, and in his + heart. These must be got out first; otherwise he will never go back to + mankind, and the Snow Queen will retain her power over him.” + </p> + <p> + “But can you give little Gerda nothing to take which will endue her with + power over the whole?” + </p> + <p> + “I can give her no more power than what she has already. Don't you see how + great it is? Don't you see how men and animals are forced to serve her; + how well she gets through the world barefooted? She must not hear of her + power from us; that power lies in her heart, because she is a sweet and + innocent child! If she cannot get to the Snow Queen by herself, and rid + little Kay of the glass, we cannot help her. Two miles hence the garden of + the Snow Queen begins; thither you may carry the little girl. Set her down + by the large bush with red berries, standing in the snow; don't stay + talking, but hasten back as fast as possible.” And now the Finland woman + placed little Gerda on the Reindeer's back, and off he ran with all + imaginable speed. + </p> + <p> + “Oh! I have not got my boots! I have not brought my gloves!” cried little + Gerda. She remarked she was without them from the cutting frost; but the + Reindeer dared not stand still; on he ran till he came to the great bush + with the red berries, and there he set Gerda down, kissed her mouth, while + large bright tears flowed from the animal's eyes, and then back he went as + fast as possible. There stood poor Gerda now, without shoes or gloves, in + the very middle of dreadful icy Finland. + </p> + <p> + She ran on as fast as she could. There then came a whole regiment of + snow-flakes, but they did not fall from above, and they were quite bright + and shining from the Aurora Borealis. The flakes ran along the ground, and + the nearer they came the larger they grew. Gerda well remembered how large + and strange the snow-flakes appeared when she once saw them through a + magnifying-glass; but now they were large and terrific in another manner—they + were all alive. They were the outposts of the Snow Queen. They had the + most wondrous shapes; some looked like large ugly porcupines; others like + snakes knotted together, with their heads sticking out; and others, again, + like small fat bears, with the hair standing on end: all were of dazzling + whiteness—all were living snow-flakes. + </p> + <p> + Little Gerda repeated the Lord's Prayer. The cold was so intense that she + could see her own breath, which came like smoke out of her mouth. It grew + thicker and thicker, and took the form of little angels, that grew more + and more when they touched the earth. All had helms on their heads, and + lances and shields in their hands; they increased in numbers; and when + Gerda had finished the Lord's Prayer, she was surrounded by a whole + legion. They thrust at the horrid snow-flakes with their spears, so that + they flew into a thousand pieces; and little Gerda walked on bravely and + in security. The angels patted her hands and feet; and then she felt the + cold less, and went on quickly towards the palace of the Snow Queen. + </p> + <p> + But now we shall see how Kay fared. He never thought of Gerda, and least + of all that she was standing before the palace. + </p> + <p> + SEVENTH STORY. What Took Place in the Palace of the Snow Queen, and what + Happened Afterward. + </p> + <p> + The walls of the palace were of driving snow, and the windows and doors of + cutting winds. There were more than a hundred halls there, according as + the snow was driven by the winds. The largest was many miles in extent; + all were lighted up by the powerful Aurora Borealis, and all were so + large, so empty, so icy cold, and so resplendent! Mirth never reigned + there; there was never even a little bear-ball, with the storm for music, + while the polar bears went on their hind legs and showed off their steps. + Never a little tea-party of white young lady foxes; vast, cold, and empty + were the halls of the Snow Queen. The northern-lights shone with such + precision that one could tell exactly when they were at their highest or + lowest degree of brightness. In the middle of the empty, endless hall of + snow, was a frozen lake; it was cracked in a thousand pieces, but each + piece was so like the other, that it seemed the work of a cunning + artificer. In the middle of this lake sat the Snow Queen when she was at + home; and then she said she was sitting in the Mirror of Understanding, + and that this was the only one and the best thing in the world. + </p> + <p> + Little Kay was quite blue, yes nearly black with cold; but he did not + observe it, for she had kissed away all feeling of cold from his body, and + his heart was a lump of ice. He was dragging along some pointed flat + pieces of ice, which he laid together in all possible ways, for he wanted + to make something with them; just as we have little flat pieces of wood to + make geometrical figures with, called the Chinese Puzzle. Kay made all + sorts of figures, the most complicated, for it was an ice-puzzle for the + understanding. In his eyes the figures were extraordinarily beautiful, and + of the utmost importance; for the bit of glass which was in his eye caused + this. He found whole figures which represented a written word; but he + never could manage to represent just the word he wanted—that word + was “eternity”; and the Snow Queen had said, “If you can discover that + figure, you shall be your own master, and I will make you a present of the + whole world and a pair of new skates.” But he could not find it out. + </p> + <p> + “I am going now to warm lands,” said the Snow Queen. “I must have a look + down into the black caldrons.” It was the volcanoes Vesuvius and Etna that + she meant. “I will just give them a coating of white, for that is as it + ought to be; besides, it is good for the oranges and the grapes.” And then + away she flew, and Kay sat quite alone in the empty halls of ice that were + miles long, and looked at the blocks of ice, and thought and thought till + his skull was almost cracked. There he sat quite benumbed and motionless; + one would have imagined he was frozen to death. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly little Gerda stepped through the great portal into the palace. + The gate was formed of cutting winds; but Gerda repeated her evening + prayer, and the winds were laid as though they slept; and the little + maiden entered the vast, empty, cold halls. There she beheld Kay: she + recognised him, flew to embrace him, and cried out, her arms firmly + holding him the while, “Kay, sweet little Kay! Have I then found you at + last?” + </p> + <p> + But he sat quite still, benumbed and cold. Then little Gerda shed burning + tears; and they fell on his bosom, they penetrated to his heart, they + thawed the lumps of ice, and consumed the splinters of the looking-glass; + he looked at her, and she sang the hymn: + </p> + <p> + “The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, And angels descend there the + children to greet.” + </p> + <p> + Hereupon Kay burst into tears; he wept so much that the splinter rolled + out of his eye, and he recognised her, and shouted, “Gerda, sweet little + Gerda! Where have you been so long? And where have I been?” He looked + round him. “How cold it is here!” said he. “How empty and cold!” And he + held fast by Gerda, who laughed and wept for joy. It was so beautiful, + that even the blocks of ice danced about for joy; and when they were tired + and laid themselves down, they formed exactly the letters which the Snow + Queen had told him to find out; so now he was his own master, and he would + have the whole world and a pair of new skates into the bargain. + </p> + <p> + Gerda kissed his cheeks, and they grew quite blooming; she kissed his + eyes, and they shone like her own; she kissed his hands and feet, and he + was again well and merry. The Snow Queen might come back as soon as she + liked; there stood his discharge written in resplendent masses of ice. + </p> + <p> + They took each other by the hand, and wandered forth out of the large + hall; they talked of their old grandmother, and of the roses upon the + roof; and wherever they went, the winds ceased raging, and the sun burst + forth. And when they reached the bush with the red berries, they found the + Reindeer waiting for them. He had brought another, a young one, with him, + whose udder was filled with milk, which he gave to the little ones, and + kissed their lips. They then carried Kay and Gerda—first to the + Finland woman, where they warmed themselves in the warm room, and learned + what they were to do on their journey home; and they went to the Lapland + woman, who made some new clothes for them and repaired their sledges. + </p> + <p> + The Reindeer and the young hind leaped along beside them, and accompanied + them to the boundary of the country. Here the first vegetation peeped + forth; here Kay and Gerda took leave of the Lapland woman. “Farewell! + Farewell!” they all said. And the first green buds appeared, the first + little birds began to chirrup; and out of the wood came, riding on a + magnificent horse, which Gerda knew (it was one of the leaders in the + golden carriage), a young damsel with a bright-red cap on her head, and + armed with pistols. It was the little robber maiden, who, tired of being + at home, had determined to make a journey to the north; and afterwards in + another direction, if that did not please her. She recognised Gerda + immediately, and Gerda knew her too. It was a joyful meeting. + </p> + <p> + “You are a fine fellow for tramping about,” said she to little Kay; “I + should like to know, faith, if you deserve that one should run from one + end of the world to the other for your sake?” + </p> + <p> + But Gerda patted her cheeks, and inquired for the Prince and Princess. + </p> + <p> + “They are gone abroad,” said the other. + </p> + <p> + “But the Raven?” asked little Gerda. + </p> + <p> + “Oh! The Raven is dead,” she answered. “His tame sweetheart is a widow, + and wears a bit of black worsted round her leg; she laments most + piteously, but it's all mere talk and stuff! Now tell me what you've been + doing and how you managed to catch him.” + </p> + <p> + And Gerda and Kay both told their story. + </p> + <p> + And “Schnipp-schnapp-schnurre-basselurre,” said the robber maiden; and she + took the hands of each, and promised that if she should some day pass + through the town where they lived, she would come and visit them; and then + away she rode. Kay and Gerda took each other's hand: it was lovely spring + weather, with abundance of flowers and of verdure. The church-bells rang, + and the children recognised the high towers, and the large town; it was + that in which they dwelt. They entered and hastened up to their + grandmother's room, where everything was standing as formerly. The clock + said “tick! tack!” and the finger moved round; but as they entered, they + remarked that they were now grown up. The roses on the leads hung blooming + in at the open window; there stood the little children's chairs, and Kay + and Gerda sat down on them, holding each other by the hand; they both had + forgotten the cold empty splendor of the Snow Queen, as though it had been + a dream. The grandmother sat in the bright sunshine, and read aloud from + the Bible: “Unless ye become as little children, ye cannot enter the + kingdom of heaven.” + </p> + <p> + And Kay and Gerda looked in each other's eyes, and all at once they + understood the old hymn: + </p> + <p> + “The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, And angels descend there the + children to greet.” + </p> + <p> + There sat the two grown-up persons; grown-up, and yet children; children + at least in heart; and it was summer-time; summer, glorious summer! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE LEAP-FROG + </h2> + <p> + A Flea, a Grasshopper, and a Leap-frog once wanted to see which could jump + highest; and they invited the whole world, and everybody else besides who + chose to come to see the festival. Three famous jumpers were they, as + everyone would say, when they all met together in the room. + </p> + <p> + “I will give my daughter to him who jumps highest,” exclaimed the King; + “for it is not so amusing where there is no prize to jump for.” + </p> + <p> + The Flea was the first to step forward. He had exquisite manners, and + bowed to the company on all sides; for he had noble blood, and was, + moreover, accustomed to the society of man alone; and that makes a great + difference. + </p> + <p> + Then came the Grasshopper. He was considerably heavier, but he was + well-mannered, and wore a green uniform, which he had by right of birth; + he said, moreover, that he belonged to a very ancient Egyptian family, and + that in the house where he then was, he was thought much of. The fact was, + he had been just brought out of the fields, and put in a pasteboard house, + three stories high, all made of court-cards, with the colored side + inwards; and doors and windows cut out of the body of the Queen of Hearts. + “I sing so well,” said he, “that sixteen native grasshoppers who have + chirped from infancy, and yet got no house built of cards to live in, grew + thinner than they were before for sheer vexation when they heard me.” + </p> + <p> + It was thus that the Flea and the Grasshopper gave an account of + themselves, and thought they were quite good enough to marry a Princess. + </p> + <p> + The Leap-frog said nothing; but people gave it as their opinion, that he + therefore thought the more; and when the housedog snuffed at him with his + nose, he confessed the Leap-frog was of good family. The old councillor, + who had had three orders given him to make him hold his tongue, asserted + that the Leap-frog was a prophet; for that one could see on his back, if + there would be a severe or mild winter, and that was what one could not + see even on the back of the man who writes the almanac. + </p> + <p> + “I say nothing, it is true,” exclaimed the King; “but I have my own + opinion, notwithstanding.” + </p> + <p> + Now the trial was to take place. The Flea jumped so high that nobody could + see where he went to; so they all asserted he had not jumped at all; and + that was dishonorable. + </p> + <p> + The Grasshopper jumped only half as high; but he leaped into the King's + face, who said that was ill-mannered. + </p> + <p> + The Leap-frog stood still for a long time lost in thought; it was believed + at last he would not jump at all. + </p> + <p> + “I only hope he is not unwell,” said the house-dog; when, pop! he made a + jump all on one side into the lap of the Princess, who was sitting on a + little golden stool close by. + </p> + <p> + Hereupon the King said, “There is nothing above my daughter; therefore to + bound up to her is the highest jump that can be made; but for this, one + must possess understanding, and the Leap-frog has shown that he has + understanding. He is brave and intellectual.” + </p> + <p> + And so he won the Princess. + </p> + <p> + “It's all the same to me,” said the Flea. “She may have the old Leap-frog, + for all I care. I jumped the highest; but in this world merit seldom meets + its reward. A fine exterior is what people look at now-a-days.” + </p> + <p> + The Flea then went into foreign service, where, it is said, he was killed. + </p> + <p> + The Grasshopper sat without on a green bank, and reflected on worldly + things; and he said too, “Yes, a fine exterior is everything—a fine + exterior is what people care about.” And then he began chirping his + peculiar melancholy song, from which we have taken this history; and which + may, very possibly, be all untrue, although it does stand here printed in + black and white. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE ELDERBUSH + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there was a little boy who had taken cold. He had gone + out and got his feet wet; though nobody could imagine how it had happened, + for it was quite dry weather. So his mother undressed him, put him to bed, + and had the tea-pot brought in, to make him a good cup of Elderflower tea. + Just at that moment the merry old man came in who lived up a-top of the + house all alone; for he had neither wife nor children—but he liked + children very much, and knew so many fairy tales, that it was quite + delightful. + </p> + <p> + “Now drink your tea,” said the boy's mother; “then, perhaps, you may hear + a fairy tale.” + </p> + <p> + “If I had but something new to tell,” said the old man. “But how did the + child get his feet wet?” + </p> + <p> + “That is the very thing that nobody can make out,” said his mother. + </p> + <p> + “Am I to hear a fairy tale?” asked the little boy. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, if you can tell me exactly—for I must know that first—how + deep the gutter is in the little street opposite, that you pass through in + going to school.” + </p> + <p> + “Just up to the middle of my boot,” said the child; “but then I must go + into the deep hole.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, ah! That's where the wet feet came from,” said the old man. “I ought + now to tell you a story; but I don't know any more.” + </p> + <p> + “You can make one in a moment,” said the little boy. “My mother says that + all you look at can be turned into a fairy tale: and that you can find a + story in everything.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but such tales and stories are good for nothing. The right sort come + of themselves; they tap at my forehead and say, 'Here we are.'” + </p> + <p> + “Won't there be a tap soon?” asked the little boy. And his mother laughed, + put some Elder-flowers in the tea-pot, and poured boiling water upon them. + </p> + <p> + “Do tell me something! Pray do!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, if a fairy tale would come of its own accord; but they are proud and + haughty, and come only when they choose. Stop!” said he, all on a sudden. + “I have it! Pay attention! There is one in the tea-pot!” + </p> + <p> + And the little boy looked at the tea-pot. The cover rose more and more; + and the Elder-flowers came forth so fresh and white, and shot up long + branches. Out of the spout even did they spread themselves on all sides, + and grew larger and larger; it was a splendid Elderbush, a whole tree; and + it reached into the very bed, and pushed the curtains aside. How it + bloomed! And what an odour! In the middle of the bush sat a + friendly-looking old woman in a most strange dress. It was quite green, + like the leaves of the elder, and was trimmed with large white + Elder-flowers; so that at first one could not tell whether it was a stuff, + or a natural green and real flowers. + </p> + <p> + “What's that woman's name?” asked the little boy. + </p> + <p> + “The Greeks and Romans,” said the old man, “called her a Dryad; but that + we do not understand. The people who live in the New Booths [*] have a + much better name for her; they call her 'old Granny'—and she it is + to whom you are to pay attention. Now listen, and look at the beautiful + Elderbush. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A row of buildings for seamen in Copenhagen. +</pre> + <p> + “Just such another large blooming Elder Tree stands near the New Booths. + It grew there in the corner of a little miserable court-yard; and under it + sat, of an afternoon, in the most splendid sunshine, two old people; an + old, old seaman, and his old, old wife. They had great-grand-children, and + were soon to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage; but + they could not exactly recollect the date: and old Granny sat in the tree, + and looked as pleased as now. 'I know the date,' said she; but those below + did not hear her, for they were talking about old times. + </p> + <p> + “'Yes, can't you remember when we were very little,' said the old seaman, + 'and ran and played about? It was the very same court-yard where we now + are, and we stuck slips in the ground, and made a garden.' + </p> + <p> + “'I remember it well,' said the old woman; 'I remember it quite well. We + watered the slips, and one of them was an Elderbush. It took root, put + forth green shoots, and grew up to be the large tree under which we old + folks are now sitting.' + </p> + <p> + “'To be sure,' said he. 'And there in the corner stood a waterpail, where + I used to swim my boats.' + </p> + <p> + “'True; but first we went to school to learn somewhat,' said she; 'and + then we were confirmed. We both cried; but in the afternoon we went up the + Round Tower, and looked down on Copenhagen, and far, far away over the + water; then we went to Friedericksberg, where the King and the Queen were + sailing about in their splendid barges.' + </p> + <p> + “'But I had a different sort of sailing to that, later; and that, too, for + many a year; a long way off, on great voyages.' + </p> + <p> + “'Yes, many a time have I wept for your sake,' said she. 'I thought you + were dead and gone, and lying down in the deep waters. Many a night have I + got up to see if the wind had not changed: and changed it had, sure + enough; but you never came. I remember so well one day, when the rain was + pouring down in torrents, the scavengers were before the house where I was + in service, and I had come up with the dust, and remained standing at the + door—it was dreadful weather—when just as I was there, the + postman came and gave me a letter. It was from you! What a tour that + letter had made! I opened it instantly and read: I laughed and wept. I was + so happy. In it I read that you were in warm lands where the coffee-tree + grows. What a blessed land that must be! You related so much, and I saw it + all the while the rain was pouring down, and I standing there with the + dust-box. At the same moment came someone who embraced me.' + </p> + <p> + “'Yes; but you gave him a good box on his ear that made it tingle!' + </p> + <p> + “'But I did not know it was you. You arrived as soon as your letter, and + you were so handsome—that you still are—and had a long yellow + silk handkerchief round your neck, and a bran new hat on; oh, you were so + dashing! Good heavens! What weather it was, and what a state the street + was in!' + </p> + <p> + “'And then we married,' said he. 'Don't you remember? And then we had our + first little boy, and then Mary, and Nicholas, and Peter, and Christian.' + </p> + <p> + “'Yes, and how they all grew up to be honest people, and were beloved by + everybody.' + </p> + <p> + “'And their children also have children,' said the old sailor; 'yes, those + are our grand-children, full of strength and vigor. It was, methinks about + this season that we had our wedding.' + </p> + <p> + “'Yes, this very day is the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage,' said + old Granny, sticking her head between the two old people; who thought it + was their neighbor who nodded to them. They looked at each other and held + one another by the hand. Soon after came their children, and their + grand-children; for they knew well enough that it was the day of the + fiftieth anniversary, and had come with their gratulations that very + morning; but the old people had forgotten it, although they were able to + remember all that had happened many years ago. And the Elderbush sent + forth a strong odour in the sun, that was just about to set, and shone + right in the old people's faces. They both looked so rosy-cheeked; and the + youngest of the grandchildren danced around them, and called out quite + delighted, that there was to be something very splendid that evening—they + were all to have hot potatoes. And old Nanny nodded in the bush, and + shouted 'hurrah!' with the rest.” + </p> + <p> + “But that is no fairy tale,” said the little boy, who was listening to the + story. + </p> + <p> + “The thing is, you must understand it,” said the narrator; “let us ask old + Nanny.” + </p> + <p> + “That was no fairy tale, 'tis true,” said old Nanny; “but now it's coming. + The most wonderful fairy tales grow out of that which is reality; were + that not the case, you know, my magnificent Elderbush could not have grown + out of the tea-pot.” And then she took the little boy out of bed, laid him + on her bosom, and the branches of the Elder Tree, full of flowers, closed + around her. They sat in an aerial dwelling, and it flew with them through + the air. Oh, it was wondrous beautiful! Old Nanny had grown all of a + sudden a young and pretty maiden; but her robe was still the same green + stuff with white flowers, which she had worn before. On her bosom she had + a real Elderflower, and in her yellow waving hair a wreath of the flowers; + her eyes were so large and blue that it was a pleasure to look at them; + she kissed the boy, and now they were of the same age and felt alike. + </p> + <p> + Hand in hand they went out of the bower, and they were standing in the + beautiful garden of their home. Near the green lawn papa's walking-stick + was tied, and for the little ones it seemed to be endowed with life; for + as soon as they got astride it, the round polished knob was turned into a + magnificent neighing head, a long black mane fluttered in the breeze, and + four slender yet strong legs shot out. The animal was strong and handsome, + and away they went at full gallop round the lawn. + </p> + <p> + “Huzza! Now we are riding miles off,” said the boy. “We are riding away to + the castle where we were last year!” + </p> + <p> + And on they rode round the grass-plot; and the little maiden, who, we + know, was no one else but old Nanny, kept on crying out, “Now we are in + the country! Don't you see the farm-house yonder? And there is an Elder + Tree standing beside it; and the cock is scraping away the earth for the + hens, look, how he struts! And now we are close to the church. It lies + high upon the hill, between the large oak-trees, one of which is half + decayed. And now we are by the smithy, where the fire is blazing, and + where the half-naked men are banging with their hammers till the sparks + fly about. Away! away! To the beautiful country-seat!” + </p> + <p> + And all that the little maiden, who sat behind on the stick, spoke of, + flew by in reality. The boy saw it all, and yet they were only going round + the grass-plot. Then they played in a side avenue, and marked out a little + garden on the earth; and they took Elder-blossoms from their hair, planted + them, and they grew just like those the old people planted when they were + children, as related before. They went hand in hand, as the old people had + done when they were children; but not to the Round Tower, or to + Friedericksberg; no, the little damsel wound her arms round the boy, and + then they flew far away through all Denmark. And spring came, and summer; + and then it was autumn, and then winter; and a thousand pictures were + reflected in the eye and in the heart of the boy; and the little girl + always sang to him, “This you will never forget.” And during their whole + flight the Elder Tree smelt so sweet and odorous; he remarked the roses + and the fresh beeches, but the Elder Tree had a more wondrous fragrance, + for its flowers hung on the breast of the little maiden; and there, too, + did he often lay his head during the flight. + </p> + <p> + “It is lovely here in spring!” said the young maiden. And they stood in a + beech-wood that had just put on its first green, where the woodroof [*] at + their feet sent forth its fragrance, and the pale-red anemony looked so + pretty among the verdure. “Oh, would it were always spring in the + sweetly-smelling Danish beech-forests!” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Asperula odorata. +</pre> + <p> + “It is lovely here in summer!” said she. And she flew past old castles of + by-gone days of chivalry, where the red walls and the embattled gables + were mirrored in the canal, where the swans were swimming, and peered up + into the old cool avenues. In the fields the corn was waving like the sea; + in the ditches red and yellow flowers were growing; while wild-drone + flowers, and blooming convolvuluses were creeping in the hedges; and + towards evening the moon rose round and large, and the haycocks in the + meadows smelt so sweetly. “This one never forgets!” + </p> + <p> + “It is lovely here in autumn!” said the little maiden. And suddenly the + atmosphere grew as blue again as before; the forest grew red, and green, + and yellow-colored. The dogs came leaping along, and whole flocks of + wild-fowl flew over the cairn, where blackberry-bushes were hanging round + the old stones. The sea was dark blue, covered with ships full of white + sails; and in the barn old women, maidens, and children were sitting + picking hops into a large cask; the young sang songs, but the old told + fairy tales of mountain-sprites and soothsayers. Nothing could be more + charming. + </p> + <p> + “It is delightful here in winter!” said the little maiden. And all the + trees were covered with hoar-frost; they looked like white corals; the + snow crackled under foot, as if one had new boots on; and one falling star + after the other was seen in the sky. The Christmas-tree was lighted in the + room; presents were there, and good-humor reigned. In the country the + violin sounded in the room of the peasant; the newly-baked cakes were + attacked; even the poorest child said, “It is really delightful here in + winter!” + </p> + <p> + Yes, it was delightful; and the little maiden showed the boy everything; + and the Elder Tree still was fragrant, and the red flag, with the white + cross, was still waving: the flag under which the old seaman in the New + Booths had sailed. And the boy grew up to be a lad, and was to go forth in + the wide world-far, far away to warm lands, where the coffee-tree grows; + but at his departure the little maiden took an Elder-blossom from her + bosom, and gave it him to keep; and it was placed between the leaves of + his Prayer-Book; and when in foreign lands he opened the book, it was + always at the place where the keepsake-flower lay; and the more he looked + at it, the fresher it became; he felt as it were, the fragrance of the + Danish groves; and from among the leaves of the flowers he could + distinctly see the little maiden, peeping forth with her bright blue eyes—and + then she whispered, “It is delightful here in Spring, Summer, Autumn, and + Winter”; and a hundred visions glided before his mind. + </p> + <p> + Thus passed many years, and he was now an old man, and sat with his old + wife under the blooming tree. They held each other by the hand, as the old + grand-father and grand-mother yonder in the New Booths did, and they + talked exactly like them of old times, and of the fiftieth anniversary of + their wedding. The little maiden, with the blue eyes, and with + Elder-blossoms in her hair, sat in the tree, nodded to both of them, and + said, “To-day is the fiftieth anniversary!” And then she took two flowers + out of her hair, and kissed them. First, they shone like silver, then like + gold; and when they laid them on the heads of the old people, each flower + became a golden crown. So there they both sat, like a king and a queen, + under the fragrant tree, that looked exactly like an elder: the old man + told his wife the story of “Old Nanny,” as it had been told him when a + boy. And it seemed to both of them it contained much that resembled their + own history; and those parts that were like it pleased them best. + </p> + <p> + “Thus it is,” said the little maiden in the tree, “some call me 'Old + Nanny,' others a 'Dryad,' but, in reality, my name is 'Remembrance'; 'tis + I who sit in the tree that grows and grows! I can remember; I can tell + things! Let me see if you have my flower still?” + </p> + <p> + And the old man opened his Prayer-Book. There lay the Elder-blossom, as + fresh as if it had been placed there but a short time before; and + Remembrance nodded, and the old people, decked with crowns of gold, sat in + the flush of the evening sun. They closed their eyes, and—and—! + Yes, that's the end of the story! + </p> + <p> + The little boy lay in his bed; he did not know if he had dreamed or not, + or if he had been listening while someone told him the story. The tea-pot + was standing on the table, but no Elder Tree was growing out of it! And + the old man, who had been talking, was just on the point of going out at + the door, and he did go. + </p> + <p> + “How splendid that was!” said the little boy. “Mother, I have been to warm + countries.” + </p> + <p> + “So I should think,” said his mother. “When one has drunk two good cupfuls + of Elder-flower tea, 'tis likely enough one goes into warm climates”; and + she tucked him up nicely, least he should take cold. “You have had a good + sleep while I have been sitting here, and arguing with him whether it was + a story or a fairy tale.” + </p> + <p> + “And where is old Nanny?” asked the little boy. + </p> + <p> + “In the tea-pot,” said his mother; “and there she may remain.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE BELL + </h2> + <p> + People said “The Evening Bell is sounding, the sun is setting.” For a + strange wondrous tone was heard in the narrow streets of a large town. It + was like the sound of a church-bell: but it was only heard for a moment, + for the rolling of the carriages and the voices of the multitude made too + great a noise. + </p> + <p> + Those persons who were walking outside the town, where the houses were + farther apart, with gardens or little fields between them, could see the + evening sky still better, and heard the sound of the bell much more + distinctly. It was as if the tones came from a church in the still forest; + people looked thitherward, and felt their minds attuned most solemnly. + </p> + <p> + A long time passed, and people said to each other—“I wonder if there + is a church out in the wood? The bell has a tone that is wondrous sweet; + let us stroll thither, and examine the matter nearer.” And the rich people + drove out, and the poor walked, but the way seemed strangely long to them; + and when they came to a clump of willows which grew on the skirts of the + forest, they sat down, and looked up at the long branches, and fancied + they were now in the depth of the green wood. The confectioner of the town + came out, and set up his booth there; and soon after came another + confectioner, who hung a bell over his stand, as a sign or ornament, but + it had no clapper, and it was tarred over to preserve it from the rain. + When all the people returned home, they said it had been very romantic, + and that it was quite a different sort of thing to a pic-nic or tea-party. + There were three persons who asserted they had penetrated to the end of + the forest, and that they had always heard the wonderful sounds of the + bell, but it had seemed to them as if it had come from the town. One wrote + a whole poem about it, and said the bell sounded like the voice of a + mother to a good dear child, and that no melody was sweeter than the tones + of the bell. The king of the country was also observant of it, and vowed + that he who could discover whence the sounds proceeded, should have the + title of “Universal Bell-ringer,” even if it were not really a bell. + </p> + <p> + Many persons now went to the wood, for the sake of getting the place, but + one only returned with a sort of explanation; for nobody went far enough, + that one not further than the others. However, he said that the sound + proceeded from a very large owl, in a hollow tree; a sort of learned owl, + that continually knocked its head against the branches. But whether the + sound came from his head or from the hollow tree, that no one could say + with certainty. So now he got the place of “Universal Bell-ringer,” and + wrote yearly a short treatise “On the Owl”; but everybody was just as wise + as before. + </p> + <p> + It was the day of confirmation. The clergyman had spoken so touchingly, + the children who were confirmed had been greatly moved; it was an eventful + day for them; from children they become all at once grown-up-persons; it + was as if their infant souls were now to fly all at once into persons with + more understanding. The sun was shining gloriously; the children that had + been confirmed went out of the town; and from the wood was borne towards + them the sounds of the unknown bell with wonderful distinctness. They all + immediately felt a wish to go thither; all except three. One of them had + to go home to try on a ball-dress; for it was just the dress and the ball + which had caused her to be confirmed this time, for otherwise she would + not have come; the other was a poor boy, who had borrowed his coat and + boots to be confirmed in from the innkeeper's son, and he was to give them + back by a certain hour; the third said that he never went to a strange + place if his parents were not with him—that he had always been a + good boy hitherto, and would still be so now that he was confirmed, and + that one ought not to laugh at him for it: the others, however, did make + fun of him, after all. + </p> + <p> + There were three, therefore, that did not go; the others hastened on. The + sun shone, the birds sang, and the children sang too, and each held the + other by the hand; for as yet they had none of them any high office, and + were all of equal rank in the eye of God. + </p> + <p> + But two of the youngest soon grew tired, and both returned to town; two + little girls sat down, and twined garlands, so they did not go either; and + when the others reached the willow-tree, where the confectioner was, they + said, “Now we are there! In reality the bell does not exist; it is only a + fancy that people have taken into their heads!” + </p> + <p> + At the same moment the bell sounded deep in the wood, so clear and + solemnly that five or six determined to penetrate somewhat further. It was + so thick, and the foliage so dense, that it was quite fatiguing to + proceed. Woodroof and anemonies grew almost too high; blooming + convolvuluses and blackberry-bushes hung in long garlands from tree to + tree, where the nightingale sang and the sunbeams were playing: it was + very beautiful, but it was no place for girls to go; their clothes would + get so torn. Large blocks of stone lay there, overgrown with moss of every + color; the fresh spring bubbled forth, and made a strange gurgling sound. + </p> + <p> + “That surely cannot be the bell,” said one of the children, lying down and + listening. “This must be looked to.” So he remained, and let the others go + on without him. + </p> + <p> + They afterwards came to a little house, made of branches and the bark of + trees; a large wild apple-tree bent over it, as if it would shower down + all its blessings on the roof, where roses were blooming. The long stems + twined round the gable, on which there hung a small bell. + </p> + <p> + Was it that which people had heard? Yes, everybody was unanimous on the + subject, except one, who said that the bell was too small and too fine to + be heard at so great a distance, and besides it was very different tones + to those that could move a human heart in such a manner. It was a king's + son who spoke; whereon the others said, “Such people always want to be + wiser than everybody else.” + </p> + <p> + They now let him go on alone; and as he went, his breast was filled more + and more with the forest solitude; but he still heard the little bell with + which the others were so satisfied, and now and then, when the wind blew, + he could also hear the people singing who were sitting at tea where the + confectioner had his tent; but the deep sound of the bell rose louder; it + was almost as if an organ were accompanying it, and the tones came from + the left hand, the side where the heart is placed. A rustling was heard in + the bushes, and a little boy stood before the King's Son, a boy in wooden + shoes, and with so short a jacket that one could see what long wrists he + had. Both knew each other: the boy was that one among the children who + could not come because he had to go home and return his jacket and boots + to the innkeeper's son. This he had done, and was now going on in wooden + shoes and in his humble dress, for the bell sounded with so deep a tone, + and with such strange power, that proceed he must. + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, we can go together,” said the King's Son. But the poor child + that had been confirmed was quite ashamed; he looked at his wooden shoes, + pulled at the short sleeves of his jacket, and said that he was afraid he + could not walk so fast; besides, he thought that the bell must be looked + for to the right; for that was the place where all sorts of beautiful + things were to be found. + </p> + <p> + “But there we shall not meet,” said the King's Son, nodding at the same + time to the poor boy, who went into the darkest, thickest part of the + wood, where thorns tore his humble dress, and scratched his face and hands + and feet till they bled. The King's Son got some scratches too; but the + sun shone on his path, and it is him that we will follow, for he was an + excellent and resolute youth. + </p> + <p> + “I must and will find the bell,” said he, “even if I am obliged to go to + the end of the world.” + </p> + <p> + The ugly apes sat upon the trees, and grinned. “Shall we thrash him?” said + they. “Shall we thrash him? He is the son of a king!” + </p> + <p> + But on he went, without being disheartened, deeper and deeper into the + wood, where the most wonderful flowers were growing. There stood white + lilies with blood-red stamina, skyblue tulips, which shone as they waved + in the winds, and apple-trees, the apples of which looked exactly like + large soapbubbles: so only think how the trees must have sparkled in the + sunshine! Around the nicest green meads, where the deer were playing in + the grass, grew magnificent oaks and beeches; and if the bark of one of + the trees was cracked, there grass and long creeping plants grew in the + crevices. And there were large calm lakes there too, in which white swans + were swimming, and beat the air with their wings. The King's Son often + stood still and listened. He thought the bell sounded from the depths of + these still lakes; but then he remarked again that the tone proceeded not + from there, but farther off, from out the depths of the forest. + </p> + <p> + The sun now set: the atmosphere glowed like fire. It was still in the + woods, so very still; and he fell on his knees, sung his evening hymn, and + said: “I cannot find what I seek; the sun is going down, and night is + coming—the dark, dark night. Yet perhaps I may be able once more to + see the round red sun before he entirely disappears. I will climb up + yonder rock.” + </p> + <p> + And he seized hold of the creeping-plants, and the roots of trees—climbed + up the moist stones where the water-snakes were writhing and the toads + were croaking—and he gained the summit before the sun had quite gone + down. How magnificent was the sight from this height! The sea—the + great, the glorious sea, that dashed its long waves against the coast—was + stretched out before him. And yonder, where sea and sky meet, stood the + sun, like a large shining altar, all melted together in the most glowing + colors. And the wood and the sea sang a song of rejoicing, and his heart + sang with the rest: all nature was a vast holy church, in which the trees + and the buoyant clouds were the pillars, flowers and grass the velvet + carpeting, and heaven itself the large cupola. The red colors above faded + away as the sun vanished, but a million stars were lighted, a million + lamps shone; and the King's Son spread out his arms towards heaven, and + wood, and sea; when at the same moment, coming by a path to the right, + appeared, in his wooden shoes and jacket, the poor boy who had been + confirmed with him. He had followed his own path, and had reached the spot + just as soon as the son of the king had done. They ran towards each other, + and stood together hand in hand in the vast church of nature and of + poetry, while over them sounded the invisible holy bell: blessed spirits + floated around them, and lifted up their voices in a rejoicing hallelujah! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE OLD HOUSE + </h2> + <p> + In the street, up there, was an old, a very old house—it was almost + three hundred years old, for that might be known by reading the great beam + on which the date of the year was carved: together with tulips and + hop-binds there were whole verses spelled as in former times, and over + every window was a distorted face cut out in the beam. The one story stood + forward a great way over the other; and directly under the eaves was a + leaden spout with a dragon's head; the rain-water should have run out of + the mouth, but it ran out of the belly, for there was a hole in the spout. + </p> + <p> + All the other houses in the street were so new and so neat, with large + window panes and smooth walls, one could easily see that they would have + nothing to do with the old house: they certainly thought, “How long is + that old decayed thing to stand here as a spectacle in the street? And + then the projecting windows stand so far out, that no one can see from our + windows what happens in that direction! The steps are as broad as those of + a palace, and as high as to a church tower. The iron railings look just + like the door to an old family vault, and then they have brass tops—that's + so stupid!” + </p> + <p> + On the other side of the street were also new and neat houses, and they + thought just as the others did; but at the window opposite the old house + there sat a little boy with fresh rosy cheeks and bright beaming eyes: he + certainly liked the old house best, and that both in sunshine and + moonshine. And when he looked across at the wall where the mortar had + fallen out, he could sit and find out there the strangest figures + imaginable; exactly as the street had appeared before, with steps, + projecting windows, and pointed gables; he could see soldiers with + halberds, and spouts where the water ran, like dragons and serpents. That + was a house to look at; and there lived an old man, who wore plush + breeches; and he had a coat with large brass buttons, and a wig that one + could see was a real wig. Every morning there came an old fellow to him + who put his rooms in order, and went on errands; otherwise, the old man in + the plush breeches was quite alone in the old house. Now and then he came + to the window and looked out, and the little boy nodded to him, and the + old man nodded again, and so they became acquaintances, and then they were + friends, although they had never spoken to each other—but that made + no difference. The little boy heard his parents say, “The old man opposite + is very well off, but he is so very, very lonely!” + </p> + <p> + The Sunday following, the little boy took something, and wrapped it up in + a piece of paper, went downstairs, and stood in the doorway; and when the + man who went on errands came past, he said to him— + </p> + <p> + “I say, master! will you give this to the old man over the way from me? I + have two pewter soldiers—this is one of them, and he shall have it, + for I know he is so very, very lonely.” + </p> + <p> + And the old errand man looked quite pleased, nodded, and took the pewter + soldier over to the old house. Afterwards there came a message; it was to + ask if the little boy himself had not a wish to come over and pay a visit; + and so he got permission of his parents, and then went over to the old + house. + </p> + <p> + And the brass balls on the iron railings shone much brighter than ever; + one would have thought they were polished on account of the visit; and it + was as if the carved-out trumpeters—for there were trumpeters, who + stood in tulips, carved out on the door—blew with all their might, + their cheeks appeared so much rounder than before. Yes, they blew—“Trateratra! + The little boy comes! Trateratra!”—and then the door opened. + </p> + <p> + The whole passage was hung with portraits of knights in armor, and ladies + in silken gowns; and the armor rattled, and the silken gowns rustled! And + then there was a flight of stairs which went a good way upwards, and a + little way downwards, and then one came on a balcony which was in a very + dilapidated state, sure enough, with large holes and long crevices, but + grass grew there and leaves out of them altogether, for the whole balcony + outside, the yard, and the walls, were overgrown with so much green stuff, + that it looked like a garden; only a balcony. Here stood old flower-pots + with faces and asses' ears, and the flowers grew just as they liked. One + of the pots was quite overrun on all sides with pinks, that is to say, + with the green part; shoot stood by shoot, and it said quite distinctly, + “The air has cherished me, the sun has kissed me, and promised me a little + flower on Sunday! a little flower on Sunday!” + </p> + <p> + And then they entered a chamber where the walls were covered with hog's + leather, and printed with gold flowers. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “The gilding decays, + But hog's leather stays!” + </pre> + <p> + said the walls. + </p> + <p> + And there stood easy-chairs, with such high backs, and so carved out, and + with arms on both sides. “Sit down! sit down!” said they. “Ugh! how I + creak; now I shall certainly get the gout, like the old clothespress, + ugh!” + </p> + <p> + And then the little boy came into the room where the projecting windows + were, and where the old man sat. + </p> + <p> + “I thank you for the pewter soldier, my little friend!” said the old man. + “And I thank you because you come over to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Thankee! thankee!” or “cranky! cranky!” sounded from all the furniture; + there was so much of it, that each article stood in the other's way, to + get a look at the little boy. + </p> + <p> + In the middle of the wall hung a picture representing a beautiful lady, so + young, so glad, but dressed quite as in former times, with clothes that + stood quite stiff, and with powder in her hair; she neither said “thankee, + thankee!” nor “cranky, cranky!” but looked with her mild eyes at the + little boy, who directly asked the old man, “Where did you get her?” + </p> + <p> + “Yonder, at the broker's,” said the old man, “where there are so many + pictures hanging. No one knows or cares about them, for they are all of + them buried; but I knew her in by-gone days, and now she has been dead and + gone these fifty years!” + </p> + <p> + Under the picture, in a glazed frame, there hung a bouquet of withered + flowers; they were almost fifty years old; they looked so very old! + </p> + <p> + The pendulum of the great clock went to and fro, and the hands turned, and + everything in the room became still older; but they did not observe it. + </p> + <p> + “They say at home,” said the little boy, “that you are so very, very + lonely!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh!” said he. “The old thoughts, with what they may bring with them, come + and visit me, and now you also come! I am very well off!” + </p> + <p> + Then he took a book with pictures in it down from the shelf; there were + whole long processions and pageants, with the strangest characters, which + one never sees now-a-days; soldiers like the knave of clubs, and citizens + with waving flags: the tailors had theirs, with a pair of shears held by + two lions—and the shoemakers theirs, without boots, but with an + eagle that had two heads, for the shoemakers must have everything so that + they can say, it is a pair! Yes, that was a picture book! + </p> + <p> + The old man now went into the other room to fetch preserves, apples, and + nuts—yes, it was delightful over there in the old house. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot bear it any longer!” said the pewter soldier, who sat on the + drawers. “It is so lonely and melancholy here! But when one has been in a + family circle one cannot accustom oneself to this life! I cannot bear it + any longer! The whole day is so long, and the evenings are still longer! + Here it is not at all as it is over the way at your home, where your + father and mother spoke so pleasantly, and where you and all your sweet + children made such a delightful noise. Nay, how lonely the old man is—do + you think that he gets kisses? Do you think he gets mild eyes, or a + Christmas tree? He will get nothing but a grave! I can bear it no longer!” + </p> + <p> + “You must not let it grieve you so much,” said the little boy. “I find it + so very delightful here, and then all the old thoughts, with what they may + bring with them, they come and visit here.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, it's all very well, but I see nothing of them, and I don't know + them!” said the pewter soldier. “I cannot bear it!” + </p> + <p> + “But you must!” said the little boy. + </p> + <p> + Then in came the old man with the most pleased and happy face, the most + delicious preserves, apples, and nuts, and so the little boy thought no + more about the pewter soldier. + </p> + <p> + The little boy returned home happy and pleased, and weeks and days passed + away, and nods were made to the old house, and from the old house, and + then the little boy went over there again. + </p> + <p> + The carved trumpeters blew, “Trateratra! There is the little boy! + Trateratra!” and the swords and armor on the knights' portraits rattled, + and the silk gowns rustled; the hog's leather spoke, and the old chairs + had the gout in their legs and rheumatism in their backs: Ugh! it was + exactly like the first time, for over there one day and hour was just like + another. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot bear it!” said the pewter soldier. “I have shed pewter tears! It + is too melancholy! Rather let me go to the wars and lose arms and legs! It + would at least be a change. I cannot bear it longer! Now, I know what it + is to have a visit from one's old thoughts, with what they may bring with + them! I have had a visit from mine, and you may be sure it is no pleasant + thing in the end; I was at last about to jump down from the drawers. + </p> + <p> + “I saw you all over there at home so distinctly, as if you really were + here; it was again that Sunday morning; all you children stood before the + table and sung your Psalms, as you do every morning. You stood devoutly + with folded hands; and father and mother were just as pious; and then the + door was opened, and little sister Mary, who is not two years old yet, and + who always dances when she hears music or singing, of whatever kind it may + be, was put into the room—though she ought not to have been there—and + then she began to dance, but could not keep time, because the tones were + so long; and then she stood, first on the one leg, and bent her head + forwards, and then on the other leg, and bent her head forwards—but + all would not do. You stood very seriously all together, although it was + difficult enough; but I laughed to myself, and then I fell off the table, + and got a bump, which I have still—for it was not right of me to + laugh. But the whole now passes before me again in thought, and everything + that I have lived to see; and these are the old thoughts, with what they + may bring with them. + </p> + <p> + “Tell me if you still sing on Sundays? Tell me something about little + Mary! And how my comrade, the other pewter soldier, lives! Yes, he is + happy enough, that's sure! I cannot bear it any longer!” + </p> + <p> + “You are given away as a present!” said the little boy. “You must remain. + Can you not understand that?” + </p> + <p> + The old man now came with a drawer, in which there was much to be seen, + both “tin boxes” and “balsam boxes,” old cards, so large and so gilded, + such as one never sees them now. And several drawers were opened, and the + piano was opened; it had landscapes on the inside of the lid, and it was + so hoarse when the old man played on it! and then he hummed a song. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, she could sing that!” said he, and nodded to the portrait, which he + had bought at the broker's, and the old man's eyes shone so bright! + </p> + <p> + “I will go to the wars! I will go to the wars!” shouted the pewter soldier + as loud as he could, and threw himself off the drawers right down on the + floor. What became of him? The old man sought, and the little boy sought; + he was away, and he stayed away. + </p> + <p> + “I shall find him!” said the old man; but he never found him. The floor + was too open—the pewter soldier had fallen through a crevice, and + there he lay as in an open tomb. + </p> + <p> + That day passed, and the little boy went home, and that week passed, and + several weeks too. The windows were quite frozen, the little boy was + obliged to sit and breathe on them to get a peep-hole over to the old + house, and there the snow had been blown into all the carved work and + inscriptions; it lay quite up over the steps, just as if there was no one + at home—nor was there any one at home—the old man was dead! + </p> + <p> + In the evening there was a hearse seen before the door, and he was borne + into it in his coffin: he was now to go out into the country, to lie in + his grave. He was driven out there, but no one followed; all his friends + were dead, and the little boy kissed his hand to the coffin as it was + driven away. + </p> + <p> + Some days afterwards there was an auction at the old house, and the little + boy saw from his window how they carried the old knights and the old + ladies away, the flower-pots with the long ears, the old chairs, and the + old clothes-presses. Something came here, and something came there; the + portrait of her who had been found at the broker's came to the broker's + again; and there it hung, for no one knew her more—no one cared + about the old picture. + </p> + <p> + In the spring they pulled the house down, for, as people said, it was a + ruin. One could see from the street right into the room with the + hog's-leather hanging, which was slashed and torn; and the green grass and + leaves about the balcony hung quite wild about the falling beams. And then + it was put to rights. + </p> + <p> + “That was a relief,” said the neighboring houses. + </p> + <p> + A fine house was built there, with large windows, and smooth white walls; + but before it, where the old house had in fact stood, was a little garden + laid out, and a wild grapevine ran up the wall of the neighboring house. + Before the garden there was a large iron railing with an iron door, it + looked quite splendid, and people stood still and peeped in, and the + sparrows hung by scores in the vine, and chattered away at each other as + well as they could, but it was not about the old house, for they could not + remember it, so many years had passed—so many that the little boy + had grown up to a whole man, yes, a clever man, and a pleasure to his + parents; and he had just been married, and, together with his little wife, + had come to live in the house here, where the garden was; and he stood by + her there whilst she planted a field-flower that she found so pretty; she + planted it with her little hand, and pressed the earth around it with her + fingers. Oh! what was that? She had stuck herself. There sat something + pointed, straight out of the soft mould. + </p> + <p> + It was—yes, guess! It was the pewter soldier, he that was lost up at + the old man's, and had tumbled and turned about amongst the timber and the + rubbish, and had at last laid for many years in the ground. + </p> + <p> + The young wife wiped the dirt off the soldier, first with a green leaf, + and then with her fine handkerchief—it had such a delightful smell, + that it was to the pewter soldier just as if he had awaked from a trance. + </p> + <p> + “Let me see him,” said the young man. He laughed, and then shook his head. + “Nay, it cannot be he; but he reminds me of a story about a pewter soldier + which I had when I was a little boy!” And then he told his wife about the + old house, and the old man, and about the pewter soldier that he sent over + to him because he was so very, very lonely; and he told it as correctly as + it had really been, so that the tears came into the eyes of his young + wife, on account of the old house and the old man. + </p> + <p> + “It may possibly be, however, that it is the same pewter soldier!” said + she. “I will take care of it, and remember all that you have told me; but + you must show me the old man's grave!” + </p> + <p> + “But I do not know it,” said he, “and no one knows it! All his friends + were dead, no one took care of it, and I was then a little boy!” + </p> + <p> + “How very, very lonely he must have been!” said she. + </p> + <p> + “Very, very lonely!” said the pewter soldier. “But it is delightful not to + be forgotten!” + </p> + <p> + “Delightful!” shouted something close by; but no one, except the pewter + soldier, saw that it was a piece of the hog's-leather hangings; it had + lost all its gilding, it looked like a piece of wet clay, but it had an + opinion, and it gave it: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “The gilding decays, + But hog's leather stays!” + </pre> + <p> + This the pewter soldier did not believe. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE HAPPY FAMILY + </h2> + <p> + Really, the largest green leaf in this country is a dock-leaf; if one + holds it before one, it is like a whole apron, and if one holds it over + one's head in rainy weather, it is almost as good as an umbrella, for it + is so immensely large. The burdock never grows alone, but where there + grows one there always grow several: it is a great delight, and all this + delightfulness is snails' food. The great white snails which persons of + quality in former times made fricassees of, ate, and said, “Hem, hem! how + delicious!” for they thought it tasted so delicate—lived on + dock-leaves, and therefore burdock seeds were sown. + </p> + <p> + Now, there was an old manor-house, where they no longer ate snails, they + were quite extinct; but the burdocks were not extinct, they grew and grew + all over the walks and all the beds; they could not get the mastery over + them—it was a whole forest of burdocks. Here and there stood an + apple and a plum-tree, or else one never would have thought that it was a + garden; all was burdocks, and there lived the two last venerable old + snails. + </p> + <p> + They themselves knew not how old they were, but they could remember very + well that there had been many more; that they were of a family from + foreign lands, and that for them and theirs the whole forest was planted. + They had never been outside it, but they knew that there was still + something more in the world, which was called the manor-house, and that + there they were boiled, and then they became black, and were then placed + on a silver dish; but what happened further they knew not; or, in fact, + what it was to be boiled, and to lie on a silver dish, they could not + possibly imagine; but it was said to be delightful, and particularly + genteel. Neither the chafers, the toads, nor the earth-worms, whom they + asked about it could give them any information—none of them had been + boiled or laid on a silver dish. + </p> + <p> + The old white snails were the first persons of distinction in the world, + that they knew; the forest was planted for their sake, and the manor-house + was there that they might be boiled and laid on a silver dish. + </p> + <p> + Now they lived a very lonely and happy life; and as they had no children + themselves, they had adopted a little common snail, which they brought up + as their own; but the little one would not grow, for he was of a common + family; but the old ones, especially Dame Mother Snail, thought they could + observe how he increased in size, and she begged father, if he could not + see it, that he would at least feel the little snail's shell; and then he + felt it, and found the good dame was right. + </p> + <p> + One day there was a heavy storm of rain. + </p> + <p> + “Hear how it beats like a drum on the dock-leaves!” said Father Snail. + </p> + <p> + “There are also rain-drops!” said Mother Snail. “And now the rain pours + right down the stalk! You will see that it will be wet here! I am very + happy to think that we have our good house, and the little one has his + also! There is more done for us than for all other creatures, sure enough; + but can you not see that we are folks of quality in the world? We are + provided with a house from our birth, and the burdock forest is planted + for our sakes! I should like to know how far it extends, and what there is + outside!” + </p> + <p> + “There is nothing at all,” said Father Snail. “No place can be better than + ours, and I have nothing to wish for!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said the dame. “I would willingly go to the manorhouse, be boiled, + and laid on a silver dish; all our forefathers have been treated so; there + is something extraordinary in it, you may be sure!” + </p> + <p> + “The manor-house has most likely fallen to ruin!” said Father Snail. “Or + the burdocks have grown up over it, so that they cannot come out. There + need not, however, be any haste about that; but you are always in such a + tremendous hurry, and the little one is beginning to be the same. Has he + not been creeping up that stalk these three days? It gives me a headache + when I look up to him!” + </p> + <p> + “You must not scold him,” said Mother Snail. “He creeps so carefully; he + will afford us much pleasure—and we have nothing but him to live + for! But have you not thought of it? Where shall we get a wife for him? Do + you not think that there are some of our species at a great distance in + the interior of the burdock forest?” + </p> + <p> + “Black snails, I dare say, there are enough of,” said the old one. “Black + snails without a house—but they are so common, and so conceited. But + we might give the ants a commission to look out for us; they run to and + fro as if they had something to do, and they certainly know of a wife for + our little snail!” + </p> + <p> + “I know one, sure enough—the most charming one!” said one of the + ants. “But I am afraid we shall hardly succeed, for she is a queen!” + </p> + <p> + “That is nothing!” said the old folks. “Has she a house?” + </p> + <p> + “She has a palace!” said the ant. “The finest ant's palace, with seven + hundred passages!” + </p> + <p> + “I thank you!” said Mother Snail. “Our son shall not go into an ant-hill; + if you know nothing better than that, we shall give the commission to the + white gnats. They fly far and wide, in rain and sunshine; they know the + whole forest here, both within and without.” + </p> + <p> + “We have a wife for him,” said the gnats. “At a hundred human paces from + here there sits a little snail in her house, on a gooseberry bush; she is + quite lonely, and old enough to be married. It is only a hundred human + paces!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, let her come to him!” said the old ones. “He has a whole + forest of burdocks, she has only a bush!” + </p> + <p> + And so they went and fetched little Miss Snail. It was a whole week before + she arrived; but therein was just the very best of it, for one could thus + see that she was of the same species. + </p> + <p> + And then the marriage was celebrated. Six earth-worms shone as well as + they could. In other respects the whole went off very quietly, for the old + folks could not bear noise and merriment; but old Dame Snail made a + brilliant speech. Father Snail could not speak, he was too much affected; + and so they gave them as a dowry and inheritance, the whole forest of + burdocks, and said—what they had always said—that it was the + best in the world; and if they lived honestly and decently, and increased + and multiplied, they and their children would once in the course of time + come to the manor-house, be boiled black, and laid on silver dishes. After + this speech was made, the old ones crept into their shells, and never more + came out. They slept; the young couple governed in the forest, and had a + numerous progeny, but they were never boiled, and never came on the silver + dishes; so from this they concluded that the manor-house had fallen to + ruins, and that all the men in the world were extinct; and as no one + contradicted them, so, of course it was so. And the rain beat on the + dock-leaves to make drum-music for their sake, and the sun shone in order + to give the burdock forest a color for their sakes; and they were very + happy, and the whole family was happy; for they, indeed were so. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE STORY OF A MOTHER + </h2> + <p> + A mother sat there with her little child. She was so downcast, so afraid + that it should die! It was so pale, the small eyes had closed themselves, + and it drew its breath so softly, now and then, with a deep respiration, + as if it sighed; and the mother looked still more sorrowfully on the + little creature. + </p> + <p> + Then a knocking was heard at the door, and in came a poor old man wrapped + up as in a large horse-cloth, for it warms one, and he needed it, as it + was the cold winter season! Everything out-of-doors was covered with ice + and snow, and the wind blew so that it cut the face. + </p> + <p> + As the old man trembled with cold, and the little child slept a moment, + the mother went and poured some ale into a pot and set it on the stove, + that it might be warm for him; the old man sat and rocked the cradle, and + the mother sat down on a chair close by him, and looked at her little sick + child that drew its breath so deep, and raised its little hand. + </p> + <p> + “Do you not think that I shall save him?” said she. “Our Lord will not + take him from me!” + </p> + <p> + And the old man—it was Death himself—he nodded so strangely, + it could just as well signify yes as no. And the mother looked down in her + lap, and the tears ran down over her cheeks; her head became so heavy—she + had not closed her eyes for three days and nights; and now she slept, but + only for a minute, when she started up and trembled with cold. + </p> + <p> + “What is that?” said she, and looked on all sides; but the old man was + gone, and her little child was gone—he had taken it with him; and + the old clock in the corner burred, and burred, the great leaden weight + ran down to the floor, bump! and then the clock also stood still. + </p> + <p> + But the poor mother ran out of the house and cried aloud for her child. + </p> + <p> + Out there, in the midst of the snow, there sat a woman in long, black + clothes; and she said, “Death has been in thy chamber, and I saw him + hasten away with thy little child; he goes faster than the wind, and he + never brings back what he takes!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, only tell me which way he went!” said the mother. “Tell me the way, + and I shall find him!” + </p> + <p> + “I know it!” said the woman in the black clothes. “But before I tell it, + thou must first sing for me all the songs thou hast sung for thy child! I + am fond of them. I have heard them before; I am Night; I saw thy tears + whilst thou sang'st them!” + </p> + <p> + “I will sing them all, all!” said the mother. “But do not stop me now—I + may overtake him—I may find my child!” + </p> + <p> + But Night stood still and mute. Then the mother wrung her hands, sang and + wept, and there were many songs, but yet many more tears; and then Night + said, “Go to the right, into the dark pine forest; thither I saw Death + take his way with thy little child!” + </p> + <p> + The roads crossed each other in the depths of the forest, and she no + longer knew whither she should go! then there stood a thorn-bush; there + was neither leaf nor flower on it, it was also in the cold winter season, + and ice-flakes hung on the branches. + </p> + <p> + “Hast thou not seen Death go past with my little child?” said the mother. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said the thorn-bush; “but I will not tell thee which way he took, + unless thou wilt first warm me up at thy heart. I am freezing to death; I + shall become a lump of ice!” + </p> + <p> + And she pressed the thorn-bush to her breast, so firmly, that it might be + thoroughly warmed, and the thorns went right into her flesh, and her blood + flowed in large drops, but the thornbush shot forth fresh green leaves, + and there came flowers on it in the cold winter night, the heart of the + afflicted mother was so warm; and the thorn-bush told her the way she + should go. + </p> + <p> + She then came to a large lake, where there was neither ship nor boat. The + lake was not frozen sufficiently to bear her; neither was it open, nor low + enough that she could wade through it; and across it she must go if she + would find her child! Then she lay down to drink up the lake, and that was + an impossibility for a human being, but the afflicted mother thought that + a miracle might happen nevertheless. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, what would I not give to come to my child!” said the weeping mother; + and she wept still more, and her eyes sunk down in the depths of the + waters, and became two precious pearls; but the water bore her up, as if + she sat in a swing, and she flew in the rocking waves to the shore on the + opposite side, where there stood a mile-broad, strange house, one knew not + if it were a mountain with forests and caverns, or if it were built up; + but the poor mother could not see it; she had wept her eyes out. + </p> + <p> + “Where shall I find Death, who took away my little child?” said she. + </p> + <p> + “He has not come here yet!” said the old grave woman, who was appointed to + look after Death's great greenhouse! “How have you been able to find the + way hither? And who has helped you?” + </p> + <p> + “OUR LORD has helped me,” said she. “He is merciful, and you will also be + so! Where shall I find my little child?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, I know not,” said the woman, “and you cannot see! Many flowers and + trees have withered this night; Death will soon come and plant them over + again! You certainly know that every person has his or her life's tree or + flower, just as everyone happens to be settled; they look like other + plants, but they have pulsations of the heart. Children's hearts can also + beat; go after yours, perhaps you may know your child's; but what will you + give me if I tell you what you shall do more?” + </p> + <p> + “I have nothing to give,” said the afflicted mother, “but I will go to the + world's end for you!” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, I have nothing to do there!” said the woman. “But you can give me + your long black hair; you know yourself that it is fine, and that I like! + You shall have my white hair instead, and that's always something!” + </p> + <p> + “Do you demand nothing else?” said she. “That I will gladly give you!” And + she gave her her fine black hair, and got the old woman's snow-white hair + instead. + </p> + <p> + So they went into Death's great greenhouse, where flowers and trees grew + strangely into one another. There stood fine hyacinths under glass bells, + and there stood strong-stemmed peonies; there grew water plants, some so + fresh, others half sick, the water-snakes lay down on them, and black + crabs pinched their stalks. There stood beautiful palm-trees, oaks, and + plantains; there stood parsley and flowering thyme: every tree and every + flower had its name; each of them was a human life, the human frame still + lived—one in China, and another in Greenland—round about in + the world. There were large trees in small pots, so that they stood so + stunted in growth, and ready to burst the pots; in other places, there was + a little dull flower in rich mould, with moss round about it, and it was + so petted and nursed. But the distressed mother bent down over all the + smallest plants, and heard within them how the human heart beat; and + amongst millions she knew her child's. + </p> + <p> + “There it is!” cried she, and stretched her hands out over a little blue + crocus, that hung quite sickly on one side. + </p> + <p> + “Don't touch the flower!” said the old woman. “But place yourself here, + and when Death comes—I expect him every moment—do not let him + pluck the flower up, but threaten him that you will do the same with the + others. Then he will be afraid! He is responsible for them to OUR LORD, + and no one dares to pluck them up before HE gives leave.” + </p> + <p> + All at once an icy cold rushed through the great hall, and the blind + mother could feel that it was Death that came. + </p> + <p> + “How hast thou been able to find thy way hither?” he asked. “How couldst + thou come quicker than I?” + </p> + <p> + “I am a mother,” said she. + </p> + <p> + And Death stretched out his long hand towards the fine little flower, but + she held her hands fast around his, so tight, and yet afraid that she + should touch one of the leaves. Then Death blew on her hands, and she felt + that it was colder than the cold wind, and her hands fell down powerless. + </p> + <p> + “Thou canst not do anything against me!” said Death. + </p> + <p> + “But OUR LORD can!” said she. + </p> + <p> + “I only do His bidding!” said Death. “I am His gardener, I take all His + flowers and trees, and plant them out in the great garden of Paradise, in + the unknown land; but how they grow there, and how it is there I dare not + tell thee.” + </p> + <p> + “Give me back my child!” said the mother, and she wept and prayed. At once + she seized hold of two beautiful flowers close by, with each hand, and + cried out to Death, “I will tear all thy flowers off, for I am in + despair.” + </p> + <p> + “Touch them not!” said Death. “Thou say'st that thou art so unhappy, and + now thou wilt make another mother equally unhappy.” + </p> + <p> + “Another mother!” said the poor woman, and directly let go her hold of + both the flowers. + </p> + <p> + “There, thou hast thine eyes,” said Death; “I fished them up from the + lake, they shone so bright; I knew not they were thine. Take them again, + they are now brighter than before; now look down into the deep well close + by; I shall tell thee the names of the two flowers thou wouldst have torn + up, and thou wilt see their whole future life—their whole human + existence: and see what thou wast about to disturb and destroy.” + </p> + <p> + And she looked down into the well; and it was a happiness to see how the + one became a blessing to the world, to see how much happiness and joy were + felt everywhere. And she saw the other's life, and it was sorrow and + distress, horror, and wretchedness. + </p> + <p> + “Both of them are God's will!” said Death. + </p> + <p> + “Which of them is Misfortune's flower and which is that of Happiness?” + asked she. + </p> + <p> + “That I will not tell thee,” said Death; “but this thou shalt know from + me, that the one flower was thy own child! it was thy child's fate thou + saw'st—thy own child's future life!” + </p> + <p> + Then the mother screamed with terror, “Which of them was my child? Tell it + me! Save the innocent! Save my child from all that misery! Rather take it + away! Take it into God's kingdom! Forget my tears, forget my prayers, and + all that I have done!” + </p> + <p> + “I do not understand thee!” said Death. “Wilt thou have thy child again, + or shall I go with it there, where thou dost not know!” + </p> + <p> + Then the mother wrung her hands, fell on her knees, and prayed to our + Lord: “Oh, hear me not when I pray against Thy will, which is the best! + hear me not! hear me not!” + </p> + <p> + And she bowed her head down in her lap, and Death took her child and went + with it into the unknown land. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FALSE COLLAR + </h2> + <p> + There was once a fine gentleman, all of whose moveables were a boot-jack + and a hair-comb: but he had the finest false collars in the world; and it + is about one of these collars that we are now to hear a story. + </p> + <p> + It was so old, that it began to think of marriage; and it happened that it + came to be washed in company with a garter. + </p> + <p> + “Nay!” said the collar. “I never did see anything so slender and so fine, + so soft and so neat. May I not ask your name?” + </p> + <p> + “That I shall not tell you!” said the garter. + </p> + <p> + “Where do you live?” asked the collar. + </p> + <p> + But the garter was so bashful, so modest, and thought it was a strange + question to answer. + </p> + <p> + “You are certainly a girdle,” said the collar; “that is to say an inside + girdle. I see well that you are both for use and ornament, my dear young + lady.” + </p> + <p> + “I will thank you not to speak to me,” said the garter. “I think I have + not given the least occasion for it.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes! When one is as handsome as you,” said the collar, “that is occasion + enough.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't come so near me, I beg of you!” said the garter. “You look so much + like those men-folks.” + </p> + <p> + “I am also a fine gentleman,” said the collar. “I have a bootjack and a + hair-comb.” + </p> + <p> + But that was not true, for it was his master who had them: but he boasted. + </p> + <p> + “Don't come so near me,” said the garter: “I am not accustomed to it.” + </p> + <p> + “Prude!” exclaimed the collar; and then it was taken out of the + washing-tub. It was starched, hung over the back of a chair in the + sunshine, and was then laid on the ironing-blanket; then came the warm + box-iron. “Dear lady!” said the collar. “Dear widow-lady! I feel quite + hot. I am quite changed. I begin to unfold myself. You will burn a hole in + me. Oh! I offer you my hand.” + </p> + <p> + “Rag!” said the box-iron; and went proudly over the collar: for she + fancied she was a steam-engine, that would go on the railroad and draw the + waggons. “Rag!” said the box-iron. + </p> + <p> + The collar was a little jagged at the edge, and so came the long scissors + to cut off the jagged part. “Oh!” said the collar. “You are certainly the + first opera dancer. How well you can stretch your legs out! It is the most + graceful performance I have ever seen. No one can imitate you.” + </p> + <p> + “I know it,” said the scissors. + </p> + <p> + “You deserve to be a baroness,” said the collar. “All that I have is a + fine gentleman, a boot-jack, and a hair-comb. If I only had the barony!” + </p> + <p> + “Do you seek my hand?” said the scissors; for she was angry; and without + more ado, she CUT HIM, and then he was condemned. + </p> + <p> + “I shall now be obliged to ask the hair-comb. It is surprising how well + you preserve your teeth, Miss,” said the collar. “Have you never thought + of being betrothed?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, of course! you may be sure of that,” said the hair-comb. “I AM + betrothed—to the boot-jack!” + </p> + <p> + “Betrothed!” exclaimed the collar. Now there was no other to court, and so + he despised it. + </p> + <p> + A long time passed away, then the collar came into the rag chest at the + paper mill; there was a large company of rags, the fine by themselves, and + the coarse by themselves, just as it should be. They all had much to say, + but the collar the most; for he was a real boaster. + </p> + <p> + “I have had such an immense number of sweethearts!” said the collar. “I + could not be in peace! It is true, I was always a fine starched-up + gentleman! I had both a boot-jack and a hair-comb, which I never used! You + should have seen me then, you should have seen me when I lay down! I shall + never forget MY FIRST LOVE—she was a girdle, so fine, so soft, and + so charming, she threw herself into a tub of water for my sake! There was + also a widow, who became glowing hot, but I left her standing till she got + black again; there was also the first opera dancer, she gave me that cut + which I now go with, she was so ferocious! My own hair-comb was in love + with me, she lost all her teeth from the heart-ache; yes, I have lived to + see much of that sort of thing; but I am extremely sorry for the garter—I + mean the girdle—that went into the water-tub. I have much on my + conscience, I want to become white paper!” + </p> + <p> + And it became so, all the rags were turned into white paper; but the + collar came to be just this very piece of white paper we here see, and on + which the story is printed; and that was because it boasted so terribly + afterwards of what had never happened to it. It would be well for us to + beware, that we may not act in a similar manner, for we can never know if + we may not, in the course of time, also come into the rag chest, and be + made into white paper, and then have our whole life's history printed on + it, even the most secret, and be obliged to run about and tell it + ourselves, just like this collar. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE SHADOW + </h2> + <p> + It is in the hot lands that the sun burns, sure enough! there the people + become quite a mahogany brown, ay, and in the HOTTEST lands they are burnt + to Negroes. But now it was only to the HOT lands that a learned man had + come from the cold; there he thought that he could run about just as when + at home, but he soon found out his mistake. + </p> + <p> + He, and all sensible folks, were obliged to stay within doors—the + window-shutters and doors were closed the whole day; it looked as if the + whole house slept, or there was no one at home. + </p> + <p> + The narrow street with the high houses, was built so that the sunshine + must fall there from morning till evening—it was really not to be + borne. + </p> + <p> + The learned man from the cold lands—he was a young man, and seemed + to be a clever man—sat in a glowing oven; it took effect on him, he + became quite meagre—even his shadow shrunk in, for the sun had also + an effect on it. It was first towards evening when the sun was down, that + they began to freshen up again. + </p> + <p> + In the warm lands every window has a balcony, and the people came out on + all the balconies in the street—for one must have air, even if one + be accustomed to be mahogany!* It was lively both up and down the street. + Tailors, and shoemakers, and all the folks, moved out into the street—chairs + and tables were brought forth—and candles burnt—yes, above a + thousand lights were burning—and the one talked and the other sung; + and people walked and church-bells rang, and asses went along with a + dingle-dingle-dong! for they too had bells on. The street boys were + screaming and hooting, and shouting and shooting, with devils and + detonating balls—and there came corpse bearers and hood wearers—for + there were funerals with psalm and hymn—and then the din of + carriages driving and company arriving: yes, it was, in truth, lively + enough down in the street. Only in that single house, which stood opposite + that in which the learned foreigner lived, it was quite still; and yet + some one lived there, for there stood flowers in the balcony—they + grew so well in the sun's heat! and that they could not do unless they + were watered—and some one must water them—there must be + somebody there. The door opposite was also opened late in the evening, but + it was dark within, at least in the front room; further in there was heard + the sound of music. The learned foreigner thought it quite marvellous, but + now—it might be that he only imagined it—for he found + everything marvellous out there, in the warm lands, if there had only been + no sun. The stranger's landlord said that he didn't know who had taken the + house opposite, one saw no person about, and as to the music, it appeared + to him to be extremely tiresome. “It is as if some one sat there, and + practised a piece that he could not master—always the same piece. 'I + shall master it!' says he; but yet he cannot master it, however long he + plays.” + </p> + <p> + * The word mahogany can be understood, in Danish, as having two meanings. + In general, it means the reddish-brown wood itself; but in jest, it + signifies “excessively fine,” which arose from an anecdote of Nyboder, in + Copenhagen, (the seamen's quarter.) A sailor's wife, who was always proud + and fine, in her way, came to her neighbor, and complained that she had + got a splinter in her finger. “What of?” asked the neighbor's wife. “It is + a mahogany splinter,” said the other. “Mahogany! It cannot be less with + you!” exclaimed the woman—and thence the proverb, “It is so + mahogany!”—(that is, so excessively fine)—is derived. + </p> + <p> + One night the stranger awoke—he slept with the doors of the balcony + open—the curtain before it was raised by the wind, and he thought + that a strange lustre came from the opposite neighbor's house; all the + flowers shone like flames, in the most beautiful colors, and in the midst + of the flowers stood a slender, graceful maiden—it was as if she + also shone; the light really hurt his eyes. He now opened them quite wide—yes, + he was quite awake; with one spring he was on the floor; he crept gently + behind the curtain, but the maiden was gone; the flowers shone no longer, + but there they stood, fresh and blooming as ever; the door was ajar, and, + far within, the music sounded so soft and delightful, one could really + melt away in sweet thoughts from it. Yet it was like a piece of + enchantment. And who lived there? Where was the actual entrance? The whole + of the ground-floor was a row of shops, and there people could not always + be running through. + </p> + <p> + One evening the stranger sat out on the balcony. The light burnt in the + room behind him; and thus it was quite natural that his shadow should fall + on his opposite neighbor's wall. Yes! there it sat, directly opposite, + between the flowers on the balcony; and when the stranger moved, the + shadow also moved: for that it always does. + </p> + <p> + “I think my shadow is the only living thing one sees over there,” said the + learned man. “See, how nicely it sits between the flowers. The door stands + half-open: now the shadow should be cunning, and go into the room, look + about, and then come and tell me what it had seen. Come, now! Be useful, + and do me a service,” said he, in jest. “Have the kindness to step in. + Now! Art thou going?” and then he nodded to the shadow, and the shadow + nodded again. “Well then, go! But don't stay away.” + </p> + <p> + The stranger rose, and his shadow on the opposite neighbor's balcony rose + also; the stranger turned round and the shadow also turned round. Yes! if + anyone had paid particular attention to it, they would have seen, quite + distinctly, that the shadow went in through the half-open balcony-door of + their opposite neighbor, just as the stranger went into his own room, and + let the long curtain fall down after him. + </p> + <p> + Next morning, the learned man went out to drink coffee and read the + newspapers. + </p> + <p> + “What is that?” said he, as he came out into the sunshine. “I have no + shadow! So then, it has actually gone last night, and not come again. It + is really tiresome!” + </p> + <p> + This annoyed him: not so much because the shadow was gone, but because he + knew there was a story about a man without a shadow.* It was known to + everybody at home, in the cold lands; and if the learned man now came + there and told his story, they would say that he was imitating it, and + that he had no need to do. He would, therefore, not talk about it at all; + and that was wisely thought. + </p> + <p> + *Peter Schlemihl, the shadowless man. + </p> + <p> + In the evening he went out again on the balcony. He had placed the light + directly behind him, for he knew that the shadow would always have its + master for a screen, but he could not entice it. He made himself little; + he made himself great: but no shadow came again. He said, “Hem! hem!” but + it was of no use. + </p> + <p> + It was vexatious; but in the warm lands everything grows so quickly; and + after the lapse of eight days he observed, to his great joy, that a new + shadow came in the sunshine. In the course of three weeks he had a very + fair shadow, which, when he set out for his home in the northern lands, + grew more and more in the journey, so that at last it was so long and so + large, that it was more than sufficient. + </p> + <p> + The learned man then came home, and he wrote books about what was true in + the world, and about what was good and what was beautiful; and there + passed days and years—yes! many years passed away. + </p> + <p> + One evening, as he was sitting in his room, there was a gentle knocking at + the door. + </p> + <p> + “Come in!” said he; but no one came in; so he opened the door, and there + stood before him such an extremely lean man, that he felt quite strange. + As to the rest, the man was very finely dressed—he must be a + gentleman. + </p> + <p> + “Whom have I the honor of speaking?” asked the learned man. + </p> + <p> + “Yes! I thought as much,” said the fine man. “I thought you would not know + me. I have got so much body. I have even got flesh and clothes. You + certainly never thought of seeing me so well off. Do you not know your old + shadow? You certainly thought I should never more return. Things have gone + on well with me since I was last with you. I have, in all respects, become + very well off. Shall I purchase my freedom from service? If so, I can do + it”; and then he rattled a whole bunch of valuable seals that hung to his + watch, and he stuck his hand in the thick gold chain he wore around his + neck—nay! how all his fingers glittered with diamond rings; and then + all were pure gems. + </p> + <p> + “Nay; I cannot recover from my surprise!” said the learned man. “What is + the meaning of all this?” + </p> + <p> + “Something common, is it not,” said the shadow. “But you yourself do not + belong to the common order; and I, as you know well, have from a child + followed in your footsteps. As soon as you found I was capable to go out + alone in the world, I went my own way. I am in the most brilliant + circumstances, but there came a sort of desire over me to see you once + more before you die; you will die, I suppose? I also wished to see this + land again—for you know we always love our native land. I know you + have got another shadow again; have I anything to pay to it or you? If so, + you will oblige me by saying what it is.