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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e8055b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #66688 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66688) diff --git a/old/66688-0.txt b/old/66688-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7e2d968..0000000 --- a/old/66688-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8161 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales, by Hans -Andersen - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales - -Author: Hans Andersen - -Illustrator: William Robinson - -Release Date: November 7, 2021 [eBook #66688] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Brian Coe, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The Internet - Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HANS ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES *** - - - [Illustration] - - - - - HANS ANDERSEN’S FAIRY TALES - - - - - HANS:ANDERSEN’S - FAIRY:TALES;WITH - ILLUSTRATIONS:BY - W:HEATH:ROBINSON - - [Illustration] - - NEW:YORK - HENRY:HOLT:&:CO. - 1913 - - - - -CONTENTS - - -[Illustration] - - PAGE - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS vii - -LIST OF COLOURED PLATES xi - -THE MARSH KING’S DAUGHTER 2 - -TOMMELISE 52 - -THE SNOW QUEEN. - -PART THE FIRST--WHICH TREATS OF THE MIRROR AND ITS -FRAGMENTS 69 - -PART THE SECOND--A LITTLE BOY AND A LITTLE GIRL 72 - -PART THE THIRD--THE ENCHANTED FLOWER-GARDEN 80 - -PART THE FOURTH--THE PRINCE AND THE PRINCESS 90 - -PART THE FIFTH--THE LITTLE ROBBER-MAIDEN 99 - -PART THE SIXTH--THE LAPLAND WOMAN AND THE FINLAND -WOMAN 107 - -PART THE SEVENTH--WHICH TREATS OF THE SNOW QUEEN’S -PALACE, AND OF WHAT CAME TO PASS THEREIN 112 - -ELFIN-MOUNT 121 - -THE LITTLE MERMAID 133 - -THE STORKS 165 - -THE NIGHTINGALE 173 - -THE WILD SWANS 190 - -THE REAL PRINCESS 214 - -THE RED SHOES 218 - -THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES 229 - -THE SWINEHERD 238 - -THE FLYING TRUNK 247 - -THE LEAPING MATCH 258 - -THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE CHIMNEY-SWEEPER 263 - -THE UGLY DUCKLING 271 - -THE NAUGHTY BOY 286 - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - - - PAGE - -The marsh king’s daughter 1 - -She understood the speech of birds 2 - -It was he who pulled her down 7 - -The Nile flood had retired 13 - -There was a little bird that beat its wings 27 - -Placed the golden circuit about his neck 35 - -Then she saw the storks 41 - -The swallow soared high into the air 51 - -‘Thou poor little thing,’ said the field-mouse 52 - -‘This is just the wife for my son,’ said the toad 56 - -Oh, how terrified was poor Tommelise 59 - -That was the greatest of pleasures 65 - -They carried the mirror from place to place 69 - -He chuckled with delight 71 - -She wore a large hat, with most beautiful flowers painted on it 79 - -Gerda knew every flower in the garden 87 - -Suddenly a large raven hopped upon the snow in front of her 94 - -Cabinet councillors were walking about barefooted 97 - -And the nearer they were to the door the prouder they looked 102 - -And flapped his black wings at the carriage till it was - out of sight 106 - -The little robber-maiden 109 - -The snow queen 112 - -She ran on as fast as she could 115 - -She entered the large, cold, empty hall 117 - -Tailpiece 119 - -The elfin king’s housekeeper 120 - -The mer-king must be invited first 124 - -They felt quite as if they were at home 127 - -I will have thee myself to wife 130 - -The little mermaid 132 - -She was on the whole a sensible sort of lady 137 - -The youngest was the most lovely 140 - -They ate from their hands 148 - -Many an evening she rose to the place 155 - -When the sun arose she awoke 159 - -Father stork 164 - -‘Stork! stork! long-legged stork!’ 168 - -And fetch one for each of the boys 170 - -‘Oh! how pretty that is!’ he would say 172 - -Among the branches dwelt a nightingale 177 - -They admired the city, the palace, and the garden 179 - -The kitchen-maid 181 - -The chief imperial nightingale bringer 184 - -He was quite as successful as the real nightingale 187 - -The wild swans 189 - -So Elise took off her clothes and stepped into the water 195 - -And met an old woman with a basket full of berries 198 - -Not a boat was to be seen 201 - -There was only just room for her and them 204 - -I must venture to the churchyard 209 - -Tailpiece 212 - -I have scarcely closed my eyes the whole night through 213 - -The old king himself went out to open it 215 - -And the pea was preserved in the cabinet of curiosities 216 - -Karen 217 - -And Karen was dressed very neatly 220 - -Karen and the old lady walked to church 222 - -He sat there nodding at her 224 - -Dance she must, over field and meadow 226 - -Two rogues calling themselves weavers made their appearance 228 - -‘Oh, it is excellent!’ replied the minister 231 - -As if in the act of holding something up 233 - -So now the emperor walked under his high canopy 234 - -The two rogues 235 - -Tailpiece 236 - -The emperor’s daughter 237 - -All cares and sorrows were forgotten by him who inhaled its -fragrance 239 - -And he wept like a child 241 - -‘Ach! du lieber Augustin’ 243 - -Up flew the trunk 246 - -The son lived merrily 248 - -He met a nurse 249 - -Will you tell us a story? asked the queen 252 - -‘But let it make us laugh,’ said the king 253 - -Their slippers flew about their ears 255 - -And thus the frog won the princess 257 - -The old councillor 259 - -‘Say nothing for the present,’ remarked the king 260 - -It may not be perfectly true 261 - -The shepherdess and the chimney-sweeper 262 - -Heading 263 - -Tailpiece 269 - -The poor duckling was scorned by all 270 - -He came to a large moor 275 - -And the cat said, ‘Can you purr?’ 280 - -And every one said, ‘The new one is the best’ 283 - -Beware of him, dear child! 285 - -THE END 289 - - - - -LIST OF COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS - - -‘The bud opened into a full-blown flower, in the middle of -which lay a beautiful child’ _Frontispiece_ - -‘She stood at the door and begged for a piece of -barley-corn’ _Facing page_ 56 - -‘Yes! I will go with thee, said Tommelise, and she -seated herself on the bird’s back’ ” 64 - -‘The swing moves and the bubbles fly upward with -bright ever-changing colours’ ” 84 - -‘He did not come to woo her, he said, he had only -come to hear the wisdom of the princess’ ” 94 - -‘Round and round they went, such whirling and -twirling’ ” 126 - -‘She put the statue in her garden’ ” 134 - -‘With the rest of the children of air, soared high -above the rosy cloud’ ” 162 - -‘We will bring him two little ones, a brother and -a sister’ ” 170 - -‘Then began the nightingale to sing’ ” 176 - -‘The peasant’s wife sat on Sundays at the door of -her cottage reading her hymn-book’ ” 190 - -‘Princesses he found in plenty, but whether they -were real princesses it was impossible for him -to decide’ ” 214 - -‘She sat down one day and made out of some old -pieces of red cloth a pair of little shoes’ _Opposite page_ 218 - -‘The Swineherd scolded and the rain poured down’ ” 244 - -‘She sat the live-long day upon the roof of her -palace, expecting him’ ” 256 - -‘He jumped down from the old man’s lap and -danced around him on the floor’ ” 286 - -[Illustration: THE:MARSH:KING’S:DAUGHTER] - - - - -[Illustration: SHE UNDERSTOOD THE SPEECH OF BIRDS] - - -THE MARSH KING’S DAUGHTER - - -The storks tell their young ones ever so many fairy tales, all of them -from the fen and the moss. Generally the tales are suited to the -youngsters’ age and understanding. The baby birds are pleased if they -are told just ‘kribly, krably, plurry-murry!’ which they think -wonderful; but the older ones will have something with more sense in it, -or, at the least, a tale about themselves. Of the two oldest and longest -tales which have been told among the storks, one we all know--that about -Moses, who was placed by his mother in an ark on the waters of the Nile, -was found by the king’s daughter, and then was taught all learning, and -became a great man, and no one knows where he was buried. Everybody has -heard that tale. - -But the other story is not known at all even now; perhaps because it is -really a chimney-corner tale. It has been handed down by mother-stork to -mother-stork for hundreds of years, and each in turn has told it better, -till now we are telling it best of all. - -The first pair of storks who knew it had their summer quarters on a -Viking’s log-house by the moor in Wendsyssel, which is in the county of -Hjörring, near Skagen in Jutland, if we want to be accurate. To this day -there is still an enormous great moss there. You can read all about it -in your geography book. The moss lies where was once the bottom of the -sea, before the great upheaval of the land; and now it stretches for -miles, surrounded on all sides by watery meadows and quivering bog, with -turf-moss cloudberries and stunted trees growing. A fog hangs over it -almost continually, and till about seventy years ago wolves were still -found there. It may certainly be called a wild moor, and you can imagine -what lack of paths and what abundance of swamp and sea was there -thousands of years ago. In that waste man saw ages back just what he -sees to-day. The reeds were just as high, with the same kind of long -leaves and purplish-brown, feathery flowers as they have now; the -birches stood with white bark and fine, loose-hung leaves just as they -now stand; and for the living creatures that came there, why, the fly -wore its gauze suit of just the same cut as now, and the colour of the -stork’s dress was white and black, with red stockings. On the other -hand, the men of that time wore different clothes from those we wear. -But whoever it was, poor peasant or free hunter, that trod on the -quagmire, it happened thousands of years ago just as it does to-day--in -he went and down he sank, down to the Marsh King, as they called him, -who reigned beneath in the great Moss Kingdom. He was called also the -Mire King, but we will call him by the stork’s name for him--Marsh King. -People know very little about how he governed, but perhaps that is just -as well. - -Near to the moss, and right in the Liim Fjord, stood the Viking’s -log-house, with paved cellar and tower two storeys high. On the roof the -storks had built their nest. Mother-stork sat on her eggs, and was -positive they would turn out well. - -One evening father-stork had been out for a long time, and when he came -home he seemed excited and flurried. - -‘I’ve dreadful news for you!’ he said to mother-stork. - -‘Don’t get excited,’ said she. ‘Remember I’m sitting on my eggs, and I -might be upset by it, and then the eggs would suffer.’ - -‘You must know it!’ he answered. ‘She has come here, our landlord’s -daughter in Egypt! She has ventured on the journey here, and she is -lost!’ - -‘Why, she is of fairy descent! Tell me all about it; you know I can’t -bear to wait at this time, when I’m sitting.’ - -‘Listen, mother. It’s as you told me. She has believed what the doctor -said, that the moor-flowers here could do her sick father good, and so -she has flown here in a feather-dress with the other winged princesses, -who have to come to the north every year to bathe and renew their youth. -She has come, and she is lost!’ - -‘You’re getting too long-winded!’ said mother-stork. ‘The eggs may be -chilled! I can’t bear to be excited!’ - -‘I have watched,’ said father-stork, ‘and in the evening, when I went -into the reeds, where the quagmire is able to bear me, there came three -swans. Something in the way they flew told me, “Watch; that isn’t a real -swan; it’s only swan feathers.” You know the feeling, mother, as well -as I do; you can tell if it is right.’ - -‘Yes, certainly,’ said she; ‘but tell me about the princess. I’m tired -of hearing about the swan’s feathers.’ - -‘Here, in the middle of the moor, you know,’ said father-stork, ‘is a -kind of lake; you can see a part of it if you stand up. There, by the -reeds and the green quagmire, lies a great elder-stump. The three swans -lighted on it, flapped their wings, and looked round them. Then one of -them threw off her swan’s plumage, and I saw it was our own princess, of -our house in Egypt. Then she sat down, and she had no other covering -than her own long, black hair. I heard her ask the two others to take -great care of her swan-skin while she plunged under the water to gather -a flower which she thought she saw. They nodded, and lifted up the loose -feather-dress. “I wonder what they mean to do with it,” said I to -myself; and no doubt she asked them the same. And she got an answer, -something she could see for herself. They flew aloft with her -feather-dress! “Sink down,” they cried; “you shall never fly in the -swan-skin again; never see Egypt again! Stay in the moss!” And so they -tore her feather-dress into a hundred pieces, till the feathers flew -about as if it was snowing, and off flew the two good-for-nothing -princesses.’ - -‘Oh, how dreadful!’ said mother-stork. ‘I can’t bear to hear it. But, -tell me, what else happened?’ - -‘Our princess moaned and wept. Her tears fell on the elder-stump, and it -was quite moved, for it was the Marsh King himself, who lives in the -quagmire. I saw the stump turn itself, so it wasn’t only a trunk, for it -put out long, muddy boughs like arms. Then the unhappy girl was -frightened, and sprang aside into the quivering marsh, which will not -bear me, much less her. In at once she sank, and down with her went the -elder-stump--it was he who pulled her down. Then a few big black -bubbles, and no trace of her left. She is engulfed in the marsh, and -will never return to Egypt with her flower. You couldn’t have borne to -see it, mother!’ - -‘You shouldn’t have told me anything of the sort just now; it may affect -the eggs. The princess can take good care of herself. She’ll get help -easily enough. Had it been you or I, there would have been an end of -us.’ - -‘However, I’ll go day by day to see about it,’ said father-stork; and so -he did. - -The days and months went by. He saw at last one day that right from the -bottom of the marsh a green stalk pushed up till it reached the surface -of the water. Out of it grew a leaf, that grew wider and wider, and -close to it a bud put out. Then one morning, as the stork was flying -over it, it opened, with the sun’s warmth, into a full-blown flower, in -the middle of which lay a beautiful child, a little girl, as if she were -fresh from the bath. So like was the child to the princess from Egypt, -that at first the stork believed it to be herself turned a child again. -But when he thought it over, he decided that it was more likely to be -the child of the princess and the Marsh King, and that was why she was -lying in a water lily. - -‘She mustn’t be left lying there,’ thought father-stork, ‘and there are -too many already in my nest. But I have it! The Viking’s wife has no -children, and she has often wished for a little one. Yes, I get the name -for bringing the babies; I will do it in sober truth for once! I’ll fly -to the Viking’s wife with the child. They’ll be delighted!’ - -So the stork took the little girl, flew to the log-house, made a hole -with his beak in the window, with panes made of bladder, laid the child -on the bosom of the Viking’s wife, and flew away - -[Illustration: IT WAS HE WHO PULLED HER DOWN] - -to mother-stork to tell her all about it. Her young ones heard it too, -for they were now old enough. - -‘Listen; the princess is not dead. She has sent her little one up, and -the child has a home found for her.’ - -‘Yes, so I said from the first,’ said mother-stork. ‘Now think a little -about your own children. It’s almost time for our journey. I begin to -feel a tingling under my wings. The cuckoo and the nightingale are off -already, and I hear the quails chattering about it, and saying that we -shall soon have a favourable wind. Our young ones are quite fit for -training, I’m sure.’ - -Glad indeed was the Viking’s wife when she woke in the morning to find -the beautiful little child near her side. She kissed and fondled it, but -it screamed with passion, and threw out its arms and legs, and seemed -utterly miserable. At last it cried itself to sleep, and there it lay, -one of the prettiest babies you could set eyes on. - -The Viking’s wife was so happy, so gay, so well, that she could not but -hope that her husband and his men would return as suddenly as the little -one had come, and so she and all her household busied themselves to get -everything into order. The long coloured tapestries, which she and her -maidens had woven with figures of their gods--Odin, Thor, Freya, as they -were called--were hung up; the slaves were set to polish the old shields -used for decoration; cushions were arranged on the benches, and dry wood -placed on the hearth in the middle of the hall, so that the fire could -be lit in a moment. The Viking’s wife took her share in the work, so -that by the evening she was very tired, and slept soundly. - -When she woke towards daybreak she was terribly frightened. The little -child had vanished! She sprang up, lighted a brand, and looked -everywhere around. There, just at the foot of the bed where she had -lain, was, not a baby, but a great ugly toad! In utter disgust at it she -took a heavy stick to kill it, but the creature looked at her with such -wonderfully sad eyes that she could not destroy it. Once more she gazed -round; the toad uttered a faint, mournful croak. She started, and sprang -from the bedside to the window, and opened it. At that moment the sun -rose, and cast its rays upon the bed and upon the great toad. All at -once it seemed that the creature’s wide mouth shrank, and became small -and rosy; the limbs filled out into the most charming shape. It was her -own beautiful babe that lay there, not the hideous reptile! - -‘What is this?’ cried the dame. ‘Was it an ill dream? Yes, there is my -own sweet elfin child lying there!’ She kissed it, and pressed it to her -heart; but it fought and bit like a wild kitten! - -The Viking, however, did not come that day, nor the next; for though he -was on his way, the wind was against him as it blew to the south for the -storks. Fair wind for one is foul for the other. - -In those two days and nights the Viking’s wife saw clearly how it was -with her little child. And dreadful indeed was the spell that lay on it. -By day it was as beautiful as an angel of light, but it had a bad, evil -disposition. By night, on the other hand, it was a hideous toad, quiet, -sad, with sorrowful eyes. It had two natures, which changed with its -outward form. And so it was that the baby, brought by the stork, had by -daylight its mother’s own rightful shape, but its father’s temper; while -again, night made the kinship with him evident in the bodily form, in -which, however, dwelt the mother’s mind and heart. Who could loose the -spell cast by the power of witchcraft? The Viking’s wife was worn and -distressed about it, and her heart was heavy for the unhappy being, of -whose condition she did not think that she dared tell her husband if he -came home then, for he would certainly follow the custom and practice of -the time, and expose the poor child on the high-road for any one that -liked to take away. The good dame had not the heart to do this: her -husband should see the child only by daylight. - -One morning the wings of storks were heard above the roof. More than a -hundred pairs of the birds had rested themselves for the night after -their heavy exercise, and they now flew up, preparatory to starting -southwards. - -‘All ready, and the wives and children?’ was their cry. - -‘Oh, I’m so light,’ said the young storks. ‘My bones feel all -kribly-krably, as if I was filled with live frogs! How splendid it is to -have to go abroad!’ - -‘Keep up in the flight,’ said father and mother, ‘and don’t chatter so -much; it tires the chest.’ - -And they flew. - -At the same moment a horn sounded over the moor. The Viking had landed -with all his men, returning laden with booty from the coasts of Gaul, -where the people, like those of Britain, used to chant in their terror: -‘From the rage of the Northmen, Lord, deliver us!’ Guess what stir and -festival now came to the Viking’s stronghold near the moor! A barrel of -mead was brought into hall; a huge fire was lighted; horses were -slaughtered; everything went duly. The heathen priest sprinkled the -slaves with warm blood, to begin their new life; the fire crackled; the -smoke curled under the roof; the soot fell down from the beams--but they -were used to that. Guests were invited, and received valuable gifts. -Plots and treachery were forgotten; they drank deep and threw the picked -bones in each other’s faces in good-humoured horse-play. The bard--a -kind of musician, but a warrior as well, who went with them, saw their -exploits, and sang about them--gave them a song in which they heard all -their warrior-deeds and feats of prowess. Each verse ended with the -refrain: - - ‘Wealth, kindred, life cannot endure, - But the warrior’s glory standeth sure.’ - -And they all clashed upon their shields, and beat upon the table with -knives and fists, and made great clamour. - -The Viking’s wife sat on the cross-bench in the open banqueting-hall. -She wore a robe of silk, with bracelets of gold and beads of amber. She -had put on her dress of state, and the bard sang of her, and told of the -golden treasure she had brought to her wealthy lord, while he was -delighted with the beautiful child, for he could see it by day in all -its loveliness. He was well pleased with the baby’s wildness, and said -she would become a right warrior-maid, and fight as his champion. She -did not even blink her eyes when a skilful hand cut her eyelashes with a -sharp sword as a rough joke. - -The barrel of mead was drained, and a second brought in, and all got -well drunk, for they were folk who loved to drink their fill. They had a -proverb: ‘The kine know when to go to stall from pasture, but the fool -never knows when he has had enough.’ They knew it well enough, but know -and do are different things. They had another proverb, too: ‘The dearest -friend grows wearisome when he outstays his welcome.’ But on they -stayed. Meat and mead are good: it was glorious!--and the slaves slept -in the warm ashes, and dipped their fingers in the fat and licked them. -Oh, it was a great time! - -Once again that year the Viking went on a raid, though the autumn gales -were rising. He led his men to the coast of Britain--‘just over the -water,’ he said; and his wife remained with the little girl. And truth -to tell, the foster-mother soon grew fonder of the unhappy toad with the -gentle eyes and deep sigh than of the beautiful child that fought and -bit all about her. - -The raw, dank autumn mist, ‘Mouthless,’ which devours the leaves lay -over forest and moor; ‘Bird Featherless,’ as they called the snow, flew -closely all around; winter was nigh at hand. The sparrows took the -storks’ nests for themselves, and criticised the ways of the late owners -during their absence. And where were mother-and father-stork and their -young ones all the time? Down in the land of Egypt, where the sun shone -warm, as it does on a fine summer’s day with us. Tamarinds and acacias -bloomed round them; the crescent of Mahomet gleamed bright from the -cupolas of the mosques; pairs and pairs of storks sat on the slender -turrets, and rested after their long journey. Great flocks of them had -built nest by nest on the huge pillars and broken arches of temples and -forgotten cities. The date-palm raised its foliage on high, as if to -keep off the glare of the sun. Grey-white pyramids stood out against the -clear sky across the desert, where the ostrich raced at speed, and the -lion crouched with great, wise eyes, and saw the marble sphinx that lay -half-buried in the sand. The Nile flood had retired; the whole bed of -the river was swarming with frogs, and to the stork family that was -quite the best thing to be seen in the country. The young ones thought -their eyes must be playing them tricks, it all seemed so wonderful. - -‘We always have it just like this in our warm country,’ said -mother-stork; and the young ones felt their appetites grow. - -‘Will there be anything more to see?’ said they. ‘Shall we go much -farther into the country?’ - -[Illustration: THE NILE FLOOD HAD RETIRED] - -‘There is nothing better to see,’ said mother-stork. ‘At that green -border is only a wild wood, where the trees crowd one upon another, and -are entangled together with thorny creepers. Only an elephant with his -clumsy legs can make a way there. The snakes are too large for us, and -the lizards too lively. If you try to go into the desert you get your -eyes full of sand in fair weather, and if there is much wind, you find -yourself buried under a sand-heap. No, this is the best place. Here are -frogs and locusts. I shall stop here, and you must stay with me.’ And -they stayed. - -The old ones sat in their nest on the slender minaret and rested -themselves, while yet they were busy preening their feathers and rubbing -their beaks on their red-stockinged legs. They would raise their necks, -bow gravely, and hold up their heads with their high foreheads, fine, -smooth feathers, and brown eyes glancing sharply. The young hen-storks -walked gravely about among the coarse reeds, stealing glances at the -other young storks, and devouring a frog at every third step, or else a -small snake, which they found so good for their health, and so tasty. -The young males began to quarrel, beat each other with their wings, -pecked, yes, stabbed till the blood flowed! And so one and another got -betrothed, for that was the whole purpose of life. They built nests, and -from that sprang new quarrels, for in hot countries tempers are so -quick! Nevertheless, it was all delightful, especially to the old ones. -Everything that one’s own youngsters do becomes them. Every day there -was sunshine; every day was so much taken up with eating that there was -hardly time to think of amusement. - -But inside the rich palace of their Egyptian landlord, as they called -him, joy was unknown. Rich and mighty lord, there he lay on a couch, his -limbs rigid, stretched out like a mummy, in the midst of the great hall -with its many-coloured walls; it looked just as if he was lying in a -tulip. His kinsmen and servants stood around him; he was not dead; you -could not call him alive; he existed. The healing moss-flower from the -northern land, which should have been searched for and gathered by her -who loved him most dearly, would never be brought. His young and -beautiful daughter, who flew in swan’s-plumage over sea and land, far -towards the north, would never return. ‘She is dead and gone!’ the two -swan-maidens had told him on their return. They had invented a whole -history of it. Said they:-- - -‘We all three flew high in the air: a hunter saw us and shot an arrow; -it struck our friend, and singing her farewell, like a dying swan, she -slowly sank, in the midst of a forest lake. There we buried her, near -the shore of the lake, under a fragrant weeping-birch. But we took our -revenge! We bound fire under the wings of a swallow which had built -under the hunter’s thatched roof! The thatch caught; the house blazed -up! He was burned in it, and the light shone over the lake as far as the -drooping birch tree under which she is buried. She will never come back -to the land of Egypt.’ - -And so they both wept; and the father-stork, when he heard it, chattered -with his beak till it rattled again. - -‘Lies and make-up!’ said he. ‘I have a great mind to drive my beak into -their hearts.’ - -‘And break it off!’ said mother-stork. ‘And what good would that do? -Think first of yourself and your own family; everything else is of no -consequence!’ - -‘However, I will seat myself on the edge of the open court in the -morning, when all the learned doctors are met to talk about the illness. -Perhaps they will come a little nearer the truth.’ - -And the learned doctors came together, and talked and talked all about, -so that the stork could not make head or tail of it--nor did anything -come of it for the sickness, or for the daughter in the moor; but, -nevertheless, we shall be glad to hear something about it, for we are -obliged to listen to a great deal. - -But now it will be a very good thing to learn what had gone before this -meeting, in order to understand the story better, for at least we know -as much as father-stork. - -‘Love brings life! The highest love supports the highest life! Only -through love will he be able to secure the preservation of his life!’ -was what they said; and very wisely and well said it was, according to -the learned. - -‘That’s a pretty thought!’ said father-stork. - -‘I don’t rightly understand it!’ said mother-stork, ‘and it isn’t my -fault, but the expressions! However, be that as it may, I’ve something -else to think about!’ - -Then the learned men had spoken of love for one thing to another, of the -difference there is between the affection of lovers and that of parent -and child; of the love of plant and sunbeam, where the rays of the sun -touch the bud and the young shoot thus comes forth--all this was -expounded at such great length and in so learned a way that it was -impossible for father-stork to follow it, much less to repeat it. He was -quite thoughtful about it, and half closed his eyes and stood on one leg -a whole day afterwards; such learning was too heavy for him to bear. - -However, he understood one thing. He had heard both the common folk and -those of the highest rank say the same thing from the bottom of their -hearts--that it was a great misfortune for thousands of people, for the -country at large, that this man should be ill and not recover; it would -be a joy and blessing if he were restored to health. ‘But where does -the flower of health grow for him?’ that was what they had all inquired. -They sought it from the scrolls of wisdom, from the twinkling stars, and -from the winds; they had asked in all byways where they might find it, -and at last the learned and wise announced, as we have said: ‘Love -brings forth life, the life of a father,’ and so they said more than -they themselves understood. They repeated it, and wrote it as a -prescription: ‘Love brings forth life’; but how was the thing to be done -from this prescription? There lay the difficulty. At length they came to -an agreement about it; the help must come from the princess, who was -attached to her father with her whole soul and heart. And then they -decided how it was to be brought about (all this was more than a year -and a day before): she must go by night, at the new moon, to the marble -sphinx near the desert, must clear away the sand from the door with her -feet, and then go through the long passage that led into the middle of -one of the great pyramids, where in his mummy-case lay one of the mighty -kings of old, surrounded by splendour and magnificence. Here she was to -hold her ear to the lips of the dead, and then it would be revealed to -her how she was to gain life and health for her father. - -All this she had done, and had learned in vision that, from the deep -marsh in the land of Denmark, a spot most clearly indicated, she might -bring home the marsh-flower, which there in the depth of the water had -touched her breast. Then he would be healed. So she flew in swan’s -plumage from the land of Egypt to the moor. - -You see, father-stork and mother-stork were aware of all this, and now -we know the story more fully than before. We remember that the Marsh -King dragged her down to him; we know that for those at home she is -dead and gone; only the wisest of them all said still, with -mother-stork: ‘She takes good care of herself!’ and they were obliged to -wait, for that was all they knew about it. - -‘I believe I can steal the swans’ plumage from the two good-for-nothing -princesses!’ said father-stork, ‘then they will not be able to go to the -moor to work mischief. I will hide the swans’ skins themselves till they -are wanted.’ - -‘Where will you hide them?’ asked mother-stork. - -‘In our nest on the moor!’ said he. ‘I and the youngest of our brood can -be helped along with them, and if they are troublesome to us, there are -plenty of places on the way where we can hide them till next time of -moving. One swan’s dress would be enough for her, but two are better; it -is well to have plenty of luggage in a northern climate!’ - -‘You will get no thanks for it!’ said mother-stork. ‘However, you are -the master. I have nothing to say, except when I am sitting.’ - - * * * * * - -In the Viking’s stronghold near the moor, whither the storks flew at the -spring, the little girl had received her name. They had called her -Helga, but that was far too sweet for such a disposition as the one -possessed by this most beautiful child. Month after month it became more -evident, and as years went by--whilst the storks pursued the same -journey, in autumn towards the Nile, in spring towards the moor--the -little child became a grown girl, and before people thought of it, she -was in her sixteenth year, and the most beautiful of maidens. But the -fruit was a beautiful shell, the kernel hard and rough. She was wilder -than most people even in that hard gloomy age. - -It was a delight to her to splash with her white hands in the hot blood -of the horse which had been slaughtered as a sacrifice; in her wildness -she bit off the neck of the black cock which should have been slain by -the heathen priest; and she said in sober earnest to her -foster-father:-- - -‘If thine enemy came and tied a rope to the beams of the roof, and -lifted it over thy chamber, whilst thou wast asleep, I should not wake -thee, even if I could! I would not hear it, my blood still so hums in my -ears where thou didst slap me years ago! Thou! I remember! - -But the Viking did not believe what she said; he was, like the others, -infatuated with her beauty; and he did not know how disposition and -appearance changed in little Helga. She would sit without a saddle, as -if she had grown to the horse, when it galloped at full speed; and she -would not leap off, even when it fought with other vicious horses. In -all her clothes she would often cast herself from the bank into the -strong current of the fjord and swim to meet the Viking when his boat -was steering towards the land. She cut off the longest lock from her -beautiful long hair, and made it into a string for her bow. ‘Self-made -is well made!’ she said. - -The Viking’s wife, according to the age and custom, was strong in will -and in disposition, but towards the daughter she seemed a mild, anxious -woman, for she knew that the dreadful child was bewitched. - -When her mother stood on the balcony, or walked out into the courtyard, -it seemed as if Helga took an evil delight in placing herself on the -edge of the well, extending her arms and legs, and then leaping plump -into the narrow, deep hole, where she, with her frog-nature, dived, and -rose again, crawled out, just as if she was a cat, and came, dripping -with water, into the lofty hall, so that the green leaves which were -scattered on the floor floated about in the watery stream. - -But there was one bond that restrained little Helga, and that was the -dusk of the evening. Then she became quiet and pensive, and would allow -herself to be called and led. She seemed to be drawn by some internal -feeling to her mother, and when the sun went down and the transformation -without and within her took place, she sat there quiet and melancholy, -shrunken together into the figure of a toad. Her body, indeed, was now -far larger than that creature’s, but it was only so much the more -disgusting. She looked like a miserable dwarf with frog’s head, and web -between the fingers. There was something of the deepest melancholy in -the expression of her eyes; she had no voice but a hollow moan, just -like a child that sobs in its dreams. The Viking’s wife could then take -her on her knees: she forgot the ugly form, and looked only at the -sorrowful eyes, and more than once she said:-- - -‘I could wish almost that thou wast always my dumb frog-child! Thou art -more frightful to look at when thy beauty returns to thee.’ - -And she wrote runes against witchcraft and disease, and cast them over -the wretched girl, but she saw no change. - -‘Now that she is a full-grown woman, and so like the Egyptian mother,’ -said father-stork, ‘one could not believe that she was once so little -that she lay in a water-lily. We have never seen her mother since! She -did not take care of herself, as you and the learned men thought. Year -out, year in, I have flown now in all directions over the moor, but she -has never made any sign. Yes, let me tell you that every year when I -have come up here some days ahead of you, to mend the nest and put one -thing and another straight, I have flown for a whole night, like an owl -or a bat, to and fro over the open water, but it was no use! Nor have -the two swan-dresses been any use which the young ones and I dragged -hither from the land of the Nile. Toilsome work it was, and it took us -three journeys to do it. They have now lain for many years at the bottom -of the nest, and if such a disaster as a fire should happen at any time, -and the log-house be burnt, they would be lost!’ - -‘And our good nest would be lost also!’ said mother-stork. ‘You think -too little of that, and too much of the feather-dress, and your -moss-princess! You had better take it to her and stay in the bog! You -are a useless father to your own family; I have said that ever since I -sat on an egg for the first time! I only hope that we or our young ones -may not get an arrow in the wing from that mad Viking girl! She does not -know what she is doing. We have lived here a little longer than she, she -should remember! We never forget our obligations; we pay our taxes -yearly, a feather, an egg, and a young one, as is right. Do you think, -when she is outside, I feel inclined to go down there, as in the old -days, and as I do in Egypt, where I am half a companion with them, -without their forgetting me, and peep into tub and pot? No, I sit up -here worrying myself about her--the hussy!--and about you too! You ought -to have let her lie in the water-lily, and there would have been an end -of her!’ - -‘You are kinder than your words!’ said father-stork. ‘I know you better -than you know yourself.’ - -And so he gave a jump, two heavy strokes of his wings, stretched his -legs behind him, and off he flew. He sailed away, without moving his -wings. At a good distance off he gave a powerful stroke; the sun shone -on his white feathers; he stretched his neck and head forward! That was -speed and flight! - -‘But he is still the handsomest of them all!’ said the mother-stork, -‘only I don’t tell him that.’ - - * * * * * - -Early that autumn the Viking came home with spoil and captives. Among -these was a young Christian priest, one of those men who preached -against the idols of the northern countries. Often at that period did -the talk in the hall and in the bower of the women refer to the new -faith, which had made its way into all the countries of the south, and -by the holy Anskarius had been brought even to Haddeby on the Schlei. -Helga herself had heard of the faith in the White Christ, who out of -love to men had given Himself to save them; but for her, as they say, it -had gone in at one ear and out at the other. She seemed to have only a -perception of that word ‘love’ when she crouched in that closed room in -her miserable frog-form. But the Viking’s wife had listened to it, and -felt herself wonderfully affected by the story and traditions of the Son -of the only true God. The men, on coming home from their expedition, had -told of the splendid temples of costly hewn stone, erected for Him whose -message was love; and they brought home with them a pair of heavy golden -vessels, elaborately pierced, and with a fragrant odour about them, for -they were censers, which the Christian priests used to swing before the -altar where no blood was ever shed, but wine and consecrated bread -changed into His body and blood who had given Himself for generations -yet unborn. - -In the deep paved cellar of the log house the young captive Christian -priest was confined, his feet and hands securely bound. The Viking’s -wife said that he was ‘as fair as Baldur,’ and she was touched by his -distress; but young Helga wished that a rope should be drawn through his -legs, and that he should be tied to the tails of wild oxen. - -‘Then I would set the dogs loose. Halloo! away over bog and fen, out to -the moor! That would be jolly to see! jollier still to be able to follow -him on his course!’ - -But the Viking did not choose that he should be put to death that way, -but, as a denier and opposer of the high gods, he should be offered the -next morning on the blood-stone in the grove--the first time that a -human sacrifice had been offered there. - -Young Helga asked that she might sprinkle the images of the gods and the -people with his blood. She sharpened her gleaming knife, and when one of -the great, ferocious dogs, of which there were a good many in the -court-yard, ran across her feet, she drove the knife into its side. -‘That is to test it,’ said she; and the Viking’s wife looked sadly at -the wild, ill-tempered girl, and, when the night came, and the beautiful -bodily form of her daughter was changed for the beauty of soul, she -spoke glowing words of sorrow to her from her own afflicted spirit. - -The hideous toad with the goblin’s body stood before her, and fixed its -brown, sorrowful eyes on her; listening and seeming to understand with -the intelligence of a human being. - -‘Never, even to my husband, has a word fallen from my tongue about the -twofold nature I endure in thee,’ said the Viking’s wife. ‘There is more -pity in my heart for thee than I could have believed! Great is the love -of a mother; but affection never comes into thy mind! Thy heart is like -the cold clod! Whence didst thou then come into my house?’ - -At that the hideous form trembled and shook. It seemed as if the word -touched some connexion between body and soul; great tears came into its -eyes. - -‘Thy bitter trial will come some time!’ said the Viking’s wife; ‘and -terrible will it be for me! Better hadst thou been abandoned on the -highway as a child, and the night-frost had lulled thee into death!’ And -the Viking’s wife wept bitter tears, and, wrathful and sad, passed -behind the loose curtains which hung over the beam and divided the room. - -The shrunken toad sat alone in the corner. There was silence, but after -a short interval there came from her breast a half-smothered sigh. It -was as if, painfully, a soul awoke to life in a corner of her heart. She -took one step forward, listened, took another step, and then with her -awkward hands she seized the heavy bar that was placed before the door. -Gently she put it back, and quietly she drew out the peg that was stuck -in over the latch. She took the lighted lamp that stood in front of the -rooms; it seemed as if a strong will gave her power. She drew the iron -pin out of the bolted shutter, and moved gently towards the prisoner. He -was asleep. She touched him with her cold, damp hand, and when he awoke -and saw that hideous form, he shuddered, as if at an evil vision. She -drew her knife, severed his bonds, and made signs to him to follow her. - -He called upon the holy Name, made the sign of the cross, and as the -figure stood unchanged, he repeated the words of the Bible:-- - -‘“The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive: the Lord will deliver -him in time of trouble.” Who art thou? Whence is this reptile shape that -yet is so full of deeds of compassion?’ - -The toad-figure beckoned and guided him behind sheltering curtains by a -solitary way out to the stable, pointed at a horse; he mounted it, and -she seated herself before him and held on by the mane of the animal. The -prisoner understood her, and they rode away at a quick trot, by a path -he would never have discovered, out to the open heath. - -He forgot her hideous form, for the favour and mercy of the Lord were -acting through this hobgoblin. He offered up pious prayers, and began to -sing holy songs; and she trembled; was it the power of the prayers and -hymns that acted upon her? or was it the coldness of the morning which -was so quickly coming? What was it that she felt? She raised herself up -in the breeze, and wished to stop the horse and spring off; but the -Christian priest held her fast with all his strength, and sang aloud a -Psalm, as if that would have power to loose the spell that held her in -that hideous frog shape, and the horse galloped forward yet more wildly. -The heaven became red; the first ray of the sun shot through the cloud, -and with that clear spring of light came the change of form--she was the -beautiful young girl with the demoniac, evil temper! In his arms he held -a peerless maiden, and in utter terror he sprang from the horse and -stopped it, for he thought he was encountering a new and deadly -witchcraft. But young Helga at the same time leapt to the ground; the -short child’s frock reached only to her knees; she drew the sharp knife -from her belt, and rushed at the startled man. - -‘Let me get at you!’ she cried; ‘let me get at you, and you shall feel -the knife. Yes, you are as pale as hay! Slave! Beardless boy!’ - -She pressed him hard; they were engaged in a severe conflict, but it was -as if an unseen power gave strength to the Christian. He held her fast, -and the old oak tree hard by came to his help, for its roots, half -loosened from the earth, caught her feet as they slipped under them. A -spring gushed forth quite close to them; he sprinkled her with the fresh -water on breast and face, and charged the unclean spirit to come out of -her, signing her with the cross, according to the Christian rite. But -the water of baptism had no power there, where the spring of faith had -not yet arisen within. - -Yet herein also was he strong; more than a man’s strength against the -rival power of evil lay in his act, and as if it overwhelmed her, she -dropped her arms, looked with a surprised glance and pale cheeks at him, -who seemed a powerful sorcerer, strong in wizardry and secret lore. They -were dark runes which he spoke, mystic signs which he was making in the -air! She would not have blinked if he had swung an axe or a sharp knife -before her eyes, but she did when he made the sign of the cross on her -forehead and breast; she now sat like a tame bird, her head bowed down -on her bosom. - -Gently he told her of the work of love she had done for him in the -night, that she had come in the hideous skin of a frog, and had loosed -his bonds, and brought him out to light and life. He said that she also -was bound--bound in a closer bondage than he had been, but she, too, -with him should come to light and life. He would bring her to Haddeby, -to the holy Anskarius. There, in the Christian city, the enchantment -would be broken. But he would not dare to carry her in front of him on -the horse, although she herself was willing to sit there. - -‘You must sit behind me on the horse, not in front of me! Thy -witch-beauty has a power that is from the evil one. I dread it--and yet -there is victory for me in Christ!’ - -He bent his knees and prayed gently and earnestly. It was as if the -silent glades of the forest were consecrated thereby into a holy church. -The birds began tosing as if they belonged to a new brotherhood; the -mint poured forth its fragrance as if it would take the place of -incense. The priest proclaimed aloud the words of Holy Writ:-- - -‘“The Dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that -sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into -the way of peace!”’ - -And he spoke about the longing of the whole Creation, and whilst he -spoke the horse, which had carried them in its wild race, stood quiet, -and shook the great brambles, so that the ripe, juicy berries fell on -little Helga’s hand, offering themselves for her refreshment. - -[Illustration: THERE WAS A LITTLE BIRD THAT BEAT ITS WINGS] - -Patiently she let herself be lifted on to the back of the horse, and sat -there like one walks in his sleep, who is not awake, but yet is not -moving in his dream. The Christian fastened two boughs together with a -strip of bark to form a cross, and held it aloft in his hands. So they -rode through the forest, which became denser as the way grew deeper, or -rather, there was no way at all. Sloes grew across the path; one was -obliged to ride around them. The spring did not become a running brook, -but a standing bog, and one had to ride around that. There was strength -and refreshment in the fresh forest air; there was not less power in the -word of gentleness which sounded in faith and Christian love, in the -heartfelt desire to bring the possessed to light and life. - -They say that the drops of rain can hollow the hard stone, the billows -of the sea can in time wear smooth the broken, sharp-edged pieces of -rock. The dew of Grace, which had descended upon little Helga, pierced -the hardness and rounded the ruggedness of her nature, although it was -not yet evident, and she was not yet aware of it herself. But what does -the germ in the earth know of the refreshing moisture and the warm rays -of the sun, while yet it is hiding within itself plant and flower? - -As a mother’s song for her child imperceptibly fastens itself into its -mind, and it babbles single words after her, without understanding them, -although they afterwards collect themselves in its thoughts, and become -clear in the course of time, so in her the Word worked which is able to -create. - -They rode out of the forest, away over the heath, again through pathless -forest, and towards evening they met some robbers. - -‘Where have you stolen that fair maiden?’ they shouted; they stopped the -horse, and snatched the two riders from it, for they were strong men. -The priest had no other weapon than the knife which he had taken from -little Helga to defend himself with; one of the robbers swung his axe, -but the young Christian avoided it, and lightly sprang aside, or he -would have been struck; but the edge of the axe sank deep into the -horse’s neck, so that the blood streamed out, and the animal fell to the -earth. Then little Helga started, as if awakened out of a long, deep -meditation, and threw herself down on the expiring animal. The Christian -priest placed himself before her in order to defend her, but one of the -robbers dashed a ponderous iron mace against his forehead, crushing it. -The blood and brains spurted around, and he fell dead to the earth. - -The robbers seized little Helga by her white arm. At that moment the sun -went down, and as the last ray faded, she was changed to a hideous toad. -Her greenish mouth opened across half her face; her arms became thin and -slimy, and her hands grew broad and covered with webbing. Terror seized -the robbers at the sight. She stood among them, a hideous monster; then, -frog-like, hopped away, with bounds higher than she was herself, and -vanished in the thicket. The robbers knew it for an evil trick of Loge, -or secret magic art, and hurried away in affright. - - * * * * * - -The full moon was already rising, and soon shone forth in splendour, and -little Helga crept forth from the thicket in the skin of a wretched -toad. She stood by the bodies of the Christian priest and of the horse, -and she looked at them with eyes that seemed to weep. Her frog’s head -uttered a moan like a child beginning to cry. She threw herself now upon -one, now upon the other; she took water in her hand, which the webbed -skin had made larger and more hollow, and poured it over them. They were -dead, and would remain dead; she understood that. Wild animals would -soon come and devour their bodies; but that must not be! So she dug in -the earth as deep as she could. To open a grave for them was her wish, -but she had nothing to dig it with except a strong bough of a tree and -her weak hands; but on them there was webbing stretched between her -fingers. She tore it, and the blood flowed. These means would be of no -use, she could see. Then she took water and washed the dead man’s face, -covered it with fresh green leaves, fetched great boughs and laid them -over him, shook leaves between them, then took the heaviest stones she -was able to lift, laid them over the dead bodies, and filled up the -openings with moss. Then the mound seemed strong and protected, but this -arduous task had occupied the entire night--the sun now burst forth, and -little Helga stood in all her beauty, with bleeding hands, and, for the -first time, with tears on her flushed maiden cheeks. - -In this transformation, it seemed as if the two natures struggled within -her. She trembled, and gazed around her as if she had awoke from a -frightful dream. Running to a slender beech, she held fast to it for -support, then climbed to the top of the tree, as lithely as a cat, and -clung fast to it. There she sat like a frightened squirrel, sat there -all through the long day in the deep solitude of the forest, where all -is still and death-like as they say. Yet a pair of butterflies fluttered -about at play or in quarrel; there were ant-hills close by with many -hundreds of busy little creatures that crowded backwards and forwards. -Countless gnats danced in the air, swarm upon swarm; hosts of buzzing -flies chased each other about; birds, dragon-flies, and other small -winged creatures filled the air. The earth-worm crept out from the moist -soil, the mole raised itself above the ground. In all else it was still -and death-like around, or what one calls death-like indeed! Nothing took -any notice of little Helga, except the jays, which flew screaming around -the top of the tree where she was sitting. They jumped along the -branches near her in daring inquisitiveness. One glance of her eye was -enough to chase them away again; but they could not quite make her out, -neither could she understand herself. - -When evening was near, and the sun began to go down, her approaching -change called her to movement again. She let herself slide down from the -tree, and when the last ray of the sun disappeared, she sat there in -the toad’s shrunken form, with the webbed skin of her hands lacerated, -but her eyes now sparkled with a brilliancy of beauty which they had -scarcely possessed before, even in her beautiful human shape. They were -now the gentle eyes of a pious maiden that looked from behind the -reptile’s outward shape, and told of a deepened mind, of a true human -heart. The beautiful eyes swam with tears, heavy tears that relieved her -heart. - -The cross of boughs bound together with a strip of bark, the last work -of him who now lay dead and buried, was still lying on the grave she had -made. Little Helga now took it, at some unprompted impulse, and planted -it amongst the stones, over him and the slain horse. The sadness of the -recollection brought tears to her eyes, and with the grief in her heart -she traced the same sign in the earth around the grave that so -honourably enclosed the dead. As with both hands she traced the sign of -the cross, the webbing fell off like a torn glove! She washed herself in -the water of the spring, and looked with astonishment at her fine white -hands. Again she made the sign of the cross in the air between herself -and the grave; her lips quivered, her tongue moved, and that Name, which -she had heard pronounced most frequently on her ride through the forest, -came audibly from her mouth--she said, ‘Jesus Christ!’ - -The toad’s skin fell off: she was a beautiful young maiden; but her head -drooped wearily, her limbs needed repose--she slept. - -Her slumber was short; at midnight she awoke. The dead horse was -standing before her, shining, and full of life, that gleamed in light -from its eyes and from its wounded neck. Close by she saw the murdered -Christian priest, ‘more beautiful than Baldur!’ as the Viking’s wife -would have said; and he appeared surrounded with a glory of fire. - -There was an earnest look in his large, gentle eyes, just and searching, -so penetrating a gaze that it seemed to shine into the inmost recesses -of her heart. Little Helga trembled before it, and her memory was -awakened with a power as if it was the Day of Judgment. Every kind -action that had been done for her, every kindly word that had been -spoken to her, seemed endued with life; she understood that it was mercy -which had taken care of her during her days of trial, in which the child -of spirit and clay works and strives. She owned that she had only -followed the bent of her own desire, and had done nothing on her own -part. Everything had been given to her, everything had been allowed, so -to speak. She bowed herself humbly, ashamed before Him who alone can -read the hidden things of the heart; and in that instant there seemed to -come to her a fiery touch of purifying flame--the flame of the Holy -Spirit. - -‘Thou daughter of the mire,’ said the Christian priest, ‘from the mire, -from the earth thou art sprung; from earth thou shalt again arise. The -fire within thee returns in personality to its source; the ray is not -from the sun, but from God. No soul shall perish, but far distant is the -time when life shall be merged in eternity. I come from the land of the -dead; so shalt thou at some time travel through the deep valley to the -shining hill-country, where grace and fulness dwell. I may not lead thee -to Hadde for Christian baptism. First thou must burst the water-shield -over the deep moorland, and draw up the living root that gave thee life -and cradled thee. Thou must do thy work before the consecration may come -to thee.’ - -And he lifted her on to the horse, handed her a golden censer, like -that which she had seen in the Viking’s castle, from which there came a -sweet, strong fragrance. The open wound on the forehead of the slain -shone like a radiant diadem. He took the cross from the grave, raised it -on high; and now they went off through the air, over the rustling -forest, then over the mounds where the warriors were buried, sitting on -their dead steeds; and these majestic forms arose, and rode out to the -tops of the hills. A broad golden hoop with a gold knob gleamed on their -foreheads in the moonlight, and their cloaks fluttered in the wind. The -dragon that sits and broods over treasure raised its head, and looked -after them. Dwarfs peered forth from the hills, and the furrows swarmed -with red, blue, and green lights, like a cluster of sparks in a burnt -piece of paper. - -Away over wood and heath, stream and pool, they flew to the moor, and -floated over that in great circles. The Christian priest raised the -cross on high; it shone like gold, and from his lips came the -eucharistic chant. Little Helga sang with him, as a child joins in the -song of its mother. She swung the censer, and there came a fragrance as -if from an altar, so powerful, so subtly operating, that the rushes and -reeds of the moor put forth their flowers. All the germs sprang up from -the deep soil; everything that had life arose. A veil of water-lilies -spread itself like an embroidered carpet of flowers, and on it lay a -sleeping woman, young and beautiful. Little Helga thought she saw -herself mirrored in the still water; but it was her mother that she saw, -the Marsh King’s wife, the princess from the waters of the Nile. - -The dead Christian priest bade the sleeper be lifted on to the horse; -but that sank under the burden as if its body was only a winding-sheet -flying in the breeze; but the sign of the cross made the airy phantom -strong, and all three rode to the firm ground. - -A cock crowed in the Viking’s stronghold. The phantoms rose up in the -mist, and were dispersed in the wind, but mother and daughter stood -there together. - -‘Is that myself that I see in the deep water?’ said the mother. - -‘Is that myself that I see in the bright shield?’ exclaimed the -daughter; and they came close together, breast to breast in each other’s -arms. The mother’s heart beat strongest, and she understood it all. - -‘My child! My own heart’s flower! My lotus from the deep waters!’ - -And she embraced her child, and wept over her; and the tears were as a -baptism of new life and affection for little Helga. - -‘I came hither in a swan’s skin, and I took it off,’ said the mother. ‘I -sank through the quivering swamp, deep into the mire of the bog, that -enclosed me as with a wall. But soon I found a fresher current about me; -a power seemed to draw me ever deeper and deeper. I felt a pressure of -sleep on my eyelids; I slept, I dreamt--I seemed to lie again in the -pyramids of Egypt; but there still stood before me the moving -elder-stump, which had frightened me on the surface of the moor. I -looked at the crevices in the bark, and they shone forth in colours and -became hieroglyphics--it was the case of a mummy which I was looking at. -That burst, and out of it stepped a lord a thousand years old, a mummy -form, black as pitch, shining black like a wood-snail or the slimy black -mud--the Marsh King, or the mummy of the pyramid, I did not know which. -He flung his arms about me, and I felt that I should die. When I first -returned to life again, and my - -[Illustration: PLACED THE GOLDEN CIRCUIT ABOUT HIS NECK] - -breast became warm, there was a little bird which beat its wings, and -twittered and sang. It flew up from my breast towards the dark, heavy -roof, but a long green band still fastened it to me. I heard and -understood its longing notes: “Liberty! sunshine! to my father!” Then I -thought of my father in the sun-lit land of my home, my life, my -affection! and I loosed the band and let him flutter away--home to his -father. Since that hour I have not dreamed; I slept a long and heavy -sleep till the moment when the sounds and fragrance arose and raised -me.’ - -That green band from the mother’s heart to the bird’s wings, whither had -it passed now? where was it lying cast away? Only the stork had seen it. -The band was that green stalk; the knot was that shining flower which -served as a cradle for the child who now had grown in beauty, and again -reposed near the mother’s heart. - -And whilst they stood there in close embrace, the father-stork flew in -circles about them, made speed to his nest, fetched from thence the -feather-dresses kept for so many years and threw one over each of them; -and they flew, and raised themselves from the earth like two white -swans. - -‘Let us talk,’ said father-stork, ‘now that we can understand each -other’s speech, although the beak is cut differently on one bird and on -the other! It is the most lucky thing possible that you came to-night. -In the morning we should have been off, mother, and I, and the young -ones! We are flying to the South! Yes, look at me! I am an old friend -from the land of the Nile, and that is the mother; she has more in her -heart than in her chatter. She always believed that the princess was -only taking care of herself. I and the young ones have brought the -swan-skins here. Well, how glad I am! And what a fortunate thing it is -that I am here still! At daybreak we shall set off, a large party of -storks. We fly in front; you can fly behind, and then you will not -mistake the way. I and the young ones will then be able to keep an eye -upon you!’ - -‘And the lotus flower, that I ought to bring,’ said the Egyptian -princess, ‘it flies in swan’s plumage by my side! I have the flower of -my heart with me; thus it has released itself. Homeward! homeward!’ - -But Helga said that she could not leave the land of Denmark till she had -once more seen her foster-mother, the kind wife of the Viking. In -Helga’s thoughts came up every beautiful remembrance, every affectionate -word, every tear which her foster-mother had shed, and it almost seemed -at that instant as if she clung closest to that mother. - -‘Yes, we will go to the Viking’s house,’ said the stork-father. ‘There I -expect mother and the young ones. How they will open their eyes and -chatter about it! Yes, mother doesn’t say so very much; what she does is -short and pithy, and so she thinks the best! I will sound the rattle -directly, so that she will hear we are coming.’ - -And so father-stork chattered his beak, and flew with the swans to the -Viking’s stronghold. - -Every one there was lying deep in slumber. The Viking’s wife had not -gone to rest till late that night; she was still in fear for little -Helga, who had disappeared three days ago with the Christian priest. She -must have helped him to escape, for it was her horse that was missing -from the stable. By what power had all this been brought about? The -Viking’s wife thought about the wonderful works which she had heard were -performed by the White Christ, and by those who believed in Him and -followed Him. Her changing thoughts shaped themselves into a dream. It -appeared to her that she was still sitting on her bed, awake, and -meditating, and that darkness shrouded everything outside. A storm -arose; she heard the rolling of the sea in the west and the east, from -the North Sea and the waters of the Cattegat. That huge serpent which -encircles the earth in the depths of the ocean shook convulsively; it -was Ragnarök, the twilight of the gods, as the heathen called the last -hour, when everything should pass away, even the high gods themselves. -The trumpet sounded, and the gods rode forth over the rainbow, arrayed -in steel, to take part in the last contest. Before them flew the winged -warrior-maidens, and behind them in array marched the forms of dead -warriors. The whole sky was illuminated by the northern lights, but the -darkness again prevailed. It was an appalling hour. - -And close by the frightened Viking’s wife little Helga sat on the floor -in the hideous form of a toad, trembling and nestling herself up against -her foster-mother, who took her on her lap and affectionately held her -fast, although she seemed more hideous than a toad. The air was full of -the sound of sword-strokes and the blows of maces, of arrows whizzing, -as if a furious hail-storm was raging above them. The hour had come when -earth and heaven should fail, the stars should fall, and everything be -burned up in the fire of Surtr; but the dreamer knew that a new earth -and heaven would come, and the corn wave where the sea now rolled over -the barren sand bottom; that the God who cannot be named rules, and up -to Him rose Baldur, the gentle and kind, loosed from the realm of death. -He came--the Viking’s wife saw him, and knew his face. It was the -captive Christian priest. - -‘White Christ!’ she cried aloud; and as she mentioned that Name she -pressed a kiss on the hideous forehead of her frog-child; the toad’s -skin fell off, and little Helga stood there in all her beauty, gentle -as she had never been before, and with beaming eyes. She kissed her -foster-mother’s hands, blessed her for all her care and affection with -which she had surrounded her in the days of her distress and trial; -thanked her for the thoughts to which she had given birth in her; -thanked her for mentioning the Name which she repeated, ‘White Christ!’ -and then little Helga rose up as a noble swan, her wings expanded -themselves wide, wide, with a rustling as when a flock of birds of -passage flies away! - -With that the Viking’s wife awoke, and still heard outside the same -strong sound of wings. She knew that it was time for the storks to -depart, and no doubt that was what she heard. Still, she wished to see -them once before their journey, and to bid them farewell. She stood up, -went out on to the balcony, and there she saw on the ridge of the -out-house rows of storks, and round the courtyard and over the lofty -trees crowds of others were flying in great circles. But straight in -front of her, on the edge of the well, where little Helga had so often -sat and frightened her with her wildness, two swans now sat and looked -at her with intelligent eyes. Her dream came to her mind; it still quite -filled her as if it had been reality. She thought of little Helga in the -form of a swan, she thought of the Christian priest, and she felt a -strange joy in her heart. - -The swans beat their wings, and bent their necks, as if they wished so -to salute her; and the Viking’s wife stretched out her arms towards them -as if she understood, and smiled at them through her tears. - -Then, with a noise of wings and chattering, all the storks arose to -start on their journey to the south. - -‘We cannot wait for the swans!’ said mother-stork. ‘If they wish to come -with us they may; but we can’t wait here till the plovers start! It is -a very good thing to travel in family parties; not like the chaffinches -and ruffs, where the males fly by themselves and the females by -themselves; that is certainly not proper! And what are those swans -flapping their wings for?’ - -‘Every one flies in his own way!’ said father-stork. ‘The swans go in -slanting line, the cranes in a triangle, and the plovers in a wavy, -snake-like line.’ - -‘Don’t mention serpents when we are flying up here!’ said mother-stork; -‘it only excites the appetites of our young ones when they can’t be -satisfied.’ - - * * * * * - -‘Are those the high mountains down there which I have heard of?’ asked -Helga in the swan’s skin. - -‘Those are thunder-clouds which drive below us,’ said the mother. - -‘What are those white clouds which lift themselves so high?’ asked -Helga. - -‘Those are the everlasting snow-clad hills which you see,’ said the -mother; and they flew over the Alps, down towards the blue -Mediterranean. - - * * * * * - -‘Land of Africa! Coast of Egypt!’ jubilantly sang the daughter of the -Nile in her swan form, when, high in the air, she descried her native -land, like a yellowish white, undulating streak. - -And as the birds saw it, they hastened their flight. - -‘I smell the mud of the Nile and the wet frogs!’ said mother-stork. ‘It -quite excites me! Yes, now you shall taste them; now you shall see the -adjutant bird, the ibis, - -[Illustration: THEN SHE SAW THE STORKS] - -and the cranes! They all belong to our family, but they are not nearly -so handsome as we are. They stick themselves up, especially the ibis; he -is now quite pampered by the Egyptians--they make a mummy of him, and -stuff him with aromatic herbs. I would rather be stuffed with live -frogs, and so would you, and so you shall be. It is better to have -something inside you while you live than to be in state when you are -dead! That is my opinion, and that is always right!’ - -‘Now the storks are come!’ they said in the rich house on the bank of -the Nile, where, in the open hall on soft cushions covered with a -leopard’s skin, the royal master lay outstretched, neither living nor -dead, hoping for the lotus flower from the deep marsh in the north. -Kinsmen and servants stood around him. - -And into the hall flew two beautiful white swans, which had come with -the storks! They threw off their dazzling feather-dress, and there stood -two beautiful women, as much alike as two drops of dew! They bent down -over the pale, withered old man; they put back their long hair, and when -little Helga stooped over her grandfather, the colour returned to his -cheeks, his eyes sparkled, and life came into his stiffened limbs. The -old man raised himself healthy and vigorous; daughter and granddaughter -held him in their arms as if they were giving him a morning salutation -in their joy after a long, heavy dream. - - * * * * * - -And there was joy over all the house and in the storks’ nest, but there -it was chiefly over the good food, and the swarming hosts of frogs; and -whilst the learned men made haste to note down in brief the history of -the two princesses and the flower of health, which was such a great -event and a blessing for house and country, the parent storks related it -in their fashion to their own family, but not till they had all -satisfied their hunger, or else they would have had something else to do -than to listen to stories. - -‘Now you will become somebody!’ whispered mother-stork; ‘that is -certain!’ - -‘Well! what should I become?’ said father-stork; ‘and what have I done? -A mere nothing!’ - -‘You have done more than all the others! But for you and the young ones -the two princesses would never have seen Egypt again, and made the old -man well. You will become somebody! You will certainly receive a -Doctor’s degree, and our young ones will bear it afterwards, and their -young ones will have it in turn. You look already like an Egyptian -doctor--in my eyes!’ - -The wise and learned expounded the fundamental idea, as they called it, -that ran through the whole history: ‘Love brings forth life!’--they gave -that explanation in different ways--‘the warm sunbeam was the Egyptian -princess, she descended to the Marsh King, and in their meeting the -flower sprang forth----’ - -‘I can’t repeat the words quite right,’ said father-stork, who had heard -it from the roof, and was expected to tell them all about it in his -nest. ‘What they said was so involved, it was so clever, that they -immediately received honours and gifts. Even the head cook obtained a -high mark of distinction--that was for the soup!’ - -‘And what did you receive?’ inquired mother-stork; ‘they ought not to -forget the most important, and that is yourself. The learned have only -chattered about it all, but your turn will come!’ - -Late that night, while peaceful slumber enwrapped the now prosperous -house, there was one who was still awake; and that was not the -father-stork, though he stood on one leg in the nest and slept like a -sentinel. No, little Helga was awake. She leaned out over the balcony -and gazed at the clear sky, with the great, bright stars, larger and -purer in their lustre than she had seen them in the north, and yet the -same. She thought of the Viking’s wife by the moor, of her -foster-mother’s gentle eyes, and the tears she had shed over her poor -toad-child, who now stood in the light and splendour of the stars by the -waters of the Nile in the soft air of spring. She thought of the love in -that heathen woman’s breast, that love which she had shown to a -miserable creature who, in human form, was an evil brute, and in the -form of an animal, loathsome to look at and to touch. She looked at the -shining stars, and called to mind the splendour on the forehead of the -dead man, when they flew away over forest and moor; tones resounded in -her recollection, words she had heard pronounced when they rode away, -and she sat as if paralysed--words about the great Author of Love, the -highest Love, embracing all generations. - -Yes, how much had been given, gained, obtained! Little Helga’s thoughts -were occupied, night and day, with all her good fortune, and she stood -in contemplation of it like a child which turns quickly from the giver -to all the beautiful presents that have been given; so she rose up in -her increasing happiness, which could come and would come. She was -indeed borne in mysterious ways to even higher joy and happiness, and in -this she lost herself one day so entirely that she thought no more of -the Giver. It was the strength of youthful courage that inspired her -bold venture. Her eyes shone, but suddenly she was called back by a -great clamour in the courtyard beneath. There she saw two powerful -ostriches running hurriedly about in narrow circles. She had never -before seen that creature, so great a bird, so clumsy and heavy. Its -wings looked as if they were clipped, the bird itself as if it had been -injured, and she inquired what had been done to it, and for the first -time heard the tradition which the Egyptians relate about the ostrich. - -The race had at one time been beautiful, its wings large and powerful; -then, one evening, a mighty forest bird said to it: ‘Brother, shall we -fly to the river in the morning, if God will, and drink?’ And the -ostrich replied: ‘I will.’ When day broke they flew off, at first high -up towards the sun--the eye of God--ever higher and higher, the ostrich -far before all the others; it flew in its pride towards the light; it -relied on its own strength, and not on the Giver; it did not say, ‘If -God will!’ Then the avenging angel drew back the veil from the burning -flame, and in that instant the bird’s wings were burnt; it sank -miserably to the earth. Its descendants are no longer able to raise -themselves; they fly in terror, rush about in circles in that narrow -space. It is a reminder to us men, in all our thoughts, in all our -actions, to say: ‘If God will!’ - -And Helga thoughtfully bowed her head, looked at the hurrying ostrich, -saw its fear, saw its silly delight at the sight of its own great shadow -on the white sunlit wall. And deep seriousness fixed itself into her -mind and thoughts. So rich a life, so full of prosperity, was given, was -obtained--what would happen? What was yet to come? The best thing: ‘If -God will!’ - - * * * * * - -In the early spring, when the storks again started for the north, little -Helga took her gold bracelet, scratched her name on it, beckoned to the -stork-father, placed the golden circlet about his neck, and asked him to -bear it to the Viking’s wife, by which she would understand that her -foster-daughter was alive, and that she was happy, and thought of her. - -‘That is heavy to carry!’ thought the father-stork when it was placed -around his neck; ‘but one does not throw gold and honour on the -high-road. They will find it true up there that the stork brings -fortune!’ - -‘You lay gold, and I lay eggs!’ said the mother-stork; ‘but you only lay -once, and I lay every year! But it vexes me that neither of us is -appreciated.’ - -‘But we are quite aware of it ourselves, mother!’ said father-stork. - -‘But you can’t hang that on you,’ said mother-stork. ‘It neither gives -us fair wind nor food.’ - -And so they flew. - -The little nightingale, that sang in the tamarind-bush, also wished to -start for the north immediately. Little Helga had often heard him up -there near the moor; she wished to give him a message, for she -understood the speech of birds when she flew in the swan’s skin, and she -had often since that time used it with the stork and the swallow. The -nightingale would understand her, and she asked him to fly to the -beech-forest on the peninsula of Jutland, where she had erected the -grave of stones and boughs; there she asked him to bid all the small -birds to protect the grave, and always to sing their songs around it. -And the nightingale flew--and time flew also. - - * * * * * - -The eagle stood on the pyramid in the autumn, and saw a magnificent -array of richly laden camels, with armed men in costly clothing, on -snorting Arabian steeds, shining as white as silver, and with red -quivering nostrils, their heavy thick manes hanging down about their -slender legs. Rich visitors, a royal prince from the land of Arabia, -beautiful as a prince ought to be, came to that noble house, where the -storks’ nest now stood empty, its former occupants now far away in the -northern land, but soon to return. And they came exactly on that day -which was most filled with joy and mirth. There was a grand wedding, and -little Helga was the bride arrayed in silk and jewels; the bridegroom -was the young prince from the land of Arabia; and the two sat highest at -the table between the mother and grandfather. But she did not look at -the bridegroom’s brown, manly cheek, where his black beard curled; she -did not look at his dark, fiery eyes, which were fastened upon her; she -looked outwards and upwards towards the twinkling, sparkling stars, -which beamed down from heaven. - -Then there was a rustling sound of strong wing-strokes outside in the -air--the storks had returned; and the old couple, however tired they -might be with the journey, and however much they needed rest, still flew -on to the railing of the verandah immediately they were aware whose -festivity it was. They had already heard, at the frontier of the -country, that little Helga had allowed them to be painted on the wall -because they belonged to her history. - -‘That is very nicely borne in mind,’ said father-stork. - -‘It is very little!’ said the stork-mother; ‘she could not have done -less.’ - -And when Helga saw them, she got up and went out into the verandah to -them to pat them on the back. The old storks curtsied with their necks, -and the youngest of their young ones looked on, and felt themselves -honoured. - -And Helga looked up to the bright stars which shone clearer and clearer; -and between them and her a form seemed to move still purer than the air, -and seen through it, that hovered quite near her--it was the dead -Christian priest; so he came on the day of her festivity, came from the -Kingdom of Heaven. - -‘The splendour and glory which are there surpass everything that earth -knows!’ he said. - -And little Helga prayed gently and from her heart, as she had never -prayed before, that she only for one single minute might dare to look -within, might only cast one single glance into the Kingdom of Heaven, to -the Father of all. - -And he raised her into the splendour and glory, in one current of sounds -and thoughts; it was not only round about her that it shone and sounded, -but within her. No words are able to describe it. - -‘Now we must return; you are wanted!’ he said. - -‘Only one glance more!’ she entreated; ‘only one short minute!’ - -‘We must go back to the earth; all the guests have gone away.’ - -‘Only one glance! the last----’ - - * * * * * - -And little Helga stood outside in the verandah; but all the torches -outside were extinguished, all the lights in the wedding chamber were -gone, the storks were gone, no guests to be seen, no bridegroom; -everything seemed to be blown away in three short minutes. - -Then Helga was filled with terror, and she went through the great, empty -hall, into the next room. Strange soldiers were sleeping there. She -opened a side door that led into her apartment, and when she expected to -stand there, she found herself outside in the garden; but it was not -like this before--the heaven was red and shining, it was towards -daybreak. - -Only three minutes in Heaven, and a whole night had passed on the earth! - - * * * * * - -Then she saw the storks; she cried to them, speaking their language, and -father-stork turned his head, listened, and drew near her. - -‘You are speaking our language!’ said he; ‘what do you want? Why do you -come here, you strange woman?’ - -‘It is I! it is Helga! Don’t you know me? Three minutes ago we were -talking together, yonder in the verandah.’ - -‘That is a mistake!’ said the stork; ‘you must have dreamt it!’ - -‘No, no!’ she said, and reminded him of the Viking’s stronghold and the -moor, and of the journey hither! - -Then father-stork blinked his eyes: ‘That is a very old story; I have -heard it from my great-great-great-grandmother’s time! Yes, certainly, -there was such a princess in Egypt from the land of Denmark, but she -disappeared on the night of her wedding many hundreds of years ago, and -never came back again. That you may read for yourself on the monument in -the garden; there are sculptured both swans and storks, and at the top -you yourself stand in white marble.’ - -It was indeed so. Little Helga saw it, understood it, and fell on her -knees. - -The sun broke forth, and as in former times at the touch of its beams -the toad form disappeared and the beautiful shape was seen, so she -raised herself now at the baptism of light in a form of brighter beauty, -purer than the air, a ray of light--to the Father of all. - -Her body sank in dust; there lay a faded lotus-flower where she had -stood. - - * * * * * - -‘Then that was a new ending to the story!’ said the father-stork. ‘I had -not at all expected it! but I rather like it!’ - -‘I wonder what my young ones will say about it!’ said the mother-stork. - -‘Yes, that is certainly the principal thing!’ answered the father. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration: THE SWALLOW SOARED HIGH INTO THE AIR] - -[Illustration: ‘THOU POOR LITTLE THING!’ SAID THE FIELD-MOUSE] - - - - -TOMMELISE - - -Once upon a time there lived a young wife who longed exceedingly to -possess a little child of her own, so she went to an old witch-woman and -said to her, ‘I wish so very much to have a child, a little tiny child; -won’t you give me one, old mother?’ - -‘Oh, with all my heart!’ replied the witch. ‘Here is a barley-corn for -you; it is not exactly of the same sort as those that grow on the -farmer’s fields, or that are given to the fowls in the poultry yard, but -do you sow it in a flower-pot, and then you shall see what you shall -see!’ - -‘Thank you, thank you!’ cried the woman, and she gave the witch a silver -sixpence, and then having returned home sowed the barley-corn as she -had been directed, whereupon a large and beautiful flower immediately -shot forth from the flower-pot. It looked like a tulip, but the petals -were tightly folded up; it was still in bud. - -‘What a lovely flower!’ exclaimed the peasant-woman, and she kissed the -pretty red and yellow leaves, and as she kissed them the flower gave a -loud report and opened. It was indeed a tulip, but on the small green -pointal in the centre of the flower there sat a little tiny girl, so -pretty and delicate, but her whole body scarcely bigger than the young -peasant’s thumb. So she called her Tommelise. - -A pretty varnished walnut-shell was given her as a cradle, blue violet -leaves served as her mattresses, and a rose-leaf was her coverlet; here -she slept at night, but in the daytime she played on the table. The -peasant-wife had filled a plate with water, and laid flowers in it, -their blossoms bordering the edge of the plate, while the stalks lay in -the water; on the surface floated a large tulip-leaf, and on it -Tommelise might sit and sail from one side of the plate to the other, -two white horse hairs having been given her for oars. That looked quite -charming! And Tommelise could sing too, and she sang in such low sweet -tones as never were heard before. - -One night, while she was lying in her pretty bed, a great ugly toad came -hopping in through the broken window-pane. The toad was such a great -creature, old and withered-looking, and wet too; she hopped at once down -upon the table where Tommelise lay sleeping under the red rose petal. - -‘That is just the wife for my son,’ said the toad; and she seized hold -of the walnut-shell, with Tommelise in it, and hopped away with her -through the broken pane down into the garden. Here flowed a broad -stream; its banks were muddy and swampy, and it was amongst this mud -that the old toad and her son dwelt. Ugh, how hideous and deformed he -was! just like his mother. - -‘Coax, coax, brekke-ke-kex!’ was all he could find to say on seeing the -pretty little maiden in the walnut-shell. - -‘Don’t make such a riot, or you’ll wake her!’ said old mother toad. ‘She -may easily run away from us, for she is as light as a swan-down feather. -I’ll tell you what we’ll do; we’ll take her out into the brook, and set -her down on one of the large water-lily leaves; it will be like an -island to her, who is so light and small. Then she cannot run away from -us, and we can go and get ready the state-rooms down under the mud, -where you and she are to dwell together.’ - -Out in the brook there grew many water-lilies, with their broad green -leaves, each of which seemed to be floating over the water. The leaf -which was the farthest from the shore was also the largest; to it swam -old mother toad, and on it she set the walnut-shell, with Tommelise. - -The poor little tiny creature awoke quite early next morning, and, when -she saw where she was, she began to weep most bitterly, for there was -nothing but water on all sides of the large green leaf, and she could in -no way reach the land. - -Old mother toad was down in the mud, decorating her apartments with -bulrushes and yellow buttercups, so as to make it quite gay and tidy to -receive her new daughter-in-law. At last, she and her frightful son swam -together to the leaf where she had left Tommelise; they wanted to fetch -her pretty cradle, and place it for her in the bridal chamber before she -herself was conducted into it. Old mother toad bowed low in the water, -and said to her, ‘Here is my son, he is to be thy husband, and you will -dwell together so comfortably down in the mud!’ - -‘Coax, coax, brekke-ke-kex!’ was all that her son could say. - -Then they took the neat little bed and swam away with it, whilst -Tommelise sat alone on the green leaf, weeping, for she did not like the -thought of living with the withered old toad, and having her ugly son -for a husband. The little fishes that were swimming to and fro in the -water beneath had heard what mother toad had said, so they now put up -their heads--they wanted to see the little maid. And when they saw her, -they were charmed with her delicate beauty, and it vexed them very much -that the hideous old toad should carry her off. No, that should never -be! They surrounded the green stalk in the water, whereon rested the -water-lily leaf, and gnawed it asunder with their teeth, and then the -leaf floated away down the brook, with Tommelise on it; away, far away, -where the old toad could not follow. - -Tommelise sailed past so many places, and the wild birds among the -bushes saw her and sang, ‘Oh, what a sweet little maiden!’ On and on, -farther and farther, floated the leaf: Tommelise was on her travels. - -A pretty little white butterfly kept fluttering round and round her, and -at last settled down on the leaf, for he loved Tommelise very much, and -she was so pleased. There was nothing to trouble her now that she had no -fear of the old toad pursuing her, and wherever she sailed everything -was so beautiful, for the sun shone down on the water, making it bright -as liquid gold. And now she took off her sash, and tied one end of it -round the butterfly, fastening the other end firmly into the leaf. On -floated the leaf, faster and faster, and Tommelise with it. - -Presently a great cock-chafer came buzzing past; he caught sight of her, -and immediately fastening his claw round her slender waist, flew up -into a tree with her. But the green leaf still floated down the brook, -and the butterfly with it; he was bound to the leaf and could not get -loose. - -[Illustration: ‘THIS IS JUST THE WIFE FOR MY SON,’ SAID THE TOAD] - -Oh, how terrified was poor Tommelise when the cock-chafer carried her up -into the tree, and how sorry she felt, too, for the darling white -butterfly which she had left tied fast to the leaf; she feared that if -he could not get away, he would perish of hunger. But the cock-chafer -cared nothing for that. He settled with her upon the largest leaf in the -tree, gave her some honey from the flowers to eat, and hummed her -praises, telling her she was very pretty, although she was not at all -like a - -[Illustration] - -hen-chafer. And by-and-by all the chafers who lived in that tree came to -pay her a visit; they looked at Tommelise, and one Miss Hen-chafer drew -in her feelers, saying, ‘She has only two legs, how miserable that -looks!’ ‘She has no feelers,’ cried another. ‘And see how thin and lean -her waist is; why, she is just like a human being!’ observed a third. -‘How very, very ugly she is!’ at last cried all the lady-chafers in -chorus. The chafer who had carried off Tommelise still could not -persuade himself that she was otherwise than pretty, but, as all the -rest kept repeating and insisting that she was ugly, he at last began to -think they must be in the right, and determined to have nothing more to -do with her; she might go wherever she would, for aught he cared, he -said. And so the whole swarm flew down from the tree with her, and set -her on a daisy; then she wept because she was so ugly that the -lady-chafers would not keep company with her, and yet Tommelise was the -prettiest little creature that could be imagined, soft and delicate and -transparent as the loveliest rose leaf. - -All the summer long poor Tommelise lived alone in the wide wood. She -wove herself a bed of grass-straw, and hung it under a large -burdock-leaf which sheltered her from the rain; she dined off the honey -from the flowers, and drank from the dew that every morning spangled the -leaves and herblets around her. Thus passed the summer and autumn, but -then came winter, the cold, long winter. All the birds who had sung so -sweetly to her flew away, trees and flowers withered, the large -burdock-leaf under which Tommelise had lived rolled itself up and became -a dry, yellow stalk, and Tommelise was fearfully cold, for her clothes -were wearing out, and she herself was so slight and frail, poor little -thing! she was nearly frozen to death. It began to snow, and every light -flake that fell upon her made her feel as we should if a whole -shovelful of snow were thrown upon us, for we are giants in comparison -with a little creature only an inch long. She wrapped herself up in a -withered leaf, but it gave her no warmth; she shuddered with cold. - -Close outside the wood, on the skirt of which Tommelise had been living, -lay a large corn-field, but the corn had been carried away long ago, -leaving only the dry, naked stubble standing up from the hard-frozen -earth. It was like another wood to Tommelise, and oh, how she shivered -with cold as she made her way through. At last she came past the -field-mouse’s door; for the field-mouse had made herself a little hole -under the stubble, and there she dwelt snugly and comfortably, having a -room full of corn, and a neat kitchen and store-chamber besides. And -poor Tommelise must now play the beggar-girl; she stood at the door and -begged for a little piece of a barley-corn, for she had had nothing to -eat during two whole days. - -‘Thou poor little thing!’ said the field-mouse, who was indeed a -thoroughly good-natured old creature, ‘come into my warm room and dine -with me.’ - -And as she soon took a great liking to Tommelise, she proposed to her to -stay. ‘You may dwell with me all the winter if you will, but keep my -room clean and neat, and tell me stories, for I love stories dearly.’ - -And Tommelise did all that the kind old field-mouse required of her, and -was made very comfortable in her new abode. - -‘We shall have a visitor presently,’ observed the field-mouse; ‘my -next-door neighbour comes to see me once every week. He is better off -than I am, has large rooms in his house, and wears a coat of such -beautiful black velvet. It would be a capital thing for you if you could -secure him for your husband, but unfortunately he is blind, he cannot -see you. You must tell him the prettiest stories you know.’ - -[Illustration: OH, HOW TERRIFIED WAS POOR TOMMELISE!] - -But Tommelise did not care at all about pleasing their neighbour Mr. -Mole, nor did she wish to marry him. He came and paid a visit in his -black-velvet suit, he was so rich and so learned, and the field-mouse -declared his domestic offices were twenty times larger than hers, but -the sun and the pretty flowers he could not endure, he was always -abusing them, though he had never seen either. Tommelise was called upon -to sing for his amusement, and by the time she had sung ‘Lady-bird, -lady-bird, fly away home!’ and ‘The Friar of Orders Grey,’ the mole had -quite fallen in love with her through the charm of her sweet voice; -however, he said nothing, he was such a prudent, cautious animal. - -He had just been digging a long passage through the earth from their -house to his, and he now gave permission to the field-mouse and -Tommelise to walk in it as often as they liked; however, he bade them -not be afraid of the dead bird that lay in the passage; it was a whole -bird, with beak and feathers entire, and therefore he supposed it must -have died quite lately, at the beginning of the winter, and had been -buried just in the place where he had dug his passage. - -The mole took a piece of tinder, which shines like fire in the dark, in -his mouth, and went on first to light his friends through the long dark -passage, and when they came to the place where the dead bird lay, he -thrust his broad nose up against the ceiling and pushed up the earth, so -as to make a great hole for the light to come through. In the midst of -the floor lay a swallow, his wings clinging firmly to his sides, his -head and legs drawn under the feathers; the poor bird had evidently died -of cold. Tommelise felt so very sorry, for she loved all the little -birds, who had sung and chirped so merrily to her the whole summer long; -but the mole kicked it with his short legs, saying, ‘Here’s a fine end -to all its whistling! a miserable thing it must be to be born a bird. -None of my children will be birds, that’s a comfort! Such creatures have -nothing but their “quivit,” and must be starved to death in the winter.’ - -‘Yes, indeed, a sensible animal like you may well say so,’ returned the -field-mouse; ‘what has the bird got by all his chirping and chirruping? -when winter comes it must starve and freeze; and it is such a great -creature too!’ - -Tommelise said nothing, but when the two others had turned their backs -upon the bird, she bent over it, smoothed down the feathers that covered -its head, and kissed the closed eyes. ‘Perhaps it was this one that sang -so delightfully to me in the summer-time,’ thought she; ‘how much -pleasure it has given me, the dear, dear bird!’ - -The mole now stopped up the hole through which the daylight had pierced, -and then followed the ladies home. But Tommelise could not sleep that -night, so she got out of her bed, and wove a carpet out of hay, and then -went out and spread it round the dead bird; she also fetched some soft -cotton from the field-mouse’s room, which she laid over the bird, that -it might be warm amid the cold earth. - -‘Farewell, thou dear bird,’ said she; ‘farewell, and thanks for thy -beautiful song in the summer-time, when all the trees were green, and -the sun shone so warmly upon us!’ And she pressed her head against the -bird’s breast, but was terrified to feel something beating within it. It -was the bird’s heart. The bird was not dead; it had lain in a swoon, and -now that it was warmer its life returned. - -Every autumn all the swallows fly away to warm countries; but if one of -them linger behind, it freezes and falls down as though dead, and the -cold snow covers it. - -Tommelise trembled with fright, for the bird was very large compared -with her, who was only an inch in length. However, she took courage, -laid the cotton more closely round the poor swallow, and fetching a leaf -which had served herself as a coverlet, spread it over the bird’s head. - -The next night she stole out again, and found that the bird’s life had -quite returned, though it was so feeble that only for one short moment -could it open its eyes to look at Tommelise, who stood by with a piece -of tinder in her hand--she had no other lantern. - -‘Thanks to thee, thou sweet little child!’ said the sick swallow. ‘I -feel delightfully warm now; soon I shall recover my strength, and be -able to fly again, out in the warm sunshine.’ - -‘Oh, no,’ she replied, ‘it is too cold without, it snows and freezes! -Thou must stay in thy warm bed; I will take care of thee.’ - -She brought the swallow water in a flower-petal and he drank, and then -he told her how he had torn one of his wings in a thorn bush, and -therefore could not fly fast enough to keep up with the other swallows -who were all migrating to the warm countries. He had at last fallen to -the earth, and more than that he could not remember; he did not at all -know how he had got underground. - -However, underground he remained all the winter long, and Tommelise was -kind to him, and loved him dearly, but she never said a word about him -either to the mole or the field-mouse, for she knew they could not -endure the poor swallow. - -As soon as the spring came and the sun’s warmth had penetrated the -earth, the swallow said farewell to Tommelise, and she opened for him -the covering of earth which the mole had thrown back before. The sun -shone in upon them so deliciously, and the swallow asked whether she -would not go with him; she might sit upon his back, and then they would -fly together far out into the greenwood. But Tommelise knew it would vex -the old field-mouse if she were to leave her. - -‘No, I cannot, I must not go,’ said Tommelise. - -‘Fare thee well, then, thou good and pretty maiden,’ said the swallow, -and away he flew into the sunshine. Tommelise looked after him and the -tears came into her eyes, for she loved the poor swallow so much. - -‘Quivit, quivit,’ sang the bird, as he flew into the greenwood. And -Tommelise was now sad indeed. She was not allowed to go out into the -warm sunshine; the wheat that had been sown in the field above the -field-mouse’s house grew up so high that it seemed a perfect forest to -the poor little damsel who was only an inch in stature. - -‘This summer you must work at getting your wedding clothes ready,’ said -the field-mouse, for their neighbour, the blind dull mole in the -black-velvet suit had now made his proposals in form to Tommelise. ‘You -shall have worsted and linen in plenty; you shall be well provided with -all manner of clothes and furniture before you become the mole’s wife.’ -So Tommelise was obliged to work hard at the distaff, and the -field-mouse hired four spiders to spin and weave night and day. Every -evening came the mole, and always began to talk about the summer soon -coming to an end, and that then, when the sun would no longer shine so -warmly, scorching the earth till it was as dry as a stone, yes, then, -his nuptials with Tommelise should take place. But this sort of -conversation did not please her at all; she was thoroughly wearied of -his dulness and his prating. Every morning when the sun rose, and every -evening when it set, she used to steal out at the door, and when the -wind blew the tops of the corn aside, so that she could see the blue sky -through the opening, she thought how bright and beautiful it was out -here, and wished most fervently to see the dear swallow once more; but -he never came, he must have been flying far away in the beautiful -greenwood. - -Autumn came, and Tommelise’s wedding clothes were ready. - -‘Four weeks more, and you shall be married!’ said the field-mouse. But -Tommelise wept, and said she would not marry the dull mole. - -‘Fiddlestick!’ exclaimed the field-mouse; ‘don’t be obstinate, child, or -I shall bite thee with my white teeth! Is he not handsome, pray? Why, -the Queen has not got such a black-velvet dress as he wears! And isn’t -he rich? rich both in kitchens and cellars? Be thankful to get such a -husband!’ - -So Tommelise must be married. The day fixed had arrived, the mole had -already come to fetch his bride, and she must dwell with him, deep under -the earth, never again to come out into the warm sunshine which she -loved so much, and which he could not endure. The poor child was in -despair at the thought that she must now bid farewell to the beautiful -sun of which she had at least been allowed to catch a glimpse every now -and then while she lived with the field-mouse. - -‘Farewell, thou glorious sun!’ she cried, throwing her arms up into the -air, and she walked on a little way beyond the field-mouse’s door; the -corn was already reaped, and only the dry stubble surrounded her. -‘Farewell, farewell!’ repeated she, as she clasped her tiny arms round a -little red flower that grew there. ‘Greet the dear swallow from me, if -thou shouldst see him.’ - -‘Quivit! quivit!’--there was a fluttering of wings just over her head; -she looked up, and behold! the little swallow was flying past. And how -pleased he was when he perceived Tommelise! She told how that she had -been obliged to accept the disagreeable mole as a husband, and that she -would have to dwell deep underground where the sun never pierced. And -she could not help weeping as she spoke. - -‘The cold winter will soon be here!’ said the swallow; ‘I shall fly far -away to the warm countries. Wilt thou go with me? Thou canst sit on my -back, and tie thyself firmly - -[Illustration] - -to me with thy sash, and thus we shall fly away from the stupid mole and -his dark room, far away over the mountains to those countries where the -sun shines so brightly, where it is always summer, and flowers blossom -all the year round. Come and fly with me, thou sweet little Tommelise, -who didst save my life when I lay frozen in the dark cellars of the -earth!’ - -[Illustration: THAT WAS THE GREATEST OF PLEASURES] - -‘Yes, I will go with thee!’ said Tommelise. And she seated herself on -the bird’s back, her feet resting on the out-spread wings, and tied her -girdle firmly round one of the strongest feathers, and then the swallow -soared high into the air, and flew away over forest and over lake, over -mountains whose crests are covered with snow all the year round. How -Tommelise shivered as she breathed the keen frosty air! However, she -soon crept down under the bird’s warm feathers, her head still peering -forth, eager to behold all the glory and beauty beneath her. At last -they reached the warm countries. There the sun shone far more brightly -than in her native clime. The heavens seemed twice as high, and twice as -blue; and ranged along the sloping hills grew, in rich luxuriance, the -loveliest green and purple grapes. Citrons and melons were seen in the -groves, the fragrance of myrtles and balsams filled the air, and by the -wayside gambolled groups of pretty merry children, chasing large -bright-winged butterflies. - -But the swallow did not rest here; still he flew on; and still the scene -seemed to grow more and more beautiful. Near a calm, blue lake, overhung -by lofty trees, stood a half-ruined palace of white marble, built in -times long past; vine-wreaths trailed up the long slender pillars, and -on the capitals, among the green leaves and waving tendrils, many a -swallow had built his nest, and one of these nests belonged to the -swallow on whose back Tommelise was riding. - -‘This is my house,’ said the swallow, ‘but if thou wouldst rather choose -for thyself one of the splendid flowers growing beneath us, I will take -thee there, and thou shalt make thy home in the loveliest of them all.’ - -‘That will be charming!’ exclaimed she, clapping her tiny hands. - -On the green turf beneath there lay the fragments of a white marble -column which had fallen to the ground, and around these fragments twined -some beautiful large white flowers. The swallow flew down with -Tommelise, and set her on one of the broad petals. But what was her -surprise when she saw sitting in the very heart of the flower a little -mannikin, fair and transparent as though he were made of glass! wearing -the prettiest gold crown on his head, and the brightest, most delicate -wings on his shoulders, yet scarcely one whit larger than Tommelise -herself. He was the spirit of the flower. In every blossom there dwelt -one such faëry youth or maiden, but this one was the king of all these -flower-spirits. - -‘Oh, how handsome he is, this king!’ whispered Tommelise to the swallow. -The faëry prince was quite startled at the sudden descent of the -swallow, who was a sort of giant compared with him; but when he saw -Tommelise he was delighted, for she was the very loveliest maiden he had -ever seen. So he took his gold crown off his own head and set it upon -hers, asked her name, and whether she would be his bride, and reign as -queen over all the flower-spirits. This, you see, was quite a different -bridegroom from the son of the ugly old toad, or the blind mole with his -black-velvet coat. So Tommelise replied ‘Yes’ to the beautiful prince, -and then the lady and gentlemen faëries came out, each from a separate -flower, to pay their homage to Tommelise; so gracefully and courteously -they paid their homage: and every one of them brought her a present. - -But the best of all the presents was a pair of transparent wings; they -were fastened on Tommelise’s shoulders, and enabled her to fly from -flower to flower. That was the greatest of pleasures; and the little -swallow sat in his nest above and sang to her his sweetest song; in his -heart, however, he was very sad, for he loved Tommelise, and would have -wished never to part from her. - -‘Thou shalt no longer be called Tommelise,’ said the king of flowers to -her, ‘for it is not a pretty name, and thou art so lovely! We will call -thee Maia.’ - -‘Farewell! farewell!’ sang the swallow, and away he flew from the warm -countries, far away back to Denmark. There he had a little nest just -over the window of the man who writes stories for children. ‘Quivit, -quivit, quivit!’ he sang to him, and from him we have learned this -history. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration: THEY CARRIED THE MIRROR FROM PLACE TO PLACE] - - - - -THE SNOW QUEEN - -IN SEVEN PARTS - - - - -PART THE FIRST - -WHICH TREATS OF THE MIRROR AND ITS FRAGMENTS - - -Listen! We are beginning our story! When we arrive at the end of it we -shall, it is to be hoped, know more than we do now. There was once a -magician! a wicked magician!! a most wicked magician!!! Great was his -delight at having constructed a mirror possessing this peculiarity, -viz:--that everything good and beautiful, when reflected in it, shrank -up almost to nothing, whilst those things that were ugly and useless -were magnified, and made to appear ten times worse than before. The -loveliest landscapes reflected in this mirror looked like boiled -spinach; and the handsomest persons appeared odious, or as if standing -upon their heads, their features being so distorted that their friends -could never have recognised them. Moreover, if one of them had a -freckle, he might be sure that it would seem to spread over the nose and -mouth; and if a good or pious thought glanced across his mind, a wrinkle -was seen in the mirror. All this the magician thought highly -entertaining, and he chuckled with delight at his own clever invention. -Those who frequented the school of magic where he taught spread abroad -the fame of this wonderful mirror, and declared that by its means the -world and its inhabitants might be seen now for the first time as they -really were. They carried the mirror from place to place, till at last -there was no country nor person that had not been misrepresented in it. -Its admirers now must needs fly up to the sky with it, to see if they -could carry on their sport even there. But the higher they flew the more -wrinkled did the mirror become; they could scarcely hold it together. -They flew on and on, higher and higher, till at last the mirror trembled -so fearfully that it escaped - -[Illustration: HE CHUCKLED WITH DELIGHT] - -from their hands, and fell to the earth, breaking into millions, -billions, and trillions of pieces. And then it caused far greater -unhappiness than before, for fragments of it, scarcely so large as a -grain of sand, would be flying about in the air, and sometimes get into -people’s eyes, causing them to view everything the wrong way, or to have -eyes only for what was perverted and corrupt; each little fragment -having retained the peculiar properties of the entire mirror. Some -people were so unfortunate as to receive a little splinter into their -hearts--that was terrible! The heart became cold and hard, like a lump -of ice. Some pieces were large enough to be used as window panes, but it -was of no use to look at one’s friends through such panes as those. -Other fragments were made into spectacles, and then what trouble people -had with setting and re-setting them! - -The wicked magician was greatly amused with all this, and he laughed -till his sides ached. - -There are still some little splinters of this mischievous mirror flying -about in the air. We shall hear more about them very soon. - - - - -PART THE SECOND - -A LITTLE BOY AND A LITTLE GIRL - -IN a large town, where there are so many houses and inhabitants that -there is not room enough for all the people to possess a little garden -of their own, and therefore many are obliged to content themselves with -keeping a few plants in pots, there dwelt two poor children, whose -garden was somewhat larger than a flower-pot. They were not brother and -sister, but they loved each other as much as if they had been, and their -parents lived in two attics exactly opposite. The roof of one -neighbour’s house nearly joined the other, the gutter ran along between, -and there was in each roof a little window, so that you could stride -across the gutter from one window to the other. The parents of each -child had a large wooden box in which grew herbs for kitchen use, and -they had placed these boxes upon the gutter, so near that they almost -touched each other. A beautiful little rose-tree grew in each box, -scarlet runners entwined their long shoots over the windows, and, -uniting with the branches of the rose-trees, formed a flowery arch -across the street. The boxes were very high, and the children knew that -they might not climb over them, but they often obtained leave to sit on -their little stools, under the rose-trees, and thus they passed many a -delightful hour. - -But when winter came there was an end to these pleasures. The windows -were often quite frozen over, and then they heated halfpence on the -stove, held the warm copper against the frozen pane, and thus made a -little round peep-hole, behind which would sparkle a bright gentle eye, -one from each window. - -The little boy was called Kay, the little girl’s name was Gerda. In -summer-time they could get out of window and jump over to each other; -but in winter there were stairs to run down, and stairs to run up, and -sometimes the wind roared, and the snow fell without-doors. - -‘Those are the white bees swarming there!’ said the old grandmother. - -‘Have they a Queen bee?’ asked the little boy, for he knew that the real -bees have one. - -‘They have,’ said the grandmother. ‘She flies yonder where they swarm so -thickly; she is the largest of them, and never remains upon the earth, -but flies up again into the black cloud. Sometimes on a winter’s night -she flies through the streets of the town, and breathes with her frosty -breath upon the windows, and then they are covered with strange and -beautiful forms, like trees and flowers.’ - -‘Yes, I have seen them!’ said both the children--they knew that this was -true. - -‘Can the Snow Queen come in here?’ asked the little girl. - -‘If she do come in,’ said the boy, ‘I will put her on the warm stove and -then she will melt.’ - -And the grandmother stroked his hair and told him some stories. - -That same evening, after little Kay had gone home, and was half -undressed, he crept upon the chair by the window and peeped through the -little round hole. Just then a few snow-flakes fell outside, and one, -the largest of them, remained lying on the edge of one of the -flower-pots. The snow-flake appeared larger and larger, and at last took -the form of a lady dressed in the finest white crape, her attire being -composed of millions of star-like particles. She was exquisitely fair -and delicate, but entirely of ice, glittering, dazzling ice; her eyes -gleamed like two bright stars, but there was no rest or repose in them. -She nodded at the window, and beckoned with her hand. The little boy was -frightened and jumped down from the chair; he then fancied he saw a -large bird fly past the window. - -There was a clear frost next day, and soon afterwards came spring--the -trees and flowers budded, the swallows built their nests, the windows -were opened, and the little children sat once more in their little -garden upon the gutter that ran along the roofs of the houses. - -The roses blossomed beautifully that summer, and the little girl had -learned a hymn in which there was something about roses; it reminded her -of her own. So she sang it to the little boy, and he sang it with her. - - ‘Our roses bloom and fade away, - Our Infant Lord abides alway; - May we be blessed His face to see, - And ever little children be!’ - -And the little ones held each other by the hand, kissed the roses, and -looked up into the blue sky, talking away all the time. What glorious -summer days were those! how delightful it was to sit under those -rose-trees which seemed as if they never intended to leave off -blossoming! One day Kay and Gerda were sitting looking at their -picture-book full of birds and animals, when suddenly--the clock on the -old church tower was just striking five--Kay exclaimed, ‘Oh, dear! what -was that shooting pain in my heart: and now again, something has -certainly got into my eye!’ - -The little girl turned and looked at him. He winked his eyes; no, there -was nothing to be seen. - -‘I believe it is gone,’ said he; but gone it was not. It was one of -those glass splinters from the Magic Mirror, the wicked glass which made -everything great and good reflected in it to appear little and hateful, -and which magnified everything ugly and mean. Poor Kay had also received -a splinter in his heart; it would now become hard and cold like a lump -of ice. He felt the pain no longer, but the splinter was there. - -‘Why do you cry?’ asked he; ‘you look so ugly when you cry! there is -nothing the matter with me. Fie!’ exclaimed he again, ‘this rose has an -insect in it, and just look at this! After all, they are ugly roses! and -it is an ugly box they grow in!’ then he kicked the box, and tore off -the roses. - -‘O Kay, what are you doing?’ cried the little girl, but when he saw how -it grieved her, he tore off another rose, and jumped down through his -own window, away from his once dear little Gerda. - -Ever afterwards when she brought forward the picture-book, he called it -a baby’s book, and when her grandmother told stories, he interrupted her -with a ‘but,’ and sometimes, whenever he could manage it, he would get -behind her, put on her spectacles, and speak just as she did; he did -this in a very droll manner, and so people laughed at him. Very soon he -could mimic everybody in the street. All that was singular and awkward -about them could Kay imitate, and his neighbours said, ‘What a -remarkable head that boy has!’ But no, it was the glass splinter which -had fallen into his eye, the glass splinter which had pierced into his -heart--it was these which made him regardless whose feelings he wounded, -and even made him tease the little Gerda who loves him so fondly. - -His games were now quite different from what they used to be, they were -so rational! One winter’s day when it was snowing, he came out with a -large burning-glass in his hand, and holding up the skirts of his blue -coat let the snow-flakes fall upon them. ‘Now look through the glass, -Gerda!’ said he, returning to the house. Every snow-flake seemed much -larger, and resembled a splendid flower, or a star with ten points; they -were quite beautiful. ‘See, how curious!’ said Kay, ‘these are far more -interesting than real flowers, there is not a single blemish in them; -they would be quite perfect if only they did not melt.’ - -Soon after this Kay came in again, with thick gloves on his hands, and -his sledge slung across his back. He called out to Gerda, ‘I have got -leave to drive on the great square where the other boys play!’ and away -he went. - -The boldest boys in the square used to fasten their sledges firmly to -the wagons of the country people, and thus drive a good way along with -them; this they thought particularly pleasant. Whilst they were in the -midst of their play, a large sledge painted white passed by; in it sat a -person wrapped in a rough white fur, and wearing a rough white cap. When -the sledge had driven twice round the square, Kay bound to it his little -sledge, and was carried on with it. On they went, faster and faster, -into the next street. The person who drove the large sledge turned -round and nodded kindly to Kay, just as if they had been old -acquaintances, and every time Kay was going to loose his little sledge -turned and nodded again, as if to signify that he must stay. So Kay sat -still, and they passed through the gates of the town. Then the snow -began to fall so thickly that the little boy could not see his own hand, -but he was still carried on. He tried hastily to unloose the cords and -free himself from the large sledge, but it was of no use; his little -carriage could not be unfastened, and glided on swift as the wind. Then -he cried out as loud as he could, but no one heard him, the snow fell -and the sledge flew; every now and then it made a spring as if driving -over hedges and ditches. He was very much frightened; he would have -repeated ‘Our Father,’ but he could remember nothing but the -multiplication table. - -The snow-flakes seemed larger and larger, at last they looked like great -white fowls. All at once they fell aside, the large sledge stopped, and -the person who drove it arose from the seat. He saw that the cap and -coat were entirely of snow, that it was a lady, tall and slender, and -dazzlingly white--it was the Snow Queen! - -‘We have driven fast!’ said she, ‘but no one likes to be frozen; creep -under my bear-skin,’ and she seated him in the sledge by her side, and -spread her cloak around him--he felt as if he were sinking into a drift -of snow. - -‘Are you still cold?’ asked she, and then she kissed his brow. Oh! her -kiss was colder than ice. It went to his heart, although that was half -frozen already; he thought he should die. It was, however, only for a -moment; directly afterwards he was quite well, and no longer felt the -intense cold around. - -‘My sledge! do not forget my sledge!’--he thought first of that--it was -fastened to one of the white fowls which flew behind with it on his -back. The Snow Queen kissed Kay again, and he entirely forgot little -Gerda, her grandmother, and all at home. - -‘Now you must have no more kisses!’ said she, ‘else I should kiss thee -to death.’ - -Kay looked at her, she was so beautiful; a more intelligent, more lovely -countenance, he could not imagine; she no longer appeared to him ice, -cold ice as at the time when she sat outside the window and beckoned to -him; in his eyes she was perfect; he felt no fear. He told her how well -he could reckon in his head, even fractions; that he knew the number of -square miles of every country, and the number of the inhabitants -contained in different towns. She smiled, and then it occurred to him -that, after all, he did not yet know so very much. He looked up into the -wide, wide space, and she flew with him high up into the black cloud -while the storm was raging; it seemed now to Kay as though singing songs -of olden time. - -They flew over woods and over lakes, over sea and over land; beneath -them the cold wind whistled, the wolves howled, the snow glittered, and -the black crow flew cawing over the plain, whilst above them shone the -moon, so clear and tranquil. - -Thus did Kay spend the long, long winter night; all day he slept at the -feet of the Snow Queen. - -[Illustration: SHE WORE A LARGE HAT, WITH MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS PAINTED -ON IT] - - - - -PART THE THIRD - -THE ENCHANTED FLOWER-GARDEN - - -But how fared it with little Gerda when Kay never returned? Where could -he be? No one knew, no one could give any account of him. The boy said -that they had seen him fasten his sledge to another larger and very -handsome one which had driven into the street, and thence through the -gates of the town. No one knew where he was, and many were the tears -that were shed; little Gerda wept much and long, for the boys said he -must be dead, he must have been drowned in the river that flowed not far -from the town. Oh, how long and dismal the winter days were now! At last -came the spring, with its warm sunshine. - -‘Alas, Kay is dead and gone,’ said little Gerda. - -‘That I do not believe,’ said the sunshine. - -‘He is dead and gone,’ said she to the swallows. - -‘That we do not believe,’ returned they, and at last little Gerda -herself did not believe it. - -‘I will put on my new red shoes,’ said she one morning, ‘those which Kay -has never seen, and then I will go down to the river and ask after him.’ - -It was quite early. She kissed her old grandmother, who was still -sleeping, put on her red shoes, and went alone through the gates of the -town towards the river. - -‘Is it true,’ said she, ‘that thou hast taken my little playfellow away? -I will give thee my red shoes if thou wilt restore him to me!’ - -And the wavelets of the river flowed towards her in a manner which she -fancied was unusual; she fancied that they intended to accept her -offer, so she took off her red shoes--though she prized them more than -anything else she possessed--and threw them into the stream; but they -fell near the shore, and the little waves bore them back to her, as -though they would not take from her what she most prized, as they had -not got little Kay. However, she thought she had not thrown the shoes -far enough, so she stepped into a little boat which lay among the reeds -by the shore, and, standing at the farthest end of it, threw them from -thence into the water. The boat was not fastened, and her movements in -it caused it to glide away from the shore. She saw this, and hastened to -get out, but by the time she reached the other end of the boat it was -more than a yard distant from the land; she could not escape, and the -boat glided on. - -Little Gerda was much frightened and began to cry, but no one besides -the sparrows heard her, and they could not carry her back to the land; -however, they flew along the banks, and sang, as if to comfort her, -‘Here we are, here we are!’ The boat followed the stream. Little Gerda -sat in it quite still; her red shoes floated behind her, but they could -not overtake the boat, which glided along faster than they did. - -Beautiful were the shores of that river; lovely flowers, stately old -trees, and bright green hills dotted with sheep and cows, were seen in -abundance, but not a single human being. - -‘Perhaps the river may bear me to my dear Kay,’ thought Gerda, and then -she became more cheerful, and amused herself for hours with looking at -the lovely country around her. At last she glided past a large -cherry-garden, wherein stood a little cottage with thatched roof and -curious red and blue windows; two wooden soldiers stood at the door, who -presented arms when they saw the little vessel approach. - -Gerda called to them, thinking that they were alive, but they, -naturally enough, made no answer. She came close up to them, for the -stream drifted the boat to the land. - -Gerda called still louder, whereupon an old lady came out of the house, -supporting herself on a crutch; she wore a large hat, with most -beautiful flowers painted on it. - -‘Thou poor little child!’ said the old woman, ‘the mighty flowing river -has indeed borne thee a long, long way,’ and she walked right into the -water, seized the boat with her crutch, drew it to land, and took out -the little girl. - -Gerda was glad to be on dry land again, although she was a little afraid -of the strange old lady. - -‘Come and tell me who thou art, and how thou camest hither,’ said she. - -And Gerda told her all, and the old lady shook her head, and said, ‘Hem! -hem!’ And when Gerda asked if she had seen little Kay, the lady said -that he had not arrived there yet, but that he would be sure to come -soon, and that in the meantime Gerda must not be sad; that she might -stay with her, might eat her cherries, and look at her flowers, which -were prettier than any picture-book, and could each tell her a story. - -She then took Gerda by the hand; they went together into the cottage, -and the old lady shut the door. The windows were very high and their -panes of different coloured glass, red, blue, and yellow, so that when -the bright daylight streamed through them, various and beautiful were -the hues reflected upon the room. Upon a table in the centre was placed -a plate of very fine cherries, and of these Gerda was allowed to eat as -many as she liked. And whilst she was eating them, the old dame combed -her hair with a golden comb, and the bright flaxen ringlets fell on each -side of her pretty, gentle face, which looked as round and as fresh as a -rose. - -‘I have long wished for such a dear little girl,’ said the old lady. ‘We -shall see if we cannot live very happily together.’ And, as she combed -little Gerda’s hair, the child thought less and less of her -foster-brother Kay, for the old lady was an enchantress. She did not, -however, practise magic for the sake of mischief, but merely for her own -amusement. And now she wished very much to keep little Gerda, to live -with her; so, fearing that if Gerda saw her roses, she would be reminded -of her own flowers and of little Kay, and that then she might run away, -she went out into the garden, and extended her crutch over all her -rose-bushes, upon which, although they were full of leaves and blossoms, -they immediately sank into the black earth, and no one would have -guessed that such plants had ever grown there. - -Then she led Gerda into this flower-garden. Oh how beautiful and how -fragrant it was! Flowers of all seasons and all climes grew there in -fulness of beauty--certainly no picture-book could be compared with it. -Gerda bounded with delight, and played among the flowers till the sun -set behind the tall cherry-trees; after which a pretty little bed, with -crimson silk cushions, stuffed with blue violet leaves, was prepared for -her, and here she slept so sweetly and had such dreams as a queen might -have on her bridal eve. - -The next day she again played among the flowers in the warm sunshine, -and many more days were spent in the same manner. Gerda knew every -flower in the garden, but, numerous as they were, it seemed to her that -one was wanting, she could not tell which. She was sitting one day, -looking at her hostess’s hat, which had flowers painted on it, and, -behold, the loveliest among them was a rose! The old lady had entirely -forgotten the painted rose on her hat, when she made the real roses to -disappear from her garden and sink into the ground. This is often the -case when things are done hastily. - -‘What,’ cried Gerda ‘are there no roses in the garden?’ And she ran from -one bed to another, sought and sought again, but no rose was to be -found. She sat down and wept, and it so chanced that her tears fell on a -spot where a rose-tree had formerly stood, and as soon as her warm tears -had moistened the earth, the bush shot up anew, as fresh and as blooming -as it was before it had sunk into the ground; and Gerda threw her arms -around it, kissed the blossoms, and immediately recalled to memory the -beautiful roses at home, and her little playfellow Kay. ‘Oh, how could I -stay here so long!’ exclaimed the little maiden. ‘I left my home to seek -for Kay. Do you know where he is?’ she asked of the roses; ‘think you -that he is dead?’ - -‘Dead he is not,’ said the roses. ‘We have been down in the earth; the -dead are there, but not Kay.’ - -‘I thank you,’ said little Gerda, and she went to the other flowers, -bent low over their cups, and asked, ‘Know you not where little Kay is?’ - -But every flower stood in the sunshine dreaming its own little tale. -They related their stories to Gerda, but none of them knew anything of -Kay. - -‘And what think you?’ said the tiger-lily. - -‘Listen to the drums beating, boom! boom! They have but two notes, -always boom! boom! Listen to the dirge the women are singing! Listen to -the chorus of priests! Enveloped in her long red robes stands the Hindoo -wife on the funeral pile; the flames blaze around her and her dead -husband, but the Hindoo wife thinks not of the dead. She thinks only of -the living, and the anguish which consumes her spirit is keener than the -fire which will soon reduce her body to ashes. - -[Illustration] - -Can the flame of the heart expire amid the flames of the funeral pile?’ - -‘I do not understand that at all!’ said little Gerda. - -‘That is my tale!’ said the tiger-lily. - -‘What says the convolvulus?’ - -‘Hanging over a narrow mountain causeway, behold an ancient, baronial -castle. Thick evergreens grow amongst the time stained walls, their -leafy branches entwine about the balcony, and there stands a beautiful -maiden; she bends over the balustrades and fixes her eyes with eager -expectation on the road winding beneath. The rose hangs not fresher and -lovelier on its stem than she; the apple-blossom which the wind -threatens every moment to tear from its branch is not more fragile and -trembling. Listen to the rustling of her rich silken robe! Listen to her -half-whispered words, “He comes not yet”.’ - -‘Is it Kay you mean?’ asked little Gerda. - -‘I do but tell you my tale--my dream,’ replied the convolvulus. - -‘What says the little snowdrop?’ - -‘Between two trees hangs a swing. Two pretty little maidens, their dress -as white as snow, and long green ribbands fluttering from their hats, -sit and swing themselves in it. Their brother stands up in the swing, he -has thrown his arms round the ropes to keep himself steady, for in one -hand he holds a little cup, in the other a pipe made of clay; he is -blowing soap bubbles. The swing moves and the bubbles fly upwards with -bright, ever-changing colours; the last hovers on the edge of the pipe, -and moves with the wind. The swing is still in motion, and the little -black dog, almost as light as the soap bubbles, rises on his hind feet -and tries to get into the swing also; away goes the swing, the dog -falls, is out of temper, and barks; he is laughed at, and the bubbles -burst. A swinging board, a frothy, fleeting image is my song.’ - -‘What you describe may be all very pretty, but you speak so mournfully, -and there is nothing about Kay.’ - -‘What say the hyacinths?’ - -‘There were three fair sisters, transparent and delicate they were; the -kirtle of the one was red, that of the second blue, of the third pure -white; hand in hand they danced in the moonlight beside the quiet lake; -they were not fairies, but daughters of men. Sweet was the fragrance -when the maidens vanished into the wood; the fragrance grew stronger; -three biers, whereon lay the fair sisters, glided out from the depths of -the wood, and floated upon the lake; the glow-worms flew shining around -like little hovering lamps. Sleep the dancing maidens, or are they dead? -The odour from the flowers tells us they are corpses, the evening bells -peal out their dirge.’ - -‘You make me quite sad,’ said little Gerda. ‘Your fragrance is so strong -I cannot help thinking of the dead maidens. Alas! and is little Kay -dead? The roses have been under the earth, and they say no!’ - -‘Ding dong! ding dong!’ rang the hyacinth bells. ‘We toll not for little -Kay, we know him not! We do but sing our own song, the only one we -know!’ - -And Gerda went to the buttercup, which shone so brightly from among her -smooth green leaves. - -‘Thou art like a little bright sun,’ said Gerda; ‘tell me, if thou -canst, where I may find my playfellow.’ - -And the buttercup glittered so brightly, and looked at Gerda. What song -could the buttercup sing? Neither was hers about Kay. ‘One bright spring -morning, the sun shone warmly upon a little court-yard. The bright beams -streamed down the white walls of a neighbouring house, and close by - -[Illustration: GERDA KNEW EVERY FLOWER IN THE GARDEN] - -grew the first yellow flower of spring, glittering like gold in the warm -sunshine. An old grandmother sat without in her arm-chair, her -grand-daughter, a pretty, lowly maiden, had just returned home from a -short visit; she kissed her grandmother; there was gold, pure gold, in -that loving kiss: - - ‘Gold was the flower! - Gold the fresh, bright, morning hour!’ - -‘That is my little story,’ said the buttercup. - -‘My poor old grandmother!’ sighed Gerda; ‘yes, she must be wishing for -me, just as she wished for little Kay. But I shall soon go home again, -and take Kay with me. It is of no use to ask the flowers about him; they -only know their own song, they can give me no information.’ And she -folded her little frock round her, that she might run the faster; but, -in jumping over the narcissus, it caught her foot, as if wishing to stop -her, so she turned and looked at the tall yellow flower, ‘Have you any -news to give me?’ She bent over the narcissus, waiting for an answer. - -And what said the narcissus? - -‘I can look at myself!--I can see myself! Oh, how sweet is my -fragrance!’ Up in the little attic-chamber stands a little dancer. She -rests sometimes on one leg, sometimes on two. She has trampled the whole -world under her feet; she is nothing but an illusion. She pours water -from a tea-pot upon a piece of cloth she holds in her hand--it is her -bodice; cleanliness is a fine thing! Her white dress hangs on the hook, -that has also been washed by the water from the tea-pot, and dried on -the roof of the house. She puts it on, and wraps a saffron-coloured -handkerchief round her neck; it makes the dress look all the whiter. -With one leg extended, there she stands, as though on a stalk. ‘I can -look at myself!--I see myself!’ - -‘I don’t care if you do!’ said Gerda. ‘You need not have told me that!’ -and away she ran to the end of the garden. - -The gate was closed, but she pressed upon the rusty lock till it broke. -The gate sprang open, and little Gerda, with bare feet, ran out into the -wide world. Three times she looked back, there was no one following her; -she ran till she could run no longer, and then sat down to rest upon a -large stone. Casting a glance around, she saw that the summer was past, -that it was now late in the autumn. Of course, she had not remarked this -in the enchanted garden, where there were sunshine and flowers all the -year round. - -‘How long I must have stayed there!’ said little Gerda. ‘So, it is now -autumn! Well, then, there is no time to lose!’ and she rose to pursue -her way. - -Oh, how sore and weary were her little feet; and all around looked so -cold and barren. The long willow-leaves had already turned yellow, and -the dew trickled down from them like water. The leaves fell off the -trees, one by one; the sloe alone bore fruit, and its berries were so -sharp and bitter! Cold, and grey, and sad seemed the world to her that -day. - -[Illustration] - - - - -PART THE FOURTH - -THE PRINCE AND THE PRINCESS - - -Gerda was again obliged to stop and take rest. Suddenly a -large raven hopped upon the snow in front of her, saying, -‘Caw!--Caw!--Good-day!--Good-day!’ He sat for some time on the withered -branch of a tree just opposite, eyeing the little maiden, and wagging -his head, and he now came forward to make acquaintance and to ask her -whither she was going all alone. That word ‘alone’ Gerda understood -right well--she felt how sad a meaning it has. She told the raven the -history of her life and fortunes, and asked if he had seen Kay. - -And the raven nodded his head, half doubtfully, and said, ‘That is -possible--possible.’ - -‘Do you think so?’ exclaimed the little girl, and she kissed the raven -so vehemently that it is a wonder she did not squeeze him to death. - -‘More moderately!--moderately!’ said the raven. ‘I think I know. I think -it may be little Kay; but he has certainly forsaken thee for the -princess.’ - -‘Dwells he with a princess?’ asked Gerda. - -‘Listen to me,’ said the raven, ‘but it is so difficult to speak your -language! Do you understand Ravenish? If so, I can tell you much -better.’ - -‘No! I have never learned Ravenish,’ said Gerda, ‘but my grandmother -knew it, and Pye-language also. Oh, how I wish I had learned it!’ - -‘Never mind,’ said the raven, ‘I will relate my story in the best manner -I can, though bad will be the best’; and he told all he knew. - -‘In the kingdom wherein we are now sitting, there dwells a princess, a -most uncommonly clever princess. All the newspapers in the world has she -read, and forgotten them again, so clever is she. It is not long since -she ascended the throne, which I have heard is not quite so agreeable a -situation as one would fancy; and immediately after she began to sing a -new song, the burden of which was this, “Why should I not marry me?” -“There is some sense in this song!” said she, and she determined she -would marry, but at the same time declared that the man whom she would -choose must be able to answer sensibly whenever people spoke to him, and -must be good for something else besides merely looking grand and -stately. The ladies of the court were then all drummed together, in -order to be informed of her intentions, whereupon they were highly -delighted, and one exclaimed, “That is just what I wish”; and another, -that she had lately been thinking of the very same thing. Believe me,’ -continued the raven, ‘every word I say is true, for I have a tame -beloved who hops at pleasure about the palace, and she has told me all -this.’ - -Of course the ‘beloved’ was also a raven, for birds of a feather flock -together. - -‘Proclamations, adorned with borders of hearts, were immediately issued, -wherein, after enumerating the style and titles of the princess, it was -set forth that every well-favoured youth was free to go to the palace -and converse with the princess, and that whoever should speak in such -wise as showed that he felt himself at home, there would be the one the -princess would choose for her husband. - -‘Yes, indeed,’ continued the raven, ‘you may believe me; all this is as -true as that I sit here. The people all crowded to the palace; there was -famous pressing and squeezing; but it was all of no use, either the -first or the second day; the young men could speak well enough while -they were outside the palace gates, but when they entered, and saw the -royal guard in silver uniform, and the lackeys on the staircase in gold, -and the spacious saloon, all lighted up, they were quite confounded. -They stood before the throne where the princess sat, and when she spoke -to them, they could only repeat the last word she had uttered, which, -you know, it was not particularly interesting for her to hear over -again. It was just as though they had been struck dumb the moment they -entered the palace, for as soon as they got out, they could talk fast -enough. There was a regular procession constantly moving from the gates -of the town to the gates of the palace. I was there, and saw it with my -own eyes,’ said the raven. ‘They grew both hungry and thirsty whilst -waiting at the palace, but no one could get even so much as a glass of -water; to be sure, some of them, wiser than the rest, had brought with -them slices of bread and butter, but none would give any to his -neighbour, for he thought to himself, “Let him look hungry, and then the -princess will be sure not to choose him.”’ - -‘But Kay, little Kay, when did he come?’ asked Gerda; ‘was he among the -crowd?’ - -‘Presently, presently; we have just come to him. On the third day -arrived a youth with neither horse nor carriage; gaily he marched up to -the palace; his eyes sparkled like yours; he had long beautiful hair, -but was very meanly clad.’ - -‘That was Kay!’ exclaimed Gerda. ‘Oh then I have found him,’ and she -clapped her hands with delight. - -‘He carried a knapsack on his back,’ said the raven. - -‘No, not a knapsack,’ said Gerda, ‘a sledge, for he had a sledge with -him when he left home.’ - -‘It is possible,’ rejoined the raven, ‘I did not look very closely, but -this I heard from my beloved, that when he entered the palace gates and -saw the royal guard in silver, and the lackeys in gold upon the -staircase, he did not seem in the least confused, but nodded pleasantly -and said to them, “It must be very tedious standing out here; I prefer -going in.” The halls glistened with light, cabinet councillors and -excellencies were walking about bare-footed and carrying golden keys--it -was just a place to make a man solemn and silent--and the youth’s boots -creaked horribly, yet he was not at all afraid.’ - -‘That most certainly was Kay!’ said Gerda; ‘I know he had new boots; I -have heard them creak in my grandmother’s room.’ - -‘Indeed they did creak,’ said the raven, ‘but merrily went he up to the -princess, who was sitting upon a pearl as large as a spinning-wheel, -whilst all the ladies of the court, with the maids of honour and their -handmaidens, ranged in order, stood on one side, and all the gentlemen -in waiting, with their gentlemen, and their gentlemen’s gentlemen, who -also kept pages, stood ranged in order on the other side, and the nearer -they were to the door the prouder they looked. The gentlemen’s -gentlemen’s page, who always wears slippers, one dare hardly look at, so -proudly he stands at the door.’ - -‘That must be dreadful!’ said little Gerda. ‘And has Kay really won the -princess?’ - -‘Had I not been a raven I should have won her myself, - -[Illustration: SUDDENLY A LARGE RAVEN HOPPED UPON THE SNOW IN FRONT OF -HER] - -[Illustration] - -notwithstanding my being betrothed. The young man spoke as well as I -speak when I converse in Ravenish; that I have heard from my tame -beloved. He was handsome and lively--“He did not come to woo her,” he -said, “he had only come to hear the wisdom of the princess,” and he -liked her much, and she liked him in return.’ - -‘Yes, to be sure, that was Kay,’ said Gerda; ‘he was so clever, he could -reckon in his head, even fractions! Oh, will you not take me into the -palace?’ - -‘Ah! that is easily said,’ replied the raven, ‘but how is it to be done? -I will talk it over with my tame beloved; she will advise us what to do, -for I must tell you that such a little girl as you are will never gain -permission to enter publicly.’ - -‘Yes, I shall!’ cried Gerda. ‘When Kay knows that I am here, he will -immediately come out and fetch me.’ - -‘Wait for me at the trellis yonder,’ said the raven. He wagged his head -and away he flew. - -The raven did not return till late in the evening. ‘Caw, caw,’ said he. -‘My tame beloved greets you kindly, and sends you a piece of bread which -she took from the kitchen; there is plenty of bread there, and you must -certainly be hungry. It is not possible for you to enter the palace, for -you have bare feet; the royal guard in silver uniform, and the lackeys -in gold, would never permit it; but do not weep, thou shalt go there. My -beloved knows a little back staircase leading to the sleeping -apartments, and she knows also where to find the key.’ - -And they went into the garden, down the grand avenue, where the leaves -dropped upon them as they passed along, and, when the lights in the -palace one by one had all been extinguished, the raven took Gerda to a -back-door which stood half open. Oh, how Gerda’s heart beat with fear -and expectation! It was just as though she was about to do something -wrong, although she only wanted to know whether Kay was really -there--yes, it must be he, she remembered so well his bright eyes and -long hair. She would see if his smile were the same as it used to be -when they sat together under the rose-trees. He would be so glad to see -her, to hear how far she had come for his sake, how all his home mourned -his absence. Her heart trembled with fear and joy. - -They went up the staircase. A small lamp placed on a cabinet gave a -glimmering light; on the floor stood the tame raven, who first turned -her head on all sides, and then looked at Gerda, who made her curtsy, as -her grandmother had taught her. - -‘My betrothed has told me much about you, my good young maiden,’ said -the tame raven; ‘your adventures, too, are extremely interesting! If you -will take the lamp, I will show you the way. We are going straight on, -we shall not meet any one now.’ - -‘It seems to me as if some one were behind us,’ said Gerda; and in fact -there was a rushing sound as of something passing; strange-looking -shadows flitted rapidly along the wall, horses with long, slender legs -and fluttering manes, huntsmen, knights, and ladies. - -‘These are only dreams!’ said the raven; ‘they come to amuse the great -personages here at night; you will have a better opportunity of looking -at them when you are in bed. I hope that when you arrive at honours and -dignities you will show a grateful heart.’ - -‘Do not talk of that!’ said the wood-raven. - -They now entered the first saloon; its walls were covered with -rose-coloured satin, embroidered with gold flowers. The Dreams rustled -past them, but with such rapidity that Gerda could not see them. The -apartments through which they passed vied with each other in splendour, -and at last they reached the sleeping-hall. In the centre of this room -stood a pillar of gold resembling the stem of a large palm-tree, whose -leaves of glass, costly glass, formed the ceiling, and depending from -the tree, hung near the door, on thick golden stalks, two beds in the -form of lilies--the one was white, wherein reposed the princess, the -other was red, and here must Gerda seek her playfellow, Kay. She bent -aside one of the red leaves and saw a brown neck. Oh, it must be Kay! -She called him by his name aloud, held the lamp close to him, the Dreams -again rushed by--he awoke, turned his head, and behold! it was not Kay. - -The prince resembled him only about the throat; he was, however, young -and handsome; and the princess looked out from the white lily petals, -and asked what was the matter. Then little Gerda wept and told her whole -story, and what the ravens had done for her. ‘Poor child!’ said the -prince and princess; and they praised the ravens, and said they were not -at all angry with them. Such liberties must never be taken again in -their palace, but this time they should be rewarded. - -[Illustration: CABINET COUNCILLORS WERE WALKING ABOUT BAREFOOTED] - -‘Would you like to fly away free to the woods?’ asked the princess, -addressing the ravens, ‘or to have the appointment secured to you as -Court-Ravens with the perquisites belonging to the kitchen, such as -crumbs and leavings?’ - -And both the ravens bowed low and chose the appointment at Court, for -they thought of old age, and said it would be so comfortable to be well -provided for in their declining years. Then the prince arose and made -Gerda sleep in his bed; and she folded her little hands, thinking, ‘How -kind both men and animals are to me!’ She closed her eyes and slept -soundly and sweetly, and all the Dreams flitted about her; they looked -like angels from heaven, and seemed to be drawing a sledge whereon Kay -sat and nodded to her. But this was only fancy, for as soon as she awoke -all the beautiful visions had vanished. - -The next day she was dressed from head to foot in silk and velvet. She -was invited to stay at the palace and enjoy all sorts of diversions, but -she begged only for a little carriage and a horse, and a pair of little -boots,--all she desired was to go again into the wide world to seek Kay. - -And they gave her the boots and a muff besides; she was dressed so -prettily. And as soon as she was ready there drove up to the door a new -carriage of pure gold with the arms of the prince and princess -glittering upon it like a star, the coachman, the footman, and -outriders, all wearing gold crowns. The prince and princess themselves -helped her into the carriage and wished her success. The wood-raven, who -was now married, accompanied her the first three miles; he sat by her -side, for riding backwards was a thing he could not bear. The other -raven stood at the door flapping her wings; she did not go with them on -account of a headache she had felt ever since she had received her -appointment, in consequence of eating too much. The carriage was well -provided with sugar-plums, fruit, and gingerbread nuts. - -‘Farewell! farewell!’ cried the prince and princess. Little Gerda wept, -and the raven wept out of sympathy. But his farewell was a far sorer -trial; he flew up to the branch of a tree and flapped his black wings at -the carriage till it was out of sight. - -[Illustration] - - - - -PART THE FIFTH - -THE LITTLE ROBBER MAIDEN - - -They drove through the dark, dark forest; the carriage shone like a -torch. Unfortunately its brightness attracted the eyes of the robbers -who dwelt in the forest-shades; they could not bear it. - -‘That is gold! gold!’ cried they. Forward they rushed, seized the -horses, stabbed the outriders, coachman, and footmen to death, and -dragged little Gerda out of the carriage. - -‘She is plump, she is pretty, she has been fed on nut-kernels,’ said the -old robber-wife, who had a long, bristly beard, and eyebrows hanging -like bushes over her eyes. ‘She is like a little fat lamb, and how -smartly she is dressed!’ and she drew out her bright dagger, glittering -most terribly. - -‘Oh, oh!’ cried the woman, for at the very moment she had lifted her -dagger to stab Gerda, her own wild and wilful daughter jumped upon her -back and bit her ear violently. ‘You naughty child!’ said the mother. - -‘She shall play with me,’ said the little robber-maiden, ‘she shall give -me her muff and her pretty frock, and sleep with me in my bed!’ And then -she bit her mother again, till the robber-wife sprang up and shrieked -with pain, whilst the robbers all laughed, saying, ‘Look at her playing -with her young one!’ - -‘I will get into the carriage,’ and so spoiled and wayward was the -little robber-maiden that she always had her own way, and she and Gerda -sat together in the carriage, and drove over stock and stone farther and -farther into the wood. The little robber-maiden was about as tall as -Gerda, but much stronger; she had broad shoulders, and a very dark skin; -her eyes were quite black, and had an expression almost melancholy. She -put her arm round Gerda’s waist, and said, ‘She shall not kill thee so -long as I love thee! Art thou not a princess?’ - -‘No!’ said Gerda; and then she told her all that had happened to her, -and how much she loved little Kay. - -The robber-maiden looked earnestly in her face, shook her head, and -said, ‘She shall not kill thee even if I do quarrel with thee; then, -indeed, I would rather do it myself!’ And she dried Gerda’s tears, and -put both her hands into the pretty muff that was so soft and warm. - -The carriage at last stopped in the middle of the courtyard of the -robbers’ castle. This castle was half-ruined; crows and ravens flew out -of the openings, and some fearfully large bull-dogs, looking as if they -could devour a man in a moment, jumped round the carriage; they did not -bark, for that was forbidden. - -The maidens entered a large, smoky hall, where a tremendous fire was -blazing on the stone floor; the smoke rose up to the ceiling, seeking a -way of escape, for there was no chimney; a large caldron full of soup -was boiling over the fire, whilst hares and rabbits were roasting on the -spit. - -‘Thou shalt sleep with me and my little pets to-night!’ said the -robber-maiden. Then they had some food, and afterwards went to the -corner wherein lay straw and a piece of carpet. Nearly a hundred pigeons -were perched on staves and laths around them; they seemed to be asleep, -but were startled when the little maidens approached. - -‘These all belong to me,’ said Gerda’s companion, and seizing hold of -one of the nearest, she held the poor bird by the feet and swung it. -‘Kiss it,’ said she, flapping it into Gerda’s face. ‘The rabble from the -wood sit up there,’ continued she, pointing to a number of laths -fastened across a hole in the wall; ‘those are wood-pigeons, they would -fly away if I did not keep them shut up. And here is my old favourite!’ -She pulled forward by the horn a reindeer who wore a bright copper ring -round his neck, by which he was fastened to a large stone. ‘We are -obliged to chain him up, or he would run away from us; every evening I -tickle his neck with my sharp dagger; it makes him fear me so much!’ and -the robber-maiden drew out a long dagger from a gap in the wall, and -passed it over the reindeer’s throat; the poor animal struggled and -kicked, but the girl laughed, and then she pulled Gerda into bed with -her. - -‘Will you keep the dagger in your hand whilst you sleep?’ asked Gerda, -looking timidly at the dangerous plaything. - -‘I always sleep with my dagger by my side,’ replied the little -robber-maiden; ‘one never knows what may happen. But now tell me all -over again what you told me before about - -[Illustration: AND THE NEARER THEY WERE TO THE DOOR THE PROUDER THEY -LOOKED] - -Kay, and the reason of your coming into the wide world all by yourself.’ - -And Gerda again related her history, and the wood-pigeons imprisoned -above listened, but the others were fast asleep. The little -robber-maiden threw one arm round Gerda’s neck, and holding the dagger -with the other, was also soon asleep; one could hear her heavy -breathing, but Gerda could not close her eyes throughout the night--she -knew not what would become of her, whether she would even be suffered to -live. The robbers sat round the fire drinking and singing. Oh, it was a -dreadful night for the poor little girl! - -Then spoke the wood-pigeons, ‘Coo, coo, coo! we have seen little Kay. A -white fowl carried his sledge, he himself was in the Snow Queen’s -chariot, which passed through the wood whilst we sat in our nest. She -breathed upon us young ones as she passed, and all died of her breath -excepting us two,--coo, coo, coo!’ - -‘What are you saying?’ cried Gerda; ‘where was the Snow Queen going? Do -you know anything about it?’ - -‘She travels most likely to Lapland, where ice and snow abide all the -year round. Ask the reindeer bound to the rope there.’ - -‘Yes, ice and snow are there all through the year; it is a glorious -land!’ said the reindeer. ‘There, free and happy, one can roam through -the wide sparkling valleys! There the Snow Queen has her summer-tent; -her strong castle is very far off, near the North Pole, on the island -called Spitsbergen.’ - -‘O Kay, dear Kay!’ sighed Gerda. - -‘You must lie still,’ said the robber-maiden, ‘or I will thrust my -dagger into your side.’ - -When morning came Gerda repeated to her what the wood-pigeons had said, -and the little robber-maiden looked grave for a moment, then nodded her -head, saying, ‘No matter! no matter! Do you know where Lapland is?’ -asked she of the reindeer. - -‘Who should know but I?’ returned the animal, his eyes kindling. ‘There -was I born and bred, there how often have I bounded over the wild icy -plains!’ - -‘Listen to me!’ said the robber-maiden to Gerda. ‘You see all our men -are gone; my mother is still here and will remain, but towards noon she -will drink a little out of the great flask, and after that she will -sleep--then I will do something for you!’ And so saying she jumped out -of bed, sprang upon her mother, pulled her by the beard, and said, ‘My -own dear mam, good morning!’ and the mother caressed her so roughly that -she was red and blue all over; however, it was from pure love. - -When her mother was fast asleep, the robber-maiden went up to the -reindeer, and said, ‘I should have great pleasure in stroking you a few -more times with my sharp dagger, for then you look so droll, but never -mind, I will unloose your chain and help you to escape, on condition -that you run as fast as you can to Lapland, and take this little girl to -the castle of the Snow Queen, where her playfellow is. You must have -heard her story, for she speaks loud enough, and you know well how to -listen.’ - -The reindeer bounded with joy, and the robber-maiden lifted Gerda on his -back, taking the precaution to bind her on firmly, as well as to give -her a little cushion to sit on. ‘And here,’ said she, ‘are your fur -boots, you will need them in that cold country; the muff I must keep -myself, it is too pretty to part with; but you shall not be frozen. Here -are my mother’s huge gloves, they reach up to the elbow; put them -on--now your hands look as clumsy as my old mother’s!’ - -And Gerda shed tears of joy. - -‘I cannot bear to see you crying!’ said the little robber-maiden, ‘you -ought to look glad; see, here are two loaves and a piece of bacon for -you, that you may not be hungry on the way.’ She fastened this provender -also on the reindeer’s back, opened the door, called away the great -dogs, and then cutting asunder with her dagger the rope which bound the -reindeer, shouted to him, ‘Now then, run! but take good care of the -little girl.’ - -And Gerda stretched out her hands to the robber-maiden and bade her -farewell, and the reindeer fleeted through the forest, over stock and -stone, over desert and heath, over meadow and moor. The wolves howled -and the ravens shrieked. ‘Isch! Isch!’ a red light flashed--one might -have fancied the sky was sneezing. - -‘Those are my dear old Northern Lights!’ said the reindeer; ‘look at -them, how beautiful they are!’ And he ran faster than ever, night and -day he ran--the loaves were eaten, so was the bacon--at last they were -in Lapland. - -[Illustration: AND FLAPPED HIS BLACK WINGS AT THE CARRIAGE TILL IT WAS -OUT OF SIGHT] - - - - -PART THE SIXTH - -THE LAPLAND WOMAN AND THE FINLAND WOMAN - - -They stopped at a little hut, a wretched hut it was; the roof very -nearly touched the ground, and the door was so low that whoever wished -to go either in or out was obliged to crawl upon hands and knees. No one -was at home except the old Lapland woman, who was busy boiling fish over -a lamp filled with train oil. The reindeer related to her Gerda’s whole -history, not, however, till after he had made her acquainted with his -own, which appeared to him of much more importance. Poor Gerda, -meanwhile, was so overpowered by the cold that she could not speak. - -‘Ah, poor things!’ said the Lapland woman, ‘you have still a long way -before you! You have a hundred miles to run before you can arrive in -Finland: the Snow Queen dwells there, and burns blue lights every -evening. I will write for you a few words on a piece of dried -stock-fish--paper I have none--and you may take it with you to the wise -Finland woman who lives there; she will advise you better than I can.’ - -So when Gerda had well warmed herself and taken some food, the Lapland -woman wrote a few words on a dried stock-fish, bade Gerda take care of -it, and bound her once more firmly on the reindeer’s back. - -Onwards they sped, the wondrous Northern Lights, now of the loveliest, -brightest blue colour, shone all through the night, and amidst these -splendid illuminations they arrived in Finland, and knocked at the -chimney of the wise-woman, for door to her house she had none. - -Hot, very hot was it within--so much so that the wise-woman wore -scarcely any clothing; she was low in stature and very dirty. She -immediately loosened little Gerda’s dress, took off her fur boots and -thick gloves, laid a piece of ice on the reindeer’s head, and then read -what was written on the stock-fish. She read it three times. After the -third reading she knew it by heart, and threw the fish into the -porridge-pot, for it might make a very excellent supper, and she never -wasted anything. - -The reindeer then repeated his own story, and when that was finished he -told of little Gerda’s adventures, and the wise-woman twinkled her wise -eyes, but spoke not a word. - -‘Thou art so powerful,’ continued the reindeer, ‘that I know thou canst -twist all the winds of the world into a thread, of which if the pilot -loosen one knot he will have a favourable wind; if he loosen the second -it will blow sharp, and if he loosen the third, so tremendous a storm -will arise that the trees of the forest will be uprooted, and the ship -wrecked. Wilt thou not mix for this little maiden that wonderful draught -which will give her the strength of twelve men, and thus enable her to -overcome the Snow Queen?’ - -‘The strength of twelve men!’ repeated the wise-woman, ‘that would be of -much use to be sure!’ and she walked away, drew forth a large parchment -roll from a shelf and began to read. What strange characters were seen -inscribed on the scroll as the wise-woman slowly unrolled it! She read -so intently that the perspiration ran down her forehead. - -But the reindeer pleaded so earnestly for little Gerda, and Gerda’s eyes -were raised so entreatingly and tearfully, that at last the wise-woman’s -eyes began to twinkle again out of sympathy, and she drew the reindeer -into a corner, and putting a fresh piece of ice upon his head, whispered -thus: - -‘Little Kay is still with the Snow Queen, in whose abode everything is -according to his taste, and therefore he believes it to be the best -place in the world. But that is because he has a glass splinter in his -heart, and a glass splinter in his eye--until he has got rid of them he -will never feel like a human being, and the Snow Queen will always -maintain her influence over him.’ - -‘But canst thou not give something to little Gerda whereby she may -overcome all these evil influences?’ - -[Illustration: THE LITTLE ROBBER-MAIDEN] - -‘I can give her no power so great as that which she already possesses. -Seest thou not how strong she is? Seest thou not that both men and -animals must serve her--a poor little girl wandering barefoot through -the world? Her power is greater than ours; it proceeds from her heart, -from her being a loving and innocent child. If this power which she -already possesses cannot give her access to the Snow Queen’s palace, and -enable her to free Kay’s eye and heart from the glass fragment, we can -do nothing for her! Two miles hence is the Snow Queen’s garden; thither -thou canst carry the little maiden. Put her down close by the bush -bearing red berries and half covered with snow: lose no time, and hasten -back to this place!’ - -And the wise-woman lifted Gerda on the reindeer’s back, and away they -went. - -‘Oh, I have left my boots behind! I have left my gloves behind,’ cried -little Gerda, when it was too late. The cold was piercing, but the -reindeer dared not stop; on he ran until he reached the bush with the -red berries. Here he set Gerda down, kissed her, the tears rolling down -his cheeks the while, and ran fast back again--which was the best thing -he could do. And there stood poor Gerda, without shoes, without gloves, -alone in that barren region, that terribly icy-cold Finland. - -She ran on as fast as she could; a whole regiment of snow-flakes came to -meet her. They did not fall from the sky, which was cloudless and bright -with the Northern Lights; they ran straight along the ground, and the -farther Gerda advanced the larger they grew. Gerda then remembered how -large and curious the snow-flakes had appeared to her when one day she -had looked at them through a burning-glass; these, however, were very -much larger, they were living forms, they were in fact the Snow Queen’s -guards. Their shapes were the strangest that could be imagined; some -looked like great ugly porcupines, others like snakes rolled into knots -with their heads peering forth, and others like little fat bears with -bristling hair--all, however, were alike dazzlingly white--all were -living snow-flakes. Little Gerda began to repeat ‘Our Father’: -meanwhile, the cold was so intense that she could see her own breath, -which, as it escaped her mouth, ascended into the air like vapour; the -cold grew intense, the vapour more dense, and at length took the forms -of little bright angels which, as they touched the earth, became larger -and more distinct. They wore helmets on their heads, and carried shields -and spears in their hands; their number increased so rapidly that, by -the time Gerda had finished her prayer, a whole legion stood around her. -They thrust with their spears against the horrible snow-flakes, which -fell into thousands of pieces, and little Gerda walked on unhurt and -undaunted. The angels touched her hands and feet, and then she scarcely -felt the cold, and boldly approached the Snow Queen’s palace. - -But before we accompany her there, let us see what Kay is doing. He is -certainly not thinking of little Gerda; least of all can he imagine that -she is now standing at the palace gate. - -[Illustration] - - - - -PART THE SEVENTH - -WHICH TREATS OF THE SNOW QUEEN’S PALACE, AND OF WHAT CAME TO PASS -THEREIN - - -The walls of the palace were formed of the driven snow, its doors and -windows of the cutting winds. There were above a hundred halls, the -largest of them many miles in extent, all illuminated by the Northern -Lights, all alike vast, empty, icily cold, and dazzlingly white. No -sounds of mirth ever resounded through these dreary spaces; no cheerful -scene refreshed the sight--not even so much as a bear’s ball, such as -one might imagine sometimes takes place, the tempest forming a band of -musicians, and the polar bears standing on their hind paws and -exhibiting themselves in the oddest positions. Nor was there ever a -card-assembly, wherein the cards might be held in the mouth and dealt -out by paws; nor even a small select coffee-party for the white young -lady foxes. Vast, empty, and cold were the Snow Queen’s chambers, and -the Northern Lights flashed, now high, now low, in regular gradations. -In the midst of the empty, interminable snow saloon lay a frozen lake; -it was broken into a thousand pieces, but these pieces so exactly -resembled each other, that the breaking of them might well be deemed a -work of more than human skill. The Snow Queen, when at home, always sat -in the centre of this lake; she used to say that she was then sitting on -the Mirror of Reason, and that hers was the best, indeed the only one, -in the world. - -Little Kay was quite blue, nay, almost black with cold, but he did not -observe it, for the Snow Queen had kissed away the shrinking feeling he -used to experience, and his heart was like a lump of ice. He was busied -among the sharp icy fragments, laying and joining them together in every -possible way, just as people do with what are called Chinese puzzles. -Kay could form the most curious and complete figures--this was the -ice-puzzle of reason--and in his eyes these figures were of the utmost -importance. He often formed whole words, but there was one word he could -never succeed in forming--it was Eternity. The Snow Queen had said to -him, ‘When thou canst put that figure together, thou shalt become thine -own master and I will give thee the whole world, and a new pair of -skates besides.’ - -But he could never do it. - -‘Now I am going to the warm countries,’ said the Snow Queen. ‘I shall -flit through the air, and look into the black caldrons’--she meant the -burning mountains, Etna and Vesuvius. ‘I shall whiten them a little; -that will be good for the citrons and vineyards.’ So away flew the Snow -Queen, leaving Kay sitting all alone in the large empty hall of ice. He -looked at the fragments, and thought and thought till his head ached. He -sat so still and so stiff that one might have fancied that he too was -frozen. - -Cold and cutting blew the winds when little Gerda passed through the -palace gates, but she repeated her evening prayer, and they immediately -sank to rest. She entered the large, cold, empty hall: she saw Kay, she -recognised him, she flew upon his neck, she held him fast, and cried, -‘Kay! dear, dear Kay! I have found thee at last!’ - -But he sat still as before, cold, silent, motionless; his unkindness -wounded poor Gerda deeply. Hot and bitter were the tears she shed; they -fell upon his breast, they reached his heart, they thawed the ice and -dissolved the tiny splinter of glass within it. He looked at her whilst -she sang her hymn-- - - ‘Our roses bloom and fade away, - Our Infant Lord abides alway; - May we be blessed His face to see, - And ever little children be!’ - -Then Kay burst into tears. He wept till the glass splinter floated in -his eye and fell with his tears; he knew his old companion immediately, -and exclaimed with joy, ‘Gerda, my dear little Gerda, where hast thou -been all this time?--and where have I been?’ - -He looked around him. ‘How cold it is here! how wide and empty!’ and he -embraced Gerda, whilst she laughed and wept by turns. Even the pieces of -ice took part in their joy; they danced about merrily, and when they -were wearied and lay down they formed of their own accord the mystical -letters of which the Snow Queen had said that when Kay could put them -together he should be his own master, and that she would give him the -whole world, with a new pair of skates besides. - -And Gerda kissed his cheeks, whereupon they became fresh and glowing as -ever; she kissed his eyes, and they sparkled like her own; she kissed -his hands and feet, and he was once more healthy and merry. The Snow -Queen might now come home as soon as she liked--it mattered not; Kay’s -charter of freedom stood written on the mirror in bright icy characters. - -[Illustration: SHE RAN ON AS FAST AS SHE COULD] - -They took each other by the hand, and wandered forth out of the palace, -talking meanwhile about the aged grandmother and the rose-trees on the -roof of their houses; and as they walked on, the winds were hushed into -a calm, and the sun burst forth in splendour from among the dark -storm-clouds. When they arrived at the bush with the red berries, they -found the reindeer standing by awaiting their arrival; he had brought -with him another and younger reindeer, whose udders were full, and who -gladly gave her warm milk to refresh the young travellers. - -The old reindeer and the young hind now carried Kay and Gerda on their -backs, first to the little hot room of the wise-woman of Finland, where -they warmed themselves, and received advice how to proceed in their -journey home, and afterwards to the abode of the Lapland woman, who made -them some new clothes and provided them with a sledge. - -The whole party now ran on together till they came to the boundary of -the country; but just where the green leaves began to sprout, the -Lapland woman and the two reindeers took their leave. ‘Farewell! -farewell!’ said they all. And the first little birds they had seen for -many a long day began to chirp, and warble their pretty songs; and the -trees of the forest burst upon them full of rich and variously tinted -foliage. Suddenly the green boughs parted asunder, and a spirited horse -galloped up. Gerda knew it well, for it was the one which had been -harnessed to her gold coach; and on it sat a young girl wearing a bright -scarlet cap, and with pistols on the holster before her. It was indeed -no other than the robber-maiden, who, weary of her home in the forest, -was going on her travels, first to the north and afterwards to other -parts of the world. She at once recognised Gerda, and Gerda had not -forgotten her. Most joyful was their greeting. - -‘A fine gentleman you are, to be sure, you graceless young truant!’ said -she to Kay. ‘I should like to know if you deserved that any one should -be running to the end of the world on your account!’ - -[Illustration: SHE ENTERED THE LARGE, COLD, EMPTY HALL] - -But Gerda stroked her cheeks, and asked after the prince and princess. - -‘They are gone travelling into foreign countries,’ replied the -robber-maiden. - -‘And the raven?’ asked Gerda. - -‘Ah! the raven is dead,’ returned she. ‘The tame beloved has become a -widow; so she hops about with a piece of worsted wound round her leg; -she moans most piteously, and chatters more than ever! But tell me now -all that has happened to you, and how you managed to pick up your old -playfellow.’ - -And Gerda and Kay told their story. - -‘Snip-snap-snurre-basselurre!’ said the robber-maiden. She pressed the -hands of both, promised that if ever she passed through their town she -would pay them a visit, and then bade them farewell, and rode away out -into the wide world. - -Kay and Gerda walked on hand in hand, and wherever they went it was -spring, beautiful spring, with its bright flowers and green leaves. - -They arrived at a large town, the church bells were ringing merrily, and -they immediately recognised the high towers rising into the sky--it was -the town wherein they had lived. Joyfully they passed through the -streets, joyfully they stopped at the door of Gerda’s grandmother. They -walked up the stairs and entered the well-known room. The clock said -‘Tick, tick!’ and the hands moved as before. Only one alteration could -they find, and that was in themselves, for they saw that they were now -full-grown persons. The rose-trees on the roof blossomed in front of the -open window, and there beneath them stood the children’s stools. Kay and -Gerda went and sat down upon them, still holding each other by the -hands; the cold, hollow splendour of the Snow Queen’s palace they had -forgotten, it seemed to them only an unpleasant dream. The grandmother -meanwhile sat amid God’s bright sunshine, and read from the Bible these -words: ‘Unless ye become as little children, ye shall not enter into the -kingdom of heaven.’ - -And Kay and Gerda gazed on each other; they now understood the words of -their hymn-- - - ‘Our roses bloom and fade away, - Our Infant Lord abides alway; - May we be blessed His face to see, - And ever little children be!’ - -There they sat, those two happy ones, grown-up and yet -children--children in heart, while all around them glowed bright -summer,--warm, glorious summer. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration: THE ELFIN KING’S HOUSEKEEPER] - - - - -ELFIN-MOUNT - - -Several large lizards were running nimbly in and out among the clefts of -an old tree; they could understand each other perfectly well, for they -all spoke the lizards’ language. ‘Only hear what a rumbling and -grumbling there is in the old Elfin-mount yonder!’ observed one lizard. -‘I have not been able to close my eyes for the last two nights; I might -as well have had the toothache, for the sleep I have had!’ - -‘There is something in the wind, most certainly!’ rejoined the second -lizard. ‘They raise the Mount upon four red pillars till cock-crowing; -there is a regular cleaning and dusting going on, and the Elfin-maidens -are learning new dances--such a stamping they make in them! There is -certainly something in the wind!’ - -‘Yes; I have been talking it over with an earth-worm of my -acquaintance,’ said a third lizard. ‘The earth-worm has just come from -the Mount; he has been grubbing in the ground there for days and nights -together, and has overheard a good deal; he can’t see at all, poor -wretch! but no one can be quicker than he is at feeling and hearing. -They are expecting strangers at the Elfin-mount--distinguished -strangers; but who they are, the earth-worm would not say; most likely -he did not know. All the wills-o’-the-wisp are engaged to form a -procession of torches--so they call it; and all the silver and gold, of -which there is such a store in the Elfin-mount, is being fresh rubbed -up, and set out to shine in the moonlight.’ - -‘But who can these strangers be?’ exclaimed all the lizards with one -voice. ‘What can be in the wind? Only listen!--what buzzing and -humming!’ - -Just then the Elfin-mount parted asunder; and an elderly Elfin damsel -came tripping out--she was the old Elfin-King’s housekeeper, and -distantly related to his family, on which account she wore an amber -heart on her forehead, but was otherwise plainly dressed. Like all other -elves, she was hollow in the back. She was very quick and light-footed; -trip--trip--trip, away she ran, straight into the marsh, to the -night-raven. ‘You are invited to Elfin-mount, for this very evening,’ -said she; ‘but will you not first do us a very great kindness, and be -the bearer of the other invitations? You do not keep house, yourself, -you know; so you can easily oblige us. We are expecting some very -distinguished strangers, Trolds in fact; and his Elfin Majesty intends -to welcome them in person.’ - -‘Who are to be invited?’ inquired the night-raven. - -‘Why, to the grand ball all the world may come; even men, if they could -but talk in their sleep, or do a little bit of anything in our way. But -the first banquet must be very select; none but guests of the very -highest rank must be present. To say the truth, I and the King have been -having a little dispute; for I insist, that not even ghosts may be -admitted to-night. The Mer-King and his daughters must be invited first; -they don’t much like coming on land, but I’ll promise they shall each -have a wet stone, or, perhaps, something better still, to sit on; and -then, I think, they cannot possibly refuse us this time. All old Trolds -of the first rank we must have; also, the River-Spirit and the Nisses; -and, I fancy, we cannot pass over the Death-Horse and Kirkegrim; true, -they do not belong to our set, they are too solemn for us, but they are -connected with the family, and pay us regular visits.’ - -‘Caw!’ said the night-raven; and away he flew to bear the invitations. - -The Elfin-maidens were still dancing in the Elfin-mount; they danced -with long scarfs woven from mist and moonlight, and for those who like -that sort of thing it looks pretty enough. The large state-room in the -Mount had been regularly cleaned and cleared out; the floor had been -washed with moonshine, and the walls rubbed with witches’ fat till they -shone as tulips do when held up to the light. In the kitchen, frogs were -roasting on the spit; while divers other choice dishes, such as mushroom -seed, hemlock soup, etc., were prepared or preparing. These were to -supply the first courses; rusty nails, bits of coloured glass, and such -like dainties, were to come in for the dessert; there was also bright -saltpetre wine, and ale brewed in the brewery of the Wise Witch of the -Moor. - -The old Elfin-King’s gold crown had been fresh rubbed with -powdered slate-pencil; new curtains had been hung up in all the -sleeping-rooms,--yes, there was indeed a rare bustle and commotion. - -‘Now, we must have the rooms scented with cows’ hairs and swine’s -bristles; and then, I think, I shall have done my part!’ said the -Elfin-King’s housekeeper. - -‘Dear papa,’ said the youngest of the daughters, ‘won’t you tell me now -who these grand visitors are?’ - -‘Well!’ replied His Majesty, ‘I suppose there’s no use in keeping it a -secret. Let two of my daughters get themselves ready for their -wedding-day, that’s all! Two of them most certainly will be married. The -Chief of the Norwegian Trolds, he who dwells in old Dofrefield, and has -so many castles of freestone among these rocky fastnesses, besides a -gold-mine,--which is a capital thing, let me tell you,--he is coming -down here with his two boys, who are both to choose themselves a bride. -Such an honest, straightforward, true old Norseman is this mountain -chief! so merry and jovial! he and I are old comrades; he came down here -years ago to fetch his wife; she is dead now; she was the daughter of -the Rock-King at Möen. Oh, how I long to see the old Norseman again! His -sons, they say, are rough unmannerly cubs, but perhaps report may have -done them injustice, and at any rate they are sure to improve in a year -or two, when they have sown their wild oats. Let me see how you will -polish them up!’ - -[Illustration: THE MER-KING MUST BE INVITED FIRST] - -‘And how soon are they to be here?’ inquired his youngest daughter -again. - -‘That depends on wind and weather!’ returned the Elfin-King. ‘They -travel economically; they come at the ship’s convenience. I wanted them -to pass over by Sweden, but the old man would not hear of that. He does -not keep pace with the times, that’s the only fault I can find with -him.’ - -Just then two wills-o’-the-wisp were seen dancing up in a vast hurry, -each trying to get before the other, and to be the first to bring the -news. - -‘They come, they come!’ cried both with one voice. - -‘Give me my crown, and let me stand in the moonlight!’ said the -Elfin-King. - -And his seven daughters lifted their long scarfs and bowed low to the -earth. - -There stood the Trold Chief from the Dofrefield, wearing a crown -composed of icicles and polished pine cones; for the rest, he was -equipped in a bear-skin cloak and sledge-boots; his sons were clad more -slightly, and kept their throats uncovered, by way of showing that they -cared nothing about the cold. - -‘Is that a mount?’ asked the youngest of them, pointing to it. ‘Why, up -in Norway we should call it a cave!’ - -‘You foolish boy!’ replied his father; ‘a cave you go into, a mount you -go up! Where are your eyes, not to see the difference?’ - -The only thing that surprised them in this country, they said, was that -the people should speak and understand their language. - -‘Behave yourselves now!’ said the old man; ‘don’t let your host fancy -you never went into decent company before!’ - -And now they all entered the Elfin-mount, into the grand saloon, where a -really very select party was assembled, although at such short notice -that it seemed almost as though some fortunate gust of wind had blown -them together. And every possible arrangement had been made for the -comfort of each of the guests; the Mer-King’s family, for instance, sat -at table in large tubs of water, and they declared they felt quite as if -they were at home. All behaved with strict good-breeding except the two -young northern Trolds, who at last so far forgot themselves as to put -their legs on the table. - -‘Take your legs away from the plates!’ said their father, and they -obeyed, but not so readily as they might have done. Presently they took -some pine cones out of their pockets and began pelting the lady who sat -between them, and then, finding their boots incommode them, they took -them off, and coolly gave them to this lady to hold. But their father, -the old mountain Chief, conducted himself very differently; he talked so -delightfully about the proud Norse mountains, and the torrents, white -with dancing spray, that dashed foaming down their rocky steeps with a -noise loud and hoarse as thunder, yet musical as the full burst of an -organ, touched by a master hand; he told of the salmon leaping up from -the wild waters while the Neck was playing on his golden harp; he told -of the star-light winter nights when the sledge bells tinkled so -merrily, and the youths ran with lighted torches over the icy crust, so -glassy and transparent that through it they could see the fishes -whirling to and fro in deadly terror beneath their feet; he told of the -gallant northern youths and pretty maidens singing songs of old time, -and dancing the Hallinge dance,--yes, so charmingly he described all -this, that you could not but fancy you heard and saw it all. Oh fie, for -shame: all of a sudden the mountain Chief turned round upon the elderly -Elfin maiden, and gave her a cousinly salute, and he was not yet -connected ever so remotely with the family. - -The young Elfin-maidens were now called upon to dance. First they danced -simple dances, then stamping dances, and - -[Illustration] - -they did both remarkably well. Last came the most difficult of all, the -‘Dance out of the dance,’ as it was called. Bravo! how long their legs -seemed to grow, and how they whirled and spun about! You could hardly -distinguish legs from arms, or arms from legs. Round and round they -went, such whirling and twirling, such whirring and whizzing there was -that it made the death-horse feel quite dizzy, and at last he grew so -unwell that he was obliged to leave the table. - -[Illustration: THEY FELT QUITE AS IF THEY WERE AT HOME] - -‘Hurrah!’ cried the mountain Chief, ‘they know how to use their limbs -with a vengeance! but can they do nothing else than dance, stretch out -their feet, and spin round like a whirlwind?’ - -‘You shall judge for yourself,’ replied the Elfin-King, and here he -called the eldest of his daughters to him. She was transparent and fair -as moonlight; she was, in fact, the most delicate of all the sisters; -she put a white wand between her lips and vanished: that was her -accomplishment. - -But the mountain Chief said he should not at all like his wife to -possess such an accomplishment as this, and he did not think his sons -would like it either. - -The second could walk by the side of herself, just as though she had a -shadow, which elves and trolds never have. - -The accomplishment of the third sister was of quite another kind: she -had learned how to brew good ale from the Wise Witch of the Moor, and -she also knew how to lard alder-wood with glow-worms. - -‘She will make a capital housewife,’ remarked the old mountain Chief. - -And now advanced the fourth Elfin damsel; she carried a large gold harp, -and no sooner had she struck the first chord than all the company lifted -their left feet--for elves are left-sided--and when she struck the -second chord, they were all compelled to do whatever she wished. - -‘A dangerous lady, indeed!’ said the old Trold Chief. Both of his sons -now got up and strode out of the mount; they were heartily weary of -these accomplishments. - -‘And what can the next daughter do?’ asked the mountain Chief. - -‘I have learned to love the north,’ replied she, ‘and I have resolved -never to marry unless I may go to Norway.’ - -But the youngest of the sisters whispered to the old man, ‘That is only -because she has heard an old Norse rhyme, which says that when the end -of the world shall come, the Norwegian rocks shall stand firm amid the -ruins; she is very much afraid of death, and therefore she wants to go -to Norway.’ - -‘Ho, ho!’ cried the mountain Chief, ‘sits the wind in that quarter? But -what can the seventh and last do?’ - -‘The sixth comes before the seventh,’ said the Elfin-King; for he could -count better than to make such a mistake. However, the sixth seemed in -no hurry to come forward. - -‘I can only tell people the truth,’ said she. ‘Let no one trouble -himself about me; I have enough to do to sew my shroud!’ - -And now came the seventh and last, and what could she do? Why, she could -tell fairy tales, as many as any one could wish to hear. - -‘Here are my five fingers,’ said the mountain Chief; ‘tell me a story -for each finger.’ - -And the Elfin-maiden took hold of his wrist, and told her stories, and -he laughed till his sides ached, and when she came to the finger that -wore a gold ring, as though it knew it might be wanted, the mountain -Chief suddenly exclaimed, ‘Hold fast what thou hast; the hand is thine! -I will have thee myself to wife!’ But the Elfin-maiden said that she had -still two more stories to tell, one for the ring-finger, and another for -the little finger. - -‘Keep them for next winter, we’ll hear them then,’ replied the mountain -Chief. ‘And we’ll hear about the “Loves of the Fir-Tree and the Birch,” -about the Valkyria’s gifts too, for we all love fairy legends in Norway, -and no one there can tell them so charmingly as thou dost. And then we -will sit in our rocky halls, whilst the fir-logs are blazing and -crackling in the stove, and drink mead out of the golden horns of the -old Norse kings; the Neck has taught me a few of his rare old ditties, -besides the Garbo will often come and pay us a visit, and he will sing -thee all the sweet songs that the mountain maidens sang in days of -yore;--that will be most delightful! The salmon in the torrent will -spring up and beat himself against the rock walls, but in vain, he will -not be able to get in. Oh, thou canst not imagine what a happy, glorious -life we lead in that dear old Norway! But where are the boys?’ - -Where were the boys? Why, they were racing about in the fields and -blowing out the poor wills-o’-the-wisp, who were just ranging themselves -in the proper order to make a procession of torches. - -‘What do you mean by making all this riot?’ inquired the mountain Chief. -‘I have been choosing you a mother; now you come and choose yourselves -wives from among your aunts.’ - -[Illustration: I WILL HAVE THEE MYSELF TO WIFE] - -But his sons said they would rather make speeches and drink toasts; they -had not the slightest wish to marry. And accordingly they made speeches, -tossed off their glasses and turned them topsy-turvy on the table, to -show that they were quite empty; after this they took off their coats, -and most unceremoniously lay down on the table and went to sleep. But -the old mountain Chief, the while, danced round the hall with his young -bride, and exchanged boots with her, because that is not so vulgar as -exchanging rings. - -‘Listen, the cock is crowing!’ exclaimed the lady-housekeeper. ‘We must -make haste and shut the window-shutters close, or the sun will scorch -our complexions.’ - -And herewith Elfin-mount closed. - -But outside, in the cloven trunk, the lizards kept running up and down, -and one and all declared, ‘What a capital fellow that old Norwegian -Trold is!’ ‘For my part, I prefer the boys,’ said the earth-worm;--but -he, poor wretch, could see nothing either of them or of their father, so -his opinion was not worth much. - -[Illustration: THE LITTLE MERMAID] - - - - -THE LITTLE MERMAID - - -Far out in the wide sea,--where the water is blue as the loveliest -cornflower, and clear as the purest crystal, where it is so deep that -very, very many church-towers must be heaped one upon another in order -to reach from the lowest depth to the surface above,--dwell the -Mer-people. - -Now you must not imagine that there is nothing but sand below the water: -no, indeed, far from it! Trees and plants of wondrous beauty grow there, -whose stems and leaves are so light, that they are waved to and fro by -the slightest motion of the water, almost as if they were living beings. -Fishes, great and small, glide in and out among the branches, just as -birds fly about among our trees. - -Where the water is deepest stands the palace of the Mer-king. The walls -of this palace are of coral, and the high, pointed windows are of amber; -the roof, however, is composed of mussel-shells, which, as the billows -pass over them, are continually opening and shutting. This looks -exceedingly pretty, especially as each of these mussel-shells contains a -number of bright, glittering pearls, one only of which would be the most -costly ornament in the diadem of a king in the upper world. - -The Mer-king, who lived in this palace, had been for many years a -widower; his old mother managed the household affairs for him. She was, -on the whole, a sensible sort of a lady, although extremely proud of -her high birth and station, on which account she wore twelve oysters on -her tail, whilst the other inhabitants of the sea, even those of -distinction, were allowed only six. In every other respect she merited -unlimited praise, especially for the affection she showed to the six -little princesses, her grand-daughters. These were all very beautiful -children; the youngest was, however, the most lovely; her skin was as -soft and delicate as a rose-leaf, her eyes were of as deep a blue as the -sea, but like all other mermaids, she had no feet, her body ended in a -tail like that of a fish. - -The whole day long the children used to play in the spacious apartments -of the palace, where beautiful flowers grew out of the walls on all -sides around them. When the great amber windows were opened, fishes -would swim into these apartments as swallows fly into our rooms; but the -fishes were bolder than the swallows, they swam straight up to the -little princesses, ate from their hands, and allowed themselves to be -caressed. - -In front of the palace there was a large garden, full of fiery red and -dark blue trees, whose fruit glittered like gold, and whose flowers -resembled a bright, burning sun. The sand that formed the soil of the -garden was of a bright blue colour, something like flames of sulphur; -and a strangely beautiful blue was spread over the whole, so that one -might have fancied oneself raised very high in the air, with the sky at -once above and below, certainly not at the bottom of the sea. When the -waters were quite still, the sun might be seen looking like a purple -flower, out of whose cup streamed forth the light of the world. - -Each of the little princesses had her own plot in the garden, where she -might plant and sow at her pleasure. One chose hers to be made in the -shape of a whale, another preferred the figure of a mermaid, but the -youngest had hers quite round - -[Illustration] - -like the sun, and planted in it only those flowers that were red, as the -sun seemed to her. She was certainly a singular child, very quiet and -thoughtful. Whilst her sisters were adorning themselves with all sorts -of gay things that came out of a ship which had been wrecked, she asked -for nothing but a beautiful white marble statue of a boy, which had been -found in it. She put the statue in her garden, and planted a red weeping -willow by its side. The tree grew up quickly, and let its long boughs -fall upon the bright blue ground, where ever-moving shadows played in -violet hues, as if boughs and root were embracing. - -Nothing pleased the little princess more than to hear about the world of -human beings living above the sea. She made her old grandmother tell her -everything she knew about ships, towns, men, and land animals, and was -particularly pleased when she heard that the flowers of the upper world -had a pleasant fragrance (for the flowers of the sea are scentless), and -that the woods were green, and the fishes fluttering among the branches -of various gay colours, and that they could sing with a loud clear -voice. The old lady meant birds, but she called them fishes, because her -grandchildren, having never seen a bird, would not otherwise have -understood her. - -‘When you have attained your fifteenth year,’ added she, ‘you will be -permitted to rise to the surface of the sea; you will then sit by -moonlight in the clefts of the rocks, see the ships sail by, and learn -to distinguish towns and men.’ - -The next year the eldest of the sisters reached this happy age, but the -others--alas! the second sister was a year younger than the eldest, the -third a year younger than the second, and so on; the youngest had still -five whole years to wait till that joyful time should come when she also -might rise to the surface of the water and see what was going on in the -upper world; however, the eldest promised to tell the others of -everything she might see, when the first day of her being of age -arrived; for the grandmother gave them but little information, and there -was so much that they wished to hear. - -But none of all the sisters longed so ardently for the day when she -should be released from childish restraint as the youngest, she who had -longest to wait, and was so quiet and thoughtful. Many a night she stood -by the open window, looking up through the clear blue water, whilst the -fishes were leaping and playing around her. She could see the sun and -the moon; their light was pale, but they appeared larger than they do to -those who live in the upper world. If a shadow passed over them, she -knew it must be either a whale or a ship sailing by full of human -beings, who indeed little thought that, far beneath them, a little -mermaid was passionately stretching forth her white hands towards their -ship’s keel. - -The day had now arrived when the eldest princess had attained her -fifteenth year, and was therefore allowed to rise up to the surface of -the sea. - -When she returned she had a thousand things to relate. Her chief -pleasure had been to sit upon a sandbank in the moonlight, looking at -the large town which lay on the coast, where lights were beaming like -stars, and where music was playing; she had heard the distant noise of -men and carriages, she had seen the high church-towers, had listened to -the ringing of the bells; and just because she could not go there she -longed the more after all these things. - -How attentively did her youngest sister listen to her words! And when -she next stood at night-time by her open window, gazing upward through -the blue waters, she thought so intensely of the great noisy city that -she fancied she could hear the church-bells ringing. - -Next year the second sister received permission to swim wherever she -pleased. She rose to the surface of the sea, just when the sun was -setting; and this sight so delighted her, that she declared it to be -more beautiful than anything else she had seen above the waters. - -‘The whole sky seemed tinged with gold,’ said she, ‘and it is impossible -for me to describe to you the beauty of the clouds. Now red, now violet, -they glided over me; but still more swiftly flew over the water a flock -of white swans, just where the sun was descending; I looked after them, -but the sun disappeared, and the bright rosy light on the surface of the -sea and on the edges of the clouds was gradually extinguished.’ - -[Illustration: SHE WAS ON THE WHOLE A SENSIBLE SORT OF LADY] - -It was now time for the third sister to visit the upper world. She was -the boldest of the six, and ventured up a river. On its shores she saw -green hills covered with woods and vineyards, from among which arose -houses and castles; she heard the birds singing, and the sun shone with -so much power, that she was continually obliged to plunge below, in -order to cool her burning face. In a little bay she met with a number of -children, who were bathing and jumping about; she would have joined in -their gambols, but the children fled back to land in great terror, and a -little black animal barked at her in such a manner, that she herself was -frightened at last, and swam back to the sea. She could not, however, -forget the green woods, the verdant hills, and the pretty children, -who, although they had no fins, were swimming about in the river so -fearlessly. - -The fourth sister was not so bold, she remained in the open sea, and -said on her return home she thought nothing could be more beautiful. She -had seen ships sailing by, so far off that they looked like sea-gulls, -she had watched the merry dolphins gambolling in the water, and the -enormous whales, sending up into the air a thousand sparkling fountains. - -The year after, the fifth sister attained her fifteenth year. Her -birthday happened at a different season to that of her sisters; it was -winter, the sea was of a green colour, and immense icebergs were -floating on its surface. These, she said, looked like pearls; they were, -however, much larger than the church-towers in the land of human beings. -She sat down upon one of these pearls, and let the wind play with her -long hair, but then all the ships hoisted their sails in terror, and -escaped as quickly as possible. In the evening the sky was covered with -sails; and whilst the great mountains of ice alternately sank and rose -again, and beamed with a reddish glow, flashes of lightning burst forth -from the clouds, and the thunder rolled on, peal after peal. The sails -of all the ships were instantly furled, and horror and affright reigned -on board, but the princess sat still on the iceberg, looking -unconcernedly at the blue zig-zag of the flashes. - -The first time that either of these sisters rose out of the sea, she was -quite enchanted at the sight of so many new and beautiful objects, but -the novelty was soon over, and it was not long ere their own home -appeared more attractive than the upper world, for there only did they -find everything agreeable. - -Many an evening would the five sisters rise hand in hand from the depths -of the ocean. Their voices were far sweeter than any human voice, and -when a storm was coming on, they would swim in front of the ships, and -sing,--oh! how sweetly did they sing! describing the happiness of those -who lived at the bottom of the sea, and entreating the sailors not to be -afraid, but to come down to them. - -The mariners, however, did not understand their words; they fancied the -song was only the whistling of the wind, and thus they lost the hidden -glories of the sea; for if their ships were wrecked, all on board were -drowned, and none but dead men ever entered the Mer-king’s palace. - -Whilst the sisters were swimming at evening-time, the youngest would -remain motionless and alone, in her father’s palace, looking up after -them. She would have wept, but mermaids cannot weep, and therefore, when -they are troubled, suffer infinitely more than human beings do. - -‘Oh, if I were but fifteen!’ sighed she, ‘I know that I should love the -upper world and its inhabitants so much.’ - -At last the time she had so longed for arrived. - -‘Well, now it is your turn,’ said the grandmother; ‘come here, that I -may adorn you like your sisters.’ And she wound around her hair a wreath -of white lilies, whose every petal was the half of a pearl, and then -commanded eight large oysters to fasten themselves to the princess’s -tail, in token of her high rank. - -‘But that is so very uncomfortable!’ said the little princess. - -‘One must not mind slight inconveniences when one wishes to look well,’ -said the old lady. - -How willingly would the princess have given up all this splendour, and -exchanged her heavy crown for the red flowers of her garden, which were -so much more becoming to her. But she dared not do so. ‘Farewell,’ said -she; and she rose from the sea, light as a flake of foam. - -[Illustration: THE YOUNGEST WAS THE MOST LOVELY] - -When, for the first time in her life, she appeared on the surface of the -water, the sun had just sunk below the horizon, the clouds were beaming -with bright golden and rosy hues, the evening star was shining in the -pale western sky, the air was mild and refreshing, and the sea as smooth -as a looking-glass. A large ship with three masts lay on the still -waters; one sail only was unfurled, but not a breath was stirring, and -the sailors were quietly seated on the cordage and ladders of the -vessel. Music and song resounded from the deck, and after it grew dark -hundreds of lamps all on a sudden burst forth into light, whilst -innumerable flags were fluttering overhead. The little mermaid swam -close up to the captain’s cabin, and every now and then when the ship -was raised by the motion of the water, she could look through the clear -window panes. She saw within many richly dressed men; the handsomest -among them was a young prince with large black eyes. He could not -certainly be more than sixteen years old, and it was in honour of his -birthday that a grand festival was being celebrated. The crew were -dancing on the deck, and when the young prince appeared among them, a -hundred rockets were sent up into the air, turning night into day, and -so terrifying the little mermaid, that for some minutes she plunged -beneath the water. However, she soon raised her little head again, and -then it seemed as if all the stars were falling down upon her. Such a -fiery shower she had never even seen before, never had she heard that -men possessed such wonderful powers. Large suns revolved around her, -bright fishes swam in the air, and everything was reflected perfectly on -the clear surface of the sea. It was so light in the ship, that -everything could be seen distinctly. Oh, how happy the young prince was! -He shook hands with the sailors, laughed and jested with them, whilst -sweet notes of music mingled with the silence of night. - -It was now late, but the little mermaid could not tear herself away from -the ship and the handsome young prince. She remained looking through the -cabin window, rocked to and fro by the waves. There was a foaming and -fermentation in the depths beneath, and the ship began to move on -faster; the sails were spread, the waves rose high, thick clouds -gathered over the sky, and the noise of distant thunder was heard. The -sailors perceived that a storm was coming on, so they again furled the -sails. The great vessel was tossed about on the tempestuous ocean like a -light boat, and the waves rose to an immense height, towering over the -ship, which alternately sank beneath and rose above them. To the little -mermaid this seemed most delightful, but the ship’s crew thought very -differently. The vessel cracked, the stout masts bent under the violence -of the billows, the waters rushed in. For a minute the ship tottered to -and fro, then the main-mast broke, as if it had been a reed; the ship -turned over, and was filled with water. The little mermaid now perceived -that the crew was in danger, for she herself was forced to beware of the -beams and splinters torn from the vessel, and floating about on the -waves. But at the same time it became pitch dark so that she could not -distinguish anything; presently, however, a dreadful flash of lightning -disclosed to her the whole of the wreck. Her eyes sought the young -prince--the same instant the ship sank to the bottom. At first she was -delighted, thinking that the prince must now come to her abode; but she -soon remembered that man cannot live in water, and that therefore if the -prince ever entered her palace, it would be as a corpse. - -‘Die! no, he must not die!’ She swam through the fragments with which -the water was strewn regardless of the danger she was incurring, and at -last found the prince all but exhausted, and with great difficulty -keeping his head above water. He had already closed his eyes, and must -inevitably have been drowned, had not the little mermaid come to his -rescue. She seized hold of him and kept him above water, suffering the -current to bear them on together. - -Towards morning the storm was hushed; no trace, however, remained of the -ship. The sun rose like fire out of the sea; his beams seemed to -restore colour to the prince’s cheeks, but his eyes were still closed. -The mermaid kissed his high forehead and stroked his wet hair away from -his face. He looked like the marble statue in her garden; she kissed him -again and wished most fervently that he might recover. - -She now saw the dry land with its mountains glittering with snow. A -green wood extended along the coast, and at the entrance of the wood -stood a chapel or convent, she could not be sure which. Citron and lemon -trees grew in the garden adjoining it, an avenue of tall palm trees led -up to the door. The sea here formed a little bay, in which the water was -quite smooth but very deep, and under the cliffs there were dry, firm -sands. Hither swam the little mermaid with the seemingly dead prince; -she laid him upon the warm sand, and took care to place his head high, -and to turn his face to the sun. - -The bells began to ring in the large white building which stood before -her, and a number of young girls came out to walk in the garden. The -mermaid went away from the shore, hid herself behind some stones, -covered her head with foam, so that her little face could not be seen, -and watched the prince with unremitting attention. - -It was not long before one of the young girls approached. She seemed -quite frightened at finding the prince in this state, apparently dead; -soon, however, she recovered herself, and ran back to call her sisters. -The little mermaid saw that the prince revived, and that all around -smiled kindly and joyfully upon him--for her, however, he looked not, he -knew not that it was she who had saved him, and when the prince was -taken into the house she felt so sad, that she immediately plunged -beneath the water, and returned to her father’s palace. - -If she had been before quiet and thoughtful, she now grew still more -so. Her sisters asked her what she had seen in the upper world, but she -made no answer. - -Many an evening she rose to the place where she had left the prince. She -saw the snow on the mountains melt, the fruits in the garden ripen and -gathered, but the prince she never saw, so she always returned -sorrowfully to her subterranean abode. Her only pleasure was to sit in -her little garden gazing on the beautiful statue so like the prince. She -cared no longer for her flowers; they grew up in wild luxuriance, -covered the steps, and entwined their long stems and tendrils among the -boughs of the trees, so that her whole garden became a bower. - -At last, being unable to conceal her sorrow any longer, she revealed the -secret to one of her sisters, who told it to the other princesses, and -they to some of their friends. Among them was a young mermaid who -recollected the prince, having been an eye-witness herself to the -festivities in the ship; she knew also in what country the prince lived, -and the name of its king. - -‘Come, little sister!’ said the princesses, and embracing her, they rose -together arm in arm, out of the water, just in front of the prince’s -palace. - -This palace was built of bright yellow stones, a flight of white marble -steps led from it down to the sea. A gilded cupola crowned the building, -and white marble figures, which might almost have been taken for real -men and women, were placed among the pillars surrounding it. Through the -clear glass of the high windows one might look into magnificent -apartments hung with silken curtains, the walls adorned with magnificent -paintings. It was a real treat to the little royal mermaids to behold so -splendid an abode; they gazed through the windows of one of the largest -rooms, and in the centre saw a fountain playing, whose waters sprang up -so high as to reach the glittering cupola above, through which the -sunbeams fell dancing on the water, and brightening the pretty plants -which grew around it. - -The little mermaid now knew where her beloved prince dwelt, and -henceforth she went there almost every evening. She often approached -nearer the land than her sisters had ventured, and even swam up the -narrow channel that flowed under the marble balcony. Here on a bright -moonlight night, she would watch the young prince, who believed himself -alone. - -Sometimes she saw him sailing on the water in a gaily painted boat with -many coloured flags waving above. She would then hide among the green -reeds which grew on the banks, listening to his voice, and if any one in -the boat noticed the rustling of her long silver veil, which was caught -now and then by the light breeze, they only fancied it was a swan -flapping his wings. - -Many a night when the fishermen were casting their nets by the beacon’s -light, she heard them talking of the prince, and relating the noble -actions he had performed. She was then so happy, thinking how she had -saved his life when struggling with the waves, and remembering how his -head had rested on her bosom, and how she had kissed him when he knew -nothing of it, and could never even dream of such a thing. - -Human beings became more and more dear to her every day; she wished that -she were one of them. Their world seemed to her much larger than that of -the mer-people; they could fly over the ocean in their ships, as well as -climb to the summits of those high mountains that rose above the clouds; -and their wooded domains extended much farther than a mermaid’s eye -could penetrate. - -There were many things that she wished to hear explained, but her -sisters could not give her any satisfactory answer; she was again -obliged to have recourse to the old queen-mother, who knew a great deal -about the upper world, which she used to call ‘the country above the -sea.’ - -‘Do men when they are not drowned live for ever?’ she asked one day. ‘Do -they not die as we do, who live at the bottom of the sea?’ - -‘Yes,’ was the grandmother’s reply, ‘they must die like us, and their -life is much shorter than ours. We live to the age of three hundred -years, but when we die, we become foam on the sea, and are not allowed -even to share a grave among those that are dear to us. We have no -immortal souls, we can never live again, and are like the grass which, -when once cut down, is withered for ever. Human beings, on the contrary, -have souls that continue to live when their bodies become dust, and as -we rise out of the water to admire the abode of man, they ascend to -glorious unknown dwellings in the skies which we are not permitted to -see.’ - -‘Why have not _we_ immortal souls?’ asked the little mermaid. ‘I would -willingly give up my three hundred years to be a human being for only -one day, thus to become entitled to that heavenly world above.’ - -‘You must not think of that,’ answered her grandmother, ‘it is much -better as it is; we live longer and are far happier than human beings.’ - -‘So I must die, and be dashed like foam over the sea, never to rise -again and hear the gentle murmur of the ocean, never again see the -beautiful flowers and the bright sun! Tell me, dear grandmother, are -there no means by which I may obtain an immortal soul?’ - -‘No!’ replied the old lady. ‘It is true that if thou couldst so win the -affections of a human being as to become dearer to him than either -father or mother; if he loved thee with all his heart, and promised -whilst the priest joined his hands with thine to be always faithful to -thee; then his soul would flow into thine, and thou wouldst then become -partaker of human bliss. But that can never be! for what in our eyes is -the most beautiful part of our body, the tail, the inhabitants of the -earth think hideous, they cannot bear it. To appear handsome to them, -the body must have two clumsy props which they call legs.’ - -The little mermaid sighed and looked mournfully at the scaly part of her -form, otherwise so fair and delicate. - -‘We are happy,’ added the old lady, ‘we shall jump and swim about -merrily for three hundred years; that is a long time, and afterwards we -shall repose peacefully in death. This evening we have a court ball.’ - -The ball which the queen-mother spoke of was far more splendid than any -that earth has ever seen. The walls of the saloon were of crystal, very -thick, but yet very clear; hundreds of large mussel-shells were planted -in rows along them; these shells were some of rose-colour, some green as -grass, but all sending forth a bright light, which not only illuminated -the whole apartment, but also shone through the glassy walls so as to -light up the waters around for a great space, and making the scales of -the numberless fishes, great and small, crimson and purple, silver and -gold-coloured, appear more brilliant than ever. - -Through the centre of the saloon flowed a bright, clear stream, on the -surface of which danced mermen and mermaids to the melody of their own -sweet voices, voices far sweeter than those of the dwellers upon earth. -The little princess sang more harmoniously than any other, and they -clapped their hands and applauded her. She was pleased at this, for she -knew well that there was neither on earth or in the sea a more beautiful -voice than hers. But her thoughts soon returned to the world above her: -she could not forget the handsome prince; she could not control her -sorrow at not having an immortal soul. She stole away from her father’s -palace, and whilst all was joy within, she sat alone lost in thought in -her little neglected garden. On a sudden she heard the tones of horns -resounding over the water far away in the distance, and she said to -herself, ‘Now he is going out to hunt, he whom I love more than my -father and my mother, with whom my thoughts are constantly occupied, and -to whom I would so willingly trust the happiness of my life! All! all, -will I risk to win him--and an immortal soul! Whilst my sisters are -still dancing in the palace, I will go to the enchantress whom I have -hitherto feared so much, but who is, nevertheless, the only person who -can advise and help me.’ - -[Illustration: THEY ATE FROM THEIR HANDS] - -So the little mermaid left the garden, and went to the foaming whirlpool -beyond which dwelt the enchantress. She had never been this way -before--neither flowers nor sea-grass bloomed along her path; she had to -traverse an extent of bare grey sand till she reached the whirlpool, -whose waters were eddying and whizzing like mill-wheels, tearing -everything they could seize along with them into the abyss below. She -was obliged to make her way through this horrible place, in order to -arrive at the territory of the enchantress. Then she had to pass through -a boiling, slimy bog, which the enchantress called her turf-moor: her -house stood in a wood beyond this, and a strange abode it was. All the -trees and bushes around were polypi, looking like hundred-headed -serpents shooting up out of the ground; their branches were long slimy -arms with fingers of worms, every member, from the root to the uttermost -tip, ceaselessly moving and extending on all sides. Whatever they seized -they fastened upon so that it could not loosen itself from their grasp. -The little mermaid stood still for a minute looking at this horrible -wood; her heart beat with fear, and she would certainly have returned -without attaining her object, had she not remembered the prince--and -immortality. The thought gave her new courage, she bound up her long -waving hair, that the polypi might not catch hold of it, crossed her -delicate arms over her bosom, and, swifter than a fish can glide through -the water, she passed these unseemly trees, who stretched their eager -arms after her in vain. She could not, however, help seeing that every -polypus had something in his grasp, held as firmly by a thousand little -arms as if enclosed by iron bands. The whitened skeletons of a number of -human beings who had been drowned in the sea, and had sunk into the -abyss, grinned horribly from the arms of these polypi; helms, chests, -skeletons of land animals were also held in their embrace; among other -things might be seen even a little mermaid whom they had seized and -strangled! What a fearful sight for the unfortunate princess! - -But she got safely through this wood of horrors, and then arrived at a -slimy place, where immense, fat snails were crawling about, and in the -midst of this place stood a house built of the bones of unfortunate -people who had been shipwrecked. Here sat the witch caressing a toad in -the same manner as some persons would a pet bird. The ugly fat snails -she called her chickens, and she permitted them to crawl about her. - -‘I know well what you would ask of me,’ said she to the little princess. -‘Your wish is foolish enough, yet it shall be fulfilled, though its -accomplishment is sure to bring misfortune on you, my fairest princess. -You wish to get rid of your tail, and to have instead two stilts like -those of human beings, in order that a young prince may fall in love -with you, and that you may obtain an immortal soul. Is it not so?’ -Whilst the witch spoke these words, she laughed so violently that her -pet toad and snails fell from her lap. ‘You come just at the right -time,’ continued she; ‘had you come after sunset, it would not have been -in my power to have helped you before another year. I will prepare for -you a drink with which you must swim to land, you must sit down upon the -shore and swallow it, and then your tail will fall and shrink up to the -things which men call legs. This transformation will, however, be very -painful; you will feel as though a sharp knife passed through your body. -All who look on you after you have been thus changed will say that you -are the loveliest child of earth they have ever seen; you will retain -your peculiar undulating movements, and no dancer will move so lightly, -but every step you take will cause you pain all but unbearable; it will -seem to you as though you were walking on the sharp edges of swords, and -your blood will flow. Can you endure all this suffering? If so, I will -grant your request.’ - -‘Yes, I will,’ answered the princess, with a faltering voice; for she -remembered her dear prince, and the immortal soul which her suffering -might win. - -‘Only consider,’ said the witch, ‘that you can never again become a -mermaid, when once you have received a human form. You may never return -to your sisters, and your father’s palace; and unless you shall win the -prince’s love to such a degree that he shall leave father and mother for -you, that you shall be mixed up with all his thoughts and wishes, and -unless the priest join your hands, so that you become man and wife, you -will never obtain the immortality you seek. The morrow of the day on -which he is united to another will see your death; your heart will break -with sorrow, and you will be changed to foam on the sea.’ - -‘Still I will venture!’ said the little mermaid, pale and trembling as a -dying person. - -‘Besides all this, I must be paid, and it is no slight thing that I -require for my trouble. Thou hast the sweetest voice of all the dwellers -in the sea, and thou thinkest by its means to charm the prince; this -voice, however, I demand as my recompense. The best thing thou -possessest I require in exchange for my magic drink; for I shall be -obliged to sacrifice my own blood, in order to give it the sharpness of -a two-edged sword.’ - -‘But if you take my voice from me,’ said the princess, ‘what have I left -with which to charm the prince?’ - -‘Thy graceful form,’ replied the witch, ‘thy modest gait, and speaking -eyes. With such as these, it will be easy to infatuate a vain human -heart. Well now! hast thou lost courage? Put out thy little tongue, that -I may cut it off, and take it for myself, in return for my magic drink.’ - -‘Be it so!’ said the princess, and the witch took up her caldron, in -order to mix her potion. ‘Cleanliness is a good thing,’ remarked she, -as she began to rub the caldron with a handful of toads and snails. She -then scratched her bosom, and let the black blood trickle down into the -caldron, every moment throwing in new ingredients, the smoke from the -mixture assuming such horrible forms, as were enough to fill beholders -with terror, and a moaning and groaning proceeding from it, which might -be compared to the weeping of crocodiles. The magic drink at length -became clear and transparent as pure water; it was ready. - -‘Here it is!’ said the witch to the princess, cutting out her tongue at -the same moment. The poor little mermaid was now dumb: she could neither -sing nor speak. - -‘If the polypi should attempt to seize you, as you pass through my -little grove,’ said the witch, ‘you have only to sprinkle some of this -magic drink over them, and their arms will burst into a thousand -pieces.’ But the princess had no need of this counsel, for the polypi -drew hastily back, as soon as they perceived the bright phial, that -glittered in her hand like a star; thus she passed safely through the -formidable wood over the moor, and across the foaming mill-stream. - -She now looked once again at her father’s palace; the lamps in the -saloon were extinguished, and all the family were asleep. She would not -go in, for she could not speak if she did; she was about to leave her -home for ever; her heart was ready to break with sorrow at the thought; -she stole into the garden, plucked a flower from the bed of each of her -sisters as a remembrance, kissed her hand again and again, and then rose -through the dark blue waters to the world above. - -The sun had not yet risen when she arrived at the prince’s dwelling, and -ascended those well-known marble steps. The moon still shone in the sky -when the little mermaid drank off the wonderful liquid contained in her -phial. She felt it run through her like a sharp knife, and she fell -down in a swoon. When the sun rose, she awoke; and felt a burning pain -in all her limbs, but--she saw standing close to her the object of her -love, the handsome young prince, whose coal-black eyes were fixed -inquiringly upon her. Full of shame she cast down her own, and -perceived, instead of the long fish-like tail she had hitherto borne, -two slender legs; but she was quite naked, and tried in vain to cover -herself with her long thick hair. The prince asked who she was, and how -she had got there; and she, in reply, smiled and gazed upon him with her -bright blue eyes, for alas! she could not speak. He then led her by the -hand into the palace. She found that the witch had told her true--she -felt as though she were walking on the edges of sharp swords, but she -bore the pain willingly; on she passed, light as a zephyr, and all who -saw her wondered at her light, undulating movements. - -When she entered the palace, rich clothes of muslin and silk were -brought to her; she was lovelier than all who dwelt there, but she could -neither speak nor sing. Some female slaves, gaily dressed in silk and -gold brocade, sang before the prince and his royal parents; and one of -them distinguished herself by her clear sweet voice, which the prince -applauded by clapping his hands. This made the little mermaid very sad, -for she knew that she used to sing far better than the young slave. -‘Alas!’ thought she, ‘if he did but know that, for his sake, I have -given away my voice for ever.’ - -The slaves began to dance; our lovely little mermaiden then arose, -stretched out her delicate white arms, and hovered gracefully about the -room. Every motion displayed more and more the perfect symmetry and -elegance of her figure; and the expression which beamed in her speaking -eyes touched the hearts of the spectators far more than the song of the -slaves. - -All present were enchanted, but especially the young prince, who called -her his dear little foundling. And she danced again and again, although -every step cost her excessive pain. The prince then said she should -always be with him; and accordingly a sleeping-place was prepared for -her on velvet cushions in the anteroom of his own apartment. - -The prince caused a suit of male apparel to be made for her, in order -that she might accompany him in his rides; so together they traversed -the fragrant woods, where green boughs brushed against their shoulders, -and the birds sang merrily among the fresh leaves. With him she climbed -up steep mountains, and although her tender feet bled, so as to be -remarked by the attendants, she only smiled, and followed her dear -prince to the heights, whence they could see the clouds chasing each -other beneath them, like a flock of birds migrating to other countries. - -During the night she would, when all in the palace were at rest, walk -down the marble steps, in order to cool her feet in the deep waters; she -would then think of those beloved ones who dwelt in the lower world. - -One night, as she was thus bathing her feet, her sisters swam together -to the spot, arm in arm and singing, but alas! so mournfully! She -beckoned to them, and they immediately recognised her, and told her how -great was the mourning in her father’s house for her loss. From this -time the sisters visited her every night; and once they brought with -them the old grandmother, who had not seen the upper world for a great -many years; they likewise brought their father, the Mer-king, with his -crown on his head; but these two old people did not venture near enough -to land to be able to speak to her. - -The little mermaiden became dearer and dearer to the prince every day; -but he only looked upon her as a sweet, gentle child, and the thought of -making her his wife never entered his head. And yet his wife she must -be, ere she could receive an immortal soul; his wife she must be, or she -would change into foam, and be driven restlessly over the billows of the -sea! - -‘Dost thou not love me above all others?’ her eyes seemed to ask, as he -pressed her fondly in his arms, and kissed her lovely brow. - -[Illustration: MANY AN EVENING SHE ROSE TO THE PLACE] - -‘Yes,’ the prince would say, ‘thou art dearer to me than any other, for -no one is as good as thou art! Thou lovest me so much; and thou art so -like a young maiden whom I have seen but once, and may never see again. -I was on board a ship, which was wrecked by a sudden tempest; the waves -threw me on the shore, near a holy temple, where a number of young girls -are occupied constantly with religious services. The youngest of them -found me on the shore, and saved my life. I saw her only once, but her -image is vividly impressed upon my memory, and her alone can I love. But -she belongs to the holy temple; and thou who resemblest her so much hast -been given to me for consolation; never will we be parted!’ - -‘Alas! he does not know that it was I who saved his life,’ thought the -little mermaiden, sighing deeply; ‘I bore him over the wild waves, into -the wooded bay, where the holy temple stood; I sat behind the rocks, -waiting till some one should come. I saw the pretty maiden approach, -whom he loves more than me,’--and again she heaved a deep sigh, for she -could not weep. ‘He said that the young girl belongs to the holy temple; -she never comes out into the world, so they cannot meet each other -again,--and I am always with him, see him daily; I will love him, and -devote my whole life to him.’ - -‘So the prince is going to be married to the beautiful daughter of the -neighbouring king,’ said the courtiers, ‘that is why he is having that -splendid ship fitted out. It is announced that he wishes to travel, but -in reality he goes to see the princess; a numerous retinue will -accompany him.’ The little mermaiden smiled at these and similar -conjectures, for she knew the prince’s intentions better than any one -else. - -‘I must go,’ he said to her, ‘I must see the beautiful princess; my -parents require me to do so; but they will not compel me to marry her, -and bring her home as my bride. And it is quite impossible for me to -love her, for she cannot be so like the beautiful girl in the temple as -thou art; and if I were obliged to choose, I should prefer thee, my -little silent foundling, with the speaking eyes.’ And he kissed her rosy -lips, played with her locks, and folded her in his arms, whereupon arose -in her heart a sweet vision of human happiness, and immortal bliss. - -‘Thou art not afraid of the sea, art thou, my sweet silent child?’ asked -he tenderly, as they stood together in the splendid ship, which was to -take them to the country of the neighbouring king. And then he told her -of the storms that sometimes agitate the waters; of the strange fishes -that inhabit the deep, and of the wonderful things seen by divers. But -she smiled at his words, for she knew better than any child of earth -what went on in the depths of the ocean. - -At night-time, when the moon shone brightly, and when all on board were -fast asleep, she sat in the ship’s gallery, looking down into the sea. -It seemed to her, as she gazed through the foamy track made by the -ship’s keel, that she saw her father’s palace, and her grandmother’s -silver crown. She then saw her sisters rise out of the water, looking -sorrowful and stretching out their hands towards her. She nodded to -them, smiled, and would have explained that everything was going on -quite according to her wishes; but just then the cabin boy approached, -upon which the sisters plunged beneath the water so suddenly that the -boy thought what he had seen on the waves was nothing but foam. - -The next morning the ship entered the harbour of the king’s splendid -capital. Bells were rung, trumpets sounded, and soldiers marched in -procession through the city, with waving banners, and glittering -bayonets. Every day witnessed some new entertainments, balls and parties -followed each other; the princess, however, was not yet in the town; she -had been sent to a distant convent for education, and had there been -taught the practice of all royal virtues. At last she arrived at the -palace. - -The little mermaid had been anxious to see this unparalleled princess; -and she was now obliged to confess that she had never before seen so -beautiful a creature. - -The skin of the princess was so white and delicate that the veins might -be seen through it, and her dark eyes sparkled beneath a pair of finely -formed eye-brows. - -‘It is herself!’ exclaimed the prince, when they met, ‘it is she who -saved my life, when I lay like a corpse on the sea-shore!’ and he -pressed his blushing bride to his beating heart. - -‘Oh, I am all too happy!’ said he to his dumb foundling. ‘What I never -dared to hope for has come to pass. Thou must rejoice in my happiness, -for thou lovest me more than all others who surround me.’--And the -little mermaid kissed his hand in silent sorrow; it seemed to her as if -her heart was breaking already, although the morrow of his marriage-day, -which must inevitably see her death, had not yet dawned. - -Again rung the church-bells, whilst heralds rode through the streets of -the capital, to announce the approaching bridal. Odorous flames burned -in silver candlesticks on all the altars; the priests swung their golden -censers; and bride and bridegroom joined hands, whilst the holy words -that united them were spoken. The little mermaid, clad in silk and cloth -of gold, stood behind the princess, and held the train of the bridal -dress; but her ear heard nothing of the solemn music; her eye saw not -the holy ceremony; she remembered her approaching end, she remembered -that she had lost both this world and the next. - -That very same evening bride and bridegroom went on board the ship; -cannons were fired, flags waved with the breeze, and in the centre of -the deck stood a magnificent pavilion of purple and cloth of gold, -fitted up with the richest and softest couches. Here the princely pair -were to spend the night. A favourable wind swelled the sails, and the -ship glided lightly over the blue waters. - -As soon as it was dark, coloured lamps were hung out and dancing began -on the deck. The little mermaid was thus involuntarily reminded of what -she had seen the first time she rose to the upper world. The spectacle -that now presented itself was equally splendid--and she was obliged to -join in the - -[Illustration: WHEN THE SUN AROSE SHE AWOKE] - -dance, hovering lightly as a bird over the ship boards. All applauded -her, for never had she danced with more enchanting grace. Her little -feet suffered extremely, but she no longer felt the pain; the anguish -her heart suffered was much greater. It was the last evening she might -see him, for whose sake she had forsaken her home and all her family, -had given away her beautiful voice, and suffered daily the most violent -pain--all without his having the least suspicion of it. It was the last -evening that she might breathe the same atmosphere in which he, the -beloved one, lived; the last evening when she might behold the deep blue -sea, and the starry heavens--an eternal night, in which she might -neither think nor dream, awaited her. And all was joy in the ship; and -she, her heart filled with thoughts of death and annihilation, smiled -and danced with the others, till past midnight. Then the prince kissed -his lovely bride, and arm in arm they entered the magnificent tent -prepared for their repose. - -All was now still; the steersman alone stood at the ship’s helm. The -little mermaid leaned her white arms on the gallery, and looked towards -the east, watching for the dawn; she well knew that the first sunbeam -would witness her dissolution. She saw her sisters rise out of the sea; -deadly pale were their features; and their long hair no more fluttered -over their shoulders, it had all been cut off. - -‘We have given it to the witch,’ said they, ‘to induce her to help thee, -so that thou mayest not die. She has given to us a penknife: here it is! -Before the sun rises, thou must plunge it into the prince’s heart; and -when his warm blood trickles down upon thy feet they will again be -changed to a fish-like tail; thou wilt once more become a mermaid, and -wilt live thy full three hundred years, ere thou changest to foam on the -sea. But hasten! either he or thou must die before sunrise. Our aged -mother mourns for thee so much her grey hair has fallen off through -sorrow, as ours fell before the scissors of the witch. Kill the prince, -and come down to us! Hasten! hasten! dost thou not see the red streaks -on the eastern sky, announcing the near approach of the sun? A few -minutes more and he rises, and then all will be over with thee.’ At -these words they sighed deeply and vanished. - -The little mermaid drew aside the purple curtains of the pavilion, where -lay the bride and bridegroom; bending over them, she kissed the prince’s -forehead, and then glancing at the sky, she saw that the dawning light -became every moment brighter. The prince’s lips unconsciously murmured -the name of his bride--he was dreaming of her, and her only, whilst the -fatal penknife trembled in the hand of the unhappy mermaid. All at once, -she threw far out into the sea that instrument of death; the waves rose -like bright blazing flames around, and the water where it fell seemed -tinged with blood. With eyes fast becoming dim and fixed, she looked -once more at her beloved prince; then plunged from the ship into the -sea, and felt her body slowly but surely dissolving into foam. - -The sun rose from his watery bed; his beams fell so softly and warmly -upon her, that our little mermaid was scarcely sensible of dying. She -still saw the glorious sun; and over her head hovered a thousand -beautiful, transparent forms; she could still distinguish the white -sails of the ship, and the bright red clouds in the sky; the voices of -those airy creatures above her had a melody so sweet and soothing, that -a human ear would be as little able to catch the sound as her eye was -capable of distinguishing their forms; they hovered around her without -wings, borne by their own lightness through the air. The little mermaid -at last saw that she had a body as transparent as theirs; and felt -herself raised gradually from the foam of the sea to higher regions. - -‘Where are they taking me?’ asked she, and her words sounded just like -the voices of those heavenly beings. - -‘Speak you to the daughters of air?’ was the answer. ‘The mermaid has no -immortal soul, and can only acquire that heavenly gift by winning the -love of one of the sons of men; her immortality depends upon union with -man. Neither do the daughters of air possess immortal souls, but they -can acquire them by their own good deeds. We fly to hot countries, where -the children of earth are sinking under sultry pestilential breezes--our -fresh cooling breath revives them. We diffuse ourselves through the -atmosphere; we perfume it with the delicious fragrance of flowers; and -thus spread delight and health over the earth. By doing good in this -manner for three hundred years, we win immortality, and receive a share -of the eternal bliss of human beings. And thou, poor little mermaid! -who, following the impulse of thine own heart, hast done and suffered so -much, thou art now raised to the airy world of spirits, that by -performing deeds of kindness for three hundred years, thou mayest -acquire an immortal soul.’ - -The little mermaid stretched out her transparent arms to the sun; and, -for the first time in her life, tears moistened her eyes. - -And now again all were awake and rejoicing in the ship; she saw the -prince, with his pretty bride; they had missed her; they looked -sorrowfully down on the foamy waters, as if they knew she had plunged -into the sea; unseen she kissed the bridegroom’s forehead, smiled upon -him, and then, with the rest of the children of air, soared high above -the rosy cloud which was sailing so peacefully over the ship. - -[Illustration] - -‘After three hundred years we shall fly in the kingdom of Heaven!’ - -‘We may arrive there even sooner,’ whispered one of her sisters. ‘We fly -invisibly through the dwellings of men, where there are children; and -whenever we find a good child, who gives pleasure to his parents and -deserves their love, the good God shortens our time of probation. No -child is aware that we are flitting about his room, and that whenever -joy draws from us a smile, a year is struck out of our three hundred. -But when we see a rude naughty child, we weep bitter tears of sorrow, -and every tear we shed adds a day to our time of probation.’ - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration: FATHER-STORK] - - - - -THE STORKS - - -On the roof of a house situated at the extremity of a small town, a -stork had built his nest. There sat the mother-stork, with her four -young ones, who all stretched out their little black bills, which had -not yet become red. Not far off, upon the parapet, erect and proud, -stood the father-stork; he had drawn one of his legs under him, being -weary of standing on two. You might have fancied him carved in wood, he -stood so motionless. ‘It looks so grand,’ thought he, ‘for my wife to -have a sentinel to keep guard over her nest; people cannot know that I -am her husband, they will certainly think that I am commanded to stand -here--how well it looks!’ and so he remained standing on one leg. - -In the street below, a number of children were playing together. When -they saw the storks, one of the liveliest amongst them began to sing as -much as he could remember of some old rhymes about storks, in which he -was soon joined by the others-- - - ‘Stork! stork! long-legged stork! - Into thy nest I prithee walk; - There sits thy mate, - With her four children so great. - The first we’ll hang like a cat, - The second we’ll burn, - The third on a spit we’ll turn, - The fourth drown dead as a rat!’ - -‘Only listen to what the boys are singing,’ said the little storks; -‘they say we shall be hanged and burnt!’ - -‘Never mind,’ said the mother, ‘don’t listen to them; they will do you -no harm.’ - -But the boys went on singing, and pointed their fingers at the storks: -only one little boy, called Peter, said ‘it was a sin to mock and tease -animals, and that he would have nothing to do with it.’ - -The mother-stork again tried to comfort her little ones. ‘Never mind,’ -said she; ‘see how composedly your father is standing there, and upon -one leg only.’ - -‘But we are so frightened!’ said the young ones, drawing their heads -down into the nest. - -The next day, when the children were again assembled to play together, -and saw the storks, they again began their song-- - - ‘The first we ‘ll hang like a cat, - The second we’ll burn!’ - -‘And are we really to be hanged and burnt?’ asked the young storks. - -‘No indeed!’ said the mother. ‘You shall learn to fly: I will teach you -myself. Then we can fly over to the meadow, and pay a visit to the -frogs. They will bow to us in the water, and say, “Croak, croak!” and -then we shall eat them; will not that be nice?’ - -‘And what then?’ asked the little storks. - -‘Then all the storks in the country will gather together, and the -autumnal exercise will begin. It is of the greatest consequence that you -should fly well then; for every one who does not, the general will stab -to death with his bill; so you must pay great attention when we begin to -drill you, and learn very quickly.’ - -‘Then we shall really be killed after all, as the boys said? Oh, listen! -they are singing it again!’ - -‘Attend to me, and not to them!’ said the mother. ‘After the grand -exercise, we shall fly to warm countries, far, far away from here, over -mountains and forests. We shall fly to Egypt, where are the -three-cornered stone houses whose summits reach the clouds; they are -called pyramids, and are older than it is possible for storks to -imagine. There is a river too, which overflows its banks, so as to make -the whole country like a marsh, and we shall go into the marsh and eat -frogs.’ - -‘Oh!’ said the young ones. - -‘Yes, it is delightful! one does nothing but eat all the day long. And -whilst we are so comfortable, in this country not a single green leaf is -left on the trees, and it is so cold that the clouds are frozen, and -fall down upon the earth in little white pieces.’--She meant snow, but -she could not express herself more clearly. - -‘And will the naughty boys be frozen to pieces too?’ asked the young -storks. - -‘No, they will not be frozen to pieces; but they will be nearly as badly -off as if they were; they will be obliged to crowd round the fire in -their little dark rooms; while you, on the contrary, will be flying -about in foreign lands, where there are beautiful flowers and warm -sunshine.’ - -Well, time passed away, and the young storks grew so tall, that when -they stood upright in the nest they could see the country around to a -great distance. The father-stork used to bring them every day the nicest -little frogs, as well as snails, and all the other stork tit-bits he -could find. Oh! it was so droll to see him show them his tricks; he -would lay his head upon his tail, make a rattling noise with his bill, -and then tell them such charming stories all about the moors. - -‘Now you must learn to fly!’ said the mother one day; and accordingly, -all the four young storks were obliged to come out upon the parapet. -Oh, how they trembled! And though they balanced themselves on their -wings, they were very near falling. - -‘Only look at me,’ said the mother. ‘This is the way you must hold your -heads; and in this manner place your feet,--one, two! one, two! this -will help you to get on.’ She flew a little way, and the young ones made -an awkward spring after her,--bounce! down they fell; for their bodies -were heavy. - -[Illustration: ‘STORK! STORK! LONG-LEGGED STORK!’] - -‘I will not fly,’ said one of the young ones, as he crept back into the -nest. ‘I do not want to go into the warm countries!’ - -‘Do you want to be frozen to death during the winter? Shall the boys -come, and hang, burn, or roast you? Wait a little, I will call them!’ - -‘Oh no!’ said the little stork; and again he began to hop about on the -roof like the others. By the third day they could fly pretty well, and -so they thought they could also sit and take their ease in the air; but -bounce! down they tumbled, and found themselves obliged to make use of -their wings. The boys now came into the street, singing their favourite -song-- - - ‘Stork! stork! long-legged stork!’ - -‘Shall not we fly down and peck out their eyes?’ said the young ones. - -‘No, leave them alone!’ said the mother. ‘Attend to me, that is of much -more importance!--one, two, three, now to the right!--one, two, three, -now to the left, round the chimneypot! That was very well; you managed -your wings so neatly last time, that I will permit you to come with me -to-morrow to the marsh: several first-rate stork families will be there -with their children. Let it be said that mine are the prettiest and best -behaved of all; and remember to stand very upright, and to throw out -your chest; that looks well, and gives such an air of distinction!’ - -‘But are we not to take revenge upon those rude boys?’ asked the young -ones. - -‘Let them screech as much as they please! You will fly among the clouds, -you will go to the land of the pyramids, when they must shiver with -cold, and have not a single green leaf to look at, nor a single sweet -apple to eat!’ - -‘Yes, we shall be revenged!’ whispered they one to another. And then -they were drilled again. - -Of all the boys in the town, the forwardest in singing nonsensical -verses was always the same one who had begun teasing the storks, a -little urchin not more than six years old. The young storks indeed -fancied him a hundred years old, because he was bigger than either -their father or mother, and what should they know about the ages of -children, or grown up human beings! All their schemes of revenge were -aimed at this little boy; he had been the first to tease them, and -continued to do so. The young storks were highly excited about it, and -the older they grew, the less they were inclined to endure persecution. -Their mother, in order to pacify them, at last promised that they should -be revenged, but not until the last day of their stay in this place. - -‘We must first see how you behave yourselves at the grand exercise; if -then you should fly badly, and the general should thrust his beak into -your breast, the boys will, in some measure, be proved in the right. Let -me see how well you will behave!’ - -‘Yes, that you shall!’ said the young ones. And now they really took -great pains, practised every day, and at last flew so lightly and -prettily, that it was a pleasure to see them. - -[Illustration: AND FETCH ONE FOR EACH OF THE BOYS] - -Well, now came the autumn. All the storks assembled, in order to fly -together to warm countries for the winter. What a practising there was! -Away they went over woods and fields, towns and villages, merely to see -how well they could fly, for they had a long journey before them. The -young storks distinguished themselves so honourably that they were -pronounced ‘worthy of frogs and serpents.’ This was the highest -character - -[Illustration] - -they could obtain; now they were allowed to eat frogs and serpents, and -accordingly they did eat them. - -‘Now we will have our revenge!’ said they. - -‘Very well!’ said the mother; ‘I have been thinking what will be the -best. I know where the pool is in which all the little human children -lie until the storks come and take them to their parents: the pretty -little things sleep and dream so pleasantly as they will never dream -again. All parents like to have a little child, and all children like to -have a little brother or sister. We will fly to the pool and fetch one -for each of the boys who has not sung that wicked song, nor made a jest -of the storks; and the other naughty children shall have none.’ - -‘But he who first sung those naughty rhymes! that great ugly fellow! -what shall we do to him?’ cried the young storks. - -‘In the pool there lies a little child who has dreamed away his life; we -will take it for him, and he will weep because he has only a little dead -brother. But as to the good boy who said it was a sin to mock and tease -animals, surely you have not forgotten him? We will bring him two little -ones, a brother and a sister. And as this little boy’s name is Peter, -you too shall for the future be called “Peter!”’ - -And it came to pass just as the mother said; and all the storks were -called ‘Peter,’ and are still so called to this very day. - -[Illustration: ‘OH! HOW PRETTY THAT IS!’ HE WOULD SAY] - - - - -THE NIGHTINGALE - - -In China, as you well know, the Emperor is Chinese, and all around him -are Chinese also. Now what I am about to relate happened many years ago, -but even on that very account it is the more important that you should -hear the story now, before it is forgotten. - -The Emperor’s palace was the most magnificent palace in the world; it -was made entirely of fine porcelain, exceedingly costly; but at the same -time so brittle, that it was dangerous even to touch it. - -The choicest flowers were to be seen in the garden; and to the most -splendid of all these little silver bells were fastened, in order that -their tinkling might prevent any one from passing by without noticing -them. Yes! everything in the Emperor’s garden was excellently well -arranged; and the garden extended so far, that even the gardener did not -know the end of it; whoever walked beyond it, however, came to a -beautiful wood, with very high trees; and beyond that, to the sea. The -wood went down quite to the sea, which was very deep and blue; large -ships could sail close under the branches; and among the branches dwelt -a nightingale, who sang so sweetly, that even the poor fisherman, who -had so much else to do, when he came out at night-time to cast his nets, -would stand still and listen to her song. ‘Oh! how pretty that is!’ he -would say--but then he was obliged to mind his work, and forget the -bird; yet the following night, if again the nightingale sang, and the -fisherman came out, again he would say, ‘Oh! how pretty that is!’ - -Travellers came from all parts of the world to the Emperor’s city; and -they admired the city, the palace, and the garden; but if they heard the -nightingale, they all said, ‘This is the best.’ And they talked about -her after they went home, and learned men wrote books about the city, -the palace, and the garden; nor did they forget the nightingale: she was -extolled above everything else; and poets wrote the most beautiful -verses about the nightingale of the wood near the sea. - -These books went round the world, and one of them at last reached the -Emperor. He was sitting in his golden arm-chair; he read and read, and -nodded his head every moment; for these splendid descriptions of the -city, the palace, and the garden pleased him greatly. ‘But the -nightingale is the best of all,’ was written in the book. - -‘What in the world is this?’ said the Emperor. ‘The nightingale! I do -not know it at all! Can there be such a bird in my empire, in my garden -even, without my having even heard of it? Truly one may learn something -from books.’ - -So he called his Cavalier;[1] now this was so grand a personage, that no -one of inferior rank might speak to him; and if one did venture to ask -him a question, his only answer was ‘Pish!’ which has no particular -meaning. - -[1] Gentleman in waiting. - -‘There is said to be a very remarkable bird here, called the -nightingale,’ said the Emperor; ‘her song, they say, is worth more than -anything else in all my dominions; why has no one ever told me of her?’ - -‘I have never before heard her mentioned,’ said the Cavalier; ‘she has -never been presented at court.’ - -‘I wish her to come, and sing before me this evening,’ said the -Emperor. ‘The whole world knows what I have, and I do not know it -myself!’ - -‘I have never before heard her mentioned,’ said the Cavalier, ‘but I -will seek her, I will find her.’ - -But where was she to be found? The Cavalier ran up one flight of steps, -down another, through halls, and through passages; not one of all whom -he met had ever heard of the nightingale; and the Cavalier returned to -the Emperor, and said, ‘It must certainly be an invention of the man who -wrote the book. Your Imperial Majesty must not believe all that is -written in books; much in them is pure invention, and there is what is -called the Black Art.’ - -‘But the book in which I have read it,’ said the Emperor, ‘was sent me -by the high and mighty Emperor of Japan, and therefore it cannot be -untrue. I wish to hear the nightingale; she must be here this evening, -and if she do not come, after supper the whole court shall be flogged.’ - -‘Tsing-pe!’ said the Cavalier; and again he ran upstairs, and -downstairs, through halls, and through passages, and half the court ran -with him; for not one would have relished the flogging. Many were the -questions asked respecting the wonderful nightingale, whom the whole -world talked of, and about whom no one at court knew anything. - -At last they met a poor little girl in the kitchen, who said, ‘Oh yes! -the nightingale! I know her very well. Oh! how she can sing! Every -evening I carry the fragments left at table to my poor sick mother. She -lives by the sea-shore; and when I am coming back, and stay to rest a -little in the wood, I hear the nightingale sing; it makes the tears come -into my eyes! it is just as if my mother kissed me.’ - -‘Little kitchen maiden,’ said the Cavalier, ‘I will procure for you a -sure appointment in the kitchen, together with permission to see His -Majesty the Emperor dine, if you will conduct us to the nightingale, for -she is expected at court this evening.’ - -So they went together to the wood, where the nightingale was accustomed -to sing; and half the court went with them. Whilst on their way, a cow -began to low. - -‘Oh!’ said the court pages, ‘now we have her! It is certainly an -extraordinary voice for so small an animal; surely I have heard it -somewhere before.’ - -‘No, those are cows you hear lowing,’ said the little kitchen-maid, ‘we -are still far from the place.’ - -The frogs were now croaking in the pond. - -‘That is famous!’ said the chief court-preacher, ‘now I hear her; it -sounds just like little church-bells.’ - -‘No, those are frogs,’ said the little kitchen-maid, ‘but now I think we -shall soon hear her.’ - -Then began the nightingale to sing. - -‘There she is!’ said the little girl. ‘Listen! listen! there she sits,’ -and she pointed to a little grey bird up in the branches. - -‘Is it possible?’ said the Cavalier. ‘I should not have thought it. How -simple she looks! she must certainly have changed colour at the sight of -so many distinguished personages.’ - -‘Little nightingale!’ called out the kitchen-maid, ‘our gracious Emperor -wishes you to sing something to him.’ - -‘With the greatest pleasure,’ said the nightingale, and she sang in such -a manner that it was delightful to hear her. - -‘It sounds like glass bells,’ said the Cavalier. ‘And look at her little -throat, how it moves! It is singular that we should never have heard her -before; she will have great success at court.’ - -[Illustration] - -‘Shall I sing again to the Emperor?’ asked the nightingale, for she -thought the Emperor was among them. - -‘Most excellent nightingale!’ said the Cavalier, ‘I have the honour to -invite you to a court festival, which is to take place this evening, -when His Imperial Majesty will be enchanted with your delightful song.’ - -[Illustration: AMONG THE BRANCHES DWELT A NIGHTINGALE] - -‘My song would sound far better among the green trees,’ said the -nightingale; however, she followed willingly when she heard that the -Emperor wished it. - -There was a regular trimming and polishing at the palace; the walls and -the floors, which were all of porcelain, glittered with a thousand gold -lamps; the loveliest flowers, with the merriest tinkling bells, were -placed in the passages; there was a running to and fro, which made all -the bells to ring, so that one could not hear his own words. - -In the midst of the grand hall where the Emperor sat, a golden perch was -erected, on which the nightingale was to sit. The whole court was -present, and the little kitchen-maid received permission to stand behind -the door, for she had now actually the rank and title of ‘Maid of the -Kitchen.’ All were dressed out in their finest clothes; and all eyes -were fixed upon the little grey bird, to whom the Emperor nodded as a -signal for her to begin. - -And the nightingale sang so sweetly, that tears came into the Emperor’s -eyes, tears rolled down his cheeks; and the nightingale sang more -sweetly still, and touched the hearts of all who heard her; and the -Emperor was so merry, that he said, ‘The nightingale should have his -golden slippers, and wear them round her neck.’ But the nightingale -thanked him, and said she was already sufficiently rewarded. - -‘I have seen tears in the Emperor’s eyes; that is the greatest reward I -can have. The tears of an Emperor have a particular value. Heaven knows -I am sufficiently rewarded.’ And then she sang again with her sweet, -lovely voice. - -‘It is the most amiable coquetry ever known,’ said the ladies present; -and they put water into their mouths, and tried to move their throats as -she did when they spoke; they thought to become nightingales also. -Indeed even the footmen and chamber-maids declared that they were quite -contented; which was a great thing to say, for of all people they are -the most difficult to satisfy. Yes indeed! the nightingale’s success was -complete. She was now to remain at court, to have her own cage; with -permission to fly out twice in the day, and once in the night. Twelve -attendants were allotted her, who were to hold a silken band, fastened -round her foot; and they kept good hold. There was no pleasure in -excursions made in this manner. - -[Illustration: THEY ADMIRED THE CITY, THE PALACE, AND THE GARDEN] - -All the city was talking of the wonderful bird; and when two persons -met, one would say only ‘night,’ and the other ‘gale,’ and then they -sighed, and understood each other perfectly; indeed eleven of the -children of the citizens were named after the nightingale, but none of -them had her tones in their throats. - -One day a large parcel arrived for the Emperor, on which was written -‘Nightingale.’ - -‘Here we have another new book about our far-famed bird,’ said the -Emperor. But it was not a book; it was a little piece of mechanism, -lying in a box; an artificial nightingale, which was intended to look -like the living one, but was covered all over with diamonds, rubies, and -sapphires. When this artificial bird had been wound up, it could sing -one of the tunes that the real nightingale sang; and its tail, all -glittering with silver and gold, went up and down all the time. A little -band was fastened round its neck, on which was written, ‘The nightingale -of the Emperor of China is poor compared with the nightingale of the -Emperor of Japan.’ - -‘That is famous!’ said every one; and he who had brought the bird -obtained the title of ‘Chief Imperial Nightingale Bringer.’ ‘Now they -shall sing together; we will have a duet.’ - -And so they must sing together; but it did not succeed, for the real -nightingale sang in her own way, and the artificial bird produced its -tones by wheels. ‘It is not his fault,’ said the artist, ‘he keeps exact -time and quite according to method.’ - -So the artificial bird must now sing alone; he was quite as successful -as the real nightingale; and then he was so much prettier to look at; -his plumage sparkled like jewels. - -Three and thirty times he sang one and the same tune, and yet he was not -weary; every one would willingly have heard - -[Illustration: THE KITCHEN-MAID] - -him again; however, the Emperor now wished the real nightingale should -sing something--but where was she? No one had remarked that she had -flown out of the open window; flown away to her own green wood. - -‘What is the meaning of this?’ said the Emperor; and all the courtiers -abused the nightingale, and called her a most ungrateful creature. ‘We -have the best bird at all events,’ said they, and for the four and -thirtieth time they heard the same tune, but still they did not quite -know it, because it was so difficult. The artist praised the bird -inordinately; indeed he declared it was superior to the real -nightingale, not only in its exterior, all sparkling with diamonds, but -also intrinsically. - -‘For see, my noble lords, his Imperial Majesty especially, with the real -nightingale, one could never reckon on what was coming; but everything -is settled with the artificial bird; he will sing in this one way, and -no other: this can be proved, he can be taken to pieces, and the works -can be shown, where the wheels lie, how they move, and how one follows -from another.’ - -‘That is just what I think,’ said everybody; and the artist received -permission to show the bird to the people on the following Sunday. ‘They -too should hear him sing,’ the Emperor said. So they heard him, and were -as well pleased as if they had all been drinking tea; for it is tea that -makes Chinese merry, and they all said oh! and raised their -fore-fingers, and nodded their heads. But the fisherman, who had heard -the real nightingale, said, ‘It sounds very pretty, almost like the real -bird; but yet there is something wanting, I do not know what.’ - -The real nightingale was, however, banished the empire. - -The artificial bird had his place on a silken cushion, close to the -Emperor’s bed; all the presents he received, gold and precious stones, -lay around him; he had obtained the rank and title of ‘High Imperial -Dessert Singer,’ and, therefore, his place was number one on the left -side; for the Emperor thought that the side where the heart was situated -must be the most honourable, and the heart is situated on the left side -of an Emperor, as well as with other folks. - -And the artist wrote five and twenty volumes about the artificial bird, -with the longest and most difficult words that are to be found in the -Chinese language. So, of course, all said they had read and understood -them, otherwise they would have been stupid, and perhaps would have been -flogged. - -Thus it went on for a year. The Emperor, the court, and all the Chinese -knew every note of the artificial bird’s song by heart; but that was the -very reason they enjoyed it so much, they could now sing with him. The -little boys in the street sang ‘Zizizi, cluck, cluck, cluck!’ and the -Emperor himself sang too--yes indeed, that was charming! - -But one evening, when the bird was in full voice, and the Emperor lay in -bed, and listened, there was suddenly a noise, ‘bang,’ inside the bird, -then something sprang ‘fur-r-r-r,’ all the wheels were running about, -and the music stopped. - -The Emperor jumped quickly out of bed, and had his chief physician -called; but of what use could he be? Then a clockmaker was fetched, and -at last, after a great deal of discussion and consultation, the bird was -in some measure put to rights again; but the clockmaker said he must be -spared much singing, for the pegs were almost worn out, and it was -impossible to renew them, at least so that the music should be correct. - -There was great lamentation, for now the artificial bird was allowed to -sing only once a year, and even then there were difficulties; however, -the artist made a short speech full of his favourite long words, and -said the bird was as good as ever: so then, of course, it was as good as -ever. - -When five years were passed away, a great affliction visited the whole -empire, for in their hearts the people thought highly of their Emperor; -and now he was ill, and it was reported that he could not live. A new -Emperor had already been chosen, and the people stood in the street, -outside the palace, and asked the Cavalier how the Emperor was? - -[Illustration: THE CHIEF IMPERIAL NIGHTINGALE BRINGER] - -‘Pish!’ said he, and shook his head. - -Cold and pale lay the Emperor in his magnificent bed; all the court -believed him to be already dead, and every one had hastened away to -greet the new Emperor; the men ran out for a little gossip on the -subject, and the maids were having a grand coffee-party. - -The floors of all the rooms and passages were covered with cloth, in -order that not a step should be heard--it was everywhere so still! so -still! But the Emperor was not yet dead; stiff and pale he lay in his -splendid bed, with the long velvet curtains, and heavy gold tassels. A -window was opened above, and the moon shone down on the Emperor and the -artificial bird. - -The poor Emperor could scarcely breathe; it appeared to him as though -something was sitting on his chest; he opened his eyes, and saw that it -was Death, who had put on the Emperor’s crown, and with one hand held -the golden scimitar, with the other the splendid imperial banner; -whilst, from under the folds of the thick velvet hangings, the -strangest-looking heads were seen peering forth; some with an expression -absolutely hideous, and others with an extremely gentle and lovely -aspect: they were the bad and good deeds of the Emperor, which were now -all fixing their eyes upon him, whilst Death sat on his heart. - -‘Dost thou know this?’ they whispered one after another. ‘Dost thou -remember that?’ And they began reproaching him in such a manner that the -sweat broke out upon his forehead. - -‘I have never known anything like it,’ said the Emperor. ‘Music, music, -the great Chinese drum!’ cried he; ‘let me not hear what they are -saying.’ - -They went on, however; and Death, quite in the Chinese fashion, nodded -his head to every word. - -‘Music, music!’ cried the Emperor. ‘Thou dear little artificial bird! -sing, I pray thee, sing!--I have given thee gold and precious stones, I -have even hung my golden slippers round thy neck--sing, I pray thee, -sing!’ - -But the bird was silent; there was no one there to wind him up, and he -could not sing without this. Death continued to stare at the Emperor -with his great hollow eyes! and everywhere it was still, fearfully -still! - -All at once the sweetest song was heard from the window; it was the -little living nightingale who was sitting on a branch outside--she had -heard of her Emperor’s severe illness, and was come to sing to him of -comfort and hope. As she sang, the spectral forms became paler and -paler, the blood flowed more and more quickly through the Emperor’s -feeble members, and even Death listened and said, ‘Go on, little -nightingale, go on.’ - -‘Wilt thou give me the splendid gold scimitar? Wilt thou give me the gay -banner, and the Emperor’s crown?’ - -And Death gave up all these treasures for a song; and the nightingale -sang on: she sang of the quiet churchyard, where white roses blossom, -where the lilac sends forth its fragrance, and the fresh grass is -bedewed with the tears of the sorrowing friends of the departed. Then -Death was seized with a longing after his garden, and like a cold white -shadow, flew out at the window. - -‘Thanks, thanks,’ said the Emperor, ‘thou heavenly little bird, I know -thee well. I have banished thee from my realm, and thou hast sung away -those evil faces from my bed, and Death from my heart; how shall I -reward thee?’ - -‘Thou hast already rewarded me,’ said the nightingale; ‘I have seen -tears in thine eyes, as when I sang to thee for the first time: those I -shall never forget, they are jewels which do so much good to a -minstrel’s heart! but sleep now, and wake fresh and healthy; I will sing -thee to sleep.’ - -And she sang--and the Emperor fell into a sweet sleep. Oh, how soft and -kindly was that sleep! - -The sun shone in at the window when he awoke, strong and healthy. Not -one of his servants had returned, for they all believed him dead; but -the nightingale still sat and sang. - -[Illustration: HE WAS QUITE AS SUCCESSFUL AS THE REAL NIGHTINGALE] - -‘Thou shalt always stay with me,’ said the Emperor, ‘thou shalt only -sing when it pleases thee, and the artificial bird I will break into a -thousand pieces.’ - -‘Do not so,’ said the nightingale; ‘truly he has done what he could; -take care of him. I cannot stay in the palace; but let me come when I -like: I will sit on the branches close to the window, in the evening, -and sing to thee, that thou mayest become happy and thoughtful. I will -sing to thee of the joyful and the sorrowing, I will sing to thee of all -that is good or bad, which is concealed from thee. The little minstrel -flies afar to the fisherman’s hut, to the peasant’s cottage, to all who -are far distant from thee and thy court. I love thy heart more than thy -crown, and yet the crown has an odour of something holy about it. I will -come, I will sing. But thou must promise me one thing.’ - -‘Everything,’ said the Emperor. And now he stood in his imperial -splendour, which he had put on himself, and held the scimitar so heavy -with gold to his heart. ‘One thing I beg of thee: let no one know that -thou hast a little bird, who tells thee everything, then all will go on -well.’ And the nightingale flew away. - -The attendants came in to look at their dead Emperor. Lo! there they -stood--and the Emperor said, ‘Good-morning!’ - -[Illustration: THE WILD SWANS] - - - - -THE WILD SWANS - - -Far hence, in a country whither the Swallows fly in our winter-time, -there dwelt a King who had eleven sons, and one daughter, the beautiful -Elise. The eleven brothers (they were princes) went to school with stars -on their breasts and swords by their sides; they wrote on golden tablets -with diamond pens, and could read either with a book or without one--in -short, it was easy to perceive that they were princes. Their sister -Elise used to sit upon a little glass stool, and had a picture-book -which had cost the half of a kingdom. Oh, the children were so happy! -but happy they were not to remain always. - -Their father the King married a very wicked Queen, who was not at all -kind to the poor children; they found this out on the first day after -the marriage, when there was a grand gala at the palace; for when the -children played at receiving company, instead of having as many cakes -and sweetmeats as they liked, the Queen gave them only some sand in a -little dish, and told them to imagine that was something nice. - -The week after, she sent the little Elise to be brought up by some -peasants in the country, and it was not long before she told the King so -many falsehoods about the poor princes that he would have nothing more -to do with them. - -‘Away, out into the world, and take care of yourselves,’ said the wicked -Queen; ‘fly away in the form of great speechless birds.’ But she could -not make their transformation so - -[Illustration] - -disagreeable as she wished,--the Princes were changed into eleven white -swans. Sending forth a strange cry, they flew out of the palace windows, -over the park and over the wood. - -It was still early in the morning when they passed by the place where -Elise lay sleeping in the peasant’s cottage; they flew several times -round the roof, stretched their long necks, and flapped their wings, but -no one either heard or saw them; they were forced to fly away, up to the -clouds and into the wide world, so on they went to the forest, which -extended as far as the sea-shore. - -The poor little Elise stood in the peasant’s cottage amusing herself -with a green leaf, for she had no other plaything. She pricked a hole in -the leaf and peeped through it at the sun, and then she fancied she saw -her brother’s bright eyes, and whenever the warm sunbeams shone full -upon her cheeks, she thought of her brother’s kisses. - -One day passed exactly like the other. When the wind blew through the -thick hedge of rose-trees in front of the house, she would whisper to -the roses, ‘Who is more beautiful than you?’ but the roses would shake -their heads and say, ‘Elise.’ And when the peasant’s wife sat on Sundays -at the door of her cottage reading her hymn-book, the wind would rustle -in the leaves and say to the book, ‘Who is more pious than -thou?’--‘Elise,’ replied the hymn-book. And what the roses and the -hymn-book said, was no more than the truth. - -Elise was now fifteen years old, she was sent for home; but when the -Queen saw how beautiful she was, she hated her the more, and would -willingly have transformed her like her brothers into a wild swan, but -she dared not do so, because the King wished to see his daughter. - -So the next morning the Queen went into a bath which was made of marble, -and fitted up with soft pillows and the gayest carpets; she took three -toads, kissed them, and said to one, ‘Settle thou upon Elise’s head that -she may become dull and sleepy like thee.’--‘Settle thou upon her -forehead,’ said she to another, ‘and let her become ugly like thee, so -that her father may not know her again.’ And ‘Do thou place thyself upon -her bosom,’ whispered she to the third, ‘that her heart may become -corrupt and evil, a torment to herself.’ She then put the toads into the -clear water, which was immediately tinted with a green colour, and -having called Elise, took off her clothes and made her get into the -bath--one toad settled among her hair, another on her forehead, and the -third upon her bosom, but Elise seemed not at all aware of it; she rose -up and three poppies were seen swimming on the water. Had not the -animals been poisonous and kissed by a witch, they would have been -changed into roses whilst they remained on Elise’s head and heart--she -was too good for magic to have any power over her. When the Queen -perceived this, she rubbed walnut juice all over the maiden’s skin, so -that it became quite swarthy, smeared a nasty salve over her lovely -face, and entangled her long thick hair,--it was impossible to recognise -the beautiful Elise after this. - -When her father saw her he was shocked, and said she could not be his -daughter; no one would have anything to do with her but the mastiff and -the swallows; but they, poor things, could not say anything in her -favour. - -Poor Elise wept, and thought of her eleven brothers, not one of whom she -saw at the palace. In great distress she stole away and wandered the -whole day over fields and moors, till she reached the forest. She knew -not where to go, but she was so sad, and longed so much to see her -brothers, who had been driven out into the world, that she determined to -seek and find them. - -She had not been long in the forest when night came on, and she lost her -way amid the darkness. So she lay down on the soft moss, said her -evening prayer, and leaned her head against the trunk of a tree. It was -so still in the forest, the air was mild, and from the grass and mould -around gleamed the green light of many hundred glowworms, and when Elise -lightly touched one of the branches hanging over her, bright insects -fell down upon her like falling stars. - -All the night long she dreamed of her brothers. They were all children -again, played together, wrote with diamond pens upon golden tablets, and -looked at the pictures in the beautiful book which had cost half of a -kingdom. But they did not as formerly make straight strokes and pothooks -upon the tablets; no, they wrote of the bold actions they had performed, -and the strange adventures they had encountered, and in the picture-book -everything seemed alive--the birds sang, men and women stepped from the -book and talked to Elise and her brothers; however, when she turned over -the leaves, they jumped back into their places, so that the pictures did -not get confused together. - -When Elise awoke the sun was already high in the heavens. She could not -see it certainly, for the tall trees of the forest entwined their -thickly leaved branches closely together, which, as the sunbeams played -upon them, looked like a golden veil waving to and fro. And the air was -so fragrant, and the birds perched upon Elise’s shoulders. She heard the -noise of water, there were several springs forming a pool, with the -prettiest pebbles at the bottom, bushes were growing thickly round, but -the deer had trodden a broad path through them, and by this path Elise -went down to the water’s edge. The water was so clear that had not the -boughs and bushes around been moved to and fro by the wind, you might -have fancied they were painted upon the smooth surface, so distinctly -was each little leaf mirrored upon it, whether glowing in the sunlight -or lying in the shade. - -As soon as Elise saw her face reflected in the water, she was quite -startled, so brown and ugly did it look; however, when she wetted her -little hand, and rubbed her brow and eyes, the white skin again -appeared.