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, is it really thou?” said the learned man. “It is most remarkable: I + never imagined that one's old shadow could come again as a man.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell me what I have to pay,” said the shadow; “for I don't like to be in + any sort of debt.” + </p> + <p> + “How canst thou talk so?” said the learned man. “What debt is there to + talk about? Make thyself as free as anyone else. I am extremely glad to + hear of thy good fortune: sit down, old friend, and tell me a little how + it has gone with thee, and what thou hast seen at our opposite neighbor's + there—in the warm lands.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I will tell you all about it,” said the shadow, and sat down: “but + then you must also promise me, that, wherever you may meet me, you will + never say to anyone here in the town that I have been your shadow. I + intend to get betrothed, for I can provide for more than one family.” + </p> + <p> + “Be quite at thy ease about that,” said the learned man; “I shall not say + to anyone who thou actually art: here is my hand—I promise it, and a + man's bond is his word.” + </p> + <p> + “A word is a shadow,” said the shadow, “and as such it must speak.” + </p> + <p> + It was really quite astonishing how much of a man it was. It was dressed + entirely in black, and of the very finest cloth; it had patent leather + boots, and a hat that could be folded together, so that it was bare crown + and brim; not to speak of what we already know it had—seals, gold + neck-chain, and diamond rings; yes, the shadow was well-dressed, and it + was just that which made it quite a man. + </p> + <p> + “Now I shall tell you my adventures,” said the shadow; and then he sat, + with the polished boots, as heavily as he could, on the arm of the learned + man's new shadow, which lay like a poodle-dog at his feet. Now this was + perhaps from arrogance; and the shadow on the ground kept itself so still + and quiet, that it might hear all that passed: it wished to know how it + could get free, and work its way up, so as to become its own master. + </p> + <p> + “Do you know who lived in our opposite neighbor's house?” said the shadow. + “It was the most charming of all beings, it was Poesy! I was there for + three weeks, and that has as much effect as if one had lived three + thousand years, and read all that was composed and written; that is what I + say, and it is right. I have seen everything and I know everything!” + </p> + <p> + “Poesy!” cried the learned man. “Yes, yes, she often dwells a recluse in + large cities! Poesy! Yes, I have seen her—a single short moment, but + sleep came into my eyes! She stood on the balcony and shone as the Aurora + Borealis shines. Go on, go on—thou wert on the balcony, and went + through the doorway, and then—” + </p> + <p> + “Then I was in the antechamber,” said the shadow. “You always sat and + looked over to the antechamber. There was no light; there was a sort of + twilight, but the one door stood open directly opposite the other through + a long row of rooms and saloons, and there it was lighted up. I should + have been completely killed if I had gone over to the maiden; but I was + circumspect, I took time to think, and that one must always do.” + </p> + <p> + “And what didst thou then see?” asked the learned man. + </p> + <p> + “I saw everything, and I shall tell all to you: but—it is no pride + on my part—as a free man, and with the knowledge I have, not to + speak of my position in life, my excellent circumstances—I certainly + wish that you would say YOU* to me!” + </p> + <p> + * It is the custom in Denmark for intimate acquaintances to use the second + person singular, “Du,” (thou) when speaking to each other. When a + friendship is formed between men, they generally affirm it, when occasion + offers, either in public or private, by drinking to each other and + exclaiming, “thy health,” at the same time striking their glasses + together. This is called drinking “Duus”: they are then, “Duus Brodre,” + (thou brothers) and ever afterwards use the pronoun “thou,” to each other, + it being regarded as more familiar than “De,” (you). Father and mother, + sister and brother say thou to one another—without regard to age or + rank. Master and mistress say thou to their servants the superior to the + inferior. But servants and inferiors do not use the same term to their + masters, or superiors—nor is it ever used when speaking to a + stranger, or anyone with whom they are but slightly acquainted—they + then say as in English—you. + </p> + <p> + “I beg your pardon,” said the learned man; “it is an old habit with me. + YOU are perfectly right, and I shall remember it; but now you must tell me + all YOU saw!” + </p> + <p> + “Everything!” said the shadow. “For I saw everything, and I know + everything!” + </p> + <p> + “How did it look in the furthest saloon?” asked the learned man. “Was it + there as in the fresh woods? Was it there as in a holy church? Were the + saloons like the starlit firmament when we stand on the high mountains?” + </p> + <p> + “Everything was there!” said the shadow. “I did not go quite in, I + remained in the foremost room, in the twilight, but I stood there quite + well; I saw everything, and I know everything! I have been in the + antechamber at the court of Poesy.” + </p> + <p> + “But WHAT DID you see? Did all the gods of the olden times pass through + the large saloons? Did the old heroes combat there? Did sweet children + play there, and relate their dreams?” + </p> + <p> + “I tell you I was there, and you can conceive that I saw everything there + was to be seen. Had you come over there, you would not have been a man; + but I became so! And besides, I learned to know my inward nature, my + innate qualities, the relationship I had with Poesy. At the time I was + with you, I thought not of that, but always—you know it well—when + the sun rose, and when the sun went down, I became so strangely great; in + the moonlight I was very near being more distinct than yourself; at that + time I did not understand my nature; it was revealed to me in the + antechamber! I became a man! I came out matured; but you were no longer in + the warm lands; as a man I was ashamed to go as I did. I was in want of + boots, of clothes, of the whole human varnish that makes a man + perceptible. I took my way—I tell it to you, but you will not put it + in any book—I took my way to the cake woman—I hid myself + behind her; the woman didn't think how much she concealed. I went out + first in the evening; I ran about the streets in the moonlight; I made + myself long up the walls—it tickles the back so delightfully! I ran + up, and ran down, peeped into the highest windows, into the saloons, and + on the roofs, I peeped in where no one could peep, and I saw what no one + else saw, what no one else should see! This is, in fact, a base world! I + would not be a man if it were not now once accepted and regarded as + something to be so! I saw the most unimaginable things with the women, + with the men, with parents, and with the sweet, matchless children; I + saw,” said the shadow, “what no human being must know, but what they would + all so willingly know—what is bad in their neighbor. Had I written a + newspaper, it would have been read! But I wrote direct to the persons + themselves, and there was consternation in all the towns where I came. + They were so afraid of me, and yet they were so excessively fond of me. + The professors made a professor of me; the tailors gave me new clothes—I + am well furnished; the master of the mint struck new coin for me, and the + women said I was so handsome! And so I became the man I am. And I now bid + you farewell. Here is my card—I live on the sunny side of the + street, and am always at home in rainy weather!” And so away went the + shadow. “That was most extraordinary!” said the learned man. Years and + days passed away, then the shadow came again. “How goes it?” said the + shadow. + </p> + <p> + “Alas!” said the learned man. “I write about the true, and the good, and + the beautiful, but no one cares to hear such things; I am quite desperate, + for I take it so much to heart!” + </p> + <p> + “But I don't!” said the shadow. “I become fat, and it is that one wants to + become! You do not understand the world. You will become ill by it. You + must travel! I shall make a tour this summer; will you go with me? I + should like to have a travelling companion! Will you go with me, as + shadow? It will be a great pleasure for me to have you with me; I shall + pay the travelling expenses!” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, this is too much!” said the learned man. + </p> + <p> + “It is just as one takes it!” said the shadow. “It will do you much good + to travel! Will you be my shadow? You shall have everything free on the + journey!” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, that is too bad!” said the learned man. + </p> + <p> + “But it is just so with the world!” said the shadow, “and so it will be!” + and away it went again. + </p> + <p> + The learned man was not at all in the most enviable state; grief and + torment followed him, and what he said about the true, and the good, and + the beautiful, was, to most persons, like roses for a cow! He was quite + ill at last. + </p> + <p> + “You really look like a shadow!” said his friends to him; and the learned + man trembled, for he thought of it. + </p> + <p> + “You must go to a watering-place!” said the shadow, who came and visited + him. “There is nothing else for it! I will take you with me for old + acquaintance' sake; I will pay the travelling expenses, and you write the + descriptions—and if they are a little amusing for me on the way! I + will go to a watering-place—my beard does not grow out as it ought—that + is also a sickness—and one must have a beard! Now you be wise and + accept the offer; we shall travel as comrades!” + </p> + <p> + And so they travelled; the shadow was master, and the master was the + shadow; they drove with each other, they rode and walked together, side by + side, before and behind, just as the sun was; the shadow always took care + to keep itself in the master's place. Now the learned man didn't think + much about that; he was a very kind-hearted man, and particularly mild and + friendly, and so he said one day to the shadow: “As we have now become + companions, and in this way have grown up together from childhood, shall + we not drink 'thou' together, it is more familiar?” + </p> + <p> + “You are right,” said the shadow, who was now the proper master. “It is + said in a very straight-forward and well-meant manner. You, as a learned + man, certainly know how strange nature is. Some persons cannot bear to + touch grey paper, or they become ill; others shiver in every limb if one + rub a pane of glass with a nail: I have just such a feeling on hearing you + say thou to me; I feel myself as if pressed to the earth in my first + situation with you. You see that it is a feeling; that it is not pride: I + cannot allow you to say THOU to me, but I will willingly say THOU to you, + so it is half done!” + </p> + <p> + So the shadow said THOU to its former master. + </p> + <p> + “This is rather too bad,” thought he, “that I must say YOU and he say + THOU,” but he was now obliged to put up with it. + </p> + <p> + So they came to a watering-place where there were many strangers, and + amongst them was a princess, who was troubled with seeing too well; and + that was so alarming! + </p> + <p> + She directly observed that the stranger who had just come was quite a + different sort of person to all the others; “He has come here in order to + get his beard to grow, they say, but I see the real cause, he cannot cast + a shadow.” + </p> + <p> + She had become inquisitive; and so she entered into conversation directly + with the strange gentleman, on their promenades. As the daughter of a + king, she needed not to stand upon trifles, so she said, “Your complaint + is, that you cannot cast a shadow?” + </p> + <p> + “Your Royal Highness must be improving considerably,” said the shadow, “I + know your complaint is, that you see too clearly, but it has decreased, + you are cured. I just happen to have a very unusual shadow! Do you not see + that person who always goes with me? Other persons have a common shadow, + but I do not like what is common to all. We give our servants finer cloth + for their livery than we ourselves use, and so I had my shadow trimmed up + into a man: yes, you see I have even given him a shadow. It is somewhat + expensive, but I like to have something for myself!” + </p> + <p> + “What!” thought the princess. “Should I really be cured! These baths are + the first in the world! In our time water has wonderful powers. But I + shall not leave the place, for it now begins to be amusing here. I am + extremely fond of that stranger: would that his beard should not grow, for + in that case he will leave us!” + </p> + <p> + In the evening, the princess and the shadow danced together in the large + ball-room. She was light, but he was still lighter; she had never had such + a partner in the dance. She told him from what land she came, and he knew + that land; he had been there, but then she was not at home; he had peeped + in at the window, above and below—he had seen both the one and the + other, and so he could answer the princess, and make insinuations, so that + she was quite astonished; he must be the wisest man in the whole world! + She felt such respect for what he knew! So that when they again danced + together she fell in love with him; and that the shadow could remark, for + she almost pierced him through with her eyes. So they danced once more + together; and she was about to declare herself, but she was discreet; she + thought of her country and kingdom, and of the many persons she would have + to reign over. + </p> + <p> + “He is a wise man,” said she to herself—“It is well; and he dances + delightfully—that is also good; but has he solid knowledge? That is + just as important! He must be examined.” + </p> + <p> + So she began, by degrees, to question him about the most difficult things + she could think of, and which she herself could not have answered; so that + the shadow made a strange face. + </p> + <p> + “You cannot answer these questions?” said the princess. + </p> + <p> + “They belong to my childhood's learning,” said the shadow. “I really + believe my shadow, by the door there, can answer them!” + </p> + <p> + “Your shadow!” said the princess. “That would indeed be marvellous!” + </p> + <p> + “I will not say for a certainty that he can,” said the shadow, “but I + think so; he has now followed me for so many years, and listened to my + conversation—I should think it possible. But your royal highness + will permit me to observe, that he is so proud of passing himself off for + a man, that when he is to be in a proper humor—and he must be so to + answer well—he must be treated quite like a man.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! I like that!” said the princess. + </p> + <p> + So she went to the learned man by the door, and she spoke to him about the + sun and the moon, and about persons out of and in the world, and he + answered with wisdom and prudence. + </p> + <p> + “What a man that must be who has so wise a shadow!” thought she. “It will + be a real blessing to my people and kingdom if I choose him for my consort—I + will do it!” + </p> + <p> + They were soon agreed, both the princess and the shadow; but no one was to + know about it before she arrived in her own kingdom. + </p> + <p> + “No one—not even my shadow!” said the shadow, and he had his own + thoughts about it! + </p> + <p> + Now they were in the country where the princess reigned when she was at + home. + </p> + <p> + “Listen, my good friend,” said the shadow to the learned man. “I have now + become as happy and mighty as anyone can be; I will, therefore, do + something particular for thee! Thou shalt always live with me in the + palace, drive with me in my royal carriage, and have ten thousand pounds a + year; but then thou must submit to be called SHADOW by all and everyone; + thou must not say that thou hast ever been a man; and once a year, when I + sit on the balcony in the sunshine, thou must lie at my feet, as a shadow + shall do! I must tell thee: I am going to marry the king's daughter, and + the nuptials are to take place this evening!” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, this is going too far!” said the learned man. “I will not have it; I + will not do it! It is to deceive the whole country and the princess too! I + will tell everything! That I am a man, and that thou art a shadow—thou + art only dressed up!” + </p> + <p> + “There is no one who will believe it!” said the shadow. “Be reasonable, or + I will call the guard!” + </p> + <p> + “I will go directly to the princess!” said the learned man. + </p> + <p> + “But I will go first!” said the shadow. “And thou wilt go to prison!” and + that he was obliged to do—for the sentinels obeyed him whom they + knew the king's daughter was to marry. + </p> + <p> + “You tremble!” said the princess, as the shadow came into her chamber. + “Has anything happened? You must not be unwell this evening, now that we + are to have our nuptials celebrated.” + </p> + <p> + “I have lived to see the most cruel thing that anyone can live to see!” + said the shadow. “Only imagine—yes, it is true, such a poor + shadow-skull cannot bear much—only think, my shadow has become mad; + he thinks that he is a man, and that I—now only think—that I + am his shadow!” + </p> + <p> + “It is terrible!” said the princess; “but he is confined, is he not?” + </p> + <p> + “That he is. I am afraid that he will never recover.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor shadow!” said the princess. “He is very unfortunate; it would be a + real work of charity to deliver him from the little life he has, and, when + I think properly over the matter, I am of opinion that it will be + necessary to do away with him in all stillness!” + </p> + <p> + “It is certainly hard,” said the shadow, “for he was a faithful servant!” + and then he gave a sort of sigh. + </p> + <p> + “You are a noble character!” said the princess. + </p> + <p> + The whole city was illuminated in the evening, and the cannons went off + with a bum! bum! and the soldiers presented arms. That was a marriage! The + princess and the shadow went out on the balcony to show themselves, and + get another hurrah! + </p> + <p> + The learned man heard nothing of all this—for they had deprived him + of life. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL + </h2> + <p> + Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and + evening—the last evening of the year. In this cold and darkness + there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and with naked + feet. When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but what was the + good of that? They were very large slippers, which her mother had hitherto + worn; so large were they; and the poor little thing lost them as she + scuffled away across the street, because of two carriages that rolled by + dreadfully fast. + </p> + <p> + One slipper was nowhere to be found; the other had been laid hold of by an + urchin, and off he ran with it; he thought it would do capitally for a + cradle when he some day or other should have children himself. So the + little maiden walked on with her tiny naked feet, that were quite red and + blue from cold. She carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she + held a bundle of them in her hand. Nobody had bought anything of her the + whole livelong day; no one had given her a single farthing. + </p> + <p> + She crept along trembling with cold and hunger—a very picture of + sorrow, the poor little thing! + </p> + <p> + The flakes of snow covered her long fair hair, which fell in beautiful + curls around her neck; but of that, of course, she never once now thought. + From all the windows the candles were gleaming, and it smelt so + deliciously of roast goose, for you know it was New Year's Eve; yes, of + that she thought. + </p> + <p> + In a corner formed by two houses, of which one advanced more than the + other, she seated herself down and cowered together. Her little feet she + had drawn close up to her, but she grew colder and colder, and to go home + she did not venture, for she had not sold any matches and could not bring + a farthing of money: from her father she would certainly get blows, and at + home it was cold too, for above her she had only the roof, through which + the wind whistled, even though the largest cracks were stopped up with + straw and rags. + </p> + <p> + Her little hands were almost numbed with cold. Oh! a match might afford + her a world of comfort, if she only dared take a single one out of the + bundle, draw it against the wall, and warm her fingers by it. She drew one + out. “Rischt!” how it blazed, how it burnt! It was a warm, bright flame, + like a candle, as she held her hands over it: it was a wonderful light. It + seemed really to the little maiden as though she were sitting before a + large iron stove, with burnished brass feet and a brass ornament at top. + The fire burned with such blessed influence; it warmed so delightfully. + The little girl had already stretched out her feet to warm them too; but—the + small flame went out, the stove vanished: she had only the remains of the + burnt-out match in her hand. + </p> + <p> + She rubbed another against the wall: it burned brightly, and where the + light fell on the wall, there the wall became transparent like a veil, so + that she could see into the room. On the table was spread a snow-white + tablecloth; upon it was a splendid porcelain service, and the roast goose + was steaming famously with its stuffing of apple and dried plums. And what + was still more capital to behold was, the goose hopped down from the dish, + reeled about on the floor with knife and fork in its breast, till it came + up to the poor little girl; when—the match went out and nothing but + the thick, cold, damp wall was left behind. She lighted another match. Now + there she was sitting under the most magnificent Christmas tree: it was + still larger, and more decorated than the one which she had seen through + the glass door in the rich merchant's house. + </p> + <p> + Thousands of lights were burning on the green branches, and gaily-colored + pictures, such as she had seen in the shop-windows, looked down upon her. + The little maiden stretched out her hands towards them when—the + match went out. The lights of the Christmas tree rose higher and higher, + she saw them now as stars in heaven; one fell down and formed a long trail + of fire. + </p> + <p> + “Someone is just dead!” said the little girl; for her old grandmother, the + only person who had loved her, and who was now no more, had told her, that + when a star falls, a soul ascends to God. + </p> + <p> + She drew another match against the wall: it was again light, and in the + lustre there stood the old grandmother, so bright and radiant, so mild, + and with such an expression of love. + </p> + <p> + “Grandmother!” cried the little one. “Oh, take me with you! You go away + when the match burns out; you vanish like the warm stove, like the + delicious roast goose, and like the magnificent Christmas tree!” And she + rubbed the whole bundle of matches quickly against the wall, for she + wanted to be quite sure of keeping her grandmother near her. And the + matches gave such a brilliant light that it was brighter than at noon-day: + never formerly had the grandmother been so beautiful and so tall. She took + the little maiden, on her arm, and both flew in brightness and in joy so + high, so very high, and then above was neither cold, nor hunger, nor + anxiety—they were with God. + </p> + <p> + But in the corner, at the cold hour of dawn, sat the poor girl, with rosy + cheeks and with a smiling mouth, leaning against the wall—frozen to + death on the last evening of the old year. Stiff and stark sat the child + there with her matches, of which one bundle had been burnt. “She wanted to + warm herself,” people said. No one had the slightest suspicion of what + beautiful things she had seen; no one even dreamed of the splendor in + which, with her grandmother she had entered on the joys of a new year. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE DREAM OF LITTLE TUK + </h2> + <p> + Ah! yes, that was little Tuk: in reality his name was not Tuk, but that + was what he called himself before he could speak plain: he meant it for + Charles, and it is all well enough if one does but know it. He had now to + take care of his little sister Augusta, who was much younger than himself, + and he was, besides, to learn his lesson at the same time; but these two + things would not do together at all. There sat the poor little fellow, + with his sister on his lap, and he sang to her all the songs he knew; and + he glanced the while from time to time into the geography-book that lay + open before him. By the next morning he was to have learnt all the towns + in Zealand by heart, and to know about them all that is possible to be + known. + </p> + <p> + His mother now came home, for she had been out, and took little Augusta on + her arm. Tuk ran quickly to the window, and read so eagerly that he pretty + nearly read his eyes out; for it got darker and darker, but his mother had + no money to buy a candle. + </p> + <p> + “There goes the old washerwoman over the way,” said his mother, as she + looked out of the window. “The poor woman can hardly drag herself along, + and she must now drag the pail home from the fountain. Be a good boy, + Tukey, and run across and help the old woman, won't you?” + </p> + <p> + So Tuk ran over quickly and helped her; but when he came back again into + the room it was quite dark, and as to a light, there was no thought of + such a thing. He was now to go to bed; that was an old turn-up bedstead; + in it he lay and thought about his geography lesson, and of Zealand, and + of all that his master had told him. He ought, to be sure, to have read + over his lesson again, but that, you know, he could not do. He therefore + put his geography-book under his pillow, because he had heard that was a + very good thing to do when one wants to learn one's lesson; but one + cannot, however, rely upon it entirely. Well, there he lay, and thought + and thought, and all at once it was just as if someone kissed his eyes and + mouth: he slept, and yet he did not sleep; it was as though the old + washerwoman gazed on him with her mild eyes and said, “It were a great sin + if you were not to know your lesson tomorrow morning. You have aided me, I + therefore will now help you; and the loving God will do so at all times.” + And all of a sudden the book under Tuk's pillow began scraping and + scratching. + </p> + <p> + “Kickery-ki! kluk! kluk! kluk!”—that was an old hen who came + creeping along, and she was from Kjoge. “I am a Kjoger hen,” [*] said she, + and then she related how many inhabitants there were there, and about the + battle that had taken place, and which, after all, was hardly worth + talking about. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Kjoge, a town in the bay of Kjoge. “To see the Kjoge + hens,” is an expression similar to “showing a child London,” + which is said to be done by taking his head in both bands, + and so lifting him off the ground. At the invasion of the + English in 1807, an encounter of a no very glorious nature + took place between the British troops and the undisciplined + Danish militia. +</pre> + <p> + “Kribledy, krabledy—plump!” down fell somebody: it was a wooden + bird, the popinjay used at the shooting-matches at Prastoe. Now he said + that there were just as many inhabitants as he had nails in his body; and + he was very proud. “Thorwaldsen lived almost next door to me.* Plump! Here + I lie capitally.” + </p> + <p> + * Prastoe, a still smaller town than Kjoge. Some hundred paces from it + lies the manor-house Ny Soe, where Thorwaldsen, the famed sculptor, + generally sojourned during his stay in Denmark, and where he called many + of his immortal works into existence. + </p> + <p> + But little Tuk was no longer lying down: all at once he was on horseback. + On he went at full gallop, still galloping on and on. A knight with a + gleaming plume, and most magnificently dressed, held him before him on the + horse, and thus they rode through the wood to the old town of Bordingborg, + and that was a large and very lively town. High towers rose from the + castle of the king, and the brightness of many candles streamed from all + the windows; within was dance and song, and King Waldemar and the young, + richly-attired maids of honor danced together. The morn now came; and as + soon as the sun appeared, the whole town and the king's palace crumbled + together, and one tower after the other; and at last only a single one + remained standing where the castle had been before,* and the town was so + small and poor, and the school boys came along with their books under + their arms, and said, “2000 inhabitants!” but that was not true, for there + were not so many. + </p> + <p> + *Bordingborg, in the reign of King Waldemar, a considerable place, now an + unimportant little town. One solitary tower only, and some remains of a + wall, show where the castle once stood. + </p> + <p> + And little Tukey lay in his bed: it seemed to him as if he dreamed, and + yet as if he were not dreaming; however, somebody was close beside him. + </p> + <p> + “Little Tukey! Little Tukey!” cried someone near. It was a seaman, quite a + little personage, so little as if he were a midshipman; but a midshipman + it was not. + </p> + <p> + “Many remembrances from Corsor.* That is a town that is just rising into + importance; a lively town that has steam-boats and stagecoaches: formerly + people called it ugly, but that is no longer true. I lie on the sea,” said + Corsor; “I have high roads and gardens, and I have given birth to a poet + who was witty and amusing, which all poets are not. I once intended to + equip a ship that was to sail all round the earth; but I did not do it, + although I could have done so: and then, too, I smell so deliciously, for + close before the gate bloom the most beautiful roses.” + </p> + <p> + *Corsor, on the Great Belt, called, formerly, before the introduction of + steam-vessels, when travellers were often obliged to wait a long time for + a favorable wind, “the most tiresome of towns.” The poet Baggesen was born + here. + </p> + <p> + Little Tuk looked, and all was red and green before his eyes; but as soon + as the confusion of colors was somewhat over, all of a sudden there + appeared a wooded slope close to the bay, and high up above stood a + magnificent old church, with two high pointed towers. From out the + hill-side spouted fountains in thick streams of water, so that there was a + continual splashing; and close beside them sat an old king with a golden + crown upon his white head: that was King Hroar, near the fountains, close + to the town of Roeskilde, as it is now called. And up the slope into the + old church went all the kings and queens of Denmark, hand in hand, all + with their golden crowns; and the organ played and the fountains rustled. + Little Tuk saw all, heard all. “Do not forget the diet,” said King Hroar.* + </p> + <p> + *Roeskilde, once the capital of Denmark. The town takes its name from King + Hroar, and the many fountains in the neighborhood. In the beautiful + cathedral the greater number of the kings and queens of Denmark are + interred. In Roeskilde, too, the members of the Danish Diet assemble. + </p> + <p> + Again all suddenly disappeared. Yes, and whither? It seemed to him just as + if one turned over a leaf in a book. And now stood there an old + peasant-woman, who came from Soroe,* where grass grows in the + market-place. She had an old grey linen apron hanging over her head and + back: it was so wet, it certainly must have been raining. “Yes, that it + has,” said she; and she now related many pretty things out of Holberg's + comedies, and about Waldemar and Absalon; but all at once she cowered + together, and her head began shaking backwards and forwards, and she + looked as she were going to make a spring. “Croak! croak!” said she. “It + is wet, it is wet; there is such a pleasant deathlike stillness in Sorbe!” + She was now suddenly a frog, “Croak”; and now she was an old woman. “One + must dress according to the weather,” said she. “It is wet; it is wet. My + town is just like a bottle; and one gets in by the neck, and by the neck + one must get out again! In former times I had the finest fish, and now I + have fresh rosy-cheeked boys at the bottom of the bottle, who learn + wisdom, Hebrew, Greek—Croak!” + </p> + <p> + * Sorbe, a very quiet little town, beautifully situated, surrounded by + woods and lakes. Holberg, Denmark's Moliere, founded here an academy for + the sons of the nobles. The poets Hauch and Ingemann were appointed + professors here. The latter lives there still. + </p> + <p> + When she spoke it sounded just like the noise of frogs, or as if one + walked with great boots over a moor; always the same tone, so uniform and + so tiring that little Tuk fell into a good sound sleep, which, by the bye, + could not do him any harm. + </p> + <p> + But even in this sleep there came a dream, or whatever else it was: his + little sister Augusta, she with the blue eyes and the fair curling hair, + was suddenly a tall, beautiful girl, and without having wings was yet able + to fly; and she now flew over Zealand—over the green woods and the + blue lakes. + </p> + <p> + “Do you hear the cock crow, Tukey? Cock-a-doodle-doo! The cocks are flying + up from Kjoge! You will have a farm-yard, so large, oh! so very large! You + will suffer neither hunger nor thirst! You will get on in the world! You + will be a rich and happy man! Your house will exalt itself like King + Waldemar's tower, and will be richly decorated with marble statues, like + that at Prastoe. You understand what I mean. Your name shall circulate + with renown all round the earth, like unto the ship that was to have + sailed from Corsor; and in Roeskilde—” + </p> + <p> + “Do not forget the diet!” said King Hroar. + </p> + <p> + “Then you will speak well and wisely, little Tukey; and when at last you + sink into your grave, you shall sleep as quietly—” + </p> + <p> + “As if I lay in Soroe,” said Tuk, awaking. It was bright day, and he was + now quite unable to call to mind his dream; that, however, was not at all + necessary, for one may not know what the future will bring. + </p> + <p> + And out of bed he jumped, and read in his book, and now all at once he + knew his whole lesson. And the old washerwoman popped her head in at the + door, nodded to him friendly, and said, “Thanks, many thanks, my good + child, for your help! May the good ever-loving God fulfil your loveliest + dream!” + </p> + <p> + Little Tukey did not at all know what he had dreamed, but the loving God + knew it. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE NAUGHTY BOY + </h2> + <p> + Along time ago, there lived an old poet, a thoroughly kind old poet. As he + was sitting one evening in his room, a dreadful storm arose without, and + the rain streamed down from heaven; but the old poet sat warm and + comfortable in his chimney-corner, where the fire blazed and the roasting + apple hissed. + </p> + <p> + “Those who have not a roof over their heads will be wetted to the skin,” + said the good old poet. + </p> + <p> + “Oh let me in! Let me in! I am cold, and I'm so wet!” exclaimed suddenly a + child that stood crying at the door and knocking for admittance, while the + rain poured down, and the wind made all the windows rattle. + </p> + <p> + “Poor thing!” said the old poet, as he went to open the door. There stood + a little boy, quite naked, and the water ran down from his long golden + hair; he trembled with cold, and had he not come into a warm room he would + most certainly have perished in the frightful tempest. + </p> + <p> + “Poor child!” said the old poet, as he took the boy by the hand. “Come in, + come in, and I will soon restore thee! Thou shalt have wine and roasted + apples, for thou art verily a charming child!” And the boy was so really. + His eyes were like two bright stars; and although the water trickled down + his hair, it waved in beautiful curls. He looked exactly like a little + angel, but he was so pale, and his whole body trembled with cold. He had a + nice little bow in his hand, but it was quite spoiled by the rain, and the + tints of his many-colored arrows ran one into the other. + </p> + <p> + The old poet seated himself beside his hearth, and took the little fellow + on his lap; he squeezed the water out of his dripping hair, warmed his + hands between his own, and boiled for him some sweet wine. Then the boy + recovered, his cheeks again grew rosy, he jumped down from the lap where + he was sitting, and danced round the kind old poet. + </p> + <p> + “You are a merry fellow,” said the old man. “What's your name?” + </p> + <p> + “My name is Cupid,” answered the boy. “Don't you know me? There lies my + bow; it shoots well, I can assure you! Look, the weather is now clearing + up, and the moon is shining clear again through the window.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, your bow is quite spoiled,” said the old poet. + </p> + <p> + “That were sad indeed,” said the boy, and he took the bow in his hand and + examined it on every side. “Oh, it is dry again, and is not hurt at all; + the string is quite tight. I will try it directly.” And he bent his bow, + took aim, and shot an arrow at the old poet, right into his heart. “You + see now that my bow was not spoiled,” said he laughing; and away he ran. + </p> + <p> + The naughty boy, to shoot the old poet in that way; he who had taken him + into his warm room, who had treated him so kindly, and who had given him + warm wine and the very best apples! + </p> + <p> + The poor poet lay on the earth and wept, for the arrow had really flown + into his heart. + </p> + <p> + “Fie!” said he. “How naughty a boy Cupid is! I will tell all children + about him, that they may take care and not play with him, for he will only + cause them sorrow and many a heartache.” + </p> + <p> + And all good children to whom he related this story, took great heed of + this naughty Cupid; but he made fools of them still, for he is + astonishingly cunning. When the university students come from the + lectures, he runs beside them in a black coat, and with a book under his + arm. It is quite impossible for them to know him, and they walk along with + him arm in arm, as if he, too, were a student like themselves; and then, + unperceived, he thrusts an arrow to their bosom. When the young maidens + come from being examined by the clergyman, or go to church to be + confirmed, there he is again close behind them. Yes, he is forever + following people. At the play, he sits in the great chandelier and burns + in bright flames, so that people think it is really a flame, but they soon + discover it is something else. He roves about in the garden of the palace + and upon the ramparts: yes, once he even shot your father and mother right + in the heart. Ask them only and you will hear what they'll tell you. Oh, + he is a naughty boy, that Cupid; you must never have anything to do with + him. He is forever running after everybody. Only think, he shot an arrow + once at your old grandmother! But that is a long time ago, and it is all + past now; however, a thing of that sort she never forgets. Fie, naughty + Cupid! But now you know him, and you know, too, how ill-behaved he is! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE RED SHOES + </h2> + <p> + There was once a little girl who was very pretty and delicate, but in + summer she was forced to run about with bare feet, she was so poor, and in + winter wear very large wooden shoes, which made her little insteps quite + red, and that looked so dangerous! + </p> + <p> + In the middle of the village lived old Dame Shoemaker; she sat and sewed + together, as well as she could, a little pair of shoes out of old red + strips of cloth; they were very clumsy, but it was a kind thought. They + were meant for the little girl. The little girl was called Karen. + </p> + <p> + On the very day her mother was buried, Karen received the red shoes, and + wore them for the first time. They were certainly not intended for + mourning, but she had no others, and with stockingless feet she followed + the poor straw coffin in them. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly a large old carriage drove up, and a large old lady sat in it: + she looked at the little girl, felt compassion for her, and then said to + the clergyman: + </p> + <p> + “Here, give me the little girl. I will adopt her!” + </p> + <p> + And Karen believed all this happened on account of the red shoes, but the + old lady thought they were horrible, and they were burnt. But Karen + herself was cleanly and nicely dressed; she must learn to read and sew; + and people said she was a nice little thing, but the looking-glass said: + “Thou art more than nice, thou art beautiful!” + </p> + <p> + Now the queen once travelled through the land, and she had her little + daughter with her. And this little daughter was a princess, and people + streamed to the castle, and Karen was there also, and the little princess + stood in her fine white dress, in a window, and let herself be stared at; + she had neither a train nor a golden crown, but splendid red morocco + shoes. They were certainly far handsomer than those Dame Shoemaker had + made for little Karen. Nothing in the world can be compared with red + shoes. + </p> + <p> + Now Karen was old enough to be confirmed; she had new clothes and was to + have new shoes also. The rich shoemaker in the city took the measure of + her little foot. This took place at his house, in his room; where stood + large glass-cases, filled with elegant shoes and brilliant boots. All this + looked charming, but the old lady could not see well, and so had no + pleasure in them. In the midst of the shoes stood a pair of red ones, just + like those the princess had worn. How beautiful they were! The shoemaker + said also they had been made for the child of a count, but had not fitted. + </p> + <p> + “That must be patent leather!” said the old lady. “They shine so!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, they shine!” said Karen, and they fitted, and were bought, but the + old lady knew nothing about their being red, else she would never have + allowed Karen to have gone in red shoes to be confirmed. Yet such was the + case. + </p> + <p> + Everybody looked at her feet; and when she stepped through the chancel + door on the church pavement, it seemed to her as if the old figures on the + tombs, those portraits of old preachers and preachers' wives, with stiff + ruffs, and long black dresses, fixed their eyes on her red shoes. And she + thought only of them as the clergyman laid his hand upon her head, and + spoke of the holy baptism, of the covenant with God, and how she should be + now a matured Christian; and the organ pealed so solemnly; the sweet + children's voices sang, and the old music-directors sang, but Karen only + thought of her red shoes. + </p> + <p> + In the afternoon, the old lady heard from everyone that the shoes had been + red, and she said that it was very wrong of Karen, that it was not at all + becoming, and that in future Karen should only go in black shoes to + church, even when she should be older. + </p> + <p> + The next Sunday there was the sacrament, and Karen looked at the black + shoes, looked at the red ones—looked at them again, and put on the + red shoes. + </p> + <p> + The sun shone gloriously; Karen and the old lady walked along the path + through the corn; it was rather dusty there. + </p> + <p> + At the church door stood an old soldier with a crutch, and with a + wonderfully long beard, which was more red than white, and he bowed to the + ground, and asked the old lady whether he might dust her shoes. And Karen + stretched out her little foot. + </p> + <p> + “See, what beautiful dancing shoes!” said the soldier. “Sit firm when you + dance”; and he put his hand out towards the soles. + </p> + <p> + And the old lady gave the old soldier alms, and went into the church with + Karen. + </p> + <p> + And all the people in the church looked at Karen's red shoes, and all the + pictures, and as Karen knelt before the altar, and raised the cup to her + lips, she only thought of the red shoes, and they seemed to swim in it; + and she forgot to sing her psalm, and she forgot to pray, “Our Father in + Heaven!” + </p> + <p> + Now all the people went out of church, and the old lady got into her + carriage. Karen raised her foot to get in after her, when the old soldier + said, + </p> + <p> + “Look, what beautiful dancing shoes!” + </p> + <p> + And Karen could not help dancing a step or two, and when she began her + feet continued to dance; it was just as though the shoes had power over + them. She danced round the church corner, she could not leave off; the + coachman was obliged to run after and catch hold of her, and he lifted her + in the carriage, but her feet continued to dance so that she trod on the + old lady dreadfully. At length she took the shoes off, and then her legs + had peace. + </p> + <p> + The shoes were placed in a closet at home, but Karen could not avoid + looking at them. + </p> + <p> + Now the old lady was sick, and it was said she could not recover. She must + be nursed and waited upon, and there was no one whose duty it was so much + as Karen's. But there was a great ball in the city, to which Karen was + invited. She looked at the old lady, who could not recover, she looked at + the red shoes, and she thought there could be no sin in it; she put on the + red shoes, she might do that also, she thought. But then she went to the + ball and began to dance. + </p> + <p> + When she wanted to dance to the right, the shoes would dance to the left, + and when she wanted to dance up the room, the shoes danced back again, + down the steps, into the street, and out of the city gate. She danced, and + was forced to dance straight out into the gloomy wood. + </p> + <p> + Then it was suddenly light up among the trees, and she fancied it must be + the moon, for there was a face; but it was the old soldier with the red + beard; he sat there, nodded his head, and said, “Look, what beautiful + dancing shoes!” + </p> + <p> + Then she was terrified, and wanted to fling off the red shoes, but they + clung fast; and she pulled down her stockings, but the shoes seemed to + have grown to her feet. And she danced, and must dance, over fields and + meadows, in rain and sunshine, by night and day; but at night it was the + most fearful. + </p> + <p> + She danced over the churchyard, but the dead did not dance—they had + something better to do than to dance. She wished to seat herself on a poor + man's grave, where the bitter tansy grew; but for her there was neither + peace nor rest; and when she danced towards the open church door, she saw + an angel standing there. He wore long, white garments; he had wings which + reached from his shoulders to the earth; his countenance was severe and + grave; and in his hand he held a sword, broad and glittering. + </p> + <p> + “Dance shalt thou!” said he. “Dance in thy red shoes till thou art pale + and cold! Till thy skin shrivels up and thou art a skeleton! Dance shalt + thou from door to door, and where proud, vain children dwell, thou shalt + knock, that they may hear thee and tremble! Dance shalt thou—!” + </p> + <p> + “Mercy!” cried Karen. But she did not hear the angel's reply, for the + shoes carried her through the gate into the fields, across roads and + bridges, and she must keep ever dancing. + </p> + <p> + One morning she danced past a door which she well knew. Within sounded a + psalm; a coffin, decked with flowers, was borne forth. Then she knew that + the old lady was dead, and felt that she was abandoned by all, and + condemned by the angel of God. + </p> + <p> + She danced, and she was forced to dance through the gloomy night. The + shoes carried her over stack and stone; she was torn till she bled; she + danced over the heath till she came to a little house. Here, she knew, + dwelt the executioner; and she tapped with her fingers at the window, and + said, “Come out! Come out! I cannot come in, for I am forced to dance!” + </p> + <p> + And the executioner said, “Thou dost not know who I am, I fancy? I strike + bad people's heads off; and I hear that my axe rings!” + </p> + <p> + “Don't strike my head off!” said Karen. “Then I can't repent of my sins! + But strike off my feet in the red shoes!” + </p> + <p> + And then she confessed her entire sin, and the executioner struck off her + feet with the red shoes, but the shoes danced away with the little feet + across the field into the deep wood. + </p> + <p> + And he carved out little wooden feet for her, and crutches, taught her the + psalm criminals always sing; and she kissed the hand which had wielded the + axe, and went over the heath. + </p> + <p> + “Now I have suffered enough for the red shoes!” said she. “Now I will go + into the church that people may see me!” And she hastened towards the + church door: but when she was near it, the red shoes danced before her, + and she was terrified, and turned round. The whole week she was unhappy, + and wept many bitter tears; but when Sunday returned, she said, “Well, now + I have suffered and struggled enough! I really believe I am as good as + many a one who sits in the church, and holds her head so high!” + </p> + <p> + And away she went boldly; but she had not got farther than the churchyard + gate before she saw the red shoes dancing before her; and she was + frightened, and turned back, and repented of her sin from her heart. + </p> + <p> + And she went to the parsonage, and begged that they would take her into + service; she would be very industrious, she said, and would do everything + she could; she did not care about the wages, only she wished to have a + home, and be with good people. And the clergyman's wife was sorry for her + and took her into service; and she was industrious and thoughtful. She sat + still and listened when the clergyman read the Bible in the evenings. All + the children thought a great deal of her; but when they spoke of dress, + and grandeur, and beauty, she shook her head. + </p> + <p> + The following Sunday, when the family was going to church, they asked her + whether she would not go with them; but she glanced sorrowfully, with + tears in her eyes, at her crutches. The family went to hear the word of + God; but she went alone into her little chamber; there was only room for a + bed and chair to stand in it; and here she sat down with her Prayer-Book; + and whilst she read with a pious mind, the wind bore the strains of the + organ towards her, and she raised her tearful countenance, and said, “O + God, help me!” + </p> + <p> + And the sun shone so clearly, and straight before her stood the angel of + God in white garments, the same she had seen that night at the church + door; but he no longer carried the sharp sword, but in its stead a + splendid green spray, full of roses. And he touched the ceiling with the + spray, and the ceiling rose so high, and where he had touched it there + gleamed a golden star. And he touched the walls, and they widened out, and + she saw the organ which was playing; she saw the old pictures of the + preachers and the preachers' wives. The congregation sat in cushioned + seats, and sang out of their Prayer-Books. For the church itself had come + to the poor girl in her narrow chamber, or else she had come into the + church. She sat in the pew with the clergyman's family, and when they had + ended the psalm and looked up, they nodded and said, “It is right that + thou art come!” + </p> + <p> + “It was through mercy!” she said. + </p> + <p> + And the organ pealed, and the children's voices in the choir sounded so + sweet and soft! The clear sunshine streamed so warmly through the window + into the pew where Karen sat! Her heart was so full of sunshine, peace, + and joy, that it broke. Her soul flew on the sunshine to God, and there no + one asked after the RED SHOES. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Andersen's Fairy Tales, by Hans Christian Andersen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 1597-h.htm or 1597-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/9/1597/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean, and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + </body> +</html> diff --git a/1597.txt b/1597.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b9c7b27 --- /dev/null +++ b/1597.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6206 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Andersen's Fairy Tales, by Hans Christian Andersen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Andersen's Fairy Tales + +Author: Hans Christian Andersen + +Posting Date: October 10, 2008 [EBook #1597] +Release Date: January, 1999 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean + + + + + +ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES + +By Hans Christian Andersen + + + +CONTENTS + + + The Emperor's New Clothes + The Swineherd + The Real Princess + The Shoes of Fortune + The Fir Tree + The Snow Queen + The Leap-Frog + The Elderbush + The Bell + The Old House + The Happy Family + The Story of a Mother + The False Collar + The Shadow + The Little Match Girl + The Dream of Little Tuk + The Naughty Boy + The Red Shoes + + + + +THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES + +Many years ago, there was an Emperor, who was so excessively fond of +new clothes, that he spent all his money in dress. He did not trouble +himself in the least about his soldiers; nor did he care to go either to +the theatre or the chase, except for the opportunities then afforded him +for displaying his new clothes. He had a different suit for each hour of +the day; and as of any other king or emperor, one is accustomed to say, +"he is sitting in council," it was always said of him, "The Emperor is +sitting in his wardrobe." + +Time passed merrily in the large town which was his capital; strangers +arrived every day at the court. One day, two rogues, calling themselves +weavers, made their appearance. They gave out that they knew how to +weave stuffs of the most beautiful colors and elaborate patterns, the +clothes manufactured from which should have the wonderful property of +remaining invisible to everyone who was unfit for the office he held, or +who was extraordinarily simple in character. + +"These must, indeed, be splendid clothes!" thought the Emperor. "Had I +such a suit, I might at once find out what men in my realms are unfit +for their office, and also be able to distinguish the wise from the +foolish! This stuff must be woven for me immediately." And he caused +large sums of money to be given to both the weavers in order that they +might begin their work directly. + +So the two pretended weavers set up two looms, and affected to work very +busily, though in reality they did nothing at all. They asked for the +most delicate silk and the purest gold thread; put both into their own +knapsacks; and then continued their pretended work at the empty looms +until late at night. + +"I should like to know how the weavers are getting on with my cloth," +said the Emperor to himself, after some little time had elapsed; he was, +however, rather embarrassed, when he remembered that a simpleton, or +one unfit for his office, would be unable to see the manufacture. To be +sure, he thought he had nothing to risk in his own person; but yet, he +would prefer sending somebody else, to bring him intelligence about the +weavers, and their work, before he troubled himself in the affair. All +the people throughout the city had heard of the wonderful property the +cloth was to possess; and all were anxious to learn how wise, or how +ignorant, their neighbors might prove to be. + +"I will send my faithful old minister to the weavers," said the Emperor +at last, after some deliberation, "he will be best able to see how the +cloth looks; for he is a man of sense, and no one can be more suitable +for his office than he is." + +So the faithful old minister went into the hall, where the knaves were +working with all their might, at their empty looms. "What can be the +meaning of this?" thought the old man, opening his eyes very wide. "I +cannot discover the least bit of thread on the looms." However, he did +not express his thoughts aloud. + +The impostors requested him very courteously to be so good as to come +nearer their looms; and then asked him whether the design pleased +him, and whether the colors were not very beautiful; at the same time +pointing to the empty frames. The poor old minister looked and looked, +he could not discover anything on the looms, for a very good reason, +viz: there was nothing there. "What!" thought he again. "Is it possible +that I am a simpleton? I have never thought so myself; and no one must +know it now if I am so. Can it be, that I am unfit for my office? No, +that must not be said either. I will never confess that I could not see +the stuff." + +"Well, Sir Minister!" said one of the knaves, still pretending to work. +"You do not say whether the stuff pleases you." + +"Oh, it is excellent!" replied the old minister, looking at the loom +through his spectacles. "This pattern, and the colors, yes, I will tell +the Emperor without delay, how very beautiful I think them." + +"We shall be much obliged to you," said the impostors, and then they +named the different colors and described the pattern of the pretended +stuff. The old minister listened attentively to their words, in order +that he might repeat them to the Emperor; and then the knaves asked for +more silk and gold, saying that it was necessary to complete what +they had begun. However, they put all that was given them into their +knapsacks; and continued to work with as much apparent diligence as +before at their empty looms. + +The Emperor now sent another officer of his court to see how the men +were getting on, and to ascertain whether the cloth would soon be +ready. It was just the same with this gentleman as with the minister; +he surveyed the looms on all sides, but could see nothing at all but the +empty frames. + +"Does not the stuff appear as beautiful to you, as it did to my lord the +minister?" asked the impostors of the Emperor's second ambassador; at +the same time making the same gestures as before, and talking of the +design and colors which were not there. + +"I certainly am not stupid!" thought the messenger. "It must be, that I +am not fit for my good, profitable office! That is very odd; however, no +one shall know anything about it." And accordingly he praised the stuff +he could not see, and declared that he was delighted with both colors +and patterns. "Indeed, please your Imperial Majesty," said he to his +sovereign when he returned, "the cloth which the weavers are preparing +is extraordinarily magnificent." + +The whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which the Emperor had +ordered to be woven at his own expense. + +And now the Emperor himself wished to see the costly manufacture, while +it was still in the loom. Accompanied by a select number of officers of +the court, among whom were the two honest men who had already admired +the cloth, he went to the crafty impostors, who, as soon as they were +aware of the Emperor's approach, went on working more diligently than +ever; although they still did not pass a single thread through the +looms. + +"Is not the work absolutely magnificent?" said the two officers of the +crown, already mentioned. "If your Majesty will only be pleased to look +at it! What a splendid design! What glorious colors!" and at the same +time they pointed to the empty frames; for they imagined that everyone +else could see this exquisite piece of workmanship. + +"How is this?" said the Emperor to himself. "I can see nothing! This +is indeed a terrible affair! Am I a simpleton, or am I unfit to be an +Emperor? That would be the worst thing that could happen--Oh! the cloth +is charming," said he, aloud. "It has my complete approbation." And he +smiled most graciously, and looked closely at the empty looms; for on no +account would he say that he could not see what two of the officers of +his court had praised so much. All his retinue now strained their eyes, +hoping to discover something on the looms, but they could see no more +than the others; nevertheless, they all exclaimed, "Oh, how beautiful!" +and advised his majesty to have some new clothes made from this splendid +material, for the approaching procession. "Magnificent! Charming! +Excellent!" resounded on all sides; and everyone was uncommonly gay. The +Emperor shared in the general satisfaction; and presented the impostors +with the riband of an order of knighthood, to be worn in their +button-holes, and the title of "Gentlemen Weavers." + +The rogues sat up the whole of the night before the day on which the +procession was to take place, and had sixteen lights burning, so that +everyone might see how anxious they were to finish the Emperor's new +suit. They pretended to roll the cloth off the looms; cut the air with +their scissors; and sewed with needles without any thread in them. +"See!" cried they, at last. "The Emperor's new clothes are ready!" + +And now the Emperor, with all the grandees of his court, came to the +weavers; and the rogues raised their arms, as if in the act of holding +something up, saying, "Here are your Majesty's trousers! Here is the +scarf! Here is the mantle! The whole suit is as light as a cobweb; +one might fancy one has nothing at all on, when dressed in it; that, +however, is the great virtue of this delicate cloth." + +"Yes indeed!" said all the courtiers, although not one of them could see +anything of this exquisite manufacture. + +"If your Imperial Majesty will be graciously pleased to take off your +clothes, we will fit on the new suit, in front of the looking glass." + +The Emperor was accordingly undressed, and the rogues pretended to +array him in his new suit; the Emperor turning round, from side to side, +before the looking glass. + +"How splendid his Majesty looks in his new clothes, and how well they +fit!" everyone cried out. "What a design! What colors! These are indeed +royal robes!" + +"The canopy which is to be borne over your Majesty, in the procession, +is waiting," announced the chief master of the ceremonies. + +"I am quite ready," answered the Emperor. "Do my new clothes fit well?" +asked he, turning himself round again before the looking glass, in order +that he might appear to be examining his handsome suit. + +The lords of the bedchamber, who were to carry his Majesty's train felt +about on the ground, as if they were lifting up the ends of the mantle; +and pretended to be carrying something; for they would by no means +betray anything like simplicity, or unfitness for their office. + +So now the Emperor walked under his high canopy in the midst of the +procession, through the streets of his capital; and all the people +standing by, and those at the windows, cried out, "Oh! How beautiful +are our Emperor's new clothes! What a magnificent train there is to +the mantle; and how gracefully the scarf hangs!" in short, no one would +allow that he could not see these much-admired clothes; because, in +doing so, he would have declared himself either a simpleton or unfit +for his office. Certainly, none of the Emperor's various suits, had ever +made so great an impression, as these invisible ones. + +"But the Emperor has nothing at all on!" said a little child. + +"Listen to the voice of innocence!" exclaimed his father; and what the +child had said was whispered from one to another. + +"But he has nothing at all on!" at last cried out all the people. +The Emperor was vexed, for he knew that the people were right; but he +thought the procession must go on now! And the lords of the bedchamber +took greater pains than ever, to appear holding up a train, although, in +reality, there was no train to hold. + + + + +THE SWINEHERD + +There was once a poor Prince, who had a kingdom. His kingdom was very +small, but still quite large enough to marry upon; and he wished to +marry. + +It was certainly rather cool of him to say to the Emperor's daughter, +"Will you have me?" But so he did; for his name was renowned far and +wide; and there were a hundred princesses who would have answered, +"Yes!" and "Thank you kindly." We shall see what this princess said. + +Listen! + +It happened that where the Prince's father lay buried, there grew a rose +tree--a most beautiful rose tree, which blossomed only once in every +five years, and even then bore only one flower, but that was a rose! +It smelt so sweet that all cares and sorrows were forgotten by him who +inhaled its fragrance. + +And furthermore, the Prince had a nightingale, who could sing in such a +manner that it seemed as though all sweet melodies dwelt in her little +throat. So the Princess was to have the rose, and the nightingale; and +they were accordingly put into large silver caskets, and sent to her. + +The Emperor had them brought into a large hall, where the Princess was +playing at "Visiting," with the ladies of the court; and when she saw +the caskets with the presents, she clapped her hands for joy. + +"Ah, if it were but a little pussy-cat!" said she; but the rose tree, +with its beautiful rose came to view. + +"Oh, how prettily it is made!" said all the court ladies. + +"It is more than pretty," said the Emperor, "it is charming!" + +But the Princess touched it, and was almost ready to cry. + +"Fie, papa!" said she. "It is not made at all, it is natural!" + +"Let us see what is in the other casket, before we get into a bad +humor," said the Emperor. So the nightingale came forth and sang so +delightfully that at first no one could say anything ill-humored of her. + +"Superbe! Charmant!" exclaimed the ladies; for they all used to chatter +French, each one worse than her neighbor. + +"How much the bird reminds me of the musical box that belonged to our +blessed Empress," said an old knight. "Oh yes! These are the same tones, +the same execution." + +"Yes! yes!" said the Emperor, and he wept like a child at the +remembrance. + +"I will still hope that it is not a real bird," said the Princess. + +"Yes, it is a real bird," said those who had brought it. "Well then let +the bird fly," said the Princess; and she positively refused to see the +Prince. + +However, he was not to be discouraged; he daubed his face over brown and +black; pulled his cap over his ears, and knocked at the door. + +"Good day to my lord, the Emperor!" said he. "Can I have employment at +the palace?" + +"Why, yes," said the Emperor. "I want some one to take care of the pigs, +for we have a great many of them." + +So the Prince was appointed "Imperial Swineherd." He had a dirty little +room close by the pigsty; and there he sat the whole day, and worked. By +the evening he had made a pretty little kitchen-pot. Little bells were +hung all round it; and when the pot was boiling, these bells tinkled in +the most charming manner, and played the old melody, + + "Ach! du lieber Augustin, + Alles ist weg, weg, weg!"* + + * "Ah! dear Augustine! + All is gone, gone, gone!" + + +But what was still more curious, whoever held his finger in the smoke of +the kitchen-pot, immediately smelt all the dishes that were cooking on +every hearth in the city--this, you see, was something quite different +from the rose. + +Now the Princess happened to walk that way; and when she heard the tune, +she stood quite still, and seemed pleased; for she could play "Lieber +Augustine"; it was the only piece she knew; and she played it with one +finger. + +"Why there is my piece," said the Princess. "That swineherd must +certainly have been well educated! Go in and ask him the price of the +instrument." + +So one of the court-ladies must run in; however, she drew on wooden +slippers first. + +"What will you take for the kitchen-pot?" said the lady. + +"I will have ten kisses from the Princess," said the swineherd. + +"Yes, indeed!" said the lady. + +"I cannot sell it for less," rejoined the swineherd. + +"He is an impudent fellow!" said the Princess, and she walked on; but +when she had gone a little way, the bells tinkled so prettily + + "Ach! du lieber Augustin, + Alles ist weg, weg, weg!" + +"Stay," said the Princess. "Ask him if he will have ten kisses from the +ladies of my court." + +"No, thank you!" said the swineherd. "Ten kisses from the Princess, or I +keep the kitchen-pot myself." + +"That must not be, either!" said the Princess. "But do you all stand +before me that no one may see us." + +And the court-ladies placed themselves in front of her, and spread +out their dresses--the swineherd got ten kisses, and the Princess--the +kitchen-pot. + +That was delightful! The pot was boiling the whole evening, and the +whole of the following day. They knew perfectly well what was cooking at +every fire throughout the city, from the chamberlain's to the cobbler's; +the court-ladies danced and clapped their hands. + +"We know who has soup, and who has pancakes for dinner to-day, who has +cutlets, and who has eggs. How interesting!" + +"Yes, but keep my secret, for I am an Emperor's daughter." + +The swineherd--that is to say--the Prince, for no one knew that he was +other than an ill-favored swineherd, let not a day pass without working +at something; he at last constructed a rattle, which, when it was swung +round, played all the waltzes and jig tunes, which have ever been heard +since the creation of the world. + +"Ah, that is superbe!" said the Princess when she passed by. "I have +never heard prettier compositions! Go in and ask him the price of the +instrument; but mind, he shall have no more kisses!" + +"He will have a hundred kisses from the Princess!" said the lady who had +been to ask. + +"I think he is not in his right senses!" said the Princess, and walked +on, but when she had gone a little way, she stopped again. "One must +encourage art," said she, "I am the Emperor's daughter. Tell him he +shall, as on yesterday, have ten kisses from me, and may take the rest +from the ladies of the court." + +"Oh--but we should not like that at all!" said they. "What are you +muttering?" asked the Princess. "If I can kiss him, surely you can. +Remember that you owe everything to me." So the ladies were obliged to +go to him again. + +"A hundred kisses from the Princess," said he, "or else let everyone +keep his own!" + +"Stand round!" said she; and all the ladies stood round her whilst the +kissing was going on. + +"What can be the reason for such a crowd close by the pigsty?" said the +Emperor, who happened just then to step out on the balcony; he rubbed +his eyes, and put on his spectacles. "They are the ladies of the +court; I must go down and see what they are about!" So he pulled up his +slippers at the heel, for he had trodden them down. + +As soon as he had got into the court-yard, he moved very softly, and the +ladies were so much engrossed with counting the kisses, that all might +go on fairly, that they did not perceive the Emperor. He rose on his +tiptoes. + +"What is all this?" said he, when he saw what was going on, and he boxed +the Princess's ears with his slipper, just as the swineherd was taking +the eighty-sixth kiss. + +"March out!" said the Emperor, for he was very angry; and both Princess +and swineherd were thrust out of the city. + +The Princess now stood and wept, the swineherd scolded, and the rain +poured down. + +"Alas! Unhappy creature that I am!" said the Princess. "If I had but +married the handsome young Prince! Ah! how unfortunate I am!" + +And the swineherd went behind a tree, washed the black and brown color +from his face, threw off his dirty clothes, and stepped forth in his +princely robes; he looked so noble that the Princess could not help +bowing before him. + +"I am come to despise thee," said he. "Thou would'st not have an +honorable Prince! Thou could'st not prize the rose and the nightingale, +but thou wast ready to kiss the swineherd for the sake of a trumpery +plaything. Thou art rightly served." + +He then went back to his own little kingdom, and shut the door of his +palace in her face. Now she might well sing, + + "Ach! du lieber Augustin, + Alles ist weg, weg, weg!" + + + + +THE REAL PRINCESS + +There was once a Prince who wished to marry a Princess; but then she +must be a real Princess. He travelled all over the world in hopes of +finding such a lady; but there was always something wrong. Princesses he +found in plenty; but whether they were real Princesses it was impossible +for him to decide, for now one thing, now another, seemed to him not +quite right about the ladies. At last he returned to his palace quite +cast down, because he wished so much to have a real Princess for his +wife. + +One evening a fearful tempest arose, it thundered and lightened, and the +rain poured down from the sky in torrents: besides, it was as dark as +pitch. All at once there was heard a violent knocking at the door, and +the old King, the Prince's father, went out himself to open it. + +It was a Princess who was standing outside the door. What with the rain +and the wind, she was in a sad condition; the water trickled down from +her hair, and her clothes clung to her body. She said she was a real +Princess. + +"Ah! we shall soon see that!" thought the old Queen-mother; however, she +said not a word of what she was going to do; but went quietly into the +bedroom, took all the bed-clothes off the bed, and put three little peas +on the bedstead. She then laid twenty mattresses one upon another over +the three peas, and put twenty feather beds over the mattresses. + +Upon this bed the Princess was to pass the night. + +The next morning she was asked how she had slept. "Oh, very badly +indeed!" she replied. "I have scarcely closed my eyes the whole night +through. I do not know what was in my bed, but I had something hard +under me, and am all over black and blue. It has hurt me so much!" + +Now it was plain that the lady must be a real Princess, since she had +been able to feel the three little peas through the twenty mattresses +and twenty feather beds. None but a real Princess could have had such a +delicate sense of feeling. + +The Prince accordingly made her his wife; being now convinced that he +had found a real Princess. The three peas were however put into the +cabinet of curiosities, where they are still to be seen, provided they +are not lost. + +Wasn't this a lady of real delicacy? + + + + +THE SHOES OF FORTUNE + +I. A Beginning + +Every author has some peculiarity in his descriptions or in his style +of writing. Those who do not like him, magnify it, shrug up their +shoulders, and exclaim--there he is again! I, for my part, know very +well how I can bring about this movement and this exclamation. It would +happen immediately if I were to begin here, as I intended to do, with: +"Rome has its Corso, Naples its Toledo"--"Ah! that Andersen; there he is +again!" they would cry; yet I must, to please my fancy, continue quite +quietly, and add: "But Copenhagen has its East Street." + +Here, then, we will stay for the present. In one of the houses not far +from the new market a party was invited--a very large party, in order, +as is often the case, to get a return invitation from the others. One +half of the company was already seated at the card-table, the other half +awaited the result of the stereotype preliminary observation of the lady +of the house: + +"Now let us see what we can do to amuse ourselves." + +They had got just so far, and the conversation began to crystallise, +as it could but do with the scanty stream which the commonplace world +supplied. Amongst other things they spoke of the middle ages: some +praised that period as far more interesting, far more poetical than our +own too sober present; indeed Councillor Knap defended this opinion +so warmly, that the hostess declared immediately on his side, and both +exerted themselves with unwearied eloquence. The Councillor boldly +declared the time of King Hans to be the noblest and the most happy +period.* + +* A.D. 1482-1513 + + +While the conversation turned on this subject, and was only for a moment +interrupted by the arrival of a journal that contained nothing worth +reading, we will just step out into the antechamber, where cloaks, +mackintoshes, sticks, umbrellas, and shoes, were deposited. Here sat two +female figures, a young and an old one. One might have thought at first +they were servants come to accompany their mistresses home; but on +looking nearer, one soon saw they could scarcely be mere servants; their +forms were too noble for that, their skin too fine, the cut of their +dress too striking. Two fairies were they; the younger, it is true, +was not Dame Fortune herself, but one of the waiting-maids of her +handmaidens who carry about the lesser good things that she distributes; +the other looked extremely gloomy--it was Care. She always attends to +her own serious business herself, as then she is sure of having it done +properly. + +They were telling each other, with a confidential interchange of ideas, +where they had been during the day. The messenger of Fortune had only +executed a few unimportant commissions, such as saving a new bonnet from +a shower of rain, etc.; but what she had yet to perform was something +quite unusual. + +"I must tell you," said she, "that to-day is my birthday; and in honor +of it, a pair of walking-shoes or galoshes has been entrusted to me, +which I am to carry to mankind. These shoes possess the property of +instantly transporting him who has them on to the place or the period +in which he most wishes to be; every wish, as regards time or place, or +state of being, will be immediately fulfilled, and so at last man will +be happy, here below." + +"Do you seriously believe it?" replied Care, in a severe tone of +reproach. "No; he will be very unhappy, and will assuredly bless the +moment when he feels that he has freed himself from the fatal shoes." + +"Stupid nonsense!" said the other angrily. "I will put them here by +the door. Some one will make a mistake for certain and take the wrong +ones--he will be a happy man." + +Such was their conversation. + + +II. What Happened to the Councillor + +It was late; Councillor Knap, deeply occupied with the times of King +Hans, intended to go home, and malicious Fate managed matters so that +his feet, instead of finding their way to his own galoshes, slipped +into those of Fortune. Thus caparisoned the good man walked out of the +well-lighted rooms into East Street. By the magic power of the shoes he +was carried back to the times of King Hans; on which account his foot +very naturally sank in the mud and puddles of the street, there having +been in those days no pavement in Copenhagen. + +"Well! This is too bad! How dirty it is here!" sighed the Councillor. +"As to a pavement, I can find no traces of one, and all the lamps, it +seems, have gone to sleep." + +The moon was not yet very high; it was besides rather foggy, so that +in the darkness all objects seemed mingled in chaotic confusion. At the +next corner hung a votive lamp before a Madonna, but the light it gave +was little better than none at all; indeed, he did not observe it before +he was exactly under it, and his eyes fell upon the bright colors of the +pictures which represented the well-known group of the Virgin and the +infant Jesus. + +"That is probably a wax-work show," thought he; "and the people delay +taking down their sign in hopes of a late visitor or two." + +A few persons in the costume of the time of King Hans passed quickly by +him. + +"How strange they look! The good folks come probably from a masquerade!" + +Suddenly was heard the sound of drums and fifes; the bright blaze of a +fire shot up from time to time, and its ruddy gleams seemed to contend +with the bluish light of the torches. The Councillor stood still, and +watched a most strange procession pass by. First came a dozen drummers, +who understood pretty well how to handle their instruments; then came +halberdiers, and some armed with cross-bows. The principal person in the +procession was a priest. Astonished at what he saw, the Councillor asked +what was the meaning of all this mummery, and who that man was. + +"That's the Bishop of Zealand," was the answer. + +"Good Heavens! What has taken possession of the Bishop?" sighed the +Councillor, shaking his head. It certainly could not be the Bishop; even +though he was considered the most absent man in the whole kingdom, and +people told the drollest anecdotes about him. Reflecting on the matter, +and without looking right or left, the Councillor went through East +Street and across the Habro-Platz. The bridge leading to Palace Square +was not to be found; scarcely trusting his senses, the nocturnal +wanderer discovered a shallow piece of water, and here fell in with two +men who very comfortably were rocking to and fro in a boat. + +"Does your honor want to cross the ferry to the Holme?" asked they. + +"Across to the Holme!" said the Councillor, who knew nothing of the age +in which he at that moment was. "No, I am going to Christianshafen, to +Little Market Street." + +Both men stared at him in astonishment. + +"Only just tell me where the bridge is," said he. "It is really +unpardonable that there are no lamps here; and it is as dirty as if one +had to wade through a morass." + +The longer he spoke with the boatmen, the more unintelligible did their +language become to him. + +"I don't understand your Bornholmish dialect," said he at last, angrily, +and turning his back upon them. He was unable to find the bridge: there +was no railway either. "It is really disgraceful what a state this place +is in," muttered he to himself. Never had his age, with which, however, +he was always grumbling, seemed so miserable as on this evening. "I'll +take a hackney-coach!" thought he. But where were the hackney-coaches? +Not one was to be seen. + +"I must go back to the New Market; there, it is to be hoped, I +shall find some coaches; for if I don't, I shall never get safe to +Christianshafen." + +So off he went in the direction of East Street, and had nearly got to +the end of it when the moon shone forth. + +"God bless me! What wooden scaffolding is that which they have set up +there?" cried he involuntarily, as he looked at East Gate, which, in +those days, was at the end of East Street. + +He found, however, a little side-door open, and through this he went, +and stepped into our New Market of the present time. It was a huge +desolate plain; some wild bushes stood up here and there, while across +the field flowed a broad canal or river. Some wretched hovels for the +Dutch sailors, resembling great boxes, and after which the place was +named, lay about in confused disorder on the opposite bank. + +"I either behold a fata morgana, or I am regularly tipsy," whimpered out +the Councillor. "But what's this?" + +He turned round anew, firmly convinced that he was seriously ill. He +gazed at the street formerly so well known to him, and now so strange in +appearance, and looked at the houses more attentively: most of them were +of wood, slightly put together; and many had a thatched roof. + +"No--I am far from well," sighed he; "and yet I drank only one glass of +punch; but I cannot suppose it--it was, too, really very wrong to give +us punch and hot salmon for supper. I shall speak about it at the first +opportunity. I have half a mind to go back again, and say what I suffer. +But no, that would be too silly; and Heaven only knows if they are up +still." + +He looked for the house, but it had vanished. + +"It is really dreadful," groaned he with increasing anxiety; "I cannot +recognise East Street again; there is not a single decent shop from one +end to the other! Nothing but wretched huts can I see anywhere; just +as if I were at Ringstead. Oh! I am ill! I can scarcely bear myself any +longer. Where the deuce can the house be? It must be here on this very +spot; yet there is not the slightest idea of resemblance, to such a +degree has everything changed this night! At all events here are some +people up and stirring. Oh! oh! I am certainly very ill." + +He now hit upon a half-open door, through a chink of which a faint light +shone. It was a sort of hostelry of those times; a kind of public-house. +The room had some resemblance to the clay-floored halls in Holstein; a +pretty numerous company, consisting of seamen, Copenhagen burghers, and +a few scholars, sat here in deep converse over their pewter cans, and +gave little heed to the person who entered. + +"By your leave!" said the Councillor to the Hostess, who came bustling +towards him. "I've felt so queer all of a sudden; would you have the +goodness to send for a hackney-coach to take me to Christianshafen?" + +The woman examined him with eyes of astonishment, and shook her head; +she then addressed him in German. The Councillor thought she did not +understand Danish, and therefore repeated his wish in German. This, in +connection with his costume, strengthened the good woman in the belief +that he was a foreigner. That he was ill, she comprehended directly; so +she brought him a pitcher of water, which tasted certainly pretty strong +of the sea, although it had been fetched from the well. + +The Councillor supported his head on his hand, drew a long breath, and +thought over all the wondrous things he saw around him. + +"Is this the Daily News of this evening?" he asked mechanically, as he +saw the Hostess push aside a large sheet of paper. + +The meaning of this councillorship query remained, of course, a riddle +to her, yet she handed him the paper without replying. It was a coarse +wood-cut, representing a splendid meteor "as seen in the town of +Cologne," which was to be read below in bright letters. + +"That is very old!" said the Councillor, whom this piece of antiquity +began to make considerably more cheerful. "Pray how did you come into +possession of this rare print? It is extremely interesting, although the +whole is a mere fable. Such meteorous appearances are to be explained in +this way--that they are the reflections of the Aurora Borealis, and it +is highly probable they are caused principally by electricity." + +Those persons who were sitting nearest him and heard his speech, +stared at him in wonderment; and one of them rose, took off his hat +respectfully, and said with a serious countenance, "You are no doubt a +very learned man, Monsieur." + +"Oh no," answered the Councillor, "I can only join in conversation on +this topic and on that, as indeed one must do according to the demands +of the world at present." + +"Modestia is a fine virtue," continued the gentleman; "however, as to +your speech, I must say mihi secus videtur: yet I am willing to suspend +my judicium." + +"May I ask with whom I have the pleasure of speaking?" asked the +Councillor. + +"I am a Bachelor in Theologia," answered the gentleman with a stiff +reverence. + +This reply fully satisfied the Councillor; the title suited the dress. +"He is certainly," thought he, "some village schoolmaster--some queer +old fellow, such as one still often meets with in Jutland." + +"This is no locus docendi, it is true," began the clerical gentleman; +"yet I beg you earnestly to let us profit by your learning. Your reading +in the ancients is, sine dubio, of vast extent?" + +"Oh yes, I've read something, to be sure," replied the Councillor. "I +like reading all useful works; but I do not on that account despise the +modern ones; 'tis only the unfortunate 'Tales of Every-day Life' that I +cannot bear--we have enough and more than enough such in reality." + +"'Tales of Every-day Life?'" said our Bachelor inquiringly. + +"I mean those new fangled novels, twisting and writhing themselves in +the dust of commonplace, which also expect to find a reading public." + +"Oh," exclaimed the clerical gentleman smiling, "there is much wit in +them; besides they are read at court. The King likes the history of Sir +Iffven and Sir Gaudian particularly, which treats of King Arthur, and +his Knights of the Round Table; he has more than once joked about it +with his high vassals." + +"I have not read that novel," said the Councillor; "it must be quite a +new one, that Heiberg has published lately." + +"No," answered the theologian of the time of King Hans: "that book is +not written by a Heiberg, but was imprinted by Godfrey von Gehmen." + +"Oh, is that the author's name?" said the Councillor. "It is a very +old name, and, as well as I recollect, he was the first printer that +appeared in Denmark." + +"Yes, he is our first printer," replied the clerical gentleman hastily. + +So far all went on well. Some one of the worthy burghers now spoke of +the dreadful pestilence that had raged in the country a few years back, +meaning that of 1484. The Councillor imagined it was the cholera that +was meant, which people made so much fuss about; and the discourse +passed off satisfactorily enough. The war of the buccaneers of 1490 was +so recent that it could not fail being alluded to; the English +pirates had, they said, most shamefully taken their ships while in the +roadstead; and the Councillor, before whose eyes the Herostratic [*] +event of 1801 still floated vividly, agreed entirely with the others in +abusing the rascally English. With other topics he was not so fortunate; +every moment brought about some new confusion, and threatened to become +a perfect Babel; for the worthy Bachelor was really too ignorant, and +the simplest observations of the Councillor sounded to him too daring +and phantastical. They looked at one another from the crown of the head +to the soles of the feet; and when matters grew to too high a +pitch, then the Bachelor talked Latin, in the hope of being better +understood--but it was of no use after all. + + * Herostratus, or Eratostratus--an Ephesian, who wantonly + set fire to the famous temple of Diana, in order to + commemorate his name by so uncommon an action. + +"What's the matter?" asked the Hostess, plucking the Councillor by the +sleeve; and now his recollection returned, for in the course of the +conversation he had entirely forgotten all that had preceded it. + +"Merciful God, where am I!" exclaimed he in agony; and while he so +thought, all his ideas and feelings of overpowering dizziness, against +which he struggled with the utmost power of desperation, encompassed +him with renewed force. "Let us drink claret and mead, and Bremen beer," +shouted one of the guests--"and you shall drink with us!" + +Two maidens approached. One wore a cap of two staring colors, denoting +the class of persons to which she belonged. They poured out the liquor, +and made the most friendly gesticulations; while a cold perspiration +trickled down the back of the poor Councillor. + +"What's to be the end of this! What's to become of me!" groaned he; but +he was forced, in spite of his opposition, to drink with the rest. They +took hold of the worthy man; who, hearing on every side that he was +intoxicated, did not in the least doubt the truth of this certainly +not very polite assertion; but on the contrary, implored the ladies +and gentlemen present to procure him a hackney-coach: they, however, +imagined he was talking Russian. + +Never before, he thought, had he been in such a coarse and ignorant +company; one might almost fancy the people had turned heathens again. +"It is the most dreadful moment of my life: the whole world is leagued +against me!" But suddenly it occurred to him that he might stoop down +under the table, and then creep unobserved out of the door. He did so; +but just as he was going, the others remarked what he was about; they +laid hold of him by the legs; and now, happily for him, off fell his +fatal shoes--and with them the charm was at an end. + +The Councillor saw quite distinctly before him a lantern burning, and +behind this a large handsome house. All seemed to him in proper order as +usual; it was East Street, splendid and elegant as we now see it. He lay +with his feet towards a doorway, and exactly opposite sat the watchman +asleep. + +"Gracious Heaven!" said he. "Have I lain here in the street and dreamed? +Yes; 'tis East Street! How splendid and light it is! But really it is +terrible what an effect that one glass of punch must have had on me!" + +Two minutes later, he was sitting in a hackney-coach and driving to +Frederickshafen. He thought of the distress and agony he had endured, +and praised from the very bottom of his heart the happy reality--our own +time--which, with all its deficiencies, is yet much better than that in +which, so much against his inclination, he had lately been. + + +III. The Watchman's Adventure + +"Why, there is a pair of galoshes, as sure as I'm alive!" said the +watchman, awaking from a gentle slumber. "They belong no doubt to the +lieutenant who lives over the way. They lie close to the door." + +The worthy man was inclined to ring and deliver them at the house, for +there was still a light in the window; but he did not like disturbing +the other people in their beds, and so very considerately he left the +matter alone. + +"Such a pair of shoes must be very warm and comfortable," said he; "the +leather is so soft and supple." They fitted his feet as though they +had been made for him. "'Tis a curious world we live in," continued he, +soliloquizing. "There is the lieutenant, now, who might go quietly to +bed if he chose, where no doubt he could stretch himself at his ease; +but does he do it? No; he saunters up and down his room, because, +probably, he has enjoyed too many of the good things of this world at +his dinner. That's a happy fellow! He has neither an infirm mother, nor +a whole troop of everlastingly hungry children to torment him. Every +evening he goes to a party, where his nice supper costs him nothing: +would to Heaven I could but change with him! How happy should I be!" + +While expressing his wish, the charm of the shoes, which he had put on, +began to work; the watchman entered into the being and nature of the +lieutenant. He stood in the handsomely furnished apartment, and held +between his fingers a small sheet of rose-colored paper, on which some +verses were written--written indeed by the officer himself; for who has +not, at least once in his life, had a lyrical moment? And if one then +marks down one's thoughts, poetry is produced. But here was written: + + OH, WERE I RICH! + + "Oh, were I rich! Such was my wish, yea such + When hardly three feet high, I longed for much. + Oh, were I rich! an officer were I, + With sword, and uniform, and plume so high. + And the time came, and officer was I! + But yet I grew not rich. Alas, poor me! + Have pity, Thou, who all man's wants dost see. + + "I sat one evening sunk in dreams of bliss, + A maid of seven years old gave me a kiss, + I at that time was rich in poesy + And tales of old, though poor as poor could be; + But all she asked for was this poesy. + Then was I rich, but not in gold, poor me! + As Thou dost know, who all men's hearts canst see. + + "Oh, were I rich! Oft asked I for this boon. + The child grew up to womanhood full soon. + She is so pretty, clever, and so kind + Oh, did she know what's hidden in my mind-- + A tale of old. Would she to me were kind! + But I'm condemned to silence! oh, poor me! + As Thou dost know, who all men's hearts canst see. + + "Oh, were I rich in calm and peace of mind, + My grief you then would not here written find! + O thou, to whom I do my heart devote, + Oh read this page of glad days now remote, + A dark, dark tale, which I tonight devote! + Dark is the future now. Alas, poor me! + Have pity Thou, who all men's pains dost see." + +Such verses as these people write when they are in love! But no man +in his senses ever thinks of printing them. Here one of the sorrows of +life, in which there is real poetry, gave itself vent; not that +barren grief which the poet may only hint at, but never depict in its +detail--misery and want: that animal necessity, in short, to snatch +at least at a fallen leaf of the bread-fruit tree, if not at the fruit +itself. The higher the position in which one finds oneself transplanted, +the greater is the suffering. Everyday necessity is the stagnant pool of +life--no lovely picture reflects itself therein. Lieutenant, love, and +lack of money--that is a symbolic triangle, or much the same as the +half of the shattered die of Fortune. This the lieutenant felt most +poignantly, and this was the reason he leant his head against the +window, and sighed so deeply. + +"The poor watchman out there in the street is far happier than I. He +knows not what I term privation. He has a home, a wife, and children, +who weep with him over his sorrows, who rejoice with him when he is +glad. Oh, far happier were I, could I exchange with him my being--with +his desires and with his hopes perform the weary pilgrimage of life! Oh, +he is a hundred times happier than I!" + +In the same moment the watchman was again watchman. It was the shoes +that caused the metamorphosis by means of which, unknown to himself, he +took upon him the thoughts and feelings of the officer; but, as we have +just seen, he felt himself in his new situation much less contented, +and now preferred the very thing which but some minutes before he had +rejected. So then the watchman was again watchman. + +"That was an unpleasant dream," said he; "but 'twas droll enough +altogether. I fancied that I was the lieutenant over there: and yet +the thing was not very much to my taste after all. I missed my good old +mother and the dear little ones; who almost tear me to pieces for sheer +love." + +He seated himself once more and nodded: the dream continued to haunt +him, for he still had the shoes on his feet. A falling star shone in the +dark firmament. + +"There falls another star," said he: "but what does it matter; there +are always enough left. I should not much mind examining the little +glimmering things somewhat nearer, especially the moon; for that would +not slip so easily through a man's fingers. When we die--so at least +says the student, for whom my wife does the washing--we shall fly about +as light as a feather from one such a star to the other. That's, of +course, not true: but 'twould be pretty enough if it were so. If I could +but once take a leap up there, my body might stay here on the steps for +what I care." + +Behold--there are certain things in the world to which one ought never +to give utterance except with the greatest caution; but doubly careful +must one be when we have the Shoes of Fortune on our feet. Now just +listen to what happened to the watchman. + +As to ourselves, we all know the speed produced by the employment of +steam; we have experienced it either on railroads, or in boats when +crossing the sea; but such a flight is like the travelling of a sloth in +comparison with the velocity with which light moves. It flies nineteen +million times faster than the best race-horse; and yet electricity is +quicker still. Death is an electric shock which our heart receives; the +freed soul soars upwards on the wings of electricity. The sun's light +wants eight minutes and some seconds to perform a journey of more than +twenty million of our Danish [*] miles; borne by electricity, the soul +wants even some minutes less to accomplish the same flight. To it the +space between the heavenly bodies is not greater than the distance +between the homes of our friends in town is for us, even if they live a +short way from each other; such an electric shock in the heart, however, +costs us the use of the body here below; unless, like the watchman of +East Street, we happen to have on the Shoes of Fortune. + + * A Danish mile is nearly 4 3/4 English. + + +In a few seconds the watchman had done the fifty-two thousand of our +miles up to the moon, which, as everyone knows, was formed out of +matter much lighter than our earth; and is, so we should say, as soft +as newly-fallen snow. He found himself on one of the many circumjacent +mountain-ridges with which we are acquainted by means of Dr. Madler's +"Map of the Moon." Within, down it sunk perpendicularly into a caldron, +about a Danish mile in depth; while below lay a town, whose appearance +we can, in some measure, realize to ourselves by beating the white of +an egg in a glass of water. The matter of which it was built was just as +soft, and formed similar towers, and domes, and pillars, transparent and +rocking in the thin air; while above his head our earth was rolling like +a large fiery ball. + +He perceived immediately a quantity of beings who were certainly what +we call "men"; yet they looked different to us. A far more correct +imagination than that of the pseudo-Herschel* had created them; and +if they had been placed in rank and file, and copied by some skilful +painter's hand, one would, without doubt, have exclaimed involuntarily, +"What a beautiful arabesque!" + +*This relates to a book published some years ago in Germany, and said +to be by Herschel, which contained a description of the moon and its +inhabitants, written with such a semblance of truth that many were +deceived by the imposture. + +Probably a translation of the celebrated Moon hoax, written by Richard +A. Locke, and originally published in New York. + + +They had a language too; but surely nobody can expect that the soul of +the watchman should understand it. Be that as it may, it did comprehend +it; for in our souls there germinate far greater powers than we poor +mortals, despite all our cleverness, have any notion of. Does she +not show us--she the queen in the land of enchantment--her astounding +dramatic talent in all our dreams? There every acquaintance appears and +speaks upon the stage, so entirely in character, and with the same tone +of voice, that none of us, when awake, were able to imitate it. How +well can she recall persons to our mind, of whom we have not thought for +years; when suddenly they step forth "every inch a man," resembling the +real personages, even to the finest features, and become the heroes +or heroines of our world of dreams. In reality, such remembrances are +rather unpleasant: every sin, every evil thought, may, like a clock with +alarm or chimes, be repeated at pleasure; then the question is if we can +trust ourselves to give an account of every unbecoming word in our heart +and on our lips. + +The watchman's spirit understood the language of the inhabitants of the +moon pretty well. The Selenites* disputed variously about our earth, +and expressed their doubts if it could be inhabited: the air, they said, +must certainly be too dense to allow any rational dweller in the moon +the necessary free respiration. They considered the moon alone to +be inhabited: they imagined it was the real heart of the universe or +planetary system, on which the genuine Cosmopolites, or citizens of the +world, dwelt. What strange things men--no, what strange things Selenites +sometimes take into their heads! + +* Dwellers in the moon. + + +About politics they had a good deal to say. But little Denmark must +take care what it is about, and not run counter to the moon; that +great realm, that might in an ill-humor bestir itself, and dash down a +hail-storm in our faces, or force the Baltic to overflow the sides of +its gigantic basin. + +We will, therefore, not listen to what was spoken, and on no condition +run in the possibility of telling tales out of school; but we will +rather proceed, like good quiet citizens, to East Street, and observe +what happened meanwhile to the body of the watchman. + +He sat lifeless on the steps: the morning-star,* that is to say, the +heavy wooden staff, headed with iron spikes, and which had nothing else +in common with its sparkling brother in the sky, had glided from his +hand; while his eyes were fixed with glassy stare on the moon, looking +for the good old fellow of a spirit which still haunted it. + +*The watchmen in Germany, had formerly, and in some places they still +carry with them, on their rounds at night, a sort of mace or club, known +in ancient times by the above denomination. + + +"What's the hour, watchman?" asked a passer-by. But when the watchman +gave no reply, the merry roysterer, who was now returning home from a +noisy drinking bout, took it into his head to try what a tweak of the +nose would do, on which the supposed sleeper lost his balance, the body +lay motionless, stretched out on the pavement: the man was dead. When +the patrol came up, all his comrades, who comprehended nothing of the +whole affair, were seized with a dreadful fright, for dead he was, +and he remained so. The proper authorities were informed of the +circumstance, people talked a good deal about it, and in the morning the +body was carried to the hospital. + +Now that would be a very pretty joke, if the spirit when it came back +and looked for the body in East Street, were not to find one. No doubt +it would, in its anxiety, run off to the police, and then to the +"Hue and Cry" office, to announce that "the finder will be handsomely +rewarded," and at last away to the hospital; yet we may boldly assert +that the soul is shrewdest when it shakes off every fetter, and every +sort of leading-string--the body only makes it stupid. + +The seemingly dead body of the watchman wandered, as we have said, to +the hospital, where it was brought into the general viewing-room: +and the first thing that was done here was naturally to pull off the +galoshes--when the spirit, that was merely gone out on adventures, must +have returned with the quickness of lightning to its earthly tenement. +It took its direction towards the body in a straight line; and a few +seconds after, life began to show itself in the man. He asserted that +the preceding night had been the worst that ever the malice of fate had +allotted him; he would not for two silver marks again go through what he +had endured while moon-stricken; but now, however, it was over. + +The same day he was discharged from the hospital as perfectly cured; but +the Shoes meanwhile remained behind. + + +IV. A Moment of Head Importance--An Evening's "Dramatic Readings"--A +Most Strange Journey + +Every inhabitant of Copenhagen knows, from personal inspection, how +the entrance to Frederick's Hospital looks; but as it is possible that +others, who are not Copenhagen people, may also read this little work, +we will beforehand give a short description of it. + +The extensive building is separated from the street by a pretty high +railing, the thick iron bars of which are so far apart, that in +all seriousness, it is said, some very thin fellow had of a night +occasionally squeezed himself through to go and pay his little visits +in the town. The part of the body most difficult to manage on such +occasions was, no doubt, the head; here, as is so often the case in +the world, long-headed people get through best. So much, then, for the +introduction. + +One of the young men, whose head, in a physical sense only, might be +said to be of the thickest, had the watch that evening. The rain poured +down in torrents; yet despite these two obstacles, the young man was +obliged to go out, if it were but for a quarter of an hour; and as +to telling the door-keeper about it, that, he thought, was quite +unnecessary, if, with a whole skin, he were able to slip through the +railings. There, on the floor lay the galoshes, which the watchman +had forgotten; he never dreamed for a moment that they were those of +Fortune; and they promised to do him good service in the wet; so he put +them on. The question now was, if he could squeeze himself through the +grating, for he had never tried before. Well, there he stood. + +"Would to Heaven I had got my head through!" said he, involuntarily; and +instantly through it slipped, easily and without pain, notwithstanding +it was pretty large and thick. But now the rest of the body was to be +got through! + +"Ah! I am much too stout," groaned he aloud, while fixed as in a vice. +"I had thought the head was the most difficult part of the matter--oh! +oh! I really cannot squeeze myself through!" + +He now wanted to pull his over-hasty head back again, but he could not. +For his neck there was room enough, but for nothing more. His first +feeling was of anger; his next that his temper fell to zero. The +Shoes of Fortune had placed him in the most dreadful situation; and, +unfortunately, it never occurred to him to wish himself free. The +pitch-black clouds poured down their contents in still heavier torrents; +not a creature was to be seen in the streets. To reach up to the bell +was what he did not like; to cry aloud for help would have availed him +little; besides, how ashamed would he have been to be found caught in a +trap, like an outwitted fox! How was he to twist himself through! He saw +clearly that it was his irrevocable destiny to remain a prisoner till +dawn, or, perhaps, even late in the morning; then the smith must be +fetched to file away the bars; but all that would not be done so quickly +as he could think about it. The whole Charity School, just opposite, +would be in motion; all the new booths, with their not very +courtier-like swarm of seamen, would join them out of curiosity, and +would greet him with a wild "hurrah!" while he was standing in his +pillory: there would be a mob, a hissing, and rejoicing, and jeering, +ten times worse than in the rows about the Jews some years ago--"Oh, my +blood is mounting to my brain; 'tis enough to drive one mad! I shall go +wild! I know not what to do. Oh! were I but loose; my dizziness would +then cease; oh, were my head but loose!" + +You see he ought to have said that sooner; for the moment he expressed +the wish his head was free; and cured of all his paroxysms of love, he +hastened off to his room, where the pains consequent on the fright the +Shoes had prepared for him, did not so soon take their leave. + +But you must not think that the affair is over now; it grows much worse. + +The night passed, the next day also; but nobody came to fetch the Shoes. + +In the evening "Dramatic Readings" were to be given at the little +theatre in King Street. The house was filled to suffocation; and among +other pieces to be recited was a new poem by H. C. Andersen, called, My +Aunt's Spectacles; the contents of which were pretty nearly as follows: + +"A certain person had an aunt, who boasted of particular skill in +fortune-telling with cards, and who was constantly being stormed by +persons that wanted to have a peep into futurity. But she was full of +mystery about her art, in which a certain pair of magic spectacles +did her essential service. Her nephew, a merry boy, who was his aunt's +darling, begged so long for these spectacles, that, at last, she lent +him the treasure, after having informed him, with many exhortations, +that in order to execute the interesting trick, he need only repair to +some place where a great many persons were assembled; and then, from a +higher position, whence he could overlook the crowd, pass the company in +review before him through his spectacles. Immediately 'the inner man' of +each individual would be displayed before him, like a game of cards, in +which he unerringly might read what the future of every person presented +was to be. Well pleased the little magician hastened away to prove the +powers of the spectacles in the theatre; no place seeming to him more +fitted for such a trial. He begged permission of the worthy audience, +and set his spectacles on his nose. A motley phantasmagoria presents +itself before him, which he describes in a few satirical touches, yet +without expressing his opinion openly: he tells the people enough to set +them all thinking and guessing; but in order to hurt nobody, he wraps +his witty oracular judgments in a transparent veil, or rather in a lurid +thundercloud, shooting forth bright sparks of wit, that they may fall in +the powder-magazine of the expectant audience." + +The humorous poem was admirably recited, and the speaker much applauded. +Among the audience was the young man of the hospital, who seemed to have +forgotten his adventure of the preceding night. He had on the Shoes; for +as yet no lawful owner had appeared to claim them; and besides it was so +very dirty out-of-doors, they were just the thing for him, he thought. + +The beginning of the poem he praised with great generosity: he even +found the idea original and effective. But that the end of it, like the +Rhine, was very insignificant, proved, in his opinion, the author's +want of invention; he was without genius, etc. This was an excellent +opportunity to have said something clever. + +Meanwhile he was haunted by the idea--he should like to possess such a +pair of spectacles himself; then, perhaps, by using them circumspectly, +one would be able to look into people's hearts, which, he thought, would +be far more interesting than merely to see what was to happen next year; +for that we should all know in proper time, but the other never. + +"I can now," said he to himself, "fancy the whole row of ladies and +gentlemen sitting there in the front row; if one could but see into +their hearts--yes, that would be a revelation--a sort of bazar. In that +lady yonder, so strangely dressed, I should find for certain a large +milliner's shop; in that one the shop is empty, but it wants cleaning +plain enough. But there would also be some good stately shops among +them. Alas!" sighed he, "I know one in which all is stately; but there +sits already a spruce young shopman, which is the only thing that's +amiss in the whole shop. All would be splendidly decked out, and we +should hear, 'Walk in, gentlemen, pray walk in; here you will find all +you please to want.' Ah! I wish to Heaven I could walk in and take a +trip right through the hearts of those present!" + +And behold! to the Shoes of Fortune this was the cue; the whole man +shrunk together and a most uncommon journey through the hearts of the +front row of spectators, now began. The first heart through which he +came, was that of a middle-aged lady, but he instantly fancied himself +in the room of the "Institution for the cure of the crooked and +deformed," where casts of mis-shapen limbs are displayed in naked +reality on the wall. Yet there was this difference, in the institution +the casts were taken at the entry of the patient; but here they were +retained and guarded in the heart while the sound persons went away. +They were, namely, casts of female friends, whose bodily or mental +deformities were here most faithfully preserved. + +With the snake-like writhings of an idea he glided into another female +heart; but this seemed to him like a large holy fane. [*] The white dove of +innocence fluttered over the altar. How gladly would he have sunk upon +his knees; but he must away to the next heart; yet he still heard the +pealing tones of the organ, and he himself seemed to have become a newer +and a better man; he felt unworthy to tread the neighboring sanctuary +which a poor garret, with a sick bed-rid mother, revealed. But God's +warm sun streamed through the open window; lovely roses nodded from +the wooden flower-boxes on the roof, and two sky-blue birds sang +rejoicingly, while the sick mother implored God's richest blessings on +her pious daughter. + + * temple + + +He now crept on hands and feet through a butcher's shop; at least on +every side, and above and below, there was nought but flesh. It was the +heart of a most respectable rich man, whose name is certain to be found +in the Directory. + +He was now in the heart of the wife of this worthy gentleman. It was an +old, dilapidated, mouldering dovecot. The husband's portrait was used as +a weather-cock, which was connected in some way or other with the doors, +and so they opened and shut of their own accord, whenever the stern old +husband turned round. + +Hereupon he wandered into a boudoir formed entirely of mirrors, like +the one in Castle Rosenburg; but here the glasses magnified to an +astonishing degree. On the floor, in the middle of the room, sat, like a +Dalai-Lama, the insignificant "Self" of the person, quite confounded at +his own greatness. He then imagined he had got into a needle-case full +of pointed needles of every size. + +"This is certainly the heart of an old maid," thought he. But he was +mistaken. It was the heart of a young military man; a man, as people +said, of talent and feeling. + +In the greatest perplexity, he now came out of the last heart in the +row; he was unable to put his thoughts in order, and fancied that his +too lively imagination had run away with him. + +"Good Heavens!" sighed he. "I have surely a disposition to madness--'tis +dreadfully hot here; my blood boils in my veins and my head is burning +like a coal." And he now remembered the important event of the evening +before, how his head had got jammed in between the iron railings of the +hospital. "That's what it is, no doubt," said he. "I must do something +in time: under such circumstances a Russian bath might do me good. I +only wish I were already on the upper bank." [*] + + *In these Russian (vapor) baths the person extends himself + on a bank or form, and as he gets accustomed to the heat, + moves to another higher up towards the ceiling, where, of + course, the vapor is warmest. In this manner he ascends + gradually to the highest. + +And so there he lay on the uppermost bank in the vapor-bath; but with +all his clothes on, in his boots and galoshes, while the hot drops fell +scalding from the ceiling on his face. + +"Holloa!" cried he, leaping down. The bathing attendant, on his side, +uttered a loud cry of astonishment when he beheld in the bath, a man +completely dressed. + +The other, however, retained sufficient presence of mind to whisper to +him, "'Tis a bet, and I have won it!" But the first thing he did as soon +as he got home, was to have a large blister put on his chest and back to +draw out his madness. + +The next morning he had a sore chest and a bleeding back; and, excepting +the fright, that was all that he had gained by the Shoes of Fortune. + + +V. Metamorphosis of the Copying-Clerk + +The watchman, whom we have certainly not forgotten, thought meanwhile +of the galoshes he had found and taken with him to the hospital; he now +went to fetch them; and as neither the lieutenant, nor anybody else in +the street, claimed them as his property, they were delivered over to +the police-office.* + +*As on the continent, in all law and police practices nothing is verbal, +but any circumstance, however trifling, is reduced to writing, the +labor, as well as the number of papers that thus accumulate, is +enormous. In a police-office, consequently, we find copying-clerks among +many other scribes of various denominations, of which, it seems, our +hero was one. + + +"Why, I declare the Shoes look just like my own," said one of the +clerks, eying the newly-found treasure, whose hidden powers, even he, +sharp as he was, was not able to discover. "One must have more than +the eye of a shoemaker to know one pair from the other," said he, +soliloquizing; and putting, at the same time, the galoshes in search of +an owner, beside his own in the corner. + +"Here, sir!" said one of the men, who panting brought him a tremendous +pile of papers. + +The copying-clerk turned round and spoke awhile with the man about the +reports and legal documents in question; but when he had finished, and +his eye fell again on the Shoes, he was unable to say whether those to +the left or those to the right belonged to him. "At all events it must +be those which are wet," thought he; but this time, in spite of his +cleverness, he guessed quite wrong, for it was just those of Fortune +which played as it were into his hands, or rather on his feet. And why, +I should like to know, are the police never to be wrong? So he put them +on quickly, stuck his papers in his pocket, and took besides a few under +his arm, intending to look them through at home to make the necessary +notes. It was noon; and the weather, that had threatened rain, began +to clear up, while gaily dressed holiday folks filled the streets. "A +little trip to Fredericksburg would do me no great harm," thought he; +"for I, poor beast of burden that I am, have so much to annoy me, that I +don't know what a good appetite is. 'Tis a bitter crust, alas! at which +I am condemned to gnaw!" + +Nobody could be more steady or quiet than this young man; we therefore +wish him joy of the excursion with all our heart; and it will certainly +be beneficial for a person who leads so sedentary a life. In the park +he met a friend, one of our young poets, who told him that the following +day he should set out on his long-intended tour. + +"So you are going away again!" said the clerk. "You are a very free +and happy being; we others are chained by the leg and held fast to our +desk." + +"Yes; but it is a chain, friend, which ensures you the blessed bread +of existence," answered the poet. "You need feel no care for the coming +morrow: when you are old, you receive a pension." + +"True," said the clerk, shrugging his shoulders; "and yet you are +the better off. To sit at one's ease and poetise--that is a pleasure; +everybody has something agreeable to say to you, and you are always your +own master. No, friend, you should but try what it is to sit from one +year's end to the other occupied with and judging the most trivial +matters." + +The poet shook his head, the copying-clerk did the same. Each one kept +to his own opinion, and so they separated. + +"It's a strange race, those poets!" said the clerk, who was very fond of +soliloquizing. "I should like some day, just for a trial, to take such +nature upon me, and be a poet myself; I am very sure I should make +no such miserable verses as the others. Today, methinks, is a most +delicious day for a poet. Nature seems anew to celebrate her awakening +into life. The air is so unusually clear, the clouds sail on so +buoyantly, and from the green herbage a fragrance is exhaled that fills +me with delight. For many a year have I not felt as at this moment." + +We see already, by the foregoing effusion, that he is become a poet; to +give further proof of it, however, would in most cases be insipid, for +it is a most foolish notion to fancy a poet different from other men. +Among the latter there may be far more poetical natures than many an +acknowledged poet, when examined more closely, could boast of; the +difference only is, that the poet possesses a better mental memory, on +which account he is able to retain the feeling and the thought till they +can be embodied by means of words; a faculty which the others do not +possess. But the transition from a commonplace nature to one that is +richly endowed, demands always a more or less breakneck leap over a +certain abyss which yawns threateningly below; and thus must the sudden +change with the clerk strike the reader. + +"The sweet air!" continued he of the police-office, in his dreamy +imaginings; "how it reminds me of the violets in the garden of my aunt +Magdalena! Yes, then I was a little wild boy, who did not go to school +very regularly. O heavens! 'tis a long time since I have thought on +those times. The good old soul! She lived behind the Exchange. She +always had a few twigs or green shoots in water--let the winter rage +without as it might. The violets exhaled their sweet breath, whilst I +pressed against the windowpanes covered with fantastic frost-work the +copper coin I had heated on the stove, and so made peep-holes. +What splendid vistas were then opened to my view! What change--what +magnificence! Yonder in the canal lay the ships frozen up, and deserted +by their whole crews, with a screaming crow for the sole occupant. But +when the spring, with a gentle stirring motion, announced her arrival, +a new and busy life arose; with songs and hurrahs the ice was sawn +asunder, the ships were fresh tarred and rigged, that they might sail +away to distant lands. But I have remained here--must always remain +here, sitting at my desk in the office, and patiently see other people +fetch their passports to go abroad. Such is my fate! Alas!"--sighed he, +and was again silent. "Great Heaven! What is come to me! Never have I +thought or felt like this before! It must be the summer air that affects +me with feelings almost as disquieting as they are refreshing." + +He felt in his pocket for the papers. "These police-reports will soon +stem the torrent of my ideas, and effectually hinder any rebellious +overflowing of the time-worn banks of official duties"; he said to +himself consolingly, while his eye ran over the first page. "DAME +TIGBRITH, tragedy in five acts." "What is that? And yet it is undeniably +my own handwriting. Have I written the tragedy? Wonderful, very +wonderful!--And this--what have I here? 'INTRIGUE ON THE RAMPARTS; or +THE DAY OF REPENTANCE: vaudeville with new songs to the most favorite +airs.' The deuce! Where did I get all this rubbish? Some one must have +slipped it slyly into my pocket for a joke. There is too a letter to me; +a crumpled letter and the seal broken." + +Yes; it was not a very polite epistle from the manager of a theatre, in +which both pieces were flatly refused. + +"Hem! hem!" said the clerk breathlessly, and quite exhausted he seated +himself on a bank. His thoughts were so elastic, his heart so tender; +and involuntarily he picked one of the nearest flowers. It is a simple +daisy, just bursting out of the bud. What the botanist tells us after +a number of imperfect lectures, the flower proclaimed in a minute. It +related the mythus of its birth, told of the power of the sun-light that +spread out its delicate leaves, and forced them to impregnate the air +with their incense--and then he thought of the manifold struggles of +life, which in like manner awaken the budding flowers of feeling in our +bosom. Light and air contend with chivalric emulation for the love of +the fair flower that bestowed her chief favors on the latter; full of +longing she turned towards the light, and as soon as it vanished, rolled +her tender leaves together and slept in the embraces of the air. "It is +the light which adorns me," said the flower. + +"But 'tis the air which enables thee to breathe," said the poet's voice. + +Close by stood a boy who dashed his stick into a wet ditch. The drops of +water splashed up to the green leafy roof, and the clerk thought of the +million of ephemera which in a single drop were thrown up to a height, +that was as great doubtless for their size, as for us if we were to +be hurled above the clouds. While he thought of this and of the whole +metamorphosis he had undergone, he smiled and said, "I sleep and dream; +but it is wonderful how one can dream so naturally, and know besides so +exactly that it is but a dream. If only to-morrow on awaking, I could +again call all to mind so vividly! I seem in unusually good spirits; my +perception of things is clear, I feel as light and cheerful as though +I were in heaven; but I know for a certainty, that if to-morrow a dim +remembrance of it should swim before my mind, it will then seem nothing +but stupid nonsense, as I have often experienced already--especially +before I enlisted under the banner of the police, for that dispels like +a whirlwind all the visions of an unfettered imagination. All we hear +or say in a dream that is fair and beautiful is like the gold of the +subterranean spirits; it is rich and splendid when it is given us, but +viewed by daylight we find only withered leaves. Alas!" he sighed quite +sorrowful, and gazed at the chirping birds that hopped contentedly from +branch to branch, "they are much better off than I! To fly must be a +heavenly art; and happy do I prize that creature in which it is innate. +Yes! Could I exchange my nature with any other creature, I fain would be +such a happy little lark!" + +He had hardly uttered these hasty words when the skirts and sleeves +of his coat folded themselves together into wings; the clothes became +feathers, and the galoshes claws. He observed it perfectly, and laughed +in his heart. "Now then, there is no doubt that I am dreaming; but I +never before was aware of such mad freaks as these." And up he flew into +the green roof and sang; but in the song there was no poetry, for the +spirit of the poet was gone. The Shoes, as is the case with anybody who +does what he has to do properly, could only attend to one thing at a +time. He wanted to be a poet, and he was one; he now wished to be a +merry chirping bird: but when he was metamorphosed into one, the former +peculiarities ceased immediately. "It is really pleasant enough," said +he: "the whole day long I sit in the office amid the driest +law-papers, and at night I fly in my dream as a lark in the gardens of +Fredericksburg; one might really write a very pretty comedy upon it." He +now fluttered down into the grass, turned his head gracefully on every +side, and with his bill pecked the pliant blades of grass, which, in +comparison to his present size, seemed as majestic as the palm-branches +of northern Africa. + +Unfortunately the pleasure lasted but a moment. Presently black night +overshadowed our enthusiast, who had so entirely missed his part of +copying-clerk at a police-office; some vast object seemed to be thrown +over him. It was a large oil-skin cap, which a sailor-boy of the quay +had thrown over the struggling bird; a coarse hand sought its way +carefully in under the broad rim, and seized the clerk over the back +and wings. In the first moment of fear, he called, indeed, as loud as +he could--"You impudent little blackguard! I am a copying-clerk at +the police-office; and you know you cannot insult any belonging to the +constabulary force without a chastisement. Besides, you good-for-nothing +rascal, it is strictly forbidden to catch birds in the royal gardens of +Fredericksburg; but your blue uniform betrays where you come from." +This fine tirade sounded, however, to the ungodly sailor-boy like a mere +"Pippi-pi." He gave the noisy bird a knock on his beak, and walked on. + +He was soon met by two schoolboys of the upper class--that is to say as +individuals, for with regard to learning they were in the lowest class +in the school; and they bought the stupid bird. So the copying-clerk +came to Copenhagen as guest, or rather as prisoner in a family living in +Gother Street. + +"'Tis well that I'm dreaming," said the clerk, "or I really should get +angry. First I was a poet; now sold for a few pence as a lark; no doubt +it was that accursed poetical nature which has metamorphosed me +into such a poor harmless little creature. It is really pitiable, +particularly when one gets into the hands of a little blackguard, +perfect in all sorts of cruelty to animals: all I should like to know +is, how the story will end." + +The two schoolboys, the proprietors now of the transformed clerk, +carried him into an elegant room. A stout stately dame received them +with a smile; but she expressed much dissatisfaction that a common +field-bird, as she called the lark, should appear in such high society. +For to-day, however, she would allow it; and they must shut him in the +empty cage that was standing in the window. "Perhaps he will amuse my +good Polly," added the lady, looking with a benignant smile at a large +green parrot that swung himself backwards and forwards most comfortably +in his ring, inside a magnificent brass-wired cage. "To-day is Polly's +birthday," said she with stupid simplicity: "and the little brown +field-bird must wish him joy." + +Mr. Polly uttered not a syllable in reply, but swung to and fro with +dignified condescension; while a pretty canary, as yellow as gold, that +had lately been brought from his sunny fragrant home, began to sing +aloud. + +"Noisy creature! Will you be quiet!" screamed the lady of the house, +covering the cage with an embroidered white pocket handkerchief. + +"Chirp, chirp!" sighed he. "That was a dreadful snowstorm"; and he +sighed again, and was silent. + +The copying-clerk, or, as the lady said, the brown field-bird, was +put into a small cage, close to the Canary, and not far from "my good +Polly." The only human sounds that the Parrot could bawl out +were, "Come, let us be men!" Everything else that he said was as +unintelligible to everybody as the chirping of the Canary, except to the +clerk, who was now a bird too: he understood his companion perfectly. + +"I flew about beneath the green palms and the blossoming almond-trees," +sang the Canary; "I flew around, with my brothers and sisters, over +the beautiful flowers, and over the glassy lakes, where the bright +water-plants nodded to me from below. There, too, I saw many +splendidly-dressed paroquets, that told the drollest stories, and the +wildest fairy tales without end." + +"Oh! those were uncouth birds," answered the Parrot. "They had no +education, and talked of whatever came into their head. + +"If my mistress and all her friends can laugh at what I say, so may you +too, I should think. It is a great fault to have no taste for what is +witty or amusing--come, let us be men." + +"Ah, you have no remembrance of love for the charming maidens that +danced beneath the outspread tents beside the bright fragrant flowers? +Do you no longer remember the sweet fruits, and the cooling juice in +the wild plants of our never-to-be-forgotten home?" said the former +inhabitant of the Canary Isles, continuing his dithyrambic. + +"Oh, yes," said the Parrot; "but I am far better off here. I am well +fed, and get friendly treatment. I know I am a clever fellow; and that +is all I care about. Come, let us be men. You are of a poetical nature, +as it is called--I, on the contrary, possess profound knowledge and +inexhaustible wit. You have genius; but clear-sighted, calm discretion +does not take such lofty flights, and utter such high natural tones. +For this they have covered you over--they never do the like to me; for +I cost more. Besides, they are afraid of my beak; and I have always a +witty answer at hand. Come, let us be men!" + +"O warm spicy land of my birth," sang the Canary bird; "I will sing of +thy dark-green bowers, of the calm bays where the pendent boughs +kiss the surface of the water; I will sing of the rejoicing of all my +brothers and sisters where the cactus grows in wanton luxuriance." + +"Spare us your elegiac tones," said the Parrot giggling. "Rather speak +of something at which one may laugh heartily. Laughing is an infallible +sign of the highest degree of mental development. Can a dog, or a horse +laugh? No, but they can cry. The gift of laughing was given to man +alone. Ha! ha! ha!" screamed Polly, and added his stereotype witticism. +"Come, let us be men!" + +"Poor little Danish grey-bird," said the Canary; "you have been caught +too. It is, no doubt, cold enough in your woods, but there at least +is the breath of liberty; therefore fly away. In the hurry they have +forgotten to shut your cage, and the upper window is open. Fly, my +friend; fly away. Farewell!" + +Instinctively the Clerk obeyed; with a few strokes of his wings he was +out of the cage; but at the same moment the door, which was only ajar, +and which led to the next room, began to creak, and supple and creeping +came the large tomcat into the room, and began to pursue him. The +frightened Canary fluttered about in his cage; the Parrot flapped his +wings, and cried, "Come, let us be men!" The Clerk felt a mortal fright, +and flew through the window, far away over the houses and streets. At +last he was forced to rest a little. + +The neighboring house had a something familiar about it; a window stood +open; he flew in; it was his own room. He perched upon the table. + +"Come, let us be men!" said he, involuntarily imitating the chatter of +the Parrot, and at the same moment he was again a copying-clerk; but he +was sitting in the middle of the table. + +"Heaven help me!" cried he. "How did I get up here--and so buried in +sleep, too? After all, that was a very unpleasant, disagreeable dream +that haunted me! The whole story is nothing but silly, stupid nonsense!" + + +VI. The Best That the Galoshes Gave + +The following day, early in the morning, while the Clerk was still in +bed, someone knocked at his door. It was his neighbor, a young Divine, +who lived on the same floor. He walked in. + +"Lend me your Galoshes," said he; "it is so wet in the garden, though +the sun is shining most invitingly. I should like to go out a little." + +He got the Galoshes, and he was soon below in a little duodecimo garden, +where between two immense walls a plumtree and an apple-tree were +standing. Even such a little garden as this was considered in the +metropolis of Copenhagen as a great luxury. + +The young man wandered up and down the narrow paths, as well as the +prescribed limits would allow; the clock struck six; without was heard +the horn of a post-boy. + +"To travel! to travel!" exclaimed he, overcome by most painful and +passionate remembrances. "That is the happiest thing in the world! That +is the highest aim of all my wishes! Then at last would the agonizing +restlessness be allayed, which destroys my existence! But it must be +far, far away! I would behold magnificent Switzerland; I would travel to +Italy, and--" + +It was a good thing that the power of the Galoshes worked as +instantaneously as lightning in a powder-magazine would do, otherwise +the poor man with his overstrained wishes would have travelled about +the world too much for himself as well as for us. In short, he was +travelling. He was in the middle of Switzerland, but packed up with +eight other passengers in the inside of an eternally-creaking diligence; +his head ached till it almost split, his weary neck could hardly bear +the heavy load, and his feet, pinched by his torturing boots, were +terribly swollen. He was in an intermediate state between sleeping and +waking; at variance with himself, with his company, with the country, +and with the government. In his right pocket he had his letter of +credit, in the left, his passport, and in a small leathern purse some +double louis d'or, carefully sewn up in the bosom of his waistcoat. +Every dream proclaimed that one or the other of these valuables was +lost; wherefore he started up as in a fever; and the first movement +which his hand made, described a magic triangle from the right pocket to +the left, and then up towards the bosom, to feel if he had them all safe +or not. From the roof inside the carriage, umbrellas, walking-sticks, +hats, and sundry other articles were depending, and hindered the view, +which was particularly imposing. He now endeavored as well as he +was able to dispel his gloom, which was caused by outward chance +circumstances merely, and on the bosom of nature imbibe the milk of +purest human enjoyment. + +Grand, solemn, and dark was the whole landscape around. The gigantic +pine-forests, on the pointed crags, seemed almost like little tufts of +heather, colored by the surrounding clouds. It began to snow, a cold +wind blew and roared as though it were seeking a bride. + +"Augh!" sighed he, "were we only on the other side the Alps, then we +should have summer, and I could get my letters of credit cashed. The +anxiety I feel about them prevents me enjoying Switzerland. Were I but +on the other side!" + +And so saying he was on the other side in Italy, between Florence and +Rome. Lake Thracymene, illumined by the evening sun, lay like flaming +gold between the dark-blue mountain-ridges; here, where Hannibal +defeated Flaminius, the rivers now held each other in their green +embraces; lovely, half-naked children tended a herd of black swine, +beneath a group of fragrant laurel-trees, hard by the road-side. +Could we render this inimitable picture properly, then would everybody +exclaim, "Beautiful, unparalleled Italy!" But neither the young Divine +said so, nor anyone of his grumbling companions in the coach of the +vetturino. + +The poisonous flies and gnats swarmed around by thousands; in vain one +waved myrtle-branches about like mad; the audacious insect population +did not cease to sting; nor was there a single person in the +well-crammed carriage whose face was not swollen and sore from their +ravenous bites. The poor horses, tortured almost to death, suffered most +from this truly Egyptian plague; the flies alighted upon them in large +disgusting swarms; and if the coachman got down and scraped them off, +hardly a minute elapsed before they were there again. The sun now set: a +freezing cold, though of short duration pervaded the whole creation; +it was like a horrid gust coming from a burial-vault on a warm summer's +day--but all around the mountains retained that wonderful green tone +which we see in some old pictures, and which, should we not have seen a +similar play of color in the South, we declare at once to be unnatural. +It was a glorious prospect; but the stomach was empty, the body tired; +all that the heart cared and longed for was good night-quarters; yet +how would they be? For these one looked much more anxiously than for the +charms of nature, which every where were so profusely displayed. + +The road led through an olive-grove, and here the solitary inn was +situated. Ten or twelve crippled-beggars had encamped outside. The +healthiest of them resembled, to use an expression of Marryat's, +"Hunger's eldest son when he had come of age"; the others were either +blind, had withered legs and crept about on their hands, or withered +arms and fingerless hands. It was the most wretched misery, dragged +from among the filthiest rags. "Excellenza, miserabili!" sighed they, +thrusting forth their deformed limbs to view. Even the hostess, with +bare feet, uncombed hair, and dressed in a garment of doubtful color, +received the guests grumblingly. The doors were fastened with a loop of +string; the floor of the rooms presented a stone paving half torn +up; bats fluttered wildly about the ceiling; and as to the smell +therein--no--that was beyond description. + +"You had better lay the cloth below in the stable," said one of the +travellers; "there, at all events, one knows what one is breathing." + +The windows were quickly opened, to let in a little fresh air. Quicker, +however, than the breeze, the withered, sallow arms of the beggars were +thrust in, accompanied by the eternal whine of "Miserabili, miserabili, +excellenza!" On the walls were displayed innumerable inscriptions, +written in nearly every language of Europe, some in verse, some in +prose, most of them not very laudatory of "bella Italia." + +The meal was served. It consisted of a soup of salted water, seasoned +with pepper and rancid oil. The last ingredient played a very prominent +part in the salad; stale eggs and roasted cocks'-combs furnished the +grand dish of the repast; the wine even was not without a disgusting +taste--it was like a medicinal draught. + +At night the boxes and other effects of the passengers were placed +against the rickety doors. One of the travellers kept watch while the +others slept. The sentry was our young Divine. How close it was in the +chamber! The heat oppressive to suffocation--the gnats hummed and stung +unceasingly--the "miserabili" without whined and moaned in their sleep. + +"Travelling would be agreeable enough," said he groaning, "if one only +had no body, or could send it to rest while the spirit went on its +pilgrimage unhindered, whither the voice within might call it. Wherever +I go, I am pursued by a longing that is insatiable--that I cannot +explain to myself, and that tears my very heart. I want something better +than what is but what is fled in an instant. But what is it, and where +is it to be found? Yet, I know in reality what it is I wish for. Oh! +most happy were I, could I but reach one aim--could but reach the +happiest of all!" + +And as he spoke the word he was again in his home; the long white +curtains hung down from the windows, and in the middle of the floor +stood the black coffin; in it he lay in the sleep of death. His wish +was fulfilled--the body rested, while the spirit went unhindered on its +pilgrimage. "Let no one deem himself happy before his end," were the +words of Solon; and here was a new and brilliant proof of the wisdom of +the old apothegm. + +Every corpse is a sphynx of immortality; here too on the black coffin +the sphynx gave us no answer to what he who lay within had written two +days before: + + "O mighty Death! thy silence teaches nought, + Thou leadest only to the near grave's brink; + Is broken now the ladder of my thoughts? + Do I instead of mounting only sink? + + Our heaviest grief the world oft seeth not, + Our sorest pain we hide from stranger eyes: + And for the sufferer there is nothing left + But the green mound that o'er the coffin lies." + +Two figures were moving in the chamber. We knew them both; it was the +fairy of Care, and the emissary of Fortune. They both bent over the +corpse. + +"Do you now see," said Care, "what happiness your Galoshes have brought +to mankind?" + +"To him, at least, who slumbers here, they have brought an imperishable +blessing," answered the other. + +"Ah no!" replied Care. "He took his departure himself; he was not called +away. His mental powers here below were not strong enough to reach the +treasures lying beyond this life, and which his destiny ordained he +should obtain. I will now confer a benefit on him." + +And she took the Galoshes from his feet; his sleep of death was ended; +and he who had been thus called back again to life arose from his +dread couch in all the vigor of youth. Care vanished, and with her the +Galoshes. She has no doubt taken them for herself, to keep them to all +eternity. + + + + +THE FIR TREE + +Out in the woods stood a nice little Fir Tree. The place he had was a +very good one: the sun shone on him: as to fresh air, there was enough +of that, and round him grew many large-sized comrades, pines as well as +firs. But the little Fir wanted so very much to be a grown-up tree. + +He did not think of the warm sun and of the fresh air; he did not care +for the little cottage children that ran about and prattled when they +were in the woods looking for wild-strawberries. The children often came +with a whole pitcher full of berries, or a long row of them threaded on +a straw, and sat down near the young tree and said, "Oh, how pretty he +is! What a nice little fir!" But this was what the Tree could not bear +to hear. + +At the end of a year he had shot up a good deal, and after another year +he was another long bit taller; for with fir trees one can always tell +by the shoots how many years old they are. + +"Oh! Were I but such a high tree as the others are," sighed he. "Then I +should be able to spread out my branches, and with the tops to look into +the wide world! Then would the birds build nests among my branches: and +when there was a breeze, I could bend with as much stateliness as the +others!" + +Neither the sunbeams, nor the birds, nor the red clouds which morning +and evening sailed above him, gave the little Tree any pleasure. + +In winter, when the snow lay glittering on the ground, a hare would +often come leaping along, and jump right over the little Tree. Oh, that +made him so angry! But two winters were past, and in the third the Tree +was so large that the hare was obliged to go round it. "To grow and +grow, to get older and be tall," thought the Tree--"that, after all, is +the most delightful thing in the world!" + +In autumn the wood-cutters always came and felled some of the largest +trees. This happened every year; and the young Fir Tree, that had now +grown to a very comely size, trembled at the sight; for the magnificent +great trees fell to the earth with noise and cracking, the branches were +lopped off, and the trees looked long and bare; they were hardly to be +recognised; and then they were laid in carts, and the horses dragged +them out of the wood. + +Where did they go to? What became of them? + +In spring, when the swallows and the storks came, the Tree asked them, +"Don't you know where they have been taken? Have you not met them +anywhere?" + +The swallows did not know anything about it; but the Stork looked +musing, nodded his head, and said, "Yes; I think I know; I met many +ships as I was flying hither from Egypt; on the ships were magnificent +masts, and I venture to assert that it was they that smelt so of fir. +I may congratulate you, for they lifted themselves on high most +majestically!" + +"Oh, were I but old enough to fly across the sea! But how does the sea +look in reality? What is it like?" + +"That would take a long time to explain," said the Stork, and with these +words off he went. + +"Rejoice in thy growth!" said the Sunbeams. "Rejoice in thy vigorous +growth, and in the fresh life that moveth within thee!" + +And the Wind kissed the Tree, and the Dew wept tears over him; but the +Fir understood it not. + +When Christmas came, quite young trees were cut down: trees which often +were not even as large or of the same age as this Fir Tree, who could +never rest, but always wanted to be off. These young trees, and they +were always the finest looking, retained their branches; they were laid +on carts, and the horses drew them out of the wood. + +"Where are they going to?" asked the Fir. "They are not taller than +I; there was one indeed that was considerably shorter; and why do they +retain all their branches? Whither are they taken?" + +"We know! We know!" chirped the Sparrows. "We have peeped in at the +windows in the town below! We know whither they are taken! The greatest +splendor and the greatest magnificence one can imagine await them. We +peeped through the windows, and saw them planted in the middle of the +warm room and ornamented with the most splendid things, with gilded +apples, with gingerbread, with toys, and many hundred lights!" + +"And then?" asked the Fir Tree, trembling in every bough. "And then? +What happens then?" + +"We did not see anything more: it was incomparably beautiful." + +"I would fain know if I am destined for so glorious a career," cried +the Tree, rejoicing. "That is still better than to cross the sea! What +a longing do I suffer! Were Christmas but come! I am now tall, and my +branches spread like the others that were carried off last year! Oh! +were I but already on the cart! Were I in the warm room with all the +splendor and magnificence! Yes; then something better, something still +grander, will surely follow, or wherefore should they thus ornament me? +Something better, something still grander must follow--but what? Oh, how +I long, how I suffer! I do not know myself what is the matter with me!" + +"Rejoice in our presence!" said the Air and the Sunlight. "Rejoice in +thy own fresh youth!" + +But the Tree did not rejoice at all; he grew and grew, and was green +both winter and summer. People that saw him said, "What a fine tree!" +and towards Christmas he was one of the first that was cut down. The axe +struck deep into the very pith; the Tree fell to the earth with a sigh; +he felt a pang--it was like a swoon; he could not think of happiness, +for he was sorrowful at being separated from his home, from the place +where he had sprung up. He well knew that he should never see his dear +old comrades, the little bushes and flowers around him, anymore; perhaps +not even the birds! The departure was not at all agreeable. + +The Tree only came to himself when he was unloaded in a court-yard with +the other trees, and heard a man say, "That one is splendid! We don't +want the others." Then two servants came in rich livery and carried the +Fir Tree into a large and splendid drawing-room. Portraits were hanging +on the walls, and near the white porcelain stove stood two large Chinese +vases with lions on the covers. There, too, were large easy-chairs, +silken sofas, large tables full of picture-books and full of toys, worth +hundreds and hundreds of crowns--at least the children said so. And the +Fir Tree was stuck upright in a cask that was filled with sand; but no +one could see that it was a cask, for green cloth was hung all round it, +and it stood on a large gaily-colored carpet. Oh! how the Tree quivered! +What was to happen? The servants, as well as the young ladies, decorated +it. On one branch there hung little nets cut out of colored paper, and +each net was filled with sugarplums; and among the other boughs gilded +apples and walnuts were suspended, looking as though they had grown +there, and little blue and white tapers were placed among the leaves. +Dolls that looked for all the world like men--the Tree had never beheld +such before--were seen among the foliage, and at the very top a +large star of gold tinsel was fixed. It was really splendid--beyond +description splendid. + +"This evening!" they all said. "How it will shine this evening!" + +"Oh!" thought the Tree. "If the evening were but come! If the tapers +were but lighted! And then I wonder what will happen! Perhaps the other +trees from the forest will come to look at me! Perhaps the sparrows will +beat against the windowpanes! I wonder if I shall take root here, and +winter and summer stand covered with ornaments!" + +He knew very much about the matter--but he was so impatient that for +sheer longing he got a pain in his back, and this with trees is the same +thing as a headache with us. + +The candles were now lighted--what brightness! What splendor! The +Tree trembled so in every bough that one of the tapers set fire to the +foliage. It blazed up famously. + +"Help! Help!" cried the young ladies, and they quickly put out the fire. + +Now the Tree did not even dare tremble. What a state he was in! He was +so uneasy lest he should lose something of his splendor, that he was +quite bewildered amidst the glare and brightness; when suddenly both +folding-doors opened and a troop of children rushed in as if they would +upset the Tree. The older persons followed quietly; the little ones +stood quite still. But it was only for a moment; then they shouted that +the whole place re-echoed with their rejoicing; they danced round the +Tree, and one present after the other was pulled off. + +"What are they about?" thought the Tree. "What is to happen now!" And +the lights burned down to the very branches, and as they burned down +they were put out one after the other, and then the children had +permission to plunder the Tree. So they fell upon it with such violence +that all its branches cracked; if it had not been fixed firmly in the +ground, it would certainly have tumbled down. + +The children danced about with their beautiful playthings; no one looked +at the Tree except the old nurse, who peeped between the branches; but +it was only to see if there was a fig or an apple left that had been +forgotten. + +"A story! A story!" cried the children, drawing a little fat man towards +the Tree. He seated himself under it and said, "Now we are in the shade, +and the Tree can listen too. But I shall tell only one story. Now which +will you have; that about Ivedy-Avedy, or about Humpy-Dumpy, who +tumbled downstairs, and yet after all came to the throne and married the +princess?" + +"Ivedy-Avedy," cried some; "Humpy-Dumpy," cried the others. There was +such a bawling and screaming--the Fir Tree alone was silent, and he +thought to himself, "Am I not to bawl with the rest? Am I to do nothing +whatever?" for he was one of the company, and had done what he had to +do. + +And the man told about Humpy-Dumpy that tumbled down, who +notwithstanding came to the throne, and at last married the princess. +And the children clapped their hands, and cried. "Oh, go on! Do go on!" +They wanted to hear about Ivedy-Avedy too, but the little man only told +them about Humpy-Dumpy. The Fir Tree stood quite still and absorbed +in thought; the birds in the wood had never related the like of this. +"Humpy-Dumpy fell downstairs, and yet he married the princess! Yes, yes! +That's the way of the world!" thought the Fir Tree, and believed it all, +because the man who told the story was so good-looking. "Well, well! who +knows, perhaps I may fall downstairs, too, and get a princess as wife!" +And he looked forward with joy to the morrow, when he hoped to be decked +out again with lights, playthings, fruits, and tinsel. + +"I won't tremble to-morrow!" thought the Fir Tree. "I will enjoy to +the full all my splendor! To-morrow I shall hear again the story of +Humpy-Dumpy, and perhaps that of Ivedy-Avedy too." And the whole night +the Tree stood still and in deep thought. + +In the morning the servant and the housemaid came in. + +"Now then the splendor will begin again," thought the Fir. But they +dragged him out of the room, and up the stairs into the loft: and here, +in a dark corner, where no daylight could enter, they left him. "What's +the meaning of this?" thought the Tree. "What am I to do here? What +shall I hear now, I wonder?" And he leaned against the wall lost in +reverie. Time enough had he too for his reflections; for days and nights +passed on, and nobody came up; and when at last somebody did come, it +was only to put some great trunks in a corner, out of the way. There +stood the Tree quite hidden; it seemed as if he had been entirely +forgotten. + +"'Tis now winter out-of-doors!" thought the Tree. "The earth is hard and +covered with snow; men cannot plant me now, and therefore I have been +put up here under shelter till the spring-time comes! How thoughtful +that is! How kind man is, after all! If it only were not so dark here, +and so terribly lonely! Not even a hare! And out in the woods it was +so pleasant, when the snow was on the ground, and the hare leaped by; +yes--even when he jumped over me; but I did not like it then! It is +really terribly lonely here!" + +"Squeak! Squeak!" said a little Mouse, at the same moment, peeping out +of his hole. And then another little one came. They snuffed about the +Fir Tree, and rustled among the branches. + +"It is dreadfully cold," said the Mouse. "But for that, it would be +delightful here, old Fir, wouldn't it?" + +"I am by no means old," said the Fir Tree. "There's many a one +considerably older than I am." + +"Where do you come from," asked the Mice; "and what can you do?" They +were so extremely curious. "Tell us about the most beautiful spot on the +earth. Have you never been there? Were you never in the larder, where +cheeses lie on the shelves, and hams hang from above; where one dances +about on tallow candles: that place where one enters lean, and comes out +again fat and portly?" + +"I know no such place," said the Tree. "But I know the wood, where the +sun shines and where the little birds sing." And then he told all about +his youth; and the little Mice had never heard the like before; and they +listened and said, + +"Well, to be sure! How much you have seen! How happy you must have +been!" + +"I!" said the Fir Tree, thinking over what he had himself related. +"Yes, in reality those were happy times." And then he told about +Christmas-eve, when he was decked out with cakes and candles. + +"Oh," said the little Mice, "how fortunate you have been, old Fir Tree!" + +"I am by no means old," said he. "I came from the wood this winter; I am +in my prime, and am only rather short for my age." + +"What delightful stories you know," said the Mice: and the next night +they came with four other little Mice, who were to hear what the Tree +recounted: and the more he related, the more he remembered himself; and +it appeared as if those times had really been happy times. "But they may +still come--they may still come! Humpy-Dumpy fell downstairs, and yet +he got a princess!" and he thought at the moment of a nice little Birch +Tree growing out in the woods: to the Fir, that would be a real charming +princess. + +"Who is Humpy-Dumpy?" asked the Mice. So then the Fir Tree told the +whole fairy tale, for he could remember every single word of it; and the +little Mice jumped for joy up to the very top of the Tree. Next night +two more Mice came, and on Sunday two Rats even; but they said the +stories were not interesting, which vexed the little Mice; and they, +too, now began to think them not so very amusing either. + +"Do you know only one story?" asked the Rats. + +"Only that one," answered the Tree. "I heard it on my happiest evening; +but I did not then know how happy I was." + +"It is a very stupid story! Don't you know one about bacon and tallow +candles? Can't you tell any larder stories?" + +"No," said the Tree. + +"Then good-bye," said the Rats; and they went home. + +At last the little Mice stayed away also; and the Tree sighed: "After +all, it was very pleasant when the sleek little Mice sat round me, and +listened to what I told them. Now that too is over. But I will take good +care to enjoy myself when I am brought out again." + +But when was that to be? Why, one morning there came a quantity of +people and set to work in the loft. The trunks were moved, the tree was +pulled out and thrown--rather hard, it is true--down on the floor, but a +man drew him towards the stairs, where the daylight shone. + +"Now a merry life will begin again," thought the Tree. He felt the fresh +air, the first sunbeam--and now he was out in the courtyard. All passed +so quickly, there was so much going on around him, the Tree quite forgot +to look to himself. The court adjoined a garden, and all was in flower; +the roses hung so fresh and odorous over the balustrade, the lindens +were in blossom, the Swallows flew by, and said, "Quirre-vit! My husband +is come!" but it was not the Fir Tree that they meant. + +"Now, then, I shall really enjoy life," said he exultingly, and spread +out his branches; but, alas, they were all withered and yellow! It was +in a corner that he lay, among weeds and nettles. The golden star of +tinsel was still on the top of the Tree, and glittered in the sunshine. + +In the court-yard some of the merry children were playing who had danced +at Christmas round the Fir Tree, and were so glad at the sight of him. +One of the youngest ran and tore off the golden star. + +"Only look what is still on the ugly old Christmas tree!" said he, +trampling on the branches, so that they all cracked beneath his feet. + +And the Tree beheld all the beauty of the flowers, and the freshness in +the garden; he beheld himself, and wished he had remained in his dark +corner in the loft; he thought of his first youth in the wood, of the +merry Christmas-eve, and of the little Mice who had listened with so +much pleasure to the story of Humpy-Dumpy. + +"'Tis over--'tis past!" said the poor Tree. "Had I but rejoiced when I +had reason to do so! But now 'tis past, 'tis past!" + +And the gardener's boy chopped the Tree into small pieces; there was a +whole heap lying there. The wood flamed up splendidly under the large +brewing copper, and it sighed so deeply! Each sigh was like a shot. + +The boys played about in the court, and the youngest wore the gold star +on his breast which the Tree had had on the happiest evening of his +life. However, that was over now--the Tree gone, the story at an end. +All, all was over--every tale must end at last. + + + + +THE SNOW QUEEN + +FIRST STORY. Which Treats of a Mirror and of the Splinters + +Now then, let us begin. When we are at the end of the story, we shall +know more than we know now: but to begin. + +Once upon a time there was a wicked sprite, indeed he was the most +mischievous of all sprites. One day he was in a very good humor, for +he had made a mirror with the power of causing all that was good and +beautiful when it was reflected therein, to look poor and mean; but +that which was good-for-nothing and looked ugly was shown magnified +and increased in ugliness. In this mirror the most beautiful landscapes +looked like boiled spinach, and the best persons were turned into +frights, or appeared to stand on their heads; their faces were so +distorted that they were not to be recognised; and if anyone had a mole, +you might be sure that it would be magnified and spread over both nose +and mouth. + +"That's glorious fun!" said the sprite. If a good thought passed through +a man's mind, then a grin was seen in the mirror, and the sprite laughed +heartily at his clever discovery. All the little sprites who went to his +school--for he kept a sprite school--told each other that a miracle had +happened; and that now only, as they thought, it would be possible to +see how the world really looked. They ran about with the mirror; and at +last there was not a land or a person who was not represented distorted +in the mirror. So then they thought they would fly up to the sky, +and have a joke there. The higher they flew with the mirror, the more +terribly it grinned: they could hardly hold it fast. Higher and higher +still they flew, nearer and nearer to the stars, when suddenly the +mirror shook so terribly with grinning, that it flew out of their hands +and fell to the earth, where it was dashed in a hundred million and more +pieces. And now it worked much more evil than before; for some of these +pieces were hardly so large as a grain of sand, and they flew about in +the wide world, and when they got into people's eyes, there they stayed; +and then people saw everything perverted, or only had an eye for that +which was evil. This happened because the very smallest bit had the +same power which the whole mirror had possessed. Some persons even got +a splinter in their heart, and then it made one shudder, for their heart +became like a lump of ice. Some of the broken pieces were so large that +they were used for windowpanes, through which one could not see one's +friends. Other pieces were put in spectacles; and that was a sad affair +when people put on their glasses to see well and rightly. Then the +wicked sprite laughed till he almost choked, for all this tickled his +fancy. The fine splinters still flew about in the air: and now we shall +hear what happened next. + + +SECOND STORY. A Little Boy and a Little Girl + +In a large town, where there are so many houses, and so many people, +that there is no roof left for everybody to have a little garden; and +where, on this account, most persons are obliged to content themselves +with flowers in pots; there lived two little children, who had a garden +somewhat larger than a flower-pot. They were not brother and sister; but +they cared for each other as much as if they were. Their parents lived +exactly opposite. They inhabited two garrets; and where the roof of the +one house joined that of the other, and the gutter ran along the extreme +end of it, there was to each house a small window: one needed only to +step over the gutter to get from one window to the other. + +The children's parents had large wooden boxes there, in which vegetables +for the kitchen were planted, and little rosetrees besides: there was a +rose in each box, and they grew splendidly. They now thought of placing +the boxes across the gutter, so that they nearly reached from one window +to the other, and looked just like two walls of flowers. The tendrils +of the peas hung down over the boxes; and the rose-trees shot up long +branches, twined round the windows, and then bent towards each other: it +was almost like a triumphant arch of foliage and flowers. The boxes were +very high, and the children knew that they must not creep over them; so +they often obtained permission to get out of the windows to each other, +and to sit on their little stools among the roses, where they could play +delightfully. In winter there was an end of this pleasure. The windows +were often frozen over; but then they heated copper farthings on the +stove, and laid the hot farthing on the windowpane, and then they had a +capital peep-hole, quite nicely rounded; and out of each peeped a gentle +friendly eye--it was the little boy and the little girl who were looking +out. His name was Kay, hers was Gerda. In summer, with one jump, they +could get to each other; but in winter they were obliged first to +go down the long stairs, and then up the long stairs again: and +out-of-doors there was quite a snow-storm. + +"It is the white bees that are swarming," said Kay's old grandmother. + +"Do the white bees choose a queen?" asked the little boy; for he knew +that the honey-bees always have one. + +"Yes," said the grandmother, "she flies where the swarm hangs in the +thickest clusters. She is the largest of all; and she can never remain +quietly on the earth, but goes up again into the black clouds. Many a +winter's night she flies through the streets of the town, and peeps in +at the windows; and they then freeze in so wondrous a manner that they +look like flowers." + +"Yes, I have seen it," said both the children; and so they knew that it +was true. + +"Can the Snow Queen come in?" said the little girl. + +"Only let her come in!" said the little boy. "Then I'd put her on the +stove, and she'd melt." + +And then his grandmother patted his head and told him other stories. + +In the evening, when little Kay was at home, and half undressed, he +climbed up on the chair by the window, and peeped out of the little +hole. A few snow-flakes were falling, and one, the largest of all, +remained lying on the edge of a flower-pot. + +The flake of snow grew larger and larger; and at last it was like a +young lady, dressed in the finest white gauze, made of a million little +flakes like stars. She was so beautiful and delicate, but she was of +ice, of dazzling, sparkling ice; yet she lived; her eyes gazed fixedly, +like two stars; but there was neither quiet nor repose in them. She +nodded towards the window, and beckoned with her hand. The little boy +was frightened, and jumped down from the chair; it seemed to him as if, +at the same moment, a large bird flew past the window. + +The next day it was a sharp frost--and then the spring came; the sun +shone, the green leaves appeared, the swallows built their nests, the +windows were opened, and the little children again sat in their pretty +garden, high up on the leads at the top of the house. + +That summer the roses flowered in unwonted beauty. The little girl had +learned a hymn, in which there was something about roses; and then she +thought of her own flowers; and she sang the verse to the little boy, +who then sang it with her: + + "The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, + And angels descend there the children to greet." + +And the children held each other by the hand, kissed the roses, looked +up at the clear sunshine, and spoke as though they really saw angels +there. What lovely summer-days those were! How delightful to be out in +the air, near the fresh rose-bushes, that seem as if they would never +finish blossoming! + +Kay and Gerda looked at the picture-book full of beasts and of birds; +and it was then--the clock in the church-tower was just striking +five--that Kay said, "Oh! I feel such a sharp pain in my heart; and now +something has got into my eye!" + +The little girl put her arms around his neck. He winked his eyes; now +there was nothing to be seen. + +"I think it is out now," said he; but it was not. It was just one of +those pieces of glass from the magic mirror that had got into his eye; +and poor Kay had got another piece right in his heart. It will soon +become like ice. It did not hurt any longer, but there it was. + +"What are you crying for?" asked he. "You look so ugly! There's nothing +the matter with me. Ah," said he at once, "that rose is cankered! And +look, this one is quite crooked! After all, these roses are very ugly! +They are just like the box they are planted in!" And then he gave the +box a good kick with his foot, and pulled both the roses up. + +"What are you doing?" cried the little girl; and as he perceived her +fright, he pulled up another rose, got in at the window, and hastened +off from dear little Gerda. + +Afterwards, when she brought her picture-book, he asked, "What horrid +beasts have you there?" And if his grandmother told them stories, he +always interrupted her; besides, if he could manage it, he would get +behind her, put on her spectacles, and imitate her way of speaking; he +copied all her ways, and then everybody laughed at him. He was soon able +to imitate the gait and manner of everyone in the street. Everything +that was peculiar and displeasing in them--that Kay knew how to imitate: +and at such times all the people said, "The boy is certainly very +clever!" But it was the glass he had got in his eye; the glass that was +sticking in his heart, which made him tease even little Gerda, whose +whole soul was devoted to him. + +His games now were quite different to what they had formerly been, they +were so very knowing. One winter's day, when the flakes of snow were +flying about, he spread the skirts of his blue coat, and caught the snow +as it fell. + +"Look through this glass, Gerda," said he. And every flake seemed +larger, and appeared like a magnificent flower, or beautiful star; it +was splendid to look at! + +"Look, how clever!" said Kay. "That's much more interesting than real +flowers! They are as exact as possible; there is not a fault in them, if +they did not melt!" + +It was not long after this, that Kay came one day with large gloves on, +and his little sledge at his back, and bawled right into Gerda's ears, +"I have permission to go out into the square where the others are +playing"; and off he was in a moment. + +There, in the market-place, some of the boldest of the boys used to tie +their sledges to the carts as they passed by, and so they were pulled +along, and got a good ride. It was so capital! Just as they were in the +very height of their amusement, a large sledge passed by: it was painted +quite white, and there was someone in it wrapped up in a rough white +mantle of fur, with a rough white fur cap on his head. The sledge drove +round the square twice, and Kay tied on his sledge as quickly as he +could, and off he drove with it. On they went quicker and quicker into +the next street; and the person who drove turned round to Kay, and +nodded to him in a friendly manner, just as if they knew each other. +Every time he was going to untie his sledge, the person nodded to him, +and then Kay sat quiet; and so on they went till they came outside +the gates of the town. Then the snow began to fall so thickly that the +little boy could not see an arm's length before him, but still on he +went: when suddenly he let go the string he held in his hand in order +to get loose from the sledge, but it was of no use; still the little +vehicle rushed on with the quickness of the wind. He then cried as loud +as he could, but no one heard him; the snow drifted and the sledge flew +on, and sometimes it gave a jerk as though they were driving over hedges +and ditches. He was quite frightened, and he tried to repeat the +Lord's Prayer; but all he could do, he was only able to remember the +multiplication table. + +The snow-flakes grew larger and larger, till at last they looked just +like great white fowls. Suddenly they flew on one side; the large sledge +stopped, and the person who drove rose up. It was a lady; her cloak and +cap were of snow. She was tall and of slender figure, and of a dazzling +whiteness. It was the Snow Queen. + +"We have travelled fast," said she; "but it is freezingly cold. Come +under my bearskin." And she put him in the sledge beside her, +wrapped the fur round him, and he felt as though he were sinking in a +snow-wreath. + +"Are you still cold?" asked she; and then she kissed his forehead. +Ah! it was colder than ice; it penetrated to his very heart, which was +already almost a frozen lump; it seemed to him as if he were about to +die--but a moment more and it was quite congenial to him, and he did not +remark the cold that was around him. + +"My sledge! Do not forget my sledge!" It was the first thing he thought +of. It was there tied to one of the white chickens, who flew along with +it on his back behind the large sledge. The Snow Queen kissed Kay once +more, and then he forgot little Gerda, grandmother, and all whom he had +left at his home. + +"Now you will have no more kisses," said she, "or else I should kiss you +to death!" + +Kay looked at her. She was very beautiful; a more clever, or a more +lovely countenance he could not fancy to himself; and she no longer +appeared of ice as before, when she sat outside the window, and beckoned +to him; in his eyes she was perfect, he did not fear her at all, and +told her that he could calculate in his head and with fractions, even; +that he knew the number of square miles there were in the different +countries, and how many inhabitants they contained; and she smiled while +he spoke. It then seemed to him as if what he knew was not enough, and +he looked upwards in the large huge empty space above him, and on she +flew with him; flew high over the black clouds, while the storm moaned +and whistled as though it were singing some old tune. On they flew +over woods and lakes, over seas, and many lands; and beneath them the +chilling storm rushed fast, the wolves howled, the snow crackled; above +them flew large screaming crows, but higher up appeared the moon, quite +large and bright; and it was on it that Kay gazed during the long long +winter's night; while by day he slept at the feet of the Snow Queen. + + +THIRD STORY. Of the Flower-Garden At the Old Woman's Who Understood +Witchcraft + +But what became of little Gerda when Kay did not return? Where could he +be? Nobody knew; nobody could give any intelligence. All the boys knew +was, that they had seen him tie his sledge to another large and splendid +one, which drove down the street and out of the town. Nobody knew +where he was; many sad tears were shed, and little Gerda wept long and +bitterly; at last she said he must be dead; that he had been drowned in +the river which flowed close to the town. Oh! those were very long and +dismal winter evenings! + +At last spring came, with its warm sunshine. + +"Kay is dead and gone!" said little Gerda. + +"That I don't believe," said the Sunshine. + +"Kay is dead and gone!" said she to the Swallows. + +"That I don't believe," said they: and at last little Gerda did not +think so any longer either. + +"I'll put on my red shoes," said she, one morning; "Kay has never seen +them, and then I'll go down to the river and ask there." + +It was quite early; she kissed her old grandmother, who was still +asleep, put on her red shoes, and went alone to the river. + +"Is it true that you have taken my little playfellow? I will make you a +present of my red shoes, if you will give him back to me." + +And, as it seemed to her, the blue waves nodded in a strange manner; +then she took off her red shoes, the most precious things she possessed, +and threw them both into the river. But they fell close to the bank, and +the little waves bore them immediately to land; it was as if the stream +would not take what was dearest to her; for in reality it had not got +little Kay; but Gerda thought that she had not thrown the shoes out far +enough, so she clambered into a boat which lay among the rushes, went +to the farthest end, and threw out the shoes. But the boat was not +fastened, and the motion which she occasioned, made it drift from the +shore. She observed this, and hastened to get back; but before she could +do so, the boat was more than a yard from the land, and was gliding +quickly onward. + +Little Gerda was very frightened, and began to cry; but no one heard her +except the sparrows, and they could not carry her to land; but they flew +along the bank, and sang as if to comfort her, "Here we are! Here we +are!" The boat drifted with the stream, little Gerda sat quite still +without shoes, for they were swimming behind the boat, but she could not +reach them, because the boat went much faster than they did. + +The banks on both sides were beautiful; lovely flowers, venerable trees, +and slopes with sheep and cows, but not a human being was to be seen. + +"Perhaps the river will carry me to little Kay," said she; and then +she grew less sad. She rose, and looked for many hours at the beautiful +green banks. Presently she sailed by a large cherry-orchard, where was +a little cottage with curious red and blue windows; it was thatched, +and before it two wooden soldiers stood sentry, and presented arms when +anyone went past. + +Gerda called to them, for she thought they were alive; but they, of +course, did not answer. She came close to them, for the stream drifted +the boat quite near the land. + +Gerda called still louder, and an old woman then came out of the +cottage, leaning upon a crooked stick. She had a large broad-brimmed hat +on, painted with the most splendid flowers. + +"Poor little child!" said the old woman. "How did you get upon the large +rapid river, to be driven about so in the wide world!" And then the +old woman went into the water, caught hold of the boat with her crooked +stick, drew it to the bank, and lifted little Gerda out. + +And Gerda was so glad to be on dry land again; but she was rather afraid +of the strange old woman. + +"But come and tell me who you are, and how you came here," said she. + +And Gerda told her all; and the old woman shook her head and said, +"A-hem! a-hem!" and when Gerda had told her everything, and asked her if +she had not seen little Kay, the woman answered that he had not passed +there, but he no doubt would come; and she told her not to be cast down, +but taste her cherries, and look at her flowers, which were finer than +any in a picture-book, each of which could tell a whole story. She then +took Gerda by the hand, led her into the little cottage, and locked the +door. + +The windows were very high up; the glass was red, blue, and green, and +the sunlight shone through quite wondrously in all sorts of colors. On +the table stood the most exquisite cherries, and Gerda ate as many as +she chose, for she had permission to do so. While she was eating, the +old woman combed her hair with a golden comb, and her hair curled and +shone with a lovely golden color around that sweet little face, which +was so round and so like a rose. + +"I have often longed for such a dear little girl," said the old woman. +"Now you shall see how well we agree together"; and while she combed +little Gerda's hair, the child forgot her foster-brother Kay more and +more, for the old woman understood magic; but she was no evil being, she +only practised witchcraft a little for her own private amusement, and +now she wanted very much to keep little Gerda. She therefore went out +in the garden, stretched out her crooked stick towards the rose-bushes, +which, beautifully as they were blowing, all sank into the earth and no +one could tell where they had stood. The old woman feared that if Gerda +should see the roses, she would then think of her own, would remember +little Kay, and run away from her. + +She now led Gerda into the flower-garden. Oh, what odour and what +loveliness was there! Every flower that one could think of, and of every +season, stood there in fullest bloom; no picture-book could be gayer or +more beautiful. Gerda jumped for joy, and played till the sun set behind +the tall cherry-tree; she then had a pretty bed, with a red silken +coverlet filled with blue violets. She fell asleep, and had as pleasant +dreams as ever a queen on her wedding-day. + +The next morning she went to play with the flowers in the warm sunshine, +and thus passed away a day. Gerda knew every flower; and, numerous as +they were, it still seemed to Gerda that one was wanting, though she +did not know which. One day while she was looking at the hat of the old +woman painted with flowers, the most beautiful of them all seemed to her +to be a rose. The old woman had forgotten to take it from her hat +when she made the others vanish in the earth. But so it is when one's +thoughts are not collected. "What!" said Gerda. "Are there no roses +here?" and she ran about amongst the flowerbeds, and looked, and looked, +but there was not one to be found. She then sat down and wept; but her +hot tears fell just where a rose-bush had sunk; and when her warm tears +watered the ground, the tree shot up suddenly as fresh and blooming as +when it had been swallowed up. Gerda kissed the roses, thought of her +own dear roses at home, and with them of little Kay. + +"Oh, how long I have stayed!" said the little girl. "I intended to look +for Kay! Don't you know where he is?" she asked of the roses. "Do you +think he is dead and gone?" + +"Dead he certainly is not," said the Roses. "We have been in the earth +where all the dead are, but Kay was not there." + +"Many thanks!" said little Gerda; and she went to the other flowers, +looked into their cups, and asked, "Don't you know where little Kay is?" + +But every flower stood in the sunshine, and dreamed its own fairy tale +or its own story: and they all told her very many things, but not one +knew anything of Kay. + +Well, what did the Tiger-Lily say? + +"Hearest thou not the drum? Bum! Bum! Those are the only two tones. +Always bum! Bum! Hark to the plaintive song of the old woman, to the +call of the priests! The Hindoo woman in her long robe stands upon the +funeral pile; the flames rise around her and her dead husband, but the +Hindoo woman thinks on the living one in the surrounding circle; on him +whose eyes burn hotter than the flames--on him, the fire of whose eyes +pierces her heart more than the flames which soon will burn her body to +ashes. Can the heart's flame die in the flame of the funeral pile?" + +"I don't understand that at all," said little Gerda. + +"That is my story," said the Lily. + +What did the Convolvulus say? + +"Projecting over a narrow mountain-path there hangs an old feudal +castle. Thick evergreens grow on the dilapidated walls, and around the +altar, where a lovely maiden is standing: she bends over the railing and +looks out upon the rose. No fresher rose hangs on the branches than she; +no appleblossom carried away by the wind is more buoyant! How her silken +robe is rustling! + +"'Is he not yet come?'" + +"Is it Kay that you mean?" asked little Gerda. + +"I am speaking about my story--about my dream," answered the +Convolvulus. + +What did the Snowdrops say? + +"Between the trees a long board is hanging--it is a swing. Two little +girls are sitting in it, and swing themselves backwards and forwards; +their frocks are as white as snow, and long green silk ribands flutter +from their bonnets. Their brother, who is older than they are, stands up +in the swing; he twines his arms round the cords to hold himself fast, +for in one hand he has a little cup, and in the other a clay-pipe. He is +blowing soap-bubbles. The swing moves, and the bubbles float in charming +changing colors: the last is still hanging to the end of the pipe, and +rocks in the breeze. The swing moves. The little black dog, as light as +a soap-bubble, jumps up on his hind legs to try to get into the swing. +It moves, the dog falls down, barks, and is angry. They tease him; the +bubble bursts! A swing, a bursting bubble--such is my song!" + +"What you relate may be very pretty, but you tell it in so melancholy a +manner, and do not mention Kay." + +What do the Hyacinths say? + +"There were once upon a time three sisters, quite transparent, and very +beautiful. The robe of the one was red, that of the second blue, and +that of the third white. They danced hand in hand beside the calm +lake in the clear moonshine. They were not elfin maidens, but mortal +children. A sweet fragrance was smelt, and the maidens vanished in the +wood; the fragrance grew stronger--three coffins, and in them three +lovely maidens, glided out of the forest and across the lake: the +shining glow-worms flew around like little floating lights. Do the +dancing maidens sleep, or are they dead? The odour of the flowers says +they are corpses; the evening bell tolls for the dead!" + +"You make me quite sad," said little Gerda. "I cannot help thinking of +the dead maidens. Oh! is little Kay really dead? The Roses have been in +the earth, and they say no." + +"Ding, dong!" sounded the Hyacinth bells. "We do not toll for little +Kay; we do not know him. That is our way of singing, the only one we +have." + +And Gerda went to the Ranunculuses, that looked forth from among the +shining green leaves. + +"You are a little bright sun!" said Gerda. "Tell me if you know where I +can find my playfellow." + +And the Ranunculus shone brightly, and looked again at Gerda. What +song could the Ranunculus sing? It was one that said nothing about Kay +either. + +"In a small court the bright sun was shining in the first days of +spring. The beams glided down the white walls of a neighbor's house, and +close by the fresh yellow flowers were growing, shining like gold in +the warm sun-rays. An old grandmother was sitting in the air; her +grand-daughter, the poor and lovely servant just come for a short visit. +She knows her grandmother. There was gold, pure virgin gold in that +blessed kiss. There, that is my little story," said the Ranunculus. + +"My poor old grandmother!" sighed Gerda. "Yes, she is longing for me, +no doubt: she is sorrowing for me, as she did for little Kay. But I +will soon come home, and then I will bring Kay with me. It is of no use +asking the flowers; they only know their own old rhymes, and can tell me +nothing." And she tucked up her frock, to enable her to run quicker; but +the Narcissus gave her a knock on the leg, just as she was going to +jump over it. So she stood still, looked at the long yellow flower, and +asked, "You perhaps know something?" and she bent down to the Narcissus. +And what did it say? + +"I can see myself--I can see myself! Oh, how odorous I am! Up in the +little garret there stands, half-dressed, a little Dancer. She stands +now on one leg, now on both; she despises the whole world; yet she lives +only in imagination. She pours water out of the teapot over a piece of +stuff which she holds in her hand; it is the bodice; cleanliness is a +fine thing. The white dress is hanging on the hook; it was washed in the +teapot, and dried on the roof. She puts it on, ties a saffron-colored +kerchief round her neck, and then the gown looks whiter. I can see +myself--I can see myself!" + +"That's nothing to me," said little Gerda. "That does not concern me." +And then off she ran to the further end of the garden. + +The gate was locked, but she shook the rusted bolt till it was loosened, +and the gate opened; and little Gerda ran off barefooted into the wide +world. She looked round her thrice, but no one followed her. At last she +could run no longer; she sat down on a large stone, and when she looked +about her, she saw that the summer had passed; it was late in the +autumn, but that one could not remark in the beautiful garden, where +there was always sunshine, and where there were flowers the whole year +round. + +"Dear me, how long I have staid!" said Gerda. "Autumn is come. I must +not rest any longer." And she got up to go further. + +Oh, how tender and wearied her little feet were! All around it looked +so cold and raw: the long willow-leaves were quite yellow, and the fog +dripped from them like water; one leaf fell after the other: the sloes +only stood full of fruit, which set one's teeth on edge. Oh, how dark +and comfortless it was in the dreary world! + + +FOURTH STORY. The Prince and Princess + +Gerda was obliged to rest herself again, when, exactly opposite to her, +a large Raven came hopping over the white snow. He had long been looking +at Gerda and shaking his head; and now he said, "Caw! Caw!" Good day! +Good day! He could not say it better; but he felt a sympathy for the +little girl, and asked her where she was going all alone. The word +"alone" Gerda understood quite well, and felt how much was expressed +by it; so she told the Raven her whole history, and asked if he had not +seen Kay. + +The Raven nodded very gravely, and said, "It may be--it may be!" + +"What, do you really think so?" cried the little girl; and she nearly +squeezed the Raven to death, so much did she kiss him. + +"Gently, gently," said the Raven. "I think I know; I think that it may +be little Kay. But now he has forgotten you for the Princess." + +"Does he live with a Princess?" asked Gerda. + +"Yes--listen," said the Raven; "but it will be difficult for me to +speak your language. If you understand the Raven language I can tell you +better." + +"No, I have not learnt it," said Gerda; "but my grandmother understands +it, and she can speak gibberish too. I wish I had learnt it." + +"No matter," said the Raven; "I will tell you as well as I can; however, +it will be bad enough." And then he told all he knew. + +"In the kingdom where we now are there lives a Princess, who is +extraordinarily clever; for she has read all the newspapers in the whole +world, and has forgotten them again--so clever is she. She was lately, +it is said, sitting on her throne--which is not very amusing after +all--when she began humming an old tune, and it was just, 'Oh, why +should I not be married?' 