--So Elise took off her clothes, stepped into the fresh water, -and in the whole world there was not a king’s daughter more beautiful -than she then appeared. - -After she had again dressed herself, and had braided her long hair, she -went to the bubbling spring, drank out of the hollow of her hand, and -then wandered farther into the forest. She knew not where she was going, -but she thought of her brothers, and of the good God who, she felt, -would never forsake her. He it was who made the wild crab-trees grow in -order to feed the hungry, and who showed her a tree whose boughs bent -under the weight of their fruit. She made her noonday meal under its -shade, propped up the boughs, and then walked on amid the dark twilight -of the forest. It was so still that she could hear her own footsteps, -and the rustling of each little withered leaf that was crushed beneath -her feet; not a bird was to be seen, not a single sunbeam penetrated -through the thick foliage, and the tall stems of the trees stood so -close together, that when she looked straight before her, she seemed -enclosed by trellis-work upon trellis-work. Oh! there was a solitariness -in this forest such as Elise had never known before. - -And the night was so dark! not a single glowworm sent forth its light. -Sad and melancholy she lay down to sleep, and then it seemed to her as -though the boughs above her opened, and that she saw the Angel of God -looking down upon her with gentle aspect, and a thousand little cherubs -all around - -[Illustration: SO ELISE TOOK OFF HER CLOTHES AND STEPPED INTO THE -WATER] - -him. When she awoke in the morning she could not tell whether this was a -dream, or whether she had really been so watched. - -She walked on a little farther and met an old woman with a basket full -of berries; the old woman gave her some of them, and Elise asked if she -had not seen eleven princes ride through the wood. - -‘No,’ said the old woman, ‘but I saw yesterday eleven Swans with golden -crowns on their heads swim down the brook near this place.’ - -And she led Elise on a little farther to a precipice, the base of which -was washed by a brook; the trees on each side stretched their long leafy -branches towards each other, and where they could not unite, the roots -had disengaged themselves from the earth and hung their interlaced -fibres over the water. - -Elise bade the old woman farewell, and wandered by the side of the -stream till she came to the place where it reached the open sea. - -The great, the beautiful sea lay extended before the maiden’s eyes, but -not a ship, not a boat was to be seen; how was she to go on? She -observed the numberless little stones on the shore, all of which the -waves had washed into a round form; glass, iron, stone, everything that -lay scattered there, had been moulded into shape, and yet the water -which had effected this was much softer than Elise’s delicate little -hand. ‘It rolls on unweariedly,’ said she, ‘and subdues what is so hard; -I will be no less unwearied! Thank you for the lesson you have given me, -ye bright rolling waves; some day, my heart tells me, you shall carry me -to my dear brothers!’ - -There lay upon the wet sea-grass eleven white swan-feathers; Elise -collected them together; drops of water hung about them, whether dew or -tears she could not tell. She was quite alone on the sea-shore, but she -did not care for that; the sea presented an eternal variety to her, more -indeed in a few hours than the gentle inland waters would have offered -in a whole year. When a black cloud passed over the sky, it seemed as if -the sea would say, ‘I too can look dark,’ and then the wind would blow -and the waves fling out their white foam; but when the clouds shone with -a bright red tint, and the winds were asleep, the sea also became like a -rose-leaf in hue; it was now green, now white, but as it reposed -peacefully, a slight breeze on the shore caused the water to heave -gently like the bosom of a sleeping child. - -At sunset Elise saw eleven Wild Swans with golden crowns on their heads -fly towards the land; they flew one behind another, looking like a -streaming white ribbon. Elise climbed the precipice, and concealed -herself behind a bush; the swans settled close to her, and flapped their -long white wings. - -As the sun sank beneath the water, the swans also vanished, and in their -place stood eleven handsome princes, the brothers of Elise. She uttered -a loud cry, for although they were very much altered, Elise knew that -they were, felt that they must be, her brothers; she ran into their -arms, called them by their names--and how happy were _they_ to see and -recognise their sister, who was now grown so tall and so beautiful! They -laughed and wept, and soon told each other how wickedly their -step-mother had acted towards them. - -‘We,’ said the eldest of the brothers, ‘fly or swim as long as the sun -is above the horizon, but when it sinks below, we appear again in our -human form; we are therefore obliged to look out for a safe -resting-place, for if at sunset we were flying among the clouds, we -should fall down as soon as we resumed our own form. We do not dwell -here, a land quite as beautiful as this lies on the opposite side of the -sea, but it is far off. To reach it, we have to cross the deep waters, -and there is no island midway on which we may rest at night; one little -solitary rock rises from the waves, and upon it we only just find room -enough to stand side by side. There we spend the night in our human -form, and when the sea is rough, we are sprinkled by its foam; but we -are thankful for this resting-place, for without it we - -[Illustration: AND MET AN OLD WOMAN WITH A BASKET FULL OF BERRIES] - -should never be able to visit our dear native country. Only once in the -year is this visit to the home of our fathers permitted; we require two -of the longest days for our flight, and can remain here only eleven -days, during which time we fly over the large forest, whence we can see -the palace in which we were born, where our father dwells, and the tower -of the church in which our mother was buried. Here even the trees and -bushes seem of kin to us, here the wild horses still race over the -plains, as in the days of our childhood, here the charcoal-burner still -sings the same old tunes to which we used to dance in our youth, here we -are still attracted, and here we have found thee, thou dear little -sister! We have yet two days longer to stay here, then we must fly over -the sea to a land beautiful indeed, but not our fatherland. How shall we -take thee with us? we have neither ship nor boat!’ - -‘How shall I be able to release you?’ said the sister. And so they went -on talking almost the whole of the night. They slumbered only a few -hours. - -Elise was awakened by the rustling of swans’ wings which were fluttering -above her. Her brothers were again transformed, and for some time flew -around in large circles. At last they flew far, far away; one of them -remained behind, it was the youngest; he laid his head in her lap and -she stroked his white wings; they remained the whole day together. -Towards evening the others came back, and when the sun was set, again -they stood on the firm ground in their natural form. - -‘To-morrow we shall fly away, and may not return for a year, but we -cannot leave thee; hast thou courage to accompany us? My arm is strong -enough to bear thee through the forest; shall we not have sufficient -strength in our wings to transport thee over the sea?’ - -‘Yes, take me with you,’ said Elise. They spent the whole night in -weaving a mat of the pliant willow bark and the tough rushes, and their -mat was thick and strong. Elise lay down upon it, and when the sun had -risen, and the brothers were again transformed into wild swans, they -seized the mat with their beaks and flew up high among the clouds with -their dear sister, who was still sleeping. The sunbeams shone full upon -her face, so one of the swans flew over her head, and shaded her with -his broad wings. - -They were already far from land when Elise awoke: she thought she was -still dreaming, so strange did it appear to her to be travelling through -the air, and over the sea. By her side lay a cluster of pretty berries, -and a handful of savoury roots. Her youngest brother had collected and -laid them there; and she thanked him with a smile, for she knew him as -the swan who flew over her head and shaded her with his wings. - -They flew so high, that the first ship they saw beneath them seemed like -a white sea-gull hovering over the water. Elise saw behind her a large -cloud, it looked like a mountain, and on it she saw the gigantic shadows -of herself and the eleven swans--it formed a picture more splendid than -any she had ever yet seen; soon, however, the sun rose higher, the cloud -remained far behind, and then the floating shadowy picture disappeared. - -The whole day they continued flying with a whizzing noise somewhat like -an arrow, but yet they went slower than usual--they had their sister to -carry. A heavy tempest was gathering, the evening approached; anxiously -did Elise watch the sun, it was setting. Still the solitary rock could -not be seen; it appeared to her that the swans plied their wings with -increasing vigour. Alas! it would be her fault if her brothers did not -arrive at the place in time; they would become human beings when the sun -set, and if this happened before they reached the rock, they must fall -into the sea, and be drowned. She prayed to God most fervently, still no -rock was to be seen; the black clouds drew nearer, violent gusts of wind -announced the approach of a tempest, the clouds rested perpendicularly -upon a fearfully large wave which rolled quickly forwards, one flash of -lightning rapidly succeeded another. - -The sun was now on the rim of the sea. Elise’s heart beat violently; the -swans shot downwards so swiftly that she thought she must fall, but -again they began to hover; the sun was half sunk beneath the water, and -at that moment she saw the little rock below her; it looked like a -seal’s head when he raises it just above the water. And the sun was -sinking fast,--it seemed scarcely larger than a star,--her foot touched -the hard ground, and it vanished altogether, like the last spark on a -burnt piece of paper. Arm in arm stood her brothers around her--there -was only just room for her and them; the sea beat tempestuously against -the rock, flinging over them a shower of foam; the sky seemed in a -continual blaze, with the fast-succeeding flashes of fire that lightened -it, and peal after peal rolled on the thunder, but sister and brothers -kept firm hold of each other’s hands. They sang a psalm, and their psalm -gave them comfort and courage. - -[Illustration: NOT A BOAT WAS TO BE SEEN] - -By daybreak the air was pure and still, and as soon as the sun rose, the -swans flew away with Elise from the rock. The waves rose higher and -higher, and when they looked from the clouds down upon the -blackish-green sea, covered as it was with white foam, they might have -fancied that millions of swans were swimming on its surface. - -As day advanced, Elise saw floating in the air before her a land of -mountains intermixed with glaciers, and in the centre a palace a mile in -length, with splendid colonnades, surrounded by palm-trees and -gorgeous-looking flowers as large as mill-wheels. She asked if this were -the country to which they were flying, but the swans shook their heads, -for what she saw was the beautiful airy castle of the fairy Morgana, -where no human being was admitted; and whilst Elise still bent her eyes -upon it, mountains, trees, and castle all disappeared, and in their -place stood twelve churches with high towers and pointed windows--she -fancied she heard the organ play, but it was only the murmur of the sea. -She was now close to these churches, but behold! they have changed into -a large fleet sailing under them; she looked down and saw it was only a -sea-mist passing rapidly over the water. An eternal variety floated -before her eyes, till at last the actual land to which she was going -appeared in sight. Beautiful blue mountains, cedar woods, towns, and -castles rose to view. Long before sunset Elise sat down among the -mountains, in front of a large cavern; delicate young creepers grew -around so thickly, that it appeared covered with gay embroidered -carpets. - -‘Now we shall see what thou wilt dream of to-night!’ said her youngest -brother, as he showed her the sleeping-chamber destined for her. - -‘Oh that I could dream how you might be released from the spell!’ said -she; and this thought completely occupied her. She prayed most earnestly -for God’s assistance, nay, even in her dreams she continued praying, and -it appeared to her that she was flying up high in the air towards the -castle of the fairy Morgana. The fairy came forward to meet her, radiant -and beautiful, and yet she fancied she resembled the old woman who had -given her berries in the forest, and told her of the swans with golden -crowns. - -‘Thou _canst_ release thy brothers,’ said she, ‘but hast thou courage -and patience sufficient? The water is indeed softer than thy delicate -hands, and yet can mould the hard stones to its will, but then it cannot -feel the pain which thy tender fingers will feel; it has no heart, and -cannot suffer the anxiety and grief which thou must suffer. Dost thou -see these stinging-nettles which I have in my hand? There are many of -the same kind growing round the cave where thou art sleeping; only those -that grow there or on the graves in the church-yard are of use, remember -that! Thou must pluck them, although they will sting thy hand; thou must -trample on the nettles with thy feet, and get yarn from them, and with -this yarn thou must weave eleven shirts with long sleeves;--throw them -over the eleven wild swans, and the spell is broken. But mark this: from -the moment that thou beginnest thy work till it is completed, even -should it occupy thee for years, thou must not speak a word; the first -syllable that escapes thy lips will fall like a dagger into the hearts -of thy brothers; on thy tongue depends their life. Mark well all this!’ - -And at the same moment the fairy touched Elise’s hands with a nettle, -which made them burn like fire, and Elise awoke. It was broad daylight, -and close to her lay a nettle like the one she had seen in her dream. -She fell upon her knees, thanked God, and then went out of the cave in -order to begin her work. She plucked with her own delicate hands the -disagreeable stinging-nettles; they burned large blisters on her hands -and arms, but she bore the pain willingly in the hope of releasing her -dear brothers. She trampled on the nettles with her naked feet, and spun -the green yarn. - -At sunset came her brothers. Elise’s silence quite frightened them, they -thought it must be the effect of some fresh spell of their wicked -step-mother; but when they saw her blistered hands, they found out what -their sister was doing for their sakes. The youngest brother wept, and -when his tears fell upon her hands, Elise felt no more pain, the -blisters disappeared. - -The whole night she spent in her work, for she could not rest till she -had released her brothers. All the following days she sat in her -solitude, for the swans had flown away; but never had time passed so -quickly. One shirt was ready; she now began the second. - -[Illustration: THERE WAS ONLY JUST ROOM FOR HER AND THEM] - -Suddenly a hunting-horn resounded among the mountains. Elise was -frightened. The noise came nearer, she heard the hounds barking; in -great terror she fled into the cave, bound up the nettles which she had -gathered and combed into a bundle, and sat down upon it. - -In the same moment a large dog sprang out from the bushes; two others -immediately followed; they barked loudly, ran away and then returned. It -was not long before the hunters stood in front of the cave; the -handsomest among them was the King of that country; he stepped up to -Elise. Never had he seen a lovelier maiden. - -‘How camest thou here, thou beautiful child?’ said he. Elise shook her -head; she dared not speak, a word might have cost her the life of her -brothers; and she hid her hands under her apron lest the King should see -how she was suffering. - -‘Come with me,’ said he, ‘thou must not stay here! If thou art good as -thou art beautiful, I will dress thee in velvet and silk, I will put a -gold crown upon thy head, and thou shalt dwell in my palace!’ So he -lifted her upon his horse, while she wept and wrung her hands; but the -King said, ‘I only desire thy happiness! thou shalt thank me for this -some day!’ and away he rode over mountains and valleys, holding her on -his horse in front, whilst the other hunters followed. When the sun set, -the King’s magnificent capital with its churches and cupolas lay before -them, and the King led Elise into the palace, where, in a high marble -hall, fountains were playing, and the walls and ceiling displayed the -most beautiful paintings. But Elise cared not for all this splendour; -she wept and mourned in silence, even whilst some female attendants -dressed her in royal robes, wove costly pearls in her hair, and drew -soft gloves over her blistered hands. - -And now she was full dressed, and as she stood in her splendid attire, -her beauty was so dazzling, that the courtiers all bowed low before her; -and the King chose her for his bride, although the Archbishop shook his -head, and whispered that the ‘beautiful lady of the wood must certainly -be a witch, who had blinded their eyes, and infatuated the King’s -heart.’ - -But the King did not listen; he ordered that music should be played. A -sumptuous banquet was served up, and the loveliest maidens danced round -the bride; she was led through fragrant gardens into magnificent halls, -but not a smile was seen to play upon her lips or beam from her eyes. -The King then opened a small room next her sleeping apartment; it was -adorned with costly green tapestry, and exactly resembled the cave in -which she had been found; upon the ground lay the bundle of yarn which -she had spun from the nettles, and by the wall hung the shirt she had -completed. One of the hunters had brought all this, thinking there must -be something wonderful in it. - -‘Here thou mayest dream of thy former home,’ said the King; ‘here is the -work which employed thee; amidst all thy present splendour it may -sometimes give thee pleasure to fancy thyself there again.’ - -When Elise saw what was so dear to her heart, she smiled, and the blood -returned to her cheeks; she thought her brothers might still be -released, and she kissed the King’s hand; he pressed her to his heart -and ordered the bells of all the churches in the city to be rung, to -announce the celebration of their wedding. The beautiful dumb maiden of -the wood was to become Queen of the land. - -The Archbishop whispered evil words in the King’s ear, but they made no -impression upon him; the marriage was solemnised, and the Archbishop -himself was obliged to put the crown upon her head. In his rage he -pressed the narrow rim so firmly on her forehead that it hurt her; but a -heavier weight (sorrow for her brothers) lay upon her heart, she did not -feel bodily pain. She was still silent, a single word would have killed -her brothers; her eyes, however, beamed with heartfelt love to the King, -so good and handsome, who had done so much to make her happy. She became -more warmly attached to him every day. Oh, how much she wished she might -confide to him all her sorrows! but she was forced to remain silent, -she could not speak until her work was completed. To this end she stole -away every night, and went into the little room that was fitted up in -imitation of the cave; there she worked at her shirts, but by the time -she had begun the seventh all her yarn was spent. - -She knew that the nettles she needed grew in the church-yard, but she -must gather them herself; how was she to get them? - -‘Oh, what is the pain in my fingers compared to the anguish my heart -suffers?’ thought she. ‘I must venture to the church-yard; the good God -will not withdraw His protection from me!’ - -Fearful as though she were about to do something wrong, one moonlight -night she crept down to the garden, and through the long avenues got -into the lonely road leading to the church-yard. She saw sitting on one -of the broadest tombstones a number of ugly old witches. They took off -their ragged clothes as if they were going to bathe, and digging with -their long lean fingers into the fresh grass, drew up the dead bodies -and devoured the flesh. Elise was obliged to pass close by them, and the -witches fixed their wicked eyes upon her; but she repeated her prayer, -gathered the stinging-nettles, and took them back with her into the -palace. One person only had seen her; it was the Archbishop, he was -awake when others slept; now he was convinced that all was not right -about the Queen: she must be a witch, who had through her enchantments -infatuated the King, and all the people. - -In the Confessional he told the King what he had seen, and what he -feared; and when the slanderous words came from his lips, the sculptured -images of the saints shook their heads as though they would say, ‘It is -untrue, Elise is innocent!’ But the Archbishop explained the omen quite -otherwise; he thought it was a testimony against her that the holy -images shook their heads at hearing of her sin. - -Two large tears rolled down the King’s cheeks. He returned home in -doubt; he pretended to sleep at night, though sleep never visited him; -and he noticed that Elise rose from her bed every night, and every time -he followed her secretly and saw her enter her little room. - -His countenance became darker every day; Elise perceived it, though she -knew not the cause. She was much pained, and besides, what did she not -suffer in her heart for her brothers! Her bitter tears ran down on the -royal velvet and purple; they looked like bright diamonds, and all who -saw the magnificence that surrounded her, wished themselves in her -place. She had now nearly finished her work, only one shirt was wanting; -unfortunately, yarn was wanting also, she had not a single nettle left. -Once more, only this one time, she must go to the church-yard and gather -a few handfuls. She shuddered when she thought of the solitary walk and -of the horrid witches, but her resolution was as firm as her trust in -God. - -Elise went; the King and the Archbishop followed her; they saw her -disappear at the church-yard door, and when they came nearer, they saw -the witches sitting on the tombstones as Elise had seen them, and the -King turned away, for he believed her whose head had rested on his bosom -that very evening to be amongst them. ‘Let the people judge her!’ said -he. And the people condemned her to be burnt. - -She was now dragged from the King’s sumptuous apartments into a dark, -damp prison, where the wind whistled through the grated window. Instead -of velvet and silk, they gave her the bundle of nettles she had -gathered; on that must she lay her head, the shirts she had woven must -serve her as mattress and counterpane;--but they could not have given -her anything she valued so much; and she continued her work, at the same -time praying earnestly to her God. The boys sang scandalous songs about -her in front of her prison; not a soul comforted her with one word of -love. - -[Illustration: I MUST VENTURE TO THE CHURCH-YARD] - -Towards evening she heard the rustling of Swans’ wings at the grating. -It was the youngest of her brothers, who had at last found his sister, -and she sobbed aloud for joy, although she knew that the coming night -would probably be the last of her life; but then her work was almost -finished and her brother was near. - -The Archbishop came in order to spend the last hour with her; he had -promised the King he would; but she shook her head and entreated him -with her eyes and gestures to go--this night she must finish her work, -or all she had suffered, her pain, her anxiety, her sleepless nights, -would be in vain. The Archbishop went away with many angry words, but -the unfortunate Elise knew herself to be perfectly innocent, and went on -with her work. - -Little mice ran busily about and dragged the nettles to her feet, -wishing to help her; and the thrush perched on the iron bars of the -window, and sang all night as merrily as he could, that Elise might not -lose courage. - -It was still twilight, just one hour before sunrise, when the eleven -brothers stood before the palace gates, requesting an audience with the -King; but it could not be, they were told, it was still night, the King -was asleep, and they dared not wake him. They entreated, they -threatened, the guard came up, the King himself at last stepped out to -ask what was the matter,--at that moment the sun rose, the brothers -could be seen no longer, and eleven white Swans flew away over the -palace. - -The people poured forth from the gates of the city; they wished to see -the witch burnt. One wretched horse drew the cart in which Elise was -placed; a coarse frock of sackcloth had been put on her, her beautiful -long hair hung loosely over her shoulders, her cheeks were of a deadly -paleness, her lips moved gently, and her fingers wove the green yarn: -even on her way to her cruel death she did not give up her work; the ten -shirts lay at her feet, she was now labouring to complete the eleventh. -The rabble insulted her. - -‘Look at the witch, how she mutters! She has not a hymn-book in her -hand, no, there she sits with her accursed hocus-pocus. Tear it from -her, tear it into a thousand pieces!’ - -And they all crowded about her, and were on the point of snatching away -the shirts, when eleven white Swans came flying towards the cart; they -settled all round her, and flapped their wings. The crowd gave way in -terror. - -‘It is a sign from Heaven! she is certainly innocent!’ whispered some; -they dared not say so aloud. - -The Sheriff now seized her by the hand--in a moment she threw the eleven -shirts over the Swans, and eleven handsome Princes appeared in their -place. The youngest had, however, only one arm, and a wing instead of -the other, for one sleeve was deficient in his shirt, it had not been -quite finished. - -‘Now I may speak,’ said she: ‘I am innocent!’ - -And the people who had seen what had happened bowed before her as before -a saint. She, however, sank lifeless in her brothers’ arms; suspense, -fear, and grief had quite exhausted her. - -‘Yes, she is innocent,’ said her eldest brother, and he now related -their wonderful history. Whilst he spoke a fragrance as delicious as -though it proceeded from millions of roses, diffused itself around, for -every piece of wood in the funeral pile had taken root and sent forth -branches, a hedge of blooming red roses surrounded Elise, and above all -the others blossomed a flower of dazzling white colour, bright as a -star; the King plucked it and laid it on Elise’s bosom, whereupon she -awoke from her trance with peace and joy in her heart. - -And all the church-bells began to ring of their own accord, and birds -flew to the spot in swarms, and there was a festive procession back to -the palace, such as no King has ever seen equalled. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration: I HAVE SCARCELY CLOSED MY EYES THE WHOLE NIGHT THROUGH] - - - - -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 bedclothes 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. - -[Illustration] - -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!’ - -[Illustration: THE OLD KING HIMSELF WENT OUT TO OPEN IT] - -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. - -[Illustration: THE PEAS WERE PRESERVED IN THE CABINET OF CURIOSITIES] - -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. - -Was not this a lady of real delicacy? - -[Illustration: KAREN] - - - - -THE RED SHOES - - -There was once a little girl, very pretty and delicate, but so poor that -in summer-time she always went barefoot, and in winter wore large wooden -shoes, so that her little ankles grew quite red and sore. - -In the village dwelt the shoemaker’s mother. She sat down one day and -made out of some old pieces of red cloth a pair of little shoes; they -were clumsy enough, certainly, but they fitted the little girl tolerably -well, and she gave them to her. The little girl’s name was Karen. - -It was the day of her mother’s funeral when the red shoes were given to -Karen; they were not at all suitable for mourning, but she had no -others, and in them she walked with bare legs behind the miserable straw -bier. - -Just then a large old carriage rolled by; in it sat a large old lady; -she looked at the little girl and pitied her, and she said to the -priest, ‘Give me the little girl and I will take care of her.’ - -And Karen thought it was all for the sake of the red shoes that the old -lady had taken this fancy to her, but the old lady said they were -frightful, and they were burnt. And Karen was dressed very neatly; she -was taught to read and to work; and people told her she was pretty--but -the mirror said, ‘Thou art more than pretty, thou art beautiful!’ - -It happened one day that the Queen travelled through that part of the -country with her little daughter, the Princess; and all the people, -Karen amongst them, crowded in front of - -[Illustration] - -the palace, whilst the little Princess stood, dressed in white, at a -window, for every one to see her. She wore neither train nor gold crown; -but on her feet were pretty red morocco shoes, much prettier ones indeed -than those the shoemaker’s mother had made for little Karen. Nothing in -the world could be compared to these red shoes! - -Karen was now old enough to be confirmed, she was to have both new frock -and new shoes. The rich shoemaker in the town took the measure of her -little foot. Large glass cases full of neat shoes and shining boots were -fixed round the room; however, the old lady’s sight was not very good, -and, naturally enough, she had not so much pleasure in looking at them -as Karen had. Amongst the shoes was a pair of red ones, just like those -worn by the Princess. How gay they were! and the shoemaker said they had -been made for a count’s daughter, but had not quite fitted her. - -‘They are of polished leather,’ said the old lady, ‘see how they shine!’ - -‘Yes, they shine beautifully!’ exclaimed Karen. And as the shoes fitted -her, they were bought; but the old lady did not know that they were red, -for she would never have suffered Karen to go to confirmation in red -shoes. But Karen did so. Everybody looked at her feet, and as she walked -up the nave to the chancel, it seemed to her that even the antique -sculptured figures on the monuments, with their stiff ruffs and long -black robes, fixed their eyes on her red shoes. Of them only she thought -when the Bishop laid his hand on her head, when he spoke of Holy -Baptism, of her covenant with God, and how that she must now be a -full-grown Christian. The organ sent forth its deep, solemn tones, the -children’s sweet voices mingled with those of the choristers, but Karen -still thought only of her red shoes. - -[Illustration: AND KAREN WAS DRESSED VERY NEATLY] - -That afternoon, when the old lady was told that Karen had worn red shoes -at her confirmation, she was much vexed, and told Karen that they were -quite unsuitable, and that, henceforward, whenever she went to church, -she must wear black shoes, were they ever so old. - -Next Sunday was the communion day. Karen looked first at the red shoes, -then at the black ones, then at the red again, and--put them on. - -It was beautiful sunshiny weather; Karen and the old lady walked to -church through the corn-fields; the path was very dusty. - -At the church door stood an old soldier; he was leaning on crutches, and -had a marvellously long beard, not white, but reddish-hued, and he bowed -almost to the earth, and asked the old lady if he might wipe the dust -off her shoes. And Karen put out her little foot also. ‘Oh, what pretty -dancing-shoes!’ quoth the old soldier; ‘take care, and mind you do not -let them slip off when you dance’; and he passed his hands over them. - -The old lady gave the soldier a halfpenny, and then went with Karen into -church. - -And every one looked at Karen’s red shoes; and all the carved figures, -too, bent their gaze upon them; and when Karen knelt before the altar, -the red shoes still floated before her eyes; she thought of them and of -them only, and she forgot to join in the hymn of praise--she forgot to -repeat ‘Our Father.’ - -At last all the people came out of church, and the old lady got into her -carriage. Karen was just lifting her foot to follow her, when the old -soldier standing in the porch exclaimed, ‘Only look, what pretty -dancing-shoes!’ And Karen could not help it, she felt she must make a -few of her dancing steps; and after she had once begun, her feet -continued to move, just as though the shoes had received power over -them; she danced round the church-yard, she could not stop. The coachman -was obliged to run after her; he took hold of her and lifted her into -the carriage, but the feet still continued to dance, so as to kick the -good old lady most cruelly. At last the shoes were taken off, and the -feet had rest. - -[Illustration: KAREN AND THE OLD LADY WALKED TO CHURCH] - -And now the shoes were put away in a press, but Karen could not help -going to look at them every now and then. - -The old lady lay ill in bed; the doctor said she could not live much -longer. She certainly needed careful nursing, and who should be her -nurse and constant attendant but Karen? But there was to be a grand ball -in the town. Karen was invited; she looked at the old lady who was -almost dying--she looked at the red shoes--she put them on, there could -be no harm in doing that, at least; she went to the ball, and began to -dance. But when she wanted to move to the right, the shoes bore her to -the left; and when she would dance up the room, the shoes danced down -the room, danced down the stairs, through the streets, and through the -gates of the town. Dance she did, and dance she must, straight out into -the dark wood. - -Something all at once shone through the trees. She thought at first it -must be the moon’s bright face, shining blood-red through the night -mists; but no, it was the old soldier with the red beard--he sat there, -nodding at her, and repeating, ‘Only look, what pretty dancing-shoes!’ - -She was very much frightened, and tried to throw off her red shoes, but -could not unclasp them. She hastily tore off her stockings; but the -shoes she could not get rid of--they had, it seemed, grown on to her -feet. Dance she did, and dance she must, over field and meadow, in rain -and in sunshine, by night and by day. By night! that was most horrible! -She danced into the lonely church-yard, but the dead there danced not, -they were at rest. She would fain have sat down on the poor man’s grave, -where the bitter tansy grew, but for her there was neither rest nor -respite. She danced past the open church door; there she saw an angel, -clad in long white robes, and with wings that reached from his shoulders -to the earth; his countenance was grave and stern, and in his hand he -held a broad glittering sword. - -‘Dance thou shalt,’ said he; ‘dance on, in thy red shoes, till thou art -pale and cold, and thy skin shrinks and crumples up like a skeleton’s! -Dance thou shalt still, from door to door, and wherever proud, vain -children live thou shalt knock, so that they may hear thee and fear! -Dance shalt thou, dance on----’ - -‘Mercy!’ cried Karen; but she heard not the angel’s answer, for the -shoes carried her through the gate, into the fields, along highways and -by-ways, and still she must dance. - -One morning she danced past a door she knew well; she heard -psalm-singing from within, and presently a coffin, strewn with flowers, -was borne out. Then Karen knew that the good old lady was dead, and she -felt herself a thing forsaken by all mankind, and accursed by the Angel -of God. - -[Illustration: HE SAT THERE NODDING AT HER] - -Dance she did, and dance she must, even through the dark night; the -shoes bore her continually over thorns and briars, till her limbs were -torn and bleeding. Away she danced over the heath to a little solitary -house; she knew that the headsman dwelt there, and she tapped with her -fingers against the panes, crying-- - -‘Come out! come out!--I cannot come in to you, I am dancing.’ - -And the headsman replied, ‘Surely thou knowest not who I am. I cut off -the heads of wicked men, and my axe is very sharp and keen.’ - -‘Cut not off my head!’ said Karen; ‘for then I could not live to repent -of my sin; but cut off my feet with the red shoes.’ - -And then she confessed to him all her sin, and the headsman cut off her -feet with the red shoes on them; but even after this the shoes still -danced away with those little feet over the fields, and into the deep -forests. - -And the headsman made her a pair of wooden feet and hewed down some -boughs to serve her as crutches, and he taught her the psalm which is -always repeated by criminals, and she kissed the hand that had guided -the axe, and went her way over the heath. ‘Now I have certainly suffered -quite enough through the red shoes,’ thought Karen, ‘I will go to church -and let people see me once more!’ and she went as fast as she could to -the church-porch, but as she approached it, the red shoes danced before -her and she was frightened and turned her back. - -All that week through she endured the keenest anguish and shed many -bitter tears; however, when Sunday came, she said to herself, ‘Well, I -must have suffered and striven enough by this time, I dare say I am -quite as good as many of those who are holding their heads so high in -church.’ So she took courage and went there, but she had not passed the -churchyard gate before she saw the red shoes again dancing before her, -and in great terror she again turned back, and more deeply than ever -bewailed her sin. - -She then went to the pastor’s house, and begged that some employment -might be given her, promising to work diligently and do all she could; -she did not wish for any wages, she said, she only wanted a roof to -shelter her, and to dwell with good people. And the pastor’s wife had -pity on her, and took her into her service. And Karen was grateful and -industrious. - -Every evening she sat silently listening to the pastor, while he read -the Holy Scriptures aloud. All the children loved her, but when she -heard them talk about dress and finery, and about being as beautiful as -a queen, she would sorrowfully shake her head. - -[Illustration: DANCE SHE MUST, OVER FIELD AND MEADOW] - -Again Sunday came, all the pastor’s household went to church, and they -asked her if she would not go too, but she sighed and looked with tears -in her eyes upon her crutches. - -When they were all gone, she went into her own little, lowly chamber--it -was but just large enough to contain a bed and chair--and there she sat -down with her psalm-book in her hand, and whilst she was meekly and -devoutly reading in it, the wind wafted the tones of the organ from the -church into her room, and she lifted up her face to heaven and prayed, -with tears, ‘O God, help me!’ - -Then the sun shone brightly, so brightly!--and behold! close before her -stood the white-robed Angel of God, the same whom she had seen on that -night of horror at the church-porch, but his hand wielded not now, as -then, a sharp, threatening sword--he held a lovely green bough, full of -roses. With this he touched the ceiling, which immediately rose to a -great height, a bright gold star spangling in the spot where the Angel’s -green bough had touched it. And he touched the walls, whereupon the room -widened, and Karen saw the organ, the old monuments, and the -congregation all sitting in their richly carved seats and singing from -their psalm-books. - -For the church had come home to the poor girl in her narrow chamber, or -rather the chamber had grown, as it were, into the church; she sat with -the rest of the pastor’s household, and, when the psalm was ended, they -looked up and nodded to her, saying, ‘Thou didst well to come, Karen!’ - -‘This is mercy!’ said she. - -And the organ played again, and the children’s voices in the choir -mingled so sweetly and plaintively with it! The bright sunbeams streamed -warmly through the windows upon Karen’s seat; her heart was so full of -sunshine, of peace and gladness, that it broke; her soul flew upon a -sunbeam to her Father in heaven, where not a look of reproach awaited -her, not a word was breathed of the red shoes. - -[Illustration: TWO ROGUES CALLING THEMSELVES WEAVERS MADE THEIR -APPEARANCE] - - - - -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 away 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 colours and elaborate -patterns, the clothes manufactured from which should have the wonderful -property of remaining invisible to every one 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 neighbours 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 colours 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 colours--yes, I will tell -the Emperor without delay how very beautiful I think them.’ - -[Illustration: ‘OH, IT IS EXCELLENT!’ REPLIED THE MINISTER] - -‘We shall be much obliged to you,’ said the impostors, and then they -named the different colours 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 colours 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 colours -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 whilst -it was still on 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 colours!’ and, at the same -time, they pointed to the empty frames; for they imagined that every one -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 every one 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 -every one 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!’ - -[Illustration: AS IF IN THE ACT OF HOLDING SOMETHING UP] - -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. - -[Illustration: SO NOW THE EMPEROR WALKED UNDER HIS HIGH CANOPY] - -‘How splendid his Majesty looks in his new clothes! and how well they -fit!’ every one cried out. ‘What a design! what colours! 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 bed-chamber, 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 pretending to be carrying something; for they would by no -means betray anything like simplicity or unfitness for their office. - -[Illustration] - -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 bed-chamber -took greater pains than ever to appear holding up a train, although, in -reality, there was no train to hold. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - -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!’ - -[Illustration: ALL CARES AND SORROWS WERE FORGOTTEN BY HIM WHO INHALED -ITS FRAGRANCE] - -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 -humour,’ said the Emperor. So the nightingale came forth, and sang so -delightfully that at first no one could say anything ill-humoured of -her. - -‘_Superbe! charmant!_’ exclaimed the ladies; for they all used to -chatter French, each one worse than her neighbour. - -‘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 pig-sty; 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, - lles ist weg, weg, weg!’[2] - -[2] - - ‘Ah! dear Augustine, - ll 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. - -[Illustration: AND HE WEPT LIKE A CHILD] - -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 -Augustin’; 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.’ - -[Illustration: ‘ACH! DU LIEBER AUGUSTIN’] - -The swineherd--that is to say, the Prince, for no one knew that he was -other than an ill-favoured 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 every one -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 pig-sty?’ 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. - -[Illustration] - -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 colour -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 wouldst not have an -honourable prince! thou couldst 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!’ - -[Illustration: UP FLEW THE TRUNK] - - - - -THE FLYING TRUNK - - -There was once a merchant, so rich that he might have paved the whole -street where he lived and an alley besides with pieces of silver, but -this he did not do; he knew another way of using his money, and whenever -he laid out a shilling he gained a crown in return: a merchant he lived, -and a merchant he died. - -All his money then went to his son. But the son lived merrily and spent -all his time in pleasures, went to masquerades every evening, made -bank-notes into paper kites, and played at ducks and drakes in the pond -with gold pieces instead of stones. In this manner his money soon -vanished, until at last he had only a few pennies left, and his wardrobe -was reduced to a pair of slippers and an old dressing-gown. His friends -cared no more about him, now that they could no longer walk abroad with -him; one of them, however, more good-natured than the rest, sent him an -old trunk, with this advice, ‘Pack up, and be off!’ This was all very -fine, but he had nothing that he could pack up, so he put himself into -the trunk. - -It was a droll trunk! When the lock was pressed close it could fly. The -merchant’s son did press the lock, and lo! up flew the trunk with him -through the chimney, high into the clouds, on and on, higher and higher; -the lower part cracked, which rather frightened him, for if it had -broken in two, a pretty fall he would have had! - -However, it descended safely, and he found himself in Turkey. He hid -the trunk under a heap of dry leaves in a wood, and walked into the next -town: he could do so very well, for among the Turks everybody goes about -clad as he was, in dressing-gown and slippers. He met a nurse, carrying -a little child in her arms. ‘Hark ye, Turkish nurse,’ quoth he; ‘what -palace is that with the high windows close by the town?’ - -[Illustration: THE SON LIVED MERRILY] - -‘The King’s daughter dwells there,’ replied the nurse; ‘it has been -prophesied of her that she shall be made very unhappy by a lover, and -therefore no one may visit her, except when the King and Queen are with -her.’ - -‘Thank you,’ said the merchant’s son, and he immediately went back into -the wood, sat down in his trunk, flew up to the roof of the palace, and -crept through the window into the Princess’s apartment. - -She was lying asleep on the sofa. She was so beautiful that the -merchant’s son could not help kneeling down to kiss her hand, whereupon -she awoke, and was not a little frightened at the sight of this -unexpected visitor; but he told her, however, that he was the Turkish -prophet, and had come down from the sky on purpose to woo her, and on -hearing this she was well pleased. So they sat down side by side, and he -talked to her about her eyes, how that they were beautiful dark-blue -seas, and that thoughts and feelings floated like mermaidens therein; -and he spoke of her brow, how that it was a fair snowy mountain, with -splendid halls and pictures, and many other such like things he told -her. - -[Illustration: HE MET A NURSE] - -Oh, these were charming stories! and thus he wooed the Princess, and she -immediately said ‘Yes!’ - -‘But you must come here on Saturday,’ said she; ‘the King and Queen have -promised to drink tea with me that evening; they will be so proud and -so pleased when they hear that I am to marry the Turkish prophet! And -mind you tell them a very pretty story, for they are exceedingly fond of -stories; my mother likes them to be very moral and aristocratic, and my -father likes them to be merry, so as to make him laugh.’ - -‘Yes, I shall bring no other bridal present than a tale,’ replied the -merchant’s son; and here they parted, but not before the Princess had -given her lover a sabre all covered with gold. He knew excellently well -what use to make of this present. - -So he flew away, bought a new dressing-gown, and then sat down in the -wood to compose the tale which was to be ready by Saturday, and -certainly he found composition not the easiest thing in the world. - -At last he was ready, and at last Saturday came. - -The King, the Queen, and the whole court were waiting tea for him at the -Princess’s palace. The suitor was received with much ceremony. - -‘Will you not tell us a story?’ asked the Queen; ‘a story that is -instructive and full of deep meaning.’ - -‘But let it make us laugh,’ said the King. - -‘With pleasure,’ replied the merchant’s son; and now you must hear his -story:-- - - * * * * * - -There was once a bundle of matches, who were all extremely proud of -their high descent, for their genealogical tree, that is to say, the -tall fir-tree, from which each of them was a splinter, had been a tree -of great antiquity, and distinguished by his height from all the other -trees of the forest. The matches were now lying on the mantlepiece, -between a tinder-box and an old iron saucepan, and to these two they -often talked about their youth. ‘Ah, when we were upon the green -branches,’ said they; ‘when we really lived upon green branches--that -was a happy time! Every morning and evening we had diamond-tea--that is, -dew; the whole day long we had sunshine, at least whenever the sun -shone, and all the little birds used to tell stories to us. It might -easily be seen, too, that we were rich, for the other trees were clothed -with leaves only during the summer, whereas our family could afford to -wear green clothes both summer and winter. But at last came the -wood-cutters: then was the great revolution, and our family was -dispersed. The paternal trunk obtained a situation as mainmast to a -magnificent ship, which could sail round the world if it chose; the -boughs were transported to various places, and our vocation was -henceforth to kindle lights for low, common people. Now you will -understand how it comes to pass that persons of such high descent as we -are should be living in a kitchen.’ - -‘To be sure, mine is a very different history,’ remarked the iron -saucepan, near which the matches were lying. ‘From the moment I came -into the world until now, I have been rubbed and scrubbed, and boiled -over and over again--oh, how many times! I love to have to do with what -is solidly good, and am really of the first importance in this house. My -only recreation is to stand clean and bright upon this mantlepiece after -dinner, and hold some rational conversation with my companions. However, -excepting the water-pail, who now and then goes out into the court, we -all of us lead a very quiet domestic life here. Our only newsmonger is -the turf-basket, but he talks in such a democratic way about -“government” and the “people”--why, I assure you, not long ago, there -was an old jar standing here, who was so much shocked by what he heard -said that he fell down from the mantlepiece and broke into a thousand -pieces! That turf-basket is a Liberal, that’s the fact.’ - -‘Now, you talk too much,’ interrupted the tinder-box, and the steel -struck the flint, so that the sparks flew out. ‘Why should we not spend -a pleasant evening?’ - -[Illustration: ‘WILL YOU TELL US A STORY?’ ASKED THE QUEEN] - -‘Yes, let us settle who is of highest rank among us!’ proposed the -matches. - -‘Oh no; for my part I would rather not speak of myself,’ objected the -earthenware pitcher. ‘Suppose we have an intellectual entertainment? I -will begin; I will relate something of everyday life, such as we have -all experienced; one can easily transport oneself into it, and that is -so interesting! Near the Baltic, among the Danish beech-groves----’ - -‘That is a capital beginning!’ cried all the plates at once; ‘it will -certainly be just the sort of story for me!’ - -‘Yes, there I spent my youth in a very quiet family; the furniture was -rubbed, the floors were washed, clean curtains were hung up every -fortnight.’ - -‘How very interesting! what a charming way you have of describing -things!’ said the hair-broom. ‘Any one might guess immediately that it -is a lady who is speaking; the tale breathes such a spirit of -cleanliness!’ - -‘Very true; so it does!’ exclaimed the water-pail, and in the excess of -his delight he gave a little jump, so that some of the water splashed -upon the floor. - -And the pitcher went on with her tale, and the end proved as good as the -beginning. - -All the plates clattered applause, and the hair-broom took some green -parsley out of the sand-hole and crowned the pitcher, for he knew that -this would vex the others; and, thought he, ‘If I crown her to-day, she -will crown me to-morrow.’ - -‘Now I will dance,’ said the fire-tongs, and accordingly she did dance, -and oh! it was wonderful to see how high she threw one of her legs up -into the air; the old chair-cover in the corner tore with horror at -seeing her. ‘Am not I to be crowned too?’ asked the tongs, and she was -crowned forthwith. - -‘These are the vulgar rabble!’ thought the matches. - -[Illustration: ‘BUT LET IT MAKE US LAUGH,’ SAID THE KING] - -The tea-urn was now called upon to sing, but she had a cold; she said -she could only sing when she was boiling; however, this was all her -pride and affectation. The fact was she never cared to sing except when -she was standing on the parlour-table before company. - -On the window-ledge lay an old quill-pen, with which the maids used to -write; there was nothing remarkable about her, except that she had been -dipped too low in the ink; however, she was proud of that. ‘If the -tea-urn does not choose to sing,’ quoth she, ‘she may let it alone; -there is a nightingale in the cage hung just outside--he can sing; to -be sure, he had never learnt the notes--never mind, we will not speak -evil of any one this evening!’ - -‘I think it highly indecorous,’ observed the tea-kettle, who was the -vocalist of the kitchen, and a half-brother of the tea-urn’s, ‘that a -foreign bird should be listened to. Is it patriotic? I appeal to the -turf-basket.’ - -‘I am only vexed,’ said the turf-basket. ‘I am vexed from my inmost soul -that such things are thought of at all. Is it a becoming way of spending -the evening? Would it not be much more rational to reform the whole -house, and establish a totally new order of things, rather more -according to nature? Then every one would get into his right place, and -I would undertake to direct the revolution. What say you to it? That -would be something worth the doing!’ - -‘Oh yes, we will make a grand commotion!’ cried they all. Just then the -door opened--it was the servant-maid. They all stood perfectly still, -not one dared stir, yet there was not a single kitchen utensil among -them all but was thinking about the great things he could have done, and -how great was his superiority over the others. - -‘Ah, if I had chosen it,’ thought each of them, ‘what a merry evening we -might have had!’ - -The maid took the matches and struck a light--oh, how they sputtered and -blazed up! - -‘Now every one may see,’ thought they, ‘that we are of highest rank; -what a splendid, dazzling light we give, how glorious!’--and in another -moment they were burnt out. - - * * * * * - -‘That is a capital story,’ said the Queen; ‘I quite felt myself -transported into the kitchen;--yes, thou shalt have our daughter!’ - -‘With all my heart,’ said the King; ‘on Monday thou shalt marry our -daughter.’ They said ‘thou’ to him now, since he was so soon to become -one of the family. - -The wedding was a settled thing; and on the evening preceding, the whole -city was illuminated; cakes, buns, and sugar-plums were thrown out among -the people; all the little boys in the streets stood upon tiptoes, -shouting ‘Hurrah!’ and whistling through their fingers--it was famous! - -[Illustration: THEIR SLIPPERS FLEW ABOUT THEIR EARS] - -‘Well, I suppose I ought to do my part too,’ thought the merchant’s son, -so he went and bought sky-rockets, squibs, Catherine-wheels, -Roman-candles, and all kinds of fireworks conceivable; put them all -into his trunk, and flew up into the air, letting them off as he flew. - -Hurrah! what a glorious sky-rocket was that! - -All the Turks jumped up to look, so hastily that their slippers flew -about their ears; such a meteor they had never seen before. Now they -might be sure that it was indeed the prophet who was to marry their -Princess. - -As soon as the merchant’s son had returned in his trunk to the wood, he -said to himself, ‘I will now go into the city and hear what people say -about me, and what sort of figure I made in the air.’ And, certainly, -this was a very natural idea. - -Oh, what strange accounts were given! Every one whom he accosted had -beheld the bright vision in a way peculiar to himself, but all agreed -that it was marvellously beautiful. - -‘I saw the great prophet with my own eyes,’ declared one; ‘he had eyes -like sparkling stars, and a beard like foaming water.’ - -‘He flew enveloped in a mantle of fire,’ said another; ‘the prettiest -little cherubs were peeping forth from under its folds.’ - -Yes; he heard of many beautiful things, and the morrow was to be his -wedding-day. - -He now went back to the wood, intending to get into his trunk again, but -where was it? - -Alas! the trunk was burnt. One spark from the fireworks had been left in -it, and set it on fire; the trunk now lay in ashes. The poor merchant’s -son could never fly again--could never again visit his bride. - -She sat the livelong day upon the roof of her palace expecting him; she -expects him still; he, meantime, goes about the world telling stories, -but none of his stories now are so pleasant as that one which he related -in the Princess’s palace about the Brimstone Matches. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - -THE LEAPING MATCH - - -The flea, the grasshopper, and the frog once wanted to try which of them -could jump highest; so they invited the whole world, and anybody else -who liked, to come and see the grand sight. Three famous jumpers were -they, as was seen by every one when they met together in the room. - -‘I will give my daughter to him who shall jump highest,’ said the King; -‘it would be too bad for you to have the trouble of jumping, and for us -to offer you no prize.’ - -The flea was the first to introduce himself; he had such polite manners, -and bowed to the company on every side, for he was of noble blood; -besides, he was accustomed to the society of man, which had been a great -advantage to him. - -Next came the grasshopper; he was not quite so slightly and elegantly -formed as the flea; however, he knew perfectly well how to conduct -himself, and wore a green uniform, which belonged to him by right of -birth. Moreover, he declared himself to have sprung from a very ancient -and honourable Egyptian family, and that in his present home he was very -highly esteemed, so much so, indeed, that he had been taken out of the -field and put into a card-house three stories high, built on purpose for -him, and all of court-cards, the coloured sides being turned inwards: as -for the doors and windows in his house, they were cut out of the body of -the Queen of Hearts. ‘And I can sing so well,’ added he, ‘that sixteen -parlour-bred crickets, who have chirped and chirped ever since they -were born and yet could never get anybody to build them a card-house, -after hearing me have fretted themselves ten times thinner than ever, -out of sheer envy and vexation!’ Both the flea and the grasshopper knew -excellently well how to make the most of themselves, and each considered -himself quite an equal match for a princess. - -[Illustration: THE OLD COUNCILLOR] - -The frog said not a word; however, it might be that he thought the more, -and the house-dog, after going snuffing about him, confessed that the -frog must be of a good family. And the old councillor, who in vain -received three orders to hold his tongue, declared that the frog must be -gifted with the spirit of prophecy, for that one could read on his back -whether there was to be a severe or a mild winter, which, to be sure, is -more than can be read on the back of the man who writes the weather -almanack. - -‘Ah, I say nothing for the present!’ remarked the old King, ‘but I -observe everything, and form my own private opinion thereupon.’ And now -the match began. The flea jumped so high that no one could see what had -become of him, and so they insisted that he had not jumped at all, -‘which was disgraceful, after he had made such a fuss!’ - -The grasshopper only jumped half as high, but he jumped right into the -King’s face, and the King declared he was quite disgusted by his -rudeness. - -[Illustration: ‘I SAY NOTHING FOR THE PRESENT,’ REMARKED THE KING] - -The frog stood still as if lost in thought; at last people fancied he -did not intend to jump at all. - -‘I’m afraid he is ill!’ said the dog; and he went snuffing at him -again, when lo! all at once he made a little side-long jump into the lap -of the Princess, who was sitting on a low stool close by. - -Then spoke the King: ‘There is nothing higher than my daughter, -therefore he who jumps up to her jumps highest; but only a person of -good understanding would ever have thought of that, and thus the frog -has shown us that he has understanding. He has brains in his head, that -he has!’ - -[Illustration] - -And thus the frog won the Princess. - -‘I jumped highest for all that!’ exclaimed the flea. ‘But it’s all the -same to me; let her have the stiff-legged, slimy creature, if she like -him! I jumped highest, but I am too light and airy for this stupid -world; the people can neither see me nor catch me; dulness and heaviness -win the day with them!’ - -And so the flea went into foreign service, where, it is said, he was -killed. - -And the grasshopper sat on a green bank, meditating on the world and its -goings on, and at length he repeated the flea’s last words--‘Yes, -dulness and heaviness win the day! dulness and heaviness win the day!’ -And then he again began singing his own peculiar, melancholy song, and -it is from him that we have learnt this history; and yet, my friend, -though you read it here in a printed book, it may not be perfectly -true. - -[Illustration: THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE CHIMNEY-SWEEPER] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE CHIMNEY-SWEEPER - - -Have you never seen an old-fashioned oaken-wood cabinet, quite black -with age and covered with varnish and carving-work? Just such a piece of -furniture, an old heir-loom that had been the property of its present -mistress’s great-grandmother, once stood in a parlour. It was carved -from top to bottom--roses, tulips, and little stags’ heads with long, -branching antlers, peering forth from the curious scrolls and foliage -surrounding them. Moreover, in the centre panel of the cabinet was -carved the full-length figure of a man, who seemed to be perpetually -grinning, perhaps at himself, for in truth he was a most ridiculous -figure; he had crooked legs, small horns on his forehead, and a long -beard. The children of the house used to call him ‘the crooked-legged -Field-marshal-Major-General-Corporal-Sergeant,’ for this was a long, -hard name, and not many figures, whether carved in wood or in stone, -could boast of such a title. There he stood, his eyes always fixed upon -the table under the pier-glass, for on this table stood a pretty little -porcelain shepherdess, her mantle gathered gracefully round her, and -fastened with a red rose; her shoes and hat were gilt, her hand held a -crook--oh, she was charming! Close by her stood a little -chimney-sweeper, likewise of porcelain. He was as clean and neat as any -of the other figures, indeed, the manufacturer might just as well have -made a prince as a chimney-sweeper of him, for though elsewhere black as -a coal, his face was as fresh and rosy as a girl’s, which was certainly -a mistake,--it ought to have been black. His ladder in his hand, there -he kept his station, close by the little shepherdess; they had been -placed together from the first, had always remained on the same spot, -and had thus plighted their troth to each other; they suited each other -so well, they were both young people, both of the same kind of -porcelain, both alike fragile and delicate. - -Not far off stood a figure three times as large as the others. It was an -old Chinese mandarin who could nod his head; he too was of porcelain, -and declared that he was grandfather to the little shepherdess. He could -not prove his assertion; however, he insisted that he had authority -over her, and so, when ‘the crooked-legged -Field-marshal-Major-General-Corporal-Sergeant’ made proposals to the -little shepherdess, he nodded his head in token of his consent. - -‘Now, you will have a husband,’ said the old mandarin to her, ‘a husband -who, I verily believe, is of mahogany-wood; you will be the wife of a -Field-marshal-Major-General-Corporal-Sergeant, of a man who has a whole -cabinet full of silverplate, besides a store of no one knows what in the -secret drawers!’ - -‘I will not go into that dismal cabinet!’ declared the little -shepherdess. ‘I have heard say that eleven porcelain ladies are already -imprisoned there.’ - -‘Then you shall be the twelfth, and you will be in good company!’ -rejoined the mandarin. ‘This very night, when the old cabinet creaks, -your nuptials shall be celebrated, as sure as I am a Chinese mandarin!’ - -Whereupon he nodded his head and fell asleep. - -But the little shepherdess wept, and turned to the beloved of her heart, -the porcelain chimney-sweep. - -‘I believe I must ask you,’ said she, ‘to go out with me into the wide -world, for here we cannot stay.’ - -‘I will do everything you wish,’ replied the little chimney-sweeper; -‘let us go at once. I think I can support you by my profession.’ - -‘If you could but get off the table!’ sighed she; ‘I shall never be -happy till we are away, out in the wide world.’ - -And he comforted her, and showed her how to set her little foot on the -carved edges and gilded foliage twining round the leg of the table, till -at last they reached the floor. But turning to look at the old cabinet, -they saw everything in a grand commotion, all the carved stags putting -their little heads farther out, raising their antlers, and moving their -throats, whilst ‘the crooked-legged -Field-marshal-Major-General-Corporal-Sergeant’ sprang up, and shouted -out to the old Chinese mandarin, ‘Look, they are eloping! they are -eloping!’ They were not a little frightened, and quickly jumped into an -open drawer for protection. - -In this drawer there were three or four incomplete packs of cards, and -also a little puppet-theatre; a play was being performed, and all the -queens, whether of diamonds, hearts, clubs, or spades, sat in the front -row fanning themselves with the flowers they held in their hands; behind -them stood the knaves, showing that they had each two heads, one above -and one below, as most cards have. The play was about two persons who -were crossed in love, and the shepherdess wept over it, for it was just -like her own history. - -‘I cannot bear this!’ said she. ‘Let us leave the drawer.’ But when they -had again reached the floor, on looking up at the table, they saw that -the old Chinese mandarin had awakened, and was rocking his whole body to -and fro with rage. - -‘Oh, the old mandarin is coming!’ cried the little shepherdess, and down -she fell on her porcelain knees in the greatest distress. ‘A sudden -thought has struck me,’ said the chimney-sweeper: ‘suppose we creep into -the large pot-pourri vase that stands in the corner; there we can rest -upon roses and lavender, and throw salt in his eyes if he come near us.’ - -‘That will not do at all,’ said she; ‘besides, I know that the old -mandarin was once betrothed to the pot-pourri vase, and no doubt there -is still some slight friendship existing between them. No, there is no -help for it, we must wander forth together into the wide world.’ - -‘Hast thou indeed the courage to go with me into the wide world?’ asked -the chimney-sweeper. ‘Hast thou considered how large it is, and that we -may never return home again?’ - -‘I have,’ replied she. - -And the chimney-sweeper looked keenly at her, and then said, ‘My path -leads through the chimney! hast thou indeed the courage to creep with me -through the stove, through the flues and the tunnel? Well do I know the -way! We shall mount up so high that they cannot come near us, and at the -top there is a cavern that leads into the wide world.’ - -And he led her to the door of the stove. - -‘Oh, how black it looks!’ sighed she; however, she went on with him, -through the flues and through the tunnel, where it was dark, pitch -dark. - -‘Now we are in the chimney,’ said he; ‘and look, what a lovely star -shines above us!’ - -And there was actually a star in the sky, shining right down upon them, -as if to show them the way. And they crawled and crept--a fearful path -was theirs--so high, so very high! but he guided and supported her, and -showed her the best places whereon to plant her tiny porcelain feet, -till they reached the edge of the chimney, where they sat down to rest, -for they were very tired, and indeed not without reason. - -Heaven with all its stars was above them, and the town with all its -roofs lay beneath them; the wide, wide world surrounded them. The poor -shepherdess had never imagined all this; she leant her little head on -her chimney-sweeper’s arm, and wept so vehemently that the gilding broke -off from her waistband. - -‘This is too much!’ exclaimed she. ‘This can I not endure! The world is -all too large! Oh that I were once more upon the little table under the -pier-glass! I shall never be happy till I am there again. I have -followed thee out into the wide world, surely thou canst follow me home -again, if thou lovest me!’ - -And the chimney-sweeper talked very sensibly to her, reminding -her of the old Chinese mandarin and ‘the crooked-legged -Field-marshal-Major-General-Corporal-Sergeant,’ but she wept so -bitterly, and kissed her little chimney-sweep so fondly, that at last he -could not but yield to her request, unreasonable as it was. - -So with great difficulty they crawled down the chimney, crept through -the flues and the tunnel, and at length found themselves once more in -the dark stove; but they still lurked behind the door, listening, before -they would venture to return into the room. Everything was quite still; -they peeped out: alas! on the ground lay the old Chinese mandarin. In -attempting to follow the runaways, he had fallen down off the table and -had broken into three pieces; his head lay shaking in a corner; ‘the -crooked-legged Field-marshal-Major-General-Corporal-Sergeant’ stood -where he had always stood, thinking over what had happened. - -‘Oh, how shocking!’ exclaimed the little shepherdess; ‘old grandfather -is broken in pieces, and we are the cause! I shall never survive it!’ -and she wrung her delicate hands. - -‘He can be put together again,’ replied the chimney-sweeper. ‘He can -very easily be put together; only be not so impatient! If they glue his -back together, and put a strong rivet in his neck, then he will be as -good as new again, and will be able to say plenty of unpleasant things -to us.’ - -‘Do you really think so?’ asked she. And then they climbed up the table -to the place where they had stood before. - -‘See how far we have been!’ observed the chimney-sweeper, ‘we might have -spared ourselves all the trouble.’ - -‘If we could but have old grandfather put together!’ said the -shepherdess. ‘Will it cost very much?’ - -And he was put together; the family had his back glued and his neck -riveted; he was as good as new, but could no longer nod his head. - -‘You have certainly grown very proud since you broke in -pieces!’ remarked the crooked-legged -Field-marshal-Major-General-Corporal-Sergeant, ‘but I must say, for my -part, I do not see that there is anything to be proud of. Am I to have -her or am I not? Just answer me that!’ - -And the chimney-sweeper and the little shepherdess looked imploringly at -the old mandarin; they were so afraid lest he should nod his head. But -nod he could not, and it was disagreeable to him to tell a stranger -that he had a rivet in his neck: so the young porcelain people always -remained together; they blessed the grandfather’s rivet, and loved each -other till they broke in pieces. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration: THE POOR DUCKLING WAS SCORNED BY ALL] - - - - -THE UGLY DUCKLING - - -It was beautiful in the country, it was summer-time; the wheat was -yellow, the oats were green, the hay was stacked up in the green -meadows, and the stork paraded about on his long red legs, discoursing -in Egyptian, which language he had learned from his mother. The fields -and meadows were skirted by thick woods, and a deep lake lay in the -midst of the woods.--Yes, it was indeed beautiful in the country! The -sunshine fell warmly on an old mansion, surrounded by deep canals, and -from the walls down to the water’s edge there grew large burdock-leaves, -so high that children could stand upright among them without being -perceived. This place was as wild and unfrequented as the thickest part -of the wood, and on that account a duck had chosen to make her nest -there. She was sitting on her eggs; but the pleasure she had felt at -first was now almost gone, because she had been there so long, and had -so few visitors, for the other ducks preferred swimming on the canals to -sitting among the burdock-leaves gossiping with her. - -At last the eggs cracked one after another, ‘Tchick tchick!’ All the -eggs were alive, and one little head after another appeared. ‘Quack, -quack,’ said the duck, and all got up as well as they could; they peeped -about from under the green leaves, and as green is good for the eyes, -their mother let them look as long as they pleased. - -‘How large the world is!’ said the little ones, for they found their -present situation very different to their former confined one, while yet -in the egg-shells. - -‘Do you imagine this to be the whole of the world?’ said the mother; ‘it -extends far beyond the other side of the garden, to the pastor’s field; -but I have never been there. Are you all here?’ And then she got up. -‘No, I have not got you all, the largest egg is still here. How long -will this last? I am so weary of it!’ And then she sat down again. - -‘Well, and how are you getting on?’ asked an old duck, who had come to -pay her a visit. - -‘This one egg keeps me so long,’ said the mother, ‘it will not break. -But you should see the others; they are the prettiest little ducklings I -have seen in all my days; they are all like their father,--the -good-for-nothing fellow! he has not been to visit me once.’ - -‘Let me see the egg that will not break,’ said the old duck; ‘depend -upon it, it is a turkey’s egg. I was cheated in the same way once -myself, and I had such trouble with the young ones; for they were afraid -of the water, and I could not get them there. I called and scolded, but -it was all of no use. But let me see the egg--ah yes! to be sure, that -is a turkey’s egg. Leave it, and teach the other little ones to swim.’ - -‘I will sit on it a little longer,’ said the duck. ‘I have been sitting -so long, that I may as well spend the harvest here.’ - -‘It is no business of mine,’ said the old duck, and away she waddled. - -The great egg burst at last, ‘Tchick, tchick,’ said the little one, and -out it tumbled--but oh, how large and ugly it was! The duck looked at -it, ‘That is a great, strong creature,’ said she, ‘none of the others -are at all like it; can it be a young turkey-cock? Well, we shall soon -find out, it must go into the water, though I push it in myself! - -The next day there was delightful weather, and the sun shone warmly upon -all the green leaves when mother-duck with all her family went down to -the canal; plump she went into the water, ‘Quack, quack,’ cried she, and -one duckling after another jumped in. The water closed over their heads, -but all came up again, and swam together in the pleasantest manner; -their legs moved without effort. All were there, even the ugly grey one. - -‘No! it is not a turkey,’ said the old duck; ‘only see how prettily it -moves its legs, how upright it holds itself; it is my own child! it is -also really very pretty when one looks more closely at it; quack, quack, -now come with me, I will take you into the world, introduce you in the -duck-yard; but keep close to me, or some one may tread on you, and -beware of the cat.’ - -So they came into the duck-yard. There was a horrid noise; two families -were quarrelling about the remains of an eel, which in the end was -secured by the cat. - -‘See, my children, such is the way of the world,’ said the mother-duck, -wiping her beak, for she too was fond of roasted eels. ‘Now use your -legs,’ said she, ‘keep together, and bow to the old duck you see yonder. -She is the most distinguished of all the fowls present, and is of -Spanish blood, which accounts for her dignified appearance and manners. -And look, she has a red rag on her leg; that is considered extremely -handsome, and is the greatest distinction a duck can have. Don’t turn -your feet inwards; a well-educated duckling always keeps his legs far -apart, like his father and mother, just so--look, now bow your necks, -and say “quack.”’ - -And they did as they were told. But the other ducks who were in the yard -looked at them and said aloud, ‘Only see, now we have another brood, as -if there were not enough of us already. And fie! how ugly that one is! -We will not endure it’; and immediately one of the ducks flew at him, -and bit him in the neck. - -‘Leave him alone,’ said the mother, ‘he is doing no one any harm.’ - -‘Yes, but he is so large, and so strange-looking, and therefore he shall -be teased.’ - -‘Those are fine children that our good mother has,’ said the old duck -with the red rag on her leg. ‘All are pretty except one, and that has -not turned out well; I almost wish it could be hatched over again.’ - -‘That cannot be, please your highness,’ said the mother. ‘Certainly he -is not handsome, but he is a very good child, and swims as well as the -others, indeed rather better. I think he will grow like the others all -in good time, and perhaps will look smaller. He stayed so long in the -egg-shell, that is the cause of the difference,’ and she scratched the -duckling’s neck, and stroked his whole body. ‘Besides,’ added she, ‘he -is a drake; I think he will be very strong, therefore it does not matter -so much; he will fight his way through.’ - -‘The other ducks are very pretty,’ said the old duck, ‘pray make -yourselves at home, and if you find an eel’s head you can bring it to -me.’ - -And accordingly they made themselves at home. - -But the poor little duckling, who had come last out of its egg-shell, -and who was so ugly, was bitten, pecked, and teased by both ducks and -hens. ‘It is so large,’ said they all. And the turkey-cock, who had come -into the world with spurs on, and therefore fancied he was an emperor, -puffed himself up like a ship in full sail, and marched up to the -duckling quite red with passion. The poor little thing scarcely knew -what to do; he was quite distressed, because he was so ugly, and because -he was the jest of the poultry-yard. - -[Illustration: HE CAME TO A WIDE MOOR] - -So passed the first day, and afterwards matters grew worse and worse; -the poor duckling was scorned by all. Even his brothers and sisters -behaved unkindly, and were constantly saying, ‘The cat fetch thee, thou -nasty creature!’ The mother said, ‘Ah, if thou wert only far away!’ The -ducks bit him, the hens pecked him, and the girl who fed the poultry -kicked him. He ran over the hedge; the little birds in the bushes were -terrified. ‘That is because I am so ugly,’ thought the duckling, -shutting his eyes, but he ran on. At last he came to a wide moor, where -lived some wild ducks; here he lay the whole night, so tired and so -comfortless. In the morning the wild ducks flew up, and perceived their -new companion. ‘Pray, who are you?’ asked they; and our little duckling -turned himself in all directions, and greeted them as politely as -possible. - -‘You are really uncommonly ugly,’ said the wild ducks; ‘however that -does not matter to us, provided you do not marry into our families.’ -Poor thing! he had never thought of marrying; he only begged permission -to lie among the reeds, and drink the water of the moor. - -There he lay for two whole days--on the third day there came two wild -geese, or rather ganders, who had not been long out of their egg-shells, -which accounts for their impertinence. - -‘Hark ye,’ said they, ‘you are so ugly that we like you infinitely well; -will you come with us, and be a bird of passage? On another moor, not -far from this, are some dear, sweet, wild geese, as lovely creatures as -have ever said “hiss, hiss.” You are truly in the way to make your -fortune, ugly as you are.’ - -Bang! a gun went off all at once, and both wild geese were stretched -dead among the reeds; the water became red with blood;--bang! a gun went -off again, whole flocks of wild geese flew up from among the reeds, and -another report followed. - -There was a grand hunting party: the hunters lay in ambush all around; -some were even sitting in the trees, whose huge branches stretched far -over the moor. The blue smoke rose through the thick trees like a mist, -and was dispersed as it fell over the water; the hounds splashed about -in the mud, the reeds and rushes bent in all directions. How frightened -the poor little duck was! He turned his head, thinking to hide it under -his wings, and in a moment a most formidable-looking dog stood close to -him, his tongue hanging out of his mouth, his eyes sparkling fearfully. -He opened wide his jaws at the sight of our duckling, showed him his -sharp white teeth, and, splash, splash! he was gone, gone without -hurting him. - -‘Well! let me be thankful,’ sighed he, ‘I am so ugly, that even the dog -will not eat me.’ - -And now he lay still, though the shooting continued among the reeds, -shot following shot. - -The noise did not cease till late in the day, and even then the poor -little thing dared not stir; he waited several hours before he looked -around him, and then hastened away from the moor as fast as he could. He -ran over fields and meadows, though the wind was so high that he had -some difficulty in proceeding. - -Towards evening he reached a wretched little hut, so wretched that it -knew not on which side to fall, and therefore remained standing. The -wind blew violently, so that our poor little duckling was obliged to -support himself on his tail, in order to stand against it; but it became -worse and worse. He then remarked that the door had lost one of its -hinges, and hung so much awry that he could creep through the crevice -into the room, which he did. - -In this room lived an old woman, with her tom-cat and her hen; and the -cat, whom she called her little son, knew how to set up his back and -purr; indeed he could even emit sparks when stroked the wrong way. The -hen had very short legs, and was therefore called ‘Cuckoo Shortlegs’; -she laid very good eggs, and the old woman loved her as her own child. - -The next morning the new guest was perceived; the cat began to mew, and -the hen to cackle. - -‘What is the matter?’ asked the old woman, looking round; however, her -eyes were not good, so she took the young duckling to be a fat duck who -had lost her way. ‘This is a capital catch,’ said she, ‘I shall now have -duck’s eggs, if it be not a drake: we must try.’ - -And so the duckling was put to the proof for three weeks, but no eggs -made their appearance. - -Now the cat was the master of the house, and the hen was the mistress, -and they used always to say, ‘We and the World,’ for they imagined -themselves to be not only the half of the world, but also by far the -better half. The duckling thought it was possible to be of a different -opinion, but that the hen would not allow. - -‘Can you lay eggs?’ asked she. - -‘No.’ - -‘Well, then, hold your tongue.’ - -And the cat said, ‘Can you set up your back? can you purr?’ - -‘No.’ - -‘Well, then, you should have no opinion when reasonable persons are -speaking.’ - -So the duckling sat alone in a corner, and was in a very bad humour; -however, he happened to think of the fresh air and bright sunshine, and -these thoughts gave him such a strong desire to swim again that he could -not help telling it to the hen. - -‘What ails you?’ said the hen. ‘You have nothing to do, and, therefore, -brood over these fancies; either lay eggs, or purr, then you will forget -them.’ - -‘But it is so delicious to swim,’ said the duckling, ‘so delicious when -the waters close over your head, and you plunge to the bottom.’ - -‘Well, that is a queer sort of a pleasure,’ said the hen; ‘I think you -must be crazy. Not to speak of myself, ask the cat--he is the most -sensible animal I know--whether he would like to swim or to plunge to -the bottom of the water. Ask our mistress, the old woman--there is no -one in the world wiser than she--do you think she would take pleasure in -swimming, and in the waters closing over her head?’ - -‘You do not understand me,’ said the duckling. - -‘What, we do not understand you! so you think yourself wiser than the -cat, and the old woman, not to speak of myself. Do not fancy any such -thing, child, but be thankful for all the kindness that has been shown -you. Are you not lodged in a warm room, and have you not the advantage -of society from which you can learn something? But you are a simpleton, -and it is wearisome to have anything to do with you. Believe me, I wish -you well. I tell you unpleasant truths, but it is thus that real -friendship is shown. Come, for once give yourself the trouble to learn -to purr, or to lay eggs.’ - -‘I think I will go out into the wide world again,’ said the duckling. - -‘Well, go,’ answered the hen. - -So the duckling went. He swam on the surface of the water, he plunged -beneath, but all animals passed him by, on account of his ugliness. And -the autumn came, the leaves turned yellow and brown, the wind caught -them and danced them about, the air was very cold, the clouds were heavy -with hail or snow, and the raven sat on the hedge and croaked:--the poor -duckling was certainly not very comfortable! - -One evening, just as the sun was setting with unusual brilliancy, a -flock of large beautiful birds rose from out of the brushwood; the -duckling had never seen anything so beautiful before; their plumage was -of a dazzling white, and they had long, slender necks. They were swans; -they uttered a singular cry, spread out their long, splendid wings, and -flew away from these cold regions to warmer countries, across the open -sea. They flew so high, so very high! and the little ugly duckling’s -feelings were so strange; he turned round and round in the water like a -mill-wheel, strained his neck to look after them, and sent forth such a -loud and strange cry, that it almost frightened himself.--Ah! he could -not forget them, those noble - -[Illustration: AND THE CAT SAID, ‘CAN YOU PURR?’] - -birds! those happy birds! When he could see them no longer, he plunged -to the bottom of the water, and when he rose again was almost beside -himself. The duckling knew not what the birds were called, knew not -whither they were flying, yet he loved them as he had never before loved -anything; he envied them not, it would never have occurred to him to -wish such beauty for himself; he would have been quite contented if the -duck in the duck-yard had but endured his company--the poor ugly animal! - -And the winter was so cold, so cold! The duckling was obliged to swim -round and round in the water, to keep it from freezing; but every night -the opening in which he swam became smaller and smaller; it froze so -that the crust of ice crackled; the duckling was obliged to make good -use of his legs to prevent the water from freezing entirely; at last, -wearied out, he lay stiff and cold in the ice. - -Early in the morning there passed by a peasant, who saw him, broke the -ice in pieces with his wooden shoe, and brought him home to his wife. - -He now revived; the children would have played with him, but our -duckling thought they wished to tease him, and in his terror jumped into -the milk-pail, so that the milk was spilled about the room: the good -woman screamed and clapped her hands; he flew thence into the pan where -the butter was kept, and thence into the meal-barrel, and out again, and -then how strange he looked! - -The woman screamed, and struck at him with the tongs; the children ran -races with each other trying to catch him, and laughed and screamed -likewise. It was well for him that the door stood open; he jumped out -among the bushes into the new-fallen snow--he lay there as in a dream. - -But it would be too melancholy to relate all the trouble and misery -that he was obliged to suffer during the severity of the winter--he was -lying on a moor among the reeds, when the sun began to shine warmly -again, the larks sang, and beautiful spring had returned. - -And once more he shook his wings. They were stronger than formerly, and -bore him forwards quickly, and before he was well aware of it, he was in -a large garden where the apple-trees stood in full bloom, where the -syringas sent forth their fragrance and hung their long green branches -down into the winding canal. Oh, everything was so lovely, so full of -the freshness of spring! And out of the thicket came three beautiful -white swans. They displayed their feathers so proudly, and swam so -lightly, so lightly! The duckling knew the glorious creatures, and was -seized with a strange melancholy. - -‘I will fly to them, those kingly birds!’ said he. ‘They will kill me, -because I, ugly as I am, have presumed to approach them; but it matters -not, better to be killed by them than to be bitten by the ducks, pecked -by the hens, kicked by the girl who feeds the poultry, and to have so -much to suffer during the winter!’ He flew into the water, and swam -towards the beautiful creatures--they saw him and shot forward to meet -him. ‘Only kill me,’ said the poor animal, and he bowed his head low, -expecting death,--but what did he see in the water?--he saw beneath him -his own form, no longer that of a plump, ugly, grey bird--it was that of -a swan. - -It matters not to have been born in a duck-yard, if one has been hatched -from a swan’s egg. - -The good creature felt himself really elevated by all the troubles and -adversities he had experienced. He could now rightly estimate his own -happiness, and the larger swans swam round him, and stroked him with -their beaks. - -Some little children were running about in the garden; - -[Illustration: AND EVERY ONE SAID, ‘THE NEW ONE IS THE BEST’] - -they threw grain and bread into the water, and the youngest exclaimed, -‘There is a new one!’--the others also cried out, ‘Yes, there is a new -swan come!’ and they clapped their hands, and danced around. They ran to -their father and mother, bread and cake were thrown into the water, and -every one said, ‘The new one is the best, so young, and so beautiful!’ -and the old swans bowed before him. The young swan felt quite ashamed, -and hid his head under his wings; he scarcely knew what to do, he was -all too happy, but still not proud, for a good heart is never proud. - -He remembered how he had been persecuted and derided, and he now heard -every one say he was the most beautiful of all beautiful birds. The -syringas bent down their branches towards him low into the water, and -the sun shone so warmly and brightly--he shook his feathers, stretched -his slender neck, and in the joy of his heart said, ‘How little did I -dream of so much happiness when I was the ugly, despised duckling!’ - -[Illustration] - - - - -THE NAUGHTY BOY - - -There was once an old poet, such a good, honest old poet! He was sitting -alone in his own little room on a very stormy evening; the wind was -roaring without, and the rain poured down in torrents. But the old man -sat cosily by his warm stove, the fire was blazing brightly, and some -apples were roasting in front of it. - -‘Those poor people who have no roof to shelter them to-night will, most -assuredly, not have a dry thread left on their skin,’ said the -kind-hearted old man. - -‘Oh, open the door! open the door! I am so cold, and quite wet through -besides--open the door!’ cried a voice from without. The voice was like -a child’s, and seemed half-choked with sobs. ‘Rap, rap, rap!’ it went on -knocking at the door, whilst the rain still kept streaming down from the -clouds, and the wind rattled among the window-panes. - -‘Poor thing!’ said the old poet; and he arose and opened the door. There -stood a little boy, almost naked; the water trickled down from his long -flaxen hair; he was shivering with cold, and had he been left much -longer out in the street, he must certainly have perished in the storm. - -‘Poor boy!’ said the old poet again, taking him by the hand, and leading -him into his room. ‘Come to me, and we’ll soon make thee warm again, and -I will give thee some wine, and some roasted apples for thy supper, my -pretty child!’ - -And, of a truth, the boy was exceedingly pretty. His eyes - -[Illustration] - -shone as bright as stars, and his hair, although dripping with water, -curled in beautiful ringlets. He looked quite like a little cherub, but -he was very pale, and trembled in every limb with cold. In his hand he -held a pretty little cross-bow, but it seemed entirely spoilt by the -rain, and the colours painted on the arrows all ran one into another. - -The old poet sat down again beside the stove, and took the little boy in -his lap; he wrung the water out of his streaming hair, warmed the -child’s hands within his own, and gave him mulled wine to drink. The boy -soon became himself again, the rosy colour returned to his cheeks, he -jumped down from the old man’s lap, and danced around him on the floor. - -‘Thou art a merry fellow!’ said the poet. ‘Thou must tell me thy name.’ - -‘They call me Cupid,’ replied the boy. ‘Don’t you know me? There lies my -bow; ah, you can’t think how capitally I can shoot! See, the weather is -fine again now; the moon is shining bright.’ - -‘But thy bow is spoilt,’ said the old man. - -‘That would be a sad disaster, indeed,’ remarked the boy, as he took the -bow in his hand and examined it closely. ‘Oh, it is quite dry by this -time, and it is not a bit damaged; the string, too, is quite strong -enough, I think. However, I may as well try it!’ He then drew his bow, -placed an arrow before the string, took his aim, and shot direct into -the old poet’s heart. ‘Now you may be sure that my cross-bow is not -spoilt!’ cried he, as, with a loud laugh, he ran away. - -The naughty boy! This was, indeed, ungrateful of him, to shoot to the -heart the good old man who had so kindly taken him in, warmed him, and -dried his clothes, given him sweet wine, and nice roasted apples for -supper! - -The poor poet lay groaning on the ground, for the arrow had wounded him -sorely. ‘Fie, for shame, Cupid!’ cried he, ‘thou art a wicked boy! I -will tell all good children how thou hast treated me, and bid them take -heed and never play with thee, for thou wilt assuredly do them a -mischief, as thou hast done to me.’ - -All the good boys and girls to whom he related this story were on their -guard against the wicked boy, Cupid; but, notwithstanding, he made fools -of them again and again, he is so terribly cunning! When the students -are returning home from lecture, he walks by their side, dressed in a -black gown, and with a book under his arm. They take him to be a -fellow-student, and so they suffer him to walk arm-in-arm with them, -just as if he were one of their intimate friends. But whilst they are -thus familiar with him, all of a sudden he thrusts his arrows into their -bosoms. Even when young girls are going to church, he will follow and -watch for his opportunity: he is always waylaying people. In the -theatre, he sits in the great chandelier, and kindles such a bright, hot -flame, men fancy it a lamp, but they are soon undeceived. He wanders -about in the royal gardens and all the public walks, making mischief -everywhere; nay, once he even shot thy father and mother to the heart! -Only ask them, dear child, and they will certainly tell thee all about -it. In fine, this fellow, this Cupid, is a very wicked boy! Do not play -with him! He waylays everybody, boys and girls, youths and maidens, men -and women, rich and poor, old and young. Only think of this: he once -shot an arrow into thy good old grandmother’s heart! It happened a long -time ago, and she has recovered from the wound, but she will never -forget him, depend upon it. - -Fie, for shame! wicked Cupid! Is he not a mischievous boy? - -Beware of him, beware of him, dear child! - -[Illustration: THE END] - -Printed by T. and A. 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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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Hans Andersen</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: William Robinson</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: November 7, 2021 [eBook #66688]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Brian Coe, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HANS ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES ***</div> -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/cover.jpg"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" -height="550" alt="[Image of -the book's cover unavailable.]" /></a> -</p> - -<table cellpadding="0" -style="border: 2px black solid;margin:auto auto;max-width:50%; -padding:1%;"> -<tr><td> - -<p class="c"><a href="#CONTENTS">Contents.</a></p> - -<p class="c"><a href="#LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS">List of Illustrations</a><br /> -<a href="#LIST_OF_COLOURED_ILLUSTRATIONS">List of Coloured Illustrations</a><br /> -<span class="nonvis">(In certain versions of this etext [in certain browsers] -clicking on the image will bring up a larger version.)</span></p> - -<p class="c">(etext transcriber's note)</p></td></tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_i" id="page_i">{i}</a></span> </p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;" id="front"> -<a href="images/frontispiece.jpg"> -<img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" width="450" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_ii" id="page_ii">{ii}</a></span> </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_iii" id="page_iii">{iii}</a></span> </p> - -<p class="c">HANS ANDERSEN’S FAIRY TALES</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/title.png"> -<img src="images/title.png" -height="600" -alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a></div> - -<h1> -HANS:ANDERSEN’S<br /> -FAIRY:TALES;WITH<br /> -ILLUSTRATIONS:BY<br /> -W:HEATH:ROBINSON</h1> -<p class="c"> -NEW:YORK<br /> -HENRY:HOLT:&:CO.<br /> -1913<br /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_v" id="page_v">{v}</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_iv" id="page_iv">{iv}</a></span></p> - -<h2 class="bgg"><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 381px;"> -<a href="images/i_a_v.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_a_v.jpg" width="381" height="268" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<table cellpadding="4" summary="deprecated"> -<tr><td> </td><td class="rt"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_vii">vii</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#LIST_OF_COLOURED_ILLUSTRATIONS">LIST OF COLOURED PLATES</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_xi">xi</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#THE_MARSH_KINGS_DAUGHTER">THE MARSH KING’S DAUGHTER</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_2">2</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#TOMMELISE">TOMMELISE</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_52">52</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd" colspan="3"><a href="#THE_SNOW_QUEEN">THE SNOW QUEEN</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd1"><a href="#PART_THE_FIRST">PART THE FIRST—WHICH TREATS OF THE MIRROR AND ITS FRAGMENTS</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_69">69</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd1"><a href="#PART_THE_SECOND">PART THE SECOND—A LITTLE BOY AND A LITTLE GIRL</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_72">72</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_vi" id="page_vi">{vi}</a></span></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd1"><a href="#PART_THE_THIRD">PART THE THIRD—THE ENCHANTED FLOWER-GARDEN</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_80">80</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd1"><a href="#PART_THE_FOURTH">PART THE FOURTH—THE PRINCE AND THE PRINCESS</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_90">90</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd1"><a href="#PART_THE_FIFTH">PART THE FIFTH—THE LITTLE ROBBER-MAIDEN</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_99">99</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd1"><a href="#PART_THE_SIXTH">PART THE SIXTH—THE LAPLAND WOMAN AND THE FINLAND WOMAN</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_107">107</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd1"><a href="#PART_THE_SEVENTH">PART THE SEVENTH—WHICH TREATS OF THE SNOW QUEEN’S PALACE, AND OF WHAT CAME TO PASS THEREIN</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_112">112</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#ELFIN-MOUNT">ELFIN-MOUNT</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_121">121</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#THE_LITTLE_MERMAID">THE LITTLE MERMAID</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_133">133</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#THE_STORKS">THE STORKS</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_165">165</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#THE_NIGHTINGALE">THE NIGHTINGALE</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_173">173</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#THE_WILD_SWANS">THE WILD SWANS</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_190">190</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#THE_REAL_PRINCESS">THE REAL PRINCESS</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_214">214</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#THE_RED_SHOES">THE RED SHOES</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_218">218</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#THE_EMPERORS_NEW_CLOTHES">THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_229">229</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#THE_SWINEHERD">THE SWINEHERD</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_238">238</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#THE_FLYING_TRUNK">THE FLYING TRUNK</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_247">247</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#THE_LEAPING_MATCH">THE LEAPING MATCH</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_258">258</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#THE_SHEPHERDESS_AND_THE_CHIMNEY-SWEEPER">THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE CHIMNEY-SWEEPER</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_263">263</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#THE_UGLY_DUCKLING">THE UGLY DUCKLING</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_271">271</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#THE_NAUGHTY_BOY">THE NAUGHTY BOY</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_286">286</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_vii" id="page_vii">{vii}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS"></a>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> - -<table cellpadding="3" summary="deprecated"> -<tr><td> </td><td class="rt"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_1">The marsh king’s daughter</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_1">1</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_2">She understood the speech of birds</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_2">2</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_7">It was he who pulled her down</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_7">7</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_13">The Nile flood had retired</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_13">13</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_27">There was a little bird that beat its wings</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_27">27</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_35">Placed the golden circuit about his neck</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_35">35</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_41">Then she saw the storks</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_41">41</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_51">The swallow soared high into the air</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_51">51</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_52">‘Thou poor little thing,’ said the field-mouse</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_52">52</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_56">‘This is just the wife for my son,’ said the toad</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_56">56</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_59">Oh, how terrified was poor Tommelise</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_59">59</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_65">That was the greatest of pleasures</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_65">65</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_69">They carried the mirror from place to place</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_69">69</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_71">He chuckled with delight</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_71">71</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_79">She wore a large hat, with most beautiful flowers painted on it</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_79">79</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_87">Gerda knew every flower in the garden</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_87">87</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_94">Suddenly a large raven hopped upon the snow in front of her</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_94">94</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_97">Cabinet councillors were walking about barefooted</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_97">97</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_102">And the nearer they were to the door the prouder they looked</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_102">102</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_106">And flapped his black wings at the carriage till it was out of sight</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_106">106</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_109">The little robber-maiden</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_109">109</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_112">The snow queen</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_112">112</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_115">She ran on as fast as she could</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_115">115</a> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_viii" id="page_viii">{viii}</a></span></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_117">She entered the large, cold, empty hall</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_117">117</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_119">Tailpiece</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_119">119</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_120">The elfin king’s housekeeper</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_120">120</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_124">The mer-king must be invited first</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_124">124</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_127">They felt quite as if they were at home</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_127">127</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_130">I will have thee myself to wife</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_130">130</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_132">The little mermaid</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_132">132</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_137">She was on the whole a sensible sort of lady</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_137">137</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_140">The youngest was the most lovely</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_140">140</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_148">They ate from their hands</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_148">148</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_155">Many an evening she rose to the place</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_155">155</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_159">When the sun arose she awoke</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_159">159</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_164">Father stork</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_164">164</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_168">‘Stork! stork! long-legged stork!’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_168">168</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_170">And fetch one for each of the boys</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_170">170</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_172">‘Oh! how pretty that is!’ he would say</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_172">172</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_177">Among the branches dwelt a nightingale</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_177">177</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_179">They admired the city, the palace, and the garden</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_179">179</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_181">The kitchen-maid</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_181">181</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_184">The chief imperial nightingale bringer</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_184">184</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_187">He was quite as successful as the real nightingale</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_187">187</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_189">The wild swans</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_189">189</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_195">So Elise took off her clothes and stepped into the water</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_195">195</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_198">And met an old woman with a basket full of berries</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_198">198</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_201">Not a boat was to be seen</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_201">201</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_204">There was only just room for her and them</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_204">204</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_209">I must venture to the churchyard</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_209">209</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_212">Tailpiece</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_212">212</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_213">I have scarcely closed my eyes the whole night through</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_213">213</a> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_ix" id="page_ix">{ix}</a></span></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_215">The old king himself went out to open it</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_215">215</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_216">And the pea was preserved in the cabinet of curiosities</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_216">216</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_217">Karen</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_217">217</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_220">And Karen was dressed very neatly</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_220">220</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_222">Karen and the old lady walked to church</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_222">222</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_224">He sat there nodding at her</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_224">224</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_226">Dance she must, over field and meadow</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_226">226</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_228">Two rogues calling themselves weavers made their appearance</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_228">228</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_231">‘Oh, it is excellent!’ replied the minister</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_231">231</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_233">As if in the act of holding something up</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_233">233</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_234">So now the emperor walked under his high canopy</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_234">234</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_235">The two rogues</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_235">235</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_236">Tailpiece</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_236">236</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_237">The emperor’s daughter</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_237">237</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_239">All cares and sorrows were forgotten by him who inhaled its fragrance</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_239">239</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_241">And he wept like a child</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_241">241</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_243">‘Ach! du lieber Augustin’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_243">243</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_246">Up flew the trunk</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_246">246</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_248">The son lived merrily</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_248">248</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_249">He met a nurse</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_249">249</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_252">Will you tell us a story? asked the queen</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_252">252</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_253">‘But let it make us laugh,’ said the king</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_253">253</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_255">Their slippers flew about their ears</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_255">255</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_257">And thus the frog won the princess</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_257">257</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_259">The old councillor</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_259">259</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_260">‘Say nothing for the present,’ remarked the king</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_260">260</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_261">It may not be perfectly true</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_261">261</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_262">The shepherdess and the chimney-sweeper</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_262">262</a> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_x" id="page_x">{x}</a></span></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_263">Heading</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_263">263</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_269">Tailpiece</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_269">269</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_270">The poor duckling was scorned by all</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_270">270</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_275">He came to a large moor</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_275">275</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_280">And the cat said, ‘Can you purr?’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_280">280</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_283">And every one said, ‘The new one is the best’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_283">283</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_285">Beware of him, dear child!</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_285">285</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt"><a href="#page_289"><span class="smcap">The End</span></a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_289">289</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_xi" id="page_xi">{xi}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="LIST_OF_COLOURED_ILLUSTRATIONS" id="LIST_OF_COLOURED_ILLUSTRATIONS"></a>LIST OF COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> - -<table cellpadding="3" summary="deprecated"> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#front">‘The bud opened into a full-blown flower, in the middle of which lay a beautiful child’</a></td><td class="rt"><a href="#front"> <i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_56">‘She stood at the door and begged for a piece of barley-corn’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_56"><i>Facing page</i> 56</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_64">‘Yes! I will go with thee, said Tommelise, and she seated herself on the bird’s back’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_64"><span class="ditto3">”</span> 64</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_84">‘The swing moves and the bubbles fly upward with bright ever-changing colours’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_84"><span class="ditto3">”</span>84</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_94">‘He did not come to woo her, he said, he had only come to hear the wisdom of the princess’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_94"><span class="ditto3">”</span>94</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_126">‘Round and round they went, such whirling and twirling’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_126"><span class="ditto">”</span>126</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_134">‘She put the statue in her garden’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_134"><span class="ditto">”</span>134</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_162">‘With the rest of the children of air, soared high above the rosy cloud’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_162"><span class="ditto">”</span>162</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_170">‘We will bring him two little ones, a brother and a sister’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_170"><span class="ditto">”</span>170</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_176">‘Then began the nightingale to sing’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_176"><span class="ditto">”</span>176</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_190">‘The peasant’s wife sat on Sundays at the door of her cottage reading her hymn-book’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_190"><span class="ditto">”</span>190</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_214">‘Princesses he found in plenty, but whether they were real princesses -it was impossible for him to decide’</a></td><td class="rt"><a href="#page_214"><span class="ditto">”</span> 214</a> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_xii" id="page_xii">{xii}</a></span></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_218">‘She sat down one day and made out of some old pieces of red cloth a pair of little shoes’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_218"><i>Opposite page</i> 218</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_244">‘The Swineherd scolded and the rain poured down’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_244"><span class="ditto">”</span>244</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_256">‘She sat the live-long day upon the roof of her palace, expecting him’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_256"><span class="ditto">”</span>256</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="pdd"><a href="#page_286">‘He jumped down from the old man’s lap and danced around him on the floor’</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_286"><span class="ditto">”</span>286</a></td></tr> - -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_1" id="page_1">{1}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 456px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_001.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_001.jpg" width="456" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE:MARSH:KING’S:DAUGHTER</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_2" id="page_2">{2}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_MARSH_KINGS_DAUGHTER" id="THE_MARSH_KINGS_DAUGHTER"></a> -<a href="images/i_b_002.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_002.jpg" width="384" height="293" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<br /><span class="caption">SHE UNDERSTOOD THE SPEECH OF BIRDS</span> -<br /> -THE MARSH KING’S DAUGHTER</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">T</span>HE storks tell their young ones ever so many fairy tales, all of them -from the fen and the moss. Generally the tales are suited to the -youngsters’ age and understanding. The baby birds are pleased if they -are told just ‘kribly, krably, plurry-murry!’ which they think -wonderful; but the older ones will have something with more sense in it, -or, at the least, a tale about themselves. Of the two oldest and longest -tales which have been told among the storks, one we all know—that about -Moses, who was placed by his mother in an ark on the waters of the Nile, -was found by the king’s daughter, and then was taught all learning, and -became a great man, and no one knows where he was buried. Everybody has -heard that tale.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_3" id="page_3">{3}</a></span></p> - -<p>But the other story is not known at all even now; perhaps because it is -really a chimney-corner tale. It has been handed down by mother-stork to -mother-stork for hundreds of years, and each in turn has told it better, -till now we are telling it best of all.</p> - -<p>The first pair of storks who knew it had their summer quarters on a -Viking’s log-house by the moor in Wendsyssel, which is in the county of -Hjörring, near Skagen in Jutland, if we want to be accurate. To this day -there is still an enormous great moss there. You can read all about it -in your geography book. The moss lies where was once the bottom of the -sea, before the great upheaval of the land; and now it stretches for -miles, surrounded on all sides by watery meadows and quivering bog, with -turf-moss cloudberries and stunted trees growing. A fog hangs over it -almost continually, and till about seventy years ago wolves were still -found there. It may certainly be called a wild moor, and you can imagine -what lack of paths and what abundance of swamp and sea was there -thousands of years ago. In that waste man saw ages back just what he -sees to-day. The reeds were just as high, with the same kind of long -leaves and purplish-brown, feathery flowers as they have now; the -birches stood with white bark and fine, loose-hung leaves just as they -now stand; and for the living creatures that came there, why, the fly -wore its gauze suit of just the same cut as now, and the colour of the -stork’s dress was white and black, with red stockings. On the other -hand, the men of that time wore different clothes from those we wear. -But whoever it was, poor peasant or free hunter, that trod on the -quagmire, it happened thousands of years ago just as it does to-day—in -he went and down he sank, down to the Marsh King, as they called him, -who reigned beneath in the great Moss Kingdom.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_4" id="page_4">{4}</a></span> He was called also the -Mire King, but we will call him by the stork’s name for him—Marsh King. -People know very little about how he governed, but perhaps that is just -as well.</p> - -<p>Near to the moss, and right in the Liim Fjord, stood the Viking’s -log-house, with paved cellar and tower two storeys high. On the roof the -storks had built their nest. Mother-stork sat on her eggs, and was -positive they would turn out well.</p> - -<p>One evening father-stork had been out for a long time, and when he came -home he seemed excited and flurried.</p> - -<p>‘I’ve dreadful news for you!’ he said to mother-stork.</p> - -<p>‘Don’t get excited,’ said she. ‘Remember I’m sitting on my eggs, and I -might be upset by it, and then the eggs would suffer.’</p> - -<p>‘You must know it!’ he answered. ‘She has come here, our landlord’s -daughter in Egypt! She has ventured on the journey here, and she is -lost!’</p> - -<p>‘Why, she is of fairy descent! Tell me all about it; you know I can’t -bear to wait at this time, when I’m sitting.’</p> - -<p>‘Listen, mother. It’s as you told me. She has believed what the doctor -said, that the moor-flowers here could do her sick father good, and so -she has flown here in a feather-dress with the other winged princesses, -who have to come to the north every year to bathe and renew their youth. -She has come, and she is lost!’</p> - -<p>‘You’re getting too long-winded!’ said mother-stork. ‘The eggs may be -chilled! I can’t bear to be excited!’</p> - -<p>‘I have watched,’ said father-stork, ‘and in the evening, when I went -into the reeds, where the quagmire is able to bear me, there came three -swans. Something in the way they flew told me, “Watch; that isn’t a real -swan; it’s only swan<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_5" id="page_5">{5}</a></span> feathers.” You know the feeling, mother, as well -as I do; you can tell if it is right.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, certainly,’ said she; ‘but tell me about the princess. I’m tired -of hearing about the swan’s feathers.’</p> - -<p>‘Here, in the middle of the moor, you know,’ said father-stork, ‘is a -kind of lake; you can see a part of it if you stand up. There, by the -reeds and the green quagmire, lies a great elder-stump. The three swans -lighted on it, flapped their wings, and looked round them. Then one of -them threw off her swan’s plumage, and I saw it was our own princess, of -our house in Egypt. Then she sat down, and she had no other covering -than her own long, black hair. I heard her ask the two others to take -great care of her swan-skin while she plunged under the water to gather -a flower which she thought she saw. They nodded, and lifted up the loose -feather-dress. “I wonder what they mean to do with it,” said I to -myself; and no doubt she asked them the same. And she got an answer, -something she could see for herself. They flew aloft with her -feather-dress! “Sink down,” they cried; “you shall never fly in the -swan-skin again; never see Egypt again! Stay in the moss!” And so they -tore her feather-dress into a hundred pieces, till the feathers flew -about as if it was snowing, and off flew the two good-for-nothing -princesses.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, how dreadful!’ said mother-stork. ‘I can’t bear to hear it. But, -tell me, what else happened?’</p> - -<p>‘Our princess moaned and wept. Her tears fell on the elder-stump, and it -was quite moved, for it was the Marsh King himself, who lives in the -quagmire. I saw the stump turn itself, so it wasn’t only a trunk, for it -put out long, muddy boughs like arms. Then the unhappy girl was -frightened, and sprang aside into the quivering marsh, which will not -bear me, much less her. In at once she sank, and down with<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_6" id="page_6">{6}</a></span> her went the -elder-stump—it was he who pulled her down. Then a few big black -bubbles, and no trace of her left. She is engulfed in the marsh, and -will never return to Egypt with her flower. You couldn’t have borne to -see it, mother!’</p> - -<p>‘You shouldn’t have told me anything of the sort just now; it may affect -the eggs. The princess can take good care of herself. She’ll get help -easily enough. Had it been you or I, there would have been an end of -us.’</p> - -<p>‘However, I’ll go day by day to see about it,’ said father-stork; and so -he did.</p> - -<p>The days and months went by. He saw at last one day that right from the -bottom of the marsh a green stalk pushed up till it reached the surface -of the water. Out of it grew a leaf, that grew wider and wider, and -close to it a bud put out. Then one morning, as the stork was flying -over it, it opened, with the sun’s warmth, into a full-blown flower, in -the middle of which lay a beautiful child, a little girl, as if she were -fresh from the bath. So like was the child to the princess from Egypt, -that at first the stork believed it to be herself turned a child again. -But when he thought it over, he decided that it was more likely to be -the child of the princess and the Marsh King, and that was why she was -lying in a water lily.</p> - -<p>‘She mustn’t be left lying there,’ thought father-stork, ‘and there are -too many already in my nest. But I have it! The Viking’s wife has no -children, and she has often wished for a little one. Yes, I get the name -for bringing the babies; I will do it in sober truth for once! I’ll fly -to the Viking’s wife with the child. They’ll be delighted!’</p> - -<p>So the stork took the little girl, flew to the log-house, made a hole -with his beak in the window, with panes made of bladder, laid the child -on the bosom of the Viking’s wife, and flew away<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_7" id="page_7">{7}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 268px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_007.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_007.jpg" width="268" height="526" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>IT WAS HE WHO PULLED HER DOWN</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_8" id="page_8">{8}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">to mother-stork to tell her all about it. Her young ones heard it too, -for they were now old enough.</p> - -<p>‘Listen; the princess is not dead. She has sent her little one up, and -the child has a home found for her.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, so I said from the first,’ said mother-stork. ‘Now think a little -about your own children. It’s almost time for our journey. I begin to -feel a tingling under my wings. The cuckoo and the nightingale are off -already, and I hear the quails chattering about it, and saying that we -shall soon have a favourable wind. Our young ones are quite fit for -training, I’m sure.’</p> - -<p>Glad indeed was the Viking’s wife when she woke in the morning to find -the beautiful little child near her side. She kissed and fondled it, but -it screamed with passion, and threw out its arms and legs, and seemed -utterly miserable. At last it cried itself to sleep, and there it lay, -one of the prettiest babies you could set eyes on.</p> - -<p>The Viking’s wife was so happy, so gay, so well, that she could not but -hope that her husband and his men would return as suddenly as the little -one had come, and so she and all her household busied themselves to get -everything into order. The long coloured tapestries, which she and her -maidens had woven with figures of their gods—Odin, Thor, Freya, as they -were called—were hung up; the slaves were set to polish the old shields -used for decoration; cushions were arranged on the benches, and dry wood -placed on the hearth in the middle of the hall, so that the fire could -be lit in a moment. The Viking’s wife took her share in the work, so -that by the evening she was very tired, and slept soundly.</p> - -<p>When she woke towards daybreak she was terribly frightened. The little -child had vanished! She sprang up, lighted a brand, and looked -everywhere around. There, just<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_9" id="page_9">{9}</a></span> at the foot of the bed where she had -lain, was, not a baby, but a great ugly toad! In utter disgust at it she -took a heavy stick to kill it, but the creature looked at her with such -wonderfully sad eyes that she could not destroy it. Once more she gazed -round; the toad uttered a faint, mournful croak. She started, and sprang -from the bedside to the window, and opened it. At that moment the sun -rose, and cast its rays upon the bed and upon the great toad. All at -once it seemed that the creature’s wide mouth shrank, and became small -and rosy; the limbs filled out into the most charming shape. It was her -own beautiful babe that lay there, not the hideous reptile!</p> - -<p>‘What is this?’ cried the dame. ‘Was it an ill dream? Yes, there is my -own sweet elfin child lying there!’ She kissed it, and pressed it to her -heart; but it fought and bit like a wild kitten!</p> - -<p>The Viking, however, did not come that day, nor the next; for though he -was on his way, the wind was against him as it blew to the south for the -storks. Fair wind for one is foul for the other.</p> - -<p>In those two days and nights the Viking’s wife saw clearly how it was -with her little child. And dreadful indeed was the spell that lay on it. -By day it was as beautiful as an angel of light, but it had a bad, evil -disposition. By night, on the other hand, it was a hideous toad, quiet, -sad, with sorrowful eyes. It had two natures, which changed with its -outward form. And so it was that the baby, brought by the stork, had by -daylight its mother’s own rightful shape, but its father’s temper; while -again, night made the kinship with him evident in the bodily form, in -which, however, dwelt the mother’s mind and heart. Who could loose the -spell cast by the power of witchcraft? The Viking’s wife was worn and -distressed about it, and her heart was heavy for the unhappy being,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_10" id="page_10">{10}</a></span> of -whose condition she did not think that she dared tell her husband if he -came home then, for he would certainly follow the custom and practice of -the time, and expose the poor child on the high-road for any one that -liked to take away. The good dame had not the heart to do this: her -husband should see the child only by daylight.</p> - -<p>One morning the wings of storks were heard above the roof. More than a -hundred pairs of the birds had rested themselves for the night after -their heavy exercise, and they now flew up, preparatory to starting -southwards.</p> - -<p>‘All ready, and the wives and children?’ was their cry.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, I’m so light,’ said the young storks. ‘My bones feel all -kribly-krably, as if I was filled with live frogs! How splendid it is to -have to go abroad!’</p> - -<p>‘Keep up in the flight,’ said father and mother, ‘and don’t chatter so -much; it tires the chest.’</p> - -<p>And they flew.</p> - -<p>At the same moment a horn sounded over the moor. The Viking had landed -with all his men, returning laden with booty from the coasts of Gaul, -where the people, like those of Britain, used to chant in their terror: -‘From the rage of the Northmen, Lord, deliver us!’ Guess what stir and -festival now came to the Viking’s stronghold near the moor! A barrel of -mead was brought into hall; a huge fire was lighted; horses were -slaughtered; everything went duly. The heathen priest sprinkled the -slaves with warm blood, to begin their new life; the fire crackled; the -smoke curled under the roof; the soot fell down from the beams—but they -were used to that. Guests were invited, and received valuable gifts. -Plots and treachery were forgotten; they drank deep and threw the picked -bones in each other’s faces in good-humoured horse-play. The bard—a -kind of musician, but a warrior as well, who went with them,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_11" id="page_11">{11}</a></span> saw their -exploits, and sang about them—gave them a song in which they heard all -their warrior-deeds and feats of prowess. Each verse ended with the -refrain:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">‘Wealth, kindred, life cannot endure,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">But the warrior’s glory standeth sure.’<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p class="nind">And they all clashed upon their shields, and beat upon the table with -knives and fists, and made great clamour.</p> - -<p>The Viking’s wife sat on the cross-bench in the open banqueting-hall. -She wore a robe of silk, with bracelets of gold and beads of amber. She -had put on her dress of state, and the bard sang of her, and told of the -golden treasure she had brought to her wealthy lord, while he was -delighted with the beautiful child, for he could see it by day in all -its loveliness. He was well pleased with the baby’s wildness, and said -she would become a right warrior-maid, and fight as his champion. She -did not even blink her eyes when a skilful hand cut her eyelashes with a -sharp sword as a rough joke.</p> - -<p>The barrel of mead was drained, and a second brought in, and all got -well drunk, for they were folk who loved to drink their fill. They had a -proverb: ‘The kine know when to go to stall from pasture, but the fool -never knows when he has had enough.’ They knew it well enough, but know -and do are different things. They had another proverb, too: ‘The dearest -friend grows wearisome when he outstays his welcome.’ But on they -stayed. Meat and mead are good: it was glorious!—and the slaves slept -in the warm ashes, and dipped their fingers in the fat and licked them. -Oh, it was a great time!</p> - -<p>Once again that year the Viking went on a raid, though the autumn gales -were rising. He led his men to the coast of Britain—‘just over the -water,’ he said; and his wife remained<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_12" id="page_12">{12}</a></span> with the little girl. And truth -to tell, the foster-mother soon grew fonder of the unhappy toad with the -gentle eyes and deep sigh than of the beautiful child that fought and -bit all about her.