'That song is not without its meaning,' said +she, and so then she was determined to marry; but she would have a +husband who knew how to give an answer when he was spoken to--not +one who looked only as if he were a great personage, for that is so +tiresome. She then had all the ladies of the court drummed together; and +when they heard her intention, all were very pleased, and said, 'We are +very glad to hear it; it is the very thing we were thinking of.' You may +believe every word I say," said the Raven; "for I have a tame sweetheart +that hops about in the palace quite free, and it was she who told me all +this. + +"The newspapers appeared forthwith with a border of hearts and the +initials of the Princess; and therein you might read that every +good-looking young man was at liberty to come to the palace and speak to +the Princess; and he who spoke in such wise as showed he felt himself at +home there, that one the Princess would choose for her husband. + +"Yes, Yes," said the Raven, "you may believe it; it is as true as I am +sitting here. People came in crowds; there was a crush and a hurry, but +no one was successful either on the first or second day. They could all +talk well enough when they were out in the street; but as soon as +they came inside the palace gates, and saw the guard richly dressed +in silver, and the lackeys in gold on the staircase, and the large +illuminated saloons, then they were abashed; and when they stood before +the throne on which the Princess was sitting, all they could do was +to repeat the last word they had uttered, and to hear it again did not +interest her very much. It was just as if the people within were under +a charm, and had fallen into a trance till they came out again into the +street; for then--oh, then--they could chatter enough. There was a whole +row of them standing from the town-gates to the palace. I was there +myself to look," said the Raven. "They grew hungry and thirsty; but from +the palace they got nothing whatever, not even a glass of water. Some +of the cleverest, it is true, had taken bread and butter with them: +but none shared it with his neighbor, for each thought, 'Let him look +hungry, and then the Princess won't have him.'" + +"But Kay--little Kay," said Gerda, "when did he come? Was he among the +number?" + +"Patience, patience; we are just come to him. It was on the third day +when a little personage without horse or equipage, came marching right +boldly up to the palace; his eyes shone like yours, he had beautiful +long hair, but his clothes were very shabby." + +"That was Kay," cried Gerda, with a voice of delight. "Oh, now I've +found him!" and she clapped her hands for joy. + +"He had a little knapsack at his back," said the Raven. + +"No, that was certainly his sledge," said Gerda; "for when he went away +he took his sledge with him." + +"That may be," said the Raven; "I did not examine him so minutely; but +I know from my tame sweetheart, that when he came into the court-yard +of the palace, and saw the body-guard in silver, the lackeys on the +staircase, he was not the least abashed; he nodded, and said to them, +'It must be very tiresome to stand on the stairs; for my part, I shall +go in.' The saloons were gleaming with lustres--privy councillors and +excellencies were walking about barefooted, and wore gold keys; it was +enough to make any one feel uncomfortable. His boots creaked, too, so +loudly, but still he was not at all afraid." + +"That's Kay for certain," said Gerda. "I know he had on new boots; I +have heard them creaking in grandmama's room." + +"Yes, they creaked," said the Raven. "And on he went boldly up to the +Princess, who was sitting on a pearl as large as a spinning-wheel. +All the ladies of the court, with their attendants and attendants' +attendants, and all the cavaliers, with their gentlemen and gentlemen's +gentlemen, stood round; and the nearer they stood to the door, the +prouder they looked. It was hardly possible to look at the gentleman's +gentleman, so very haughtily did he stand in the doorway." + +"It must have been terrible," said little Gerda. "And did Kay get the +Princess?" + +"Were I not a Raven, I should have taken the Princess myself, although +I am promised. It is said he spoke as well as I speak when I talk Raven +language; this I learned from my tame sweetheart. He was bold and nicely +behaved; he had not come to woo the Princess, but only to hear her +wisdom. She pleased him, and he pleased her." + +"Yes, yes; for certain that was Kay," said Gerda. "He was so clever; +he could reckon fractions in his head. Oh, won't you take me to the +palace?" + +"That is very easily said," answered the Raven. "But how are we to +manage it? I'll speak to my tame sweetheart about it: she must advise +us; for so much I must tell you, such a little girl as you are will +never get permission to enter." + +"Oh, yes I shall," said Gerda; "when Kay hears that I am here, he will +come out directly to fetch me." + +"Wait for me here on these steps," said the Raven. He moved his head +backwards and forwards and flew away. + +The evening was closing in when the Raven returned. "Caw--caw!" said he. +"She sends you her compliments; and here is a roll for you. She took +it out of the kitchen, where there is bread enough. You are hungry, +no doubt. It is not possible for you to enter the palace, for you are +barefooted: the guards in silver, and the lackeys in gold, would not +allow it; but do not cry, you shall come in still. My sweetheart knows a +little back stair that leads to the bedchamber, and she knows where she +can get the key of it." + +And they went into the garden in the large avenue, where one leaf was +falling after the other; and when the lights in the palace had all +gradually disappeared, the Raven led little Gerda to the back door, +which stood half open. + +Oh, how Gerda's heart beat with anxiety and longing! It was just as if +she had been about to do something wrong; and yet she only wanted to +know if little Kay was there. Yes, he must be there. She called to mind +his intelligent eyes, and his long hair, so vividly, she could quite see +him as he used to laugh when they were sitting under the roses at home. +"He will, no doubt, be glad to see you--to hear what a long way you have +come for his sake; to know how unhappy all at home were when he did not +come back." + +Oh, what a fright and a joy it was! + +They were now on the stairs. A single lamp was burning there; and on the +floor stood the tame Raven, turning her head on every side and looking +at Gerda, who bowed as her grandmother had taught her to do. + +"My intended has told me so much good of you, my dear young lady," said +the tame Raven. "Your tale is very affecting. If you will take the lamp, +I will go before. We will go straight on, for we shall meet no one." + +"I think there is somebody just behind us," said Gerda; and something +rushed past: it was like shadowy figures on the wall; horses with +flowing manes and thin legs, huntsmen, ladies and gentlemen on +horseback. + +"They are only dreams," said the Raven. "They come to fetch the thoughts +of the high personages to the chase; 'tis well, for now you can observe +them in bed all the better. But let me find, when you enjoy honor and +distinction, that you possess a grateful heart." + +"Tut! That's not worth talking about," said the Raven of the woods. + +They now entered the first saloon, which was of rose-colored satin, with +artificial flowers on the wall. Here the dreams were rushing past, +but they hastened by so quickly that Gerda could not see the high +personages. One hall was more magnificent than the other; one might +indeed well be abashed; and at last they came into the bedchamber. The +ceiling of the room resembled a large palm-tree with leaves of glass, +of costly glass; and in the middle, from a thick golden stem, hung two +beds, each of which resembled a lily. One was white, and in this lay the +Princess; the other was red, and it was here that Gerda was to look for +little Kay. She bent back one of the red leaves, and saw a brown neck. +Oh! that was Kay! She called him quite loud by name, held the lamp +towards him--the dreams rushed back again into the chamber--he awoke, +turned his head, and--it was not little Kay! + +The Prince was only like him about the neck; but he was young and +handsome. And out of the white lily leaves the Princess peeped, too, +and asked what was the matter. Then little Gerda cried, and told her her +whole history, and all that the Ravens had done for her. + +"Poor little thing!" said the Prince and the Princess. They praised the +Ravens very much, and told them they were not at all angry with them, +but they were not to do so again. However, they should have a reward. +"Will you fly about here at liberty," asked the Princess; "or would you +like to have a fixed appointment as court ravens, with all the broken +bits from the kitchen?" + +And both the Ravens nodded, and begged for a fixed appointment; for +they thought of their old age, and said, "It is a good thing to have a +provision for our old days." + +And the Prince got up and let Gerda sleep in his bed, and more than this +he could not do. She folded her little hands and thought, "How good men +and animals are!" and she then fell asleep and slept soundly. All the +dreams flew in again, and they now looked like the angels; they drew +a little sledge, in which little Kay sat and nodded his head; but the +whole was only a dream, and therefore it all vanished as soon as she +awoke. + +The next day she was dressed from head to foot in silk and velvet. They +offered to let her stay at the palace, and lead a happy life; but she +begged to have a little carriage with a horse in front, and for a small +pair of shoes; then, she said, she would again go forth in the wide +world and look for Kay. + +Shoes and a muff were given her; she was, too, dressed very nicely; and +when she was about to set off, a new carriage stopped before the door. +It was of pure gold, and the arms of the Prince and Princess shone +like a star upon it; the coachman, the footmen, and the outriders, for +outriders were there, too, all wore golden crowns. The Prince and the +Princess assisted her into the carriage themselves, and wished her all +success. The Raven of the woods, who was now married, accompanied her +for the first three miles. He sat beside Gerda, for he could not bear +riding backwards; the other Raven stood in the doorway, and flapped her +wings; she could not accompany Gerda, because she suffered from headache +since she had had a fixed appointment and ate so much. The carriage +was lined inside with sugar-plums, and in the seats were fruits and +gingerbread. + +"Farewell! Farewell!" cried Prince and Princess; and Gerda wept, and +the Raven wept. Thus passed the first miles; and then the Raven bade her +farewell, and this was the most painful separation of all. He flew into +a tree, and beat his black wings as long as he could see the carriage, +that shone from afar like a sunbeam. + + +FIFTH STORY. The Little Robber Maiden + +They drove through the dark wood; but the carriage shone like a torch, +and it dazzled the eyes of the robbers, so that they could not bear to +look at it. + +"'Tis gold! 'Tis gold!" they cried; and they rushed forward, seized +the horses, knocked down the little postilion, the coachman, and the +servants, and pulled little Gerda out of the carriage. + +"How plump, how beautiful she is! She must have been fed on +nut-kernels," said the old female robber, who had a long, scrubby beard, +and bushy eyebrows that hung down over her eyes. "She is as good as a +fatted lamb! How nice she will be!" And then she drew out a knife, the +blade of which shone so that it was quite dreadful to behold. + +"Oh!" cried the woman at the same moment. She had been bitten in the ear +by her own little daughter, who hung at her back; and who was so wild +and unmanageable, that it was quite amusing to see her. "You naughty +child!" said the mother: and now she had not time to kill Gerda. + +"She shall play with me," said the little robber child. "She shall give +me her muff, and her pretty frock; she shall sleep in my bed!" And then +she gave her mother another bite, so that she jumped, and ran round with +the pain; and the Robbers laughed, and said, "Look, how she is dancing +with the little one!" + +"I will go into the carriage," said the little robber maiden; and she +would have her will, for she was very spoiled and very headstrong. She +and Gerda got in; and then away they drove over the stumps of felled +trees, deeper and deeper into the woods. The little robber maiden was as +tall as Gerda, but stronger, broader-shouldered, and of dark complexion; +her eyes were quite black; they looked almost melancholy. She embraced +little Gerda, and said, "They shall not kill you as long as I am not +displeased with you. You are, doubtless, a Princess?" + +"No," said little Gerda; who then related all that had happened to her, +and how much she cared about little Kay. + +The little robber maiden looked at her with a serious air, nodded her +head slightly, and said, "They shall not kill you, even if I am angry +with you: then I will do it myself"; and she dried Gerda's eyes, and put +both her hands in the handsome muff, which was so soft and warm. + +At length the carriage stopped. They were in the midst of the court-yard +of a robber's castle. It was full of cracks from top to bottom; and out +of the openings magpies and rooks were flying; and the great bull-dogs, +each of which looked as if he could swallow a man, jumped up, but they +did not bark, for that was forbidden. + +In the midst of the large, old, smoking hall burnt a great fire on the +stone floor. The smoke disappeared under the stones, and had to seek +its own egress. In an immense caldron soup was boiling; and rabbits and +hares were being roasted on a spit. + +"You shall sleep with me to-night, with all my animals," said the little +robber maiden. They had something to eat and drink; and then went into +a corner, where straw and carpets were lying. Beside them, on laths and +perches, sat nearly a hundred pigeons, all asleep, seemingly; but yet +they moved a little when the robber maiden came. "They are all mine," +said she, at the same time seizing one that was next to her by the legs +and shaking it so that its wings fluttered. "Kiss it," cried the little +girl, and flung the pigeon in Gerda's face. "Up there is the rabble of +the wood," continued she, pointing to several laths which were fastened +before a hole high up in the wall; "that's the rabble; they would all +fly away immediately, if they were not well fastened in. And here is my +dear old Bac"; and she laid hold of the horns of a reindeer, that had a +bright copper ring round its neck, and was tethered to the spot. "We are +obliged to lock this fellow in too, or he would make his escape. Every +evening I tickle his neck with my sharp knife; he is so frightened at +it!" and the little girl drew forth a long knife, from a crack in the +wall, and let it glide over the Reindeer's neck. The poor animal kicked; +the girl laughed, and pulled Gerda into bed with her. + +"Do you intend to keep your knife while you sleep?" asked Gerda; looking +at it rather fearfully. + +"I always sleep with the knife," said the little robber maiden. "There +is no knowing what may happen. But tell me now, once more, all about +little Kay; and why you have started off in the wide world alone." And +Gerda related all, from the very beginning: the Wood-pigeons cooed above +in their cage, and the others slept. The little robber maiden wound her +arm round Gerda's neck, held the knife in the other hand, and snored so +loud that everybody could hear her; but Gerda could not close her eyes, +for she did not know whether she was to live or die. The robbers sat +round the fire, sang and drank; and the old female robber jumped about +so, that it was quite dreadful for Gerda to see her. + +Then the Wood-pigeons said, "Coo! Coo! We have seen little Kay! A white +hen carries his sledge; he himself sat in the carriage of the Snow +Queen, who passed here, down just over the wood, as we lay in our nest. +She blew upon us young ones; and all died except we two. Coo! Coo!" + +"What is that you say up there?" cried little Gerda. "Where did the Snow +Queen go to? Do you know anything about it?" + +"She is no doubt gone to Lapland; for there is always snow and ice +there. Only ask the Reindeer, who is tethered there." + +"Ice and snow is there! There it is, glorious and beautiful!" said the +Reindeer. "One can spring about in the large shining valleys! The Snow +Queen has her summer-tent there; but her fixed abode is high up towards +the North Pole, on the Island called Spitzbergen." + +"Oh, Kay! Poor little Kay!" sighed Gerda. + +"Do you choose to be quiet?" said the robber maiden. "If you don't, I +shall make you." + +In the morning Gerda told her all that the Wood-pigeons had said; and +the little maiden looked very serious, but she nodded her head, and +said, "That's no matter--that's no matter. Do you know where Lapland +lies!" she asked of the Reindeer. + +"Who should know better than I?" said the animal; and his eyes rolled in +his head. "I was born and bred there--there I leapt about on the fields +of snow." + +"Listen," said the robber maiden to Gerda. "You see that the men are +gone; but my mother is still here, and will remain. However, towards +morning she takes a draught out of the large flask, and then she sleeps +a little: then I will do something for you." She now jumped out of bed, +flew to her mother; with her arms round her neck, and pulling her by the +beard, said, "Good morrow, my own sweet nanny-goat of a mother." And her +mother took hold of her nose, and pinched it till it was red and blue; +but this was all done out of pure love. + +When the mother had taken a sup at her flask, and was having a nap, the +little robber maiden went to the Reindeer, and said, "I should very much +like to give you still many a tickling with the sharp knife, for then +you are so amusing; however, I will untether you, and help you out, +so that you may go back to Lapland. But you must make good use of your +legs; and take this little girl for me to the palace of the Snow Queen, +where her playfellow is. You have heard, I suppose, all she said; for +she spoke loud enough, and you were listening." + +The Reindeer gave a bound for joy. The robber maiden lifted up little +Gerda, and took the precaution to bind her fast on the Reindeer's back; +she even gave her a small cushion to sit on. "Here are your worsted +leggins, for it will be cold; but the muff I shall keep for myself, for +it is so very pretty. But I do not wish you to be cold. Here is a pair +of lined gloves of my mother's; they just reach up to your elbow. On +with them! Now you look about the hands just like my ugly old mother!" + +And Gerda wept for joy. + +"I can't bear to see you fretting," said the little robber maiden. "This +is just the time when you ought to look pleased. Here are two loaves and +a ham for you, so that you won't starve." The bread and the meat were +fastened to the Reindeer's back; the little maiden opened the door, +called in all the dogs, and then with her knife cut the rope that +fastened the animal, and said to him, "Now, off with you; but take good +care of the little girl!" + +And Gerda stretched out her hands with the large wadded gloves towards +the robber maiden, and said, "Farewell!" and the Reindeer flew on over +bush and bramble through the great wood, over moor and heath, as fast as +he could go. + +"Ddsa! Ddsa!" was heard in the sky. It was just as if somebody was +sneezing. + +"These are my old northern-lights," said the Reindeer, "look how they +gleam!" And on he now sped still quicker--day and night on he went: the +loaves were consumed, and the ham too; and now they were in Lapland. + + +SIXTH STORY. The Lapland Woman and the Finland Woman + +Suddenly they stopped before a little house, which looked very +miserable. The roof reached to the ground; and the door was so low, that +the family were obliged to creep upon their stomachs when they went in +or out. Nobody was at home except an old Lapland woman, who was dressing +fish by the light of an oil lamp. And the Reindeer told her the whole +of Gerda's history, but first of all his own; for that seemed to him of +much greater importance. Gerda was so chilled that she could not speak. + +"Poor thing," said the Lapland woman, "you have far to run still. You +have more than a hundred miles to go before you get to Finland; there +the Snow Queen has her country-house, and burns blue lights every +evening. I will give you a few words from me, which I will write on a +dried haberdine, for paper I have none; this you can take with you to +the Finland woman, and she will be able to give you more information +than I can." + +When Gerda had warmed herself, and had eaten and drunk, the Lapland +woman wrote a few words on a dried haberdine, begged Gerda to take care +of them, put her on the Reindeer, bound her fast, and away sprang the +animal. "Ddsa! Ddsa!" was again heard in the air; the most charming +blue lights burned the whole night in the sky, and at last they came to +Finland. They knocked at the chimney of the Finland woman; for as to a +door, she had none. + +There was such a heat inside that the Finland woman herself went about +almost naked. She was diminutive and dirty. She immediately loosened +little Gerda's clothes, pulled off her thick gloves and boots; for +otherwise the heat would have been too great--and after laying a piece +of ice on the Reindeer's head, read what was written on the fish-skin. +She read it three times: she then knew it by heart; so she put the fish +into the cupboard--for it might very well be eaten, and she never threw +anything away. + +Then the Reindeer related his own story first, and afterwards that of +little Gerda; and the Finland woman winked her eyes, but said nothing. + +"You are so clever," said the Reindeer; "you can, I know, twist all the +winds of the world together in a knot. If the seaman loosens one knot, +then he has a good wind; if a second, then it blows pretty stiffly; if +he undoes the third and fourth, then it rages so that the forests are +upturned. Will you give the little maiden a potion, that she may possess +the strength of twelve men, and vanquish the Snow Queen?" + +"The strength of twelve men!" said the Finland woman. "Much good that +would be!" Then she went to a cupboard, and drew out a large skin rolled +up. When she had unrolled it, strange characters were to be seen written +thereon; and the Finland woman read at such a rate that the perspiration +trickled down her forehead. + +But the Reindeer begged so hard for little Gerda, and Gerda looked so +imploringly with tearful eyes at the Finland woman, that she winked, and +drew the Reindeer aside into a corner, where they whispered together, +while the animal got some fresh ice put on his head. + +"'Tis true little Kay is at the Snow Queen's, and finds everything there +quite to his taste; and he thinks it the very best place in the world; +but the reason of that is, he has a splinter of glass in his eye, and in +his heart. These must be got out first; otherwise he will never go back +to mankind, and the Snow Queen will retain her power over him." + +"But can you give little Gerda nothing to take which will endue her with +power over the whole?" + +"I can give her no more power than what she has already. Don't you see +how great it is? Don't you see how men and animals are forced to serve +her; how well she gets through the world barefooted? She must not hear +of her power from us; that power lies in her heart, because she is +a sweet and innocent child! If she cannot get to the Snow Queen by +herself, and rid little Kay of the glass, we cannot help her. Two miles +hence the garden of the Snow Queen begins; thither you may carry the +little girl. Set her down by the large bush with red berries, standing +in the snow; don't stay talking, but hasten back as fast as possible." +And now the Finland woman placed little Gerda on the Reindeer's back, +and off he ran with all imaginable speed. + +"Oh! I have not got my boots! I have not brought my gloves!" cried +little Gerda. She remarked she was without them from the cutting frost; +but the Reindeer dared not stand still; on he ran till he came to the +great bush with the red berries, and there he set Gerda down, kissed her +mouth, while large bright tears flowed from the animal's eyes, and then +back he went as fast as possible. There stood poor Gerda now, without +shoes or gloves, in the very middle of dreadful icy Finland. + +She ran on as fast as she could. There then came a whole regiment of +snow-flakes, but they did not fall from above, and they were quite +bright and shining from the Aurora Borealis. The flakes ran along +the ground, and the nearer they came the larger they grew. Gerda well +remembered how large and strange the snow-flakes appeared when she +once saw them through a magnifying-glass; but now they were large and +terrific in another manner--they were all alive. They were the outposts +of the Snow Queen. They had the most wondrous shapes; some looked like +large ugly porcupines; others like snakes knotted together, with their +heads sticking out; and others, again, like small fat bears, with the +hair standing on end: all were of dazzling whiteness--all were living +snow-flakes. + +Little Gerda repeated the Lord's Prayer. The cold was so intense that +she could see her own breath, which came like smoke out of her mouth. It +grew thicker and thicker, and took the form of little angels, that grew +more and more when they touched the earth. All had helms on their heads, +and lances and shields in their hands; they increased in numbers; and +when Gerda had finished the Lord's Prayer, she was surrounded by a whole +legion. They thrust at the horrid snow-flakes with their spears, so that +they flew into a thousand pieces; and little Gerda walked on bravely and +in security. The angels patted her hands and feet; and then she felt the +cold less, and went on quickly towards the palace of the Snow Queen. + +But now we shall see how Kay fared. He never thought of Gerda, and least +of all that she was standing before the palace. + + +SEVENTH STORY. What Took Place in the Palace of the Snow Queen, and what +Happened Afterward. + +The walls of the palace were of driving snow, and the windows and doors +of cutting winds. There were more than a hundred halls there, according +as the snow was driven by the winds. The largest was many miles in +extent; all were lighted up by the powerful Aurora Borealis, and all +were so large, so empty, so icy cold, and so resplendent! Mirth never +reigned there; there was never even a little bear-ball, with the storm +for music, while the polar bears went on their hind legs and showed off +their steps. Never a little tea-party of white young lady foxes; vast, +cold, and empty were the halls of the Snow Queen. The northern-lights +shone with such precision that one could tell exactly when they were +at their highest or lowest degree of brightness. In the middle of the +empty, endless hall of snow, was a frozen lake; it was cracked in a +thousand pieces, but each piece was so like the other, that it seemed +the work of a cunning artificer. In the middle of this lake sat the Snow +Queen when she was at home; and then she said she was sitting in the +Mirror of Understanding, and that this was the only one and the best +thing in the world. + +Little Kay was quite blue, yes nearly black with cold; but he did not +observe it, for she had kissed away all feeling of cold from his body, +and his heart was a lump of ice. He was dragging along some pointed +flat pieces of ice, which he laid together in all possible ways, for he +wanted to make something with them; just as we have little flat pieces +of wood to make geometrical figures with, called the Chinese Puzzle. +Kay made all sorts of figures, the most complicated, for it was +an ice-puzzle for the understanding. In his eyes the figures were +extraordinarily beautiful, and of the utmost importance; for the bit +of glass which was in his eye caused this. He found whole figures which +represented a written word; but he never could manage to represent just +the word he wanted--that word was "eternity"; and the Snow Queen had +said, "If you can discover that figure, you shall be your own master, +and I will make you a present of the whole world and a pair of new +skates." But he could not find it out. + +"I am going now to warm lands," said the Snow Queen. "I must have a look +down into the black caldrons." It was the volcanoes Vesuvius and Etna +that she meant. "I will just give them a coating of white, for that is +as it ought to be; besides, it is good for the oranges and the grapes." +And then away she flew, and Kay sat quite alone in the empty halls of +ice that were miles long, and looked at the blocks of ice, and thought +and thought till his skull was almost cracked. There he sat quite +benumbed and motionless; one would have imagined he was frozen to death. + +Suddenly little Gerda stepped through the great portal into the palace. +The gate was formed of cutting winds; but Gerda repeated her evening +prayer, and the winds were laid as though they slept; and the little +maiden entered the vast, empty, cold halls. There she beheld Kay: she +recognised him, flew to embrace him, and cried out, her arms firmly +holding him the while, "Kay, sweet little Kay! Have I then found you at +last?" + +But he sat quite still, benumbed and cold. Then little Gerda shed +burning tears; and they fell on his bosom, they penetrated to his +heart, they thawed the lumps of ice, and consumed the splinters of the +looking-glass; he looked at her, and she sang the hymn: + +"The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, And angels descend there +the children to greet." + +Hereupon Kay burst into tears; he wept so much that the splinter rolled +out of his eye, and he recognised her, and shouted, "Gerda, sweet little +Gerda! Where have you been so long? And where have I been?" He looked +round him. "How cold it is here!" said he. "How empty and cold!" And he +held fast by Gerda, who laughed and wept for joy. It was so beautiful, +that even the blocks of ice danced about for joy; and when they were +tired and laid themselves down, they formed exactly the letters which +the Snow Queen had told him to find out; so now he was his own master, +and he would have the whole world and a pair of new skates into the +bargain. + +Gerda kissed his cheeks, and they grew quite blooming; she kissed his +eyes, and they shone like her own; she kissed his hands and feet, and he +was again well and merry. The Snow Queen might come back as soon as she +liked; there stood his discharge written in resplendent masses of ice. + +They took each other by the hand, and wandered forth out of the large +hall; they talked of their old grandmother, and of the roses upon the +roof; and wherever they went, the winds ceased raging, and the sun burst +forth. And when they reached the bush with the red berries, they found +the Reindeer waiting for them. He had brought another, a young one, with +him, whose udder was filled with milk, which he gave to the little ones, +and kissed their lips. They then carried Kay and Gerda--first to the +Finland woman, where they warmed themselves in the warm room, and +learned what they were to do on their journey home; and they went to +the Lapland woman, who made some new clothes for them and repaired their +sledges. + +The Reindeer and the young hind leaped along beside them, and +accompanied them to the boundary of the country. Here the first +vegetation peeped forth; here Kay and Gerda took leave of the Lapland +woman. "Farewell! Farewell!" they all said. And the first green buds +appeared, the first little birds began to chirrup; and out of the wood +came, riding on a magnificent horse, which Gerda knew (it was one of the +leaders in the golden carriage), a young damsel with a bright-red cap on +her head, and armed with pistols. It was the little robber maiden, who, +tired of being at home, had determined to make a journey to the north; +and afterwards in another direction, if that did not please her. She +recognised Gerda immediately, and Gerda knew her too. It was a joyful +meeting. + +"You are a fine fellow for tramping about," said she to little Kay; "I +should like to know, faith, if you deserve that one should run from one +end of the world to the other for your sake?" + +But Gerda patted her cheeks, and inquired for the Prince and Princess. + +"They are gone abroad," said the other. + +"But the Raven?" asked little Gerda. + +"Oh! The Raven is dead," she answered. "His tame sweetheart is a +widow, and wears a bit of black worsted round her leg; she laments most +piteously, but it's all mere talk and stuff! Now tell me what you've +been doing and how you managed to catch him." + +And Gerda and Kay both told their story. + +And "Schnipp-schnapp-schnurre-basselurre," said the robber maiden; and +she took the hands of each, and promised that if she should some day +pass through the town where they lived, she would come and visit them; +and then away she rode. Kay and Gerda took each other's hand: it was +lovely spring weather, with abundance of flowers and of verdure. The +church-bells rang, and the children recognised the high towers, and the +large town; it was that in which they dwelt. They entered and hastened +up to their grandmother's room, where everything was standing as +formerly. The clock said "tick! tack!" and the finger moved round; but +as they entered, they remarked that they were now grown up. The roses +on the leads hung blooming in at the open window; there stood the little +children's chairs, and Kay and Gerda sat down on them, holding each +other by the hand; they both had forgotten the cold empty splendor of +the Snow Queen, as though it had been a dream. The grandmother sat in +the bright sunshine, and read aloud from the Bible: "Unless ye become as +little children, ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." + +And Kay and Gerda looked in each other's eyes, and all at once they +understood the old hymn: + +"The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, And angels descend there +the children to greet." + +There sat the two grown-up persons; grown-up, and yet children; children +at least in heart; and it was summer-time; summer, glorious summer! + + + + +THE LEAP-FROG + +A Flea, a Grasshopper, and a Leap-frog once wanted to see which could +jump highest; and they invited the whole world, and everybody else +besides who chose to come to see the festival. Three famous jumpers were +they, as everyone would say, when they all met together in the room. + +"I will give my daughter to him who jumps highest," exclaimed the King; +"for it is not so amusing where there is no prize to jump for." + +The Flea was the first to step forward. He had exquisite manners, and +bowed to the company on all sides; for he had noble blood, and was, +moreover, accustomed to the society of man alone; and that makes a great +difference. + +Then came the Grasshopper. He was considerably heavier, but he was +well-mannered, and wore a green uniform, which he had by right of birth; +he said, moreover, that he belonged to a very ancient Egyptian family, +and that in the house where he then was, he was thought much of. The +fact was, he had been just brought out of the fields, and put in a +pasteboard house, three stories high, all made of court-cards, with the +colored side inwards; and doors and windows cut out of the body of +the Queen of Hearts. "I sing so well," said he, "that sixteen native +grasshoppers who have chirped from infancy, and yet got no house built +of cards to live in, grew thinner than they were before for sheer +vexation when they heard me." + +It was thus that the Flea and the Grasshopper gave an account of +themselves, and thought they were quite good enough to marry a Princess. + +The Leap-frog said nothing; but people gave it as their opinion, that +he therefore thought the more; and when the housedog snuffed at him +with his nose, he confessed the Leap-frog was of good family. The old +councillor, who had had three orders given him to make him hold his +tongue, asserted that the Leap-frog was a prophet; for that one could +see on his back, if there would be a severe or mild winter, and that +was what one could not see even on the back of the man who writes the +almanac. + +"I say nothing, it is true," exclaimed the King; "but I have my own +opinion, notwithstanding." + +Now the trial was to take place. The Flea jumped so high that nobody +could see where he went to; so they all asserted he had not jumped at +all; and that was dishonorable. + +The Grasshopper jumped only half as high; but he leaped into the King's +face, who said that was ill-mannered. + +The Leap-frog stood still for a long time lost in thought; it was +believed at last he would not jump at all. + +"I only hope he is not unwell," said the house-dog; when, pop! he made a +jump all on one side into the lap of the Princess, who was sitting on a +little golden stool close by. + +Hereupon the King said, "There is nothing above my daughter; therefore +to bound up to her is the highest jump that can be made; but for this, +one must possess understanding, and the Leap-frog has shown that he has +understanding. He is brave and intellectual." + +And so he won the Princess. + +"It's all the same to me," said the Flea. "She may have the old +Leap-frog, for all I care. I jumped the highest; but in this world +merit seldom meets its reward. A fine exterior is what people look at +now-a-days." + +The Flea then went into foreign service, where, it is said, he was +killed. + +The Grasshopper sat without on a green bank, and reflected on worldly +things; and he said too, "Yes, a fine exterior is everything--a fine +exterior is what people care about." And then he began chirping his +peculiar melancholy song, from which we have taken this history; and +which may, very possibly, be all untrue, although it does stand here +printed in black and white. + + + + +THE ELDERBUSH + +Once upon a time there was a little boy who had taken cold. He had +gone out and got his feet wet; though nobody could imagine how it had +happened, for it was quite dry weather. So his mother undressed him, put +him to bed, and had the tea-pot brought in, to make him a good cup of +Elderflower tea. Just at that moment the merry old man came in who +lived up a-top of the house all alone; for he had neither wife nor +children--but he liked children very much, and knew so many fairy tales, +that it was quite delightful. + +"Now drink your tea," said the boy's mother; "then, perhaps, you may +hear a fairy tale." + +"If I had but something new to tell," said the old man. "But how did the +child get his feet wet?" + +"That is the very thing that nobody can make out," said his mother. + +"Am I to hear a fairy tale?" asked the little boy. + +"Yes, if you can tell me exactly--for I must know that first--how deep +the gutter is in the little street opposite, that you pass through in +going to school." + +"Just up to the middle of my boot," said the child; "but then I must go +into the deep hole." + +"Ah, ah! That's where the wet feet came from," said the old man. "I +ought now to tell you a story; but I don't know any more." + +"You can make one in a moment," said the little boy. "My mother says +that all you look at can be turned into a fairy tale: and that you can +find a story in everything." + +"Yes, but such tales and stories are good for nothing. The right sort +come of themselves; they tap at my forehead and say, 'Here we are.'" + +"Won't there be a tap soon?" asked the little boy. And his mother +laughed, put some Elder-flowers in the tea-pot, and poured boiling water +upon them. + +"Do tell me something! Pray do!" + +"Yes, if a fairy tale would come of its own accord; but they are proud +and haughty, and come only when they choose. Stop!" said he, all on a +sudden. "I have it! Pay attention! There is one in the tea-pot!" + +And the little boy looked at the tea-pot. The cover rose more and more; +and the Elder-flowers came forth so fresh and white, and shot up long +branches. Out of the spout even did they spread themselves on all sides, +and grew larger and larger; it was a splendid Elderbush, a whole tree; +and it reached into the very bed, and pushed the curtains aside. How +it bloomed! And what an odour! In the middle of the bush sat a +friendly-looking old woman in a most strange dress. It was quite +green, like the leaves of the elder, and was trimmed with large white +Elder-flowers; so that at first one could not tell whether it was a +stuff, or a natural green and real flowers. + +"What's that woman's name?" asked the little boy. + +"The Greeks and Romans," said the old man, "called her a Dryad; but that +we do not understand. The people who live in the New Booths [*] have a much +better name for her; they call her 'old Granny'--and she it is to +whom you are to pay attention. Now listen, and look at the beautiful +Elderbush. + + * A row of buildings for seamen in Copenhagen. + +"Just such another large blooming Elder Tree stands near the New Booths. +It grew there in the corner of a little miserable court-yard; and under +it sat, of an afternoon, in the most splendid sunshine, two old +people; an old, old seaman, and his old, old wife. They had +great-grand-children, and were soon to celebrate the fiftieth +anniversary of their marriage; but they could not exactly recollect the +date: and old Granny sat in the tree, and looked as pleased as now. 'I +know the date,' said she; but those below did not hear her, for they +were talking about old times. + +"'Yes, can't you remember when we were very little,' said the old +seaman, 'and ran and played about? It was the very same court-yard where +we now are, and we stuck slips in the ground, and made a garden.' + +"'I remember it well,' said the old woman; 'I remember it quite well. We +watered the slips, and one of them was an Elderbush. It took root, put +forth green shoots, and grew up to be the large tree under which we old +folks are now sitting.' + +"'To be sure,' said he. 'And there in the corner stood a waterpail, +where I used to swim my boats.' + +"'True; but first we went to school to learn somewhat,' said she; 'and +then we were confirmed. We both cried; but in the afternoon we went up +the Round Tower, and looked down on Copenhagen, and far, far away over +the water; then we went to Friedericksberg, where the King and the Queen +were sailing about in their splendid barges.' + +"'But I had a different sort of sailing to that, later; and that, too, +for many a year; a long way off, on great voyages.' + +"'Yes, many a time have I wept for your sake,' said she. 'I thought you +were dead and gone, and lying down in the deep waters. Many a night have +I got up to see if the wind had not changed: and changed it had, sure +enough; but you never came. I remember so well one day, when the rain +was pouring down in torrents, the scavengers were before the house where +I was in service, and I had come up with the dust, and remained standing +at the door--it was dreadful weather--when just as I was there, the +postman came and gave me a letter. It was from you! What a tour that +letter had made! I opened it instantly and read: I laughed and wept. +I was so happy. In it I read that you were in warm lands where the +coffee-tree grows. What a blessed land that must be! You related so +much, and I saw it all the while the rain was pouring down, and I +standing there with the dust-box. At the same moment came someone who +embraced me.' + +"'Yes; but you gave him a good box on his ear that made it tingle!' + +"'But I did not know it was you. You arrived as soon as your letter, +and you were so handsome--that you still are--and had a long yellow silk +handkerchief round your neck, and a bran new hat on; oh, you were so +dashing! Good heavens! What weather it was, and what a state the street +was in!' + +"'And then we married,' said he. 'Don't you remember? And then we +had our first little boy, and then Mary, and Nicholas, and Peter, and +Christian.' + +"'Yes, and how they all grew up to be honest people, and were beloved by +everybody.' + +"'And their children also have children,' said the old sailor; 'yes, +those are our grand-children, full of strength and vigor. It was, +methinks about this season that we had our wedding.' + +"'Yes, this very day is the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage,' said +old Granny, sticking her head between the two old people; who thought +it was their neighbor who nodded to them. They looked at each other and +held one another by the hand. Soon after came their children, and their +grand-children; for they knew well enough that it was the day of the +fiftieth anniversary, and had come with their gratulations that very +morning; but the old people had forgotten it, although they were able +to remember all that had happened many years ago. And the Elderbush sent +forth a strong odour in the sun, that was just about to set, and shone +right in the old people's faces. They both looked so rosy-cheeked; and +the youngest of the grandchildren danced around them, and called out +quite delighted, that there was to be something very splendid that +evening--they were all to have hot potatoes. And old Nanny nodded in the +bush, and shouted 'hurrah!' with the rest." + +"But that is no fairy tale," said the little boy, who was listening to +the story. + +"The thing is, you must understand it," said the narrator; "let us ask +old Nanny." + +"That was no fairy tale, 'tis true," said old Nanny; "but now it's +coming. The most wonderful fairy tales grow out of that which is +reality; were that not the case, you know, my magnificent Elderbush +could not have grown out of the tea-pot." And then she took the little +boy out of bed, laid him on her bosom, and the branches of the Elder +Tree, full of flowers, closed around her. They sat in an aerial +dwelling, and it flew with them through the air. Oh, it was wondrous +beautiful! Old Nanny had grown all of a sudden a young and pretty +maiden; but her robe was still the same green stuff with white flowers, +which she had worn before. On her bosom she had a real Elderflower, +and in her yellow waving hair a wreath of the flowers; her eyes were so +large and blue that it was a pleasure to look at them; she kissed the +boy, and now they were of the same age and felt alike. + +Hand in hand they went out of the bower, and they were standing in the +beautiful garden of their home. Near the green lawn papa's walking-stick +was tied, and for the little ones it seemed to be endowed with life; for +as soon as they got astride it, the round polished knob was turned into +a magnificent neighing head, a long black mane fluttered in the breeze, +and four slender yet strong legs shot out. The animal was strong and +handsome, and away they went at full gallop round the lawn. + +"Huzza! Now we are riding miles off," said the boy. "We are riding away +to the castle where we were last year!" + +And on they rode round the grass-plot; and the little maiden, who, we +know, was no one else but old Nanny, kept on crying out, "Now we are in +the country! Don't you see the farm-house yonder? And there is an Elder +Tree standing beside it; and the cock is scraping away the earth for the +hens, look, how he struts! And now we are close to the church. It lies +high upon the hill, between the large oak-trees, one of which is half +decayed. And now we are by the smithy, where the fire is blazing, and +where the half-naked men are banging with their hammers till the sparks +fly about. Away! away! To the beautiful country-seat!" + +And all that the little maiden, who sat behind on the stick, spoke of, +flew by in reality. The boy saw it all, and yet they were only going +round the grass-plot. Then they played in a side avenue, and marked out +a little garden on the earth; and they took Elder-blossoms from their +hair, planted them, and they grew just like those the old people planted +when they were children, as related before. They went hand in hand, as +the old people had done when they were children; but not to the Round +Tower, or to Friedericksberg; no, the little damsel wound her arms round +the boy, and then they flew far away through all Denmark. And spring +came, and summer; and then it was autumn, and then winter; and a +thousand pictures were reflected in the eye and in the heart of the boy; +and the little girl always sang to him, "This you will never forget." +And during their whole flight the Elder Tree smelt so sweet and odorous; +he remarked the roses and the fresh beeches, but the Elder Tree had +a more wondrous fragrance, for its flowers hung on the breast of the +little maiden; and there, too, did he often lay his head during the +flight. + +"It is lovely here in spring!" said the young maiden. And they stood in +a beech-wood that had just put on its first green, where the woodroof [*] +at their feet sent forth its fragrance, and the pale-red anemony looked +so pretty among the verdure. "Oh, would it were always spring in the +sweetly-smelling Danish beech-forests!" + + * Asperula odorata. + +"It is lovely here in summer!" said she. And she flew past old castles +of by-gone days of chivalry, where the red walls and the embattled +gables were mirrored in the canal, where the swans were swimming, and +peered up into the old cool avenues. In the fields the corn was waving +like the sea; in the ditches red and yellow flowers were growing; while +wild-drone flowers, and blooming convolvuluses were creeping in the +hedges; and towards evening the moon rose round and large, and the +haycocks in the meadows smelt so sweetly. "This one never forgets!" + +"It is lovely here in autumn!" said the little maiden. And suddenly the +atmosphere grew as blue again as before; the forest grew red, and green, +and yellow-colored. The dogs came leaping along, and whole flocks of +wild-fowl flew over the cairn, where blackberry-bushes were hanging +round the old stones. The sea was dark blue, covered with ships full +of white sails; and in the barn old women, maidens, and children were +sitting picking hops into a large cask; the young sang songs, but the +old told fairy tales of mountain-sprites and soothsayers. Nothing could +be more charming. + +"It is delightful here in winter!" said the little maiden. And all the +trees were covered with hoar-frost; they looked like white corals; the +snow crackled under foot, as if one had new boots on; and one falling +star after the other was seen in the sky. The Christmas-tree was lighted +in the room; presents were there, and good-humor reigned. In the country +the violin sounded in the room of the peasant; the newly-baked cakes +were attacked; even the poorest child said, "It is really delightful +here in winter!" + +Yes, it was delightful; and the little maiden showed the boy everything; +and the Elder Tree still was fragrant, and the red flag, with the white +cross, was still waving: the flag under which the old seaman in the New +Booths had sailed. And the boy grew up to be a lad, and was to go forth +in the wide world-far, far away to warm lands, where the coffee-tree +grows; but at his departure the little maiden took an Elder-blossom from +her bosom, and gave it him to keep; and it was placed between the leaves +of his Prayer-Book; and when in foreign lands he opened the book, it +was always at the place where the keepsake-flower lay; and the more he +looked at it, the fresher it became; he felt as it were, the fragrance +of the Danish groves; and from among the leaves of the flowers he could +distinctly see the little maiden, peeping forth with her bright blue +eyes--and then she whispered, "It is delightful here in Spring, Summer, +Autumn, and Winter"; and a hundred visions glided before his mind. + +Thus passed many years, and he was now an old man, and sat with his old +wife under the blooming tree. They held each other by the hand, as the +old grand-father and grand-mother yonder in the New Booths did, and they +talked exactly like them of old times, and of the fiftieth anniversary +of their wedding. The little maiden, with the blue eyes, and with +Elder-blossoms in her hair, sat in the tree, nodded to both of them, +and said, "To-day is the fiftieth anniversary!" And then she took two +flowers out of her hair, and kissed them. First, they shone like silver, +then like gold; and when they laid them on the heads of the old people, +each flower became a golden crown. So there they both sat, like a king +and a queen, under the fragrant tree, that looked exactly like an elder: +the old man told his wife the story of "Old Nanny," as it had been told +him when a boy. And it seemed to both of them it contained much that +resembled their own history; and those parts that were like it pleased +them best. + +"Thus it is," said the little maiden in the tree, "some call me 'Old +Nanny,' others a 'Dryad,' but, in reality, my name is 'Remembrance'; +'tis I who sit in the tree that grows and grows! I can remember; I can +tell things! Let me see if you have my flower still?" + +And the old man opened his Prayer-Book. There lay the Elder-blossom, +as fresh as if it had been placed there but a short time before; and +Remembrance nodded, and the old people, decked with crowns of gold, sat +in the flush of the evening sun. They closed their eyes, and--and--! +Yes, that's the end of the story! + +The little boy lay in his bed; he did not know if he had dreamed or +not, or if he had been listening while someone told him the story. The +tea-pot was standing on the table, but no Elder Tree was growing out +of it! And the old man, who had been talking, was just on the point of +going out at the door, and he did go. + +"How splendid that was!" said the little boy. "Mother, I have been to +warm countries." + +"So I should think," said his mother. "When one has drunk two good +cupfuls of Elder-flower tea, 'tis likely enough one goes into warm +climates"; and she tucked him up nicely, least he should take cold. "You +have had a good sleep while I have been sitting here, and arguing with +him whether it was a story or a fairy tale." + +"And where is old Nanny?" asked the little boy. + +"In the tea-pot," said his mother; "and there she may remain." + + + + +THE BELL + +People said "The Evening Bell is sounding, the sun is setting." For a +strange wondrous tone was heard in the narrow streets of a large town. +It was like the sound of a church-bell: but it was only heard for a +moment, for the rolling of the carriages and the voices of the multitude +made too great a noise. + +Those persons who were walking outside the town, where the houses were +farther apart, with gardens or little fields between them, could see +the evening sky still better, and heard the sound of the bell much +more distinctly. It was as if the tones came from a church in the still +forest; people looked thitherward, and felt their minds attuned most +solemnly. + +A long time passed, and people said to each other--"I wonder if there +is a church out in the wood? The bell has a tone that is wondrous sweet; +let us stroll thither, and examine the matter nearer." And the rich +people drove out, and the poor walked, but the way seemed strangely +long to them; and when they came to a clump of willows which grew on the +skirts of the forest, they sat down, and looked up at the long +branches, and fancied they were now in the depth of the green wood. The +confectioner of the town came out, and set up his booth there; and soon +after came another confectioner, who hung a bell over his stand, as +a sign or ornament, but it had no clapper, and it was tarred over to +preserve it from the rain. When all the people returned home, they said +it had been very romantic, and that it was quite a different sort of +thing to a pic-nic or tea-party. There were three persons who asserted +they had penetrated to the end of the forest, and that they had always +heard the wonderful sounds of the bell, but it had seemed to them as if +it had come from the town. One wrote a whole poem about it, and said the +bell sounded like the voice of a mother to a good dear child, and +that no melody was sweeter than the tones of the bell. The king of the +country was also observant of it, and vowed that he who could discover +whence the sounds proceeded, should have the title of "Universal +Bell-ringer," even if it were not really a bell. + +Many persons now went to the wood, for the sake of getting the place, +but one only returned with a sort of explanation; for nobody went far +enough, that one not further than the others. However, he said that +the sound proceeded from a very large owl, in a hollow tree; a sort of +learned owl, that continually knocked its head against the branches. But +whether the sound came from his head or from the hollow tree, that no +one could say with certainty. So now he got the place of "Universal +Bell-ringer," and wrote yearly a short treatise "On the Owl"; but +everybody was just as wise as before. + +It was the day of confirmation. The clergyman had spoken so touchingly, +the children who were confirmed had been greatly moved; it was +an eventful day for them; from children they become all at once +grown-up-persons; it was as if their infant souls were now to fly all +at once into persons with more understanding. The sun was shining +gloriously; the children that had been confirmed went out of the town; +and from the wood was borne towards them the sounds of the unknown bell +with wonderful distinctness. They all immediately felt a wish to go +thither; all except three. One of them had to go home to try on a +ball-dress; for it was just the dress and the ball which had caused her +to be confirmed this time, for otherwise she would not have come; +the other was a poor boy, who had borrowed his coat and boots to be +confirmed in from the innkeeper's son, and he was to give them back by +a certain hour; the third said that he never went to a strange place +if his parents were not with him--that he had always been a good boy +hitherto, and would still be so now that he was confirmed, and that one +ought not to laugh at him for it: the others, however, did make fun of +him, after all. + +There were three, therefore, that did not go; the others hastened on. +The sun shone, the birds sang, and the children sang too, and each held +the other by the hand; for as yet they had none of them any high office, +and were all of equal rank in the eye of God. + +But two of the youngest soon grew tired, and both returned to town; two +little girls sat down, and twined garlands, so they did not go either; +and when the others reached the willow-tree, where the confectioner was, +they said, "Now we are there! In reality the bell does not exist; it is +only a fancy that people have taken into their heads!" + +At the same moment the bell sounded deep in the wood, so clear and +solemnly that five or six determined to penetrate somewhat further. It +was so thick, and the foliage so dense, that it was quite fatiguing +to proceed. Woodroof and anemonies grew almost too high; blooming +convolvuluses and blackberry-bushes hung in long garlands from tree to +tree, where the nightingale sang and the sunbeams were playing: it was +very beautiful, but it was no place for girls to go; their clothes would +get so torn. Large blocks of stone lay there, overgrown with moss of +every color; the fresh spring bubbled forth, and made a strange gurgling +sound. + +"That surely cannot be the bell," said one of the children, lying down +and listening. "This must be looked to." So he remained, and let the +others go on without him. + +They afterwards came to a little house, made of branches and the bark of +trees; a large wild apple-tree bent over it, as if it would shower down +all its blessings on the roof, where roses were blooming. The long stems +twined round the gable, on which there hung a small bell. + +Was it that which people had heard? Yes, everybody was unanimous on the +subject, except one, who said that the bell was too small and too fine +to be heard at so great a distance, and besides it was very different +tones to those that could move a human heart in such a manner. It was a +king's son who spoke; whereon the others said, "Such people always want +to be wiser than everybody else." + +They now let him go on alone; and as he went, his breast was filled more +and more with the forest solitude; but he still heard the little bell +with which the others were so satisfied, and now and then, when the +wind blew, he could also hear the people singing who were sitting at tea +where the confectioner had his tent; but the deep sound of the bell rose +louder; it was almost as if an organ were accompanying it, and the tones +came from the left hand, the side where the heart is placed. A rustling +was heard in the bushes, and a little boy stood before the King's Son, a +boy in wooden shoes, and with so short a jacket that one could see what +long wrists he had. Both knew each other: the boy was that one among +the children who could not come because he had to go home and return his +jacket and boots to the innkeeper's son. This he had done, and was now +going on in wooden shoes and in his humble dress, for the bell sounded +with so deep a tone, and with such strange power, that proceed he must. + +"Why, then, we can go together," said the King's Son. But the poor +child that had been confirmed was quite ashamed; he looked at his wooden +shoes, pulled at the short sleeves of his jacket, and said that he was +afraid he could not walk so fast; besides, he thought that the bell must +be looked for to the right; for that was the place where all sorts of +beautiful things were to be found. + +"But there we shall not meet," said the King's Son, nodding at the same +time to the poor boy, who went into the darkest, thickest part of the +wood, where thorns tore his humble dress, and scratched his face and +hands and feet till they bled. The King's Son got some scratches too; +but the sun shone on his path, and it is him that we will follow, for he +was an excellent and resolute youth. + +"I must and will find the bell," said he, "even if I am obliged to go to +the end of the world." + +The ugly apes sat upon the trees, and grinned. "Shall we thrash him?" +said they. "Shall we thrash him? He is the son of a king!" + +But on he went, without being disheartened, deeper and deeper into the +wood, where the most wonderful flowers were growing. There stood white +lilies with blood-red stamina, skyblue tulips, which shone as they waved +in the winds, and apple-trees, the apples of which looked exactly like +large soapbubbles: so only think how the trees must have sparkled in the +sunshine! Around the nicest green meads, where the deer were playing in +the grass, grew magnificent oaks and beeches; and if the bark of one of +the trees was cracked, there grass and long creeping plants grew in +the crevices. And there were large calm lakes there too, in which white +swans were swimming, and beat the air with their wings. The King's Son +often stood still and listened. He thought the bell sounded from the +depths of these still lakes; but then he remarked again that the tone +proceeded not from there, but farther off, from out the depths of the +forest. + +The sun now set: the atmosphere glowed like fire. It was still in the +woods, so very still; and he fell on his knees, sung his evening hymn, +and said: "I cannot find what I seek; the sun is going down, and night +is coming--the dark, dark night. Yet perhaps I may be able once more +to see the round red sun before he entirely disappears. I will climb up +yonder rock." + +And he seized hold of the creeping-plants, and the roots of +trees--climbed up the moist stones where the water-snakes were writhing +and the toads were croaking--and he gained the summit before the sun +had quite gone down. How magnificent was the sight from this height! The +sea--the great, the glorious sea, that dashed its long waves against the +coast--was stretched out before him. And yonder, where sea and sky meet, +stood the sun, like a large shining altar, all melted together in the +most glowing colors. And the wood and the sea sang a song of rejoicing, +and his heart sang with the rest: all nature was a vast holy church, +in which the trees and the buoyant clouds were the pillars, flowers and +grass the velvet carpeting, and heaven itself the large cupola. The red +colors above faded away as the sun vanished, but a million stars were +lighted, a million lamps shone; and the King's Son spread out his arms +towards heaven, and wood, and sea; when at the same moment, coming by +a path to the right, appeared, in his wooden shoes and jacket, the poor +boy who had been confirmed with him. He had followed his own path, and +had reached the spot just as soon as the son of the king had done. They +ran towards each other, and stood together hand in hand in the vast +church of nature and of poetry, while over them sounded the invisible +holy bell: blessed spirits floated around them, and lifted up their +voices in a rejoicing hallelujah! + + + + +THE OLD HOUSE + +In the street, up there, was an old, a very old house--it was almost +three hundred years old, for that might be known by reading the great +beam on which the date of the year was carved: together with tulips and +hop-binds there were whole verses spelled as in former times, and over +every window was a distorted face cut out in the beam. The one story +stood forward a great way over the other; and directly under the eaves +was a leaden spout with a dragon's head; the rain-water should have run +out of the mouth, but it ran out of the belly, for there was a hole in +the spout. + +All the other houses in the street were so new and so neat, with large +window panes and smooth walls, one could easily see that they would have +nothing to do with the old house: they certainly thought, "How long is +that old decayed thing to stand here as a spectacle in the street? And +then the projecting windows stand so far out, that no one can see from +our windows what happens in that direction! The steps are as broad as +those of a palace, and as high as to a church tower. The iron railings +look just like the door to an old family vault, and then they have brass +tops--that's so stupid!" + +On the other side of the street were also new and neat houses, and they +thought just as the others did; but at the window opposite the old house +there sat a little boy with fresh rosy cheeks and bright beaming eyes: +he certainly liked the old house best, and that both in sunshine and +moonshine. And when he looked across at the wall where the mortar +had fallen out, he could sit and find out there the strangest figures +imaginable; exactly as the street had appeared before, with steps, +projecting windows, and pointed gables; he could see soldiers with +halberds, and spouts where the water ran, like dragons and serpents. +That was a house to look at; and there lived an old man, who wore plush +breeches; and he had a coat with large brass buttons, and a wig that one +could see was a real wig. Every morning there came an old fellow to him +who put his rooms in order, and went on errands; otherwise, the old man +in the plush breeches was quite alone in the old house. Now and then he +came to the window and looked out, and the little boy nodded to him, +and the old man nodded again, and so they became acquaintances, and then +they were friends, although they had never spoken to each other--but +that made no difference. The little boy heard his parents say, "The old +man opposite is very well off, but he is so very, very lonely!" + +The Sunday following, the little boy took something, and wrapped it up +in a piece of paper, went downstairs, and stood in the doorway; and when +the man who went on errands came past, he said to him-- + +"I say, master! will you give this to the old man over the way from me? +I have two pewter soldiers--this is one of them, and he shall have it, +for I know he is so very, very lonely." + +And the old errand man looked quite pleased, nodded, and took the pewter +soldier over to the old house. Afterwards there came a message; it was +to ask if the little boy himself had not a wish to come over and pay a +visit; and so he got permission of his parents, and then went over to +the old house. + +And the brass balls on the iron railings shone much brighter than ever; +one would have thought they were polished on account of the visit; and +it was as if the carved-out trumpeters--for there were trumpeters, who +stood in tulips, carved out on the door--blew with all their +might, their cheeks appeared so much rounder than before. Yes, they +blew--"Trateratra! The little boy comes! Trateratra!"--and then the door +opened. + +The whole passage was hung with portraits of knights in armor, and +ladies in silken gowns; and the armor rattled, and the silken gowns +rustled! And then there was a flight of stairs which went a good way +upwards, and a little way downwards, and then one came on a balcony +which was in a very dilapidated state, sure enough, with large holes and +long crevices, but grass grew there and leaves out of them altogether, +for the whole balcony outside, the yard, and the walls, were overgrown +with so much green stuff, that it looked like a garden; only a balcony. +Here stood old flower-pots with faces and asses' ears, and the flowers +grew just as they liked. One of the pots was quite overrun on all sides +with pinks, that is to say, with the green part; shoot stood by shoot, +and it said quite distinctly, "The air has cherished me, the sun has +kissed me, and promised me a little flower on Sunday! a little flower on +Sunday!" + +And then they entered a chamber where the walls were covered with hog's +leather, and printed with gold flowers. + + "The gilding decays, + But hog's leather stays!" + +said the walls. + +And there stood easy-chairs, with such high backs, and so carved out, +and with arms on both sides. "Sit down! sit down!" said they. "Ugh! how +I creak; now I shall certainly get the gout, like the old clothespress, +ugh!" + +And then the little boy came into the room where the projecting windows +were, and where the old man sat. + +"I thank you for the pewter soldier, my little friend!" said the old +man. "And I thank you because you come over to me." + +"Thankee! thankee!" or "cranky! cranky!" sounded from all the furniture; +there was so much of it, that each article stood in the other's way, to +get a look at the little boy. + +In the middle of the wall hung a picture representing a beautiful lady, +so young, so glad, but dressed quite as in former times, with clothes +that stood quite stiff, and with powder in her hair; she neither said +"thankee, thankee!" nor "cranky, cranky!" but looked with her mild eyes +at the little boy, who directly asked the old man, "Where did you get +her?" + +"Yonder, at the broker's," said the old man, "where there are so many +pictures hanging. No one knows or cares about them, for they are all of +them buried; but I knew her in by-gone days, and now she has been dead +and gone these fifty years!" + +Under the picture, in a glazed frame, there hung a bouquet of withered +flowers; they were almost fifty years old; they looked so very old! + +The pendulum of the great clock went to and fro, and the hands turned, +and everything in the room became still older; but they did not observe +it. + +"They say at home," said the little boy, "that you are so very, very +lonely!" + +"Oh!" said he. "The old thoughts, with what they may bring with them, +come and visit me, and now you also come! I am very well off!" + +Then he took a book with pictures in it down from the shelf; there were +whole long processions and pageants, with the strangest characters, +which one never sees now-a-days; soldiers like the knave of clubs, +and citizens with waving flags: the tailors had theirs, with a pair of +shears held by two lions--and the shoemakers theirs, without boots, +but with an eagle that had two heads, for the shoemakers must have +everything so that they can say, it is a pair! Yes, that was a picture +book! + +The old man now went into the other room to fetch preserves, apples, and +nuts--yes, it was delightful over there in the old house. + +"I cannot bear it any longer!" said the pewter soldier, who sat on the +drawers. "It is so lonely and melancholy here! But when one has been in +a family circle one cannot accustom oneself to this life! I cannot bear +it any longer! The whole day is so long, and the evenings are still +longer! Here it is not at all as it is over the way at your home, where +your father and mother spoke so pleasantly, and where you and all your +sweet children made such a delightful noise. Nay, how lonely the old man +is--do you think that he gets kisses? Do you think he gets mild eyes, +or a Christmas tree? He will get nothing but a grave! I can bear it no +longer!" + +"You must not let it grieve you so much," said the little boy. "I find +it so very delightful here, and then all the old thoughts, with what +they may bring with them, they come and visit here." + +"Yes, it's all very well, but I see nothing of them, and I don't know +them!" said the pewter soldier. "I cannot bear it!" + +"But you must!" said the little boy. + +Then in came the old man with the most pleased and happy face, the most +delicious preserves, apples, and nuts, and so the little boy thought no +more about the pewter soldier. + +The little boy returned home happy and pleased, and weeks and days +passed away, and nods were made to the old house, and from the old +house, and then the little boy went over there again. + +The carved trumpeters blew, "Trateratra! There is the little boy! +Trateratra!" and the swords and armor on the knights' portraits rattled, +and the silk gowns rustled; the hog's leather spoke, and the old chairs +had the gout in their legs and rheumatism in their backs: Ugh! it was +exactly like the first time, for over there one day and hour was just +like another. + +"I cannot bear it!" said the pewter soldier. "I have shed pewter tears! +It is too melancholy! Rather let me go to the wars and lose arms and +legs! It would at least be a change. I cannot bear it longer! Now, I +know what it is to have a visit from one's old thoughts, with what they +may bring with them! I have had a visit from mine, and you may be sure +it is no pleasant thing in the end; I was at last about to jump down +from the drawers. + +"I saw you all over there at home so distinctly, as if you really were +here; it was again that Sunday morning; all you children stood before +the table and sung your Psalms, as you do every morning. You stood +devoutly with folded hands; and father and mother were just as pious; +and then the door was opened, and little sister Mary, who is not two +years old yet, and who always dances when she hears music or singing, of +whatever kind it may be, was put into the room--though she ought not to +have been there--and then she began to dance, but could not keep time, +because the tones were so long; and then she stood, first on the one +leg, and bent her head forwards, and then on the other leg, and bent +her head forwards--but all would not do. You stood very seriously all +together, although it was difficult enough; but I laughed to myself, and +then I fell off the table, and got a bump, which I have still--for it +was not right of me to laugh. But the whole now passes before me again +in thought, and everything that I have lived to see; and these are the +old thoughts, with what they may bring with them. + +"Tell me if you still sing on Sundays? Tell me something about little +Mary! And how my comrade, the other pewter soldier, lives! Yes, he is +happy enough, that's sure! I cannot bear it any longer!" + +"You are given away as a present!" said the little boy. "You must +remain. Can you not understand that?" + +The old man now came with a drawer, in which there was much to be seen, +both "tin boxes" and "balsam boxes," old cards, so large and so gilded, +such as one never sees them now. And several drawers were opened, and +the piano was opened; it had landscapes on the inside of the lid, and it +was so hoarse when the old man played on it! and then he hummed a song. + +"Yes, she could sing that!" said he, and nodded to the portrait, which +he had bought at the broker's, and the old man's eyes shone so bright! + +"I will go to the wars! I will go to the wars!" shouted the pewter +soldier as loud as he could, and threw himself off the drawers right +down on the floor. What became of him? The old man sought, and the +little boy sought; he was away, and he stayed away. + +"I shall find him!" said the old man; but he never found him. The floor +was too open--the pewter soldier had fallen through a crevice, and there +he lay as in an open tomb. + +That day passed, and the little boy went home, and that week passed, +and several weeks too. The windows were quite frozen, the little boy was +obliged to sit and breathe on them to get a peep-hole over to the old +house, and there the snow had been blown into all the carved work and +inscriptions; it lay quite up over the steps, just as if there was no +one at home--nor was there any one at home--the old man was dead! + +In the evening there was a hearse seen before the door, and he was borne +into it in his coffin: he was now to go out into the country, to lie in +his grave. He was driven out there, but no one followed; all his friends +were dead, and the little boy kissed his hand to the coffin as it was +driven away. + +Some days afterwards there was an auction at the old house, and the +little boy saw from his window how they carried the old knights and the +old ladies away, the flower-pots with the long ears, the old chairs, and +the old clothes-presses. Something came here, and something came there; +the portrait of her who had been found at the broker's came to the +broker's again; and there it hung, for no one knew her more--no one +cared about the old picture. + +In the spring they pulled the house down, for, as people said, it was +a ruin. One could see from the street right into the room with the +hog's-leather hanging, which was slashed and torn; and the green grass +and leaves about the balcony hung quite wild about the falling beams. +And then it was put to rights. + +"That was a relief," said the neighboring houses. + +A fine house was built there, with large windows, and smooth white +walls; but before it, where the old house had in fact stood, was a +little garden laid out, and a wild grapevine ran up the wall of the +neighboring house. Before the garden there was a large iron railing +with an iron door, it looked quite splendid, and people stood still and +peeped in, and the sparrows hung by scores in the vine, and chattered +away at each other as well as they could, but it was not about the old +house, for they could not remember it, so many years had passed--so many +that the little boy had grown up to a whole man, yes, a clever man, and +a pleasure to his parents; and he had just been married, and, together +with his little wife, had come to live in the house here, where the +garden was; and he stood by her there whilst she planted a field-flower +that she found so pretty; she planted it with her little hand, and +pressed the earth around it with her fingers. Oh! what was that? She +had stuck herself. There sat something pointed, straight out of the soft +mould. + +It was--yes, guess! It was the pewter soldier, he that was lost up at +the old man's, and had tumbled and turned about amongst the timber and +the rubbish, and had at last laid for many years in the ground. + +The young wife wiped the dirt off the soldier, first with a green leaf, +and then with her fine handkerchief--it had such a delightful smell, +that it was to the pewter soldier just as if he had awaked from a +trance. + +"Let me see him," said the young man. He laughed, and then shook his +head. "Nay, it cannot be he; but he reminds me of a story about a pewter +soldier which I had when I was a little boy!" And then he told his wife +about the old house, and the old man, and about the pewter soldier that +he sent over to him because he was so very, very lonely; and he told it +as correctly as it had really been, so that the tears came into the eyes +of his young wife, on account of the old house and the old man. + +"It may possibly be, however, that it is the same pewter soldier!" said +she. "I will take care of it, and remember all that you have told me; +but you must show me the old man's grave!" + +"But I do not know it," said he, "and no one knows it! All his friends +were dead, no one took care of it, and I was then a little boy!" + +"How very, very lonely he must have been!" said she. + +"Very, very lonely!" said the pewter soldier. "But it is delightful not +to be forgotten!" + +"Delightful!" shouted something close by; but no one, except the pewter +soldier, saw that it was a piece of the hog's-leather hangings; it had +lost all its gilding, it looked like a piece of wet clay, but it had an +opinion, and it gave it: + + "The gilding decays, + But hog's leather stays!" + +This the pewter soldier did not believe. + + + + +THE HAPPY FAMILY + +Really, the largest green leaf in this country is a dock-leaf; if one +holds it before one, it is like a whole apron, and if one holds it over +one's head in rainy weather, it is almost as good as an umbrella, for +it is so immensely large. The burdock never grows alone, but where there +grows one there always grow several: it is a great delight, and all this +delightfulness is snails' food. The great white snails which persons of +quality in former times made fricassees of, ate, and said, "Hem, +hem! how delicious!" for they thought it tasted so delicate--lived on +dock-leaves, and therefore burdock seeds were sown. + +Now, there was an old manor-house, where they no longer ate snails, they +were quite extinct; but the burdocks were not extinct, they grew and +grew all over the walks and all the beds; they could not get the mastery +over them--it was a whole forest of burdocks. Here and there stood an +apple and a plum-tree, or else one never would have thought that it was +a garden; all was burdocks, and there lived the two last venerable old +snails. + +They themselves knew not how old they were, but they could remember +very well that there had been many more; that they were of a family +from foreign lands, and that for them and theirs the whole forest was +planted. They had never been outside it, but they knew that there was +still something more in the world, which was called the manor-house, and +that there they were boiled, and then they became black, and were then +placed on a silver dish; but what happened further they knew not; or, in +fact, what it was to be boiled, and to lie on a silver dish, they could +not possibly imagine; but it was said to be delightful, and particularly +genteel. Neither the chafers, the toads, nor the earth-worms, whom they +asked about it could give them any information--none of them had been +boiled or laid on a silver dish. + +The old white snails were the first persons of distinction in the +world, that they knew; the forest was planted for their sake, and the +manor-house was there that they might be boiled and laid on a silver +dish. + +Now they lived a very lonely and happy life; and as they had no children +themselves, they had adopted a little common snail, which they brought +up as their own; but the little one would not grow, for he was of a +common family; but the old ones, especially Dame Mother Snail, thought +they could observe how he increased in size, and she begged father, +if he could not see it, that he would at least feel the little snail's +shell; and then he felt it, and found the good dame was right. + +One day there was a heavy storm of rain. + +"Hear how it beats like a drum on the dock-leaves!" said Father Snail. + +"There are also rain-drops!" said Mother Snail. "And now the rain pours +right down the stalk! You will see that it will be wet here! I am very +happy to think that we have our good house, and the little one has +his also! There is more done for us than for all other creatures, sure +enough; but can you not see that we are folks of quality in the world? +We are provided with a house from our birth, and the burdock forest is +planted for our sakes! I should like to know how far it extends, and +what there is outside!" + +"There is nothing at all," said Father Snail. "No place can be better +than ours, and I have nothing to wish for!" + +"Yes," said the dame. "I would willingly go to the manorhouse, be +boiled, and laid on a silver dish; all our forefathers have been treated +so; there is something extraordinary in it, you may be sure!" + +"The manor-house has most likely fallen to ruin!" said Father Snail. "Or +the burdocks have grown up over it, so that they cannot come out. There +need not, however, be any haste about that; but you are always in such a +tremendous hurry, and the little one is beginning to be the same. Has he +not been creeping up that stalk these three days? It gives me a headache +when I look up to him!" + +"You must not scold him," said Mother Snail. "He creeps so carefully; he +will afford us much pleasure--and we have nothing but him to live for! +But have you not thought of it? Where shall we get a wife for him? Do +you not think that there are some of our species at a great distance in +the interior of the burdock forest?" + +"Black snails, I dare say, there are enough of," said the old one. +"Black snails without a house--but they are so common, and so conceited. +But we might give the ants a commission to look out for us; they run +to and fro as if they had something to do, and they certainly know of a +wife for our little snail!" + +"I know one, sure enough--the most charming one!" said one of the ants. +"But I am afraid we shall hardly succeed, for she is a queen!" + +"That is nothing!" said the old folks. "Has she a house?" + +"She has a palace!" said the ant. "The finest ant's palace, with seven +hundred passages!" + +"I thank you!" said Mother Snail. "Our son shall not go into an +ant-hill; if you know nothing better than that, we shall give the +commission to the white gnats. They fly far and wide, in rain and +sunshine; they know the whole forest here, both within and without." + +"We have a wife for him," said the gnats. "At a hundred human paces from +here there sits a little snail in her house, on a gooseberry bush; she +is quite lonely, and old enough to be married. It is only a hundred +human paces!" + +"Well, then, let her come to him!" said the old ones. "He has a whole +forest of burdocks, she has only a bush!" + +And so they went and fetched little Miss Snail. It was a whole week +before she arrived; but therein was just the very best of it, for one +could thus see that she was of the same species. + +And then the marriage was celebrated. Six earth-worms shone as well as +they could. In other respects the whole went off very quietly, for the +old folks could not bear noise and merriment; but old Dame Snail made +a brilliant speech. Father Snail could not speak, he was too much +affected; and so they gave them as a dowry and inheritance, the whole +forest of burdocks, and said--what they had always said--that it was +the best in the world; and if they lived honestly and decently, and +increased and multiplied, they and their children would once in the +course of time come to the manor-house, be boiled black, and laid on +silver dishes. After this speech was made, the old ones crept into their +shells, and never more came out. They slept; the young couple governed +in the forest, and had a numerous progeny, but they were never boiled, +and never came on the silver dishes; so from this they concluded that +the manor-house had fallen to ruins, and that all the men in the world +were extinct; and as no one contradicted them, so, of course it was so. +And the rain beat on the dock-leaves to make drum-music for their sake, +and the sun shone in order to give the burdock forest a color for their +sakes; and they were very happy, and the whole family was happy; for +they, indeed were so. + + + + +THE STORY OF A MOTHER + +A mother sat there with her little child. She was so downcast, so +afraid that it should die! It was so pale, the small eyes had closed +themselves, and it drew its breath so softly, now and then, with a +deep respiration, as if it sighed; and the mother looked still more +sorrowfully on the little creature. + +Then a knocking was heard at the door, and in came a poor old man +wrapped up as in a large horse-cloth, for it warms one, and he needed +it, as it was the cold winter season! Everything out-of-doors was +covered with ice and snow, and the wind blew so that it cut the face. + +As the old man trembled with cold, and the little child slept a moment, +the mother went and poured some ale into a pot and set it on the stove, +that it might be warm for him; the old man sat and rocked the cradle, +and the mother sat down on a chair close by him, and looked at her +little sick child that drew its breath so deep, and raised its little +hand. + +"Do you not think that I shall save him?" said she. "Our Lord will not +take him from me!" + +And the old man--it was Death himself--he nodded so strangely, it could +just as well signify yes as no. And the mother looked down in her lap, +and the tears ran down over her cheeks; her head became so heavy--she +had not closed her eyes for three days and nights; and now she slept, +but only for a minute, when she started up and trembled with cold. + +"What is that?" said she, and looked on all sides; but the old man was +gone, and her little child was gone--he had taken it with him; and the +old clock in the corner burred, and burred, the great leaden weight ran +down to the floor, bump! and then the clock also stood still. + +But the poor mother ran out of the house and cried aloud for her child. + +Out there, in the midst of the snow, there sat a woman in long, black +clothes; and she said, "Death has been in thy chamber, and I saw him +hasten away with thy little child; he goes faster than the wind, and he +never brings back what he takes!" + +"Oh, only tell me which way he went!" said the mother. "Tell me the way, +and I shall find him!" + +"I know it!" said the woman in the black clothes. "But before I tell it, +thou must first sing for me all the songs thou hast sung for thy child! +I am fond of them. I have heard them before; I am Night; I saw thy tears +whilst thou sang'st them!" + +"I will sing them all, all!" said the mother. "But do not stop me now--I +may overtake him--I may find my child!" + +But Night stood still and mute. Then the mother wrung her hands, sang +and wept, and there were many songs, but yet many more tears; and then +Night said, "Go to the right, into the dark pine forest; thither I saw +Death take his way with thy little child!" + +The roads crossed each other in the depths of the forest, and she no +longer knew whither she should go! then there stood a thorn-bush; +there was neither leaf nor flower on it, it was also in the cold winter +season, and ice-flakes hung on the branches. + +"Hast thou not seen Death go past with my little child?" said the +mother. + +"Yes," said the thorn-bush; "but I will not tell thee which way he took, +unless thou wilt first warm me up at thy heart. I am freezing to death; +I shall become a lump of ice!" + +And she pressed the thorn-bush to her breast, so firmly, that it might +be thoroughly warmed, and the thorns went right into her flesh, and her +blood flowed in large drops, but the thornbush shot forth fresh green +leaves, and there came flowers on it in the cold winter night, the heart +of the afflicted mother was so warm; and the thorn-bush told her the way +she should go. + +She then came to a large lake, where there was neither ship nor boat. +The lake was not frozen sufficiently to bear her; neither was it open, +nor low enough that she could wade through it; and across it she must go +if she would find her child! Then she lay down to drink up the lake, and +that was an impossibility for a human being, but the afflicted mother +thought that a miracle might happen nevertheless. + +"Oh, what would I not give to come to my child!" said the weeping +mother; and she wept still more, and her eyes sunk down in the depths of +the waters, and became two precious pearls; but the water bore her up, +as if she sat in a swing, and she flew in the rocking waves to the shore +on the opposite side, where there stood a mile-broad, strange house, one +knew not if it were a mountain with forests and caverns, or if it were +built up; but the poor mother could not see it; she had wept her eyes +out. + +"Where shall I find Death, who took away my little child?" said she. + +"He has not come here yet!" said the old grave woman, who was appointed +to look after Death's great greenhouse! "How have you been able to find +the way hither? And who has helped you?" + +"OUR LORD has helped me," said she. "He is merciful, and you will also +be so! Where shall I find my little child?" + +"Nay, I know not," said the woman, "and you cannot see! Many flowers and +trees have withered this night; Death will soon come and plant them over +again! You certainly know that every person has his or her life's tree +or flower, just as everyone happens to be settled; they look like other +plants, but they have pulsations of the heart. Children's hearts can +also beat; go after yours, perhaps you may know your child's; but what +will you give me if I tell you what you shall do more?" + +"I have nothing to give," said the afflicted mother, "but I will go to +the world's end for you!" + +"Nay, I have nothing to do there!" said the woman. "But you can give +me your long black hair; you know yourself that it is fine, and that +I like! You shall have my white hair instead, and that's always +something!" + +"Do you demand nothing else?" said she. "That I will gladly give you!" +And she gave her her fine black hair, and got the old woman's snow-white +hair instead. + +So they went into Death's great greenhouse, where flowers and trees +grew strangely into one another. There stood fine hyacinths under glass +bells, and there stood strong-stemmed peonies; there grew water plants, +some so fresh, others half sick, the water-snakes lay down on them, +and black crabs pinched their stalks. There stood beautiful palm-trees, +oaks, and plantains; there stood parsley and flowering thyme: every tree +and every flower had its name; each of them was a human life, the human +frame still lived--one in China, and another in Greenland--round about +in the world. There were large trees in small pots, so that they stood +so stunted in growth, and ready to burst the pots; in other places, +there was a little dull flower in rich mould, with moss round about it, +and it was so petted and nursed. But the distressed mother bent down +over all the smallest plants, and heard within them how the human heart +beat; and amongst millions she knew her child's. + +"There it is!" cried she, and stretched her hands out over a little blue +crocus, that hung quite sickly on one side. + +"Don't touch the flower!" said the old woman. "But place yourself here, +and when Death comes--I expect him every moment--do not let him pluck +the flower up, but threaten him that you will do the same with the +others. Then he will be afraid! He is responsible for them to OUR LORD, +and no one dares to pluck them up before HE gives leave." + +All at once an icy cold rushed through the great hall, and the blind +mother could feel that it was Death that came. + +"How hast thou been able to find thy way hither?" he asked. "How couldst +thou come quicker than I?" + +"I am a mother," said she. + +And Death stretched out his long hand towards the fine little flower, +but she held her hands fast around his, so tight, and yet afraid that +she should touch one of the leaves. Then Death blew on her hands, and +she felt that it was colder than the cold wind, and her hands fell down +powerless. + +"Thou canst not do anything against me!" said Death. + +"But OUR LORD can!" said she. + +"I only do His bidding!" said Death. "I am His gardener, I take all His +flowers and trees, and plant them out in the great garden of Paradise, +in the unknown land; but how they grow there, and how it is there I dare +not tell thee." + +"Give me back my child!" said the mother, and she wept and prayed. At +once she seized hold of two beautiful flowers close by, with each hand, +and cried out to Death, "I will tear all thy flowers off, for I am in +despair." + +"Touch them not!" said Death. "Thou say'st that thou art so unhappy, and +now thou wilt make another mother equally unhappy." + +"Another mother!" said the poor woman, and directly let go her hold of +both the flowers. + +"There, thou hast thine eyes," said Death; "I fished them up from the +lake, they shone so bright; I knew not they were thine. Take them again, +they are now brighter than before; now look down into the deep well +close by; I shall tell thee the names of the two flowers thou wouldst +have torn up, and thou wilt see their whole future life--their whole +human existence: and see what thou wast about to disturb and destroy." + +And she looked down into the well; and it was a happiness to see how the +one became a blessing to the world, to see how much happiness and joy +were felt everywhere. And she saw the other's life, and it was sorrow +and distress, horror, and wretchedness. + +"Both of them are God's will!" said Death. + +"Which of them is Misfortune's flower and which is that of Happiness?" +asked she. + +"That I will not tell thee," said Death; "but this thou shalt know from +me, that the one flower was thy own child! it was thy child's fate thou +saw'st--thy own child's future life!" + +Then the mother screamed with terror, "Which of them was my child? Tell +it me! Save the innocent! Save my child from all that misery! Rather +take it away! Take it into God's kingdom! Forget my tears, forget my +prayers, and all that I have done!" + +"I do not understand thee!" said Death. "Wilt thou have thy child again, +or shall I go with it there, where thou dost not know!" + +Then the mother wrung her hands, fell on her knees, and prayed to our +Lord: "Oh, hear me not when I pray against Thy will, which is the best! +hear me not! hear me not!" + +And she bowed her head down in her lap, and Death took her child and +went with it into the unknown land. + + + + +THE FALSE COLLAR + +There was once a fine gentleman, all of whose moveables were a boot-jack +and a hair-comb: but he had the finest false collars in the world; and +it is about one of these collars that we are now to hear a story. + +It was so old, that it began to think of marriage; and it happened that +it came to be washed in company with a garter. + +"Nay!" said the collar. "I never did see anything so slender and so +fine, so soft and so neat. May I not ask your name?" + +"That I shall not tell you!" said the garter. + +"Where do you live?" asked the collar. + +But the garter was so bashful, so modest, and thought it was a strange +question to answer. + +"You are certainly a girdle," said the collar; "that is to say an inside +girdle. I see well that you are both for use and ornament, my dear young +lady." + +"I will thank you not to speak to me," said the garter. "I think I have +not given the least occasion for it." + +"Yes! When one is as handsome as you," said the collar, "that is +occasion enough." + +"Don't come so near me, I beg of you!" said the garter. "You look so +much like those men-folks." + +"I am also a fine gentleman," said the collar. "I have a bootjack and a +hair-comb." + +But that was not true, for it was his master who had them: but he +boasted. + +"Don't come so near me," said the garter: "I am not accustomed to it." + +"Prude!" exclaimed the collar; and then it was taken out of the +washing-tub. It was starched, hung over the back of a chair in the +sunshine, and was then laid on the ironing-blanket; then came the warm +box-iron. "Dear lady!" said the collar. "Dear widow-lady! I feel quite +hot. I am quite changed. I begin to unfold myself. You will burn a hole +in me. Oh! I offer you my hand." + +"Rag!" said the box-iron; and went proudly over the collar: for she +fancied she was a steam-engine, that would go on the railroad and draw +the waggons. "Rag!" said the box-iron. + +The collar was a little jagged at the edge, and so came the long +scissors to cut off the jagged part. "Oh!" said the collar. "You are +certainly the first opera dancer. How well you can stretch your legs +out! It is the most graceful performance I have ever seen. No one can +imitate you." + +"I know it," said the scissors. + +"You deserve to be a baroness," said the collar. "All that I have is a +fine gentleman, a boot-jack, and a hair-comb. If I only had the barony!" + +"Do you seek my hand?" said the scissors; for she was angry; and without +more ado, she CUT HIM, and then he was condemned. + +"I shall now be obliged to ask the hair-comb. It is surprising how well +you preserve your teeth, Miss," said the collar. "Have you never thought +of being betrothed?" + +"Yes, of course! you may be sure of that," said the hair-comb. "I AM +betrothed--to the boot-jack!" + +"Betrothed!" exclaimed the collar. Now there was no other to court, and +so he despised it. + +A long time passed away, then the collar came into the rag chest at the +paper mill; there was a large company of rags, the fine by themselves, +and the coarse by themselves, just as it should be. They all had much to +say, but the collar the most; for he was a real boaster. + +"I have had such an immense number of sweethearts!" said the collar. +"I could not be in peace! It is true, I was always a fine starched-up +gentleman! I had both a boot-jack and a hair-comb, which I never used! +You should have seen me then, you should have seen me when I lay down! +I shall never forget MY FIRST LOVE--she was a girdle, so fine, so soft, +and so charming, she threw herself into a tub of water for my sake! +There was also a widow, who became glowing hot, but I left her standing +till she got black again; there was also the first opera dancer, she +gave me that cut which I now go with, she was so ferocious! My +own hair-comb was in love with me, she lost all her teeth from the +heart-ache; yes, I have lived to see much of that sort of thing; but I +am extremely sorry for the garter--I mean the girdle--that went into the +water-tub. I have much on my conscience, I want to become white paper!" + +And it became so, all the rags were turned into white paper; but the +collar came to be just this very piece of white paper we here see, +and on which the story is printed; and that was because it boasted so +terribly afterwards of what had never happened to it. It would be well +for us to beware, that we may not act in a similar manner, for we can +never know if we may not, in the course of time, also come into the +rag chest, and be made into white paper, and then have our whole life's +history printed on it, even the most secret, and be obliged to run about +and tell it ourselves, just like this collar. + + + + +THE SHADOW + +It is in the hot lands that the sun burns, sure enough! there the people +become quite a mahogany brown, ay, and in the HOTTEST lands they are +burnt to Negroes. But now it was only to the HOT lands that a learned +man had come from the cold; there he thought that he could run about +just as when at home, but he soon found out his mistake. + +He, and all sensible folks, were obliged to stay within doors--the +window-shutters and doors were closed the whole day; it looked as if the +whole house slept, or there was no one at home. + +The narrow street with the high houses, was built so that the sunshine +must fall there from morning till evening--it was really not to be +borne. + +The learned man from the cold lands--he was a young man, and seemed to +be a clever man--sat in a glowing oven; it took effect on him, he became +quite meagre--even his shadow shrunk in, for the sun had also an effect +on it. It was first towards evening when the sun was down, that they +began to freshen up again. + +In the warm lands every window has a balcony, and the people came out on +all the balconies in the street--for one must have air, even if one be +accustomed to be mahogany!* It was lively both up and down the +street. Tailors, and shoemakers, and all the folks, moved out into the +street--chairs and tables were brought forth--and candles burnt--yes, +above a thousand lights were burning--and the one talked and the other +sung; and people walked and church-bells rang, and asses went along with +a dingle-dingle-dong! for they too had bells on. The street boys were +screaming and hooting, and shouting and shooting, with devils and +detonating balls--and there came corpse bearers and hood wearers--for +there were funerals with psalm and hymn--and then the din of carriages +driving and company arriving: yes, it was, in truth, lively enough down +in the street. Only in that single house, which stood opposite that in +which the learned foreigner lived, it was quite still; and yet some one +lived there, for there stood flowers in the balcony--they grew so +well in the sun's heat! and that they could not do unless they were +watered--and some one must water them--there must be somebody there. +The door opposite was also opened late in the evening, but it was dark +within, at least in the front room; further in there was heard the sound +of music. The learned foreigner thought it quite marvellous, but now--it +might be that he only imagined it--for he found everything marvellous +out there, in the warm lands, if there had only been no sun. The +stranger's landlord said that he didn't know who had taken the house +opposite, one saw no person about, and as to the music, it appeared +to him to be extremely tiresome. "It is as if some one sat there, and +practised a piece that he could not master--always the same piece. 'I +shall master it!' says he; but yet he cannot master it, however long he +plays." + +* The word mahogany can be understood, in Danish, as having two +meanings. In general, it means the reddish-brown wood itself; but in +jest, it signifies "excessively fine," which arose from an anecdote of +Nyboder, in Copenhagen, (the seamen's quarter.) A sailor's wife, who was +always proud and fine, in her way, came to her neighbor, and complained +that she had got a splinter in her finger. "What of?" asked the +neighbor's wife. "It is a mahogany splinter," said the other. "Mahogany! +It cannot be less with you!" exclaimed the woman--and thence the +proverb, "It is so mahogany!"--(that is, so excessively fine)--is +derived. + + +One night the stranger awoke--he slept with the doors of the balcony +open--the curtain before it was raised by the wind, and he thought +that a strange lustre came from the opposite neighbor's house; all the +flowers shone like flames, in the most beautiful colors, and in the +midst of the flowers stood a slender, graceful maiden--it was as if she +also shone; the light really hurt his eyes. He now opened them quite +wide--yes, he was quite awake; with one spring he was on the floor; he +crept gently behind the curtain, but the maiden was gone; the flowers +shone no longer, but there they stood, fresh and blooming as ever; +the door was ajar, and, far within, the music sounded so soft and +delightful, one could really melt away in sweet thoughts from it. Yet +it was like a piece of enchantment. And who lived there? Where was the +actual entrance? The whole of the ground-floor was a row of shops, and +there people could not always be running through. + +One evening the stranger sat out on the balcony. The light burnt in the +room behind him; and thus it was quite natural that his shadow should +fall on his opposite neighbor's wall. Yes! there it sat, directly +opposite, between the flowers on the balcony; and when the stranger +moved, the shadow also moved: for that it always does. + +"I think my shadow is the only living thing one sees over there," said +the learned man. "See, how nicely it sits between the flowers. The door +stands half-open: now the shadow should be cunning, and go into the +room, look about, and then come and tell me what it had seen. Come, now! +Be useful, and do me a service," said he, in jest. "Have the kindness to +step in. Now! Art thou going?" and then he nodded to the shadow, and the +shadow nodded again. "Well then, go! But don't stay away." + +The stranger rose, and his shadow on the opposite neighbor's balcony +rose also; the stranger turned round and the shadow also turned round. +Yes! if anyone had paid particular attention to it, they would have +seen, quite distinctly, that the shadow went in through the half-open +balcony-door of their opposite neighbor, just as the stranger went into +his own room, and let the long curtain fall down after him. + +Next morning, the learned man went out to drink coffee and read the +newspapers. + +"What is that?" said he, as he came out into the sunshine. "I have no +shadow! So then, it has actually gone last night, and not come again. It +is really tiresome!" + +This annoyed him: not so much because the shadow was gone, but because +he knew there was a story about a man without a shadow.* It was known +to everybody at home, in the cold lands; and if the learned man now came +there and told his story, they would say that he was imitating it, and +that he had no need to do. He would, therefore, not talk about it at +all; and that was wisely thought. + +*Peter Schlemihl, the shadowless man. + + +In the evening he went out again on the balcony. He had placed the light +directly behind him, for he knew that the shadow would always have its +master for a screen, but he could not entice it. He made himself little; +he made himself great: but no shadow came again. He said, "Hem! hem!" +but it was of no use. + +It was vexatious; but in the warm lands everything grows so quickly; and +after the lapse of eight days he observed, to his great joy, that a new +shadow came in the sunshine. In the course of three weeks he had a very +fair shadow, which, when he set out for his home in the northern lands, +grew more and more in the journey, so that at last it was so long and so +large, that it was more than sufficient. + +The learned man then came home, and he wrote books about what was true +in the world, and about what was good and what was beautiful; and there +passed days and years--yes! many years passed away. + +One evening, as he was sitting in his room, there was a gentle knocking +at the door. + +"Come in!" said he; but no one came in; so he opened the door, and there +stood before him such an extremely lean man, that he felt quite strange. +As to the rest, the man was very finely dressed--he must be a gentleman. + +"Whom have I the honor of speaking?" asked the learned man. + +"Yes! I thought as much," said the fine man. "I thought you would not +know me. I have got so much body. I have even got flesh and clothes. You +certainly never thought of seeing me so well off. Do you not know your +old shadow? You certainly thought I should never more return. Things +have gone on well with me since I was last with you. I have, in all +respects, become very well off. Shall I purchase my freedom from +service? If so, I can do it"; and then he rattled a whole bunch of +valuable seals that hung to his watch, and he stuck his hand in the +thick gold chain he wore around his neck--nay! how all his fingers +glittered with diamond rings; and then all were pure gems. + +"Nay; I cannot recover from my surprise!" said the learned man. "What is +the meaning of all this?" + +"Something common, is it not," said the shadow. "But you yourself do not +belong to the common order; and I, as you know well, have from a child +followed in your footsteps. As soon as you found I was capable to go +out alone in the world, I went my own way. I am in the most brilliant +circumstances, but there came a sort of desire over me to see you once +more before you die; you will die, I suppose? I also wished to see this +land again--for you know we always love our native land. I know you have +got another shadow again; have I anything to pay to it or you? If so, +you will oblige me by saying what it is." + +"Nay, is it really thou?" said the learned man. "It is most remarkable: +I never imagined that one's old shadow could come again as a man." + +"Tell me what I have to pay," said the shadow; "for I don't like to be +in any sort of debt." + +"How canst thou talk so?" said the learned man. "What debt is there to +talk about? Make thyself as free as anyone else. I am extremely glad to +hear of thy good fortune: sit down, old friend, and tell me a little +how it has gone with thee, and what thou hast seen at our opposite +neighbor's there--in the warm lands." + +"Yes, I will tell you all about it," said the shadow, and sat down: "but +then you must also promise me, that, wherever you may meet me, you will +never say to anyone here in the town that I have been your shadow. I +intend to get betrothed, for I can provide for more than one family." + +"Be quite at thy ease about that," said the learned man; "I shall not +say to anyone who thou actually art: here is my hand--I promise it, and +a man's bond is his word." + +"A word is a shadow," said the shadow, "and as such it must speak." + +It was really quite astonishing how much of a man it was. It was dressed +entirely in black, and of the very finest cloth; it had patent leather +boots, and a hat that could be folded together, so that it was bare +crown and brim; not to speak of what we already know it had--seals, gold +neck-chain, and diamond rings; yes, the shadow was well-dressed, and it +was just that which made it quite a man. + +"Now I shall tell you my adventures," said the shadow; and then he +sat, with the polished boots, as heavily as he could, on the arm of the +learned man's new shadow, which lay like a poodle-dog at his feet. +Now this was perhaps from arrogance; and the shadow on the ground kept +itself so still and quiet, that it might hear all that passed: it wished +to know how it could get free, and work its way up, so as to become its +own master. + +"Do you know who lived in our opposite neighbor's house?" said the +shadow. "It was the most charming of all beings, it was Poesy! I was +there for three weeks, and that has as much effect as if one had lived +three thousand years, and read all that was composed and written; +that is what I say, and it is right. I have seen everything and I know +everything!" + +"Poesy!" cried the learned man. "Yes, yes, she often dwells a recluse +in large cities! Poesy! Yes, I have seen her--a single short moment, +but sleep came into my eyes! She stood on the balcony and shone as the +Aurora Borealis shines. Go on, go on--thou wert on the balcony, and went +through the doorway, and then--" + +"Then I was in the antechamber," said the shadow. "You always sat and +looked over to the antechamber. There was no light; there was a sort +of twilight, but the one door stood open directly opposite the other +through a long row of rooms and saloons, and there it was lighted up. I +should have been completely killed if I had gone over to the maiden; but +I was circumspect, I took time to think, and that one must always do." + +"And what didst thou then see?" asked the learned man. + +"I saw everything, and I shall tell all to you: but--it is no pride on +my part--as a free man, and with the knowledge I have, not to speak of +my position in life, my excellent circumstances--I certainly wish that +you would say YOU* to me!" + +* It is the custom in Denmark for intimate acquaintances to use the +second person singular, "Du," (thou) when speaking to each other. When +a friendship is formed between men, they generally affirm it, when +occasion offers, either in public or private, by drinking to each other +and exclaiming, "thy health," at the same time striking their glasses +together. This is called drinking "Duus": they are then, "Duus Brodre," +(thou brothers) and ever afterwards use the pronoun "thou," to each +other, it being regarded as more familiar than "De," (you). Father and +mother, sister and brother say thou to one another--without regard to +age or rank. Master and mistress say thou to their servants the superior +to the inferior. But servants and inferiors do not use the same term +to their masters, or superiors--nor is it ever used when speaking to a +stranger, or anyone with whom they are but slightly acquainted--they +then say as in English--you. + + +"I beg your pardon," said the learned man; "it is an old habit with me. +YOU are perfectly right, and I shall remember it; but now you must tell +me all YOU saw!" + +"Everything!" said the shadow. "For I saw everything, and I know +everything!" + +"How did it look in the furthest saloon?" asked the learned man. "Was it +there as in the fresh woods? Was it there as in a holy church? Were the +saloons like the starlit firmament when we stand on the high mountains?" + +"Everything was there!" said the shadow. "I did not go quite in, I +remained in the foremost room, in the twilight, but I stood there +quite well; I saw everything, and I know everything! I have been in the +antechamber at the court of Poesy." + +"But WHAT DID you see? Did all the gods of the olden times pass through +the large saloons? Did the old heroes combat there? Did sweet children +play there, and relate their dreams?" + +"I tell you I was there, and you can conceive that I saw everything +there was to be seen. Had you come over there, you would not have been +a man; but I became so! And besides, I learned to know my inward nature, +my innate qualities, the relationship I had with Poesy. At the time I +was with you, I thought not of that, but always--you know it well--when +the sun rose, and when the sun went down, I became so strangely great; +in the moonlight I was very near being more distinct than yourself; at +that time I did not understand my nature; it was revealed to me in the +antechamber! I became a man! I came out matured; but you were no longer +in the warm lands; as a man I was ashamed to go as I did. I was in +want of boots, of clothes, of the whole human varnish that makes a man +perceptible. I took my way--I tell it to you, but you will not put it in +any book--I took my way to the cake woman--I hid myself behind her; +the woman didn't think how much she concealed. I went out first in the +evening; I ran about the streets in the moonlight; I made myself long up +the walls--it tickles the back so delightfully! I ran up, and ran down, +peeped into the highest windows, into the saloons, and on the roofs, I +peeped in where no one could peep, and I saw what no one else saw, what +no one else should see! This is, in fact, a base world! I would not be a +man if it were not now once accepted and regarded as something to be so! +I saw the most unimaginable things with the women, with the men, with +parents, and with the sweet, matchless children; I saw," said the +shadow, "what no human being must know, but what they would all +so willingly know--what is bad in their neighbor. Had I written a +newspaper, it would have been read! But I wrote direct to the persons +themselves, and there was consternation in all the towns where I came. +They were so afraid of me, and yet they were so excessively fond of +me. The professors made a professor of me; the tailors gave me new +clothes--I am well furnished; the master of the mint struck new coin for +me, and the women said I was so handsome! And so I became the man I am. +And I now bid you farewell. Here is my card--I live on the sunny side +of the street, and am always at home in rainy weather!" And so away went +the shadow. "That was most extraordinary!" said the learned man. Years +and days passed away, then the shadow came again. "How goes it?" said +the shadow. + +"Alas!" said the learned man. "I write about the true, and the good, +and the beautiful, but no one cares to hear such things; I am quite +desperate, for I take it so much to heart!" + +"But I don't!" said the shadow. "I become fat, and it is that one wants +to become! You do not understand the world. You will become ill by it. +You must travel! I shall make a tour this summer; will you go with me? +I should like to have a travelling companion! Will you go with me, as +shadow? It will be a great pleasure for me to have you with me; I shall +pay the travelling expenses!" + +"Nay, this is too much!" said the learned man. + +"It is just as one takes it!" said the shadow. "It will do you much good +to travel! Will you be my shadow? You shall have everything free on the +journey!" + +"Nay, that is too bad!" said the learned man. + +"But it is just so with the world!" said the shadow, "and so it will +be!" and away it went again. + +The learned man was not at all in the most enviable state; grief and +torment followed him, and what he said about the true, and the good, and +the beautiful, was, to most persons, like roses for a cow! He was quite +ill at last. + +"You really look like a shadow!" said his friends to him; and the +learned man trembled, for he thought of it. + +"You must go to a watering-place!" said the shadow, who came and visited +him. "There is nothing else for it! I will take you with me for old +acquaintance' sake; I will pay the travelling expenses, and you write +the descriptions--and if they are a little amusing for me on the way! +I will go to a watering-place--my beard does not grow out as it +ought--that is also a sickness--and one must have a beard! Now you be +wise and accept the offer; we shall travel as comrades!" + +And so they travelled; the shadow was master, and the master was the +shadow; they drove with each other, they rode and walked together, side +by side, before and behind, just as the sun was; the shadow always took +care to keep itself in the master's place. Now the learned man didn't +think much about that; he was a very kind-hearted man, and particularly +mild and friendly, and so he said one day to the shadow: "As we have +now become companions, and in this way have grown up together from +childhood, shall we not drink 'thou' together, it is more familiar?" + +"You are right," said the shadow, who was now the proper master. "It is +said in a very straight-forward and well-meant manner. You, as a learned +man, certainly know how strange nature is. Some persons cannot bear to +touch grey paper, or they become ill; others shiver in every limb if one +rub a pane of glass with a nail: I have just such a feeling on hearing +you say thou to me; I feel myself as if pressed to the earth in my first +situation with you. You see that it is a feeling; that it is not pride: +I cannot allow you to say THOU to me, but I will willingly say THOU to +you, so it is half done!" + +So the shadow said THOU to its former master. + +"This is rather too bad," thought he, "that I must say YOU and he say +THOU," but he was now obliged to put up with it. + +So they came to a watering-place where there were many strangers, and +amongst them was a princess, who was troubled with seeing too well; and +that was so alarming! + +She directly observed that the stranger who had just come was quite a +different sort of person to all the others; "He has come here in order +to get his beard to grow, they say, but I see the real cause, he cannot +cast a shadow." + +She had become inquisitive; and so she entered into conversation +directly with the strange gentleman, on their promenades. As the +daughter of a king, she needed not to stand upon trifles, so she said, +"Your complaint is, that you cannot cast a shadow?" + +"Your Royal Highness must be improving considerably," said the shadow, +"I know your complaint is, that you see too clearly, but it has +decreased, you are cured. I just happen to have a very unusual shadow! +Do you not see that person who always goes with me? Other persons have +a common shadow, but I do not like what is common to all. We give our +servants finer cloth for their livery than we ourselves use, and so I +had my shadow trimmed up into a man: yes, you see I have even given him +a shadow. It is somewhat expensive, but I like to have something for +myself!" + +"What!" thought the princess. "Should I really be cured! These baths are +the first in the world! In our time water has wonderful powers. But I +shall not leave the place, for it now begins to be amusing here. I am +extremely fond of that stranger: would that his beard should not grow, +for in that case he will leave us!" + +In the evening, the princess and the shadow danced together in the large +ball-room. She was light, but he was still lighter; she had never had +such a partner in the dance. She told him from what land she came, and +he knew that land; he had been there, but then she was not at home; he +had peeped in at the window, above and below--he had seen both the +one and the other, and so he could answer the princess, and make +insinuations, so that she was quite astonished; he must be the wisest +man in the whole world! She felt such respect for what he knew! So that +when they again danced together she fell in love with him; and that the +shadow could remark, for she almost pierced him through with her eyes. +So they danced once more together; and she was about to declare herself, +but she was discreet; she thought of her country and kingdom, and of the +many persons she would have to reign over. + +"He is a wise man," said she to herself--"It is well; and he dances +delightfully--that is also good; but has he solid knowledge? That is +just as important! He must be examined." + +So she began, by degrees, to question him about the most difficult +things she could think of, and which she herself could not have +answered; so that the shadow made a strange face. + +"You cannot answer these questions?" said the princess. + +"They belong to my childhood's learning," said the shadow. "I really +believe my shadow, by the door there, can answer them!" + +"Your shadow!" said the princess. "That would indeed be marvellous!" + +"I will not say for a certainty that he can," said the shadow, "but I +think so; he has now followed me for so many years, and listened to my +conversation--I should think it possible. But your royal highness will +permit me to observe, that he is so proud of passing himself off for +a man, that when he is to be in a proper humor--and he must be so to +answer well--he must be treated quite like a man." + +"Oh! I like that!" said the princess. + +So she went to the learned man by the door, and she spoke to him about +the sun and the moon, and about persons out of and in the world, and he +answered with wisdom and prudence. + +"What a man that must be who has so wise a shadow!" thought she. "It +will be a real blessing to my people and kingdom if I choose him for my +consort--I will do it!" + +They were soon agreed, both the princess and the shadow; but no one was +to know about it before she arrived in her own kingdom. + +"No one--not even my shadow!" said the shadow, and he had his own +thoughts about it! + +Now they were in the country where the princess reigned when she was at +home. + +"Listen, my good friend," said the shadow to the learned man. "I have +now become as happy and mighty as anyone can be; I will, therefore, do +something particular for thee! Thou shalt always live with me in the +palace, drive with me in my royal carriage, and have ten thousand +pounds a year; but then thou must submit to be called SHADOW by all and +everyone; thou must not say that thou hast ever been a man; and once +a year, when I sit on the balcony in the sunshine, thou must lie at my +feet, as a shadow shall do! I must tell thee: I am going to marry the +king's daughter, and the nuptials are to take place this evening!" + +"Nay, this is going too far!" said the learned man. "I will not have it; +I will not do it! It is to deceive the whole country and the princess +too! I will tell everything! That I am a man, and that thou art a +shadow--thou art only dressed up!" + +"There is no one who will believe it!" said the shadow. "Be reasonable, +or I will call the guard!" + +"I will go directly to the princess!" said the learned man. + +"But I will go first!" said the shadow. "And thou wilt go to prison!" +and that he was obliged to do--for the sentinels obeyed him whom they +knew the king's daughter was to marry. + +"You tremble!" said the princess, as the shadow came into her chamber. +"Has anything happened? You must not be unwell this evening, now that we +are to have our nuptials celebrated." + +"I have lived to see the most cruel thing that anyone can live to +see!" said the shadow. "Only imagine--yes, it is true, such a poor +shadow-skull cannot bear much--only think, my shadow has become mad; +he thinks that he is a man, and that I--now only think--that I am his +shadow!" + +"It is terrible!" said the princess; "but he is confined, is he not?" + +"That he is. I am afraid that he will never recover." + +"Poor shadow!" said the princess. "He is very unfortunate; it would be +a real work of charity to deliver him from the little life he has, and, +when I think properly over the matter, I am of opinion that it will be +necessary to do away with him in all stillness!" + +"It is certainly hard," said the shadow, "for he was a faithful +servant!" and then he gave a sort of sigh. + +"You are a noble character!" said the princess. + +The whole city was illuminated in the evening, and the cannons went off +with a bum! bum! and the soldiers presented arms. That was a marriage! +The princess and the shadow went out on the balcony to show themselves, +and get another hurrah! + +The learned man heard nothing of all this--for they had deprived him of +life. + + + + +THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL + +Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and +evening--the last evening of the year. In this cold and darkness there +went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and with naked +feet. When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but what was +the good of that? They were very large slippers, which her mother had +hitherto worn; so large were they; and the poor little thing lost them +as she scuffled away across the street, because of two carriages that +rolled by dreadfully fast. + +One slipper was nowhere to be found; the other had been laid hold of by +an urchin, and off he ran with it; he thought it would do capitally for +a cradle when he some day or other should have children himself. So the +little maiden walked on with her tiny naked feet, that were quite red +and blue from cold. She carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, +and she held a bundle of them in her hand. Nobody had bought anything of +her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a single farthing. + +She crept along trembling with cold and hunger--a very picture of +sorrow, the poor little thing! + +The flakes of snow covered her long fair hair, which fell in beautiful +curls around her neck; but of that, of course, she never once now +thought. From all the windows the candles were gleaming, and it smelt so +deliciously of roast goose, for you know it was New Year's Eve; yes, of +that she thought. + +In a corner formed by two houses, of which one advanced more than the +other, she seated herself down and cowered together. Her little feet +she had drawn close up to her, but she grew colder and colder, and to go +home she did not venture, for she had not sold any matches and could +not bring a farthing of money: from her father she would certainly get +blows, and at home it was cold too, for above her she had only the roof, +through which the wind whistled, even though the largest cracks were +stopped up with straw and rags. + +Her little hands were almost numbed with cold. Oh! a match might afford +her a world of comfort, if she only dared take a single one out of the +bundle, draw it against the wall, and warm her fingers by it. She drew +one out. "Rischt!" how it blazed, how it burnt! It was a warm, bright +flame, like a candle, as she held her hands over it: it was a wonderful +light. It seemed really to the little maiden as though she were sitting +before a large iron stove, with burnished brass feet and a brass +ornament at top. The fire burned with such blessed influence; it warmed +so delightfully. The little girl had already stretched out her feet to +warm them too; but--the small flame went out, the stove vanished: she +had only the remains of the burnt-out match in her hand. + +She rubbed another against the wall: it burned brightly, and where the +light fell on the wall, there the wall became transparent like a +veil, so that she could see into the room. On the table was spread a +snow-white tablecloth; upon it was a splendid porcelain service, and the +roast goose was steaming famously with its stuffing of apple and dried +plums. And what was still more capital to behold was, the goose hopped +down from the dish, reeled about on the floor with knife and fork in its +breast, till it came up to the poor little girl; when--the match went +out and nothing but the thick, cold, damp wall was left behind. +She lighted another match. Now there she was sitting under the most +magnificent Christmas tree: it was still larger, and more decorated than +the one which she had seen through the glass door in the rich merchant's +house. + +Thousands of lights were burning on the green branches, and +gaily-colored pictures, such as she had seen in the shop-windows, looked +down upon her. The little maiden stretched out her hands towards them +when--the match went out. The lights of the Christmas tree rose higher +and higher, she saw them now as stars in heaven; one fell down and +formed a long trail of fire. + +"Someone is just dead!" said the little girl; for her old grandmother, +the only person who had loved her, and who was now no more, had told +her, that when a star falls, a soul ascends to God. + +She drew another match against the wall: it was again light, and in the +lustre there stood the old grandmother, so bright and radiant, so mild, +and with such an expression of love. + +"Grandmother!" cried the little one. "Oh, take me with you! You go +away when the match burns out; you vanish like the warm stove, like the +delicious roast goose, and like the magnificent Christmas tree!" And +she rubbed the whole bundle of matches quickly against the wall, for +she wanted to be quite sure of keeping her grandmother near her. And +the matches gave such a brilliant light that it was brighter than at +noon-day: never formerly had the grandmother been so beautiful and +so tall. She took the little maiden, on her arm, and both flew in +brightness and in joy so high, so very high, and then above was neither +cold, nor hunger, nor anxiety--they were with God. + +But in the corner, at the cold hour of dawn, sat the poor girl, with +rosy cheeks and with a smiling mouth, leaning against the wall--frozen +to death on the last evening of the old year. Stiff and stark sat the +child there with her matches, of which one bundle had been burnt. "She +wanted to warm herself," people said. No one had the slightest suspicion +of what beautiful things she had seen; no one even dreamed of the +splendor in which, with her grandmother she had entered on the joys of a +new year. + + + + +THE DREAM OF LITTLE TUK + +Ah! yes, that was little Tuk: in reality his name was not Tuk, but that +was what he called himself before he could speak plain: he meant it for +Charles, and it is all well enough if one does but know it. He had now +to take care of his little sister Augusta, who was much younger than +himself, and he was, besides, to learn his lesson at the same time; but +these two things would not do together at all. There sat the poor little +fellow, with his sister on his lap, and he sang to her all the songs he +knew; and he glanced the while from time to time into the geography-book +that lay open before him. By the next morning he was to have learnt +all the towns in Zealand by heart, and to know about them all that is +possible to be known. + +His mother now came home, for she had been out, and took little Augusta +on her arm. Tuk ran quickly to the window, and read so eagerly that he +pretty nearly read his eyes out; for it got darker and darker, but his +mother had no money to buy a candle. + +"There goes the old washerwoman over the way," said his mother, as she +looked out of the window. "The poor woman can hardly drag herself along, +and she must now drag the pail home from the fountain. Be a good boy, +Tukey, and run across and help the old woman, won't you?" + +So Tuk ran over quickly and helped her; but when he came back again into +the room it was quite dark, and as to a light, there was no thought of +such a thing. He was now to go to bed; that was an old turn-up bedstead; +in it he lay and thought about his geography lesson, and of Zealand, and +of all that his master had told him. He ought, to be sure, to have read +over his lesson again, but that, you know, he could not do. He therefore +put his geography-book under his pillow, because he had heard that was +a very good thing to do when one wants to learn one's lesson; but one +cannot, however, rely upon it entirely. Well, there he lay, and thought +and thought, and all at once it was just as if someone kissed his eyes +and mouth: he slept, and yet he did not sleep; it was as though the old +washerwoman gazed on him with her mild eyes and said, "It were a great +sin if you were not to know your lesson tomorrow morning. You have aided +me, I therefore will now help you; and the loving God will do so at all +times." And all of a sudden the book under Tuk's pillow began scraping +and scratching. + +"Kickery-ki! kluk! kluk! kluk!"--that was an old hen who came creeping +along, and she was from Kjoge. "I am a Kjoger hen," [*] said she, and then +she related how many inhabitants there were there, and about the battle +that had taken place, and which, after all, was hardly worth talking +about. + + * Kjoge, a town in the bay of Kjoge. "To see the Kjoge + hens," is an expression similar to "showing a child London," + which is said to be done by taking his head in both bands, + and so lifting him off the ground. At the invasion of the + English in 1807, an encounter of a no very glorious nature + took place between the British troops and the undisciplined + Danish militia. + +"Kribledy, krabledy--plump!" down fell somebody: it was a wooden bird, +the popinjay used at the shooting-matches at Prastoe. Now he said that +there were just as many inhabitants as he had nails in his body; and he +was very proud. "Thorwaldsen lived almost next door to me.* Plump! Here +I lie capitally." + +* Prastoe, a still smaller town than Kjoge. Some hundred paces from +it lies the manor-house Ny Soe, where Thorwaldsen, the famed sculptor, +generally sojourned during his stay in Denmark, and where he called many +of his immortal works into existence. + + +But little Tuk was no longer lying down: all at once he was on +horseback. On he went at full gallop, still galloping on and on. A +knight with a gleaming plume, and most magnificently dressed, held him +before him on the horse, and thus they rode through the wood to the old +town of Bordingborg, and that was a large and very lively town. High +towers rose from the castle of the king, and the brightness of many +candles streamed from all the windows; within was dance and song, +and King Waldemar and the young, richly-attired maids of honor danced +together. The morn now came; and as soon as the sun appeared, the whole +town and the king's palace crumbled together, and one tower after the +other; and at last only a single one remained standing where the castle +had been before,* and the town was so small and poor, and the school +boys came along with their books under their arms, and said, "2000 +inhabitants!" but that was not true, for there were not so many. + +*Bordingborg, in the reign of King Waldemar, a considerable place, now +an unimportant little town. One solitary tower only, and some remains of +a wall, show where the castle once stood. + + +And little Tukey lay in his bed: it seemed to him as if he dreamed, and +yet as if he were not dreaming; however, somebody was close beside him. + +"Little Tukey! Little Tukey!" cried someone near. It was a seaman, +quite a little personage, so little as if he were a midshipman; but a +midshipman it was not. + +"Many remembrances from Corsor.* That is a town that is just rising +into importance; a lively town that has steam-boats and stagecoaches: +formerly people called it ugly, but that is no longer true. I lie on +the sea," said Corsor; "I have high roads and gardens, and I have given +birth to a poet who was witty and amusing, which all poets are not. I +once intended to equip a ship that was to sail all round the earth; but +I did not do it, although I could have done so: and then, too, I smell +so deliciously, for close before the gate bloom the most beautiful +roses." + +*Corsor, on the Great Belt, called, formerly, before the introduction +of steam-vessels, when travellers were often obliged to wait a long time +for a favorable wind, "the most tiresome of towns." The poet Baggesen +was born here. + + +Little Tuk looked, and all was red and green before his eyes; but as +soon as the confusion of colors was somewhat over, all of a sudden there +appeared a wooded slope close to the bay, and high up above stood a +magnificent old church, with two high pointed towers. From out the +hill-side spouted fountains in thick streams of water, so that there +was a continual splashing; and close beside them sat an old king with +a golden crown upon his white head: that was King Hroar, near the +fountains, close to the town of Roeskilde, as it is now called. And up +the slope into the old church went all the kings and queens of Denmark, +hand in hand, all with their golden crowns; and the organ played and +the fountains rustled. Little Tuk saw all, heard all. "Do not forget the +diet," said King Hroar.* + +*Roeskilde, once the capital of Denmark. The town takes its name from +King Hroar, and the many fountains in the neighborhood. In the beautiful +cathedral the greater number of the kings and queens of Denmark are +interred. In Roeskilde, too, the members of the Danish Diet assemble. + + +Again all suddenly disappeared. Yes, and whither? It seemed to him +just as if one turned over a leaf in a book. And now stood there an +old peasant-woman, who came from Soroe,* where grass grows in the +market-place. She had an old grey linen apron hanging over her head and +back: it was so wet, it certainly must have been raining. "Yes, that it +has," said she; and she now related many pretty things out of Holberg's +comedies, and about Waldemar and Absalon; but all at once she cowered +together, and her head began shaking backwards and forwards, and she +looked as she were going to make a spring. "Croak! croak!" said she. +"It is wet, it is wet; there is such a pleasant deathlike stillness in +Sorbe!" She was now suddenly a frog, "Croak"; and now she was an old +woman. "One must dress according to the weather," said she. "It is wet; +it is wet. My town is just like a bottle; and one gets in by the neck, +and by the neck one must get out again! In former times I had the +finest fish, and now I have fresh rosy-cheeked boys at the bottom of the +bottle, who learn wisdom, Hebrew, Greek--Croak!" + +* Sorbe, a very quiet little town, beautifully situated, surrounded by +woods and lakes. Holberg, Denmark's Moliere, founded here an academy +for the sons of the nobles. The poets Hauch and Ingemann were appointed +professors here. The latter lives there still. + + +When she spoke it sounded just like the noise of frogs, or as if one +walked with great boots over a moor; always the same tone, so uniform +and so tiring that little Tuk fell into a good sound sleep, which, by +the bye, could not do him any harm. + +But even in this sleep there came a dream, or whatever else it was: his +little sister Augusta, she with the blue eyes and the fair curling hair, +was suddenly a tall, beautiful girl, and without having wings was yet +able to fly; and she now flew over Zealand--over the green woods and the +blue lakes. + +"Do you hear the cock crow, Tukey? Cock-a-doodle-doo! The cocks are +flying up from Kjoge! You will have a farm-yard, so large, oh! so very +large! You will suffer neither hunger nor thirst! You will get on in the +world! You will be a rich and happy man! Your house will exalt itself +like King Waldemar's tower, and will be richly decorated with marble +statues, like that at Prastoe. You understand what I mean. Your name +shall circulate with renown all round the earth, like unto the ship that +was to have sailed from Corsor; and in Roeskilde--" + +"Do not forget the diet!" said King Hroar. + +"Then you will speak well and wisely, little Tukey; and when at last you +sink into your grave, you shall sleep as quietly--" + +"As if I lay in Soroe," said Tuk, awaking. It was bright day, and he was +now quite unable to call to mind his dream; that, however, was not at +all necessary, for one may not know what the future will bring. + +And out of bed he jumped, and read in his book, and now all at once he +knew his whole lesson. And the old washerwoman popped her head in at the +door, nodded to him friendly, and said, "Thanks, many thanks, my good +child, for your help! May the good ever-loving God fulfil your loveliest +dream!" + +Little Tukey did not at all know what he had dreamed, but the loving God +knew it. + + + + +THE NAUGHTY BOY + +Along time ago, there lived an old poet, a thoroughly kind old poet. As +he was sitting one evening in his room, a dreadful storm arose without, +and the rain streamed down from heaven; but the old poet sat warm +and comfortable in his chimney-corner, where the fire blazed and the +roasting apple hissed. + +"Those who have not a roof over their heads will be wetted to the skin," +said the good old poet. + +"Oh let me in! Let me in! I am cold, and I'm so wet!" exclaimed suddenly +a child that stood crying at the door and knocking for admittance, while +the rain poured down, and the wind made all the windows rattle. + +"Poor thing!" said the old poet, as he went to open the door. There +stood a little boy, quite naked, and the water ran down from his long +golden hair; he trembled with cold, and had he not come into a warm room +he would most certainly have perished in the frightful tempest. + +"Poor child!" said the old poet, as he took the boy by the hand. "Come +in, come in, and I will soon restore thee! Thou shalt have wine and +roasted apples, for thou art verily a charming child!" And the boy was +so really. His eyes were like two bright stars; and although the water +trickled down his hair, it waved in beautiful curls. He looked exactly +like a little angel, but he was so pale, and his whole body trembled +with cold. He had a nice little bow in his hand, but it was quite +spoiled by the rain, and the tints of his many-colored arrows ran one +into the other. + +The old poet seated himself beside his hearth, and took the little +fellow on his lap; he squeezed the water out of his dripping hair, +warmed his hands between his own, and boiled for him some sweet wine. +Then the boy recovered, his cheeks again grew rosy, he jumped down from +the lap where he was sitting, and danced round the kind old poet. + +"You are a merry fellow," said the old man. "What's your name?" + +"My name is Cupid," answered the boy. "Don't you know me? There lies my +bow; it shoots well, I can assure you! Look, the weather is now clearing +up, and the moon is shining clear again through the window." + +"Why, your bow is quite spoiled," said the old poet. + +"That were sad indeed," said the boy, and he took the bow in his hand +and examined it on every side. "Oh, it is dry again, and is not hurt at +all; the string is quite tight. I will try it directly." And he bent his +bow, took aim, and shot an arrow at the old poet, right into his heart. +"You see now that my bow was not spoiled," said he laughing; and away he +ran. + +The naughty boy, to shoot the old poet in that way; he who had taken him +into his warm room, who had treated him so kindly, and who had given him +warm wine and the very best apples! + +The poor poet lay on the earth and wept, for the arrow had really flown +into his heart. + +"Fie!" said he. "How naughty a boy Cupid is! I will tell all children +about him, that they may take care and not play with him, for he will +only cause them sorrow and many a heartache." + +And all good children to whom he related this story, took great heed +of this naughty Cupid; but he made fools of them still, for he is +astonishingly cunning. When the university students come from the +lectures, he runs beside them in a black coat, and with a book under his +arm. It is quite impossible for them to know him, and they walk along +with him arm in arm, as if he, too, were a student like themselves; and +then, unperceived, he thrusts an arrow to their bosom. When the young +maidens come from being examined by the clergyman, or go to church to +be confirmed, there he is again close behind them. Yes, he is forever +following people. At the play, he sits in the great chandelier and burns +in bright flames, so that people think it is really a flame, but they +soon discover it is something else. He roves about in the garden of the +palace and upon the ramparts: yes, once he even shot your father and +mother right in the heart. Ask them only and you will hear what they'll +tell you. Oh, he is a naughty boy, that Cupid; you must never have +anything to do with him. He is forever running after everybody. Only +think, he shot an arrow once at your old grandmother! But that is a +long time ago, and it is all past now; however, a thing of that sort she +never forgets. Fie, naughty Cupid! But now you know him, and you know, +too, how ill-behaved he is! + + + + +THE RED SHOES + +There was once a little girl who was very pretty and delicate, but in +summer she was forced to run about with bare feet, she was so poor, and +in winter wear very large wooden shoes, which made her little insteps +quite red, and that looked so dangerous! + +In the middle of the village lived old Dame Shoemaker; she sat and sewed +together, as well as she could, a little pair of shoes out of old red +strips of cloth; they were very clumsy, but it was a kind thought. They +were meant for the little girl. The little girl was called Karen. + +On the very day her mother was buried, Karen received the red shoes, +and wore them for the first time. They were certainly not intended for +mourning, but she had no others, and with stockingless feet she followed +the poor straw coffin in them. + +Suddenly a large old carriage drove up, and a large old lady sat in it: +she looked at the little girl, felt compassion for her, and then said to +the clergyman: + +"Here, give me the little girl. I will adopt her!" + +And Karen believed all this happened on account of the red shoes, but +the old lady thought they were horrible, and they were burnt. But Karen +herself was cleanly and nicely dressed; she must learn to read and sew; +and people said she was a nice little thing, but the looking-glass said: +"Thou art more than nice, thou art beautiful!" + +Now the queen once travelled through the land, and she had her little +daughter with her. And this little daughter was a princess, and people +streamed to the castle, and Karen was there also, and the little +princess stood in her fine white dress, in a window, and let herself be +stared at; she had neither a train nor a golden crown, but splendid +red morocco shoes. They were certainly far handsomer than those Dame +Shoemaker had made for little Karen. Nothing in the world can be +compared with red shoes. + +Now Karen was old enough to be confirmed; she had new clothes and was to +have new shoes also. The rich shoemaker in the city took the measure of +her little foot. This took place at his house, in his room; where stood +large glass-cases, filled with elegant shoes and brilliant boots. All +this looked charming, but the old lady could not see well, and so had +no pleasure in them. In the midst of the shoes stood a pair of red ones, +just like those the princess had worn. How beautiful they were! The +shoemaker said also they had been made for the child of a count, but had +not fitted. + +"That must be patent leather!" said the old lady. "They shine so!" + +"Yes, they shine!" said Karen, and they fitted, and were bought, but the +old lady knew nothing about their being red, else she would never have +allowed Karen to have gone in red shoes to be confirmed. Yet such was +the case. + +Everybody looked at her feet; and when she stepped through the chancel +door on the church pavement, it seemed to her as if the old figures on +the tombs, those portraits of old preachers and preachers' wives, with +stiff ruffs, and long black dresses, fixed their eyes on her red shoes. +And she thought only of them as the clergyman laid his hand upon her +head, and spoke of the holy baptism, of the covenant with God, and how +she should be now a matured Christian; and the organ pealed so solemnly; +the sweet children's voices sang, and the old music-directors sang, but +Karen only thought of her red shoes. + +In the afternoon, the old lady heard from everyone that the shoes had +been red, and she said that it was very wrong of Karen, that it was not +at all becoming, and that in future Karen should only go in black shoes +to church, even when she should be older. + +The next Sunday there was the sacrament, and Karen looked at the black +shoes, looked at the red ones--looked at them again, and put on the red +shoes. + +The sun shone gloriously; Karen and the old lady walked along the path +through the corn; it was rather dusty there. + +At the church door stood an old soldier with a crutch, and with a +wonderfully long beard, which was more red than white, and he bowed to +the ground, and asked the old lady whether he might dust her shoes. And +Karen stretched out her little foot. + +"See, what beautiful dancing shoes!" said the soldier. "Sit firm when +you dance"; and he put his hand out towards the soles. + +And the old lady gave the old soldier alms, and went into the church +with Karen. + +And all the people in the church looked at Karen's red shoes, and all +the pictures, and as Karen knelt before the altar, and raised the cup to +her lips, she only thought of the red shoes, and they seemed to swim +in it; and she forgot to sing her psalm, and she forgot to pray, "Our +Father in Heaven!" + +Now all the people went out of church, and the old lady got into her +carriage. Karen raised her foot to get in after her, when the old +soldier said, + +"Look, what beautiful dancing shoes!" + +And Karen could not help dancing a step or two, and when she began her +feet continued to dance; it was just as though the shoes had power over +them. She danced round the church corner, she could not leave off; the +coachman was obliged to run after and catch hold of her, and he lifted +her in the carriage, but her feet continued to dance so that she trod on +the old lady dreadfully. At length she took the shoes off, and then her +legs had peace. + +The shoes were placed in a closet at home, but Karen could not avoid +looking at them. + +Now the old lady was sick, and it was said she could not recover. She +must be nursed and waited upon, and there was no one whose duty it was +so much as Karen's. But there was a great ball in the city, to which +Karen was invited. She looked at the old lady, who could not recover, +she looked at the red shoes, and she thought there could be no sin in +it; she put on the red shoes, she might do that also, she thought. But +then she went to the ball and began to dance. + +When she wanted to dance to the right, the shoes would dance to the +left, and when she wanted to dance up the room, the shoes danced back +again, down the steps, into the street, and out of the city gate. She +danced, and was forced to dance straight out into the gloomy wood. + +Then it was suddenly light up among the trees, and she fancied it must +be the moon, for there was a face; but it was the old soldier with +the red beard; he sat there, nodded his head, and said, "Look, what +beautiful dancing shoes!" + +Then she was terrified, and wanted to fling off the red shoes, but they +clung fast; and she pulled down her stockings, but the shoes seemed to +have grown to her feet. And she danced, and must dance, over fields and +meadows, in rain and sunshine, by night and day; but at night it was the +most fearful. + +She danced over the churchyard, but the dead did not dance--they had +something better to do than to dance. She wished to seat herself on a +poor man's grave, where the bitter tansy grew; but for her there was +neither peace nor rest; and when she danced towards the open church +door, she saw an angel standing there. He wore long, white garments; he +had wings which reached from his shoulders to the earth; his countenance +was severe and grave; and in his hand he held a sword, broad and +glittering. + +"Dance shalt thou!" said he. "Dance in thy red shoes till thou art pale +and cold! Till thy skin shrivels up and thou art a skeleton! Dance shalt +thou from door to door, and where proud, vain children dwell, thou shalt +knock, that they may hear thee and tremble! Dance shalt thou--!" + +"Mercy!" cried Karen. But she did not hear the angel's reply, for the +shoes carried her through the gate into the fields, across roads and +bridges, and she must keep ever dancing. + +One morning she danced past a door which she well knew. Within sounded +a psalm; a coffin, decked with flowers, was borne forth. Then she knew +that the old lady was dead, and felt that she was abandoned by all, and +condemned by the angel of God. + +She danced, and she was forced to dance through the gloomy night. The +shoes carried her over stack and stone; she was torn till she bled; she +danced over the heath till she came to a little house. Here, she knew, +dwelt the executioner; and she tapped with her fingers at the window, +and said, "Come out! Come out! I cannot come in, for I am forced to +dance!" + +And the executioner said, "Thou dost not know who I am, I fancy? I +strike bad people's heads off; and I hear that my axe rings!" + +"Don't strike my head off!" said Karen. "Then I can't repent of my sins! +But strike off my feet in the red shoes!" + +And then she confessed her entire sin, and the executioner struck off +her feet with the red shoes, but the shoes danced away with the little +feet across the field into the deep wood. + +And he carved out little wooden feet for her, and crutches, taught +her the psalm criminals always sing; and she kissed the hand which had +wielded the axe, and went over the heath. + +"Now I have suffered enough for the red shoes!" said she. "Now I will +go into the church that people may see me!" And she hastened towards the +church door: but when she was near it, the red shoes danced before her, +and she was terrified, and turned round. The whole week she was unhappy, +and wept many bitter tears; but when Sunday returned, she said, "Well, +now I have suffered and struggled enough! I really believe I am as good +as many a one who sits in the church, and holds her head so high!" + +And away she went boldly; but she had not got farther than the +churchyard gate before she saw the red shoes dancing before her; and she +was frightened, and turned back, and repented of her sin from her heart. + +And she went to the parsonage, and begged that they would take her +into service; she would be very industrious, she said, and would do +everything she could; she did not care about the wages, only she wished +to have a home, and be with good people. And the clergyman's wife was +sorry for her and took her into service; and she was industrious and +thoughtful. She sat still and listened when the clergyman read the Bible +in the evenings. All the children thought a great deal of her; but when +they spoke of dress, and grandeur, and beauty, she shook her head. + +The following Sunday, when the family was going to church, they asked +her whether she would not go with them; but she glanced sorrowfully, +with tears in her eyes, at her crutches. The family went to hear the +word of God; but she went alone into her little chamber; there was only +room for a bed and chair to stand in it; and here she sat down with her +Prayer-Book; and whilst she read with a pious mind, the wind bore +the strains of the organ towards her, and she raised her tearful +countenance, and said, "O God, help me!" + +And the sun shone so clearly, and straight before her stood the angel +of God in white garments, the same she had seen that night at the church +door; but he no longer carried the sharp sword, but in its stead a +splendid green spray, full of roses. And he touched the ceiling with the +spray, and the ceiling rose so high, and where he had touched it there +gleamed a golden star. And he touched the walls, and they widened out, +and she saw the organ which was playing; she saw the old pictures of the +preachers and the preachers' wives. The congregation sat in cushioned +seats, and sang out of their Prayer-Books. For the church itself had +come to the poor girl in her narrow chamber, or else she had come into +the church. She sat in the pew with the clergyman's family, and when +they had ended the psalm and looked up, they nodded and said, "It is +right that thou art come!" + +"It was through mercy!" she said. + +And the organ pealed, and the children's voices in the choir sounded so +sweet and soft! The clear sunshine streamed so warmly through the window +into the pew where Karen sat! Her heart was so full of sunshine, peace, +and joy, that it broke. Her soul flew on the sunshine to God, and there +no one asked after the RED SHOES. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Andersen's Fairy Tales, by Hans Christian Andersen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 1597.txt or 1597.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/9/1597/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Etext prepared by Dianne Bean using OmniPage Pro software donated by Caere + + + + + +ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES + + + +CONTENTS + + +The Emperor's New Clothes +The Swineherd +The Real Princess +The Shoes of Fortune +The Fir Tree +The Snow Queen +The Leap-Frog +The Elderbush +The Bell +The Old House +The Happy Family +The Story of a Mother +The False Collar +The Shadow +The Little Match Girl +The Dream of Little Tuk +The Naughty Boy +The Red Shoes + + + + +THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES + +Many years ago, there was an Emperor, who was so excessively fond of new +clothes, that he spent all his money in dress. He did not trouble himself in +the least about his soldiers; nor did he care to go either to the theatre or +the chase, except for the opportunities then afforded him for displaying his +new clothes. He had a different suit for each hour of the day; and as of any +other king or emperor, one is accustomed to say, "he is sitting in council," +it was always said of him, "The Emperor is sitting in his wardrobe." + +Time passed merrily in the large town which was his capital; strangers arrived +every day at the court. One day, two rogues, calling themselves weavers, made +their appearance. They gave out that they knew how to weave stuffs of the most +beautiful colors and elaborate patterns, the clothes manufactured from which +should have the wonderful property of remaining invisible to everyone who was +unfit for the office he held, or who was extraordinarily simple in character. + +"These must, indeed, be splendid clothes!" thought the Emperor. "Had I such a +suit, I might at once find out what men in my realms are unfit for their +office, and also be able to distinguish the wise from the foolish! This stuff +must be woven for me immediately." And he caused large sums of money to be +given to both the weavers in order that they might begin their work directly. + +So the two pretended weavers set up two looms, and affected to work very +busily, though in reality they did nothing at all. They asked for the most +delicate silk and the purest gold thread; put both into their own knapsacks; +and then continued their pretended work at the empty looms until late at +night. + +"I should like to know how the weavers are getting on with my cloth," said the +Emperor to himself, after some little time had elapsed; he was, however, +rather embarrassed, when he remembered that a simpleton, or one unfit for his +office, would be unable to see the manufacture. To be sure, he thought he had +nothing to risk in his own person; but yet, he would prefer sending somebody +else, to bring him intelligence about the weavers, and their work, before he +troubled himself in the affair. All the people throughout the city had heard +of the wonderful property the cloth was to possess; and all were anxious to +learn how wise, or how ignorant, their neighbors might prove to be. + +"I will send my faithful old minister to the weavers," said the Emperor at +last, after some deliberation, "he will be best able to see how the cloth +looks; for he is a man of sense, and no one can be more suitable for his +office than he is." + +So the faithful old minister went into the hall, where the knaves were working +with all their might, at their empty looms. "What can be the meaning of this?" +thought the old man, opening his eyes very wide. "I cannot discover the least +bit of thread on the looms." However, he did not express his thoughts aloud. + +The impostors requested him very courteously to be so good as to come nearer +their looms; and then asked him whether the design pleased him, and whether +the colors were not very beautiful; at the same time pointing to the empty +frames. The poor old minister looked and looked, he could not discover +anything on the looms, for a very good reason, viz: there was nothing there. +"What!" thought he again. "Is it possible that I am a simpleton? I have never +thought so myself; and no one must know it now if I am so. Can it be, that I +am unfit for my office? No, that must not be said either. I will never confess +that I could not see the stuff." + +"Well, Sir Minister!" said one of the knaves, still pretending to work. "You +do not say whether the stuff pleases you." + +"Oh, it is excellent!" replied the old minister, looking at the loom through +his spectacles. "This pattern, and the colors, yes, I will tell the Emperor +without delay, how very beautiful I think them." + +"We shall be much obliged to you," said the impostors, and then they named the +different colors and described the pattern of the pretended stuff. The old +minister listened attentively to their words, in order that he might repeat +them to the Emperor; and then the knaves asked for more silk and gold, saying +that it was necessary to complete what they had begun. However, they put all +that was given them into their knapsacks; and continued to work with as much +apparent diligence as before at their empty looms. + +The Emperor now sent another officer of his court to see how the men were +getting on, and to ascertain whether the cloth would soon be ready. It was +just the same with this gentleman as with the minister; he surveyed the looms +on all sides, but could see nothing at all but the empty frames. + +"Does not the stuff appear as beautiful to you, as it did to my lord the +minister?" asked the impostors of the Emperor's second ambassador; at the same +time making the same gestures as before, and talking of the design and colors +which were not there. + +"I certainly am not stupid!" thought the messenger. "It must be, that I am not +fit for my good, profitable office! That is very odd; however, no one shall +know anything about it." And accordingly he praised the stuff he could not +see, and declared that he was delighted with both colors and patterns. +"Indeed, please your Imperial Majesty," said he to his sovereign when he +returned, "the cloth which the weavers are preparing is extraordinarily +magnificent." + +The whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which the Emperor had ordered +to be woven at his own expense. + +And now the Emperor himself wished to see the costly manufacture, while it was +still in the loom. Accompanied by a select number of officers of the court, +among whom were the two honest men who had already admired the cloth, he went +to the crafty impostors, who, as soon as they were aware of the Emperor's +approach, went on working more diligently than ever; although they still did +not pass a single thread through the looms. + +"Is not the work absolutely magnificent?" said the two officers of the crown, +already mentioned. "If your Majesty will only be pleased to look at it! What a +splendid design! What glorious colors!" and at the same time they pointed to +the empty frames; for they imagined that everyone else could see this +exquisite piece of workmanship. + +"How is this?" said the Emperor to himself. "I can see nothing! This is indeed +a terrible affair! Am I a simpleton, or am I unfit to be an Emperor? That +would be the worst thing that could happen--Oh! the cloth is charming," said +he, aloud. "It has my complete approbation." And he smiled most graciously, +and looked closely at the empty looms; for on no account would he say that he +could not see what two of the officers of his court had praised so much. All +his retinue now strained their eyes, hoping to discover something on the +looms, but they could see no more than the others; nevertheless, they all +exclaimed, "Oh, how beautiful!" and advised his majesty to have some new +clothes made from this splendid material, for the approaching procession. +"Magnificent! Charming! Excellent!" resounded on all sides; and everyone was +uncommonly gay. The Emperor shared in the general satisfaction; and presented +the impostors with the riband of an order of knighthood, to be worn in their +button-holes, and the title of "Gentlemen Weavers." + +The rogues sat up the whole of the night before the day on which the +procession was to take place, and had sixteen lights burning, so that everyone +might see how anxious they were to finish the Emperor's new suit. They +pretended to roll the cloth off the looms; cut the air with their scissors; +and sewed with needles without any thread in them. "See!" cried they, at last. +"The Emperor's new clothes are ready!" + +And now the Emperor, with all the grandees of his court, came to the weavers; +and the rogues raised their arms, as if in the act of holding something up, +saying, "Here are your Majesty's trousers! Here is the scarf! Here is the +mantle! The whole suit is as light as a cobweb; one might fancy one has +nothing at all on, when dressed in it; that, however, is the great virtue of +this delicate cloth." + +"Yes indeed!" said all the courtiers, although not one of them could see +anything of this exquisite manufacture. + +"If your Imperial Majesty will be graciously pleased to take off your clothes, +we will fit on the new suit, in front of the looking glass." + +The Emperor was accordingly undressed, and the rogues pretended to array him +in his new suit; the Emperor turning round, from side to side, before the +looking glass. + +"How splendid his Majesty looks in his new clothes, and how well they fit!" +everyone cried out. "What a design! What colors! These are indeed royal +robes!" + +"The canopy which is to be borne over your Majesty, in the procession, is +waiting," announced the chief master of the ceremonies. + +"I am quite ready," answered the Emperor. "Do my new clothes fit well?" asked +he, turning himself round again before the looking glass, in order that he +might appear to be examining his handsome suit. + +The lords of the bedchamber, who were to carry his Majesty's train felt about +on the ground, as if they were lifting up the ends of the mantle; and +pretended to be carrying something; for they would by no means betray anything +like simplicity, or unfitness for their office. + +So now the Emperor walked under his high canopy in the midst of the +procession, through the streets of his capital; and all the people standing +by, and those at the windows, cried out, "Oh! How beautiful are our Emperor's +new clothes! What a magnificent train there is to the mantle; and how +gracefully the scarf hangs!" in short, no one would allow that he could not +see these much-admired clothes; because, in doing so, he would have declared +himself either a simpleton or unfit for his office. Certainly, none of the +Emperor's various suits, had ever made so great an impression, as these +invisible ones. + +"But the Emperor has nothing at all on!" said a little child. + +"Listen to the voice of innocence!" exclaimed his father; and what the child +had said was whispered from one to another. + +"But he has nothing at all on!" at last cried out all the people. The Emperor +was vexed, for he knew that the people were right; but he thought the +procession must go on now! And the lords of the bedchamber took greater pains +than ever, to appear holding up a train, although, in reality, there was no +train to hold. + + + +THE SWINEHERD + +There was once a poor Prince, who had a kingdom. His kingdom was very small, +but still quite large enough to marry upon; and he wished to marry. + +It was certainly rather cool of him to say to the Emperor's daughter, "Will +you have me?" But so he did; for his name was renowned far and wide; and there +were a hundred princesses who would have answered, "Yes!" and "Thank you +kindly." We shall see what this princess said. + +Listen! + +It happened that where the Prince's father lay buried, there grew a rose +tree--a most beautiful rose tree, which blossomed only once in every five +years, and even then bore only one flower, but that was a rose! It smelt so +sweet that all cares and sorrows were forgotten by him who inhaled its +fragrance. + +And furthermore, the Prince had a nightingale, who could sing in such a manner +that it seemed as though all sweet melodies dwelt in her little throat. So the +Princess was to have the rose, and the nightingale; and they were accordingly +put into large silver caskets, and sent to her. + +The Emperor had them brought into a large hall, where the Princess was playing +at "Visiting," with the ladies of the court; and when she saw the caskets with +the presents, she clapped her hands for joy. + +"Ah, if it were but a little pussy-cat!" said she; but the rose tree, with its +beautiful rose came to view. + +"Oh, how prettily it is made!" said all the court ladies. + +"It is more than pretty," said the Emperor, "it is charming!" + +But the Princess touched it, and was almost ready to cry. + +"Fie, papa!" said she. "It is not made at all, it is natural!" + +"Let us see what is in the other casket, before we get into a bad humor," said +the Emperor. So the nightingale came forth and sang so delightfully that at +first no one could say anything ill-humored of her. + +"Superbe! Charmant!" exclaimed the ladies; for they all used to chatter French, +each one worse than her neighbor. + +"How much the bird reminds me of the musical box that belonged to our blessed +Empress," said an old knight. "Oh yes! These are the same tones, the same +execution." + +"Yes! yes!" said the Emperor, and he wept like a child at the remembrance. + +"I will still hope that it is not a real bird," said the Princess. + +"Yes, it is a real bird," said those who had brought it. "Well then let the +bird fly," said the Princess; and she positively refused to see the Prince. + +However, he was not to be discouraged; he daubed his face over brown and +black; pulled his cap over his ears, and knocked at the door. + +"Good day to my lord, the Emperor!" said he. "Can I have employment at the +palace?" + +"Why, yes," said the Emperor. "I want some one to take care of the pigs, for +we have a great many of them." + +So the Prince was appointed "Imperial Swineherd." He had a dirty little room +close by the pigsty; and there he sat the whole day, and worked. By the +evening he had made a pretty little kitchen-pot. Little bells were hung all +round it; and when the pot was boiling, these bells tinkled in the most +charming manner, and played the old melody, + + "Ach! du lieber Augustin, + Alles ist weg, weg, weg!"* + + * "Ah! dear Augustine! + All is gone, gone, gone!" + + +But what was still more curious, whoever held his finger in the smoke of the +kitchen-pot, immediately smelt all the dishes that were cooking on every +hearth in the city--this, you see, was something quite different from the +rose. + +Now the Princess happened to walk that way; and when she heard the tune, she +stood quite still, and seemed pleased; for she could play "Lieber Augustine"; +it was the only piece she knew; and she played it with one finger. + +"Why there is my piece," said the Princess. "That swineherd must certainly +have been well educated! Go in and ask him the price of the instrument." + +So one of the court-ladies must run in; however, she drew on wooden slippers +first. + +"What will you take for the kitchen-pot?" said the lady. + +"I will have ten kisses from the Princess," said the swineherd. + +"Yes, indeed!" said the lady. + +"I cannot sell it for less," rejoined the swineherd. + +"He is an impudent fellow!" said the Princess, and she walked on; but when she +had gone a little way, the bells tinkled so prettily + + "Ach! du lieber Augustin, + Alles ist weg, weg, weg!" + +"Stay," said the Princess. "Ask him if he will have ten kisses from the ladies +of my court." + +"No, thank you!" said the swineherd. "Ten kisses from the Princess, or I keep +the kitchen-pot myself." + +"That must not be, either!" said the Princess. "But do you all stand before me +that no one may see us." + +And the court-ladies placed themselves in front of her, and spread out their +dresses--the swineherd got ten kisses, and the Princess--the kitchen-pot. + +That was delightful! The pot was boiling the whole evening, and the whole of +the following day. They knew perfectly well what was cooking at every fire +throughout the city, from the chamberlain's to the cobbler's; the court-ladies +danced and clapped their hands. + +"We know who has soup, and who has pancakes for dinner to-day, who has +cutlets, and who has eggs. How interesting!" + +"Yes, but keep my secret, for I am an Emperor's daughter." + +The swineherd--that is to say--the Prince, for no one knew that he was other +than an ill-favored swineherd, let not a day pass without working at +something; he at last constructed a rattle, which, when it was swung round, +played all the waltzes and jig tunes, which have ever been heard since the +creation of the world. + +"Ah, that is superbe!" said the Princess when she passed by. "I have never +heard prettier compositions! Go in and ask him the price of the instrument; +but mind, he shall have no more kisses!" + +"He will have a hundred kisses from the Princess!" said the lady who had been +to ask. + +"I think he is not in his right senses!" said the Princess, and walked on, but +when she had gone a little way, she stopped again. "One must encourage art," +said she, "I am the Emperor's daughter. Tell him he shall, as on yesterday, +have ten kisses from me, and may take the rest from the ladies of the court." + +"Oh--but we should not like that at all!" said they. "What are you muttering?" +asked the Princess. "If I can kiss him, surely you can. Remember that you owe +everything to me." So the ladies were obliged to go to him again. + +"A hundred kisses from the Princess," said he, "or else let everyone keep his +own!" + +"Stand round!" said she; and all the ladies stood round her whilst the +kissing was going on. + +"What can be the reason for such a crowd close by the pigsty?" said the +Emperor, who happened just then to step out on the balcony; he rubbed his +eyes, and put on his spectacles. "They are the ladies of the court; I must go +down and see what they are about!" So he pulled up his slippers at the heel, +for he had trodden them down. + +As soon as he had got into the court-yard, he moved very softly, and the +ladies were so much engrossed with counting the kisses, that all might go on +fairly, that they did not perceive the Emperor. He rose on his tiptoes. + +"What is all this?" said he, when he saw what was going on, and he boxed the +Princess's ears with his slipper, just as the swineherd was taking the +eighty-sixth kiss. + +"March out!" said the Emperor, for he was very angry; and both Princess and +swineherd were thrust out of the city. + +The Princess now stood and wept, the swineherd scolded, and the rain poured +down. + +"Alas! Unhappy creature that I am!" said the Princess. "If I had but married +the handsome young Prince! Ah! how unfortunate I am!" + +And the swineherd went behind a tree, washed the black and brown color from +his face, threw off his dirty clothes, and stepped forth in his princely +robes; he looked so noble that the Princess could not help bowing before him. + +"I am come to despise thee," said he. "Thou would'st not have an honorable +Prince! Thou could'st not prize the rose and the nightingale, but thou wast +ready to kiss the swineherd for the sake of a trumpery plaything. Thou art +rightly served." + +He then went back to his own little kingdom, and shut the door of his palace +in her face. Now she might well sing, + + "Ach! du lieber Augustin, + Alles ist weg, weg, weg!" + + + +THE REAL PRINCESS + +There was once a Prince who wished to marry a Princess; but then she must be a +real Princess. He travelled all over the world in hopes of finding such a +lady; but there was always something wrong. Princesses he found in plenty; but +whether they were real Princesses it was impossible for him to decide, for now +one thing, now another, seemed to him not quite right about the ladies. At +last he returned to his palace quite cast down, because he wished so much to +have a real Princess for his wife. + +One evening a fearful tempest arose, it thundered and lightened, and the rain +poured down from the sky in torrents: besides, it was as dark as pitch. All at +once there was heard a violent knocking at the door, and the old King, the +Prince's father, went out himself to open it. + +It was a Princess who was standing outside the door. What with the rain and +the wind, she was in a sad condition; the water trickled down from her hair, +and her clothes clung to her body. She said she was a real Princess. + +"Ah! we shall soon see that!" thought the old Queen-mother; however, she said +not a word of what she was going to do; but went quietly into the bedroom, +took all the bed-clothes off the bed, and put three little peas on the +bedstead. She then laid twenty mattresses one upon another over the three +peas, and put twenty feather beds over the mattresses. + +Upon this bed the Princess was to pass the night. + +The next morning she was asked how she had slept. "Oh, very badly indeed!" she +replied. "I have scarcely closed my eyes the whole night through. I do not +know what was in my bed, but I had something hard under me, and am all over +black and blue. It has hurt me so much!" + +Now it was plain that the lady must be a real Princess, since she had been +able to feel the three little peas through the twenty mattresses and twenty +feather beds. None but a real Princess could have had such a delicate sense of +feeling. + +The Prince accordingly made her his wife; being now convinced that he had +found a real Princess. The three peas were however put into the cabinet of +curiosities, where they are still to be seen, provided they are not lost. + +Wasn't this a lady of real delicacy? + + + +THE SHOES OF FORTUNE + +I. A Beginning + +Every author has some peculiarity in his descriptions or in his style of +writing. Those who do not like him, magnify it, shrug up their shoulders, and +exclaim--there he is again! I, for my part, know very well how I can bring +about this movement and this exclamation. It would happen immediately if I +were to begin here, as I intended to do, with: "Rome has its Corso, Naples its +Toledo"--"Ah! that Andersen; there he is again!" they would cry; yet I must, +to please my fancy, continue quite quietly, and add: "But Copenhagen has its +East Street." + +Here, then, we will stay for the present. In one of the houses not far from +the new market a party was invited--a very large party, in order, as is often +the case, to get a return invitation from the others. One half of the company +was already seated at the card-table, the other half awaited the result of the +stereotype preliminary observation of the lady of the house: + +"Now let us see what we can do to amuse ourselves." + +They had got just so far, and the conversation began to crystallise, as it +could but do with the scanty stream which the commonplace world supplied. +Amongst other things they spoke of the middle ages: some praised that period +as far more interesting, far more poetical than our own too sober present; +indeed Councillor Knap defended this opinion so warmly, that the hostess +declared immediately on his side, and both exerted themselves with unwearied +eloquence. The Councillor boldly declared the time of King Hans to be the +noblest and the most happy period.