</p> - -<p>The raw, dank autumn mist, ‘Mouthless,’ which devours the leaves lay -over forest and moor; ‘Bird Featherless,’ as they called the snow, flew -closely all around; winter was nigh at hand. The sparrows took the -storks’ nests for themselves, and criticised the ways of the late owners -during their absence. And where were mother-and father-stork and their -young ones all the time? Down in the land of Egypt, where the sun shone -warm, as it does on a fine summer’s day with us. Tamarinds and acacias -bloomed round them; the crescent of Mahomet gleamed bright from the -cupolas of the mosques; pairs and pairs of storks sat on the slender -turrets, and rested after their long journey. Great flocks of them had -built nest by nest on the huge pillars and broken arches of temples and -forgotten cities. The date-palm raised its foliage on high, as if to -keep off the glare of the sun. Grey-white pyramids stood out against the -clear sky across the desert, where the ostrich raced at speed, and the -lion crouched with great, wise eyes, and saw the marble sphinx that lay -half-buried in the sand. The Nile flood had retired; the whole bed of -the river was swarming with frogs, and to the stork family that was -quite the best thing to be seen in the country. The young ones thought -their eyes must be playing them tricks, it all seemed so wonderful.</p> - -<p>‘We always have it just like this in our warm country,’ said -mother-stork; and the young ones felt their appetites grow.</p> - -<p>‘Will there be anything more to see?’ said they. ‘Shall we go much -farther into the country?<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_13" id="page_13">{13}</a></span>’</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 379px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_013.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_013.jpg" width="379" height="488" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE NILE FLOOD HAD RETIRED</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_14" id="page_14">{14}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘There is nothing better to see,’ said mother-stork. ‘At that green -border is only a wild wood, where the trees crowd one upon another, and -are entangled together with thorny creepers. Only an elephant with his -clumsy legs can make a way there. The snakes are too large for us, and -the lizards too lively. If you try to go into the desert you get your -eyes full of sand in fair weather, and if there is much wind, you find -yourself buried under a sand-heap. No, this is the best place. Here are -frogs and locusts. I shall stop here, and you must stay with me.’ And -they stayed.</p> - -<p>The old ones sat in their nest on the slender minaret and rested -themselves, while yet they were busy preening their feathers and rubbing -their beaks on their red-stockinged legs. They would raise their necks, -bow gravely, and hold up their heads with their high foreheads, fine, -smooth feathers, and brown eyes glancing sharply. The young hen-storks -walked gravely about among the coarse reeds, stealing glances at the -other young storks, and devouring a frog at every third step, or else a -small snake, which they found so good for their health, and so tasty. -The young males began to quarrel, beat each other with their wings, -pecked, yes, stabbed till the blood flowed! And so one and another got -betrothed, for that was the whole purpose of life. They built nests, and -from that sprang new quarrels, for in hot countries tempers are so -quick! Nevertheless, it was all delightful, especially to the old ones. -Everything that one’s own youngsters do becomes them. Every day there -was sunshine; every day was so much taken up with eating that there was -hardly time to think of amusement.</p> - -<p>But inside the rich palace of their Egyptian landlord, as they called -him, joy was unknown. Rich and mighty lord, there he lay on a couch, his -limbs rigid, stretched out like a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_15" id="page_15">{15}</a></span> mummy, in the midst of the great hall -with its many-coloured walls; it looked just as if he was lying in a -tulip. His kinsmen and servants stood around him; he was not dead; you -could not call him alive; he existed. The healing moss-flower from the -northern land, which should have been searched for and gathered by her -who loved him most dearly, would never be brought. His young and -beautiful daughter, who flew in swan’s-plumage over sea and land, far -towards the north, would never return. ‘She is dead and gone!’ the two -swan-maidens had told him on their return. They had invented a whole -history of it. Said they:—</p> - -<p>‘We all three flew high in the air: a hunter saw us and shot an arrow; -it struck our friend, and singing her farewell, like a dying swan, she -slowly sank, in the midst of a forest lake. There we buried her, near -the shore of the lake, under a fragrant weeping-birch. But we took our -revenge! We bound fire under the wings of a swallow which had built -under the hunter’s thatched roof! The thatch caught; the house blazed -up! He was burned in it, and the light shone over the lake as far as the -drooping birch tree under which she is buried. She will never come back -to the land of Egypt.’</p> - -<p>And so they both wept; and the father-stork, when he heard it, chattered -with his beak till it rattled again.</p> - -<p>‘Lies and make-up!’ said he. ‘I have a great mind to drive my beak into -their hearts.’</p> - -<p>‘And break it off!’ said mother-stork. ‘And what good would that do? -Think first of yourself and your own family; everything else is of no -consequence!’</p> - -<p>‘However, I will seat myself on the edge of the open court in the -morning, when all the learned doctors are met to talk about the illness. -Perhaps they will come a little nearer the truth.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_16" id="page_16">{16}</a></span>’</p> - -<p>And the learned doctors came together, and talked and talked all about, -so that the stork could not make head or tail of it—nor did anything -come of it for the sickness, or for the daughter in the moor; but, -nevertheless, we shall be glad to hear something about it, for we are -obliged to listen to a great deal.</p> - -<p>But now it will be a very good thing to learn what had gone before this -meeting, in order to understand the story better, for at least we know -as much as father-stork.</p> - -<p>‘Love brings life! The highest love supports the highest life! Only -through love will he be able to secure the preservation of his life!’ -was what they said; and very wisely and well said it was, according to -the learned.</p> - -<p>‘That’s a pretty thought!’ said father-stork.</p> - -<p>‘I don’t rightly understand it!’ said mother-stork, ‘and it isn’t my -fault, but the expressions! However, be that as it may, I’ve something -else to think about!’</p> - -<p>Then the learned men had spoken of love for one thing to another, of the -difference there is between the affection of lovers and that of parent -and child; of the love of plant and sunbeam, where the rays of the sun -touch the bud and the young shoot thus comes forth—all this was -expounded at such great length and in so learned a way that it was -impossible for father-stork to follow it, much less to repeat it. He was -quite thoughtful about it, and half closed his eyes and stood on one leg -a whole day afterwards; such learning was too heavy for him to bear.</p> - -<p>However, he understood one thing. He had heard both the common folk and -those of the highest rank say the same thing from the bottom of their -hearts—that it was a great misfortune for thousands of people, for the -country at large, that this man should be ill and not recover; it would -be a joy<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_17" id="page_17">{17}</a></span> and blessing if he were restored to health. ‘But where does -the flower of health grow for him?’ that was what they had all inquired. -They sought it from the scrolls of wisdom, from the twinkling stars, and -from the winds; they had asked in all byways where they might find it, -and at last the learned and wise announced, as we have said: ‘Love -brings forth life, the life of a father,’ and so they said more than -they themselves understood. They repeated it, and wrote it as a -prescription: ‘Love brings forth life’; but how was the thing to be done -from this prescription? There lay the difficulty. At length they came to -an agreement about it; the help must come from the princess, who was -attached to her father with her whole soul and heart. And then they -decided how it was to be brought about (all this was more than a year -and a day before): she must go by night, at the new moon, to the marble -sphinx near the desert, must clear away the sand from the door with her -feet, and then go through the long passage that led into the middle of -one of the great pyramids, where in his mummy-case lay one of the mighty -kings of old, surrounded by splendour and magnificence. Here she was to -hold her ear to the lips of the dead, and then it would be revealed to -her how she was to gain life and health for her father.</p> - -<p>All this she had done, and had learned in vision that, from the deep -marsh in the land of Denmark, a spot most clearly indicated, she might -bring home the marsh-flower, which there in the depth of the water had -touched her breast. Then he would be healed. So she flew in swan’s -plumage from the land of Egypt to the moor.</p> - -<p>You see, father-stork and mother-stork were aware of all this, and now -we know the story more fully than before. We remember that the Marsh -King dragged her down to him; we<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_18" id="page_18">{18}</a></span> know that for those at home she is -dead and gone; only the wisest of them all said still, with -mother-stork: ‘She takes good care of herself!’ and they were obliged to -wait, for that was all they knew about it.</p> - -<p>‘I believe I can steal the swans’ plumage from the two good-for-nothing -princesses!’ said father-stork, ‘then they will not be able to go to the -moor to work mischief. I will hide the swans’ skins themselves till they -are wanted.’</p> - -<p>‘Where will you hide them?’ asked mother-stork.</p> - -<p>‘In our nest on the moor!’ said he. ‘I and the youngest of our brood can -be helped along with them, and if they are troublesome to us, there are -plenty of places on the way where we can hide them till next time of -moving. One swan’s dress would be enough for her, but two are better; it -is well to have plenty of luggage in a northern climate!’</p> - -<p>‘You will get no thanks for it!’ said mother-stork. ‘However, you are -the master. I have nothing to say, except when I am sitting.’</p> - -<p class="astt">* * * * * *</p> - -<p>In the Viking’s stronghold near the moor, whither the storks flew at the -spring, the little girl had received her name. They had called her -Helga, but that was far too sweet for such a disposition as the one -possessed by this most beautiful child. Month after month it became more -evident, and as years went by—whilst the storks pursued the same -journey, in autumn towards the Nile, in spring towards the moor—the -little child became a grown girl, and before people thought of it, she -was in her sixteenth year, and the most beautiful of maidens. But the -fruit was a beautiful shell, the kernel hard and rough. She was wilder -than most people even in that hard gloomy age.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_19" id="page_19">{19}</a></span></p> - -<p>It was a delight to her to splash with her white hands in the hot blood -of the horse which had been slaughtered as a sacrifice; in her wildness -she bit off the neck of the black cock which should have been slain by -the heathen priest; and she said in sober earnest to her -foster-father:—</p> - -<p>‘If thine enemy came and tied a rope to the beams of the roof, and -lifted it over thy chamber, whilst thou wast asleep, I should not wake -thee, even if I could! I would not hear it, my blood still so hums in my -ears where thou didst slap me years ago! Thou! I remember!</p> - -<p>But the Viking did not believe what she said; he was, like the others, -infatuated with her beauty; and he did not know how disposition and -appearance changed in little Helga. She would sit without a saddle, as -if she had grown to the horse, when it galloped at full speed; and she -would not leap off, even when it fought with other vicious horses. In -all her clothes she would often cast herself from the bank into the -strong current of the fjord and swim to meet the Viking when his boat -was steering towards the land. She cut off the longest lock from her -beautiful long hair, and made it into a string for her bow. ‘Self-made -is well made!’ she said.</p> - -<p>The Viking’s wife, according to the age and custom, was strong in will -and in disposition, but towards the daughter she seemed a mild, anxious -woman, for she knew that the dreadful child was bewitched.</p> - -<p>When her mother stood on the balcony, or walked out into the courtyard, -it seemed as if Helga took an evil delight in placing herself on the -edge of the well, extending her arms and legs, and then leaping plump -into the narrow, deep hole, where she, with her frog-nature, dived, and -rose again, crawled out, just as if she was a cat, and came, dripping -with water, into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_20" id="page_20">{20}</a></span> lofty hall, so that the green leaves which were -scattered on the floor floated about in the watery stream.</p> - -<p>But there was one bond that restrained little Helga, and that was the -dusk of the evening. Then she became quiet and pensive, and would allow -herself to be called and led. She seemed to be drawn by some internal -feeling to her mother, and when the sun went down and the transformation -without and within her took place, she sat there quiet and melancholy, -shrunken together into the figure of a toad. Her body, indeed, was now -far larger than that creature’s, but it was only so much the more -disgusting. She looked like a miserable dwarf with frog’s head, and web -between the fingers. There was something of the deepest melancholy in -the expression of her eyes; she had no voice but a hollow moan, just -like a child that sobs in its dreams. The Viking’s wife could then take -her on her knees: she forgot the ugly form, and looked only at the -sorrowful eyes, and more than once she said:—</p> - -<p>‘I could wish almost that thou wast always my dumb frog-child! Thou art -more frightful to look at when thy beauty returns to thee.’</p> - -<p>And she wrote runes against witchcraft and disease, and cast them over -the wretched girl, but she saw no change.</p> - -<p>‘Now that she is a full-grown woman, and so like the Egyptian mother,’ -said father-stork, ‘one could not believe that she was once so little -that she lay in a water-lily. We have never seen her mother since! She -did not take care of herself, as you and the learned men thought. Year -out, year in, I have flown now in all directions over the moor, but she -has never made any sign. Yes, let me tell you that every year when I -have come up here some days ahead of you, to mend the nest and put one -thing and another straight, I have flown for a whole night, like an owl -or a bat, to and fro over the open<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_21" id="page_21">{21}</a></span> water, but it was no use! Nor have -the two swan-dresses been any use which the young ones and I dragged -hither from the land of the Nile. Toilsome work it was, and it took us -three journeys to do it. They have now lain for many years at the bottom -of the nest, and if such a disaster as a fire should happen at any time, -and the log-house be burnt, they would be lost!’</p> - -<p>‘And our good nest would be lost also!’ said mother-stork. ‘You think -too little of that, and too much of the feather-dress, and your -moss-princess! You had better take it to her and stay in the bog! You -are a useless father to your own family; I have said that ever since I -sat on an egg for the first time! I only hope that we or our young ones -may not get an arrow in the wing from that mad Viking girl! She does not -know what she is doing. We have lived here a little longer than she, she -should remember! We never forget our obligations; we pay our taxes -yearly, a feather, an egg, and a young one, as is right. Do you think, -when she is outside, I feel inclined to go down there, as in the old -days, and as I do in Egypt, where I am half a companion with them, -without their forgetting me, and peep into tub and pot? No, I sit up -here worrying myself about her—the hussy!—and about you too! You ought -to have let her lie in the water-lily, and there would have been an end -of her!’</p> - -<p>‘You are kinder than your words!’ said father-stork. ‘I know you better -than you know yourself.’</p> - -<p>And so he gave a jump, two heavy strokes of his wings, stretched his -legs behind him, and off he flew. He sailed away, without moving his -wings. At a good distance off he gave a powerful stroke; the sun shone -on his white feathers; he stretched his neck and head forward! That was -speed and flight!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_22" id="page_22">{22}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘But he is still the handsomest of them all!’ said the mother-stork, -‘only I don’t tell him that.’</p> - -<p class="astt">* * * * * *</p> - -<p>Early that autumn the Viking came home with spoil and captives. Among -these was a young Christian priest, one of those men who preached -against the idols of the northern countries. Often at that period did -the talk in the hall and in the bower of the women refer to the new -faith, which had made its way into all the countries of the south, and -by the holy Anskarius had been brought even to Haddeby on the Schlei. -Helga herself had heard of the faith in the White Christ, who out of -love to men had given Himself to save them; but for her, as they say, it -had gone in at one ear and out at the other. She seemed to have only a -perception of that word ‘love’ when she crouched in that closed room in -her miserable frog-form. But the Viking’s wife had listened to it, and -felt herself wonderfully affected by the story and traditions of the Son -of the only true God. The men, on coming home from their expedition, had -told of the splendid temples of costly hewn stone, erected for Him whose -message was love; and they brought home with them a pair of heavy golden -vessels, elaborately pierced, and with a fragrant odour about them, for -they were censers, which the Christian priests used to swing before the -altar where no blood was ever shed, but wine and consecrated bread -changed into His body and blood who had given Himself for generations -yet unborn.</p> - -<p>In the deep paved cellar of the log house the young captive Christian -priest was confined, his feet and hands securely bound. The Viking’s -wife said that he was ‘as fair as Baldur,’ and she was touched by his -distress; but young Helga wished that a rope should be drawn through his -legs, and that he should be tied to the tails of wild oxen.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_23" id="page_23">{23}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Then I would set the dogs loose. Halloo! away over bog and fen, out to -the moor! That would be jolly to see! jollier still to be able to follow -him on his course!’</p> - -<p>But the Viking did not choose that he should be put to death that way, -but, as a denier and opposer of the high gods, he should be offered the -next morning on the blood-stone in the grove—the first time that a -human sacrifice had been offered there.</p> - -<p>Young Helga asked that she might sprinkle the images of the gods and the -people with his blood. She sharpened her gleaming knife, and when one of -the great, ferocious dogs, of which there were a good many in the -court-yard, ran across her feet, she drove the knife into its side. -‘That is to test it,’ said she; and the Viking’s wife looked sadly at -the wild, ill-tempered girl, and, when the night came, and the beautiful -bodily form of her daughter was changed for the beauty of soul, she -spoke glowing words of sorrow to her from her own afflicted spirit.</p> - -<p>The hideous toad with the goblin’s body stood before her, and fixed its -brown, sorrowful eyes on her; listening and seeming to understand with -the intelligence of a human being.</p> - -<p>‘Never, even to my husband, has a word fallen from my tongue about the -twofold nature I endure in thee,’ said the Viking’s wife. ‘There is more -pity in my heart for thee than I could have believed! Great is the love -of a mother; but affection never comes into thy mind! Thy heart is like -the cold clod! Whence didst thou then come into my house?’</p> - -<p>At that the hideous form trembled and shook. It seemed as if the word -touched some connexion between body and soul; great tears came into its -eyes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_24" id="page_24">{24}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Thy bitter trial will come some time!’ said the Viking’s wife; ‘and -terrible will it be for me! Better hadst thou been abandoned on the -highway as a child, and the night-frost had lulled thee into death!’ And -the Viking’s wife wept bitter tears, and, wrathful and sad, passed -behind the loose curtains which hung over the beam and divided the room.</p> - -<p>The shrunken toad sat alone in the corner. There was silence, but after -a short interval there came from her breast a half-smothered sigh. It -was as if, painfully, a soul awoke to life in a corner of her heart. She -took one step forward, listened, took another step, and then with her -awkward hands she seized the heavy bar that was placed before the door. -Gently she put it back, and quietly she drew out the peg that was stuck -in over the latch. She took the lighted lamp that stood in front of the -rooms; it seemed as if a strong will gave her power. She drew the iron -pin out of the bolted shutter, and moved gently towards the prisoner. He -was asleep. She touched him with her cold, damp hand, and when he awoke -and saw that hideous form, he shuddered, as if at an evil vision. She -drew her knife, severed his bonds, and made signs to him to follow her.</p> - -<p>He called upon the holy Name, made the sign of the cross, and as the -figure stood unchanged, he repeated the words of the Bible:—</p> - -<p>‘<span class="lftspc">“</span>The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive: the Lord will deliver -him in time of trouble.” Who art thou? Whence is this reptile shape that -yet is so full of deeds of compassion?’</p> - -<p>The toad-figure beckoned and guided him behind sheltering curtains by a -solitary way out to the stable, pointed at a horse; he mounted it, and -she seated herself before him and held on by the mane of the animal. The -prisoner understood<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_25" id="page_25">{25}</a></span> her, and they rode away at a quick trot, by a path -he would never have discovered, out to the open heath.</p> - -<p>He forgot her hideous form, for the favour and mercy of the Lord were -acting through this hobgoblin. He offered up pious prayers, and began to -sing holy songs; and she trembled; was it the power of the prayers and -hymns that acted upon her? or was it the coldness of the morning which -was so quickly coming? What was it that she felt? She raised herself up -in the breeze, and wished to stop the horse and spring off; but the -Christian priest held her fast with all his strength, and sang aloud a -Psalm, as if that would have power to loose the spell that held her in -that hideous frog shape, and the horse galloped forward yet more wildly. -The heaven became red; the first ray of the sun shot through the cloud, -and with that clear spring of light came the change of form—she was the -beautiful young girl with the demoniac, evil temper! In his arms he held -a peerless maiden, and in utter terror he sprang from the horse and -stopped it, for he thought he was encountering a new and deadly -witchcraft. But young Helga at the same time leapt to the ground; the -short child’s frock reached only to her knees; she drew the sharp knife -from her belt, and rushed at the startled man.</p> - -<p>‘Let me get at you!’ she cried; ‘let me get at you, and you shall feel -the knife. Yes, you are as pale as hay! Slave! Beardless boy!’</p> - -<p>She pressed him hard; they were engaged in a severe conflict, but it was -as if an unseen power gave strength to the Christian. He held her fast, -and the old oak tree hard by came to his help, for its roots, half -loosened from the earth, caught her feet as they slipped under them. A -spring gushed forth quite close to them; he sprinkled her with the fresh -water on breast and face, and charged the unclean spirit to come out<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_26" id="page_26">{26}</a></span> of -her, signing her with the cross, according to the Christian rite. But -the water of baptism had no power there, where the spring of faith had -not yet arisen within.</p> - -<p>Yet herein also was he strong; more than a man’s strength against the -rival power of evil lay in his act, and as if it overwhelmed her, she -dropped her arms, looked with a surprised glance and pale cheeks at him, -who seemed a powerful sorcerer, strong in wizardry and secret lore. They -were dark runes which he spoke, mystic signs which he was making in the -air! She would not have blinked if he had swung an axe or a sharp knife -before her eyes, but she did when he made the sign of the cross on her -forehead and breast; she now sat like a tame bird, her head bowed down -on her bosom.</p> - -<p>Gently he told her of the work of love she had done for him in the -night, that she had come in the hideous skin of a frog, and had loosed -his bonds, and brought him out to light and life. He said that she also -was bound—bound in a closer bondage than he had been, but she, too, -with him should come to light and life. He would bring her to Haddeby, -to the holy Anskarius. There, in the Christian city, the enchantment -would be broken. But he would not dare to carry her in front of him on -the horse, although she herself was willing to sit there.</p> - -<p>‘You must sit behind me on the horse, not in front of me! Thy -witch-beauty has a power that is from the evil one. I dread it—and yet -there is victory for me in Christ!’</p> - -<p>He bent his knees and prayed gently and earnestly. It was as if the -silent glades of the forest were consecrated thereby into a holy church. -The birds began tosing as if they belonged to a new brotherhood; the -mint poured forth its fragrance as if it would take the place of -incense. The priest proclaimed aloud the words of Holy Writ:<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_27" id="page_27">{27}</a></span>—</p> - -<p>‘<span class="lftspc">“</span>The Dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that -sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into -the way of peace!”<span class="lftspc">’</span></p> - -<p>And he spoke about the longing of the whole Creation, and whilst he -spoke the horse, which had carried them in its wild race, stood quiet, -and shook the great brambles, so that the ripe, juicy berries fell on -little Helga’s hand, offering themselves for her refreshment.</p> - -<div class="figright" style="width: 172px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_027.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_027.jpg" width="172" height="411" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THERE WAS A LITTLE BIRD THAT BEAT ITS WINGS</p></div> -</div> - -<p>Patiently she let herself be lifted on to the back of the horse, and sat -there like one walks in his sleep, who is not awake, but yet is not -moving in his dream. The Christian fastened two boughs together with a -strip of bark to form a cross, and held it aloft in his hands. So they -rode through the forest, which became denser as the way grew deeper, or -rather, there was no way at all. Sloes grew across the path; one was -obliged to ride around them. The spring did not become a running brook, -but a standing bog, and one had to ride around that. There was strength -and refreshment in the fresh forest air; there was not less power in the -word of gentleness which sounded in faith and Christian<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_28" id="page_28">{28}</a></span> love, in the -heartfelt desire to bring the possessed to light and life.</p> - -<p>They say that the drops of rain can hollow the hard stone, the billows -of the sea can in time wear smooth the broken, sharp-edged pieces of -rock. The dew of Grace, which had descended upon little Helga, pierced -the hardness and rounded the ruggedness of her nature, although it was -not yet evident, and she was not yet aware of it herself. But what does -the germ in the earth know of the refreshing moisture and the warm rays -of the sun, while yet it is hiding within itself plant and flower?</p> - -<p>As a mother’s song for her child imperceptibly fastens itself into its -mind, and it babbles single words after her, without understanding them, -although they afterwards collect themselves in its thoughts, and become -clear in the course of time, so in her the Word worked which is able to -create.</p> - -<p>They rode out of the forest, away over the heath, again through pathless -forest, and towards evening they met some robbers.</p> - -<p>‘Where have you stolen that fair maiden?’ they shouted; they stopped the -horse, and snatched the two riders from it, for they were strong men. -The priest had no other weapon than the knife which he had taken from -little Helga to defend himself with; one of the robbers swung his axe, -but the young Christian avoided it, and lightly sprang aside, or he -would have been struck; but the edge of the axe sank deep into the -horse’s neck, so that the blood streamed out, and the animal fell to the -earth. Then little Helga started, as if awakened out of a long, deep -meditation, and threw herself down on the expiring animal. The Christian -priest placed himself before her in order to defend her, but one of the -robbers dashed a ponderous<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_29" id="page_29">{29}</a></span> iron mace against his forehead, crushing it. -The blood and brains spurted around, and he fell dead to the earth.</p> - -<p>The robbers seized little Helga by her white arm. At that moment the sun -went down, and as the last ray faded, she was changed to a hideous toad. -Her greenish mouth opened across half her face; her arms became thin and -slimy, and her hands grew broad and covered with webbing. Terror seized -the robbers at the sight. She stood among them, a hideous monster; then, -frog-like, hopped away, with bounds higher than she was herself, and -vanished in the thicket. The robbers knew it for an evil trick of Loge, -or secret magic art, and hurried away in affright.</p> - -<p class="astt">* * * * * *</p> - -<p>The full moon was already rising, and soon shone forth in splendour, and -little Helga crept forth from the thicket in the skin of a wretched -toad. She stood by the bodies of the Christian priest and of the horse, -and she looked at them with eyes that seemed to weep. Her frog’s head -uttered a moan like a child beginning to cry. She threw herself now upon -one, now upon the other; she took water in her hand, which the webbed -skin had made larger and more hollow, and poured it over them. They were -dead, and would remain dead; she understood that. Wild animals would -soon come and devour their bodies; but that must not be! So she dug in -the earth as deep as she could. To open a grave for them was her wish, -but she had nothing to dig it with except a strong bough of a tree and -her weak hands; but on them there was webbing stretched between her -fingers. She tore it, and the blood flowed. These means would be of no -use, she could see. Then she took water and washed the dead man’s face, -covered it with fresh green leaves, fetched great boughs and laid them<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_30" id="page_30">{30}</a></span> -over him, shook leaves between them, then took the heaviest stones she -was able to lift, laid them over the dead bodies, and filled up the -openings with moss. Then the mound seemed strong and protected, but this -arduous task had occupied the entire night—the sun now burst forth, and -little Helga stood in all her beauty, with bleeding hands, and, for the -first time, with tears on her flushed maiden cheeks.</p> - -<p>In this transformation, it seemed as if the two natures struggled within -her. She trembled, and gazed around her as if she had awoke from a -frightful dream. Running to a slender beech, she held fast to it for -support, then climbed to the top of the tree, as lithely as a cat, and -clung fast to it. There she sat like a frightened squirrel, sat there -all through the long day in the deep solitude of the forest, where all -is still and death-like as they say. Yet a pair of butterflies fluttered -about at play or in quarrel; there were ant-hills close by with many -hundreds of busy little creatures that crowded backwards and forwards. -Countless gnats danced in the air, swarm upon swarm; hosts of buzzing -flies chased each other about; birds, dragon-flies, and other small -winged creatures filled the air. The earth-worm crept out from the moist -soil, the mole raised itself above the ground. In all else it was still -and death-like around, or what one calls death-like indeed! Nothing took -any notice of little Helga, except the jays, which flew screaming around -the top of the tree where she was sitting. They jumped along the -branches near her in daring inquisitiveness. One glance of her eye was -enough to chase them away again; but they could not quite make her out, -neither could she understand herself.</p> - -<p>When evening was near, and the sun began to go down, her approaching -change called her to movement again. She let herself slide down from the -tree, and when the last ray of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_31" id="page_31">{31}</a></span> sun disappeared, she sat there in -the toad’s shrunken form, with the webbed skin of her hands lacerated, -but her eyes now sparkled with a brilliancy of beauty which they had -scarcely possessed before, even in her beautiful human shape. They were -now the gentle eyes of a pious maiden that looked from behind the -reptile’s outward shape, and told of a deepened mind, of a true human -heart. The beautiful eyes swam with tears, heavy tears that relieved her -heart.</p> - -<p>The cross of boughs bound together with a strip of bark, the last work -of him who now lay dead and buried, was still lying on the grave she had -made. Little Helga now took it, at some unprompted impulse, and planted -it amongst the stones, over him and the slain horse. The sadness of the -recollection brought tears to her eyes, and with the grief in her heart -she traced the same sign in the earth around the grave that so -honourably enclosed the dead. As with both hands she traced the sign of -the cross, the webbing fell off like a torn glove! She washed herself in -the water of the spring, and looked with astonishment at her fine white -hands. Again she made the sign of the cross in the air between herself -and the grave; her lips quivered, her tongue moved, and that Name, which -she had heard pronounced most frequently on her ride through the forest, -came audibly from her mouth—she said, ‘Jesus Christ!’</p> - -<p>The toad’s skin fell off: she was a beautiful young maiden; but her head -drooped wearily, her limbs needed repose—she slept.</p> - -<p>Her slumber was short; at midnight she awoke. The dead horse was -standing before her, shining, and full of life, that gleamed in light -from its eyes and from its wounded neck. Close by she saw the murdered -Christian priest, ‘more beautiful<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_32" id="page_32">{32}</a></span> than Baldur!’ as the Viking’s wife -would have said; and he appeared surrounded with a glory of fire.</p> - -<p>There was an earnest look in his large, gentle eyes, just and searching, -so penetrating a gaze that it seemed to shine into the inmost recesses -of her heart. Little Helga trembled before it, and her memory was -awakened with a power as if it was the Day of Judgment. Every kind -action that had been done for her, every kindly word that had been -spoken to her, seemed endued with life; she understood that it was mercy -which had taken care of her during her days of trial, in which the child -of spirit and clay works and strives. She owned that she had only -followed the bent of her own desire, and had done nothing on her own -part. Everything had been given to her, everything had been allowed, so -to speak. She bowed herself humbly, ashamed before Him who alone can -read the hidden things of the heart; and in that instant there seemed to -come to her a fiery touch of purifying flame—the flame of the Holy -Spirit.</p> - -<p>‘Thou daughter of the mire,’ said the Christian priest, ‘from the mire, -from the earth thou art sprung; from earth thou shalt again arise. The -fire within thee returns in personality to its source; the ray is not -from the sun, but from God. No soul shall perish, but far distant is the -time when life shall be merged in eternity. I come from the land of the -dead; so shalt thou at some time travel through the deep valley to the -shining hill-country, where grace and fulness dwell. I may not lead thee -to Hadde for Christian baptism. First thou must burst the water-shield -over the deep moorland, and draw up the living root that gave thee life -and cradled thee. Thou must do thy work before the consecration may come -to thee.’</p> - -<p>And he lifted her on to the horse, handed her a golden<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_33" id="page_33">{33}</a></span> censer, like -that which she had seen in the Viking’s castle, from which there came a -sweet, strong fragrance. The open wound on the forehead of the slain -shone like a radiant diadem. He took the cross from the grave, raised it -on high; and now they went off through the air, over the rustling -forest, then over the mounds where the warriors were buried, sitting on -their dead steeds; and these majestic forms arose, and rode out to the -tops of the hills. A broad golden hoop with a gold knob gleamed on their -foreheads in the moonlight, and their cloaks fluttered in the wind. The -dragon that sits and broods over treasure raised its head, and looked -after them. Dwarfs peered forth from the hills, and the furrows swarmed -with red, blue, and green lights, like a cluster of sparks in a burnt -piece of paper.</p> - -<p>Away over wood and heath, stream and pool, they flew to the moor, and -floated over that in great circles. The Christian priest raised the -cross on high; it shone like gold, and from his lips came the -eucharistic chant. Little Helga sang with him, as a child joins in the -song of its mother. She swung the censer, and there came a fragrance as -if from an altar, so powerful, so subtly operating, that the rushes and -reeds of the moor put forth their flowers. All the germs sprang up from -the deep soil; everything that had life arose. A veil of water-lilies -spread itself like an embroidered carpet of flowers, and on it lay a -sleeping woman, young and beautiful. Little Helga thought she saw -herself mirrored in the still water; but it was her mother that she saw, -the Marsh King’s wife, the princess from the waters of the Nile.</p> - -<p>The dead Christian priest bade the sleeper be lifted on to the horse; -but that sank under the burden as if its body was only a winding-sheet -flying in the breeze; but the sign of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_34" id="page_34">{34}</a></span> cross made the airy phantom -strong, and all three rode to the firm ground.</p> - -<p>A cock crowed in the Viking’s stronghold. The phantoms rose up in the -mist, and were dispersed in the wind, but mother and daughter stood -there together.</p> - -<p>‘Is that myself that I see in the deep water?’ said the mother.</p> - -<p>‘Is that myself that I see in the bright shield?’ exclaimed the -daughter; and they came close together, breast to breast in each other’s -arms. The mother’s heart beat strongest, and she understood it all.</p> - -<p>‘My child! My own heart’s flower! My lotus from the deep waters!’</p> - -<p>And she embraced her child, and wept over her; and the tears were as a -baptism of new life and affection for little Helga.</p> - -<p>‘I came hither in a swan’s skin, and I took it off,’ said the mother. ‘I -sank through the quivering swamp, deep into the mire of the bog, that -enclosed me as with a wall. But soon I found a fresher current about me; -a power seemed to draw me ever deeper and deeper. I felt a pressure of -sleep on my eyelids; I slept, I dreamt—I seemed to lie again in the -pyramids of Egypt; but there still stood before me the moving -elder-stump, which had frightened me on the surface of the moor. I -looked at the crevices in the bark, and they shone forth in colours and -became hieroglyphics—it was the case of a mummy which I was looking at. -That burst, and out of it stepped a lord a thousand years old, a mummy -form, black as pitch, shining black like a wood-snail or the slimy black -mud—the Marsh King, or the mummy of the pyramid, I did not know which. -He flung his arms about me, and I felt that I should die. When I first -returned to life again, and my<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_35" id="page_35">{35}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 380px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_035.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_035.jpg" width="380" height="499" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>PLACED THE GOLDEN CIRCUIT ABOUT HIS NECK</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_36" id="page_36">{36}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">breast became warm, there was a little bird which beat its wings, and -twittered and sang. It flew up from my breast towards the dark, heavy -roof, but a long green band still fastened it to me. I heard and -understood its longing notes: “Liberty! sunshine! to my father!” Then I -thought of my father in the sun-lit land of my home, my life, my -affection! and I loosed the band and let him flutter away—home to his -father. Since that hour I have not dreamed; I slept a long and heavy -sleep till the moment when the sounds and fragrance arose and raised -me.’</p> - -<p>That green band from the mother’s heart to the bird’s wings, whither had -it passed now? where was it lying cast away? Only the stork had seen it. -The band was that green stalk; the knot was that shining flower which -served as a cradle for the child who now had grown in beauty, and again -reposed near the mother’s heart.</p> - -<p>And whilst they stood there in close embrace, the father-stork flew in -circles about them, made speed to his nest, fetched from thence the -feather-dresses kept for so many years and threw one over each of them; -and they flew, and raised themselves from the earth like two white -swans.</p> - -<p>‘Let us talk,’ said father-stork, ‘now that we can understand each -other’s speech, although the beak is cut differently on one bird and on -the other! It is the most lucky thing possible that you came to-night. -In the morning we should have been off, mother, and I, and the young -ones! We are flying to the South! Yes, look at me! I am an old friend -from the land of the Nile, and that is the mother; she has more in her -heart than in her chatter. She always believed that the princess was -only taking care of herself. I and the young ones have brought the -swan-skins here. Well, how glad I am! And what a fortunate thing it is -that I am here<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_37" id="page_37">{37}</a></span> still! At daybreak we shall set off, a large party of -storks. We fly in front; you can fly behind, and then you will not -mistake the way. I and the young ones will then be able to keep an eye -upon you!’</p> - -<p>‘And the lotus flower, that I ought to bring,’ said the Egyptian -princess, ‘it flies in swan’s plumage by my side! I have the flower of -my heart with me; thus it has released itself. Homeward! homeward!’</p> - -<p>But Helga said that she could not leave the land of Denmark till she had -once more seen her foster-mother, the kind wife of the Viking. In -Helga’s thoughts came up every beautiful remembrance, every affectionate -word, every tear which her foster-mother had shed, and it almost seemed -at that instant as if she clung closest to that mother.</p> - -<p>‘Yes, we will go to the Viking’s house,’ said the stork-father. ‘There I -expect mother and the young ones. How they will open their eyes and -chatter about it! Yes, mother doesn’t say so very much; what she does is -short and pithy, and so she thinks the best! I will sound the rattle -directly, so that she will hear we are coming.’</p> - -<p>And so father-stork chattered his beak, and flew with the swans to the -Viking’s stronghold.</p> - -<p>Every one there was lying deep in slumber. The Viking’s wife had not -gone to rest till late that night; she was still in fear for little -Helga, who had disappeared three days ago with the Christian priest. She -must have helped him to escape, for it was her horse that was missing -from the stable. By what power had all this been brought about? The -Viking’s wife thought about the wonderful works which she had heard were -performed by the White Christ, and by those who believed in Him and -followed Him. Her changing thoughts shaped themselves into a dream. It -appeared to her that she was still<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_38" id="page_38">{38}</a></span> sitting on her bed, awake, and -meditating, and that darkness shrouded everything outside. A storm -arose; she heard the rolling of the sea in the west and the east, from -the North Sea and the waters of the Cattegat. That huge serpent which -encircles the earth in the depths of the ocean shook convulsively; it -was Ragnarök, the twilight of the gods, as the heathen called the last -hour, when everything should pass away, even the high gods themselves. -The trumpet sounded, and the gods rode forth over the rainbow, arrayed -in steel, to take part in the last contest. Before them flew the winged -warrior-maidens, and behind them in array marched the forms of dead -warriors. The whole sky was illuminated by the northern lights, but the -darkness again prevailed. It was an appalling hour.</p> - -<p>And close by the frightened Viking’s wife little Helga sat on the floor -in the hideous form of a toad, trembling and nestling herself up against -her foster-mother, who took her on her lap and affectionately held her -fast, although she seemed more hideous than a toad. The air was full of -the sound of sword-strokes and the blows of maces, of arrows whizzing, -as if a furious hail-storm was raging above them. The hour had come when -earth and heaven should fail, the stars should fall, and everything be -burned up in the fire of Surtr; but the dreamer knew that a new earth -and heaven would come, and the corn wave where the sea now rolled over -the barren sand bottom; that the God who cannot be named rules, and up -to Him rose Baldur, the gentle and kind, loosed from the realm of death. -He came—the Viking’s wife saw him, and knew his face. It was the -captive Christian priest.</p> - -<p>‘White Christ!’ she cried aloud; and as she mentioned that Name she -pressed a kiss on the hideous forehead of her frog-child; the toad’s -skin fell off, and little Helga stood there<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_39" id="page_39">{39}</a></span> in all her beauty, gentle -as she had never been before, and with beaming eyes. She kissed her -foster-mother’s hands, blessed her for all her care and affection with -which she had surrounded her in the days of her distress and trial; -thanked her for the thoughts to which she had given birth in her; -thanked her for mentioning the Name which she repeated, ‘White Christ!’ -and then little Helga rose up as a noble swan, her wings expanded -themselves wide, wide, with a rustling as when a flock of birds of -passage flies away!</p> - -<p>With that the Viking’s wife awoke, and still heard outside the same -strong sound of wings. She knew that it was time for the storks to -depart, and no doubt that was what she heard. Still, she wished to see -them once before their journey, and to bid them farewell. She stood up, -went out on to the balcony, and there she saw on the ridge of the -out-house rows of storks, and round the courtyard and over the lofty -trees crowds of others were flying in great circles. But straight in -front of her, on the edge of the well, where little Helga had so often -sat and frightened her with her wildness, two swans now sat and looked -at her with intelligent eyes. Her dream came to her mind; it still quite -filled her as if it had been reality. She thought of little Helga in the -form of a swan, she thought of the Christian priest, and she felt a -strange joy in her heart.</p> - -<p>The swans beat their wings, and bent their necks, as if they wished so -to salute her; and the Viking’s wife stretched out her arms towards them -as if she understood, and smiled at them through her tears.</p> - -<p>Then, with a noise of wings and chattering, all the storks arose to -start on their journey to the south.</p> - -<p>‘We cannot wait for the swans!’ said mother-stork. ‘If they wish to come -with us they may; but we can’t wait here<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_40" id="page_40">{40}</a></span> till the plovers start! It is -a very good thing to travel in family parties; not like the chaffinches -and ruffs, where the males fly by themselves and the females by -themselves; that is certainly not proper! And what are those swans -flapping their wings for?’</p> - -<p>‘Every one flies in his own way!’ said father-stork. ‘The swans go in -slanting line, the cranes in a triangle, and the plovers in a wavy, -snake-like line.’</p> - -<p>‘Don’t mention serpents when we are flying up here!’ said mother-stork; -‘it only excites the appetites of our young ones when they can’t be -satisfied.’</p> - -<p class="astt">* * * * * *</p> - -<p>‘Are those the high mountains down there which I have heard of?’ asked -Helga in the swan’s skin.</p> - -<p>‘Those are thunder-clouds which drive below us,’ said the mother.</p> - -<p>‘What are those white clouds which lift themselves so high?’ asked -Helga.</p> - -<p>‘Those are the everlasting snow-clad hills which you see,’ said the -mother; and they flew over the Alps, down towards the blue -Mediterranean.</p> - -<p class="astt">* * * * * *</p> - -<p>‘Land of Africa! Coast of Egypt!’ jubilantly sang the daughter of the -Nile in her swan form, when, high in the air, she descried her native -land, like a yellowish white, undulating streak.</p> - -<p>And as the birds saw it, they hastened their flight.</p> - -<p>‘I smell the mud of the Nile and the wet frogs!’ said mother-stork. ‘It -quite excites me! Yes, now you shall taste them; now you shall see the -adjutant bird, the ibis,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_41" id="page_41">{41}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 384px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_041.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_041.jpg" width="384" height="499" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THEN SHE SAW THE STORKS</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_42" id="page_42">{42}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">and the cranes! They all belong to our family, but they are not nearly -so handsome as we are. They stick themselves up, especially the ibis; he -is now quite pampered by the Egyptians—they make a mummy of him, and -stuff him with aromatic herbs. I would rather be stuffed with live -frogs, and so would you, and so you shall be. It is better to have -something inside you while you live than to be in state when you are -dead! That is my opinion, and that is always right!’</p> - -<p>‘Now the storks are come!’ they said in the rich house on the bank of -the Nile, where, in the open hall on soft cushions covered with a -leopard’s skin, the royal master lay outstretched, neither living nor -dead, hoping for the lotus flower from the deep marsh in the north. -Kinsmen and servants stood around him.</p> - -<p>And into the hall flew two beautiful white swans, which had come with -the storks! They threw off their dazzling feather-dress, and there stood -two beautiful women, as much alike as two drops of dew! They bent down -over the pale, withered old man; they put back their long hair, and when -little Helga stooped over her grandfather, the colour returned to his -cheeks, his eyes sparkled, and life came into his stiffened limbs. The -old man raised himself healthy and vigorous; daughter and granddaughter -held him in their arms as if they were giving him a morning salutation -in their joy after a long, heavy dream.</p> - -<p class="astt">* * * * * *</p> - -<p>And there was joy over all the house and in the storks’ nest, but there -it was chiefly over the good food, and the swarming hosts of frogs; and -whilst the learned men made haste to note down in brief the history of -the two princesses and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_43" id="page_43">{43}</a></span> flower of health, which was such a great -event and a blessing for house and country, the parent storks related it -in their fashion to their own family, but not till they had all -satisfied their hunger, or else they would have had something else to do -than to listen to stories.</p> - -<p>‘Now you will become somebody!’ whispered mother-stork; ‘that is -certain!’</p> - -<p>‘Well! what should I become?’ said father-stork; ‘and what have I done? -A mere nothing!’</p> - -<p>‘You have done more than all the others! But for you and the young ones -the two princesses would never have seen Egypt again, and made the old -man well. You will become somebody! You will certainly receive a -Doctor’s degree, and our young ones will bear it afterwards, and their -young ones will have it in turn. You look already like an Egyptian -doctor—in my eyes!’</p> - -<p>The wise and learned expounded the fundamental idea, as they called it, -that ran through the whole history: ‘Love brings forth life!’—they gave -that explanation in different ways—‘the warm sunbeam was the Egyptian -princess, she descended to the Marsh King, and in their meeting the -flower sprang forth——’</p> - -<p>‘I can’t repeat the words quite right,’ said father-stork, who had heard -it from the roof, and was expected to tell them all about it in his -nest. ‘What they said was so involved, it was so clever, that they -immediately received honours and gifts. Even the head cook obtained a -high mark of distinction—that was for the soup!’</p> - -<p>‘And what did you receive?’ inquired mother-stork; ‘they ought not to -forget the most important, and that is yourself. The learned have only -chattered about it all, but your turn will come!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_44" id="page_44">{44}</a></span>’</p> - -<p>Late that night, while peaceful slumber enwrapped the now prosperous -house, there was one who was still awake; and that was not the -father-stork, though he stood on one leg in the nest and slept like a -sentinel. No, little Helga was awake. She leaned out over the balcony -and gazed at the clear sky, with the great, bright stars, larger and -purer in their lustre than she had seen them in the north, and yet the -same. She thought of the Viking’s wife by the moor, of her -foster-mother’s gentle eyes, and the tears she had shed over her poor -toad-child, who now stood in the light and splendour of the stars by the -waters of the Nile in the soft air of spring. She thought of the love in -that heathen woman’s breast, that love which she had shown to a -miserable creature who, in human form, was an evil brute, and in the -form of an animal, loathsome to look at and to touch. She looked at the -shining stars, and called to mind the splendour on the forehead of the -dead man, when they flew away over forest and moor; tones resounded in -her recollection, words she had heard pronounced when they rode away, -and she sat as if paralysed—words about the great Author of Love, the -highest Love, embracing all generations.</p> - -<p>Yes, how much had been given, gained, obtained! Little Helga’s thoughts -were occupied, night and day, with all her good fortune, and she stood -in contemplation of it like a child which turns quickly from the giver -to all the beautiful presents that have been given; so she rose up in -her increasing happiness, which could come and would come. She was -indeed borne in mysterious ways to even higher joy and happiness, and in -this she lost herself one day so entirely that she thought no more of -the Giver. It was the strength of youthful courage that inspired her -bold venture. Her eyes shone, but suddenly she was called back by a -great clamour in the courtyard<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_45" id="page_45">{45}</a></span> beneath. There she saw two powerful -ostriches running hurriedly about in narrow circles. She had never -before seen that creature, so great a bird, so clumsy and heavy. Its -wings looked as if they were clipped, the bird itself as if it had been -injured, and she inquired what had been done to it, and for the first -time heard the tradition which the Egyptians relate about the ostrich.</p> - -<p>The race had at one time been beautiful, its wings large and powerful; -then, one evening, a mighty forest bird said to it: ‘Brother, shall we -fly to the river in the morning, if God will, and drink?’ And the -ostrich replied: ‘I will.’ When day broke they flew off, at first high -up towards the sun—the eye of God—ever higher and higher, the ostrich -far before all the others; it flew in its pride towards the light; it -relied on its own strength, and not on the Giver; it did not say, ‘If -God will!’ Then the avenging angel drew back the veil from the burning -flame, and in that instant the bird’s wings were burnt; it sank -miserably to the earth. Its descendants are no longer able to raise -themselves; they fly in terror, rush about in circles in that narrow -space. It is a reminder to us men, in all our thoughts, in all our -actions, to say: ‘If God will!’</p> - -<p>And Helga thoughtfully bowed her head, looked at the hurrying ostrich, -saw its fear, saw its silly delight at the sight of its own great shadow -on the white sunlit wall. And deep seriousness fixed itself into her -mind and thoughts. So rich a life, so full of prosperity, was given, was -obtained—what would happen? What was yet to come? The best thing: ‘If -God will!’</p> - -<p class="astt">* * * * * *</p> - -<p>In the early spring, when the storks again started for the north, little -Helga took her gold bracelet, scratched her<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_46" id="page_46">{46}</a></span> name on it, beckoned to the -stork-father, placed the golden circlet about his neck, and asked him to -bear it to the Viking’s wife, by which she would understand that her -foster-daughter was alive, and that she was happy, and thought of her.</p> - -<p>‘That is heavy to carry!’ thought the father-stork when it was placed -around his neck; ‘but one does not throw gold and honour on the -high-road. They will find it true up there that the stork brings -fortune!’</p> - -<p>‘You lay gold, and I lay eggs!’ said the mother-stork; ‘but you only lay -once, and I lay every year! But it vexes me that neither of us is -appreciated.’</p> - -<p>‘But we are quite aware of it ourselves, mother!’ said father-stork.</p> - -<p>‘But you can’t hang that on you,’ said mother-stork. ‘It neither gives -us fair wind nor food.’</p> - -<p>And so they flew.</p> - -<p>The little nightingale, that sang in the tamarind-bush, also wished to -start for the north immediately. Little Helga had often heard him up -there near the moor; she wished to give him a message, for she -understood the speech of birds when she flew in the swan’s skin, and she -had often since that time used it with the stork and the swallow. The -nightingale would understand her, and she asked him to fly to the -beech-forest on the peninsula of Jutland, where she had erected the -grave of stones and boughs; there she asked him to bid all the small -birds to protect the grave, and always to sing their songs around it. -And the nightingale flew—and time flew also.</p> - -<p class="astt">* * * * * *</p> - -<p>The eagle stood on the pyramid in the autumn, and saw a magnificent -array of richly laden camels, with armed men in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_47" id="page_47">{47}</a></span> costly clothing, on -snorting Arabian steeds, shining as white as silver, and with red -quivering nostrils, their heavy thick manes hanging down about their -slender legs. Rich visitors, a royal prince from the land of Arabia, -beautiful as a prince ought to be, came to that noble house, where the -storks’ nest now stood empty, its former occupants now far away in the -northern land, but soon to return. And they came exactly on that day -which was most filled with joy and mirth. There was a grand wedding, and -little Helga was the bride arrayed in silk and jewels; the bridegroom -was the young prince from the land of Arabia; and the two sat highest at -the table between the mother and grandfather. But she did not look at -the bridegroom’s brown, manly cheek, where his black beard curled; she -did not look at his dark, fiery eyes, which were fastened upon her; she -looked outwards and upwards towards the twinkling, sparkling stars, -which beamed down from heaven.</p> - -<p>Then there was a rustling sound of strong wing-strokes outside in the -air—the storks had returned; and the old couple, however tired they -might be with the journey, and however much they needed rest, still flew -on to the railing of the verandah immediately they were aware whose -festivity it was. They had already heard, at the frontier of the -country, that little Helga had allowed them to be painted on the wall -because they belonged to her history.</p> - -<p>‘That is very nicely borne in mind,’ said father-stork.</p> - -<p>‘It is very little!’ said the stork-mother; ‘she could not have done -less.’</p> - -<p>And when Helga saw them, she got up and went out into the verandah to -them to pat them on the back. The old storks curtsied with their necks, -and the youngest of their young ones looked on, and felt themselves -honoured.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_48" id="page_48">{48}</a></span></p> - -<p>And Helga looked up to the bright stars which shone clearer and clearer; -and between them and her a form seemed to move still purer than the air, -and seen through it, that hovered quite near her—it was the dead -Christian priest; so he came on the day of her festivity, came from the -Kingdom of Heaven.</p> - -<p>‘The splendour and glory which are there surpass everything that earth -knows!’ he said.</p> - -<p>And little Helga prayed gently and from her heart, as she had never -prayed before, that she only for one single minute might dare to look -within, might only cast one single glance into the Kingdom of Heaven, to -the Father of all.</p> - -<p>And he raised her into the splendour and glory, in one current of sounds -and thoughts; it was not only round about her that it shone and sounded, -but within her. No words are able to describe it.</p> - -<p>‘Now we must return; you are wanted!’ he said.</p> - -<p>‘Only one glance more!’ she entreated; ‘only one short minute!’</p> - -<p>‘We must go back to the earth; all the guests have gone away.’</p> - -<p>‘Only one glance! the last——’</p> - -<p class="astt">* * * * * *</p> - -<p>And little Helga stood outside in the verandah; but all the torches -outside were extinguished, all the lights in the wedding chamber were -gone, the storks were gone, no guests to be seen, no bridegroom; -everything seemed to be blown away in three short minutes.</p> - -<p>Then Helga was filled with terror, and she went through the great, empty -hall, into the next room. Strange soldiers were sleeping there. She -opened a side door that led into her apartment, and when she expected to -stand there, she found<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_49" id="page_49">{49}</a></span> herself outside in the garden; but it was not -like this before—the heaven was red and shining, it was towards -daybreak.</p> - -<p>Only three minutes in Heaven, and a whole night had passed on the earth!</p> - -<p class="astt">* * * * * *</p> - -<p>Then she saw the storks; she cried to them, speaking their language, and -father-stork turned his head, listened, and drew near her.</p> - -<p>‘You are speaking our language!’ said he; ‘what do you want? Why do you -come here, you strange woman?’</p> - -<p>‘It is I! it is Helga! Don’t you know me? Three minutes ago we were -talking together, yonder in the verandah.’</p> - -<p>‘That is a mistake!’ said the stork; ‘you must have dreamt it!’</p> - -<p>‘No, no!’ she said, and reminded him of the Viking’s stronghold and the -moor, and of the journey hither!</p> - -<p>Then father-stork blinked his eyes: ‘That is a very old story; I have -heard it from my great-great-great-grandmother’s time! Yes, certainly, -there was such a princess in Egypt from the land of Denmark, but she -disappeared on the night of her wedding many hundreds of years ago, and -never came back again. That you may read for yourself on the monument in -the garden; there are sculptured both swans and storks, and at the top -you yourself stand in white marble.’</p> - -<p>It was indeed so. Little Helga saw it, understood it, and fell on her -knees.</p> - -<p>The sun broke forth, and as in former times at the touch of its beams -the toad form disappeared and the beautiful shape was seen, so she -raised herself now at the baptism of light in a form of brighter beauty, -purer than the air, a ray of light—to the Father of all.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_50" id="page_50">{50}</a></span></p> - -<p>Her body sank in dust; there lay a faded lotus-flower where she had -stood.</p> - -<p class="astt">* * * * * *</p> - -<p>‘Then that was a new ending to the story!’ said the father-stork. ‘I had -not at all expected it! but I rather like it!’</p> - -<p>‘I wonder what my young ones will say about it!’ said the mother-stork.</p> - -<p>‘Yes, that is certainly the principal thing!’ answered the father.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 140px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_050.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_050.jpg" width="140" height="253" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_51" id="page_51">{51}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 446px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_051.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_051.jpg" width="446" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE SWALLOW SOARED HIGH INTO THE AIR</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_52" id="page_52">{52}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="TOMMELISE" id="TOMMELISE"></a> -<a href="images/i_b_052.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_052.jpg" width="381" height="277" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<br /><span class="caption">‘THOU POOR -LITTLE THING!’ SAID THE FIELD-MOUSE</span> -<br /><br /> -TOMMELISE</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">O</span>NCE upon a time there lived a young wife who longed exceedingly to -possess a little child of her own, so she went to an old witch-woman and -said to her, ‘I wish so very much to have a child, a little tiny child; -won’t you give me one, old mother?’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, with all my heart!’ replied the witch. ‘Here is a barley-corn for -you; it is not exactly of the same sort as those that grow on the -farmer’s fields, or that are given to the fowls in the poultry yard, but -do you sow it in a flower-pot, and then you shall see what you shall -see!’</p> - -<p>‘Thank you, thank you!’ cried the woman, and she gave the witch a silver -sixpence, and then having returned home<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_53" id="page_53">{53}</a></span> sowed the barley-corn as she -had been directed, whereupon a large and beautiful flower immediately -shot forth from the flower-pot. It looked like a tulip, but the petals -were tightly folded up; it was still in bud.</p> - -<p>‘What a lovely flower!’ exclaimed the peasant-woman, and she kissed the -pretty red and yellow leaves, and as she kissed them the flower gave a -loud report and opened. It was indeed a tulip, but on the small green -pointal in the centre of the flower there sat a little tiny girl, so -pretty and delicate, but her whole body scarcely bigger than the young -peasant’s thumb. So she called her Tommelise.</p> - -<p>A pretty varnished walnut-shell was given her as a cradle, blue violet -leaves served as her mattresses, and a rose-leaf was her coverlet; here -she slept at night, but in the daytime she played on the table. The -peasant-wife had filled a plate with water, and laid flowers in it, -their blossoms bordering the edge of the plate, while the stalks lay in -the water; on the surface floated a large tulip-leaf, and on it -Tommelise might sit and sail from one side of the plate to the other, -two white horse hairs having been given her for oars. That looked quite -charming! And Tommelise could sing too, and she sang in such low sweet -tones as never were heard before.</p> - -<p>One night, while she was lying in her pretty bed, a great ugly toad came -hopping in through the broken window-pane. The toad was such a great -creature, old and withered-looking, and wet too; she hopped at once down -upon the table where Tommelise lay sleeping under the red rose petal.</p> - -<p>‘That is just the wife for my son,’ said the toad; and she seized hold -of the walnut-shell, with Tommelise in it, and hopped away with her -through the broken pane down into the garden. Here flowed a broad -stream; its banks were muddy and swampy, and it was amongst this mud -that the old toad<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_54" id="page_54">{54}</a></span> and her son dwelt. Ugh, how hideous and deformed he -was! just like his mother.