* + +* A.D. 1482-1513 + + +While the conversation turned on this subject, and was only for a moment +interrupted by the arrival of a journal that contained nothing worth reading, +we will just step out into the antechamber, where cloaks, mackintoshes, +sticks, umbrellas, and shoes, were deposited. Here sat two female figures, a +young and an old one. One might have thought at first they were servants come +to accompany their mistresses home; but on looking nearer, one soon saw they +could scarcely be mere servants; their forms were too noble for that, their +skin too fine, the cut of their dress too striking. Two fairies were they; the +younger, it is true, was not Dame Fortune herself, but one of the +waiting-maids of her handmaidens who carry about the lesser good things that +she distributes; the other looked extremely gloomy--it was Care. She always +attends to her own serious business herself, as then she is sure of having it +done properly. + +They were telling each other, with a confidential interchange of ideas, where +they had been during the day. The messenger of Fortune had only executed a few +unimportant commissions, such as saving a new bonnet from a shower of rain, +etc.; but what she had yet to perform was something quite unusual. + +"I must tell you," said she, "that to-day is my birthday; and in honor of it, +a pair of walking-shoes or galoshes has been entrusted to me, which I am to +carry to mankind. These shoes possess the property of instantly transporting +him who has them on to the place or the period in which he most wishes to be; +every wish, as regards time or place, or state of being, will be immediately +fulfilled, and so at last man will be happy, here below." + +"Do you seriously believe it?" replied Care, in a severe tone of reproach. +"No; he will be very unhappy, and will assuredly bless the moment when he +feels that he has freed himself from the fatal shoes." + +"Stupid nonsense!" said the other angrily. "I will put them here by the door. +Some one will make a mistake for certain and take the wrong ones--he will be a +happy man." + +Such was their conversation. + + +II. What Happened to the Councillor + +It was late; Councillor Knap, deeply occupied with the times of King Hans, +intended to go home, and malicious Fate managed matters so that his feet, +instead of finding their way to his own galoshes, slipped into those of +Fortune. Thus caparisoned the good man walked out of the well-lighted rooms +into East Street. By the magic power of the shoes he was carried back to the +times of King Hans; on which account his foot very naturally sank in the mud +and puddles of the street, there having been in those days no pavement in +Copenhagen. + +"Well! This is too bad! How dirty it is here!" sighed the Councillor. "As to a +pavement, I can find no traces of one, and all the lamps, it seems, have gone +to sleep." + +The moon was not yet very high; it was besides rather foggy, so that in the +darkness all objects seemed mingled in chaotic confusion. At the next corner +hung a votive lamp before a Madonna, but the light it gave was little better +than none at all; indeed, he did not observe it before he was exactly under +it, and his eyes fell upon the bright colors of the pictures which represented +the well-known group of the Virgin and the infant Jesus. + +"That is probably a wax-work show," thought he; "and the people delay taking +down their sign in hopes of a late visitor or two." + +A few persons in the costume of the time of King Hans passed quickly by him. + +"How strange they look! The good folks come probably from a masquerade!" + +Suddenly was heard the sound of drums and fifes; the bright blaze of a fire +shot up from time to time, and its ruddy gleams seemed to contend with the +bluish light of the torches. The Councillor stood still, and watched a most +strange procession pass by. First came a dozen drummers, who understood pretty +well how to handle their instruments; then came halberdiers, and some armed +with cross-bows. The principal person in the procession was a priest. +Astonished at what he saw, the Councillor asked what was the meaning of +all this mummery, and who that man was. + +"That's the Bishop of Zealand," was the answer. + +"Good Heavens! What has taken possession of the Bishop?" sighed the +Councillor, shaking his head. It certainly could not be the Bishop; even +though he was considered the most absent man in the whole kingdom, and people +told the drollest anecdotes about him. Reflecting on the matter, and without +looking right or left, the Councillor went through East Street and across the +Habro-Platz. The bridge leading to Palace Square was not to be found; scarcely +trusting his senses, the nocturnal wanderer discovered a shallow piece of +water, and here fell in with two men who very comfortably were rocking to and +fro in a boat. + +"Does your honor want to cross the ferry to the Holme?" asked they. + +"Across to the Holme!" said the Councillor, who knew nothing of the age in +which he at that moment was. "No, I am going to Christianshafen, to Little +Market Street." + +Both men stared at him in astonishment. + +"Only just tell me where the bridge is," said he. "It is really unpardonable +that there are no lamps here; and it is as dirty as if one had to wade through +a morass." + +The longer he spoke with the boatmen, the more unintelligible did their +language become to him. + +"I don't understand your Bornholmish dialect," said he at last, angrily, and +turning his back upon them. He was unable to find the bridge: there was no +railway either. "It is really disgraceful what a state this place is in," +muttered he to himself. Never had his age, with which, however, he was always +grumbling, seemed so miserable as on this evening. "I'll take a +hackney-coach!" thought he. But where were the hackney-coaches? Not one +was to be seen. + +"I must go back to the New Market; there, it is to be hoped, I shall find some +coaches; for if I don't, I shall never get safe to Christianshafen." + +So off he went in the direction of East Street, and had nearly got to the end +of it when the moon shone forth. + +"God bless me! What wooden scaffolding is that which they have set up there?" +cried he involuntarily, as he looked at East Gate, which, in those days, was +at the end of East Street. + +He found, however, a little side-door open, and through this he went, and +stepped into our New Market of the present time. It was a huge desolate plain; +some wild bushes stood up here and there, while across the field flowed a +broad canal or river. Some wretched hovels for the Dutch sailors, resembling +great boxes, and after which the place was named, lay about in confused +disorder on the opposite bank. + +"I either behold a fata morgana, or I am regularly tipsy," whimpered out the +Councillor. "But what's this?" + +He turned round anew, firmly convinced that he was seriously ill. He gazed at +the street formerly so well known to him, and now so strange in appearance, +and looked at the houses more attentively: most of them were of wood, slightly +put together; and many had a thatched roof. + +"No--I am far from well," sighed he; "and yet I drank only one glass of punch; +but I cannot suppose it--it was, too, really very wrong to give us punch and +hot salmon for supper. I shall speak about it at the first opportunity. I have +half a mind to go back again, and say what I suffer. But no, that would be too +silly; and Heaven only knows if they are up still." + +He looked for the house, but it had vanished. + +"It is really dreadful," groaned he with increasing anxiety; "I cannot +recognise East Street again; there is not a single decent shop from one end to +the other! Nothing but wretched huts can I see anywhere; just as if I were at +Ringstead. Oh! I am ill! I can scarcely bear myself any longer. Where the +deuce can the house be? It must be here on this very spot; yet there is not +the slightest idea of resemblance, to such a degree has everything changed +this night! At all events here are some people up and stirring. Oh! oh! I am +certainly very ill." + +He now hit upon a half-open door, through a chink of which a faint light +shone. It was a sort of hostelry of those times; a kind of public-house. The +room had some resemblance to the clay-floored halls in Holstein; a pretty +numerous company, consisting of seamen, Copenhagen burghers, and a few +scholars, sat here in deep converse over their pewter cans, and gave little +heed to the person who entered. + +"By your leave!" said the Councillor to the Hostess, who came bustling towards +him. "I've felt so queer all of a sudden; would you have the goodness to send +for a hackney-coach to take me to Christianshafen?" + +The woman examined him with eyes of astonishment, and shook her head; she then +addressed him in German. The Councillor thought she did not understand Danish, +and therefore repeated his wish in German. This, in connection with his +costume, strengthened the good woman in the belief that he was a foreigner. +That he was ill, she comprehended directly; so she brought him a pitcher of +water, which tasted certainly pretty strong of the sea, although it had been +fetched from the well. + +The Councillor supported his head on his hand, drew a long breath, and thought +over all the wondrous things he saw around him. + +"Is this the Daily News of this evening?" he asked mechanically, as he saw the +Hostess push aside a large sheet of paper. + +The meaning of this councillorship query remained, of course, a riddle to her, +yet she handed him the paper without replying. It was a coarse wood-cut, +representing a splendid meteor "as seen in the town of Cologne," which was to +be read below in bright letters. + +"That is very old!" said the Councillor, whom this piece of antiquity began to +make considerably more cheerful. "Pray how did you come into possession of +this rare print? It is extremely interesting, although the whole is a mere +fable. Such meteorous appearances are to be explained in this way--that they +are the reflections of the Aurora Borealis, and it is highly probable they are +caused principally by electricity." + +Those persons who were sitting nearest him and heard his speech, stared at him +in wonderment; and one of them rose, took off his hat respectfully, and said +with a serious countenance, "You are no doubt a very learned man, Monsieur." + +"Oh no," answered the Councillor, "I can only join in conversation on this +topic and on that, as indeed one must do according to the demands of the world +at present." + +"Modestia is a fine virtue," continued the gentleman; "however, as to your +speech, I must say mihi secus videtur: yet I am willing to suspend my +judicium." + +"May I ask with whom I have the pleasure of speaking?" asked the Councillor. + +"I am a Bachelor in Theologia," answered the gentleman with a stiff reverence. + +This reply fully satisfied the Councillor; the title suited the dress. "He is +certainly," thought he, "some village schoolmaster--some queer old fellow, +such as one still often meets with in Jutland." + +"This is no locus docendi, it is true," began the clerical gentleman; "yet I +beg you earnestly to let us profit by your learning. Your reading in the +ancients is, sine dubio, of vast extent?" + +"Oh yes, I've read something, to be sure," replied the Councillor. "I like +reading all useful works; but I do not on that account despise the modern +ones; 'tis only the unfortunate 'Tales of Every-day Life' that I cannot +bear--we have enough and more than enough such in reality." + +"'Tales of Every-day Life?'" said our Bachelor inquiringly. + +"I mean those new fangled novels, twisting and writhing themselves in the dust +of commonplace, which also expect to find a reading public." + +"Oh," exclaimed the clerical gentleman smiling, "there is much wit in them; +besides they are read at court. The King likes the history of Sir Iffven and +Sir Gaudian particularly, which treats of King Arthur, and his Knights of the +Round Table; he has more than once joked about it with his high vassals." + +"I have not read that novel," said the Councillor; "it must be quite a new +one, that Heiberg has published lately." + +"No," answered the theologian of the time of King Hans: "that book is not +written by a Heiberg, but was imprinted by Godfrey von Gehmen." + +"Oh, is that the author's name?" said the Councillor. "It is a very old name, +and, as well as I recollect, he was the first printer that appeared in +Denmark." + +"Yes, he is our first printer," replied the clerical gentleman hastily. + +So far all went on well. Some one of the worthy burghers now spoke of the +dreadful pestilence that had raged in the country a few years back, meaning +that of 1484. The Councillor imagined it was the cholera that was meant, which +people made so much fuss about; and the discourse passed off satisfactorily +enough. The war of the buccaneers of 1490 was so recent that it could not fail +being alluded to; the English pirates had, they said, most shamefully taken +their ships while in the roadstead; and the Councillor, before whose eyes the +Herostratic* event of 1801 still floated vividly, agreed entirely with the +others in abusing the rascally English. With other topics he was not so +fortunate; every moment brought about some new confusion, and threatened to +become a perfect Babel; for the worthy Bachelor was really too ignorant, and +the simplest observations of the Councillor sounded to him too daring and +phantastical. They looked at one another from the crown of the head to the +soles of the feet; and when matters grew to too high a pitch, then the +Bachelor talked Latin, in the hope of being better understood--but it was of +no use after all. + +* Herostratus, or Eratostratus--an Ephesian, who wantonly set fire to the +famous temple of Diana, in order to commemorate his name by so uncommon an +action. + + +"What's the matter?" asked the Hostess, plucking the Councillor by the sleeve; +and now his recollection returned, for in the course of the conversation he +had entirely forgotten all that had preceded it. + +"Merciful God, where am I!" exclaimed he in agony; and while he so thought, +all his ideas and feelings of overpowering dizziness, against which he +struggled with the utmost power of desperation, encompassed him with renewed +force. "Let us drink claret and mead, and Bremen beer," shouted one of the +guests--"and you shall drink with us!" + +Two maidens approached. One wore a cap of two staring colors, denoting the +class of persons to which she belonged. They poured out the liquor, and made +the most friendly gesticulations; while a cold perspiration trickled down the +back of the poor Councillor. + +"What's to be the end of this! What's to become of me!" groaned he; but he was +forced, in spite of his opposition, to drink with the rest. They took hold of +the worthy man; who, hearing on every side that he was intoxicated, did not in +the least doubt the truth of this certainly not very polite assertion; but on +the contrary, implored the ladies and gentlemen present to procure him a +hackney-coach: they, however, imagined he was talking Russian. + +Never before, he thought, had he been in such a coarse and ignorant company; +one might almost fancy the people had turned heathens again. "It is the most +dreadful moment of my life: the whole world is leagued against me!" But +suddenly it occurred to him that he might stoop down under the table, and then +creep unobserved out of the door. He did so; but just as he was going, the +others remarked what he was about; they laid hold of him by the legs; and now, +happily for him, off fell his fatal shoes--and with them the charm was at an +end. + +The Councillor saw quite distinctly before him a lantern burning, and behind +this a large handsome house. All seemed to him in proper order as usual; it +was East Street, splendid and elegant as we now see it. He lay with his feet +towards a doorway, and exactly opposite sat the watchman asleep. + +"Gracious Heaven!" said he. "Have I lain here in the street and dreamed? Yes; +'tis East Street! How splendid and light it is! But really it is terrible +what an effect that one glass of punch must have had on me!" + +Two minutes later, he was sitting in a hackney-coach and driving to +Frederickshafen. He thought of the distress and agony he had endured, and +praised from the very bottom of his heart the happy reality--our own +time--which, with all its deficiencies, is yet much better than that in which, +so much against his inclination, he had lately been. + + +III. The Watchman's Adventure + +"Why, there is a pair of galoshes, as sure as I'm alive!" said the watchman, +awaking from a gentle slumber. "They belong no doubt to the lieutenant who +lives over the way. They lie close to the door." + +The worthy man was inclined to ring and deliver them at the house, for there +was still a light in the window; but he did not like disturbing the other +people in their beds, and so very considerately he left the matter alone. + +"Such a pair of shoes must be very warm and comfortable," said he; "the +leather is so soft and supple." They fitted his feet as though they had been +made for him. "'Tis a curious world we live in," continued he, soliloquizing. +"There is the lieutenant, now, who might go quietly to bed if he chose, where +no doubt he could stretch himself at his ease; but does he do it? No; he +saunters up and down his room, because, probably, he has enjoyed too many of +the good things of this world at his dinner. That's a happy fellow! He has +neither an infirm mother, nor a whole troop of everlastingly hungry children +to torment him. Every evening he goes to a party, where his nice supper costs +him nothing: would to Heaven I could but change with him! How happy should I +be!" + +While expressing his wish, the charm of the shoes, which he had put on, began +to work; the watchman entered into the being and nature of the lieutenant. He +stood in the handsomely furnished apartment, and held between his fingers a +small sheet of rose-colored paper, on which some verses were written--written +indeed by the officer himself; for who has not, at least once in his life, +had a lyrical moment? And if one then marks down one's thoughts, poetry is +produced. But here was written: + + OH, WERE I RICH! + +"Oh, were I rich! Such was my wish, yea such + When hardly three feet high, I longed for much. + Oh, were I rich! an officer were I, + With sword, and uniform, and plume so high. + And the time came, and officer was I! +But yet I grew not rich. Alas, poor me! +Have pity, Thou, who all man's wants dost see. + + "I sat one evening sunk in dreams of bliss, + A maid of seven years old gave me a kiss, + I at that time was rich in poesy + And tales of old, though poor as poor could be; + But all she asked for was this poesy. +Then was I rich, but not in gold, poor me! +As Thou dost know, who all men's hearts canst see. + + "Oh, were I rich! Oft asked I for this boon. + The child grew up to womanhood full soon. + She is so pretty, clever, and so kind +Oh, did she know what's hidden in my mind-- + A tale of old. Would she to me were kind! +But I'm condemned to silence! oh, poor me! +As Thou dost know, who all men's hearts canst see. + + "Oh, were I rich in calm and peace of mind, + My grief you then would not here written find! + O thou, to whom I do my heart devote, + Oh read this page of glad days now remote, + A dark, dark tale, which I tonight devote! +Dark is the future now. Alas, poor me! +Have pity Thou, who all men's pains dost see." + +Such verses as these people write when they are in love! But no man in his +senses ever thinks of printing them. Here one of the sorrows of life, in which +there is real poetry, gave itself vent; not that barren grief which the poet +may only hint at, but never depict in its detail--misery and want: that animal +necessity, in short, to snatch at least at a fallen leaf of the bread-fruit +tree, if not at the fruit itself. The higher the position in which one finds +oneself transplanted, the greater is the suffering. Everyday necessity is the +stagnant pool of life--no lovely picture reflects itself therein. Lieutenant, +love, and lack of money--that is a symbolic triangle, or much the same as the +half of the shattered die of Fortune. This the lieutenant felt most +poignantly, and this was the reason he leant his head against the window, and +sighed so deeply. + +"The poor watchman out there in the street is far happier than I. He knows not +what I term privation. He has a home, a wife, and children, who weep with him +over his sorrows, who rejoice with him when he is glad. Oh, far happier were +I, could I exchange with him my being--with his desires and with his hopes +perform the weary pilgrimage of life! Oh, he is a hundred times happier than +I!" + +In the same moment the watchman was again watchman. It was the shoes that +caused the metamorphosis by means of which, unknown to himself, he took upon +him the thoughts and feelings of the officer; but, as we have just seen, he +felt himself in his new situation much less contented, and now preferred the +very thing which but some minutes before he had rejected. So then the watchman +was again watchman. + +"That was an unpleasant dream," said he; "but 'twas droll enough altogether. I +fancied that I was the lieutenant over there: and yet the thing was not very +much to my taste after all. I missed my good old mother and the dear little +ones; who almost tear me to pieces for sheer love." + +He seated himself once more and nodded: the dream continued to haunt him, for +he still had the shoes on his feet. A falling star shone in the dark +firmament. + +"There falls another star," said he: "but what does it matter; there are +always enough left. I should not much mind examining the little glimmering +things somewhat nearer, especially the moon; for that would not slip so easily +through a man's fingers. When we die--so at least says the student, for whom +my wife does the washing--we shall fly about as light as a feather from one +such a star to the other. That's, of course, not true: but 'twould be pretty +enough if it were so. If I could but once take a leap up there, my body might +stay here on the steps for what I care." + +Behold--there are certain things in the world to which one ought never to give +utterance except with the greatest caution; but doubly careful must one be +when we have the Shoes of Fortune on our feet. Now just listen to what +happened to the watchman. + +As to ourselves, we all know the speed produced by the employment of steam; we +have experienced it either on railroads, or in boats when crossing the sea; +but such a flight is like the travelling of a sloth in comparison with the +velocity with which light moves. It flies nineteen million times faster than +the best race-horse; and yet electricity is quicker still. Death is an +electric shock which our heart receives; the freed soul soars upwards on the +wings of electricity. The sun's light wants eight minutes and some seconds to +perform a journey of more than twenty million of our Danish* miles; borne by +electricity, the soul wants even some minutes less to accomplish the same +flight. To it the space between the heavenly bodies is not greater than the +distance between the homes of our friends in town is for us, even if they live +a short way from each other; such an electric shock in the heart, however, +costs us the use of the body here below; unless, like the watchman of East +Street, we happen to have on the Shoes of Fortune. + +* A Danish mile is nearly 4 3/4 English. + + +In a few seconds the watchman had done the fifty-two thousand of our miles up +to the moon, which, as everyone knows, was formed out of matter much lighter +than our earth; and is, so we should say, as soft as newly-fallen snow. He +found himself on one of the many circumjacent mountain-ridges with which we +are acquainted by means of Dr. Madler's "Map of the Moon." Within, down it +sunk perpendicularly into a caldron, about a Danish mile in depth; while below +lay a town, whose appearance we can, in some measure, realize to ourselves by +beating the white of an egg in a glass of water. The matter of which it was +built was just as soft, and formed similar towers, and domes, and pillars, +transparent and rocking in the thin air; while above his head our earth was +rolling like a large fiery ball. + +He perceived immediately a quantity of beings who were certainly what we call +"men"; yet they looked different to us. A far more correct imagination than +that of the pseudo-Herschel* had created them; and if they had been placed in +rank and file, and copied by some skilful painter's hand, one would, without +doubt, have exclaimed involuntarily, "What a beautiful arabesque!" + +*This relates to a book published some years ago in Germany, and said to be by +Herschel, which contained a description of the moon and its inhabitants, +written with such a semblance of truth that many were deceived by the +imposture. + +Probably a translation of the celebrated Moon hoax, written by Richard A. +Locke, and originally published in New York. + + +They had a language too; but surely nobody can expect that the soul of the +watchman should understand it. Be that as it may, it did comprehend it; for in +our souls there germinate far greater powers than we poor mortals, despite all +our cleverness, have any notion of. Does she not show us--she the queen in the +land of enchantment--her astounding dramatic talent in all our dreams? There +every acquaintance appears and speaks upon the stage, so entirely in +character, and with the same tone of voice, that none of us, when awake, were +able to imitate it. How well can she recall persons to our mind, of whom we +have not thought for years; when suddenly they step forth "every inch a man," +resembling the real personages, even to the finest features, and become the +heroes or heroines of our world of dreams. In reality, such remembrances are +rather unpleasant: every sin, every evil thought, may, like a clock with alarm +or chimes, be repeated at pleasure; then the question is if we can trust +ourselves to give an account of every unbecoming word in our heart and on our +lips. + +The watchman's spirit understood the language of the inhabitants of the moon +pretty well. The Selenites* disputed variously about our earth, and expressed +their doubts if it could be inhabited: the air, they said, must certainly be +too dense to allow any rational dweller in the moon the necessary free +respiration. They considered the moon alone to be inhabited: they imagined it +was the real heart of the universe or planetary system, on which the genuine +Cosmopolites, or citizens of the world, dwelt. What strange things men--no, +what strange things Selenites sometimes take into their heads! + +* Dwellers in the moon. + + +About politics they had a good deal to say. But little Denmark must take care +what it is about, and not run counter to the moon; that great realm, that +might in an ill-humor bestir itself, and dash down a hail-storm in our faces, +or force the Baltic to overflow the sides of its gigantic basin. + +We will, therefore, not listen to what was spoken, and on no condition run in +the possibility of telling tales out of school; but we will rather proceed, +like good quiet citizens, to East Street, and observe what happened meanwhile +to the body of the watchman. + +He sat lifeless on the steps: the morning-star,* that is to say, the heavy +wooden staff, headed with iron spikes, and which had nothing else in common +with its sparkling brother in the sky, had glided from his hand; while his +eyes were fixed with glassy stare on the moon, looking for the good old fellow +of a spirit which still haunted it. + +*The watchmen in Germany, had formerly, and in some places they still carry +with them, on their rounds at night, a sort of mace or club, known in ancient +times by the above denomination. + + +"What's the hour, watchman?" asked a passer-by. But when the watchman gave no +reply, the merry roysterer, who was now returning home from a noisy drinking +bout, took it into his head to try what a tweak of the nose would do, on which +the supposed sleeper lost his balance, the body lay motionless, stretched out +on the pavement: the man was dead. When the patrol came up, all his comrades, +who comprehended nothing of the whole affair, were seized with a dreadful +fright, for dead he was, and he remained so. The proper authorities were +informed of the circumstance, people talked a good deal about it, and in the +morning the body was carried to the hospital. + +Now that would be a very pretty joke, if the spirit when it came back and +looked for the body in East Street, were not to find one. No doubt it would, +in its anxiety, run off to the police, and then to the "Hue and Cry" office, +to announce that "the finder will be handsomely rewarded," and at last away to +the hospital; yet we may boldly assert that the soul is shrewdest when it +shakes off every fetter, and every sort of leading-string--the body only makes +it stupid. + +The seemingly dead body of the watchman wandered, as we have said, to the +hospital, where it was brought into the general viewing-room: and the first +thing that was done here was naturally to pull off the galoshes--when the +spirit, that was merely gone out on adventures, must have returned with the +quickness of lightning to its earthly tenement. It took its direction towards +the body in a straight line; and a few seconds after, life began to show +itself in the man. He asserted that the preceding night had been the worst +that ever the malice of fate had allotted him; he would not for two silver +marks again go through what he had endured while moon-stricken; but now, +however, it was over. + +The same day he was discharged from the hospital as perfectly cured; but the +Shoes meanwhile remained behind. + + +IV. A Moment of Head Importance--An Evening's "Dramatic Readings"--A Most +Strange Journey + +Every inhabitant of Copenhagen knows, from personal inspection, how the +entrance to Frederick's Hospital looks; but as it is possible that others, who +are not Copenhagen people, may also read this little work, we will beforehand +give a short description of it. + +The extensive building is separated from the street by a pretty high railing, +the thick iron bars of which are so far apart, that in all seriousness, it is +said, some very thin fellow had of a night occasionally squeezed himself +through to go and pay his little visits in the town. The part of the body most +difficult to manage on such occasions was, no doubt, the head; here, as is so +often the case in the world, long-headed people get through best. So much, +then, for the introduction. + +One of the young men, whose head, in a physical sense only, might be said to +be of the thickest, had the watch that evening. The rain poured down in +torrents; yet despite these two obstacles, the young man was obliged to go +out, if it were but for a quarter of an hour; and as to telling the +door-keeper about it, that, he thought, was quite unnecessary, if, with a +whole skin, he were able to slip through the railings. There, on the floor lay +the galoshes, which the watchman had forgotten; he never dreamed for a moment +that they were those of Fortune; and they promised to do him good service in +the wet; so he put them on. The question now was, if he could squeeze himself +through the grating, for he had never tried before. Well, there he stood. + +"Would to Heaven I had got my head through!" said he, involuntarily; and +instantly through it slipped, easily and without pain, notwithstanding it was +pretty large and thick. But now the rest of the body was to be got through! + +"Ah! I am much too stout," groaned he aloud, while fixed as in a vice. "I had +thought the head was the most difficult part of the matter--oh! oh! I really +cannot squeeze myself through!" + +He now wanted to pull his over-hasty head back again, but he could not. For +his neck there was room enough, but for nothing more. His first feeling was of +anger; his next that his temper fell to zero. The Shoes of Fortune had placed +him in the most dreadful situation; and, unfortunately, it never occurred to +him to wish himself free. The pitch-black clouds poured down their contents in +still heavier torrents; not a creature was to be seen in the streets. To reach +up to the bell was what he did not like; to cry aloud for help would have +availed him little; besides, how ashamed would he have been to be found caught +in a trap, like an outwitted fox! How was he to twist himself through! He saw +clearly that it was his irrevocable destiny to remain a prisoner till dawn, +or, perhaps, even late in the morning; then the smith must be fetched to file +away the bars; but all that would not be done so quickly as he could think +about it. The whole Charity School, just opposite, would be in motion; all the +new booths, with their not very courtier-like swarm of seamen, would join them +out of curiosity, and would greet him with a wild "hurrah!" while he was +standing in his pillory: there would be a mob, a hissing, and rejoicing, and +jeering, ten times worse than in the rows about the Jews some years ago--"Oh, +my blood is mounting to my brain; 'tis enough to drive one mad! I shall go +wild! I know not what to do. Oh! were I but loose; my dizziness would then +cease; oh, were my head but loose!" + +You see he ought to have said that sooner; for the moment he expressed the +wish his head was free; and cured of all his paroxysms of love, he hastened +off to his room, where the pains consequent on the fright the Shoes had +prepared for him, did not so soon take their leave. + +But you must not think that the affair is over now; it grows much worse. + +The night passed, the next day also; but nobody came to fetch the Shoes. + +In the evening "Dramatic Readings" were to be given at the little theatre in +King Street. The house was filled to suffocation; and among other pieces to be +recited was a new poem by H. C. Andersen, called, My Aunt's Spectacles; the +contents of which were pretty nearly as follows: + +"A certain person had an aunt, who boasted of particular skill in +fortune-telling with cards, and who was constantly being stormed by persons +that wanted to have a peep into futurity. But she was full of mystery about +her art, in which a certain pair of magic spectacles did her essential +service. Her nephew, a merry boy, who was his aunt's darling, begged so long +for these spectacles, that, at last, she lent him the treasure, after having +informed him, with many exhortations, that in order to execute the interesting +trick, he need only repair to some place where a great many persons were +assembled; and then, from a higher position, whence he could overlook the +crowd, pass the company in review before him through his spectacles. +Immediately 'the inner man' of each individual would be displayed before him, +like a game of cards, in which he unerringly might read what the future of +every person presented was to be. Well pleased the little magician hastened +away to prove the powers of the spectacles in the theatre; no place seeming to +him more fitted for such a trial. He begged permission of the worthy audience, +and set his spectacles on his nose. A motley phantasmagoria presents itself +before him, which he describes in a few satirical touches, yet without +expressing his opinion openly: he tells the people enough to set them all +thinking and guessing; but in order to hurt nobody, he wraps his witty +oracular judgments in a transparent veil, or rather in a lurid thundercloud, +shooting forth bright sparks of wit, that they may fall in the powder-magazine +of the expectant audience." + +The humorous poem was admirably recited, and the speaker much applauded. Among +the audience was the young man of the hospital, who seemed to have forgotten +his adventure of the preceding night. He had on the Shoes; for as yet no +lawful owner had appeared to claim them; and besides it was so very dirty +out-of-doors, they were just the thing for him, he thought. + +The beginning of the poem he praised with great generosity: he even found the +idea original and effective. But that the end of it, like the Rhine, was very +insignificant, proved, in his opinion, the author's want of invention; he was +without genius, etc. This was an excellent opportunity to have said something +clever. + +Meanwhile he was haunted by the idea--he should like to possess such a pair of +spectacles himself; then, perhaps, by using them circumspectly, one would be +able to look into people's hearts, which, he thought, would be far more +interesting than merely to see what was to happen next year; for that we +should all know in proper time, but the other never. + +"I can now," said he to himself, "fancy the whole row of ladies and gentlemen +sitting there in the front row; if one could but see into their hearts--yes, +that would be a revelation--a sort of bazar. In that lady yonder, so strangely +dressed, I should find for certain a large milliner's shop; in that one the +shop is empty, but it wants cleaning plain enough. But there would also be +some good stately shops among them. Alas!" sighed he, "I know one in which all +is stately; but there sits already a spruce young shopman, which is the only +thing that's amiss in the whole shop. All would be splendidly decked out, and +we should hear, 'Walk in, gentlemen, pray walk in; here you will find all you +please to want.' Ah! I wish to Heaven I could walk in and take a trip right +through the hearts of those present!" + +And behold! to the Shoes of Fortune this was the cue; the whole man shrunk +together and a most uncommon journey through the hearts of the front row of +spectators, now began. The first heart through which he came, was that of a +middle-aged lady, but he instantly fancied himself in the room of the +"Institution for the cure of the crooked and deformed," where casts of +mis-shapen limbs are displayed in naked reality on the wall. Yet there was +this difference, in the institution the casts were taken at the entry of the +patient; but here they were retained and guarded in the heart while the sound +persons went away. They were, namely, casts of female friends, whose bodily or +mental deformities were here most faithfully preserved. + +With the snake-like writhings of an idea he glided into another female heart; +but this seemed to him like a large holy fane.* The white dove of innocence +fluttered over the altar. How gladly would he have sunk upon his knees; but he +must away to the next heart; yet he still heard the pealing tones of the +organ, and he himself seemed to have become a newer and a better man; he felt +unworthy to tread the neighboring sanctuary which a poor garret, with a sick +bed-rid mother, revealed. But God's warm sun streamed through the open window; +lovely roses nodded from the wooden flower-boxes on the roof, and two sky-blue +birds sang rejoicingly, while the sick mother implored God's richest blessings +on her pious daughter. + +* temple + + +He now crept on hands and feet through a butcher's shop; at least on every +side, and above and below, there was nought but flesh. It was the heart of a +most respectable rich man, whose name is certain to be found in the Directory. + +He was now in the heart of the wife of this worthy gentleman. It was an old, +dilapidated, mouldering dovecot. The husband's portrait was used as a +weather-cock, which was connected in some way or other with the doors, and so +they opened and shut of their own accord, whenever the stern old husband +turned round. + +Hereupon he wandered into a boudoir formed entirely of mirrors, like the one +in Castle Rosenburg; but here the glasses magnified to an astonishing degree. +On the floor, in the middle of the room, sat, like a Dalai-Lama, the +insignificant "Self" of the person, quite confounded at his own greatness. He +then imagined he had got into a needle-case full of pointed needles of every +size. + +"This is certainly the heart of an old maid," thought he. But he was mistaken. +It was the heart of a young military man; a man, as people said, of talent and +feeling. + +In the greatest perplexity, he now came out of the last heart in the row; he +was unable to put his thoughts in order, and fancied that his too lively +imagination had run away with him. + +"Good Heavens!" sighed he. "I have surely a disposition to madness--'tis +dreadfully hot here; my blood boils in my veins and my head is burning like a +coal." And he now remembered the important event of the evening before, how +his head had got jammed in between the iron railings of the hospital. "That's +what it is, no doubt," said he. "I must do something in time: under such +circumstances a Russian bath might do me good. I only wish I were already on +the upper bank."* + +*In these Russian (vapor) baths the person extends himself on a bank or form, +and as he gets accustomed to the heat, moves to another higher up towards the +ceiling, where, of course, the vapor is warmest. In this manner he ascends +gradually to the highest. + + +And so there he lay on the uppermost bank in the vapor-bath; but with all his +clothes on, in his boots and galoshes, while the hot drops fell scalding from +the ceiling on his face. + +"Holloa!" cried he, leaping down. The bathing attendant, on his side, uttered +a loud cry of astonishment when he beheld in the bath, a man completely +dressed. + +The other, however, retained sufficient presence of mind to whisper to him, +"'Tis a bet, and I have won it!" But the first thing he did as soon as he got +home, was to have a large blister put on his chest and back to draw out his +madness. + +The next morning he had a sore chest and a bleeding back; and, excepting the +fright, that was all that he had gained by the Shoes of Fortune. + + +V. Metamorphosis of the Copying-Clerk + +The watchman, whom we have certainly not forgotten, thought meanwhile of the +galoshes he had found and taken with him to the hospital; he now went to fetch +them; and as neither the lieutenant, nor anybody else in the street, claimed +them as his property, they were delivered over to the police-office.* + +*As on the continent, in all law and police practices nothing is verbal, but +any circumstance, however trifling, is reduced to writing, the labor, as well +as the number of papers that thus accumulate, is enormous. In a +police-office, consequently, we find copying-clerks among many other scribes +of various denominations, of which, it seems, our hero was one. + + +"Why, I declare the Shoes look just like my own," said one of the clerks, +eying the newly-found treasure, whose hidden powers, even he, sharp as he was, +was not able to discover. "One must have more than the eye of a shoemaker to +know one pair from the other," said he, soliloquizing; and putting, at the +same time, the galoshes in search of an owner, beside his own in the corner. + +"Here, sir!" said one of the men, who panting brought him a tremendous pile of +papers. + +The copying-clerk turned round and spoke awhile with the man about the reports +and legal documents in question; but when he had finished, and his eye fell +again on the Shoes, he was unable to say whether those to the left or those to +the right belonged to him. "At all events it must be those which are wet," +thought he; but this time, in spite of his cleverness, he guessed quite wrong, +for it was just those of Fortune which played as it were into his hands, or +rather on his feet. And why, I should like to know, are the police never to be +wrong? So he put them on quickly, stuck his papers in his pocket, and took +besides a few under his arm, intending to look them through at home to make +the necessary notes. It was noon; and the weather, that had threatened rain, +began to clear up, while gaily dressed holiday folks filled the streets. "A +little trip to Fredericksburg would do me no great harm," thought he; "for I, +poor beast of burden that I am, have so much to annoy me, that I don't know +what a good appetite is. 'Tis a bitter crust, alas! at which I am condemned to +gnaw!" + +Nobody could be more steady or quiet than this young man; we therefore wish +him joy of the excursion with all our heart; and it will certainly be +beneficial for a person who leads so sedentary a life. In the park he met a +friend, one of our young poets, who told him that the following day he should +set out on his long-intended tour. + +"So you are going away again!" said the clerk. "You are a very free and happy +being; we others are chained by the leg and held fast to our desk." + +"Yes; but it is a chain, friend, which ensures you the blessed bread of +existence," answered the poet. "You need feel no care for the coming morrow: +when you are old, you receive a pension." + +"True," said the clerk, shrugging his shoulders; "and yet you are the better +off. To sit at one's ease and poetise--that is a pleasure; everybody has +something agreeable to say to you, and you are always your own master. No, +friend, you should but try what it is to sit from one year's end to the other +occupied with and judging the most trivial matters." + +The poet shook his head, the copying-clerk did the same. Each one kept to his +own opinion, and so they separated. + +"It's a strange race, those poets!" said the clerk, who was very fond of +soliloquizing. "I should like some day, just for a trial, to take such nature +upon me, and be a poet myself; I am very sure I should make no such miserable +verses as the others. Today, methinks, is a most delicious day for a poet. +Nature seems anew to celebrate her awakening into life. The air is so +unusually clear, the clouds sail on so buoyantly, and from the green herbage a +fragrance is exhaled that fills me with delight. For many a year have I not +felt as at this moment." + +We see already, by the foregoing effusion, that he is become a poet; to give +further proof of it, however, would in most cases be insipid, for it is a most +foolish notion to fancy a poet different from other men. Among the latter +there may be far more poetical natures than many an acknowledged poet, when +examined more closely, could boast of; the difference only is, that the poet +possesses a better mental memory, on which account he is able to retain the +feeling and the thought till they can be embodied by means of words; a faculty +which the others do not possess. But the transition from a commonplace nature +to one that is richly endowed, demands always a more or less breakneck leap +over a certain abyss which yawns threateningly below; and thus must the sudden +change with the clerk strike the reader. + +"The sweet air!" continued he of the police-office, in his dreamy imaginings; +"how it reminds me of the violets in the garden of my aunt Magdalena! Yes, +then I was a little wild boy, who did not go to school very regularly. O +heavens! 'tis a long time since I have thought on those times. The good old +soul! She lived behind the Exchange. She always had a few twigs or green +shoots in water--let the winter rage without as it might. The violets exhaled +their sweet breath, whilst I pressed against the windowpanes covered with +fantastic frost-work the copper coin I had heated on the stove, and so made +peep-holes. What splendid vistas were then opened to my view! What change--what +magnificence! Yonder in the canal lay the ships frozen up, and deserted by +their whole crews, with a screaming crow for the sole occupant. But when the +spring, with a gentle stirring motion, announced her arrival, a new and busy +life arose; with songs and hurrahs the ice was sawn asunder, the ships were +fresh tarred and rigged, that they might sail away to distant lands. But I +have remained here--must always remain here, sitting at my desk in the office, +and patiently see other people fetch their passports to go abroad. Such is my +fate! Alas!"--sighed he, and was again silent. "Great Heaven! What is come to +me! Never have I thought or felt like this before! It must be the summer air +that affects me with feelings almost as disquieting as they are refreshing." + +He felt in his pocket for the papers. "These police-reports will soon stem the +torrent of my ideas, and effectually hinder any rebellious overflowing of the +time-worn banks of official duties"; he said to himself consolingly, while his +eye ran over the first page. "DAME TIGBRITH, tragedy in five acts." "What is +that? And yet it is undeniably my own handwriting. Have I written the tragedy? +Wonderful, very wonderful!--And this--what have I here? 'INTRIGUE ON THE +RAMPARTS; or THE DAY OF REPENTANCE: vaudeville with new songs to the most +favorite airs.' The deuce! Where did I get all this rubbish? Some one must +have slipped it slyly into my pocket for a joke. There is too a letter to me; +a crumpled letter and the seal broken." + +Yes; it was not a very polite epistle from the manager of a theatre, in which +both pieces were flatly refused. + +"Hem! hem!" said the clerk breathlessly, and quite exhausted he seated himself +on a bank. His thoughts were so elastic, his heart so tender; and +involuntarily he picked one of the nearest flowers. It is a simple daisy, just +bursting out of the bud. What the botanist tells us after a number of +imperfect lectures, the flower proclaimed in a minute. It related the mythus +of its birth, told of the power of the sun-light that spread out its delicate +leaves, and forced them to impregnate the air with their incense--and then he +thought of the manifold struggles of life, which in like manner awaken the +budding flowers of feeling in our bosom. Light and air contend with chivalric +emulation for the love of the fair flower that bestowed her chief favors on +the latter; full of longing she turned towards the light, and as soon as it +vanished, rolled her tender leaves together and slept in the embraces of the +air. "It is the light which adorns me," said the flower. + +"But 'tis the air which enables thee to breathe," said the poet's voice. + +Close by stood a boy who dashed his stick into a wet ditch. The drops of water +splashed up to the green leafy roof, and the clerk thought of the million of +ephemera which in a single drop were thrown up to a height, that was as great +doubtless for their size, as for us if we were to be hurled above the clouds. +While he thought of this and of the whole metamorphosis he had undergone, he +smiled and said, "I sleep and dream; but it is wonderful how one can dream so +naturally, and know besides so exactly that it is but a dream. If only +to-morrow on awaking, I could again call all to mind so vividly! I seem in +unusually good spirits; my perception of things is clear, I feel as light and +cheerful as though I were in heaven; but I know for a certainty, that if +to-morrow a dim remembrance of it should swim before my mind, it will then +seem nothing but stupid nonsense, as I have often experienced +already--especially before I enlisted under the banner of the police, for that +dispels like a whirlwind all the visions of an unfettered imagination. All we +hear or say in a dream that is fair and beautiful is like the gold of the +subterranean spirits; it is rich and splendid when it is given us, but viewed +by daylight we find only withered leaves. Alas!" he sighed quite sorrowful, +and gazed at the chirping birds that hopped contentedly from branch to branch, +"they are much better off than I! To fly must be a heavenly art; and happy do +I prize that creature in which it is innate. Yes! Could I exchange my nature +with any other creature, I fain would be such a happy little lark!" + +He had hardly uttered these hasty words when the skirts and sleeves of his +coat folded themselves together into wings; the clothes became feathers, and +the galoshes claws. He observed it perfectly, and laughed in his heart. "Now +then, there is no doubt that I am dreaming; but I never before was aware of +such mad freaks as these." And up he flew into the green roof and sang; but in +the song there was no poetry, for the spirit of the poet was gone. The Shoes, +as is the case with anybody who does what he has to do properly, could only +attend to one thing at a time. He wanted to be a poet, and he was one; he now +wished to be a merry chirping bird: but when he was metamorphosed into one, +the former peculiarities ceased immediately. "It is really pleasant enough," +said he: "the whole day long I sit in the office amid the driest law-papers, +and at night I fly in my dream as a lark in the gardens of Fredericksburg; one +might really write a very pretty comedy upon it." He now fluttered down into +the grass, turned his head gracefully on every side, and with his bill pecked +the pliant blades of grass, which, in comparison to his present size, seemed +as majestic as the palm-branches of northern Africa. + +Unfortunately the pleasure lasted but a moment. Presently black night +overshadowed our enthusiast, who had so entirely missed his part of +copying-clerk at a police-office; some vast object seemed to be thrown over +him. It was a large oil-skin cap, which a sailor-boy of the quay had thrown +over the struggling bird; a coarse hand sought its way carefully in under the +broad rim, and seized the clerk over the back and wings. In the first moment +of fear, he called, indeed, as loud as he could--"You impudent little +blackguard! I am a copying-clerk at the police-office; and you know you cannot +insult any belonging to the constabulary force without a chastisement. +Besides, you good-for-nothing rascal, it is strictly forbidden to catch birds +in the royal gardens of Fredericksburg; but your blue uniform betrays where +you come from." This fine tirade sounded, however, to the ungodly sailor-boy +like a mere "Pippi-pi." He gave the noisy bird a knock on his beak, and walked +on. + +He was soon met by two schoolboys of the upper class--that is to say as +individuals, for with regard to learning they were in the lowest class in the +school; and they bought the stupid bird. So the copying-clerk came to +Copenhagen as guest, or rather as prisoner in a family living in Gother +Street. + +"'Tis well that I'm dreaming," said the clerk, "or I really should get angry. +First I was a poet; now sold for a few pence as a lark; no doubt it was that +accursed poetical nature which has metamorphosed me into such a poor harmless +little creature. It is really pitiable, particularly when one gets into the +hands of a little blackguard, perfect in all sorts of cruelty to animals: all +I should like to know is, how the story will end." + +The two schoolboys, the proprietors now of the transformed clerk, carried him +into an elegant room. A stout stately dame received them with a smile; but she +expressed much dissatisfaction that a common field-bird, as she called the +lark, should appear in such high society. For to-day, however, she would allow +it; and they must shut him in the empty cage that was standing in the window. +"Perhaps he will amuse my good Polly," added the lady, looking with a +benignant smile at a large green parrot that swung himself backwards and +forwards most comfortably in his ring, inside a magnificent brass-wired cage. +"To-day is Polly's birthday," said she with stupid simplicity: "and the little +brown field-bird must wish him joy." + +Mr. Polly uttered not a syllable in reply, but swung to and fro with dignified +condescension; while a pretty canary, as yellow as gold, that had lately been +brought from his sunny fragrant home, began to sing aloud. + +"Noisy creature! Will you be quiet!" screamed the lady of the house, covering +the cage with an embroidered white pocket handkerchief. + +"Chirp, chirp!" sighed he. "That was a dreadful snowstorm"; and he sighed +again, and was silent. + +The copying-clerk, or, as the lady said, the brown field-bird, was put into a +small cage, close to the Canary, and not far from "my good Polly." The only +human sounds that the Parrot could bawl out were, "Come, let us be men!" +Everything else that he said was as unintelligible to everybody as the +chirping of the Canary, except to the clerk, who was now a bird too: he +understood his companion perfectly. + +"I flew about beneath the green palms and the blossoming almond-trees," sang +the Canary; "I flew around, with my brothers and sisters, over the beautiful +flowers, and over the glassy lakes, where the bright water-plants nodded to me +from below. There, too, I saw many splendidly-dressed paroquets, that told the +drollest stories, and the wildest fairy tales without end." + +"Oh! those were uncouth birds," answered the Parrot. "They had no education, +and talked of whatever came into their head. + +"If my mistress and all her friends can laugh at what I say, so may you too, +I should think. It is a great fault to have no taste for what is witty or +amusing--come, let us be men." + +"Ah, you have no remembrance of love for the charming maidens that danced +beneath the outspread tents beside the bright fragrant flowers? Do you no +longer remember the sweet fruits, and the cooling juice in the wild plants of +our never-to-be-forgotten home?" said the former inhabitant of the Canary +Isles, continuing his dithyrambic. + +"Oh, yes," said the Parrot; "but I am far better off here. I am well fed, and +get friendly treatment. I know I am a clever fellow; and that is all I care +about. Come, let us be men. You are of a poetical nature, as it is called--I, +on the contrary, possess profound knowledge and inexhaustible wit. You have +genius; but clear-sighted, calm discretion does not take such lofty flights, +and utter such high natural tones. For this they have covered you over--they +never do the like to me; for I cost more. Besides, they are afraid of my beak; +and I have always a witty answer at hand. Come, let us be men!" + +"O warm spicy land of my birth," sang the Canary bird; "I will sing of thy +dark-green bowers, of the calm bays where the pendent boughs kiss the surface +of the water; I will sing of the rejoicing of all my brothers and sisters +where the cactus grows in wanton luxuriance." + +"Spare us your elegiac tones," said the Parrot giggling. "Rather speak of +something at which one may laugh heartily. Laughing is an infallible sign of +the highest degree of mental development. Can a dog, or a horse laugh? No, but +they can cry. The gift of laughing was given to man alone. Ha! ha! ha!" +screamed Polly, and added his stereotype witticism. "Come, let us be men!" + +"Poor little Danish grey-bird," said the Canary; "you have been caught too. It +is, no doubt, cold enough in your woods, but there at least is the breath of +liberty; therefore fly away. In the hurry they have forgotten to shut your +cage, and the upper window is open. Fly, my friend; fly away. Farewell!" + +Instinctively the Clerk obeyed; with a few strokes of his wings he was out of +the cage; but at the same moment the door, which was only ajar, and which led +to the next room, began to creak, and supple and creeping came the large +tomcat into the room, and began to pursue him. The frightened Canary fluttered +about in his cage; the Parrot flapped his wings, and cried, "Come, let us be +men!" The Clerk felt a mortal fright, and flew through the window, far away +over the houses and streets. At last he was forced to rest a little. + +The neighboring house had a something familiar about it; a window stood open; +he flew in; it was his own room. He perched upon the table. + +"Come, let us be men!" said he, involuntarily imitating the chatter of the +Parrot, and at the same moment he was again a copying-clerk; but he was +sitting in the middle of the table. + +"Heaven help me!" cried he. "How did I get up here--and so buried in sleep, +too? After all, that was a very unpleasant, disagreeable dream that haunted +me! The whole story is nothing but silly, stupid nonsense!" + + +VI. The Best That the Galoshes Gave + +The following day, early in the morning, while the Clerk was still in bed, +someone knocked at his door. It was his neighbor, a young Divine, who lived on +the same floor. He walked in. + +"Lend me your Galoshes," said he; "it is so wet in the garden, though the sun +is shining most invitingly. I should like to go out a little." + +He got the Galoshes, and he was soon below in a little duodecimo garden, where +between two immense walls a plumtree and an apple-tree were standing. Even +such a little garden as this was considered in the metropolis of Copenhagen as +a great luxury. + +The young man wandered up and down the narrow paths, as well as the prescribed +limits would allow; the clock struck six; without was heard the horn of a +post-boy. + +"To travel! to travel!" exclaimed he, overcome by most painful and passionate +remembrances. "That is the happiest thing in the world! That is the highest +aim of all my wishes! Then at last would the agonizing restlessness be +allayed, which destroys my existence! But it must be far, far away! I would +behold magnificent Switzerland; I would travel to Italy, and--" + +It was a good thing that the power of the Galoshes worked as instantaneously +as lightning in a powder-magazine would do, otherwise the poor man with his +overstrained wishes would have travelled about the world too much for himself +as well as for us. In short, he was travelling. He was in the middle of +Switzerland, but packed up with eight other passengers in the inside of an +eternally-creaking diligence; his head ached till it almost split, his weary +neck could hardly bear the heavy load, and his feet, pinched by his torturing +boots, were terribly swollen. He was in an intermediate state between sleeping +and waking; at variance with himself, with his company, with the country, and +with the government. In his right pocket he had his letter of credit, in the +left, his passport, and in a small leathern purse some double louis d'or, +carefully sewn up in the bosom of his waistcoat. Every dream proclaimed that +one or the other of these valuables was lost; wherefore he started up as in a +fever; and the first movement which his hand made, described a magic triangle +from the right pocket to the left, and then up towards the bosom, to feel if +he had them all safe or not. From the roof inside the carriage, umbrellas, +walking-sticks, hats, and sundry other articles were depending, and hindered +the view, which was particularly imposing. He now endeavored as well as he was +able to dispel his gloom, which was caused by outward chance circumstances +merely, and on the bosom of nature imbibe the milk of purest human enjoyment. + +Grand, solemn, and dark was the whole landscape around. The gigantic +pine-forests, on the pointed crags, seemed almost like little tufts of +heather, colored by the surrounding clouds. It began to snow, a cold wind blew +and roared as though it were seeking a bride. + +"Augh!" sighed he, "were we only on the other side the Alps, then we should +have summer, and I could get my letters of credit cashed. The anxiety I feel +about them prevents me enjoying Switzerland. Were I but on the other side!" + +And so saying he was on the other side in Italy, between Florence and Rome. +Lake Thracymene, illumined by the evening sun, lay like flaming gold between +the dark-blue mountain-ridges; here, where Hannibal defeated Flaminius, the +rivers now held each other in their green embraces; lovely, half-naked +children tended a herd of black swine, beneath a group of fragrant +laurel-trees, hard by the road-side. Could we render this inimitable picture +properly, then would everybody exclaim, "Beautiful, unparalleled Italy!" But +neither the young Divine said so, nor anyone of his grumbling companions in +the coach of the vetturino. + +The poisonous flies and gnats swarmed around by thousands; in vain one waved +myrtle-branches about like mad; the audacious insect population did not cease +to sting; nor was there a single person in the well-crammed carriage whose +face was not swollen and sore from their ravenous bites. The poor horses, +tortured almost to death, suffered most from this truly Egyptian plague; the +flies alighted upon them in large disgusting swarms; and if the coachman got +down and scraped them off, hardly a minute elapsed before they were there +again. The sun now set: a freezing cold, though of short duration pervaded the +whole creation; it was like a horrid gust coming from a burial-vault on a warm +summer's day--but all around the mountains retained that wonderful green tone +which we see in some old pictures, and which, should we not have seen a +similar play of color in the South, we declare at once to be unnatural. It was +a glorious prospect; but the stomach was empty, the body tired; all that the +heart cared and longed for was good night-quarters; yet how would they be? For +these one looked much more anxiously than for the charms of nature, which +every where were so profusely displayed. + +The road led through an olive-grove, and here the solitary inn was situated. +Ten or twelve crippled-beggars had encamped outside. The healthiest of them +resembled, to use an expression of Marryat's, "Hunger's eldest son when he had +come of age"; the others were either blind, had withered legs and crept about +on their hands, or withered arms and fingerless hands. It was the most +wretched misery, dragged from among the filthiest rags. "Excellenza, +miserabili!" sighed they, thrusting forth their deformed limbs to view. Even +the hostess, with bare feet, uncombed hair, and dressed in a garment of +doubtful color, received the guests grumblingly. The doors were fastened with +a loop of string; the floor of the rooms presented a stone paving half torn +up; bats fluttered wildly about the ceiling; and as to the smell +therein--no--that was beyond description. + +"You had better lay the cloth below in the stable," said one of the +travellers; "there, at all events, one knows what one is breathing." + +The windows were quickly opened, to let in a little fresh air. Quicker, +however, than the breeze, the withered, sallow arms of the beggars were thrust +in, accompanied by the eternal whine of "Miserabili, miserabili, excellenza!" +On the walls were displayed innumerable inscriptions, written in nearly every +language of Europe, some in verse, some in prose, most of them not very +laudatory of "bella Italia." + +The meal was served. It consisted of a soup of salted water, seasoned with +pepper and rancid oil. The last ingredient played a very prominent part in the +salad; stale eggs and roasted cocks'-combs furnished the grand dish of the +repast; the wine even was not without a disgusting taste--it was like a +medicinal draught. + +At night the boxes and other effects of the passengers were placed against the +rickety doors. One of the travellers kept watch while the others slept. The +sentry was our young Divine. How close it was in the chamber! The heat +oppressive to suffocation--the gnats hummed and stung unceasingly--the +"miserabili" without whined and moaned in their sleep. + +"Travelling would be agreeable enough," said he groaning, "if one only had no +body, or could send it to rest while the spirit went on its pilgrimage +unhindered, whither the voice within might call it. Wherever I go, I am +pursued by a longing that is insatiable--that I cannot explain to myself, and +that tears my very heart. I want something better than what is but what is +fled in an instant. But what is it, and where is it to be found? Yet, I know +in reality what it is I wish for. Oh! most happy were I, could I but reach one +aim--could but reach the happiest of all!" + +And as he spoke the word he was again in his home; the long white curtains +hung down from the windows, and in the middle of the floor stood the black +coffin; in it he lay in the sleep of death. His wish was fulfilled--the body +rested, while the spirit went unhindered on its pilgrimage. "Let no one deem +himself happy before his end," were the words of Solon; and here was a new and +brilliant proof of the wisdom of the old apothegm. + +Every corpse is a sphynx of immortality; here too on the black coffin the +sphynx gave us no answer to what he who lay within had written two days +before: + +"O mighty Death! thy silence teaches nought, + Thou leadest only to the near grave's brink; + Is broken now the ladder of my thoughts? +Do I instead of mounting only sink? + +Our heaviest grief the world oft seeth not, + Our sorest pain we hide from stranger eyes: + And for the sufferer there is nothing left +But the green mound that o'er the coffin lies." + +Two figures were moving in the chamber. We knew them both; it was the fairy of +Care, and the emissary of Fortune. They both bent over the corpse. + +"Do you now see," said Care, "what happiness your Galoshes have brought to +mankind?" + +"To him, at least, who slumbers here, they have brought an imperishable +blessing," answered the other. + +"Ah no!" replied Care. "He took his departure himself; he was not called away. +His mental powers here below were not strong enough to reach the treasures +lying beyond this life, and which his destiny ordained he should obtain. I +will now confer a benefit on him." + +And she took the Galoshes from his feet; his sleep of death was ended; and he +who had been thus called back again to life arose from his dread couch in all +the vigor of youth. Care vanished, and with her the Galoshes. She has no doubt +taken them for herself, to keep them to all eternity. + + + +THE FIR TREE + +Out in the woods stood a nice little Fir Tree. The place he had was a very +good one: the sun shone on him: as to fresh air, there was enough of that, and +round him grew many large-sized comrades, pines as well as firs. But the +little Fir wanted so very much to be a grown-up tree. + +He did not think of the warm sun and of the fresh air; he did not care for the +little cottage children that ran about and prattled when they were in the +woods looking for wild-strawberries. The children often came with a whole +pitcher full of berries, or a long row of them threaded on a straw, and sat +down near the young tree and said, "Oh, how pretty he is! What a nice little +fir!" But this was what the Tree could not bear to hear. + +At the end of a year he had shot up a good deal, and after another year he was +another long bit taller; for with fir trees one can always tell by the shoots +how many years old they are. + +"Oh! Were I but such a high tree as the others are," sighed he. "Then I should +be able to spread out my branches, and with the tops to look into the wide +world! Then would the birds build nests among my branches: and when there was +a breeze, I could bend with as much stateliness as the others!" + +Neither the sunbeams, nor the birds, nor the red clouds which morning and +evening sailed above him, gave the little Tree any pleasure. + +In winter, when the snow lay glittering on the ground, a hare would often come +leaping along, and jump right over the little Tree. Oh, that made him so +angry! But two winters were past, and in the third the Tree was so large that +the hare was obliged to go round it. "To grow and grow, to get older and be +tall," thought the Tree--"that, after all, is the most delightful thing in the +world!" + +In autumn the wood-cutters always came and felled some of the largest trees. +This happened every year; and the young Fir Tree, that had now grown to a very +comely size, trembled at the sight; for the magnificent great trees fell to +the earth with noise and cracking, the branches were lopped off, and the trees +looked long and bare; they were hardly to be recognised; and then they were +laid in carts, and the horses dragged them out of the wood. + +Where did they go to? What became of them? + +In spring, when the swallows and the storks came, the Tree asked them, "Don't +you know where they have been taken? Have you not met them anywhere?" + +The swallows did not know anything about it; but the Stork looked musing, +nodded his head, and said, "Yes; I think I know; I met many ships as I was +flying hither from Egypt; on the ships were magnificent masts, and I venture +to assert that it was they that smelt so of fir. I may congratulate you, for +they lifted themselves on high most majestically!" + +"Oh, were I but old enough to fly across the sea! But how does the sea look in +reality? What is it like?" + +"That would take a long time to explain," said the Stork, and with these words +off he went. + +"Rejoice in thy growth!" said the Sunbeams. "Rejoice in thy vigorous growth, +and in the fresh life that moveth within thee!" + +And the Wind kissed the Tree, and the Dew wept tears over him; but the Fir +understood it not. + +When Christmas came, quite young trees were cut down: trees which often were +not even as large or of the same age as this Fir Tree, who could never rest, +but always wanted to be off. These young trees, and they were always the +finest looking, retained their branches; they were laid on carts, and the +horses drew them out of the wood. + +"Where are they going to?" asked the Fir. "They are not taller than I; there +was one indeed that was considerably shorter; and why do they retain all their +branches? Whither are they taken?" + +"We know! We know!" chirped the Sparrows. "We have peeped in at the windows in +the town below! We know whither they are taken! The greatest splendor and the +greatest magnificence one can imagine await them. We peeped through the +windows, and saw them planted in the middle of the warm room and ornamented +with the most splendid things, with gilded apples, with gingerbread, with +toys, and many hundred lights!" + +"And then?" asked the Fir Tree, trembling in every bough. "And then? What +happens then?" + +"We did not see anything more: it was incomparably beautiful." + +"I would fain know if I am destined for so glorious a career," cried the Tree, +rejoicing. "That is still better than to cross the sea! What a longing do I +suffer! Were Christmas but come! I am now tall, and my branches spread like +the others that were carried off last year! Oh! were I but already on the +cart! Were I in the warm room with all the splendor and magnificence! Yes; +then something better, something still grander, will surely follow, or +wherefore should they thus ornament me? Something better, something still +grander must follow--but what? Oh, how I long, how I suffer! I do not know +myself what is the matter with me!" + +"Rejoice in our presence!" said the Air and the Sunlight. "Rejoice in thy own +fresh youth!" + +But the Tree did not rejoice at all; he grew and grew, and was green both +winter and summer. People that saw him said, "What a fine tree!" and towards +Christmas he was one of the first that was cut down. The axe struck deep into +the very pith; the Tree fell to the earth with a sigh; he felt a pang--it was +like a swoon; he could not think of happiness, for he was sorrowful at being +separated from his home, from the place where he had sprung up. He well knew +that he should never see his dear old comrades, the little bushes and flowers +around him, anymore; perhaps not even the birds! The departure was not at all +agreeable. + +The Tree only came to himself when he was unloaded in a court-yard with the +other trees, and heard a man say, "That one is splendid! We don't want the +others." Then two servants came in rich livery and carried the Fir Tree into a +large and splendid drawing-room. Portraits were hanging on the walls, and near +the white porcelain stove stood two large Chinese vases with lions on the +covers. There, too, were large easy-chairs, silken sofas, large tables full of +picture-books and full of toys, worth hundreds and hundreds of crowns--at +least the children said so. And the Fir Tree was stuck upright in a cask that +was filled with sand; but no one could see that it was a cask, for green cloth +was hung all round it, and it stood on a large gaily-colored carpet. Oh! how +the Tree quivered! What was to happen? The servants, as well as the young +ladies, decorated it. On one branch there hung little nets cut out of colored +paper, and each net was filled with sugarplums; and among the other boughs +gilded apples and walnuts were suspended, looking as though they had grown +there, and little blue and white tapers were placed among the leaves. Dolls +that looked for all the world like men--the Tree had never beheld such +before--were seen among the foliage, and at the very top a large star of gold +tinsel was fixed. It was really splendid--beyond description splendid. + +"This evening!" they all said. "How it will shine this evening!" + +"Oh!" thought the Tree. "If the evening were but come! If the tapers were but +lighted! And then I wonder what will happen! Perhaps the other trees from the +forest will come to look at me! Perhaps the sparrows will beat against the +windowpanes! I wonder if I shall take root here, and winter and summer stand +covered with ornaments!" + +He knew very much about the matter--but he was so impatient that for sheer +longing he got a pain in his back, and this with trees is the same thing as a +headache with us. + +The candles were now lighted--what brightness! What splendor! The Tree +trembled so in every bough that one of the tapers set fire to the foliage. It +blazed up famously. + +"Help! Help!" cried the young ladies, and they quickly put out the fire. + +Now the Tree did not even dare tremble. What a state he was in! He was so +uneasy lest he should lose something of his splendor, that he was quite +bewildered amidst the glare and brightness; when suddenly both folding-doors +opened and a troop of children rushed in as if they would upset the Tree. The +older persons followed quietly; the little ones stood quite still. But it was +only for a moment; then they shouted that the whole place re-echoed with their +rejoicing; they danced round the Tree, and one present after the other was +pulled off. + +"What are they about?" thought the Tree. "What is to happen now!" And the +lights burned down to the very branches, and as they burned down they were put +out one after the other, and then the children had permission to plunder the +Tree. So they fell upon it with such violence that all its branches cracked; +if it had not been fixed firmly in the ground, it would certainly have tumbled +down. + +The children danced about with their beautiful playthings; no one looked at +the Tree except the old nurse, who peeped between the branches; but it was +only to see if there was a fig or an apple left that had been forgotten. + +"A story! A story!" cried the children, drawing a little fat man towards the +Tree. He seated himself under it and said, "Now we are in the shade, and the +Tree can listen too. But I shall tell only one story. Now which will you have; +that about Ivedy-Avedy, or about Humpy-Dumpy, who tumbled downstairs, and yet +after all came to the throne and married the princess?" + +"Ivedy-Avedy," cried some; "Humpy-Dumpy," cried the others. There was such a +bawling and screaming--the Fir Tree alone was silent, and he thought to +himself, "Am I not to bawl with the rest? Am I to do nothing whatever?" for he +was one of the company, and had done what he had to do. + +And the man told about Humpy-Dumpy that tumbled down, who notwithstanding came +to the throne, and at last married the princess. And the children clapped +their hands, and cried. "Oh, go on! Do go on!" They wanted to hear about +Ivedy-Avedy too, but the little man only told them about Humpy-Dumpy. The Fir +Tree stood quite still and absorbed in thought; the birds in the wood had +never related the like of this. "Humpy-Dumpy fell downstairs, and yet he +married the princess! Yes, yes! That's the way of the world!" thought the Fir +Tree, and believed it all, because the man who told the story was so +good-looking. "Well, well! who knows, perhaps I may fall downstairs, too, and +get a princess as wife!" And he looked forward with joy to the morrow, when +he hoped to be decked out again with lights, playthings, fruits, and tinsel. + +"I won't tremble to-morrow!" thought the Fir Tree. "I will enjoy to the full +all my splendor! To-morrow I shall hear again the story of Humpy-Dumpy, and +perhaps that of Ivedy-Avedy too." And the whole night the Tree stood still and +in deep thought. + +In the morning the servant and the housemaid came in. + +"Now then the splendor will begin again," thought the Fir. But they dragged +him out of the room, and up the stairs into the loft: and here, in a dark +corner, where no daylight could enter, they left him. "What's the meaning of +this?" thought the Tree. "What am I to do here? What shall I hear now, I +wonder?" And he leaned against the wall lost in reverie. Time enough had he +too for his reflections; for days and nights passed on, and nobody came up; +and when at last somebody did come, it was only to put some great trunks in a +corner, out of the way. There stood the Tree quite hidden; it seemed as if he +had been entirely forgotten. + +"'Tis now winter out-of-doors!" thought the Tree. "The earth is hard and +covered with snow; men cannot plant me now, and therefore I have been put up +here under shelter till the spring-time comes! How thoughtful that is! How +kind man is, after all! If it only were not so dark here, and so terribly +lonely! Not even a hare! And out in the woods it was so pleasant, when the +snow was on the ground, and the hare leaped by; yes--even when he jumped over +me; but I did not like it then! It is really terribly lonely here!" + +"Squeak! Squeak!" said a little Mouse, at the same moment, peeping out of his +hole. And then another little one came. They snuffed about the Fir Tree, and +rustled among the branches. + +"It is dreadfully cold," said the Mouse. "But for that, it would be delightful +here, old Fir, wouldn't it?" + +"I am by no means old," said the Fir Tree. "There's many a one considerably +older than I am." + +"Where do you come from," asked the Mice; "and what can you do?" They were so +extremely curious. "Tell us about the most beautiful spot on the earth. Have +you never been there? Were you never in the larder, where cheeses lie on the +shelves, and hams hang from above; where one dances about on tallow candles: +that place where one enters lean, and comes out again fat and portly?" + +"I know no such place," said the Tree. "But I know the wood, where the sun +shines and where the little birds sing." And then he told all about his youth; +and the little Mice had never heard the like before; and they listened and +said, + +"Well, to be sure! How much you have seen! How happy you must have been!" + +"I!" said the Fir Tree, thinking over what he had himself related. "Yes, in +reality those were happy times." And then he told about Christmas-eve, when he +was decked out with cakes and candles. + +"Oh," said the little Mice, "how fortunate you have been, old Fir Tree!" + +"I am by no means old," said he. "I came from the wood this winter; I am in my +prime, and am only rather short for my age." + +"What delightful stories you know," said the Mice: and the next night they +came with four other little Mice, who were to hear what the Tree recounted: +and the more he related, the more he remembered himself; and it appeared as if +those times had really been happy times. "But they may still come--they may +still come! Humpy-Dumpy fell downstairs, and yet he got a princess!" and he +thought at the moment of a nice little Birch Tree growing out in the woods: to +the Fir, that would be a real charming princess. + +"Who is Humpy-Dumpy?" asked the Mice. So then the Fir Tree told the whole +fairy tale, for he could remember every single word of it; and the little Mice +jumped for joy up to the very top of the Tree. Next night two more Mice came, +and on Sunday two Rats even; but they said the stories were not interesting, +which vexed the little Mice; and they, too, now began to think them not so +very amusing either. + +"Do you know only one story?" asked the Rats. + +"Only that one," answered the Tree. "I heard it on my happiest evening; but I +did not then know how happy I was." + +"It is a very stupid story! Don't you know one about bacon and tallow candles? +Can't you tell any larder stories?" + +"No," said the Tree. + +"Then good-bye," said the Rats; and they went home. + +At last the little Mice stayed away also; and the Tree sighed: "After all, it +was very pleasant when the sleek little Mice sat round me, and listened to +what I told them. Now that too is over. But I will take good care to enjoy +myself when I am brought out again." + +But when was that to be? Why, one morning there came a quantity of people and +set to work in the loft. The trunks were moved, the tree was pulled out and +thrown--rather hard, it is true--down on the floor, but a man drew him towards +the stairs, where the daylight shone. + +"Now a merry life will begin again," thought the Tree. He felt the fresh air, +the first sunbeam--and now he was out in the courtyard. All passed so quickly, +there was so much going on around him, the Tree quite forgot to look to +himself. The court adjoined a garden, and all was in flower; the roses hung so +fresh and odorous over the balustrade, the lindens were in blossom, the +Swallows flew by, and said, "Quirre-vit! My husband is come!" but it was not +the Fir Tree that they meant. + +"Now, then, I shall really enjoy life," said he exultingly, and spread out his +branches; but, alas, they were all withered and yellow! It was in a corner +that he lay, among weeds and nettles. The golden star of tinsel was still on +the top of the Tree, and glittered in the sunshine. + +In the court-yard some of the merry children were playing who had danced at +Christmas round the Fir Tree, and were so glad at the sight of him. One of the +youngest ran and tore off the golden star. + +"Only look what is still on the ugly old Christmas tree!" said he, trampling +on the branches, so that they all cracked beneath his feet. + +And the Tree beheld all the beauty of the flowers, and the freshness in the +garden; he beheld himself, and wished he had remained in his dark corner in +the loft; he thought of his first youth in the wood, of the merry +Christmas-eve, and of the little Mice who had listened with so much pleasure +to the story of Humpy-Dumpy. + +"'Tis over--'tis past!" said the poor Tree. "Had I but rejoiced when I had +reason to do so! But now 'tis past, 'tis past!" + +And the gardener's boy chopped the Tree into small pieces; there was a whole +heap lying there. The wood flamed up splendidly under the large brewing +copper, and it sighed so deeply! Each sigh was like a shot. + +The boys played about in the court, and the youngest wore the gold star on his +breast which the Tree had had on the happiest evening of his life. However, +that was over now--the Tree gone, the story at an end. All, all was +over--every tale must end at last. + + + +THE SNOW QUEEN + +FIRST STORY. Which Treats of a Mirror and of the Splinters + +Now then, let us begin. When we are at the end of the story, we shall know +more than we know now: but to begin. + +Once upon a time there was a wicked sprite, indeed he was the most mischievous +of all sprites. One day he was in a very good humor, for he had made a mirror +with the power of causing all that was good and beautiful when it was +reflected therein, to look poor and mean; but that which was good-for-nothing +and looked ugly was shown magnified and increased in ugliness. In this mirror +the most beautiful landscapes looked like boiled spinach, and the best persons +were turned into frights, or appeared to stand on their heads; their faces +were so distorted that they were not to be recognised; and if anyone had a +mole, you might be sure that it would be magnified and spread over both nose +and mouth. + +"That's glorious fun!" said the sprite. If a good thought passed through a +man's mind, then a grin was seen in the mirror, and the sprite laughed +heartily at his clever discovery. All the little sprites who went to his +school--for he kept a sprite school--told each other that a miracle had +happened; and that now only, as they thought, it would be possible to see how +the world really looked. They ran about with the mirror; and at last there was +not a land or a person who was not represented distorted in the mirror. So +then they thought they would fly up to the sky, and have a joke there. The +higher they flew with the mirror, the more terribly it grinned: they could +hardly hold it fast. Higher and higher still they flew, nearer and nearer to +the stars, when suddenly the mirror shook so terribly with grinning, that it +flew out of their hands and fell to the earth, where it was dashed in a +hundred million and more pieces. And now it worked much more evil than before; +for some of these pieces were hardly so large as a grain of sand, and they +flew about in the wide world, and when they got into people's eyes, there they +stayed; and then people saw everything perverted, or only had an eye for that +which was evil. This happened because the very smallest bit had the same power +which the whole mirror had possessed. Some persons even got a splinter in +their heart, and then it made one shudder, for their heart became like a lump +of ice. Some of the broken pieces were so large that they were used for +windowpanes, through which one could not see one's friends. Other pieces were +put in spectacles; and that was a sad affair when people put on their glasses +to see well and rightly. Then the wicked sprite laughed till he almost choked, +for all this tickled his fancy. The fine splinters still flew about in the +air: and now we shall hear what happened next. + + +SECOND STORY. A Little Boy and a Little Girl + +In a large town, where there are so many houses, and so many people, that +there is no roof left for everybody to have a little garden; and where, on +this account, most persons are obliged to content themselves with flowers in +pots; there lived two little children, who had a garden somewhat larger than a +flower-pot. They were not brother and sister; but they cared for each other as +much as if they were. Their parents lived exactly opposite. They inhabited two +garrets; and where the roof of the one house joined that of the other, and the +gutter ran along the extreme end of it, there was to each house a small +window: one needed only to step over the gutter to get from one window to the +other. + +The children's parents had large wooden boxes there, in which vegetables for +the kitchen were planted, and little rosetrees besides: there was a rose in +each box, and they grew splendidly. They now thought of placing the boxes +across the gutter, so that they nearly reached from one window to the other, +and looked just like two walls of flowers. The tendrils of the peas hung down +over the boxes; and the rose-trees shot up long branches, twined round the +windows, and then bent towards each other: it was almost like a triumphant +arch of foliage and flowers. The boxes were very high, and the children knew +that they must not creep over them; so they often obtained permission to get +out of the windows to each other, and to sit on their little stools among the +roses, where they could play delightfully. In winter there was an end of this +pleasure. The windows were often frozen over; but then they heated copper +farthings on the stove, and laid the hot farthing on the windowpane, and then +they had a capital peep-hole, quite nicely rounded; and out of each peeped a +gentle friendly eye--it was the little boy and the little girl who were +looking out. His name was Kay, hers was Gerda. In summer, with one jump, they +could get to each other; but in winter they were obliged first to go down the +long stairs, and then up the long stairs again: and out-of-doors there was +quite a snow-storm. + +"It is the white bees that are swarming," said Kay's old grandmother. + +"Do the white bees choose a queen?" asked the little boy; for he knew that the +honey-bees always have one. + +"Yes," said the grandmother, "she flies where the swarm hangs in the thickest +clusters. She is the largest of all; and she can never remain quietly on the +earth, but goes up again into the black clouds. Many a winter's night she +flies through the streets of the town, and peeps in at the windows; and they +then freeze in so wondrous a manner that they look like flowers." + +"Yes, I have seen it," said both the children; and so they knew that it was +true. + +"Can the Snow Queen come in?" said the little girl. + +"Only let her come in!" said the little boy. "Then I'd put her on the stove, +and she'd melt." + +And then his grandmother patted his head and told him other stories. + +In the evening, when little Kay was at home, and half undressed, he climbed up +on the chair by the window, and peeped out of the little hole. A few +snow-flakes were falling, and one, the largest of all, remained lying on the +edge of a flower-pot. + +The flake of snow grew larger and larger; and at last it was like a young +lady, dressed in the finest white gauze, made of a million little flakes like +stars. She was so beautiful and delicate, but she was of ice, of dazzling, +sparkling ice; yet she lived; her eyes gazed fixedly, like two stars; but +there was neither quiet nor repose in them. She nodded towards the window, and +beckoned with her hand. The little boy was frightened, and jumped down from +the chair; it seemed to him as if, at the same moment, a large bird flew past +the window. + +The next day it was a sharp frost--and then the spring came; the sun shone, +the green leaves appeared, the swallows built their nests, the windows were +opened, and the little children again sat in their pretty garden, high up on +the leads at the top of the house. + +That summer the roses flowered in unwonted beauty. The little girl had learned +a hymn, in which there was something about roses; and then she thought of her +own flowers; and she sang the verse to the little boy, who then sang it with +her: + + "The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, + And angels descend there the children to greet." + +And the children held each other by the hand, kissed the roses, looked up at +the clear sunshine, and spoke as though they really saw angels there. What +lovely summer-days those were! How delightful to be out in the air, near the +fresh rose-bushes, that seem as if they would never finish blossoming! + +Kay and Gerda looked at the picture-book full of beasts and of birds; and it +was then--the clock in the church-tower was just striking five--that Kay said, +"Oh! I feel such a sharp pain in my heart; and now something has got into my +eye!" + +The little girl put her arms around his neck. He winked his eyes; now there +was nothing to be seen. + +"I think it is out now," said he; but it was not. It was just one of those +pieces of glass from the magic mirror that had got into his eye; and poor Kay +had got another piece right in his heart. It will soon become like ice. It did +not hurt any longer, but there it was. + +"What are you crying for?" asked he. "You look so ugly! There's nothing the +matter with me. Ah," said he at once, "that rose is cankered! And look, this +one is quite crooked! After all, these roses are very ugly! They are just like +the box they are planted in!" And then he gave the box a good kick with his +foot, and pulled both the roses up. + +"What are you doing?" cried the little girl; and as he perceived her fright, +he pulled up another rose, got in at the window, and hastened off from dear +little Gerda. + +Afterwards, when she brought her picture-book, he asked, "What horrid beasts +have you there?" And if his grandmother told them stories, he always +interrupted her; besides, if he could manage it, he would get behind her, put +on her spectacles, and imitate her way of speaking; he copied all her ways, +and then everybody laughed at him. He was soon able to imitate the gait and +manner of everyone in the street. Everything that was peculiar and displeasing +in them--that Kay knew how to imitate: and at such times all the people said, +"The boy is certainly very clever!" But it was the glass he had got in his +eye; the glass that was sticking in his heart, which made him tease even +little Gerda, whose whole soul was devoted to him. + +His games now were quite different to what they had formerly been, they were +so very knowing. One winter's day, when the flakes of snow were flying about, +he spread the skirts of his blue coat, and caught the snow as it fell. + +"Look through this glass, Gerda," said he. And every flake seemed larger, and +appeared like a magnificent flower, or beautiful star; it was splendid to look +at! + +"Look, how clever!" said Kay. "That's much more interesting than real flowers! +They are as exact as possible; there is not a fault in them, if they did not +melt!" + +It was not long after this, that Kay came one day with large gloves on, and +his little sledge at his back, and bawled right into Gerda's ears, "I have +permission to go out into the square where the others are playing"; and off he +was in a moment. + +There, in the market-place, some of the boldest of the boys used to tie their +sledges to the carts as they passed by, and so they were pulled along, and got +a good ride. It was so capital! Just as they were in the very height of their +amusement, a large sledge passed by: it was painted quite white, and there was +someone in it wrapped up in a rough white mantle of fur, with a rough white +fur cap on his head. The sledge drove round the square twice, and Kay tied on +his sledge as quickly as he could, and off he drove with it. On they went +quicker and quicker into the next street; and the person who drove turned +round to Kay, and nodded to him in a friendly manner, just as if they knew +each other. Every time he was going to untie his sledge, the person nodded to +him, and then Kay sat quiet; and so on they went till they came outside the +gates of the town. Then the snow began to fall so thickly that the little boy +could not see an arm's length before him, but still on he went: when suddenly +he let go the string he held in his hand in order to get loose from the +sledge, but it was of no use; still the little vehicle rushed on with the +quickness of the wind. He then cried as loud as he could, but no one heard +him; the snow drifted and the sledge flew on, and sometimes it gave a jerk as +though they were driving over hedges and ditches. He was quite frightened, and +he tried to repeat the Lord's Prayer; but all he could do, he was only able to +remember the multiplication table. + +The snow-flakes grew larger and larger, till at last they looked just like +great white fowls. Suddenly they flew on one side; the large sledge stopped, +and the person who drove rose up. It was a lady; her cloak and cap were of +snow. She was tall and of slender figure, and of a dazzling whiteness. It was +the Snow Queen. + +"We have travelled fast," said she; "but it is freezingly cold. Come under my +bearskin." And she put him in the sledge beside her, wrapped the fur round +him, and he felt as though he were sinking in a snow-wreath. + +"Are you still cold?" asked she; and then she kissed his forehead. Ah! it was +colder than ice; it penetrated to his very heart, which was already almost a +frozen lump; it seemed to him as if he were about to die--but a moment more +and it was quite congenial to him, and he did not remark the cold that was +around him. + +"My sledge! Do not forget my sledge!" It was the first thing he thought of. It +was there tied to one of the white chickens, who flew along with it on his +back behind the large sledge. The Snow Queen kissed Kay once more, and then he +forgot little Gerda, grandmother, and all whom he had left at his home. + +"Now you will have no more kisses," said she, "or else I should kiss you to +death!" + +Kay looked at her. She was very beautiful; a more clever, or a more lovely +countenance he could not fancy to himself; and she no longer appeared of ice +as before, when she sat outside the window, and beckoned to him; in his eyes +she was perfect, he did not fear her at all, and told her that he could +calculate in his head and with fractions, even; that he knew the number of +square miles there were in the different countries, and how many inhabitants +they contained; and she smiled while he spoke. It then seemed to him as if +what he knew was not enough, and he looked upwards in the large huge empty +space above him, and on she flew with him; flew high over the black clouds, +while the storm moaned and whistled as though it were singing some old tune. +On they flew over woods and lakes, over seas, and many lands; and beneath them +the chilling storm rushed fast, the wolves howled, the snow crackled; above +them flew large screaming crows, but higher up appeared the moon, quite large +and bright; and it was on it that Kay gazed during the long long winter's +night; while by day he slept at the feet of the Snow Queen. + + +THIRD STORY. Of the Flower-Garden At the Old Woman's Who Understood Witchcraft + +But what became of little Gerda when Kay did not return? Where could he be? +Nobody knew; nobody could give any intelligence. All the boys knew was, that +they had seen him tie his sledge to another large and splendid one, which +drove down the street and out of the town. Nobody knew where he was; many sad +tears were shed, and little Gerda wept long and bitterly; at last she said he +must be dead; that he had been drowned in the river which flowed close to the +town. Oh! those were very long and dismal winter evenings! + +At last spring came, with its warm sunshine. + +"Kay is dead and gone!" said little Gerda. + +"That I don't believe," said the Sunshine. + +"Kay is dead and gone!" said she to the Swallows. + +"That I don't believe," said they: and at last little Gerda did not think so +any longer either. + +"I'll put on my red shoes," said she, one morning; "Kay has never seen them, +and then I'll go down to the river and ask there." + +It was quite early; she kissed her old grandmother, who was still asleep, put +on her red shoes, and went alone to the river. + +"Is it true that you have taken my little playfellow? I will make you a +present of my red shoes, if you will give him back to me." + +And, as it seemed to her, the blue waves nodded in a strange manner; then she +took off her red shoes, the most precious things she possessed, and threw them +both into the river. But they fell close to the bank, and the little waves +bore them immediately to land; it was as if the stream would not take what was +dearest to her; for in reality it had not got little Kay; but Gerda thought +that she had not thrown the shoes out far enough, so she clambered into a boat +which lay among the rushes, went to the farthest end, and threw out the shoes. +But the boat was not fastened, and the motion which she occasioned, made it +drift from the shore. She observed this, and hastened to get back; but before +she could do so, the boat was more than a yard from the land, and was gliding +quickly onward. + +Little Gerda was very frightened, and began to cry; but no one heard her +except the sparrows, and they could not carry her to land; but they flew along +the bank, and sang as if to comfort her, "Here we are! Here we are!" The boat +drifted with the stream, little Gerda sat quite still without shoes, for they +were swimming behind the boat, but she could not reach them, because the boat +went much faster than they did. + +The banks on both sides were beautiful; lovely flowers, venerable trees, and +slopes with sheep and cows, but not a human being was to be seen. + +"Perhaps the river will carry me to little Kay," said she; and then she grew +less sad. She rose, and looked for many hours at the beautiful green banks. +Presently she sailed by a large cherry-orchard, where was a little cottage +with curious red and blue windows; it was thatched, and before it two wooden +soldiers stood sentry, and presented arms when anyone went past. + +Gerda called to them, for she thought they were alive; but they, of course, +did not answer. She came close to them, for the stream drifted the boat quite +near the land. + +Gerda called still louder, and an old woman then came out of the cottage, +leaning upon a crooked stick. She had a large broad-brimmed hat on, painted +with the most splendid flowers. + +"Poor little child!" said the old woman. "How did you get upon the large rapid +river, to be driven about so in the wide world!" And then the old woman went +into the water, caught hold of the boat with her crooked stick, drew it to the +bank, and lifted little Gerda out. + +And Gerda was so glad to be on dry land again; but she was rather afraid of +the strange old woman. + +"But come and tell me who you are, and how you came here," said she. + +And Gerda told her all; and the old woman shook her head and said, "A-hem! +a-hem!" and when Gerda had told her everything, and asked her if she had not +seen little Kay, the woman answered that he had not passed there, but he no +doubt would come; and she told her not to be cast down, but taste her +cherries, and look at her flowers, which were finer than any in a +picture-book, each of which could tell a whole story. She then took Gerda by +the hand, led her into the little cottage, and locked the door. + +The windows were very high up; the glass was red, blue, and green, and the +sunlight shone through quite wondrously in all sorts of colors. On the table +stood the most exquisite cherries, and Gerda ate as many as she chose, for she +had permission to do so. While she was eating, the old woman combed her hair +with a golden comb, and her hair curled and shone with a lovely golden color +around that sweet little face, which was so round and so like a rose. + +"I have often longed for such a dear little girl," said the old woman. "Now +you shall see how well we agree together"; and while she combed little Gerda's +hair, the child forgot her foster-brother Kay more and more, for the old woman +understood magic; but she was no evil being, she only practised witchcraft a +little for her own private amusement, and now she wanted very much to keep +little Gerda. She therefore went out in the garden, stretched out her crooked +stick towards the rose-bushes, which, beautifully as they were blowing, all +sank into the earth and no one could tell where they had stood. The old woman +feared that if Gerda should see the roses, she would then think of her own, +would remember little Kay, and run away from her. + +She now led Gerda into the flower-garden. Oh, what odour and what loveliness +was there! Every flower that one could think of, and of every season, stood +there in fullest bloom; no picture-book could be gayer or more beautiful. +Gerda jumped for joy, and played till the sun set behind the tall cherry-tree; +she then had a pretty bed, with a red silken coverlet filled with blue +violets. She fell asleep, and had as pleasant dreams as ever a queen on her +wedding-day. + +The next morning she went to play with the flowers in the warm sunshine, and +thus passed away a day. Gerda knew every flower; and, numerous as they were, +it still seemed to Gerda that one was wanting, though she did not know which. +One day while she was looking at the hat of the old woman painted with +flowers, the most beautiful of them all seemed to her to be a rose. The old +woman had forgotten to take it from her hat when she made the others vanish in +the earth. But so it is when one's thoughts are not collected. "What!" said +Gerda. "Are there no roses here?" and she ran about amongst the flowerbeds, +and looked, and looked, but there was not one to be found. She then sat down +and wept; but her hot tears fell just where a rose-bush had sunk; and when her +warm tears watered the ground, the tree shot up suddenly as fresh and blooming +as when it had been swallowed up. Gerda kissed the roses, thought of her own +dear roses at home, and with them of little Kay. + +"Oh, how long I have stayed!" said the little girl. "I intended to look for +Kay! Don't you know where he is?" she asked of the roses. "Do you think he is +dead and gone?" + +"Dead he certainly is not," said the Roses. "We have been in the earth where +all the dead are, but Kay was not there." + +"Many thanks!" said little Gerda; and she went to the other flowers, looked +into their cups, and asked, "Don't you know where little Kay is?" + +But every flower stood in the sunshine, and dreamed its own fairy tale or its +own story: and they all told her very many things, but not one knew anything +of Kay. + +Well, what did the Tiger-Lily say? + +"Hearest thou not the drum? Bum! Bum! Those are the only two tones. Always +bum! Bum! Hark to the plaintive song of the old woman, to the call of the +priests! The Hindoo woman in her long robe stands upon the funeral pile; the +flames rise around her and her dead husband, but the Hindoo woman thinks on +the living one in the surrounding circle; on him whose eyes burn hotter than +the flames--on him, the fire of whose eyes pierces her heart more than the +flames which soon will burn her body to ashes. Can the heart's flame die in +the flame of the funeral pile?" + +"I don't understand that at all," said little Gerda. + +"That is my story," said the Lily. + +What did the Convolvulus say? + +"Projecting over a narrow mountain-path there hangs an old feudal castle. +Thick evergreens grow on the dilapidated walls, and around the altar, where a +lovely maiden is standing: she bends over the railing and looks out upon the +rose. No fresher rose hangs on the branches than she; no appleblossom carried +away by the wind is more buoyant! How her silken robe is rustling! + +"'Is he not yet come?'" + +"Is it Kay that you mean?" asked little Gerda. + +"I am speaking about my story--about my dream," answered the Convolvulus. + +What did the Snowdrops say? + +"Between the trees a long board is hanging--it is a swing. Two little girls +are sitting in it, and swing themselves backwards and forwards; their frocks +are as white as snow, and long green silk ribands flutter from their bonnets. +Their brother, who is older than they are, stands up in the swing; he twines +his arms round the cords to hold himself fast, for in one hand he has a little +cup, and in the other a clay-pipe. He is blowing soap-bubbles. The swing +moves, and the bubbles float in charming changing colors: the last is still +hanging to the end of the pipe, and rocks in the breeze. The swing moves. The +little black dog, as light as a soap-bubble, jumps up on his hind legs to try +to get into the swing. It moves, the dog falls down, barks, and is angry. They +tease him; the bubble bursts! A swing, a bursting bubble--such is my song!" + +"What you relate may be very pretty, but you tell it in so melancholy a +manner, and do not mention Kay." + +What do the Hyacinths say? + +"There were once upon a time three sisters, quite transparent, and very +beautiful. The robe of the one was red, that of the second blue, and that of +the third white. They danced hand in hand beside the calm lake in the clear +moonshine. They were not elfin maidens, but mortal children. A sweet fragrance +was smelt, and the maidens vanished in the wood; the fragrance grew +stronger--three coffins, and in them three lovely maidens, glided out of the +forest and across the lake: the shining glow-worms flew around like little +floating lights. Do the dancing maidens sleep, or are they dead? The odour of +the flowers says they are corpses; the evening bell tolls for the dead!" + +"You make me quite sad," said little Gerda. "I cannot help thinking of the +dead maidens. Oh! is little Kay really dead? The Roses have been in the earth, +and they say no." + +"Ding, dong!" sounded the Hyacinth bells. "We do not toll for little Kay; we +do not know him. That is our way of singing, the only one we have." + +And Gerda went to the Ranunculuses, that looked forth from among the shining +green leaves. + +"You are a little bright sun!" said Gerda. "Tell me if you know where I can +find my playfellow." + +And the Ranunculus shone brightly, and looked again at Gerda. What song could +the Ranunculus sing? It was one that said nothing about Kay either. + +"In a small court the bright sun was shining in the first days of spring. The +beams glided down the white walls of a neighbor's house, and close by the +fresh yellow flowers were growing, shining like gold in the warm sun-rays. An +old grandmother was sitting in the air; her grand-daughter, the poor and +lovely servant just come for a short visit. She knows her grandmother. There +was gold, pure virgin gold in that blessed kiss. There, that is my little +story," said the Ranunculus. + +"My poor old grandmother!" sighed Gerda. "Yes, she is longing for me, no +doubt: she is sorrowing for me, as she did for little Kay. But I will soon +come home, and then I will bring Kay with me. It is of no use asking the +flowers; they only know their own old rhymes, and can tell me nothing." And +she tucked up her frock, to enable her to run quicker; but the Narcissus gave +her a knock on the leg, just as she was going to jump over it. So she stood +still, looked at the long yellow flower, and asked, "You perhaps know +something?" and she bent down to the Narcissus. And what did it say? + +"I can see myself--I can see myself! Oh, how odorous I am! Up in the little +garret there stands, half-dressed, a little Dancer. She stands now on one leg, +now on both; she despises the whole world; yet she lives only in imagination. +She pours water out of the teapot over a piece of stuff which she holds in her +hand; it is the bodice; cleanliness is a fine thing. The white dress is +hanging on the hook; it was washed in the teapot, and dried on the roof. She +puts it on, ties a saffron-colored kerchief round her neck, and then the gown +looks whiter. I can see myself--I can see myself!" + +"That's nothing to me," said little Gerda. "That does not concern me." And +then off she ran to the further end of the garden. + +The gate was locked, but she shook the rusted bolt till it was loosened, and +the gate opened; and little Gerda ran off barefooted into the wide world. She +looked round her thrice, but no one followed her. At last she could run no +longer; she sat down on a large stone, and when she looked about her, she saw +that the summer had passed; it was late in the autumn, but that one could not +remark in the beautiful garden, where there was always sunshine, and where +there were flowers the whole year round. + +"Dear me, how long I have staid!" said Gerda. "Autumn is come. I must not rest +any longer." And she got up to go further. + +Oh, how tender and wearied her little feet were! All around it looked so cold +and raw: the long willow-leaves were quite yellow, and the fog dripped from +them like water; one leaf fell after the other: the sloes only stood full of +fruit, which set one's teeth on edge. Oh, how dark and comfortless it was in +the dreary world! + + +FOURTH STORY. The Prince and Princess + +Gerda was obliged to rest herself again, when, exactly opposite to her, a +large Raven came hopping over the white snow. He had long been looking at +Gerda and shaking his head; and now he said, "Caw! Caw!" Good day! Good day! +He could not say it better; but he felt a sympathy for the little girl, and +asked her where she was going all alone. The word "alone" Gerda understood +quite well, and felt how much was expressed by it; so she told the Raven her +whole history, and asked if he had not seen Kay. + +The Raven nodded very gravely, and said, "It may be--it may be!" + +"What, do you really think so?" cried the little girl; and she nearly squeezed +the Raven to death, so much did she kiss him. + +"Gently, gently," said the Raven. "I think I know; I think that it may be +little Kay. But now he has forgotten you for the Princess." + +"Does he live with a Princess?" asked Gerda. + +"Yes--listen," said the Raven; "but it will be difficult for me to speak your +language. If you understand the Raven language I can tell you better." + +"No, I have not learnt it," said Gerda; "but my grandmother understands it, +and she can speak gibberish too. I wish I had learnt it." + +"No matter," said the Raven; "I will tell you as well as I can; however, it +will be bad enough." And then he told all he knew. + +"In the kingdom where we now are there lives a Princess, who is +extraordinarily clever; for she has read all the newspapers in the whole +world, and has forgotten them again--so clever is she. She was lately, it is +said, sitting on her throne--which is not very amusing after all--when she +began humming an old tune, and it was just, 'Oh, why should I not be married?' +'That song is not without its meaning,' said she, and so then she was +determined to marry; but she would have a husband who knew how to give an +answer when he was spoken to--not one who looked only as if he were a great +personage, for that is so tiresome. She then had all the ladies of the court +drummed together; and when they heard her intention, all were very pleased, +and said, 'We are very glad to hear it; it is the very thing we were thinking +of.' You may believe every word I say," said the Raven; "for I have a tame +sweetheart that hops about in the palace quite free, and it was she who told +me all this. + +"The newspapers appeared forthwith with a border of hearts and the initials of +the Princess; and therein you might read that every good-looking young man was +at liberty to come to the palace and speak to the Princess; and he who spoke +in such wise as showed he felt himself at home there, that one the Princess +would choose for her husband. + +"Yes, Yes," said the Raven, "you may believe it; it is as true as I am sitting +here. People came in crowds; there was a crush and a hurry, but no one was +successful either on the first or second day. They could all talk well enough +when they were out in the street; but as soon as they came inside the +palace gates, and saw the guard richly dressed in silver, and the lackeys in +gold on the staircase, and the large illuminated saloons, then they were +abashed; and when they stood before the throne on which the Princess was +sitting, all they could do was to repeat the last word they had uttered, and +to hear it again did not interest her very much. It was just as if the people +within were under a charm, and had fallen into a trance till they came out +again into the street; for then--oh, then--they could chatter enough. There +was a whole row of them standing from the town-gates to the palace. I was +there myself to look," said the Raven. "They grew hungry and thirsty; but from +the palace they got nothing whatever, not even a glass of water. Some of the +cleverest, it is true, had taken bread and butter with them: but none shared +it with his neighbor, for each thought, 'Let him look hungry, and then the +Princess won't have him.'" + +"But Kay--little Kay," said Gerda, "when did he come? Was he among the +number?" + +"Patience, patience; we are just come to him. It was on the third day when a +little personage without horse or equipage, came marching right boldly up to +the palace; his eyes shone like yours, he had beautiful long hair, but his +clothes were very shabby." + +"That was Kay," cried Gerda, with a voice of delight. "Oh, now I've found +him!" and she clapped her hands for joy. + +"He had a little knapsack at his back," said the Raven. + +"No, that was certainly his sledge," said Gerda; "for when he went away he +took his sledge with him." + +"That may be," said the Raven; "I did not examine him so minutely; but I know +from my tame sweetheart, that when he came into the court-yard of the palace, +and saw the body-guard in silver, the lackeys on the staircase, he was not the +least abashed; he nodded, and said to them, 'It must be very tiresome to stand +on the stairs; for my part, I shall go in.' The saloons were gleaming with +lustres--privy councillors and excellencies were walking about barefooted, and +wore gold keys; it was enough to make any one feel uncomfortable. His boots +creaked, too, so loudly, but still he was not at all afraid." + +"That's Kay for certain," said Gerda. "I know he had on new boots; I have +heard them creaking in grandmama's room." + +"Yes, they creaked," said the Raven. "And on he went boldly up to the +Princess, who was sitting on a pearl as large as a spinning-wheel. All the +ladies of the court, with their attendants and attendants' attendants, and all +the cavaliers, with their gentlemen and gentlemen's gentlemen, stood round; +and the nearer they stood to the door, the prouder they looked. It was hardly +possible to look at the gentleman's gentleman, so very haughtily did he stand +in the doorway." + +"It must have been terrible," said little Gerda. "And did Kay get the +Princess?" + +"Were I not a Raven, I should have taken the Princess myself, although I am +promised. It is said he spoke as well as I speak when I talk Raven language; +this I learned from my tame sweetheart. He was bold and nicely behaved; he had +not come to woo the Princess, but only to hear her wisdom. She pleased him, +and he pleased her." + +"Yes, yes; for certain that was Kay," said Gerda. "He was so clever; he could +reckon fractions in his head. Oh, won't you take me to the palace?" + +"That is very easily said," answered the Raven. "But how are we to manage it? +I'll speak to my tame sweetheart about it: she must advise us; for so much I +must tell you, such a little girl as you are will never get permission to +enter." + +"Oh, yes I shall," said Gerda; "when Kay hears that I am here, he will come +out directly to fetch me." + +"Wait for me here on these steps," said the Raven. He moved his head backwards +and forwards and flew away. + +The evening was closing in when the Raven returned. "Caw--caw!" said he. "She +sends you her compliments; and here is a roll for you. She took it out of the +kitchen, where there is bread enough. You are hungry, no doubt. It is not +possible for you to enter the palace, for you are barefooted: the guards in +silver, and the lackeys in gold, would not allow it; but do not cry, you shall +come in still. My sweetheart knows a little back stair that leads to the +bedchamber, and she knows where she can get the key of it." + +And they went into the garden in the large avenue, where one leaf was falling +after the other; and when the lights in the palace had all gradually +disappeared, the Raven led little Gerda to the back door, which stood half +open. + +Oh, how Gerda's heart beat with anxiety and longing! It was just as if she had +been about to do something wrong; and yet she only wanted to know if little +Kay was there. Yes, he must be there. She called to mind his intelligent eyes, +and his long hair, so vividly, she could quite see him as he used to laugh +when they were sitting under the roses at home. "He will, no doubt, be glad to +see you--to hear what a long way you have come for his sake; to know how +unhappy all at home were when he did not come back." + +Oh, what a fright and a joy it was! + +They were now on the stairs. A single lamp was burning there; and on the floor +stood the tame Raven, turning her head on every side and looking at Gerda, who +bowed as her grandmother had taught her to do. + +"My intended has told me so much good of you, my dear young lady," said the +tame Raven. "Your tale is very affecting. If you will take the lamp, I will go +before. We will go straight on, for we shall meet no one." + +"I think there is somebody just behind us," said Gerda; and something rushed +past: it was like shadowy figures on the wall; horses with flowing manes and +thin legs, huntsmen, ladies and gentlemen on horseback. + +"They are only dreams," said the Raven. "They come to fetch the thoughts of +the high personages to the chase; 'tis well, for now you can observe them in +bed all the better. But let me find, when you enjoy honor and distinction, +that you possess a grateful heart." + +"Tut! That's not worth talking about," said the Raven of the woods. + +They now entered the first saloon, which was of rose-colored satin, with +artificial flowers on the wall. Here the dreams were rushing past, but they +hastened by so quickly that Gerda could not see the high personages. One hall +was more magnificent than the other; one might indeed well be abashed; and at +last they came into the bedchamber. The ceiling of the room resembled a large +palm-tree with leaves of glass, of costly glass; and in the middle, from a +thick golden stem, hung two beds, each of which resembled a lily. One was +white, and in this lay the Princess; the other was red, and it was here that +Gerda was to look for little Kay. She bent back one of the red leaves, and saw +a brown neck. Oh! that was Kay! She called him quite loud by name, held the +lamp towards him--the dreams rushed back again into the chamber--he awoke, +turned his head, and--it was not little Kay! + +The Prince was only like him about the neck; but he was young and handsome. +And out of the white lily leaves the Princess peeped, too, and asked what was +the matter. Then little Gerda cried, and told her her whole history, and all +that the Ravens had done for her. + +"Poor little thing!" said the Prince and the Princess. They praised the Ravens +very much, and told them they were not at all angry with them, but they were +not to do so again. However, they should have a reward. "Will you fly about +here at liberty," asked the Princess; "or would you like to have a fixed +appointment as court ravens, with all the broken bits from the kitchen?" + +And both the Ravens nodded, and begged for a fixed appointment; for they +thought of their old age, and said, "It is a good thing to have a provision +for our old days." + +And the Prince got up and let Gerda sleep in his bed, and more than this he +could not do. She folded her little hands and thought, "How good men and +animals are!" and she then fell asleep and slept soundly. All the dreams flew +in again, and they now looked like the angels; they drew a little sledge, in +which little Kay sat and nodded his head; but the whole was only a dream, and +therefore it all vanished as soon as she awoke. + +The next day she was dressed from head to foot in silk and velvet. They +offered to let her stay at the palace, and lead a happy life; but she begged +to have a little carriage with a horse in front, and for a small pair of +shoes; then, she said, she would again go forth in the wide world and look for +Kay. + +Shoes and a muff were given her; she was, too, dressed very nicely; and when +she was about to set off, a new carriage stopped before the door. It was of +pure gold, and the arms of the Prince and Princess shone like a star upon it; +the coachman, the footmen, and the outriders, for outriders were there, too, +all wore golden crowns. The Prince and the Princess assisted her into the +carriage themselves, and wished her all success. The Raven of the woods, who +was now married, accompanied her for the first three miles. He sat beside +Gerda, for he could not bear riding backwards; the other Raven stood in the +doorway, and flapped her wings; she could not accompany Gerda, because she +suffered from headache since she had had a fixed appointment and ate so much. +The carriage was lined inside with sugar-plums, and in the seats were fruits +and gingerbread. + +"Farewell! Farewell!" cried Prince and Princess; and Gerda wept, and the Raven +wept. Thus passed the first miles; and then the Raven bade her farewell, and +this was the most painful separation of all. He flew into a tree, and beat his +black wings as long as he could see the carriage, that shone from afar like a +sunbeam. + + +FIFTH STORY. The Little Robber Maiden + +They drove through the dark wood; but the carriage shone like a torch, and it +dazzled the eyes of the robbers, so that they could not bear to look at it. + +"'Tis gold! 'Tis gold!" they cried; and they rushed forward, seized the +horses, knocked down the little postilion, the coachman, and the servants, and +pulled little Gerda out of the carriage. + +"How plump, how beautiful she is! She must have been fed on nut-kernels," said +the old female robber, who had a long, scrubby beard, and bushy eyebrows that +hung down over her eyes. "She is as good as a fatted lamb! How nice she will +be!" And then she drew out a knife, the blade of which shone so that it was +quite dreadful to behold. + +"Oh!" cried the woman at the same moment. She had been bitten in the ear by +her own little daughter, who hung at her back; and who was so wild and +unmanageable, that it was quite amusing to see her. "You naughty child!" said +the mother: and now she had not time to kill Gerda. + +"She shall play with me," said the little robber child. "She shall give me her +muff, and her pretty frock; she shall sleep in my bed!" And then she gave her +mother another bite, so that she jumped, and ran round with the pain; and the +Robbers laughed, and said, "Look, how she is dancing with the little one!" + +"I will go into the carriage," said the little robber maiden; and she would +have her will, for she was very spoiled and very headstrong. She and Gerda got +in; and then away they drove over the stumps of felled trees, deeper and +deeper into the woods. The little robber maiden was as tall as Gerda, but +stronger, broader-shouldered, and of dark complexion; her eyes were quite +black; they looked almost melancholy. She embraced little Gerda, and said, +"They shall not kill you as long as I am not displeased with you. You are, +doubtless, a Princess?" + +"No," said little Gerda; who then related all that had happened to her, and +how much she cared about little Kay. + +The little robber maiden looked at her with a serious air, nodded her head +slightly, and said, "They shall not kill you, even if I am angry with you: +then I will do it myself"; and she dried Gerda's eyes, and put both her hands +in the handsome muff, which was so soft and warm. + +At length the carriage stopped. They were in the midst of the court-yard of a +robber's castle. It was full of cracks from top to bottom; and out of the +openings magpies and rooks were flying; and the great bull-dogs, each of which +looked as if he could swallow a man, jumped up, but they did not bark, for +that was forbidden. + +In the midst of the large, old, smoking hall burnt a great fire on the stone +floor. The smoke disappeared under the stones, and had to seek its own egress. +In an immense caldron soup was boiling; and rabbits and hares were being +roasted on a spit. + +"You shall sleep with me to-night, with all my animals," said the little +robber maiden. They had something to eat and drink; and then went into a +corner, where straw and carpets were lying. Beside them, on laths and perches, +sat nearly a hundred pigeons, all asleep, seemingly; but yet they moved a +little when the robber maiden came. "They are all mine," said she, at the +same time seizing one that was next to her by the legs and shaking it so that +its wings fluttered. "Kiss it," cried the little girl, and flung the pigeon in +Gerda's face. "Up there is the rabble of the wood," continued she, pointing to +several laths which were fastened before a hole high up in the wall; "that's +the rabble; they would all fly away immediately, if they were not well +fastened in. And here is my dear old Bac"; and she laid hold of the horns of a +reindeer, that had a bright copper ring round its neck, and was tethered to +the spot. "We are obliged to lock this fellow in too, or he would make his +escape. Every evening I tickle his neck with my sharp knife; he is so +frightened at it!" and the little girl drew forth a long knife, from a crack +in the wall, and let it glide over the Reindeer's neck. The poor animal +kicked; the girl laughed, and pulled Gerda into bed with her. + +"Do you intend to keep your knife while you sleep?" asked Gerda; looking at it +rather fearfully. + +"I always sleep with the knife," said the little robber maiden. "There is no +knowing what may happen. But tell me now, once more, all about little Kay; and +why you have started off in the wide world alone." And Gerda related all, from +the very beginning: the Wood-pigeons cooed above in their cage, and the others +slept. The little robber maiden wound her arm round Gerda's neck, held the +knife in the other hand, and snored so loud that everybody could hear her; but +Gerda could not close her eyes, for she did not know whether she was to live +or die. The robbers sat round the fire, sang and drank; and the old female +robber jumped about so, that it was quite dreadful for Gerda to see her. + +Then the Wood-pigeons said, "Coo! Coo! We have seen little Kay! A white hen +carries his sledge; he himself sat in the carriage of the Snow Queen, who +passed here, down just over the wood, as we lay in our nest. She blew upon us +young ones; and all died except we two. Coo! Coo!" + +"What is that you say up there?" cried little Gerda. "Where did the Snow Queen +go to? Do you know anything about it?" + +"She is no doubt gone to Lapland; for there is always snow and ice there. Only +ask the Reindeer, who is tethered there." + +"Ice and snow is there! There it is, glorious and beautiful!" said the +Reindeer. "One can spring about in the large shining valleys! The Snow Queen +has her summer-tent there; but her fixed abode is high up towards the North +Pole, on the Island called Spitzbergen." + +"Oh, Kay! Poor little Kay!" sighed Gerda. + +"Do you choose to be quiet?" said the robber maiden. "If you don't, I shall +make you." + +In the morning Gerda told her all that the Wood-pigeons had said; and the +little maiden looked very serious, but she nodded her head, and said, "That's +no matter--that's no matter. Do you know where Lapland lies!" she asked of the +Reindeer. + +"Who should know better than I?" said the animal; and his eyes rolled in his +head. "I was born and bred there--there I leapt about on the fields of snow." + +"Listen," said the robber maiden to Gerda. "You see that the men are gone; +but my mother is still here, and will remain. However, towards morning she +takes a draught out of the large flask, and then she sleeps a little: then I +will do something for you." She now jumped out of bed, flew to her mother; +with her arms round her neck, and pulling her by the beard, said, "Good +morrow, my own sweet nanny-goat of a mother." And her mother took hold of her +nose, and pinched it till it was red and blue; but this was all done out of +pure love. + +When the mother had taken a sup at her flask, and was having a nap, the little +robber maiden went to the Reindeer, and said, "I should very much like to give +you still many a tickling with the sharp knife, for then you are so amusing; +however, I will untether you, and help you out, so that you may go back to +Lapland. But you must make good use of your legs; and take this little girl +for me to the palace of the Snow Queen, where her playfellow is. You have +heard, I suppose, all she said; for she spoke loud enough, and you were +listening." + +The Reindeer gave a bound for joy. The robber maiden lifted up little Gerda, +and took the precaution to bind her fast on the Reindeer's back; she even gave +her a small cushion to sit on. "Here are your worsted leggins, for it will be +cold; but the muff I shall keep for myself, for it is so very pretty. But I +do not wish you to be cold. Here is a pair of lined gloves of my mother's; +they just reach up to your elbow. On with them! Now you look about the hands +just like my ugly old mother!" + +And Gerda wept for joy. + +"I can't bear to see you fretting," said the little robber maiden. "This is +just the time when you ought to look pleased. Here are two loaves and a ham +for you, so that you won't starve." The bread and the meat were fastened to +the Reindeer's back; the little maiden opened the door, called in all the +dogs, and then with her knife cut the rope that fastened the animal, and said +to him, "Now, off with you; but take good care of the little girl!" + +And Gerda stretched out her hands with the large wadded gloves towards the +robber maiden, and said, "Farewell!" and the Reindeer flew on over bush and +bramble through the great wood, over moor and heath, as fast as he could go. + +"Ddsa! Ddsa!" was heard in the sky. It was just as if somebody was sneezing. + +"These are my old northern-lights," said the Reindeer, "look how they gleam!" +And on he now sped still quicker--day and night on he went: the loaves were +consumed, and the ham too; and now they were in Lapland. + + +SIXTH STORY. The Lapland Woman and the Finland Woman + +Suddenly they stopped before a little house, which looked very miserable. The +roof reached to the ground; and the door was so low, that the family were +obliged to creep upon their stomachs when they went in or out. Nobody was at +home except an old Lapland woman, who was dressing fish by the light of an oil +lamp. And the Reindeer told her the whole of Gerda's history, but first of all +his own; for that seemed to him of much greater importance. Gerda was so +chilled that she could not speak. + +"Poor thing," said the Lapland woman, "you have far to run still. You have +more than a hundred miles to go before you get to Finland; there the Snow +Queen has her country-house, and burns blue lights every evening. I will give +you a few words from me, which I will write on a dried haberdine, for paper I +have none; this you can take with you to the Finland woman, and she will be +able to give you more information than I can." + +When Gerda had warmed herself, and had eaten and drunk, the Lapland woman +wrote a few words on a dried haberdine, begged Gerda to take care of them, put +her on the Reindeer, bound her fast, and away sprang the animal. "Ddsa! Ddsa!" +was again heard in the air; the most charming blue lights burned the whole +night in the sky, and at last they came to Finland. They knocked at the +chimney of the Finland woman; for as to a door, she had none. + +There was such a heat inside that the Finland woman herself went about +almost naked. She was diminutive and dirty. She immediately loosened little +Gerda's clothes, pulled off her thick gloves and boots; for otherwise the heat +would have been too great--and after laying a piece of ice on the Reindeer's +head, read what was written on the fish-skin. She read it three times: she +then knew it by heart; so she put the fish into the cupboard--for it might +very well be eaten, and she never threw anything away. + +Then the Reindeer related his own story first, and afterwards that of little +Gerda; and the Finland woman winked her eyes, but said nothing. + +"You are so clever," said the Reindeer; "you can, I know, twist all the winds +of the world together in a knot. If the seaman loosens one knot, then he has a +good wind; if a second, then it blows pretty stiffly; if he undoes the third +and fourth, then it rages so that the forests are upturned. Will you give the +little maiden a potion, that she may possess the strength of twelve men, and +vanquish the Snow Queen?" + +"The strength of twelve men!" said the Finland woman. "Much good that would +be!" Then she went to a cupboard, and drew out a large skin rolled up. When +she had unrolled it, strange characters were to be seen written thereon; and +the Finland woman read at such a rate that the perspiration trickled down her +forehead. + +But the Reindeer begged so hard for little Gerda, and Gerda looked so +imploringly with tearful eyes at the Finland woman, that she winked, and drew +the Reindeer aside into a corner, where they whispered together, while the +animal got some fresh ice put on his head. + +"'Tis true little Kay is at the Snow Queen's, and finds everything there quite +to his taste; and he thinks it the very best place in the world; but the +reason of that is, he has a splinter of glass in his eye, and in his heart. +These must be got out first; otherwise he will never go back to mankind, and +the Snow Queen will retain her power over him." + +"But can you give little Gerda nothing to take which will endue her with power +over the whole?" + +"I can give her no more power than what she has already. Don't you see how +great it is? Don't you see how men and animals are forced to serve her; how +well she gets through the world barefooted? She must not hear of her power +from us; that power lies in her heart, because she is a sweet and innocent +child! If she cannot get to the Snow Queen by herself, and rid little Kay of +the glass, we cannot help her. Two miles hence the garden of the Snow Queen +begins; thither you may carry the little girl. Set her down by the large bush +with red berries, standing in the snow; don't stay talking, but hasten back as +fast as possible." And now the Finland woman placed little Gerda on the +Reindeer's back, and off he ran with all imaginable speed. + +"Oh! I have not got my boots! I have not brought my gloves!" cried little +Gerda. She remarked she was without them from the cutting frost; but the +Reindeer dared not stand still; on he ran till he came to the great bush with +the red berries, and there he set Gerda down, kissed her mouth, while large +bright tears flowed from the animal's eyes, and then back he went as fast as +possible. There stood poor Gerda now, without shoes or gloves, in the very +middle of dreadful icy Finland. + +She ran on as fast as she could. There then came a whole regiment of +snow-flakes, but they did not fall from above, and they were quite bright and +shining from the Aurora Borealis. The flakes ran along the ground, and the +nearer they came the larger they grew. Gerda well remembered how large and +strange the snow-flakes appeared when she once saw them through a +magnifying-glass; but now they were large and terrific in another +manner--they were all alive. They were the outposts of the Snow Queen. They +had the most wondrous shapes; some looked like large ugly porcupines; others +like snakes knotted together, with their heads sticking out; and others, +again, like small fat bears, with the hair standing on end: all were of +dazzling whiteness--all were living snow-flakes. + +Little Gerda repeated the Lord's Prayer. The cold was so intense that she +could see her own breath, which came like smoke out of her mouth. It grew +thicker and thicker, and took the form of little angels, that grew more and +more when they touched the earth. All had helms on their heads, and lances +and shields in their hands; they increased in numbers; and when Gerda had +finished the Lord's Prayer, she was surrounded by a whole legion. They thrust +at the horrid snow-flakes with their spears, so that they flew into a thousand +pieces; and little Gerda walked on bravely and in security. The angels patted +her hands and feet; and then she felt the cold less, and went on quickly +towards the palace of the Snow Queen. + +But now we shall see how Kay fared. He never thought of Gerda, and least of +all that she was standing before the palace. + + +SEVENTH STORY. What Took Place in the Palace of the Snow Queen, and what +Happened Afterward + +The walls of the palace were of driving snow, and the windows and doors of +cutting winds. There were more than a hundred halls there, according as the +snow was driven by the winds. The largest was many miles in extent; all were +lighted up by the powerful Aurora Borealis, and all were so large, so empty, +so icy cold, and so resplendent! Mirth never reigned there; there was never +even a little bear-ball, with the storm for music, while the polar bears went +on their hind legs and showed off their steps. Never a little tea-party of +white young lady foxes; vast, cold, and empty were the halls of the Snow +Queen. The northern-lights shone with such precision that one could tell +exactly when they were at their highest or lowest degree of brightness. In the +middle of the empty, endless hall of snow, was a frozen lake; it was cracked +in a thousand pieces, but each piece was so like the other, that it seemed the +work of a cunning artificer. In the middle of this lake sat the Snow Queen +when she was at home; and then she said she was sitting in the Mirror of +Understanding, and that this was the only one and the best thing in the world. + +Little Kay was quite blue, yes nearly black with cold; but he did not observe +it, for she had kissed away all feeling of cold from his body, and his heart +was a lump of ice. He was dragging along some pointed flat pieces of ice, +which he laid together in all possible ways, for he wanted to make something +with them; just as we have little flat pieces of wood to make geometrical +figures with, called the Chinese Puzzle. Kay made all sorts of figures, the +most complicated, for it was an ice-puzzle for the understanding. In his eyes +the figures were extraordinarily beautiful, and of the utmost importance; for +the bit of glass which was in his eye caused this. He found whole figures +which represented a written word; but he never could manage to represent just +the word he wanted--that word was "eternity"; and the Snow Queen had said, "If +you can discover that figure, you shall be your own master, and I will make +you a present of the whole world and a pair of new skates." But he could not +find it out. + +"I am going now to warm lands," said the Snow Queen. "I must have a look down +into the black caldrons." It was the volcanoes Vesuvius and Etna that she +meant. "I will just give them a coating of white, for that is as it ought to +be; besides, it is good for the oranges and the grapes." And then away she +flew, and Kay sat quite alone in the empty halls of ice that were miles long, +and looked at the blocks of ice, and thought and thought till his skull was +almost cracked. There he sat quite benumbed and motionless; one would have +imagined he was frozen to death. + +Suddenly little Gerda stepped through the great portal into the palace. The +gate was formed of cutting winds; but Gerda repeated her evening prayer, and +the winds were laid as though they slept; and the little maiden entered the +vast, empty, cold halls. There she beheld Kay: she recognised him, flew to +embrace him, and cried out, her arms firmly holding him the while, "Kay, sweet +little Kay! Have I then found you at last?" + +But he sat quite still, benumbed and cold. Then little Gerda shed burning +tears; and they fell on his bosom, they penetrated to his heart, they thawed +the lumps of ice, and consumed the splinters of the looking-glass; he looked +at her, and she sang the hymn: + +"The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, +And angels descend there the children to greet." + +Hereupon Kay burst into tears; he wept so much that the splinter rolled out of +his eye, and he recognised her, and shouted, "Gerda, sweet little Gerda! Where +have you been so long? And where have I been?" He looked round him. "How cold +it is here!" said he. "How empty and cold!" And he held fast by Gerda, who +laughed and wept for joy. It was so beautiful, that even the blocks of ice +danced about for joy; and when they were tired and laid themselves down, they +formed exactly the letters which the Snow Queen had told him to find out; so +now he was his own master, and he would have the whole world and a pair of new +skates into the bargain. + +Gerda kissed his cheeks, and they grew quite blooming; she kissed his eyes, +and they shone like her own; she kissed his hands and feet, and he was again +well and merry. The Snow Queen might come back as soon as she liked; there +stood his discharge written in resplendent masses of ice. + +They took each other by the hand, and wandered forth out of the large hall; +they talked of their old grandmother, and of the roses upon the roof; and +wherever they went, the winds ceased raging, and the sun burst forth. And when +they reached the bush with the red berries, they found the Reindeer waiting +for them. He had brought another, a young one, with him, whose udder was +filled with milk, which he gave to the little ones, and kissed their lips. +They then carried Kay and Gerda--first to the Finland woman, where they +warmed themselves in the warm room, and learned what they were to do on their +journey home; and they went to the Lapland woman, who made some new +clothes for them and repaired their sledges. + +The Reindeer and the young hind leaped along beside them, and accompanied them +to the boundary of the country. Here the first vegetation peeped forth; here +Kay and Gerda took leave of the Lapland woman. "Farewell! Farewell!" they all +said. And the first green buds appeared, the first little birds began to +chirrup; and out of the wood came, riding on a magnificent horse, which Gerda +knew (it was one of the leaders in the golden carriage), a young damsel with a +bright-red cap on her head, and armed with pistols. It was the little robber +maiden, who, tired of being at home, had determined to make a journey to the +north; and afterwards in another direction, if that did not please her. She +recognised Gerda immediately, and Gerda knew her too. It was a joyful meeting. + +"You are a fine fellow for tramping about," said she to little Kay; "I should +like to know, faith, if you deserve that one should run from one end of the +world to the other for your sake?" + +But Gerda patted her cheeks, and inquired for the Prince and Princess. + +"They are gone abroad," said the other. + +"But the Raven?" asked little Gerda. + +"Oh! The Raven is dead," she answered. "His tame sweetheart is a widow, and +wears a bit of black worsted round her leg; she laments most piteously, but +it's all mere talk and stuff! Now tell me what you've been doing and how you +managed to catch him." + +And Gerda and Kay both told their story. + +And "Schnipp-schnapp-schnurre-basselurre," said the robber maiden; and she +took the hands of each, and promised that if she should some day pass through +the town where they lived, she would come and visit them; and then away she +rode. Kay and Gerda took each other's hand: it was lovely spring weather, with +abundance of flowers and of verdure. The church-bells rang, and the children +recognised the high towers, and the large town; it was that in which they +dwelt. They entered and hastened up to their grandmother's room, where +everything was standing as formerly. The clock said "tick! tack!" and the +finger moved round; but as they entered, they remarked that they were now +grown up. The roses on the leads hung blooming in at the open window; there +stood the little children's chairs, and Kay and Gerda sat down on them, +holding each other by the hand; they both had forgotten the cold empty +splendor of the Snow Queen, as though it had been a dream. The grandmother sat +in the bright sunshine, and read aloud from the Bible: "Unless ye become as +little children, ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." + +And Kay and Gerda looked in each other's eyes, and all at once they understood +the old hymn: + +"The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, +And angels descend there the children to greet." + +There sat the two grown-up persons; grown-up, and yet children; children at +least in heart; and it was summer-time; summer, glorious summer! + + + +THE LEAP-FROG + +A Flea, a Grasshopper, and a Leap-frog once wanted to see which could jump +highest; and they invited the whole world, and everybody else besides who +chose to come to see the festival. Three famous jumpers were they, as +everyone would say, when they all met together in the room. + +"I will give my daughter to him who jumps highest," exclaimed the King; "for +it is not so amusing where there is no prize to jump for." + +The Flea was the first to step forward. He had exquisite manners, and bowed to +the company on all sides; for he had noble blood, and was, moreover, +accustomed to the society of man alone; and that makes a great difference. + +Then came the Grasshopper. He was considerably heavier, but he was +well-mannered, and wore a green uniform, which he had by right of birth; he +said, moreover, that he belonged to a very ancient Egyptian family, and that +in the house where he then was, he was thought much of. The fact was, he had +been just brought out of the fields, and put in a pasteboard house, three +stories high, all made of court-cards, with the colored side inwards; and +doors and windows cut out of the body of the Queen of Hearts. "I sing so +well," said he, "that sixteen native grasshoppers who have chirped from +infancy, and yet got no house built of cards to live in, grew thinner than +they were before for sheer vexation when they heard me." + +It was thus that the Flea and the Grasshopper gave an account of themselves, +and thought they were quite good enough to marry a Princess. + +The Leap-frog said nothing; but people gave it as their opinion, that he +therefore thought the more; and when the housedog snuffed at him with his +nose, he confessed the Leap-frog was of good family. The old councillor, who +had had three orders given him to make him hold his tongue, asserted that the +Leap-frog was a prophet; for that one could see on his back, if there would be +a severe or mild winter, and that was what one could not see even on the back +of the man who writes the almanac. + +"I say nothing, it is true," exclaimed the King; "but I have my own opinion, +notwithstanding." + +Now the trial was to take place. The Flea jumped so high that nobody could see +where he went to; so they all asserted he had not jumped at all; and that was +dishonorable. + +The Grasshopper jumped only half as high; but he leaped into the King's face, +who said that was ill-mannered. + +The Leap-frog stood still for a long time lost in thought; it was believed at +last he would not jump at all. + +"I only hope he is not unwell," said the house-dog; when, pop! he made a jump +all on one side into the lap of the Princess, who was sitting on a little +golden stool close by. + +Hereupon the King said, "There is nothing above my daughter; therefore to +bound up to her is the highest jump that can be made; but for this, one must +possess understanding, and the Leap-frog has shown that he has understanding. +He is brave and intellectual." + +And so he won the Princess. + +"It's all the same to me," said the Flea. "She may have the old Leap-frog, for +all I care. I jumped the highest; but in this world merit seldom meets its +reward. A fine exterior is what people look at now-a-days." + +The Flea then went into foreign service, where, it is said, he was killed. + +The Grasshopper sat without on a green bank, and reflected on worldly things; +and he said too, "Yes, a fine exterior is everything--a fine exterior is what +people care about." And then he began chirping his peculiar melancholy song, +from which we have taken this history; and which may, very possibly, be all +untrue, although it does stand here printed in black and white. + + + +THE ELDERBUSH + +Once upon a time there was a little boy who had taken cold. He had gone +out and got his feet wet; though nobody could imagine how it had happened, for +it was quite dry weather. So his mother undressed him, put him to bed, and +had the tea-pot brought in, to make him a good cup of Elderflower tea. +Just at that moment the merry old man came in who lived up a-top of the house +all alone; for he had neither wife nor children--but he liked children very +much, and knew so many fairy tales, that it was quite delightful. + +"Now drink your tea," said the boy's mother; "then, perhaps, you may hear a +fairy tale." + +"If I had but something new to tell," said the old man. "But how did the child +get his feet wet?" + +"That is the very thing that nobody can make out," said his mother. + +"Am I to hear a fairy tale?" asked the little boy. + +"Yes, if you can tell me exactly--for I must know that first--how deep the +gutter is in the little street opposite, that you pass through in going to +school." + +"Just up to the middle of my boot," said the child; "but then I must go into +the deep hole." + +"Ah, ah! That's where the wet feet came from," said the old man. "I ought now +to tell you a story; but I don't know any more." + +"You can make one in a moment," said the little boy. "My mother says that all +you look at can be turned into a fairy tale: and that you can find a story in +everything." + +"Yes, but such tales and stories are good for nothing. The right sort come of +themselves; they tap at my forehead and say, 'Here we are.'" + +"Won't there be a tap soon?" asked the little boy. And his mother laughed, put +some Elder-flowers in the tea-pot, and poured boiling water upon them. + +"Do tell me something! Pray do!" + +"Yes, if a fairy tale would come of its own accord; but they are proud and +haughty, and come only when they choose. Stop!" said he, all on a sudden. "I +have it! Pay attention! There is one in the tea-pot!" + +And the little boy looked at the tea-pot. The cover rose more and more; and +the Elder-flowers came forth so fresh and white, and shot up long branches. +Out of the spout even did they spread themselves on all sides, and grew larger +and larger; it was a splendid Elderbush, a whole tree; and it reached into the +very bed, and pushed the curtains aside. How it bloomed! And what an odour! In +the middle of the bush sat a friendly-looking old woman in a most strange +dress. It was quite green, like the leaves of the elder, and was trimmed with +large white Elder-flowers; so that at first one could not tell whether it was +a stuff, or a natural green and real flowers. + +"What's that woman's name?" asked the little boy. + +"The Greeks and Romans," said the old man, "called her a Dryad; but that we do +not understand. The people who live in the New Booths* have a much better name +for her; they call her 'old Granny'--and she it is to whom you are to pay +attention. Now listen, and look at the beautiful Elderbush. + +* A row of buildings for seamen in Copenhagen. + + +"Just such another large blooming Elder Tree stands near the New Booths. It +grew there in the corner of a little miserable court-yard; and under it sat, +of an afternoon, in the most splendid sunshine, two old people; an old, old +seaman, and his old, old wife. They had great-grand-children, and were soon to +celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage; but they could not +exactly recollect the date: and old Granny sat in the tree, and looked as +pleased as now. 'I know the date,' said she; but those below did not hear her, +for they were talking about old times. + +"'Yes, can't you remember when we were very little,' said the old seaman, 'and +ran and played about? It was the very same court-yard where we now are, and we +stuck slips in the ground, and made a garden.' + +"'I remember it well,' said the old woman; 'I remember it quite well. We +watered the slips, and one of them was an Elderbush. It took root, put forth +green shoots, and grew up to be the large tree under which we old folks are +now sitting.' + +"'To be sure,' said he. 'And there in the corner stood a waterpail, where I +used to swim my boats.' + +"'True; but first we went to school to learn somewhat,' said she; 'and then we +were confirmed. We both cried; but in the afternoon we went up the Round +Tower, and looked down on Copenhagen, and far, far away over the water; then +we went to Friedericksberg, where the King and the Queen were sailing about in +their splendid barges.' + +"'But I had a different sort of sailing to that, later; and that, too, for +many a year; a long way off, on great voyages.' + +"'Yes, many a time have I wept for your sake,' said she. 'I thought you +were dead and gone, and lying down in the deep waters. Many a night have I got +up to see if the wind had not changed: and changed it had, sure enough; but +you never came. I remember so well one day, when the rain was pouring down in +torrents, the scavengers were before the house where I was in service, and I +had come up with the dust, and remained standing at the door--it was dreadful +weather--when just as I was there, the postman came and gave me a letter. It +was from you! What a tour that letter had made! I opened it instantly and +read: I laughed and wept. I was so happy. In it I read that you were in warm +lands where the coffee-tree grows. What a blessed land that must be! You +related so much, and I saw it all the while the rain was pouring down, and I +standing there with the dust-box. At the same moment came someone who embraced +me.' + +"'Yes; but you gave him a good box on his ear that made it tingle!' + +"'But I did not know it was you. You arrived as soon as your letter, and you +were so handsome--that you still are--and had a long yellow silk handkerchief +round your neck, and a bran new hat on; oh, you were so dashing! Good heavens! +What weather it was, and what a state the street was in!' + +"'And then we married,' said he. 'Don't you remember? And then we had our +first little boy, and then Mary, and Nicholas, and Peter, and Christian.' + +"'Yes, and how they all grew up to be honest people, and were beloved by +everybody.' + +"'And their children also have children,' said the old sailor; 'yes, those +are our grand-children, full of strength and vigor. It was, methinks about +this season that we had our wedding.' + +"'Yes, this very day is the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage,' said old +Granny, sticking her head between the two old people; who thought it was their +neighbor who nodded to them. They looked at each other and held one another by +the hand. Soon after came their children, and their grand-children; for they +knew well enough that it was the day of the fiftieth anniversary, and had come +with their gratulations that very morning; but the old people had forgotten +it, although they were able to remember all that had happened many years ago. +And the Elderbush sent forth a strong odour in the sun, that was just about to +set, and shone right in the old people's faces. They both looked so +rosy-cheeked; and the youngest of the grandchildren danced around them, and +called out quite delighted, that there was to be something very splendid that +evening--they were all to have hot potatoes. And old Nanny nodded in the bush, +and shouted 'hurrah!' with the rest." + +"But that is no fairy tale," said the little boy, who was listening to the +story. + +"The thing is, you must understand it," said the narrator; "let us ask old +Nanny." + +"That was no fairy tale, 'tis true," said old Nanny; "but now it's coming. The +most wonderful fairy tales grow out of that which is reality; were that not +the case, you know, my magnificent Elderbush could not have grown out of the +tea-pot." And then she took the little boy out of bed, laid him on her bosom, +and the branches of the Elder Tree, full of flowers, closed around her. They +sat in an aerial dwelling, and it flew with them through the air. Oh, it was +wondrous beautiful! Old Nanny had grown all of a sudden a young and pretty +maiden; but her robe was still the same green stuff with white flowers, which +she had worn before. On her bosom she had a real Elderflower, and in her +yellow waving hair a wreath of the flowers; her eyes were so large and blue +that it was a pleasure to look at them; she kissed the boy, and now they were +of the same age and felt alike. + +Hand in hand they went out of the bower, and they were standing in the +beautiful garden of their home. Near the green lawn papa's walking-stick was +tied, and for the little ones it seemed to be endowed with life; for as soon +as they got astride it, the round polished knob was turned into a magnificent +neighing head, a long black mane fluttered in the breeze, and four slender yet +strong legs shot out. The animal was strong and handsome, and away they went +at full gallop round the lawn. + +"Huzza! Now we are riding miles off," said the boy. "We are riding away to +the castle where we were last year!" + +And on they rode round the grass-plot; and the little maiden, who, we know, +was no one else but old Nanny, kept on crying out, "Now we are in the country! +Don't you see the farm-house yonder? And there is an Elder Tree standing +beside it; and the cock is scraping away the earth for the hens, look, how he +struts! And now we are close to the church. It lies high upon the hill, +between the large oak-trees, one of which is half decayed. And now we are by +the smithy, where the fire is blazing, and where the half-naked men are +banging with their hammers till the sparks fly about. Away! away! To the +beautiful country-seat!" + +And all that the little maiden, who sat behind on the stick, spoke of, flew by +in reality. The boy saw it all, and yet they were only going round the +grass-plot. Then they played in a side avenue, and marked out a little garden +on the earth; and they took Elder-blossoms from their hair, planted them, and +they grew just like those the old people planted when they were children, as +related before. They went hand in hand, as the old people had done when they +were children; but not to the Round Tower, or to Friedericksberg; no, the +little damsel wound her arms round the boy, and then they flew far away +through all Denmark. And spring came, and summer; and then it was autumn, and +then winter; and a thousand pictures were reflected in the eye and in the +heart of the boy; and the little girl always sang to him, "This you will never +forget." And during their whole flight the Elder Tree smelt so sweet and +odorous; he remarked the roses and the fresh beeches, but the Elder Tree had a +more wondrous fragrance, for its flowers hung on the breast of the little +maiden; and there, too, did he often lay his head during the flight. + +"It is lovely here in spring!" said the young maiden. And they stood in a +beech-wood that had just put on its first green, where the woodroof* at their +feet sent forth its fragrance, and the pale-red anemony looked so pretty among +the verdure. "Oh, would it were always spring in the sweetly-smelling Danish +beech-forests!" + +* Asperula odorata. + + +"It is lovely here in summer!" said she. And she flew past old castles of +by-gone days of chivalry, where the red walls and the embattled gables were +mirrored in the canal, where the swans were swimming, and peered up into the +old cool avenues. In the fields the corn was waving like the sea; in the +ditches red and yellow flowers were growing; while wild-drone flowers, and +blooming convolvuluses were creeping in the hedges; and towards evening the +moon rose round and large, and the haycocks in the meadows smelt so sweetly. +"This one never forgets!" + +"It is lovely here in autumn!" said the little maiden. And suddenly the +atmosphere grew as blue again as before; the forest grew red, and green, and +yellow-colored. The dogs came leaping along, and whole flocks of wild-fowl +flew over the cairn, where blackberry-bushes were hanging round the old +stones. The sea was dark blue, covered with ships full of white sails; and in +the barn old women, maidens, and children were sitting picking hops into a +large cask; the young sang songs, but the old told fairy tales of +mountain-sprites and soothsayers. Nothing could be more charming. + +"It is delightful here in winter!" said the little maiden. And all the trees +were covered with hoar-frost; they looked like white corals; the snow crackled +under foot, as if one had new boots on; and one falling star after the other +was seen in the sky. The Christmas-tree was lighted in the room; presents were +there, and good-humor reigned. In the country the violin sounded in the room +of the peasant; the newly-baked cakes were attacked; even the poorest child +said, "It is really delightful here in winter!" + +Yes, it was delightful; and the little maiden showed the boy everything; and +the Elder Tree still was fragrant, and the red flag, with the white cross, was +still waving: the flag under which the old seaman in the New Booths had +sailed. And the boy grew up to be a lad, and was to go forth in the wide +world-far, far away to warm lands, where the coffee-tree grows; but at his +departure the little maiden took an Elder-blossom from her bosom, and +gave it him to keep; and it was placed between the leaves of his Prayer-Book; +and when in foreign lands he opened the book, it was always at the place where +the keepsake-flower lay; and the more he looked at it, the fresher it became; +he felt as it were, the fragrance of the Danish groves; and from among the +leaves of the flowers he could distinctly see the little maiden, peeping forth +with her bright blue eyes--and then she whispered, "It is delightful here in +Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter"; and a hundred visions glided before his +mind. + +Thus passed many years, and he was now an old man, and sat with his old wife +under the blooming tree. They held each other by the hand, as the old +grand-father and grand-mother yonder in the New Booths did, and they talked +exactly like them of old times, and of the fiftieth anniversary of their +wedding. The little maiden, with the blue eyes, and with Elder-blossoms in her +hair, sat in the tree, nodded to both of them, and said, "To-day is the +fiftieth anniversary!" And then she took two flowers out of her hair, and +kissed them. First, they shone like silver, then like gold; and when they laid +them on the heads of the old people, each flower became a golden crown. So +there they both sat, like a king and a queen, under the fragrant tree, that +looked exactly like an elder: the old man told his wife the story of "Old +Nanny," as it had been told him when a boy. And it seemed to both of them it +contained much that resembled their own history; and those parts that were +like it pleased them best. + +"Thus it is," said the little maiden in the tree, "some call me 'Old Nanny,' +others a 'Dryad,' but, in reality, my name is 'Remembrance'; 'tis I who sit in +the tree that grows and grows! I can remember; I can tell things! Let me see +if you have my flower still?" + +And the old man opened his Prayer-Book. There lay the Elder-blossom, as fresh +as if it had been placed there but a short time before; and Remembrance +nodded, and the old people, decked with crowns of gold, sat in the flush of +the evening sun. They closed their eyes, and--and--! Yes, that's the end of +the story! + +The little boy lay in his bed; he did not know if he had dreamed or not, or if +he had been listening while someone told him the story. The tea-pot was +standing on the table, but no Elder Tree was growing out of it! And the old +man, who had been talking, was just on the point of going out at the door, and +he did go. + +"How splendid that was!" said the little boy. "Mother, I have been to warm +countries." + +"So I should think," said his mother. "When one has drunk two good cupfuls of +Elder-flower tea, 'tis likely enough one goes into warm climates"; and she +tucked him up nicely, least he should take cold. "You have had a good sleep +while I have been sitting here, and arguing with him whether it was a story or +a fairy tale." + +"And where is old Nanny?" asked the little boy. + +"In the tea-pot," said his mother; "and there she may remain." + + + +THE BELL + +People said "The Evening Bell is sounding, the sun is setting." For a strange +wondrous tone was heard in the narrow streets of a large town. It was like the +sound of a church-bell: but it was only heard for a moment, for the rolling of +the carriages and the voices of the multitude made too great a noise. + +Those persons who were walking outside the town, where the houses were farther +apart, with gardens or little fields between them, could see the evening sky +still better, and heard the sound of the bell much more distinctly. It was as +if the tones came from a church in the still forest; people looked +thitherward, and felt their minds attuned most solemnly. + +A long time passed, and people said to each other--"I wonder if there is a +church out in the wood? The bell has a tone that is wondrous sweet; let us +stroll thither, and examine the matter nearer." And the rich people drove out, +and the poor walked, but the way seemed strangely long to them; and when they +came to a clump of willows which grew on the skirts of the forest, they sat +down, and looked up at the long branches, and fancied they were now in the +depth of the green wood. The confectioner of the town came out, and set up his +booth there; and soon after came another confectioner, who hung a bell over +his stand, as a sign or ornament, but it had no clapper, and it was tarred +over to preserve it from the rain. When all the people returned home, they +said it had been very romantic, and that it was quite a different sort of +thing to a pic-nic or tea-party. There were three persons who asserted they +had penetrated to the end of the forest, and that they had always heard the +wonderful sounds of the bell, but it had seemed to them as if it had come from +the town. One wrote a whole poem about it, and said the bell sounded like the +voice of a mother to a good dear child, and that no melody was sweeter than +the tones of the bell. The king of the country was also observant of it, and +vowed that he who could discover whence the sounds proceeded, should have the +title of "Universal Bell-ringer," even if it were not really a bell. + +Many persons now went to the wood, for the sake of getting the place, but one +only returned with a sort of explanation; for nobody went far enough, that one +not further than the others. However, he said that the sound proceeded from a +very large owl, in a hollow tree; a sort of learned owl, that continually +knocked its head against the branches. But whether the sound came from +his head or from the hollow tree, that no one could say with certainty. So now +he got the place of "Universal Bell-ringer," and wrote yearly a short treatise +"On the Owl"; but everybody was just as wise as before. + +It was the day of confirmation. The clergyman had spoken so touchingly, the +children who were confirmed had been greatly moved; it was an eventful day for +them; from children they become all at once grown-up-persons; it was as if +their infant souls were now to fly all at once into persons with more +understanding. The sun was shining gloriously; the children that had been +confirmed went out of the town; and from the wood was borne towards them the +sounds of the unknown bell with wonderful distinctness. They all immediately +felt a wish to go thither; all except three. One of them had to go home to try +on a ball-dress; for it was just the dress and the ball which had caused her +to be confirmed this time, for otherwise she would not have come; the other +was a poor boy, who had borrowed his coat and boots to be confirmed in from +the innkeeper's son, and he was to give them back by a certain hour; the third +said that he never went to a strange place if his parents were not with +him--that he had always been a good boy hitherto, and would still be so now +that he was confirmed, and that one ought not to laugh at him for it: the +others, however, did make fun of him, after all. + +There were three, therefore, that did not go; the others hastened on. The sun +shone, the birds sang, and the children sang too, and each held the other by +the hand; for as yet they had none of them any high office, and were all of +equal rank in the eye of God. + +But two of the youngest soon grew tired, and both returned to town; two little +girls sat down, and twined garlands, so they did not go either; and when the +others reached the willow-tree, where the confectioner was, they said, "Now we +are there! In reality the bell does not exist; it is only a fancy that people +have taken into their heads!" + +At the same moment the bell sounded deep in the wood, so clear and solemnly +that five or six determined to penetrate somewhat further. It was so thick, +and the foliage so dense, that it was quite fatiguing to proceed. Woodroof and +anemonies grew almost too high; blooming convolvuluses and blackberry-bushes +hung in long garlands from tree to tree, where the nightingale sang and the +sunbeams were playing: it was very beautiful, but it was no place for girls to +go; their clothes would get so torn. Large blocks of stone lay there, +overgrown with moss of every color; the fresh spring bubbled forth, and made a +strange gurgling sound. + +"That surely cannot be the bell," said one of the children, lying down and +listening. "This must be looked to." So he remained, and let the others go on +without him. + +They afterwards came to a little house, made of branches and the bark of +trees; a large wild apple-tree bent over it, as if it would shower down all +its blessings on the roof, where roses were blooming. The long stems twined +round the gable, on which there hung a small bell. + +Was it that which people had heard? Yes, everybody was unanimous on the +subject, except one, who said that the bell was too small and too fine to be +heard at so great a distance, and besides it was very different tones to those +that could move a human heart in such a manner. It was a king's son who spoke; +whereon the others said, "Such people always want to be wiser than everybody +else." + +They now let him go on alone; and as he went, his breast was filled more and +more with the forest solitude; but he still heard the little bell with which +the others were so satisfied, and now and then, when the wind blew, he could +also hear the people singing who were sitting at tea where the confectioner +had his tent; but the deep sound of the bell rose louder; it was almost as if +an organ were accompanying it, and the tones came from the left hand, the side +where the heart is placed. A rustling was heard in the bushes, and a little +boy stood before the King's Son, a boy in wooden shoes, and with so short a +jacket that one could see what long wrists he had. Both knew each other: the +boy was that one among the children who could not come because he had to go +home and return his jacket and boots to the innkeeper's son. This he had done, +and was now going on in wooden shoes and in his humble dress, for the bell +sounded with so deep a tone, and with such strange power, that proceed he +must. + +"Why, then, we can go together," said the King's Son. But the poor child that +had been confirmed was quite ashamed; he looked at his wooden shoes, pulled at +the short sleeves of his jacket, and said that he was afraid he could not walk +so fast; besides, he thought that the bell must be looked for to the right; +for that was the place where all sorts of beautiful things were to be found. + +"But there we shall not meet," said the King's Son, nodding at the same time +to the poor boy, who went into the darkest, thickest part of the wood, where +thorns tore his humble dress, and scratched his face and hands and feet till +they bled. The King's Son got some scratches too; but the sun shone on his +path, and it is him that we will follow, for he was an excellent and resolute +youth. + +"I must and will find the bell," said he, "even if I am obliged to go to the +end of the world." + +The ugly apes sat upon the trees, and grinned. "Shall we thrash him?" said +they. "Shall we thrash him? He is the son of a king!" + +But on he went, without being disheartened, deeper and deeper into the wood, +where the most wonderful flowers were growing. There stood white lilies with +blood-red stamina, skyblue tulips, which shone as they waved in the winds, and +apple-trees, the apples of which looked exactly like large soapbubbles: so +only think how the trees must have sparkled in the sunshine! Around the nicest +green meads, where the deer were playing in the grass, grew magnificent oaks +and beeches; and if the bark of one of the trees was cracked, there grass and +long creeping plants grew in the crevices. And there were large calm lakes +there too, in which white swans were swimming, and beat the air with their +wings. The King's Son often stood still and listened. He thought the bell +sounded from the depths of these still lakes; but then he remarked again that +the tone proceeded not from there, but farther off, from out the depths of the +forest. + +The sun now set: the atmosphere glowed like fire. It was still in the woods, +so very still; and he fell on his knees, sung his evening hymn, and said: "I +cannot find what I seek; the sun is going down, and night is coming--the dark, +dark night. Yet perhaps I may be able once more to see the round red sun +before he entirely disappears. I will climb up yonder rock." + +And he seized hold of the creeping-plants, and the roots of trees--climbed up +the moist stones where the water-snakes were writhing and the toads were +croaking--and he gained the summit before the sun had quite gone down. How +magnificent was the sight from this height! The sea--the great, the glorious +sea, that dashed its long waves against the coast--was stretched out before +him. And yonder, where sea and sky meet, stood the sun, like a large shining +altar, all melted together in the most glowing colors. And the wood and the +sea sang a song of rejoicing, and his heart sang with the rest: all nature was +a vast holy church, in which the trees and the buoyant clouds were the +pillars, flowers and grass the velvet carpeting, and heaven itself the large +cupola. The red colors above faded away as the sun vanished, but a million +stars were lighted, a million lamps shone; and the King's Son spread out his +arms towards heaven, and wood, and sea; when at the same moment, coming by a +path to the right, appeared, in his wooden shoes and jacket, the poor boy who +had been confirmed with him. He had followed his own path, and had reached the +spot just as soon as the son of the king had done. They ran towards each +other, and stood together hand in hand in the vast church of nature and of +poetry, while over them sounded the invisible holy bell: blessed spirits +floated around them, and lifted up their voices in a rejoicing hallelujah! + + + +THE OLD HOUSE + +In the street, up there, was an old, a very old house--it was almost three +hundred years old, for that might be known by reading the great beam on which +the date of the year was carved: together with tulips and hop-binds there were +whole verses spelled as in former times, and over every window was a distorted +face cut out in the beam. The one story stood forward a great way over the +other; and directly under the eaves was a leaden spout with a dragon's head; +the rain-water should have run out of the mouth, but it ran out of the belly, +for there was a hole in the spout. + +All the other houses in the street were so new and so neat, with large window +panes and smooth walls, one could easily see that they would have nothing to +do with the old house: they certainly thought, "How long is that old decayed +thing to stand here as a spectacle in the street? And then the projecting +windows stand so far out, that no one can see from our windows what happens in +that direction! The steps are as broad as those of a palace, and as high as to +a church tower. The iron railings look just like the door to an old family +vault, and then they have brass tops--that's so stupid!" + +On the other side of the street were also new and neat houses, and they +thought just as the others did; but at the window opposite the old house there +sat a little boy with fresh rosy cheeks and bright beaming eyes: he certainly +liked the old house best, and that both in sunshine and moonshine. And when he +looked across at the wall where the mortar had fallen out, he could sit and +find out there the strangest figures imaginable; exactly as the street had +appeared before, with steps, projecting windows, and pointed gables; he could +see soldiers with halberds, and spouts where the water ran, like dragons and +serpents. That was a house to look at; and there lived an old man, who wore +plush breeches; and he had a coat with large brass buttons, and a wig that one +could see was a real wig. Every morning there came an old fellow to him who +put his rooms in order, and went on errands; otherwise, the old man in the +plush breeches was quite alone in the old house. Now and then he came to the +window and looked out, and the little boy nodded to him, and the old man +nodded again, and so they became acquaintances, and then they were friends, +although they had never spoken to each other--but that made no difference. The +little boy heard his parents say, "The old man opposite is very well off, but +he is so very, very lonely!" + +The Sunday following, the little boy took something, and wrapped it up in a +piece of paper, went downstairs, and stood in the doorway; and when the man +who went on errands came past, he said to him-- + +"I say, master! will you give this to the old man over the way from me? I have +two pewter soldiers--this is one of them, and he shall have it, for I know he +is so very, very lonely." + +And the old errand man looked quite pleased, nodded, and took the pewter +soldier over to the old house. Afterwards there came a message; it was to ask +if the little boy himself had not a wish to come over and pay a visit; and so +he got permission of his parents, and then went over to the old house. + +And the brass balls on the iron railings shone much brighter than ever; one +would have thought they were polished on account of the visit; and it was as +if the carved-out trumpeters--for there were trumpeters, who stood in tulips, +carved out on the door--blew with all their might, their cheeks appeared so +much rounder than before. Yes, they blew--"Trateratra! The little boy comes! +Trateratra!"--and then the door opened. + +The whole passage was hung with portraits of knights in armor, and ladies in +silken gowns; and the armor rattled, and the silken gowns rustled! And then +there was a flight of stairs which went a good way upwards, and a little way +downwards, and then one came on a balcony which was in a very dilapidated +state, sure enough, with large holes and long crevices, but grass grew there +and leaves out of them altogether, for the whole balcony outside, the yard, +and the walls, were overgrown with so much green stuff, that it looked like a +garden; only a balcony. Here stood old flower-pots with faces and asses' ears, +and the flowers grew just as they liked. One of the pots was quite overrun on +all sides with pinks, that is to say, with the green part; shoot stood by +shoot, and it said quite distinctly, "The air has cherished me, the sun has +kissed me, and promised me a little flower on Sunday! a little flower on +Sunday!" + +And then they entered a chamber where the walls were covered with hog's +leather, and printed with gold flowers. + + "The gilding decays, + But hog's leather stays!" + + said the walls. + +And there stood easy-chairs, with such high backs, and so carved out, and with +arms on both sides. "Sit down! sit down!" said they. "Ugh! how I creak; now I +shall certainly get the gout, like the old clothespress, ugh!" + +And then the little boy came into the room where the projecting windows were, +and where the old man sat. + +"I thank you for the pewter soldier, my little friend!" said the old man. "And +I thank you because you come over to me." + +"Thankee! thankee!" or "cranky! cranky!" sounded from all the furniture; there +was so much of it, that each article stood in the other's way, to get a look +at the little boy. + +In the middle of the wall hung a picture representing a beautiful lady, so +young, so glad, but dressed quite as in former times, with clothes that stood +quite stiff, and with powder in her hair; she neither said "thankee, thankee!" +nor "cranky, cranky!" but looked with her mild eyes at the little boy, who +directly asked the old man, "Where did you get her?" + +"Yonder, at the broker's," said the old man, "where there are so many pictures +hanging. No one knows or cares about them, for they are all of them buried; +but I knew her in by-gone days, and now she has been dead and gone these fifty +years!" + +Under the picture, in a glazed frame, there hung a bouquet of withered +flowers; they were almost fifty years old; they looked so very old! + +The pendulum of the great clock went to and fro, and the hands turned, and +everything in the room became still older; but they did not observe it. + +"They say at home," said the little boy, "that you are so very, very lonely!" + +"Oh!" said he. "The old thoughts, with what they may bring with them, come and +visit me, and now you also come! I am very well off!" + +Then he took a book with pictures in it down from the shelf; there were +whole long processions and pageants, with the strangest characters, which one +never sees now-a-days; soldiers like the knave of clubs, and citizens with +waving flags: the tailors had theirs, with a pair of shears held by two +lions--and the shoemakers theirs, without boots, but with an eagle that had +two heads, for the shoemakers must have everything so that they can say, it is +a pair! Yes, that was a picture book! + +The old man now went into the other room to fetch preserves, apples, and +nuts--yes, it was delightful over there in the old house. + +"I cannot bear it any longer!" said the pewter soldier, who sat on the +drawers. "It is so lonely and melancholy here! But when one has been in a +family circle one cannot accustom oneself to this life! I cannot bear it any +longer! The whole day is so long, and the evenings are still longer! Here it +is not at all as it is over the way at your home, where your father and +mother spoke so pleasantly, and where you and all your sweet children made +such a delightful noise. Nay, how lonely the old man is--do you think that he +gets kisses? Do you think he gets mild eyes, or a Christmas tree? He will get +nothing but a grave! I can bear it no longer!" + +"You must not let it grieve you so much," said the little boy. "I find it so +very delightful here, and then all the old thoughts, with what they may bring +with them, they come and visit here." + +"Yes, it's all very well, but I see nothing of them, and I don't know them!" +said the pewter soldier. "I cannot bear it!" + +"But you must!" said the little boy. + +Then in came the old man with the most pleased and happy face, the most +delicious preserves, apples, and nuts, and so the little boy thought no more +about the pewter soldier. + +The little boy returned home happy and pleased, and weeks and days passed +away, and nods were made to the old house, and from the old house, and then +the little boy went over there again. + +The carved trumpeters blew, "Trateratra! There is the little boy! Trateratra!" +and the swords and armor on the knights' portraits rattled, and the silk gowns +rustled; the hog's leather spoke, and the old chairs had the gout in their +legs and rheumatism in their backs: Ugh! it was exactly like the first time, +for over there one day and hour was just like another. + +"I cannot bear it!" said the pewter soldier. "I have shed pewter tears! It is +too melancholy! Rather let me go to the wars and lose arms and legs! It would +at least be a change. I cannot bear it longer! Now, I know what it is to have +a visit from one's old thoughts, with what they may bring with them! I have +had a visit from mine, and you may be sure it is no pleasant thing in the end; +I was at last about to jump down from the drawers. + +"I saw you all over there at home so distinctly, as if you really were here; +it was again that Sunday morning; all you children stood before the table and +sung your Psalms, as you do every morning. You stood devoutly with folded +hands; and father and mother were just as pious; and then the door was opened, +and little sister Mary, who is not two years old yet, and who always dances +when she hears music or singing, of whatever kind it may be, was put into the +room--though she ought not to have been there--and then she began to dance, +but could not keep time, because the tones were so long; and then she stood, +first on the one leg, and bent her head forwards, and then on the other leg, +and bent her head forwards--but all would not do. You stood very seriously all +together, although it was difficult enough; but I laughed to myself, and then +I fell off the table, and got a bump, which I have still--for it was not +right of me to laugh. But the whole now passes before me again in thought, and +everything that I have lived to see; and these are the old thoughts, with what +they may bring with them. + +"Tell me if you still sing on Sundays? Tell me something about little Mary! +And how my comrade, the other pewter soldier, lives! Yes, he is happy enough, +that's sure! I cannot bear it any longer!" + +"You are given away as a present!" said the little boy. "You must remain. Can +you not understand that?" + +The old man now came with a drawer, in which there was much to be seen, both +"tin boxes" and "balsam boxes," old cards, so large and so gilded, such as one +never sees them now. And several drawers were opened, and the piano was +opened; it had landscapes on the inside of the lid, and it was so hoarse when +the old man played on it! and then he hummed a song. + +"Yes, she could sing that!" said he, and nodded to the portrait, which he +had bought at the broker's, and the old man's eyes shone so bright! + +"I will go to the wars! I will go to the wars!" shouted the pewter soldier as +loud as he could, and threw himself off the drawers right down on the floor. +What became of him? The old man sought, and the little boy sought; he was +away, and he stayed away. + +"I shall find him!" said the old man; but he never found him. The floor was +too open--the pewter soldier had fallen through a crevice, and there he lay as +in an open tomb. + +That day passed, and the little boy went home, and that week passed, and +several weeks too. The windows were quite frozen, the little boy was obliged +to sit and breathe on them to get a peep-hole over to the old house, and there +the snow had been blown into all the carved work and inscriptions; it lay +quite up over the steps, just as if there was no one at home--nor was there +any one at home--the old man was dead! + +In the evening there was a hearse seen before the door, and he was borne into +it in his coffin: he was now to go out into the country, to lie in his grave. +He was driven out there, but no one followed; all his friends were dead, and +the little boy kissed his hand to the coffin as it was driven away. + +Some days afterwards there was an auction at the old house, and the little boy +saw from his window how they carried the old knights and the old ladies away, +the flower-pots with the long ears, the old chairs, and the old +clothes-presses. Something came here, and something came there; the portrait +of her who had been found at the broker's came to the broker's again; and +there it hung, for no one knew her more--no one cared about the old picture. + +In the spring they pulled the house down, for, as people said, it was a ruin. +One could see from the street right into the room with the hog's-leather +hanging, which was slashed and torn; and the green grass and leaves about the +balcony hung quite wild about the falling beams. And then it was put to +rights. + +"That was a relief," said the neighboring houses. + +A fine house was built there, with large windows, and smooth white walls; but +before it, where the old house had in fact stood, was a little garden laid +out, and a wild grapevine ran up the wall of the neighboring house. Before the +garden there was a large iron railing with an iron door, it looked quite +splendid, and people stood still and peeped in, and the sparrows hung by +scores in the vine, and chattered away at each other as well as they could, +but it was not about the old house, for they could not remember it, so many +years had passed--so many that the little boy had grown up to a whole man, +yes, a clever man, and a pleasure to his parents; and he had just been +married, and, together with his little wife, had come to live in the house +here, where the garden was; and he stood by her there whilst she planted a +field-flower that she found so pretty; she planted it with her little hand, +and pressed the earth around it with her fingers. Oh! what was that? She had +stuck herself. There sat something pointed, straight out of the soft mould. + +It was--yes, guess! It was the pewter soldier, he that was lost up at the old +man's, and had tumbled and turned about amongst the timber and the rubbish, +and had at last laid for many years in the ground. + +The young wife wiped the dirt off the soldier, first with a green leaf, and +then with her fine handkerchief--it had such a delightful smell, that it was +to the pewter soldier just as if he had awaked from a trance. + +"Let me see him," said the young man. He laughed, and then shook his head. +"Nay, it cannot be he; but he reminds me of a story about a pewter soldier +which I had when I was a little boy!" And then he told his wife about the old +house, and the old man, and about the pewter soldier that he sent over to him +because he was so very, very lonely; and he told it as correctly as it had +really been, so that the tears came into the eyes of his young wife, on +account of the old house and the old man. + +"It may possibly be, however, that it is the same pewter soldier!" said she. +"I will take care of it, and remember all that you have told me; but you must +show me the old man's grave!" + +"But I do not know it," said he, "and no one knows it! All his friends were +dead, no one took care of it, and I was then a little boy!" + +"How very, very lonely he must have been!" said she. + +"Very, very lonely!" said the pewter soldier. "But it is delightful not to be +forgotten!" + +"Delightful!" shouted something close by; but no one, except the pewter +soldier, saw that it was a piece of the hog's-leather hangings; it had lost +all its gilding, it looked like a piece of wet clay, but it had an opinion, +and it gave it: + + "The gilding decays, + But hog's leather stays!" + +This the pewter soldier did not believe. + + + +THE HAPPY FAMILY + +Really, the largest green leaf in this country is a dock-leaf; if one holds it +before one, it is like a whole apron, and if one holds it over one's head in +rainy weather, it is almost as good as an umbrella, for it is so immensely +large. The burdock never grows alone, but where there grows one there always +grow several: it is a great delight, and all this delightfulness is snails' +food. The great white snails which persons of quality in former times made +fricassees of, ate, and said, "Hem, hem! how delicious!" for they thought it +tasted so delicate--lived on dock-leaves, and therefore burdock seeds were +sown. + +Now, there was an old manor-house, where they no longer ate snails, they were +quite extinct; but the burdocks were not extinct, they grew and grew all over +the walks and all the beds; they could not get the mastery over them--it was a +whole forest of burdocks. Here and there stood an apple and a plum-tree, or +else one never would have thought that it was a garden; all was burdocks, and +there lived the two last venerable old snails. + +They themselves knew not how old they were, but they could remember very well +that there had been many more; that they were of a family from foreign lands, +and that for them and theirs the whole forest was planted. They had never been +outside it, but they knew that there was still something more in the world, +which was called the manor-house, and that there they were boiled, and then +they became black, and were then placed on a silver dish; but what happened +further they knew not; or, in fact, what it was to be boiled, and to lie on a +silver dish, they could not possibly imagine; but it was said to be +delightful, and particularly genteel. Neither the chafers, the toads, nor the +earth-worms, whom they asked about it could give them any information--none of +them had been boiled or laid on a silver dish. + +The old white snails were the first persons of distinction in the world, that +they knew; the forest was planted for their sake, and the manor-house was +there that they might be boiled and laid on a silver dish. + +Now they lived a very lonely and happy life; and as they had no children +themselves, they had adopted a little common snail, which they brought up as +their own; but the little one would not grow, for he was of a common family; +but the old ones, especially Dame Mother Snail, thought they could observe how +he increased in size, and she begged father, if he could not see it, that he +would at least feel the little snail's shell; and then he felt it, and found +the good dame was right. + +One day there was a heavy storm of rain. + +"Hear how it beats like a drum on the dock-leaves!" said Father Snail. + +"There are also rain-drops!" said Mother Snail. "And now the rain pours right +down the stalk! You will see that it will be wet here! I am very happy to +think that we have our good house, and the little one has his also! There is +more done for us than for all other creatures, sure enough; but can you not +see that we are folks of quality in the world? We are provided with a house +from our birth, and the burdock forest is planted for our sakes! I should like +to know how far it extends, and what there is outside!" + +"There is nothing at all," said Father Snail. "No place can be better than +ours, and I have nothing to wish for!" + +"Yes," said the dame. "I would willingly go to the manorhouse, be boiled, and +laid on a silver dish; all our forefathers have been treated so; there is +something extraordinary in it, you may be sure!" + +"The manor-house has most likely fallen to ruin!" said Father Snail. "Or the +burdocks have grown up over it, so that they cannot come out. There need not, +however, be any haste about that; but you are always in such a tremendous +hurry, and the little one is beginning to be the same. Has he not been +creeping up that stalk these three days? It gives me a headache when I look up +to him!" + +"You must not scold him," said Mother Snail. "He creeps so carefully; he will +afford us much pleasure--and we have nothing but him to live for! But have +you not thought of it? Where shall we get a wife for him? Do you not think +that there are some of our species at a great distance in the interior of the +burdock forest?" + +"Black snails, I dare say, there are enough of," said the old one. "Black +snails without a house--but they are so common, and so conceited. But we might +give the ants a commission to look out for us; they run to and fro as if they +had something to do, and they certainly know of a wife for our little snail!" + +"I know one, sure enough--the most charming one!" said one of the ants. "But I +am afraid we shall hardly succeed, for she is a queen!" + +"That is nothing!" said the old folks. "Has she a house?" + +"She has a palace!" said the ant. "The finest ant's palace, with seven hundred +passages!" + +"I thank you!" said Mother Snail. "Our son shall not go into an ant-hill; if +you know nothing better than that, we shall give the commission to the white +gnats. They fly far and wide, in rain and sunshine; they know the whole forest +here, both within and without." + +"We have a wife for him," said the gnats. "At a hundred human paces from here +there sits a little snail in her house, on a gooseberry bush; she is quite +lonely, and old enough to be married. It is only a hundred human paces!" + +"Well, then, let her come to him!" said the old ones. "He has a whole forest +of burdocks, she has only a bush!" + +And so they went and fetched little Miss Snail. It was a whole week before she +arrived; but therein was just the very best of it, for one could thus see that +she was of the same species. + +And then the marriage was celebrated. Six earth-worms shone as well as they +could. In other respects the whole went off very quietly, for the old folks +could not bear noise and merriment; but old Dame Snail made a brilliant +speech. Father Snail could not speak, he was too much affected; and so they +gave them as a dowry and inheritance, the whole forest of burdocks, and +said--what they had always said--that it was the best in the world; and if +they lived honestly and decently, and increased and multiplied, they and their +children would once in the course of time come to the manor-house, be boiled +black, and laid on silver dishes. After this speech was made, the old ones +crept into their shells, and never more came out. They slept; the young couple +governed in the forest, and had a numerous progeny, but they were never +boiled, and never came on the silver dishes; so from this they concluded that +the manor-house had fallen to ruins, and that all the men in the world were +extinct; and as no one contradicted them, so, of course it was so. And the +rain beat on the dock-leaves to make drum-music for their sake, and the sun +shone in order to give the burdock forest a color for their sakes; and they +were very happy, and the whole family was happy; for they, indeed were so. + + + +THE STORY OF A MOTHER + +A mother sat there with her little child. She was so downcast, so afraid that +it should die! It was so pale, the small eyes had closed themselves, and it +drew its breath so softly, now and then, with a deep respiration, as if it +sighed; and the mother looked still more sorrowfully on the little creature. + +Then a knocking was heard at the door, and in came a poor old man wrapped up +as in a large horse-cloth, for it warms one, and he needed it, as it was the +cold winter season! Everything out-of-doors was covered with ice and snow, and +the wind blew so that it cut the face. + +As the old man trembled with cold, and the little child slept a moment, the +mother went and poured some ale into a pot and set it on the stove, that it +might be warm for him; the old man sat and rocked the cradle, and the mother +sat down on a chair close by him, and looked at her little sick child that +drew its breath so deep, and raised its little hand. + +"Do you not think that I shall save him?" said she. "Our Lord will not take +him from me!" + +And the old man--it was Death himself--he nodded so strangely, it could just +as well signify yes as no. And the mother looked down in her lap, and the +tears ran down over her cheeks; her head became so heavy--she had not closed +her eyes for three days and nights; and now she slept, but only for a minute, +when she started up and trembled with cold. + +"What is that?" said she, and looked on all sides; but the old man was gone, +and her little child was gone--he had taken it with him; and the old clock in +the corner burred, and burred, the great leaden weight ran down to the floor, +bump! and then the clock also stood still. + +But the poor mother ran out of the house and cried aloud for her child. + +Out there, in the midst of the snow, there sat a woman in long, black clothes; +and she said, "Death has been in thy chamber, and I saw him hasten away with +thy little child; he goes faster than the wind, and he never brings back what +he takes!" + +"Oh, only tell me which way he went!" said the mother. "Tell me the way, and I +shall find him!" + +"I know it!" said the woman in the black clothes. "But before I tell it, thou +must first sing for me all the songs thou hast sung for thy child! I am fond +of them. I have heard them before; I am Night; I saw thy tears whilst thou +sang'st them!" + +"I will sing them all, all!" said the mother. "But do not stop me now--I may +overtake him--I may find my child!" + +But Night stood still and mute. Then the mother wrung her hands, sang and +wept, and there were many songs, but yet many more tears; and then Night said, +"Go to the right, into the dark pine forest; thither I saw Death take his way +with thy little child!" + +The roads crossed each other in the depths of the forest, and she no longer +knew whither she should go! then there stood a thorn-bush; there was neither +leaf nor flower on it, it was also in the cold winter season, and ice-flakes +hung on the branches. + +"Hast thou not seen Death go past with my little child?" said the mother. + +"Yes," said the thorn-bush; "but I will not tell thee which way he took, +unless thou wilt first warm me up at thy heart. I am freezing to death; I +shall become a lump of ice!" + +And she pressed the thorn-bush to her breast, so firmly, that it might be +thoroughly warmed, and the thorns went right into her flesh, and her blood +flowed in large drops, but the thornbush shot forth fresh green leaves, and +there came flowers on it in the cold winter night, the heart of the afflicted +mother was so warm; and the thorn-bush told her the way she should go. + +She then came to a large lake, where there was neither ship nor boat. The lake +was not frozen sufficiently to bear her; neither was it open, nor low enough +that she could wade through it; and across it she must go if she would find +her child! Then she lay down to drink up the lake, and that was an +impossibility for a human being, but the afflicted mother thought that a +miracle might happen nevertheless. + +"Oh, what would I not give to come to my child!" said the weeping mother; and +she wept still more, and her eyes sunk down in the depths of the waters, and +became two precious pearls; but the water bore her up, as if she sat in a +swing, and she flew in the rocking waves to the shore on the opposite side, +where there stood a mile-broad, strange house, one knew not if it were a +mountain with forests and caverns, or if it were built up; but the poor mother +could not see it; she had wept her eyes out. + +"Where shall I find Death, who took away my little child?" said she. + +"He has not come here yet!" said the old grave woman, who was appointed to +look after Death's great greenhouse! "How have you been able to find the way +hither? And who has helped you?" + +"OUR LORD has helped me," said she. "He is merciful, and you will also be so! +Where shall I find my little child?" + +"Nay, I know not," said the woman, "and you cannot see! Many flowers and trees +have withered this night; Death will soon come and plant them over again! +You certainly know that every person has his or her life's tree or flower, +just as everyone happens to be settled; they look like other plants, but they +have pulsations of the heart. Children's hearts can also beat; go after yours, +perhaps you may know your child's; but what will you give me if I tell you +what you shall do more?" + +"I have nothing to give," said the afflicted mother, "but I will go to the +world's end for you!" + +"Nay, I have nothing to do there!" said the woman. "But you can give me your +long black hair; you know yourself that it is fine, and that I like! You shall +have my white hair instead, and that's always something!" + +"Do you demand nothing else?" said she. "That I will gladly give you!" And she +gave her her fine black hair, and got the old woman's snow-white hair instead. + +So they went into Death's great greenhouse, where flowers and trees grew +strangely into one another. There stood fine hyacinths under glass bells, and +there stood strong-stemmed peonies; there grew water plants, some so fresh, +others half sick, the water-snakes lay down on them, and black crabs pinched +their stalks. There stood beautiful palm-trees, oaks, and plantains; there +stood parsley and flowering thyme: every tree and every flower had its name; +each of them was a human life, the human frame still lived--one in China, and +another in Greenland--round about in the world. There were large trees in +small pots, so that they stood so stunted in growth, and ready to burst the +pots; in other places, there was a little dull flower in rich mould, with moss +round about it, and it was so petted and nursed. But the distressed mother +bent down over all the smallest plants, and heard within them how the human +heart beat; and amongst millions she knew her child's. + +"There it is!" cried she, and stretched her hands out over a little blue +crocus, that hung quite sickly on one side. + +"Don't touch the flower!" said the old woman. "But place yourself here, and +when Death comes--I expect him every moment--do not let him pluck the flower +up, but threaten him that you will do the same with the others. Then he will +be afraid! He is responsible for them to OUR LORD, and no one dares to pluck +them up before HE gives leave." + +All at once an icy cold rushed through the great hall, and the blind mother +could feel that it was Death that came. + +"How hast thou been able to find thy way hither?" he asked. "How couldst thou +come quicker than I?" + +"I am a mother," said she. + +And Death stretched out his long hand towards the fine little flower, but she +held her hands fast around his, so tight, and yet afraid that she should touch +one of the leaves. Then Death blew on her hands, and she felt that it was +colder than the cold wind, and her hands fell down powerless. + +"Thou canst not do anything against me!" said Death. + +"But OUR LORD can!" said she. + +"I only do His bidding!" said Death. "I am His gardener, I take all His +flowers and trees, and plant them out in the great garden of Paradise, in the +unknown land; but how they grow there, and how it is there I dare not tell +thee." + +"Give me back my child!" said the mother, and she wept and prayed. At once she +seized hold of two beautiful flowers close by, with each hand, and cried out +to Death, "I will tear all thy flowers off, for I am in despair." + +"Touch them not!" said Death. "Thou say'st that thou art so unhappy, and now +thou wilt make another mother equally unhappy." + +"Another mother!" said the poor woman, and directly let go her hold of both +the flowers. + +"There, thou hast thine eyes," said Death; "I fished them up from the lake, +they shone so bright; I knew not they were thine. Take them again, they are +now brighter than before; now look down into the deep well close by; I shall +tell thee the names of the two flowers thou wouldst have torn up, and thou +wilt see their whole future life--their whole human existence: and see what +thou wast about to disturb and destroy." + +And she looked down into the well; and it was a happiness to see how the one +became a blessing to the world, to see how much happiness and joy were felt +everywhere. And she saw the other's life, and it was sorrow and distress, +horror, and wretchedness. + +"Both of them are God's will!" said Death. + +"Which of them is Misfortune's flower and which is that of Happiness?" asked +she. + +"That I will not tell thee," said Death; "but this thou shalt know from me, +that the one flower was thy own child! it was thy child's fate thou +saw'st--thy own child's future life!" + +Then the mother screamed with terror, "Which of them was my child? Tell it me! +Save the innocent! Save my child from all that misery! Rather take it away! +Take it into God's kingdom! Forget my tears, forget my prayers, and all that I +have done!" + +"I do not understand thee!" said Death. "Wilt thou have thy child again, or +shall I go with it there, where thou dost not know!" + +Then the mother wrung her hands, fell on her knees, and prayed to our Lord: +"Oh, hear me not when I pray against Thy will, which is the best! hear me not! +hear me not!" + +And she bowed her head down in her lap, and Death took her child and went with +it into the unknown land. + + + +THE FALSE COLLAR + +There was once a fine gentleman, all of whose moveables were a boot-jack and a +hair-comb: but he had the finest false collars in the world; and it is about +one of these collars that we are now to hear a story. + +It was so old, that it began to think of marriage; and it happened that it +came to be washed in company with a garter. + +"Nay!" said the collar. "I never did see anything so slender and so fine, so +soft and so neat. May I not ask your name?" + +"That I shall not tell you!" said the garter. + +"Where do you live?" asked the collar. + +But the garter was so bashful, so modest, and thought it was a strange +question to answer. + +"You are certainly a girdle," said the collar; "that is to say an inside +girdle. I see well that you are both for use and ornament, my dear young +lady." + +"I will thank you not to speak to me," said the garter. "I think I have not +given the least occasion for it." + +"Yes! When one is as handsome as you," said the collar, "that is occasion +enough." + +"Don't come so near me, I beg of you!" said the garter. "You look so much like +those men-folks." + +"I am also a fine gentleman," said the collar. "I have a bootjack and a +hair-comb." + +But that was not true, for it was his master who had them: but he boasted. + +"Don't come so near me," said the garter: "I am not accustomed to it." + +"Prude!" exclaimed the collar; and then it was taken out of the washing-tub. +It was starched, hung over the back of a chair in the sunshine, and was then +laid on the ironing-blanket; then came the warm box-iron. "Dear lady!" said +the collar. "Dear widow-lady! I feel quite hot. I am quite changed. I begin to +unfold myself. You will burn a hole in me. Oh! I offer you my hand." + +"Rag!" said the box-iron; and went proudly over the collar: for she fancied +she was a steam-engine, that would go on the railroad and draw the waggons. +"Rag!" said the box-iron. + +The collar was a little jagged at the edge, and so came the long scissors to +cut off the jagged part. "Oh!" said the collar. "You are certainly the first +opera dancer. How well you can stretch your legs out! It is the most graceful +performance I have ever seen. No one can imitate you." + +"I know it," said the scissors. + +"You deserve to be a baroness," said the collar. "All that I have is a fine +gentleman, a boot-jack, and a hair-comb. If I only had the barony!" + +"Do you seek my hand?" said the scissors; for she was angry; and without more +ado, she CUT HIM, and then he was condemned. + +"I shall now be obliged to ask the hair-comb. It is surprising how well you +preserve your teeth, Miss," said the collar. "Have you never thought of being +betrothed?" + +"Yes, of course! you may be sure of that," said the hair-comb. "I AM +betrothed--to the boot-jack!" + +"Betrothed!" exclaimed the collar. Now there was no other to court, and so he +despised it. + +A long time passed away, then the collar came into the rag chest at the paper +mill; there was a large company of rags, the fine by themselves, and the +coarse by themselves, just as it should be. They all had much to say, but the +collar the most; for he was a real boaster. + +"I have had such an immense number of sweethearts!" said the collar. "I could +not be in peace! It is true, I was always a fine starched-up gentleman! I had +both a boot-jack and a hair-comb, which I never used! You should have seen me +then, you should have seen me when I lay down! I shall never forget MY FIRST +LOVE--she was a girdle, so fine, so soft, and so charming, she threw herself +into a tub of water for my sake! There was also a widow, who became glowing +hot, but I left her standing till she got black again; there was also the +first opera dancer, she gave me that cut which I now go with, she was so +ferocious! My own hair-comb was in love with me, she lost all her teeth from +the heart-ache; yes, I have lived to see much of that sort of thing; +but I am extremely sorry for the garter--I mean the girdle--that went into the +water-tub. I have much on my conscience, I want to become white paper!" + +And it became so, all the rags were turned into white paper; but the collar +came to be just this very piece of white paper we here see, and on which the +story is printed; and that was because it boasted so terribly afterwards of +what had never happened to it. It would be well for us to beware, that we may +not act in a similar manner, for we can never know if we may not, in the +course of time, also come into the rag chest, and be made into white paper, +and then have our whole life's history printed on it, even the most secret, +and be obliged to run about and tell it ourselves, just like this collar. + + + +THE SHADOW + +It is in the hot lands that the sun burns, sure enough! there the people +become quite a mahogany brown, ay, and in the HOTTEST lands they are burnt to +Negroes. But now it was only to the HOT lands that a learned man had come from +the cold; there he thought that he could run about just as when at home, but +he soon found out his mistake. + +He, and all sensible folks, were obliged to stay within doors--the +window-shutters and doors were closed the whole day; it looked as if the whole +house slept, or there was no one at home. + +The narrow street with the high houses, was built so that the sunshine must +fall there from morning till evening--it was really not to be borne. + +The learned man from the cold lands--he was a young man, and seemed to be a +clever man--sat in a glowing oven; it took effect on him, he became quite +meagre--even his shadow shrunk in, for the sun had also an effect on it. It +was first towards evening when the sun was down, that they began to freshen up +again. + +In the warm lands every window has a balcony, and the people came out on all +the balconies in the street--for one must have air, even if one be accustomed +to be mahogany!* It was lively both up and down the street. Tailors, and +shoemakers, and all the folks, moved out into the street--chairs and tables +were brought forth--and candles burnt--yes, above a thousand lights were +burning--and the one talked and the other sung; and people walked and +church-bells rang, and asses went along with a dingle-dingle-dong! for they +too had bells on. The street boys were screaming and hooting, and shouting and +shooting, with devils and detonating balls--and there came corpse bearers and +hood wearers--for there were funerals with psalm and hymn--and then the din of +carriages driving and company arriving: yes, it was, in truth, lively enough +down in the street. Only in that single house, which stood opposite that in +which the learned foreigner lived, it was quite still; and yet some one lived +there, for there stood flowers in the balcony--they grew so well in the sun's +heat! and that they could not do unless they were watered--and some one must +water them--there must be somebody there. The door opposite was also opened +late in the evening, but it was dark within, at least in the front room; +further in there was heard the sound of music. The learned foreigner thought +it quite marvellous, but now--it might be that he only imagined it--for he +found everything marvellous out there, in the warm lands, if there had only +been no sun. The stranger's landlord said that he didn't know who had taken +the house opposite, one saw no person about, and as to the music, it appeared +to him to be extremely tiresome. "It is as if some one sat there, and +practised a piece that he could not master--always the same piece. 'I shall +master it!' says he; but yet he cannot master it, however long he plays." + +* The word mahogany can be understood, in Danish, as having two meanings. +In general, it means the reddish-brown wood itself; but in jest, it signifies +"excessively fine," which arose from an anecdote of Nyboder, in Copenhagen, +(the seamen's quarter.) A sailor's wife, who was always proud and fine, in her +way, came to her neighbor, and complained that she had got a splinter in her +finger. "What of?" asked the neighbor's wife. "It is a mahogany splinter," +said the other. "Mahogany! It cannot be less with you!" exclaimed the +woman--and thence the proverb, "It is so mahogany!"--(that is, so excessively +fine)--is derived. + + +One night the stranger awoke--he slept with the doors of the balcony open--the +curtain before it was raised by the wind, and he thought that a strange lustre +came from the opposite neighbor's house; all the flowers shone like flames, in +the most beautiful colors, and in the midst of the flowers stood a slender, +graceful maiden--it was as if she also shone; the light really hurt his eyes. +He now opened them quite wide--yes, he was quite awake; with one spring he was +on the floor; he crept gently behind the curtain, but the maiden was gone; the +flowers shone no longer, but there they stood, fresh and blooming as ever; the +door was ajar, and, far within, the music sounded so soft and delightful, one +could really melt away in sweet thoughts from it. Yet it was like a piece of +enchantment. And who lived there? Where was the actual entrance? The whole of +the ground-floor was a row of shops, and there people could not always be +running through. + +One evening the stranger sat out on the balcony. The light burnt in the room +behind him; and thus it was quite natural that his shadow should fall on his +opposite neighbor's wall. Yes! there it sat, directly opposite, between the +flowers on the balcony; and when the stranger moved, the shadow also moved: +for that it always does. + +"I think my shadow is the only living thing one sees over there," said the +learned man. "See, how nicely it sits between the flowers. The door stands +half-open: now the shadow should be cunning, and go into the room, look about, +and then come and tell me what it had seen. Come, now! Be useful, and do me a +service," said he, in jest. "Have the kindness to step in. Now! Art thou +going?" and then he nodded to the shadow, and the shadow nodded again. "Well +then, go! But don't stay away." + +The stranger rose, and his shadow on the opposite neighbor's balcony rose +also; the stranger turned round and the shadow also turned round. Yes! if +anyone had paid particular attention to it, they would have seen, quite +distinctly, that the shadow went in through the half-open balcony-door of +their opposite neighbor, just as the stranger went into his own room, and let +the long curtain fall down after him. + +Next morning, the learned man went out to drink coffee and read the +newspapers. + +"What is that?" said he, as he came out into the sunshine. "I have no shadow! +So then, it has actually gone last night, and not come again. It is really +tiresome!" + +This annoyed him: not so much because the shadow was gone, but because he knew +there was a story about a man without a shadow.* It was known to everybody at +home, in the cold lands; and if the learned man now came there and told his +story, they would say that he was imitating it, and that he had no need to do. +He would, therefore, not talk about it at all; and that was wisely thought. + +*Peter Schlemihl, the shadowless man. + + +In the evening he went out again on the balcony. He had placed the light +directly behind him, for he knew that the shadow would always have its master +for a screen, but he could not entice it. He made himself little; he made +himself great: but no shadow came again. He said, "Hem! hem!" but it was of no +use. + +It was vexatious; but in the warm lands everything grows so quickly; and after +the lapse of eight days he observed, to his great joy, that a new shadow came +in the sunshine. In the course of three weeks he had a very fair shadow, +which, when he set out for his home in the northern lands, grew more and more +in the journey, so that at last it was so long and so large, that it was more +than sufficient. + +The learned man then came home, and he wrote books about what was true in the +world, and about what was good and what was beautiful; and there passed days +and years--yes! many years passed away. + +One evening, as he was sitting in his room, there was a gentle knocking at the +door. + +"Come in!" said he; but no one came in; so he opened the door, and there stood +before him such an extremely lean man, that he felt quite strange. As to the +rest, the man was very finely dressed--he must be a gentleman. + +"Whom have I the honor of speaking?" asked the learned man. + +"Yes! I thought as much," said the fine man. "I thought you would not know +me. I have got so much body. I have even got flesh and clothes. You certainly +never thought of seeing me so well off. Do you not know your old shadow? You +certainly thought I should never more return. Things have gone on well with me +since I was last with you. I have, in all respects, become very well off. +Shall I purchase my freedom from service? If so, I can do it"; and then he +rattled a whole bunch of valuable seals that hung to his watch, and he stuck +his hand in the thick gold chain he wore around his neck--nay! how all his +fingers glittered with diamond rings; and then all were pure gems. + +"Nay; I cannot recover from my surprise!" said the learned man. "What is the +meaning of all this?" + +"Something common, is it not," said the shadow. "But you yourself do not +belong to the common order; and I, as you know well, have from a child +followed in your footsteps. As soon as you found I was capable to go out alone +in the world, I went my own way. I am in the most brilliant circumstances, but +there came a sort of desire over me to see you once more before you die; you +will die, I suppose? I also wished to see this land again--for you know we +always love our native land. I know you have got another shadow again; have I +anything to pay to it or you? If so, you will oblige me by saying what it is." + +"Nay, is it really thou?" said the learned man. "It is most remarkable: I +never imagined that one's old shadow could come again as a man." + +"Tell me what I have to pay," said the shadow; "for I don't like to be in any +sort of debt." + +"How canst thou talk so?" said the learned man. "What debt is there to talk +about? Make thyself as free as anyone else. I am extremely glad to hear of thy +good fortune: sit down, old friend, and tell me a little how it has gone with +thee, and what thou hast seen at our opposite neighbor's there--in the warm +lands." + +"Yes, I will tell you all about it," said the shadow, and sat down: "but then +you must also promise me, that, wherever you may meet me, you will never say +to anyone here in the town that I have been your shadow. I intend to get +betrothed, for I can provide for more than one family." + +"Be quite at thy ease about that," said the learned man; "I shall not say to +anyone who thou actually art: here is my hand--I promise it, and a man's bond +is his word." + +"A word is a shadow," said the shadow, "and as such it must speak." + +It was really quite astonishing how much of a man it was. It was dressed +entirely in black, and of the very finest cloth; it had patent leather boots, +and a hat that could be folded together, so that it was bare crown and brim; +not to speak of what we already know it had--seals, gold neck-chain, and +diamond rings; yes, the shadow was well-dressed, and it was just that which +made it quite a man. + +"Now I shall tell you my adventures," said the shadow; and then he sat, with +the polished boots, as heavily as he could, on the arm of the learned man's +new shadow, which lay like a poodle-dog at his feet. Now this was perhaps from +arrogance; and the shadow on the ground kept itself so still and quiet, that +it might hear all that passed: it wished to know how it could get free, and +work its way up, so as to become its own master. + +"Do you know who lived in our opposite neighbor's house?" said the shadow. "It +was the most charming of all beings, it was Poesy! I was there for three +weeks, and that has as much effect as if one had lived three thousand years, +and read all that was composed and written; that is what I say, and it is +right. I have seen everything and I know everything!" + +"Poesy!" cried the learned man. "Yes, yes, she often dwells a recluse in +large cities! Poesy! Yes, I have seen her--a single short moment, but sleep +came into my eyes! She stood on the balcony and shone as the Aurora Borealis +shines. Go on, go on--thou wert on the balcony, and went through the doorway, +and then--" + +"Then I was in the antechamber," said the shadow. "You always sat and looked +over to the antechamber. There was no light; there was a sort of twilight, but +the one door stood open directly opposite the other through a long row of +rooms and saloons, and there it was lighted up. I should have been completely +killed if I had gone over to the maiden; but I was circumspect, I took time to +think, and that one must always do." + +"And what didst thou then see?" asked the learned man. + +"I saw everything, and I shall tell all to you: but--it is no pride on my +part--as a free man, and with the knowledge I have, not to speak of my +position in life, my excellent circumstances--I certainly wish that you would +say YOU* to me!" + +* It is the custom in Denmark for intimate acquaintances to use the +second person singular, "Du," (thou) when speaking to each other. When a +friendship is formed between men, they generally affirm it, when occasion +offers, either in public or private, by drinking to each other and exclaiming, +"thy health," at the same time striking their glasses together. This is called +drinking "Duus": they are then, "Duus Brodre," (thou brothers) and ever +afterwards use the pronoun "thou," to each other, it being regarded as more +familiar than "De," (you). Father and mother, sister and brother say thou to +one another--without regard to age or rank. Master and mistress say thou to +their servants the superior to the inferior. But servants and inferiors do not +use the same term to their masters, or superiors--nor is it ever used when +speaking to a stranger, or anyone with whom they are but slightly acquainted +--they then say as in English--you. + + +"I beg your pardon," said the learned man; "it is an old habit with me. YOU +are perfectly right, and I shall remember it; but now you must tell me all YOU +saw!" + +"Everything!" said the shadow. "For I saw everything, and I know everything!" + +"How did it look in the furthest saloon?" asked the learned man. "Was it there +as in the fresh woods? Was it there as in a holy +church? Were the saloons like the starlit firmament when we stand on the high +mountains?" + +"Everything was there!" said the shadow. "I did not go quite in, I remained in +the foremost room, in the twilight, but I stood there quite well; I saw +everything, and I know everything! I have been in the antechamber at the court +of Poesy." + +"But WHAT DID you see? Did all the gods of the olden times pass through the +large saloons? Did the old heroes combat there? Did sweet children play there, +and relate their dreams?" + +"I tell you I was there, and you can conceive that I saw everything there was +to be seen. Had you come over there, you would not have been a man; but I +became so! And besides, I learned to know my inward nature, my innate +qualities, the relationship I had with Poesy. At the time I was with you, I +thought not of that, but always--you know it well--when the sun rose, and when +the sun went down, I became so strangely great; in the moonlight I was very +near being more distinct than yourself; at that time I did not understand my +nature; it was revealed to me in the antechamber! I became a man! I came out +matured; but you were no longer in the warm lands; as a man I was ashamed to +go as I did. I was in want of boots, of clothes, of the whole human varnish +that makes a man perceptible. I took my way--I tell it to you, but you will +not put it in any book--I took my way to the cake woman--I hid myself behind +her; the woman didn't think how much she concealed. I went out first in the +evening; I ran about the streets in the moonlight; I made myself long up the +walls--it tickles the back so delightfully! I ran up, and ran down, peeped +into the highest windows, into the saloons, and on the roofs, I peeped in +where no one could peep, and I saw what no one else saw, what no one else +should see! This is, in fact, a base world! I would not be a man if it were +not now once accepted and regarded as something to be so! I saw the most +unimaginable things with the women, with the men, with parents, and with the +sweet, matchless children; I saw," said the shadow, "what no human being must +know, but what they would all so willingly know--what is bad in their +neighbor. Had I written a newspaper, it would have been read! But I wrote +direct to the persons themselves, and there was consternation in all the +towns where I came. They were so afraid of me, and yet they were so +excessively fond of me. The professors made a professor of me; the tailors +gave me new clothes--I am well furnished; the master of the mint struck new +coin for me, and the women said I was so handsome! And so I became the man I +am. And I now bid you farewell. Here is my card--I live on the sunny side of +the street, and am always at home in rainy weather!" And so away went the +shadow. "That was most extraordinary!" said the learned man. Years and days +passed away, then the shadow came again. "How goes it?" said the shadow. + +"Alas!" said the learned man. "I write about the true, and the good, and the +beautiful, but no one cares to hear such things; I am quite desperate, for I +take it so much to heart!" + +"But I don't!" said the shadow. "I become fat, and it is that one wants to +become! You do not understand the world. You will become ill by it. You must +travel! I shall make a tour this summer; will you go with me? I should like to +have a travelling companion! Will you go with me, as shadow? It will be a +great pleasure for me to have you with me; I shall pay the travelling +expenses!" + +"Nay, this is too much!" said the learned man. + +"It is just as one takes it!" said the shadow. "It will do you much good to +travel! Will you be my shadow? You shall have everything free on the journey!" + +"Nay, that is too bad!" said the learned man. + +"But it is just so with the world!" said the shadow, "and so it will be!" and +away it went again. + +The learned man was not at all in the most enviable state; grief and torment +followed him, and what he said about the true, and the good, and the +beautiful, was, to most persons, like roses for a cow! He was quite ill at +last. + +"You really look like a shadow!" said his friends to him; and the learned man +trembled, for he thought of it. + +"You must go to a watering-place!" said the shadow, who came and visited him. +"There is nothing else for it! I will take you with me for old acquaintance' +sake; I will pay the travelling expenses, and you write the descriptions--and +if they are a little amusing for me on the way! I will go to a +watering-place--my beard does not grow out as it ought--that is also a +sickness--and one must have a beard! Now you be wise and accept the offer; we +shall travel as comrades!" + +And so they travelled; the shadow was master, and the master was the shadow; +they drove with each other, they rode and walked together, side by side, +before and behind, just as the sun was; the shadow always took care to keep +itself in the master's place. Now the learned man didn't think much about +that; he was a very kind-hearted man, and particularly mild and friendly, and +so he said one day to the shadow: "As we have now become companions, and in +this way have grown up together from childhood, shall we not drink 'thou' +together, it is more familiar?" + +"You are right," said the shadow, who was now the proper master. "It is said +in a very straight-forward and well-meant manner. You, as a learned man, +certainly know how strange nature is. Some persons cannot bear to touch grey +paper, or they become ill; others shiver in every limb if one rub a pane of +glass with a nail: I have just such a feeling on hearing you say thou to me; I +feel myself as if pressed to the earth in my first situation with you. You see +that it is a feeling; that it is not pride: I cannot allow you to say THOU to +me, but I will willingly say THOU to you, so it is half done!" + +So the shadow said THOU to its former master. + +"This is rather too bad," thought he, "that I must say YOU and he say THOU," +but he was now obliged to put up with it. + +So they came to a watering-place where there were many strangers, and amongst +them was a princess, who was troubled with seeing too well; and that was so +alarming! + +She directly observed that the stranger who had just come was quite a +different sort of person to all the others; "He has come here in order to get +his beard to grow, they say, but I see the real cause, he cannot cast a +shadow." + +She had become inquisitive; and so she entered into conversation directly with +the strange gentleman, on their promenades. As the daughter of a king, she +needed not to stand upon trifles, so she said, "Your complaint is, that you +cannot cast a shadow?" + +"Your Royal Highness must be improving considerably," said the shadow, "I know +your complaint is, that you see too clearly, but it has decreased, you are +cured. I just happen to have a very unusual shadow! Do you not see that person +who always goes with me? Other persons have a common shadow, but I do not like +what is common to all. We give our servants finer cloth for their livery than +we ourselves use, and so I had my shadow trimmed up into a man: yes, you see I +have even given him a shadow. It is somewhat expensive, but I like to have +something for myself!" + +"What!" thought the princess. "Should I really be cured! These baths are the +first in the world! In our time water has wonderful powers. But I shall not +leave the place, for it now begins to be amusing here. I am extremely fond of +that stranger: would that his beard should not grow, for in that case he will +leave us!" + +In the evening, the princess and the shadow danced together in the large +ball-room. She was light, but he was still lighter; she had never had such a +partner in the dance. She told him from what land she came, and he knew that +land; he had been there, but then she was not at home; he had peeped in at the +window, above and below--he had seen both the one and the other, and so he +could answer the princess, and make insinuations, so that she was quite +astonished; he must be the wisest man in the whole world! She felt such +respect for what he knew! So that when they again danced together she fell in +love with him; and that the shadow could remark, for she almost pierced him +through with her eyes. So they danced once more together; and she was about to +declare herself, but she was discreet; she thought of her country and kingdom, +and of the many persons she would have to reign over. + +"He is a wise man," said she to herself--"It is well; and he dances +delightfully--that is also good; but has he solid knowledge? That is just as +important! He must be examined." + +So she began, by degrees, to question him about the most difficult things she +could think of, and which she herself could not have answered; so that the +shadow made a strange face. + +"You cannot answer these questions?" said the princess. + +"They belong to my childhood's learning," said the shadow. "I really believe +my shadow, by the door there, can answer them!" + +"Your shadow!" said the princess. "That would indeed be marvellous!" + +"I will not say for a certainty that he can," said the shadow, "but I think +so; he has now followed me for so many years, and listened to my +conversation--I should think it possible. But your royal highness will permit +me to observe, that he is so proud of passing himself off for a man, that when +he is to be in a proper humor--and he must be so to answer well--he must be +treated quite like a man." + +"Oh! I like that!" said the princess. + +So she went to the learned man by the door, and she spoke to him about the sun +and the moon, and about persons out of and in the world, and he answered with +wisdom and prudence. + +"What a man that must be who has so wise a shadow!" thought she. "It will be a +real blessing to my people and kingdom if I choose him for my consort--I will +do it!" + +They were soon agreed, both the princess and the shadow; but no one was to +know about it before she arrived in her own kingdom. + +"No one--not even my shadow!" said the shadow, and he had his own thoughts +about it! + +Now they were in the country where the princess reigned when she was at home. + +"Listen, my good friend," said the shadow to the learned man. "I have now +become as happy and mighty as anyone can be; I will, therefore, do something +particular for thee! Thou shalt always live with me in the palace, drive with +me in my royal carriage, and have ten thousand pounds a year; but then thou +must submit to be called SHADOW by all and everyone; thou must not say that +thou hast ever been a man; and once a year, when I sit on the balcony in the +sunshine, thou must lie at my feet, as a shadow shall do! I must tell thee: I +am going to marry the king's daughter, and the nuptials are to take place this +evening!" + +"Nay, this is going too far!" said the learned man. "I will not have it; I +will not do it! It is to deceive the whole country and the princess too! I +will tell everything! That I am a man, and that thou art a shadow--thou art +only dressed up!" + +"There is no one who will believe it!" said the shadow. "Be reasonable, or I +will call the guard!" + +"I will go directly to the princess!" said the learned man. + +"But I will go first!" said the shadow. "And thou wilt go to prison!" and +that he was obliged to do--for the sentinels obeyed him whom they knew the +king's daughter was to marry. + +"You tremble!" said the princess, as the shadow came into her chamber. "Has +anything happened? You must not be unwell this evening, now that we are to +have our nuptials celebrated." + +"I have lived to see the most cruel thing that anyone can live to see!" said +the shadow. "Only imagine--yes, it is true, such a poor shadow-skull cannot +bear much--only think, my shadow has become mad; he thinks that he is a man, +and that I--now only think--that I am his shadow!" + +"It is terrible!" said the princess; "but he is confined, is he not?" + +"That he is. I am afraid that he will never recover." + +"Poor shadow!" said the princess. "He is very unfortunate; it would be a real +work of charity to deliver him from the little life he has, and, when I think +properly over the matter, I am of opinion that it will be necessary to do away +with him in all stillness!" + +"It is certainly hard," said the shadow, "for he was a faithful servant!" and +then he gave a sort of sigh. + +"You are a noble character!" said the princess. + +The whole city was illuminated in the evening, and the cannons went off with a +bum! bum! and the soldiers presented arms. That was a marriage! The princess +and the shadow went out on the balcony to show themselves, and get another +hurrah! + +The learned man heard nothing of all this--for they had deprived him of life. + + + +THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL + +Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening-- +the last evening of the year. In this cold and darkness there went along the +street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and with naked feet. When she left home +she had slippers on, it is true; but what was the good of that? They were very +large slippers, which her mother had hitherto worn; so large were they; and +the poor little thing lost them as she scuffled away across the street, +because of two carriages that rolled by dreadfully fast. + +One slipper was nowhere to be found; the other had been laid hold of by an +urchin, and off he ran with it; he thought it would do capitally for a cradle +when he some day or other should have children himself. So the little maiden +walked on with her tiny naked feet, that were quite red and blue from cold. +She carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of +them in her hand. Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day; no +one had given her a single farthing. + +She crept along trembling with cold and hunger--a very picture of sorrow, the +poor little thing! + +The flakes of snow covered her long fair hair, which fell in beautiful curls +around her neck; but of that, of course, she never once now thought. From all +the windows the candles were gleaming, and it smelt so deliciously of roast +goose, for you know it was New Year's Eve; yes, of that she thought. + +In a corner formed by two houses, of which one advanced more than the other, +she seated herself down and cowered together. Her little feet she had drawn +close up to her, but she grew colder and colder, and to go home she did not +venture, for she had not sold any matches and could not bring a farthing of +money: from her father she would certainly get blows, and at home it was cold +too, for above her she had only the roof, through which the wind whistled, +even though the largest cracks were stopped up with straw and rags. + +Her little hands were almost numbed with cold. Oh! a match might afford her a +world of comfort, if she only dared take a single one out of the bundle, draw +it against the wall, and warm her fingers by it. She drew one out. "Rischt!" +how it blazed, how it burnt! It was a warm, bright flame, like a candle, as +she held her hands over it: it was a wonderful light. It seemed really to the +little maiden as though she were sitting before a large iron stove, with +burnished brass feet and a brass ornament at top. The fire burned with such +blessed influence; it warmed so delightfully. The little girl had already +stretched out her feet to warm them too; but--the small flame went out, the +stove vanished: she had only the remains of the burnt-out match in her hand. + +She rubbed another against the wall: it burned brightly, and where the light +fell on the wall, there the wall became transparent like a veil, so that she +could see into the room. On the table was spread a snow-white tablecloth; upon +it was a splendid porcelain service, and the roast goose was steaming famously +with its stuffing of apple and dried plums. And what was still more capital to +behold was, the goose hopped down from the dish, reeled about on the floor +with knife and fork in its breast, till it came up to the poor little girl; +when--the match went out and nothing but the thick, cold, damp wall was left +behind. She lighted another match. Now there she was sitting under the most +magnificent Christmas tree: it was still larger, and more decorated than the +one which she had seen through the glass door in the rich merchant's house. + +Thousands of lights were burning on the green branches, and gaily-colored +pictures, such as she had seen in the shop-windows, looked down upon her. +The little maiden stretched out her hands towards them when--the match went +out. The lights of the Christmas tree rose higher and higher, she saw them now +as stars in heaven; one fell down and formed a long trail of fire. + +"Someone is just dead!" said the little girl; for her old grandmother, the +only person who had loved her, and who was now no more, had told her, that +when a star falls, a soul ascends to God. + +She drew another match against the wall: it was again light, and in the lustre +there stood the old grandmother, so bright and radiant, so mild, and with such +an expression of love. + +"Grandmother!" cried the little one. "Oh, take me with you! You go away when +the match burns out; you vanish like the warm stove, like the delicious roast +goose, and like the magnificent Christmas tree!" And she rubbed the whole +bundle of matches quickly against the wall, for she wanted to be quite sure of +keeping her grandmother near her. And the matches gave such a brilliant light +that it was brighter than at noon-day: never formerly had the grandmother been +so beautiful and so tall. She took the little maiden, on her arm, and both +flew in brightness and in joy so high, so very high, and then above was +neither cold, nor hunger, nor anxiety--they were with God. + +But in the corner, at the cold hour of dawn, sat the poor girl, with rosy +cheeks and with a smiling mouth, leaning against the wall--frozen to death on +the last evening of the old year. Stiff and stark sat the child there with her +matches, of which one bundle had been burnt. "She wanted to warm herself," +people said. No one had the slightest suspicion of what beautiful things she +had seen; no one even dreamed of the splendor in which, with her grandmother +she had entered on the joys of a new year. + + + +THE DREAM OF LITTLE TUK + +Ah! yes, that was little Tuk: in reality his name was not Tuk, but that was +what he called himself before he could speak plain: he meant it for Charles, +and it is all well enough if one does but know it. He had now to take care of +his little sister Augusta, who was much younger than himself, and he was, +besides, to learn his lesson at the same time; but these two things would not +do together at all. There sat the poor little fellow, with his sister on his +lap, and he sang to her all the songs he knew; and he glanced the while from +time to time into the geography-book that lay open before him. By the next +morning he was to have learnt all the towns in Zealand by heart, and to know +about them all that is possible to be known. + +His mother now came home, for she had been out, and took little Augusta on her +arm. Tuk ran quickly to the window, and read so eagerly that he pretty nearly +read his eyes out; for it got darker and darker, but his mother had no money +to buy a candle. + +"There goes the old washerwoman over the way," said his mother, as she looked +out of the window. "The poor woman can hardly drag herself along, and she must +now drag the pail home from the fountain. Be a good boy, Tukey, and run across +and help the old woman, won't you?" + +So Tuk ran over quickly and helped her; but when he came back again into the +room it was quite dark, and as to a light, there was no thought of such a +thing. He was now to go to bed; that was an old turn-up bedstead; in it he lay +and thought about his geography lesson, and of Zealand, and of all that his +master had told him. He ought, to be sure, to have read over his lesson again, +but that, you know, he could not do. He therefore put his geography-book under +his pillow, because he had heard that was a very good thing to do when one +wants to learn one's lesson; but one cannot, however, rely upon it entirely. +Well, there he lay, and thought and thought, and all at once it was just as if +someone kissed his eyes and mouth: he slept, and yet he did not sleep; it was +as though the old washerwoman gazed on him with her mild eyes and said, "It +were a great sin if you were not to know your lesson tomorrow morning. You +have aided me, I therefore will now help you; and the loving God will do so at +all times." And all of a sudden the book under Tuk's pillow began scraping and +scratching. + +"Kickery-ki! kluk! kluk! kluk!"--that was an old hen who came creeping along, +and she was from Kjoge. "I am a Kjoger hen,"* said she, and then she related +how many inhabitants there were there, and about the battle that had taken +place, and which, after all, was hardly worth talking about. + +* Kjoge, a town in the bay of Kjoge. "To see the Kjoge hens," is an +expression similar to "showing a child London," which is said to be done by +taking his head in both bands, and so lifting him off the ground. At the +invasion of the English in 1807, an encounter of a no very glorious nature +took place between the British troops and the undisciplined Danish militia. + + +"Kribledy, krabledy--plump!" down fell somebody: it was a wooden bird, the +popinjay used at the shooting-matches at Prastoe. Now he said that there were +just as many inhabitants as he had nails in his body; and he was very proud. +"Thorwaldsen lived almost next door to me.* Plump! Here I lie capitally." + +* Prastoe, a still smaller town than Kjoge. Some hundred paces from it lies +the manor-house Ny Soe, where Thorwaldsen, the famed sculptor, generally +sojourned during his stay in Denmark, and where he called many of his immortal +works into existence. + + +But little Tuk was no longer lying down: all at once he was on horseback. On +he went at full gallop, still galloping on and on. A knight with a gleaming +plume, and most magnificently dressed, held him before him on the horse, and +thus they rode through the wood to the old town of Bordingborg, and that was a +large and very lively town. High towers rose from the castle of the king, and +the brightness of many candles streamed from all the windows; within was dance +and song, and King Waldemar and the young, richly-attired maids of honor +danced together. The morn now came; and as soon as the sun appeared, the whole +town and the king's palace crumbled together, and one tower after the other; +and at last only a single one remained standing where the castle had been +before,* and the town was so small and poor, and the school boys came along +with their books under their arms, and said, "2000 inhabitants!" but that was +not true, for there were not so many. + +*Bordingborg, in the reign of King Waldemar, a considerable place, now an +unimportant little town. One solitary tower only, and some remains of a wall, +show where the castle once stood. + + +And little Tukey lay in his bed: it seemed to him as if he dreamed, and yet as +if he were not dreaming; however, somebody was close beside him. + +"Little Tukey! Little Tukey!" cried someone near. It was a seaman, quite a +little personage, so little as if he were a midshipman; but a midshipman it +was not. + +"Many remembrances from Corsor.* That is a town that is just rising into +importance; a lively town that has steam-boats and stagecoaches: formerly +people called it ugly, but that is no longer true. I lie on the sea," said +Corsor; "I have high roads and gardens, and I have given birth to a poet who +was witty and amusing, which all poets are not. I once intended to equip a +ship that was to sail all round the earth; but I did not do it, although I +could have done so: and then, too, I smell so deliciously, for close before +the gate bloom the most beautiful roses." + +*Corsor, on the Great Belt, called, formerly, before the introduction of +steam-vessels, when travellers were often obliged to wait a long time for a +favorable wind, "the most tiresome of towns." The poet Baggesen was born here. + + +Little Tuk looked, and all was red and green before his eyes; but as soon as +the confusion of colors was somewhat over, all of a sudden there appeared a +wooded slope close to the bay, and high up above stood a magnificent old +church, with two high pointed towers. From out the hill-side spouted fountains +in thick streams of water, so that there was a continual splashing; and close +beside them sat an old king with a golden crown upon his white head: that was +King Hroar, near the fountains, close to the town of Roeskilde, as it is now +called. And up the slope into the old church went all the kings and queens of +Denmark, hand in hand, all with their golden crowns; and the organ played and +the fountains rustled. Little Tuk saw all, heard all. "Do not forget the +diet," said King Hroar.* + +*Roeskilde, once the capital of Denmark. The town takes its name from +King Hroar, and the many fountains in the neighborhood. In the beautiful +cathedral the greater number of the kings and queens of Denmark are interred. +In Roeskilde, too, the members of the Danish Diet assemble. + + +Again all suddenly disappeared. Yes, and whither? It seemed to him just as if +one turned over a leaf in a book. And now stood there an old peasant-woman, +who came from Soroe,* where grass grows in the market-place. She had an old +grey linen apron hanging over her head and back: it was so wet, it certainly +must have been raining. "Yes, that it has," said she; and she now related many +pretty things out of Holberg's comedies, and about Waldemar and Absalon; but +all at once she cowered together, and her head began shaking backwards and +forwards, and she looked as she were going to make a spring. "Croak! croak!" +said she. "It is wet, it is wet; there is such a pleasant deathlike stillness +in Sorbe!" She was now suddenly a frog, "Croak"; and now she was an old woman. +"One must dress according to the weather," said she. "It is wet; it is wet. My +town is just like a bottle; and one gets in by the neck, and by the neck one +must get out again! In former times I had the finest fish, and now I have +fresh rosy-cheeked boys at the bottom of the bottle, who learn wisdom, Hebrew, +Greek--Croak!" + +* Sorbe, a very quiet little town, beautifully situated, surrounded by woods +and lakes. Holberg, Denmark's Moliere, founded here an academy for the sons of +the nobles. The poets Hauch and Ingemann were appointed professors here. The +latter lives there still. + + +When she spoke it sounded just like the noise of frogs, or as if one walked +with great boots over a moor; always the same tone, so uniform and so tiring +that little Tuk fell into a good sound sleep, which, by the bye, could not do +him any harm. + +But even in this sleep there came a dream, or whatever else it was: his little +sister Augusta, she with the blue eyes and the fair curling hair, was suddenly +a tall, beautiful girl, and without having wings was yet able to fly; and she +now flew over Zealand--over the green woods and the blue lakes. + +"Do you hear the cock crow, Tukey? Cock-a-doodle-doo! The cocks are flying up +from Kjoge! You will have a farm-yard, so large, oh! so very large! You will +suffer neither hunger nor thirst! You will get on in the world! You will be a +rich and happy man! Your house will exalt itself like King Waldemar's tower, +and will be richly decorated with marble statues, like that at Prastoe. You +understand what I mean. Your name shall circulate with renown all round the +earth, like unto the ship that was to have sailed from Corsor; and in +Roeskilde--" + +"Do not forget the diet!" said King Hroar. + +"Then you will speak well and wisely, little Tukey; and when at last you sink +into your grave, you shall sleep as quietly--" + +"As if I lay in Soroe," said Tuk, awaking. It was bright day, and he was now +quite unable to call to mind his dream; that, however, was not at all +necessary, for one may not know what the future will bring. + +And out of bed he jumped, and read in his book, and now all at once he knew +his whole lesson. And the old washerwoman popped her head in at the door, +nodded to him friendly, and said, "Thanks, many thanks, my good child, for +your help! May the good ever-loving God fulfil your loveliest dream!" + +Little Tukey did not at all know what he had dreamed, but the loving God knew +it. + + + +THE NAUGHTY BOY + +Along time ago, there lived an old poet, a thoroughly kind old poet. As he was +sitting one evening in his room, a dreadful storm arose without, and the rain +streamed down from heaven; but the old poet sat warm and comfortable in his +chimney-corner, where the fire blazed and the roasting apple hissed. + +"Those who have not a roof over their heads will be wetted to the skin," said +the good old poet. + +"Oh let me in! Let me in! I am cold, and I'm so wet!" exclaimed suddenly a +child that stood crying at the door and knocking for admittance, while the +rain poured down, and the wind made all the windows rattle. + +"Poor thing!" said the old poet, as he went to open the door. There stood a +little boy, quite naked, and the water ran down from his long golden hair; he +trembled with cold, and had he not come into a warm room he would most +certainly have perished in the frightful tempest. + +"Poor child!" said the old poet, as he took the boy by the hand. "Come in, +come in, and I will soon restore thee! Thou shalt have wine and roasted +apples, for thou art verily a charming child!" And the boy was so really. His +eyes were like two bright stars; and although the water trickled down his +hair, it waved in beautiful curls. He looked exactly like a little angel, but +he was so pale, and his whole body trembled with cold. He had a nice little +bow in his hand, but it was quite spoiled by the rain, and the tints of his +many-colored arrows ran one into the other. + +The old poet seated himself beside his hearth, and took the little fellow on +his lap; he squeezed the water out of his dripping hair, warmed his hands +between his own, and boiled for him some sweet wine. Then the boy recovered, +his cheeks again grew rosy, he jumped down from the lap where he was sitting, +and danced round the kind old poet. + +"You are a merry fellow," said the old man. "What's your name?" + +"My name is Cupid," answered the boy. "Don't you know me? There lies my bow; +it shoots well, I can assure you! Look, the weather is now clearing up, and +the moon is shining clear again through the window." + +"Why, your bow is quite spoiled," said the old poet. + +"That were sad indeed," said the boy, and he took the bow in his hand and +examined it on every side. "Oh, it is dry again, and is not hurt at all; the +string is quite tight. I will try it directly." And he bent his bow, took aim, +and shot an arrow at the old poet, right into his heart. "You see now that my +bow was not spoiled," said he laughing; and away he ran. + +The naughty boy, to shoot the old poet in that way; he who had taken him into +his warm room, who had treated him so kindly, and who had given him warm wine +and the very best apples! + +The poor poet lay on the earth and wept, for the arrow had really flown into +his heart. + +"Fie!" said he. "How naughty a boy Cupid is! I will tell all children about +him, that they may take care and not play with him, for he will only cause +them sorrow and many a heartache." + +And all good children to whom he related this story, took great heed of this +naughty Cupid; but he made fools of them still, for he is astonishingly +cunning. When the university students come from the lectures, he runs beside +them in a black coat, and with a book under his arm. It is quite impossible +for them to know him, and they walk along with him arm in arm, as if he, too, +were a student like themselves; and then, unperceived, he thrusts an arrow to +their bosom. When the young maidens come from being examined by the clergyman, +or go to church to be confirmed, there he is again close behind them. Yes, he +is forever following people. At the play, he sits in the great chandelier and +burns in bright flames, so that people think it is really a flame, but they +soon discover it is something else. He roves about in the garden of the palace +and upon the ramparts: yes, once he even shot your father and mother right in +the heart. Ask them only and you will hear what they'll tell you. Oh, he is a +naughty boy, that Cupid; you must never have anything to do with him. He is +forever running after everybody. Only think, he shot an arrow once at your old +grandmother! But that is a long time ago, and it is all past now; however, a +thing of that sort she never forgets. Fie, naughty Cupid! But now you know +him, and you know, too, how ill-behaved he is! + + + +THE RED SHOES + +There was once a little girl who was very pretty and delicate, but in summer +she was forced to run about with bare feet, she was so poor, and in winter +wear very large wooden shoes, which made her little insteps quite red, and +that looked so dangerous! + +In the middle of the village lived old Dame Shoemaker; she sat and sewed +together, as well as she could, a little pair of shoes out of old red strips +of cloth; they were very clumsy, but it was a kind thought. They were meant +for the little girl. The little girl was called Karen. + +On the very day her mother was buried, Karen received the red shoes, and wore +them for the first time. They were certainly not intended for mourning, but +she had no others, and with stockingless feet she followed the poor straw +coffin in them. + +Suddenly a large old carriage drove up, and a large old lady sat in it: she +looked at the little girl, felt compassion for her, and then said to the +clergyman: + +"Here, give me the little girl. I will adopt her!" + +And Karen believed all this happened on account of the red shoes, but the old +lady thought they were horrible, and they were burnt. But Karen herself was +cleanly and nicely dressed; she must learn to read and sew; and people said +she was a nice little thing, but the looking-glass said: "Thou art more than +nice, thou art beautiful!" + +Now the queen once travelled through the land, and she had her little daughter +with her. And this little daughter was a princess, and people streamed to the +castle, and Karen was there also, and the little princess stood in her fine +white dress, in a window, and let herself be stared at; she had neither a +train nor a golden crown, but splendid red morocco shoes. They were certainly +far handsomer than those Dame Shoemaker had made for little Karen. Nothing in +the world can be compared with red shoes. + +Now Karen was old enough to be confirmed; she had new clothes and was to have +new shoes also. The rich shoemaker in the city took the measure of her little +foot. This took place at his house, in his room; where stood large +glass-cases, filled with elegant shoes and brilliant boots. All this looked +charming, but the old lady could not see well, and so had no pleasure in them. +In the midst of the shoes stood a pair of red ones, just like those the +princess had worn. How beautiful they were! The shoemaker said also they had +been made for the child of a count, but had not fitted. + +"That must be patent leather!" said the old lady. "They shine so!" + +"Yes, they shine!" said Karen, and they fitted, and were bought, but the old +lady knew nothing about their being red, else she would never have allowed +Karen to have gone in red shoes to be confirmed. Yet such was the case. + +Everybody looked at her feet; and when she stepped through the chancel door on +the church pavement, it seemed to her as if the old figures on the tombs, +those portraits of old preachers and preachers' wives, with stiff ruffs, and +long black dresses, fixed their eyes on her red shoes. And she thought only of +them as the clergyman laid his hand upon her head, and spoke of the holy +baptism, of the covenant with God, and how she should be now a matured +Christian; and the organ pealed so solemnly; the sweet children's voices sang, +and the old music-directors sang, but Karen only thought of her red shoes. + +In the afternoon, the old lady heard from everyone that the shoes had been +red, and she said that it was very wrong of Karen, that it was not at all +becoming, and that in future Karen should only go in black shoes to church, +even when she should be older. + +The next Sunday there was the sacrament, and Karen looked at the black shoes, +looked at the red ones--looked at them again, and put on the red shoes. + +The sun shone gloriously; Karen and the old lady walked along the path through +the corn; it was rather dusty there. + +At the church door stood an old soldier with a crutch, and with a wonderfully +long beard, which was more red than white, and he bowed to the ground, and +asked the old lady whether he might dust her shoes. And Karen stretched out +her little foot. + +"See, what beautiful dancing shoes!" said the soldier. "Sit firm when you +dance"; and he put his hand out towards the soles. + +And the old lady gave the old soldier alms, and went into the church with +Karen. + +And all the people in the church looked at Karen's red shoes, and all the +pictures, and as Karen knelt before the altar, and raised the cup to her +lips, she only thought of the red shoes, and they seemed to swim in it; and +she forgot to sing her psalm, and she forgot to pray, "Our Father in Heaven!" + +Now all the people went out of church, and the old lady got into her carriage. +Karen raised her foot to get in after her, when the old soldier said, + +"Look, what beautiful dancing shoes!" + +And Karen could not help dancing a step or two, and when she began her feet +continued to dance; it was just as though the shoes had power over them. She +danced round the church corner, she could not leave off; the coachman was +obliged to run after and catch hold of her, and he lifted her in the carriage, +but her feet continued to dance so that she trod on the old lady dreadfully. +At length she took the shoes off, and then her legs had peace. + +The shoes were placed in a closet at home, but Karen could not avoid looking +at them. + +Now the old lady was sick, and it was said she could not recover. She must be +nursed and waited upon, and there was no one whose duty it was so much as +Karen's. But there was a great ball in the city, to which Karen was invited. +She looked at the old lady, who could not recover, she looked at the red +shoes, and she thought there could be no sin in it; she put on the red shoes, +she might do that also, she thought. But then she went to the ball and began +to dance. + +When she wanted to dance to the right, the shoes would dance to the left, and +when she wanted to dance up the room, the shoes danced back again, down the +steps, into the street, and out of the city gate. She danced, and was forced +to dance straight out into the gloomy wood. + +Then it was suddenly light up among the trees, and she fancied it must be the +moon, for there was a face; but it was the old soldier with the red beard; he +sat there, nodded his head, and said, "Look, what beautiful dancing shoes!" + +Then she was terrified, and wanted to fling off the red shoes, but they clung +fast; and she pulled down her stockings, but the shoes seemed to have grown to +her feet. And she danced, and must dance, over fields and meadows, in rain and +sunshine, by night and day; but at night it was the most fearful. + +She danced over the churchyard, but the dead did not dance--they had +something better to do than to dance. She wished to seat herself on a poor +man's grave, where the bitter tansy grew; but for her there was neither peace +nor rest; and when she danced towards the open church door, she saw an angel +standing there. He wore long, white garments; he had wings which reached from +his shoulders to the earth; his countenance was severe and grave; and in his +hand he held a sword, broad and glittering. + +"Dance shalt thou!" said he. "Dance in thy red shoes till thou art pale and +cold! Till thy skin shrivels up and thou art a skeleton! Dance shalt thou from +door to door, and where proud, vain children dwell, thou shalt knock, that +they may hear thee and tremble! Dance shalt thou--!" + +"Mercy!" cried Karen. But she did not hear the angel's reply, for the shoes +carried her through the gate into the fields, across roads and bridges, and +she must keep ever dancing. + +One morning she danced past a door which she well knew. Within sounded a +psalm; a coffin, decked with flowers, was borne forth. Then she knew that the +old lady was dead, and felt that she was abandoned by all, and condemned by +the angel of God. + +She danced, and she was forced to dance through the gloomy night. The shoes +carried her over stack and stone; she was torn till she bled; she danced over +the heath till she came to a little house. Here, she knew, dwelt the +executioner; and she tapped with her fingers at the window, and said, "Come +out! Come out! I cannot come in, for I am forced to dance!" + +And the executioner said, "Thou dost not know who I am, I fancy? I strike bad +people's heads off; and I hear that my axe rings!" + +"Don't strike my head off!" said Karen. "Then I can't repent of my sins! But +strike off my feet in the red shoes!" + +And then she confessed her entire sin, and the executioner struck off her feet +with the red shoes, but the shoes danced away with the little feet across the +field into the deep wood. + +And he carved out little wooden feet for her, and crutches, taught her the +psalm criminals always sing; and she kissed the hand which had wielded the +axe, and went over the heath. + +"Now I have suffered enough for the red shoes!" said she. "Now I will go into +the church that people may see me!" And she hastened towards the church door: +but when she was near it, the red shoes danced before her, and she was +terrified, and turned round. The whole week she was unhappy, and wept many +bitter tears; but when Sunday returned, she said, "Well, now I have suffered +and struggled enough! I really believe I am as good as many a one who sits in +the church, and holds her head so high!" + +And away she went boldly; but she had not got farther than the churchyard gate +before she saw the red shoes dancing before her; and she was frightened, and +turned back, and repented of her sin from her heart. + +And she went to the parsonage, and begged that they would take her into +service; she would be very industrious, she said, and would do everything she +could; she did not care about the wages, only she wished to have a home, and +be with good people. And the clergyman's wife was sorry for her and took her +into service; and she was industrious and thoughtful. She sat still and +listened when the clergyman read the Bible in the evenings. All the children +thought a great deal of her; but when they spoke of dress, and grandeur, and +beauty, she shook her head. + +The following Sunday, when the family was going to church, they asked her +whether she would not go with them; but she glanced sorrowfully, with tears in +her eyes, at her crutches. The family went to hear the word of God; but she +went alone into her little chamber; there was only room for a bed and chair to +stand in it; and here she sat down with her Prayer-Book; and whilst she read +with a pious mind, the wind bore the strains of the organ towards her, and she +raised her tearful countenance, and said, "O God, help me!" + +And the sun shone so clearly, and straight before her stood the angel of God +in white garments, the same she had seen that night at the church door; but he +no longer carried the sharp sword, but in its stead a splendid green spray, +full of roses. And he touched the ceiling with the spray, and the ceiling rose +so high, and where he had touched it there gleamed a golden star. And he +touched the walls, and they widened out, and she saw the organ which was +playing; she saw the old pictures of the preachers and the preachers' wives. +The congregation sat in cushioned seats, and sang out of their Prayer-Books. +For the church itself had come to the poor girl in her narrow chamber, or else +she had come into the church. She sat in the pew with the clergyman's family, +and when they had ended the psalm and looked up, they nodded and said, "It is +right that thou art come!" + +"It was through mercy!" she said. + +And the organ pealed, and the children's voices in the choir sounded so sweet +and soft! The clear sunshine streamed so warmly through the window into the +pew where Karen sat! Her heart was so full of sunshine, peace, and joy, that +it broke. Her soul flew on the sunshine to God, and there no one asked after +the RED SHOES. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg etext of Andersen's Fairy Tales + + + diff --git a/old/hcaft10.zip b/old/hcaft10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e431bf6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/hcaft10.zip |