</p> - -<p>‘Coax, coax, brekke-ke-kex!’ was all he could find to say on seeing the -pretty little maiden in the walnut-shell.</p> - -<p>‘Don’t make such a riot, or you’ll wake her!’ said old mother toad. ‘She -may easily run away from us, for she is as light as a swan-down feather. -I’ll tell you what we’ll do; we’ll take her out into the brook, and set -her down on one of the large water-lily leaves; it will be like an -island to her, who is so light and small. Then she cannot run away from -us, and we can go and get ready the state-rooms down under the mud, -where you and she are to dwell together.’</p> - -<p>Out in the brook there grew many water-lilies, with their broad green -leaves, each of which seemed to be floating over the water. The leaf -which was the farthest from the shore was also the largest; to it swam -old mother toad, and on it she set the walnut-shell, with Tommelise.</p> - -<p>The poor little tiny creature awoke quite early next morning, and, when -she saw where she was, she began to weep most bitterly, for there was -nothing but water on all sides of the large green leaf, and she could in -no way reach the land.</p> - -<p>Old mother toad was down in the mud, decorating her apartments with -bulrushes and yellow buttercups, so as to make it quite gay and tidy to -receive her new daughter-in-law. At last, she and her frightful son swam -together to the leaf where she had left Tommelise; they wanted to fetch -her pretty cradle, and place it for her in the bridal chamber before she -herself was conducted into it. Old mother toad bowed low in the water, -and said to her, ‘Here is my son, he is to be thy husband, and you will -dwell together so comfortably down in the mud!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_55" id="page_55">{55}</a></span>’</p> - -<p>‘Coax, coax, brekke-ke-kex!’ was all that her son could say.</p> - -<p>Then they took the neat little bed and swam away with it, whilst -Tommelise sat alone on the green leaf, weeping, for she did not like the -thought of living with the withered old toad, and having her ugly son -for a husband. The little fishes that were swimming to and fro in the -water beneath had heard what mother toad had said, so they now put up -their heads—they wanted to see the little maid. And when they saw her, -they were charmed with her delicate beauty, and it vexed them very much -that the hideous old toad should carry her off. No, that should never -be! They surrounded the green stalk in the water, whereon rested the -water-lily leaf, and gnawed it asunder with their teeth, and then the -leaf floated away down the brook, with Tommelise on it; away, far away, -where the old toad could not follow.</p> - -<p>Tommelise sailed past so many places, and the wild birds among the -bushes saw her and sang, ‘Oh, what a sweet little maiden!’ On and on, -farther and farther, floated the leaf: Tommelise was on her travels.</p> - -<p>A pretty little white butterfly kept fluttering round and round her, and -at last settled down on the leaf, for he loved Tommelise very much, and -she was so pleased. There was nothing to trouble her now that she had no -fear of the old toad pursuing her, and wherever she sailed everything -was so beautiful, for the sun shone down on the water, making it bright -as liquid gold. And now she took off her sash, and tied one end of it -round the butterfly, fastening the other end firmly into the leaf. On -floated the leaf, faster and faster, and Tommelise with it.</p> - -<p>Presently a great cock-chafer came buzzing past; he caught sight of her, -and immediately fastening his claw round her<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_56" id="page_56">{56}</a></span> slender waist, flew up -into a tree with her. But the green leaf still floated down the brook, -and the butterfly with it; he was bound to the leaf and could not get -loose.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 379px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_056.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_056.jpg" width="379" height="315" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>‘THIS IS JUST THE WIFE FOR MY SON,’ SAID THE TOAD</p></div> -</div> - -<p>Oh, how terrified was poor Tommelise when the cock-chafer carried her up -into the tree, and how sorry she felt, too, for the darling white -butterfly which she had left tied fast to the leaf; she feared that if -he could not get away, he would perish of hunger. But the cock-chafer -cared nothing for that. He settled with her upon the largest leaf in the -tree, gave her some honey from the flowers to eat, and hummed her -praises, telling her she was very pretty, although she was not at all -like a</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 452px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_056fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_056fp.jpg" width="452" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_57" id="page_57">{57}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">hen-chafer. And by-and-by all the chafers who lived in that tree came to -pay her a visit; they looked at Tommelise, and one Miss Hen-chafer drew -in her feelers, saying, ‘She has only two legs, how miserable that -looks!’ ‘She has no feelers,’ cried another. ‘And see how thin and lean -her waist is; why, she is just like a human being!’ observed a third. -‘How very, very ugly she is!’ at last cried all the lady-chafers in -chorus. The chafer who had carried off Tommelise still could not -persuade himself that she was otherwise than pretty, but, as all the -rest kept repeating and insisting that she was ugly, he at last began to -think they must be in the right, and determined to have nothing more to -do with her; she might go wherever she would, for aught he cared, he -said. And so the whole swarm flew down from the tree with her, and set -her on a daisy; then she wept because she was so ugly that the -lady-chafers would not keep company with her, and yet Tommelise was the -prettiest little creature that could be imagined, soft and delicate and -transparent as the loveliest rose leaf.</p> - -<p>All the summer long poor Tommelise lived alone in the wide wood. She -wove herself a bed of grass-straw, and hung it under a large -burdock-leaf which sheltered her from the rain; she dined off the honey -from the flowers, and drank from the dew that every morning spangled the -leaves and herblets around her. Thus passed the summer and autumn, but -then came winter, the cold, long winter. All the birds who had sung so -sweetly to her flew away, trees and flowers withered, the large -burdock-leaf under which Tommelise had lived rolled itself up and became -a dry, yellow stalk, and Tommelise was fearfully cold, for her clothes -were wearing out, and she herself was so slight and frail, poor little -thing! she was nearly frozen to death. It began to snow, and every light -flake that fell upon her made her feel as we should if a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_58" id="page_58">{58}</a></span> whole -shovelful of snow were thrown upon us, for we are giants in comparison -with a little creature only an inch long. She wrapped herself up in a -withered leaf, but it gave her no warmth; she shuddered with cold.</p> - -<p>Close outside the wood, on the skirt of which Tommelise had been living, -lay a large corn-field, but the corn had been carried away long ago, -leaving only the dry, naked stubble standing up from the hard-frozen -earth. It was like another wood to Tommelise, and oh, how she shivered -with cold as she made her way through. At last she came past the -field-mouse’s door; for the field-mouse had made herself a little hole -under the stubble, and there she dwelt snugly and comfortably, having a -room full of corn, and a neat kitchen and store-chamber besides. And -poor Tommelise must now play the beggar-girl; she stood at the door and -begged for a little piece of a barley-corn, for she had had nothing to -eat during two whole days.</p> - -<p>‘Thou poor little thing!’ said the field-mouse, who was indeed a -thoroughly good-natured old creature, ‘come into my warm room and dine -with me.’</p> - -<p>And as she soon took a great liking to Tommelise, she proposed to her to -stay. ‘You may dwell with me all the winter if you will, but keep my -room clean and neat, and tell me stories, for I love stories dearly.’</p> - -<p>And Tommelise did all that the kind old field-mouse required of her, and -was made very comfortable in her new abode.</p> - -<p>‘We shall have a visitor presently,’ observed the field-mouse; ‘my -next-door neighbour comes to see me once every week. He is better off -than I am, has large rooms in his house, and wears a coat of such -beautiful black velvet. It would be a capital thing for you if you could -secure him for your husband,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_59" id="page_59">{59}</a></span> but unfortunately he is blind, he cannot -see you. You must tell him the prettiest stories you know.’</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 377px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_059.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_059.jpg" width="377" height="309" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>OH, HOW TERRIFIED WAS POOR TOMMELISE!</p></div> -</div> - -<p>But Tommelise did not care at all about pleasing their neighbour Mr. -Mole, nor did she wish to marry him. He came and paid a visit in his -black-velvet suit, he was so rich and so learned, and the field-mouse -declared his domestic offices were twenty times larger than hers, but -the sun and the pretty flowers he could not endure, he was always -abusing them, though he had never seen either. Tommelise was called upon -to sing for his amusement, and by the time she had sung ‘Lady-bird, -lady-bird, fly away home!’ and ‘The Friar of Orders<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_60" id="page_60">{60}</a></span> Grey,’ the mole had -quite fallen in love with her through the charm of her sweet voice; -however, he said nothing, he was such a prudent, cautious animal.</p> - -<p>He had just been digging a long passage through the earth from their -house to his, and he now gave permission to the field-mouse and -Tommelise to walk in it as often as they liked; however, he bade them -not be afraid of the dead bird that lay in the passage; it was a whole -bird, with beak and feathers entire, and therefore he supposed it must -have died quite lately, at the beginning of the winter, and had been -buried just in the place where he had dug his passage.</p> - -<p>The mole took a piece of tinder, which shines like fire in the dark, in -his mouth, and went on first to light his friends through the long dark -passage, and when they came to the place where the dead bird lay, he -thrust his broad nose up against the ceiling and pushed up the earth, so -as to make a great hole for the light to come through. In the midst of -the floor lay a swallow, his wings clinging firmly to his sides, his -head and legs drawn under the feathers; the poor bird had evidently died -of cold. Tommelise felt so very sorry, for she loved all the little -birds, who had sung and chirped so merrily to her the whole summer long; -but the mole kicked it with his short legs, saying, ‘Here’s a fine end -to all its whistling! a miserable thing it must be to be born a bird. -None of my children will be birds, that’s a comfort! Such creatures have -nothing but their “quivit,” and must be starved to death in the winter.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, indeed, a sensible animal like you may well say so,’ returned the -field-mouse; ‘what has the bird got by all his chirping and chirruping? -when winter comes it must starve and freeze; and it is such a great -creature too!’</p> - -<p>Tommelise said nothing, but when the two others had<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_61" id="page_61">{61}</a></span> turned their backs -upon the bird, she bent over it, smoothed down the feathers that covered -its head, and kissed the closed eyes. ‘Perhaps it was this one that sang -so delightfully to me in the summer-time,’ thought she; ‘how much -pleasure it has given me, the dear, dear bird!’</p> - -<p>The mole now stopped up the hole through which the daylight had pierced, -and then followed the ladies home. But Tommelise could not sleep that -night, so she got out of her bed, and wove a carpet out of hay, and then -went out and spread it round the dead bird; she also fetched some soft -cotton from the field-mouse’s room, which she laid over the bird, that -it might be warm amid the cold earth.</p> - -<p>‘Farewell, thou dear bird,’ said she; ‘farewell, and thanks for thy -beautiful song in the summer-time, when all the trees were green, and -the sun shone so warmly upon us!’ And she pressed her head against the -bird’s breast, but was terrified to feel something beating within it. It -was the bird’s heart. The bird was not dead; it had lain in a swoon, and -now that it was warmer its life returned.</p> - -<p>Every autumn all the swallows fly away to warm countries; but if one of -them linger behind, it freezes and falls down as though dead, and the -cold snow covers it.</p> - -<p>Tommelise trembled with fright, for the bird was very large compared -with her, who was only an inch in length. However, she took courage, -laid the cotton more closely round the poor swallow, and fetching a leaf -which had served herself as a coverlet, spread it over the bird’s head.</p> - -<p>The next night she stole out again, and found that the bird’s life had -quite returned, though it was so feeble that only for one short moment -could it open its eyes to look at Tommelise, who stood by with a piece -of tinder in her hand—she had no other lantern.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_62" id="page_62">{62}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Thanks to thee, thou sweet little child!’ said the sick swallow. ‘I -feel delightfully warm now; soon I shall recover my strength, and be -able to fly again, out in the warm sunshine.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, no,’ she replied, ‘it is too cold without, it snows and freezes! -Thou must stay in thy warm bed; I will take care of thee.’</p> - -<p>She brought the swallow water in a flower-petal and he drank, and then -he told her how he had torn one of his wings in a thorn bush, and -therefore could not fly fast enough to keep up with the other swallows -who were all migrating to the warm countries. He had at last fallen to -the earth, and more than that he could not remember; he did not at all -know how he had got underground.</p> - -<p>However, underground he remained all the winter long, and Tommelise was -kind to him, and loved him dearly, but she never said a word about him -either to the mole or the field-mouse, for she knew they could not -endure the poor swallow.</p> - -<p>As soon as the spring came and the sun’s warmth had penetrated the -earth, the swallow said farewell to Tommelise, and she opened for him -the covering of earth which the mole had thrown back before. The sun -shone in upon them so deliciously, and the swallow asked whether she -would not go with him; she might sit upon his back, and then they would -fly together far out into the greenwood. But Tommelise knew it would vex -the old field-mouse if she were to leave her.</p> - -<p>‘No, I cannot, I must not go,’ said Tommelise.</p> - -<p>‘Fare thee well, then, thou good and pretty maiden,’ said the swallow, -and away he flew into the sunshine. Tommelise looked after him and the -tears came into her eyes, for she loved the poor swallow so much.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_63" id="page_63">{63}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Quivit, quivit,’ sang the bird, as he flew into the greenwood. And -Tommelise was now sad indeed. She was not allowed to go out into the -warm sunshine; the wheat that had been sown in the field above the -field-mouse’s house grew up so high that it seemed a perfect forest to -the poor little damsel who was only an inch in stature.</p> - -<p>‘This summer you must work at getting your wedding clothes ready,’ said -the field-mouse, for their neighbour, the blind dull mole in the -black-velvet suit had now made his proposals in form to Tommelise. ‘You -shall have worsted and linen in plenty; you shall be well provided with -all manner of clothes and furniture before you become the mole’s wife.’ -So Tommelise was obliged to work hard at the distaff, and the -field-mouse hired four spiders to spin and weave night and day. Every -evening came the mole, and always began to talk about the summer soon -coming to an end, and that then, when the sun would no longer shine so -warmly, scorching the earth till it was as dry as a stone, yes, then, -his nuptials with Tommelise should take place. But this sort of -conversation did not please her at all; she was thoroughly wearied of -his dulness and his prating. Every morning when the sun rose, and every -evening when it set, she used to steal out at the door, and when the -wind blew the tops of the corn aside, so that she could see the blue sky -through the opening, she thought how bright and beautiful it was out -here, and wished most fervently to see the dear swallow once more; but -he never came, he must have been flying far away in the beautiful -greenwood.</p> - -<p>Autumn came, and Tommelise’s wedding clothes were ready.</p> - -<p>‘Four weeks more, and you shall be married!’ said the field-mouse. But -Tommelise wept, and said she would not marry the dull mole.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_64" id="page_64">{64}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Fiddlestick!’ exclaimed the field-mouse; ‘don’t be obstinate, child, or -I shall bite thee with my white teeth! Is he not handsome, pray? Why, -the Queen has not got such a black-velvet dress as he wears! And isn’t -he rich? rich both in kitchens and cellars? Be thankful to get such a -husband!’</p> - -<p>So Tommelise must be married. The day fixed had arrived, the mole had -already come to fetch his bride, and she must dwell with him, deep under -the earth, never again to come out into the warm sunshine which she -loved so much, and which he could not endure. The poor child was in -despair at the thought that she must now bid farewell to the beautiful -sun of which she had at least been allowed to catch a glimpse every now -and then while she lived with the field-mouse.</p> - -<p>‘Farewell, thou glorious sun!’ she cried, throwing her arms up into the -air, and she walked on a little way beyond the field-mouse’s door; the -corn was already reaped, and only the dry stubble surrounded her. -‘Farewell, farewell!’ repeated she, as she clasped her tiny arms round a -little red flower that grew there. ‘Greet the dear swallow from me, if -thou shouldst see him.’</p> - -<p>‘Quivit! quivit!’—there was a fluttering of wings just over her head; -she looked up, and behold! the little swallow was flying past. And how -pleased he was when he perceived Tommelise! She told how that she had -been obliged to accept the disagreeable mole as a husband, and that she -would have to dwell deep underground where the sun never pierced. And -she could not help weeping as she spoke.</p> - -<p>‘The cold winter will soon be here!’ said the swallow; ‘I shall fly far -away to the warm countries. Wilt thou go with me? Thou canst sit on my -back, and tie thyself firmly</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_064fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_064fp.jpg" width="450" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_65" id="page_65">{65}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">to me with thy sash, and thus we shall fly away from the stupid mole and -his dark room, far away over the mountains to those countries where the -sun shines so brightly, where it is always summer, and flowers blossom -all the year round. Come and fly with me, thou sweet little Tommelise, -who didst save my life when I lay frozen in the dark cellars of the -earth!’</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 387px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_065.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_065.jpg" width="387" height="285" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THAT WAS THE GREATEST OF PLEASURES</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘Yes, I will go with thee!’ said Tommelise. And she seated herself on -the bird’s back, her feet resting on the out-spread wings, and tied her -girdle firmly round one of the strongest feathers, and then the swallow -soared high into the air, and flew away over forest and over lake, over -mountains<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_66" id="page_66">{66}</a></span> whose crests are covered with snow all the year round. How -Tommelise shivered as she breathed the keen frosty air! However, she -soon crept down under the bird’s warm feathers, her head still peering -forth, eager to behold all the glory and beauty beneath her. At last -they reached the warm countries. There the sun shone far more brightly -than in her native clime. The heavens seemed twice as high, and twice as -blue; and ranged along the sloping hills grew, in rich luxuriance, the -loveliest green and purple grapes. Citrons and melons were seen in the -groves, the fragrance of myrtles and balsams filled the air, and by the -wayside gambolled groups of pretty merry children, chasing large -bright-winged butterflies.</p> - -<p>But the swallow did not rest here; still he flew on; and still the scene -seemed to grow more and more beautiful. Near a calm, blue lake, overhung -by lofty trees, stood a half-ruined palace of white marble, built in -times long past; vine-wreaths trailed up the long slender pillars, and -on the capitals, among the green leaves and waving tendrils, many a -swallow had built his nest, and one of these nests belonged to the -swallow on whose back Tommelise was riding.</p> - -<p>‘This is my house,’ said the swallow, ‘but if thou wouldst rather choose -for thyself one of the splendid flowers growing beneath us, I will take -thee there, and thou shalt make thy home in the loveliest of them all.’</p> - -<p>‘That will be charming!’ exclaimed she, clapping her tiny hands.</p> - -<p>On the green turf beneath there lay the fragments of a white marble -column which had fallen to the ground, and around these fragments twined -some beautiful large white flowers. The swallow flew down with -Tommelise, and set her on one of the broad petals. But what was her -surprise when she saw sitting in the very heart of the flower a little -mannikin, fair<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_67" id="page_67">{67}</a></span> and transparent as though he were made of glass! wearing -the prettiest gold crown on his head, and the brightest, most delicate -wings on his shoulders, yet scarcely one whit larger than Tommelise -herself. He was the spirit of the flower. In every blossom there dwelt -one such faëry youth or maiden, but this one was the king of all these -flower-spirits.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, how handsome he is, this king!’ whispered Tommelise to the swallow. -The faëry prince was quite startled at the sudden descent of the -swallow, who was a sort of giant compared with him; but when he saw -Tommelise he was delighted, for she was the very loveliest maiden he had -ever seen. So he took his gold crown off his own head and set it upon -hers, asked her name, and whether she would be his bride, and reign as -queen over all the flower-spirits. This, you see, was quite a different -bridegroom from the son of the ugly old toad, or the blind mole with his -black-velvet coat. So Tommelise replied ‘Yes’ to the beautiful prince, -and then the lady and gentlemen faëries came out, each from a separate -flower, to pay their homage to Tommelise; so gracefully and courteously -they paid their homage: and every one of them brought her a present.</p> - -<p>But the best of all the presents was a pair of transparent wings; they -were fastened on Tommelise’s shoulders, and enabled her to fly from -flower to flower. That was the greatest of pleasures; and the little -swallow sat in his nest above and sang to her his sweetest song; in his -heart, however, he was very sad, for he loved Tommelise, and would have -wished never to part from her.</p> - -<p>‘Thou shalt no longer be called Tommelise,’ said the king of flowers to -her, ‘for it is not a pretty name, and thou art so lovely! We will call -thee Maia.’</p> - -<p>‘Farewell! farewell!’ sang the swallow, and away he flew<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_68" id="page_68">{68}</a></span> from the warm -countries, far away back to Denmark. There he had a little nest just -over the window of the man who writes stories for children. ‘Quivit, -quivit, quivit!’ he sang to him, and from him we have learned this -history.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 273px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_068.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_068.jpg" width="273" height="307" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_69" id="page_69">{69}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_069.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_069.jpg" width="450" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THEY CARRIED THE MIRROR FROM PLACE TO PLACE</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_70" id="page_70">{70}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_SNOW_QUEEN" id="THE_SNOW_QUEEN"></a>THE SNOW QUEEN</h2> - -<p class="chead">IN SEVEN PARTS</p> - -<h3><a name="PART_THE_FIRST" id="PART_THE_FIRST"></a>PART THE FIRST</h3> - -<p class="chead">WHICH TREATS OF THE MIRROR AND ITS FRAGMENTS</p> - -<p class="nind">LISTEN! We are beginning our story! When we arrive at the end of it we -shall, it is to be hoped, know more than we do now. There was once a -magician! a wicked magician!! a most wicked magician!!! Great was his -delight at having constructed a mirror possessing this peculiarity, -viz:—that everything good and beautiful, when reflected in it, shrank -up almost to nothing, whilst those things that were ugly and useless -were magnified, and made to appear ten times worse than before. The -loveliest landscapes reflected in this mirror looked like boiled -spinach; and the handsomest persons appeared odious, or as if standing -upon their heads, their features being so distorted that their friends -could never have recognised them. Moreover, if one of them had a -freckle, he might be sure that it would seem to spread over the nose and -mouth; and if a good or pious thought glanced across his mind, a wrinkle -was seen in the mirror. All this the magician thought highly -entertaining, and he chuckled with delight at his own clever invention. -Those who frequented the school of magic where he taught spread abroad -the fame of this wonderful mirror, and declared that by its means the -world and its inhabitants might be seen now for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_71" id="page_71">{71}</a></span> first time as they -really were. They carried the mirror from place to place, till at last -there was no country nor person that had not been misrepresented in it. -Its admirers now must needs fly up to the sky with it, to see if they -could carry on their sport even there. But the higher they flew the more -wrinkled did the mirror become; they could scarcely hold it together. -They flew on and on, higher and higher, till at last the mirror trembled -so fearfully that it escaped</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 257px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_071.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_071.jpg" width="257" height="195" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>HE CHUCKLED WITH DELIGHT</p></div> -</div> - -<p class="nind">from their hands, and fell to the earth, breaking into millions, -billions, and trillions of pieces. And then it caused far greater -unhappiness than before, for fragments of it, scarcely so large as a -grain of sand, would be flying about in the air, and sometimes get into -people’s eyes, causing them to view everything the wrong way, or to have -eyes only for what was perverted and corrupt; each little fragment -having retained the peculiar properties of the entire mirror. Some -people were so unfortunate as to receive a little splinter into<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_72" id="page_72">{72}</a></span> their -hearts—that was terrible! The heart became cold and hard, like a lump -of ice. Some pieces were large enough to be used as window panes, but it -was of no use to look at one’s friends through such panes as those. -Other fragments were made into spectacles, and then what trouble people -had with setting and re-setting them!</p> - -<p>The wicked magician was greatly amused with all this, and he laughed -till his sides ached.</p> - -<p>There are still some little splinters of this mischievous mirror flying -about in the air. We shall hear more about them very soon.</p> - -<h3><a name="PART_THE_SECOND" id="PART_THE_SECOND"></a>PART THE SECOND</h3> - -<p class="chead">A LITTLE BOY AND A LITTLE GIRL</p> - -<p class="nind">IN a large town, where there are so many houses and inhabitants that -there is not room enough for all the people to possess a little garden -of their own, and therefore many are obliged to content themselves with -keeping a few plants in pots, there dwelt two poor children, whose -garden was somewhat larger than a flower-pot. They were not brother and -sister, but they loved each other as much as if they had been, and their -parents lived in two attics exactly opposite. The roof of one -neighbour’s house nearly joined the other, the gutter ran along between, -and there was in each roof a little window, so that you could stride -across the gutter from one window to the other. The parents of each -child had a large wooden box in which grew herbs for kitchen use, and -they had placed these boxes upon the gutter, so near that they almost -touched each other. A beautiful little rose-tree grew<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_73" id="page_73">{73}</a></span> in each box, -scarlet runners entwined their long shoots over the windows, and, -uniting with the branches of the rose-trees, formed a flowery arch -across the street. The boxes were very high, and the children knew that -they might not climb over them, but they often obtained leave to sit on -their little stools, under the rose-trees, and thus they passed many a -delightful hour.</p> - -<p>But when winter came there was an end to these pleasures. The windows -were often quite frozen over, and then they heated halfpence on the -stove, held the warm copper against the frozen pane, and thus made a -little round peep-hole, behind which would sparkle a bright gentle eye, -one from each window.</p> - -<p>The little boy was called Kay, the little girl’s name was Gerda. In -summer-time they could get out of window and jump over to each other; -but in winter there were stairs to run down, and stairs to run up, and -sometimes the wind roared, and the snow fell without-doors.</p> - -<p>‘Those are the white bees swarming there!’ said the old grandmother.</p> - -<p>‘Have they a Queen bee?’ asked the little boy, for he knew that the real -bees have one.</p> - -<p>‘They have,’ said the grandmother. ‘She flies yonder where they swarm so -thickly; she is the largest of them, and never remains upon the earth, -but flies up again into the black cloud. Sometimes on a winter’s night -she flies through the streets of the town, and breathes with her frosty -breath upon the windows, and then they are covered with strange and -beautiful forms, like trees and flowers.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, I have seen them!’ said both the children—they knew that this was -true.</p> - -<p>‘Can the Snow Queen come in here?’ asked the little girl.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_74" id="page_74">{74}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘If she do come in,’ said the boy, ‘I will put her on the warm stove and -then she will melt.’</p> - -<p>And the grandmother stroked his hair and told him some stories.</p> - -<p>That same evening, after little Kay had gone home, and was half -undressed, he crept upon the chair by the window and peeped through the -little round hole. Just then a few snow-flakes fell outside, and one, -the largest of them, remained lying on the edge of one of the -flower-pots. The snow-flake appeared larger and larger, and at last took -the form of a lady dressed in the finest white crape, her attire being -composed of millions of star-like particles. She was exquisitely fair -and delicate, but entirely of ice, glittering, dazzling ice; her eyes -gleamed like two bright stars, but there was no rest or repose in them. -She nodded at the window, and beckoned with her hand. The little boy was -frightened and jumped down from the chair; he then fancied he saw a -large bird fly past the window.</p> - -<p>There was a clear frost next day, and soon afterwards came spring—the -trees and flowers budded, the swallows built their nests, the windows -were opened, and the little children sat once more in their little -garden upon the gutter that ran along the roofs of the houses.</p> - -<p>The roses blossomed beautifully that summer, and the little girl had -learned a hymn in which there was something about roses; it reminded her -of her own. So she sang it to the little boy, and he sang it with her.</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">‘Our roses bloom and fade away,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Our Infant Lord abides alway;<br /></span> -<span class="i1">May we be blessed His face to see,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">And ever little children be!’<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>And the little ones held each other by the hand, kissed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_75" id="page_75">{75}</a></span> roses, and -looked up into the blue sky, talking away all the time. What glorious -summer days were those! how delightful it was to sit under those -rose-trees which seemed as if they never intended to leave off -blossoming! One day Kay and Gerda were sitting looking at their -picture-book full of birds and animals, when suddenly—the clock on the -old church tower was just striking five—Kay exclaimed, ‘Oh, dear! what -was that shooting pain in my heart: and now again, something has -certainly got into my eye!’</p> - -<p>The little girl turned and looked at him. He winked his eyes; no, there -was nothing to be seen.</p> - -<p>‘I believe it is gone,’ said he; but gone it was not. It was one of -those glass splinters from the Magic Mirror, the wicked glass which made -everything great and good reflected in it to appear little and hateful, -and which magnified everything ugly and mean. Poor Kay had also received -a splinter in his heart; it would now become hard and cold like a lump -of ice. He felt the pain no longer, but the splinter was there.</p> - -<p>‘Why do you cry?’ asked he; ‘you look so ugly when you cry! there is -nothing the matter with me. Fie!’ exclaimed he again, ‘this rose has an -insect in it, and just look at this! After all, they are ugly roses! and -it is an ugly box they grow in!’ then he kicked the box, and tore off -the roses.</p> - -<p>‘O Kay, what are you doing?’ cried the little girl, but when he saw how -it grieved her, he tore off another rose, and jumped down through his -own window, away from his once dear little Gerda.</p> - -<p>Ever afterwards when she brought forward the picture-book, he called it -a baby’s book, and when her grandmother told stories, he interrupted her -with a ‘but,’ and sometimes, whenever he could manage it, he would get -behind her, put on her spectacles, and speak just as she did; he did -this in a very<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_76" id="page_76">{76}</a></span> droll manner, and so people laughed at him. Very soon he -could mimic everybody in the street. All that was singular and awkward -about them could Kay imitate, and his neighbours said, ‘What a -remarkable head that boy has!’ But no, it was the glass splinter which -had fallen into his eye, the glass splinter which had pierced into his -heart—it was these which made him regardless whose feelings he wounded, -and even made him tease the little Gerda who loves him so fondly.</p> - -<p>His games were now quite different from what they used to be, they were -so rational! One winter’s day when it was snowing, he came out with a -large burning-glass in his hand, and holding up the skirts of his blue -coat let the snow-flakes fall upon them. ‘Now look through the glass, -Gerda!’ said he, returning to the house. Every snow-flake seemed much -larger, and resembled a splendid flower, or a star with ten points; they -were quite beautiful. ‘See, how curious!’ said Kay, ‘these are far more -interesting than real flowers, there is not a single blemish in them; -they would be quite perfect if only they did not melt.’</p> - -<p>Soon after this Kay came in again, with thick gloves on his hands, and -his sledge slung across his back. He called out to Gerda, ‘I have got -leave to drive on the great square where the other boys play!’ and away -he went.</p> - -<p>The boldest boys in the square used to fasten their sledges firmly to -the wagons of the country people, and thus drive a good way along with -them; this they thought particularly pleasant. Whilst they were in the -midst of their play, a large sledge painted white passed by; in it sat a -person wrapped in a rough white fur, and wearing a rough white cap. When -the sledge had driven twice round the square, Kay bound to it his little -sledge, and was carried on with it. On they went, faster and faster, -into the next street. The person who drove the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_77" id="page_77">{77}</a></span> large sledge turned -round and nodded kindly to Kay, just as if they had been old -acquaintances, and every time Kay was going to loose his little sledge -turned and nodded again, as if to signify that he must stay. So Kay sat -still, and they passed through the gates of the town. Then the snow -began to fall so thickly that the little boy could not see his own hand, -but he was still carried on. He tried hastily to unloose the cords and -free himself from the large sledge, but it was of no use; his little -carriage could not be unfastened, and glided on swift as the wind. Then -he cried out as loud as he could, but no one heard him, the snow fell -and the sledge flew; every now and then it made a spring as if driving -over hedges and ditches. He was very much frightened; he would have -repeated ‘Our Father,’ but he could remember nothing but the -multiplication table.</p> - -<p>The snow-flakes seemed larger and larger, at last they looked like great -white fowls. All at once they fell aside, the large sledge stopped, and -the person who drove it arose from the seat. He saw that the cap and -coat were entirely of snow, that it was a lady, tall and slender, and -dazzlingly white—it was the Snow Queen!</p> - -<p>‘We have driven fast!’ said she, ‘but no one likes to be frozen; creep -under my bear-skin,’ and she seated him in the sledge by her side, and -spread her cloak around him—he felt as if he were sinking into a drift -of snow.</p> - -<p>‘Are you still cold?’ asked she, and then she kissed his brow. Oh! her -kiss was colder than ice. It went to his heart, although that was half -frozen already; he thought he should die. It was, however, only for a -moment; directly afterwards he was quite well, and no longer felt the -intense cold around.</p> - -<p>‘My sledge! do not forget my sledge!’—he thought first<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_78" id="page_78">{78}</a></span> of that—it was -fastened to one of the white fowls which flew behind with it on his -back. The Snow Queen kissed Kay again, and he entirely forgot little -Gerda, her grandmother, and all at home.</p> - -<p>‘Now you must have no more kisses!’ said she, ‘else I should kiss thee -to death.’</p> - -<p>Kay looked at her, she was so beautiful; a more intelligent, more lovely -countenance, he could not imagine; she no longer appeared to him ice, -cold ice as at the time when she sat outside the window and beckoned to -him; in his eyes she was perfect; he felt no fear. He told her how well -he could reckon in his head, even fractions; that he knew the number of -square miles of every country, and the number of the inhabitants -contained in different towns. She smiled, and then it occurred to him -that, after all, he did not yet know so very much. He looked up into the -wide, wide space, and she flew with him high up into the black cloud -while the storm was raging; it seemed now to Kay as though singing songs -of olden time.</p> - -<p>They flew over woods and over lakes, over sea and over land; beneath -them the cold wind whistled, the wolves howled, the snow glittered, and -the black crow flew cawing over the plain, whilst above them shone the -moon, so clear and tranquil.</p> - -<p>Thus did Kay spend the long, long winter night; all day he slept at the -feet of the Snow Queen.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_79" id="page_79">{79}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 303px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_079.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_079.jpg" width="303" height="527" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>SHE WORE A LARGE HAT, WITH MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS PAINTED -ON IT</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_80" id="page_80">{80}</a></span></p> - -<h3><a name="PART_THE_THIRD" id="PART_THE_THIRD"></a>PART THE THIRD</h3> - -<p class="chead">THE ENCHANTED FLOWER-GARDEN</p> - -<p class="nind">BUT how fared it with little Gerda when Kay never returned? Where could -he be? No one knew, no one could give any account of him. The boy said -that they had seen him fasten his sledge to another larger and very -handsome one which had driven into the street, and thence through the -gates of the town. No one knew where he was, and many were the tears -that were shed; little Gerda wept much and long, for the boys said he -must be dead, he must have been drowned in the river that flowed not far -from the town. Oh, how long and dismal the winter days were now! At last -came the spring, with its warm sunshine.</p> - -<p>‘Alas, Kay is dead and gone,’ said little Gerda.</p> - -<p>‘That I do not believe,’ said the sunshine.</p> - -<p>‘He is dead and gone,’ said she to the swallows.</p> - -<p>‘That we do not believe,’ returned they, and at last little Gerda -herself did not believe it.</p> - -<p>‘I will put on my new red shoes,’ said she one morning, ‘those which Kay -has never seen, and then I will go down to the river and ask after him.’</p> - -<p>It was quite early. She kissed her old grandmother, who was still -sleeping, put on her red shoes, and went alone through the gates of the -town towards the river.</p> - -<p>‘Is it true,’ said she, ‘that thou hast taken my little playfellow away? -I will give thee my red shoes if thou wilt restore him to me!’</p> - -<p>And the wavelets of the river flowed towards her in a manner which she -fancied was unusual; she fancied that they<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_81" id="page_81">{81}</a></span> intended to accept her -offer, so she took off her red shoes—though she prized them more than -anything else she possessed—and threw them into the stream; but they -fell near the shore, and the little waves bore them back to her, as -though they would not take from her what she most prized, as they had -not got little Kay. However, she thought she had not thrown the shoes -far enough, so she stepped into a little boat which lay among the reeds -by the shore, and, standing at the farthest end of it, threw them from -thence into the water. The boat was not fastened, and her movements in -it caused it to glide away from the shore. She saw this, and hastened to -get out, but by the time she reached the other end of the boat it was -more than a yard distant from the land; she could not escape, and the -boat glided on.</p> - -<p>Little Gerda was much frightened and began to cry, but no one besides -the sparrows heard her, and they could not carry her back to the land; -however, they flew along the banks, and sang, as if to comfort her, -‘Here we are, here we are!’ The boat followed the stream. Little Gerda -sat in it quite still; her red shoes floated behind her, but they could -not overtake the boat, which glided along faster than they did.</p> - -<p>Beautiful were the shores of that river; lovely flowers, stately old -trees, and bright green hills dotted with sheep and cows, were seen in -abundance, but not a single human being.</p> - -<p>‘Perhaps the river may bear me to my dear Kay,’ thought Gerda, and then -she became more cheerful, and amused herself for hours with looking at -the lovely country around her. At last she glided past a large -cherry-garden, wherein stood a little cottage with thatched roof and -curious red and blue windows; two wooden soldiers stood at the door, who -presented arms when they saw the little vessel approach.</p> - -<p>Gerda called to them, thinking that they were alive, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_82" id="page_82">{82}</a></span> they, -naturally enough, made no answer. She came close up to them, for the -stream drifted the boat to the land.</p> - -<p>Gerda called still louder, whereupon an old lady came out of the house, -supporting herself on a crutch; she wore a large hat, with most -beautiful flowers painted on it.</p> - -<p>‘Thou poor little child!’ said the old woman, ‘the mighty flowing river -has indeed borne thee a long, long way,’ and she walked right into the -water, seized the boat with her crutch, drew it to land, and took out -the little girl.</p> - -<p>Gerda was glad to be on dry land again, although she was a little afraid -of the strange old lady.</p> - -<p>‘Come and tell me who thou art, and how thou camest hither,’ said she.</p> - -<p>And Gerda told her all, and the old lady shook her head, and said, ‘Hem! -hem!’ And when Gerda asked if she had seen little Kay, the lady said -that he had not arrived there yet, but that he would be sure to come -soon, and that in the meantime Gerda must not be sad; that she might -stay with her, might eat her cherries, and look at her flowers, which -were prettier than any picture-book, and could each tell her a story.</p> - -<p>She then took Gerda by the hand; they went together into the cottage, -and the old lady shut the door. The windows were very high and their -panes of different coloured glass, red, blue, and yellow, so that when -the bright daylight streamed through them, various and beautiful were -the hues reflected upon the room. Upon a table in the centre was placed -a plate of very fine cherries, and of these Gerda was allowed to eat as -many as she liked. And whilst she was eating them, the old dame combed -her hair with a golden comb, and the bright flaxen ringlets fell on each -side of her pretty, gentle face, which looked as round and as fresh as a -rose.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_83" id="page_83">{83}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘I have long wished for such a dear little girl,’ said the old lady. ‘We -shall see if we cannot live very happily together.’ And, as she combed -little Gerda’s hair, the child thought less and less of her -foster-brother Kay, for the old lady was an enchantress. She did not, -however, practise magic for the sake of mischief, but merely for her own -amusement. And now she wished very much to keep little Gerda, to live -with her; so, fearing that if Gerda saw her roses, she would be reminded -of her own flowers and of little Kay, and that then she might run away, -she went out into the garden, and extended her crutch over all her -rose-bushes, upon which, although they were full of leaves and blossoms, -they immediately sank into the black earth, and no one would have -guessed that such plants had ever grown there.</p> - -<p>Then she led Gerda into this flower-garden. Oh how beautiful and how -fragrant it was! Flowers of all seasons and all climes grew there in -fulness of beauty—certainly no picture-book could be compared with it. -Gerda bounded with delight, and played among the flowers till the sun -set behind the tall cherry-trees; after which a pretty little bed, with -crimson silk cushions, stuffed with blue violet leaves, was prepared for -her, and here she slept so sweetly and had such dreams as a queen might -have on her bridal eve.</p> - -<p>The next day she again played among the flowers in the warm sunshine, -and many more days were spent in the same manner. Gerda knew every -flower in the garden, but, numerous as they were, it seemed to her that -one was wanting, she could not tell which. She was sitting one day, -looking at her hostess’s hat, which had flowers painted on it, and, -behold, the loveliest among them was a rose! The old lady had entirely -forgotten the painted rose on her hat, when she made the real roses to -disappear from her garden and sink<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_84" id="page_84">{84}</a></span> into the ground. This is often the -case when things are done hastily.</p> - -<p>‘What,’ cried Gerda ‘are there no roses in the garden?’ And she ran from -one bed to another, sought and sought again, but no rose was to be -found. She sat down and wept, and it so chanced that her tears fell on a -spot where a rose-tree had formerly stood, and as soon as her warm tears -had moistened the earth, the bush shot up anew, as fresh and as blooming -as it was before it had sunk into the ground; and Gerda threw her arms -around it, kissed the blossoms, and immediately recalled to memory the -beautiful roses at home, and her little playfellow Kay. ‘Oh, how could I -stay here so long!’ exclaimed the little maiden. ‘I left my home to seek -for Kay. Do you know where he is?’ she asked of the roses; ‘think you -that he is dead?’</p> - -<p>‘Dead he is not,’ said the roses. ‘We have been down in the earth; the -dead are there, but not Kay.’</p> - -<p>‘I thank you,’ said little Gerda, and she went to the other flowers, -bent low over their cups, and asked, ‘Know you not where little Kay is?’</p> - -<p>But every flower stood in the sunshine dreaming its own little tale. -They related their stories to Gerda, but none of them knew anything of -Kay.</p> - -<p>‘And what think you?’ said the tiger-lily.</p> - -<p>‘Listen to the drums beating, boom! boom! They have but two notes, -always boom! boom! Listen to the dirge the women are singing! Listen to -the chorus of priests! Enveloped in her long red robes stands the Hindoo -wife on the funeral pile; the flames blaze around her and her dead -husband, but the Hindoo wife thinks not of the dead. She thinks only of -the living, and the anguish which consumes her spirit is keener than the -fire which will soon reduce her body to ashes.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 451px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_084fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_084fp.jpg" width="451" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_85" id="page_85">{85}</a></span></p> - -<p>Can the flame of the heart expire amid the flames of the funeral pile?’</p> - -<p>‘I do not understand that at all!’ said little Gerda.</p> - -<p>‘That is my tale!’ said the tiger-lily.</p> - -<p>‘What says the convolvulus?’</p> - -<p>‘Hanging over a narrow mountain causeway, behold an ancient, baronial -castle. Thick evergreens grow amongst the time stained walls, their -leafy branches entwine about the balcony, and there stands a beautiful -maiden; she bends over the balustrades and fixes her eyes with eager -expectation on the road winding beneath. The rose hangs not fresher and -lovelier on its stem than she; the apple-blossom which the wind -threatens every moment to tear from its branch is not more fragile and -trembling. Listen to the rustling of her rich silken robe! Listen to her -half-whispered words, “He comes not yet”.’</p> - -<p>‘Is it Kay you mean?’ asked little Gerda.</p> - -<p>‘I do but tell you my tale—my dream,’ replied the convolvulus.</p> - -<p>‘What says the little snowdrop?’</p> - -<p>‘Between two trees hangs a swing. Two pretty little maidens, their dress -as white as snow, and long green ribbands fluttering from their hats, -sit and swing themselves in it. Their brother stands up in the swing, he -has thrown his arms round the ropes to keep himself steady, for in one -hand he holds a little cup, in the other a pipe made of clay; he is -blowing soap bubbles. The swing moves and the bubbles fly upwards with -bright, ever-changing colours; the last hovers on the edge of the pipe, -and moves with the wind. The swing is still in motion, and the little -black dog, almost as light as the soap bubbles, rises on his hind feet -and tries to get into the swing also; away goes the swing, the dog -falls, is out of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_86" id="page_86">{86}</a></span> temper, and barks; he is laughed at, and the bubbles -burst. A swinging board, a frothy, fleeting image is my song.’</p> - -<p>‘What you describe may be all very pretty, but you speak so mournfully, -and there is nothing about Kay.’</p> - -<p>‘What say the hyacinths?’</p> - -<p>‘There were three fair sisters, transparent and delicate they were; the -kirtle of the one was red, that of the second blue, of the third pure -white; hand in hand they danced in the moonlight beside the quiet lake; -they were not fairies, but daughters of men. Sweet was the fragrance -when the maidens vanished into the wood; the fragrance grew stronger; -three biers, whereon lay the fair sisters, glided out from the depths of -the wood, and floated upon the lake; the glow-worms flew shining around -like little hovering lamps. Sleep the dancing maidens, or are they dead? -The odour from the flowers tells us they are corpses, the evening bells -peal out their dirge.’</p> - -<p>‘You make me quite sad,’ said little Gerda. ‘Your fragrance is so strong -I cannot help thinking of the dead maidens. Alas! and is little Kay -dead? The roses have been under the earth, and they say no!’</p> - -<p>‘Ding dong! ding dong!’ rang the hyacinth bells. ‘We toll not for little -Kay, we know him not! We do but sing our own song, the only one we -know!’</p> - -<p>And Gerda went to the buttercup, which shone so brightly from among her -smooth green leaves.</p> - -<p>‘Thou art like a little bright sun,’ said Gerda; ‘tell me, if thou -canst, where I may find my playfellow.’</p> - -<p>And the buttercup glittered so brightly, and looked at Gerda. What song -could the buttercup sing? Neither was hers about Kay. ‘One bright spring -morning, the sun shone warmly upon a little court-yard. The bright beams -streamed down the white walls of a neighbouring house, and close by<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_87" id="page_87">{87}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 375px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_087.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_087.jpg" width="375" height="496" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>GERDA KNEW EVERY FLOWER IN THE GARDEN</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_88" id="page_88">{88}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">grew the first yellow flower of spring, glittering like gold in the warm -sunshine. An old grandmother sat without in her arm-chair, her -grand-daughter, a pretty, lowly maiden, had just returned home from a -short visit; she kissed her grandmother; there was gold, pure gold, in -that loving kiss:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i6">‘Gold was the flower!<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Gold the fresh, bright, morning hour!’<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>‘That is my little story,’ said the buttercup.</p> - -<p>‘My poor old grandmother!’ sighed Gerda; ‘yes, she must be wishing for -me, just as she wished for little Kay. But I shall soon go home again, -and take Kay with me. It is of no use to ask the flowers about him; they -only know their own song, they can give me no information.’ And she -folded her little frock round her, that she might run the faster; but, -in jumping over the narcissus, it caught her foot, as if wishing to stop -her, so she turned and looked at the tall yellow flower, ‘Have you any -news to give me?’ She bent over the narcissus, waiting for an answer.</p> - -<p>And what said the narcissus?</p> - -<p>‘I can look at myself!—I can see myself! Oh, how sweet is my -fragrance!’ Up in the little attic-chamber stands a little dancer. She -rests sometimes on one leg, sometimes on two. She has trampled the whole -world under her feet; she is nothing but an illusion. She pours water -from a tea-pot upon a piece of cloth she holds in her hand—it is her -bodice; cleanliness is a fine thing! Her white dress hangs on the hook, -that has also been washed by the water from the tea-pot, and dried on -the roof of the house. She puts it on, and wraps a saffron-coloured -handkerchief round her neck; it makes the dress look all the whiter. -With one leg extended,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_89" id="page_89">{89}</a></span> there she stands, as though on a stalk. ‘I can -look at myself!—I see myself!’</p> - -<p>‘I don’t care if you do!’ said Gerda. ‘You need not have told me that!’ -and away she ran to the end of the garden.</p> - -<p>The gate was closed, but she pressed upon the rusty lock till it broke. -The gate sprang open, and little Gerda, with bare feet, ran out into the -wide world. Three times she looked back, there was no one following her; -she ran till she could run no longer, and then sat down to rest upon a -large stone. Casting a glance around, she saw that the summer was past, -that it was now late in the autumn. Of course, she had not remarked this -in the enchanted garden, where there were sunshine and flowers all the -year round.</p> - -<p>‘How long I must have stayed there!’ said little Gerda. ‘So, it is now -autumn! Well, then, there is no time to lose!’ and she rose to pursue -her way.</p> - -<p>Oh, how sore and weary were her little feet; and all around looked so -cold and barren. The long willow-leaves had already turned yellow, and -the dew trickled down from them like water. The leaves fell off the -trees, one by one; the sloe alone bore fruit, and its berries were so -sharp and bitter! Cold, and grey, and sad seemed the world to her that -day.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_90" id="page_90">{90}</a></span></p> - -<h3><a name="PART_THE_FOURTH" id="PART_THE_FOURTH"></a> -<a href="images/i_b_090.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_090.jpg" width="377" height="110" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<br /> -PART THE FOURTH</h3> - -<p class="chead">THE PRINCE AND THE PRINCESS</p> - -<p class="nind">GERDA was again obliged to stop and take rest. Suddenly a large raven -hopped upon the snow in front of her, saying, -‘Caw!—Caw!—Good-day!—Good-day!’ He sat for some time on the withered -branch of a tree just opposite, eyeing the little maiden, and wagging -his head, and he now came forward to make acquaintance and to ask her -whither she was going all alone. That word ‘alone’ Gerda understood -right well—she felt how sad a meaning it has. She told the raven the -history of her life and fortunes, and asked if he had seen Kay.</p> - -<p>And the raven nodded his head, half doubtfully, and said, ‘That is -possible—possible.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you think so?’ exclaimed the little girl, and she kissed the raven -so vehemently that it is a wonder she did not squeeze him to death.</p> - -<p>‘More moderately!—moderately!’ said the raven. ‘I think I know. I think -it may be little Kay; but he has certainly forsaken thee for the -princess.’</p> - -<p>‘Dwells he with a princess?’ asked Gerda.</p> - -<p>‘Listen to me,’ said the raven, ‘but it is so difficult to speak your -language! Do you understand Ravenish? If so, I can tell you much -better.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_91" id="page_91">{91}</a></span>’</p> - -<p>‘No! I have never learned Ravenish,’ said Gerda, ‘but my grandmother -knew it, and Pye-language also. Oh, how I wish I had learned it!’</p> - -<p>‘Never mind,’ said the raven, ‘I will relate my story in the best manner -I can, though bad will be the best’; and he told all he knew.</p> - -<p>‘In the kingdom wherein we are now sitting, there dwells a princess, a -most uncommonly clever princess. All the newspapers in the world has she -read, and forgotten them again, so clever is she. It is not long since -she ascended the throne, which I have heard is not quite so agreeable a -situation as one would fancy; and immediately after she began to sing a -new song, the burden of which was this, “Why should I not marry me?” -“There is some sense in this song!” said she, and she determined she -would marry, but at the same time declared that the man whom she would -choose must be able to answer sensibly whenever people spoke to him, and -must be good for something else besides merely looking grand and -stately. The ladies of the court were then all drummed together, in -order to be informed of her intentions, whereupon they were highly -delighted, and one exclaimed, “That is just what I wish”; and another, -that she had lately been thinking of the very same thing. Believe me,’ -continued the raven, ‘every word I say is true, for I have a tame -beloved who hops at pleasure about the palace, and she has told me all -this.’</p> - -<p>Of course the ‘beloved’ was also a raven, for birds of a feather flock -together.</p> - -<p>‘Proclamations, adorned with borders of hearts, were immediately issued, -wherein, after enumerating the style and titles of the princess, it was -set forth that every well-favoured youth was free to go to the palace -and converse with the princess, and that whoever should speak in such -wise as<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_92" id="page_92">{92}</a></span> showed that he felt himself at home, there would be the one the -princess would choose for her husband.</p> - -<p>‘Yes, indeed,’ continued the raven, ‘you may believe me; all this is as -true as that I sit here. The people all crowded to the palace; there was -famous pressing and squeezing; but it was all of no use, either the -first or the second day; the young men could speak well enough while -they were outside the palace gates, but when they entered, and saw the -royal guard in silver uniform, and the lackeys on the staircase in gold, -and the spacious saloon, all lighted up, they were quite confounded. -They stood before the throne where the princess sat, and when she spoke -to them, they could only repeat the last word she had uttered, which, -you know, it was not particularly interesting for her to hear over -again. It was just as though they had been struck dumb the moment they -entered the palace, for as soon as they got out, they could talk fast -enough. There was a regular procession constantly moving from the gates -of the town to the gates of the palace. I was there, and saw it with my -own eyes,’ said the raven. ‘They grew both hungry and thirsty whilst -waiting at the palace, but no one could get even so much as a glass of -water; to be sure, some of them, wiser than the rest, had brought with -them slices of bread and butter, but none would give any to his -neighbour, for he thought to himself, “Let him look hungry, and then the -princess will be sure not to choose him.”<span class="lftspc">’</span></p> - -<p>‘But Kay, little Kay, when did he come?’ asked Gerda; ‘was he among the -crowd?’</p> - -<p>‘Presently, presently; we have just come to him. On the third day -arrived a youth with neither horse nor carriage; gaily he marched up to -the palace; his eyes sparkled like yours; he had long beautiful hair, -but was very meanly clad.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_93" id="page_93">{93}</a></span>’</p> - -<p>‘That was Kay!’ exclaimed Gerda. ‘Oh then I have found him,’ and she -clapped her hands with delight.</p> - -<p>‘He carried a knapsack on his back,’ said the raven.</p> - -<p>‘No, not a knapsack,’ said Gerda, ‘a sledge, for he had a sledge with -him when he left home.’</p> - -<p>‘It is possible,’ rejoined the raven, ‘I did not look very closely, but -this I heard from my beloved, that when he entered the palace gates and -saw the royal guard in silver, and the lackeys in gold upon the -staircase, he did not seem in the least confused, but nodded pleasantly -and said to them, “It must be very tedious standing out here; I prefer -going in.” The halls glistened with light, cabinet councillors and -excellencies were walking about bare-footed and carrying golden keys—it -was just a place to make a man solemn and silent—and the youth’s boots -creaked horribly, yet he was not at all afraid.’</p> - -<p>‘That most certainly was Kay!’ said Gerda; ‘I know he had new boots; I -have heard them creak in my grandmother’s room.’</p> - -<p>‘Indeed they did creak,’ said the raven, ‘but merrily went he up to the -princess, who was sitting upon a pearl as large as a spinning-wheel, -whilst all the ladies of the court, with the maids of honour and their -handmaidens, ranged in order, stood on one side, and all the gentlemen -in waiting, with their gentlemen, and their gentlemen’s gentlemen, who -also kept pages, stood ranged in order on the other side, and the nearer -they were to the door the prouder they looked. The gentlemen’s -gentlemen’s page, who always wears slippers, one dare hardly look at, so -proudly he stands at the door.’</p> - -<p>‘That must be dreadful!’ said little Gerda. ‘And has Kay really won the -princess?’</p> - -<p>‘Had I not been a raven I should have won her myself,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_94" id="page_94">{94}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 382px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_094.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_094.jpg" width="382" height="503" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>SUDDENLY A LARGE RAVEN HOPPED UPON THE SNOW IN FRONT OF -HER</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 451px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_094fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_094fp.jpg" width="451" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_95" id="page_95">{95}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">notwithstanding my being betrothed. The young man spoke as well as I -speak when I converse in Ravenish; that I have heard from my tame -beloved. He was handsome and lively—“He did not come to woo her,” he -said, “he had only come to hear the wisdom of the princess,” and he -liked her much, and she liked him in return.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, to be sure, that was Kay,’ said Gerda; ‘he was so clever, he could -reckon in his head, even fractions! Oh, will you not take me into the -palace?’</p> - -<p>‘Ah! that is easily said,’ replied the raven, ‘but how is it to be done? -I will talk it over with my tame beloved; she will advise us what to do, -for I must tell you that such a little girl as you are will never gain -permission to enter publicly.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, I shall!’ cried Gerda. ‘When Kay knows that I am here, he will -immediately come out and fetch me.’</p> - -<p>‘Wait for me at the trellis yonder,’ said the raven. He wagged his head -and away he flew.</p> - -<p>The raven did not return till late in the evening. ‘Caw, caw,’ said he. -‘My tame beloved greets you kindly, and sends you a piece of bread which -she took from the kitchen; there is plenty of bread there, and you must -certainly be hungry. It is not possible for you to enter the palace, for -you have bare feet; the royal guard in silver uniform, and the lackeys -in gold, would never permit it; but do not weep, thou shalt go there. My -beloved knows a little back staircase leading to the sleeping -apartments, and she knows also where to find the key.’</p> - -<p>And they went into the garden, down the grand avenue, where the leaves -dropped upon them as they passed along, and, when the lights in the -palace one by one had all been extinguished, the raven took Gerda to a -back-door which stood half open. Oh, how Gerda’s heart beat with fear -and expectation! It was just as though she was about to do something<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_96" id="page_96">{96}</a></span> -wrong, although she only wanted to know whether Kay was really -there—yes, it must be he, she remembered so well his bright eyes and -long hair. She would see if his smile were the same as it used to be -when they sat together under the rose-trees. He would be so glad to see -her, to hear how far she had come for his sake, how all his home mourned -his absence. Her heart trembled with fear and joy.</p> - -<p>They went up the staircase. A small lamp placed on a cabinet gave a -glimmering light; on the floor stood the tame raven, who first turned -her head on all sides, and then looked at Gerda, who made her curtsy, as -her grandmother had taught her.</p> - -<p>‘My betrothed has told me much about you, my good young maiden,’ said -the tame raven; ‘your adventures, too, are extremely interesting! If you -will take the lamp, I will show you the way. We are going straight on, -we shall not meet any one now.’</p> - -<p>‘It seems to me as if some one were behind us,’ said Gerda; and in fact -there was a rushing sound as of something passing; strange-looking -shadows flitted rapidly along the wall, horses with long, slender legs -and fluttering manes, huntsmen, knights, and ladies.</p> - -<p>‘These are only dreams!’ said the raven; ‘they come to amuse the great -personages here at night; you will have a better opportunity of looking -at them when you are in bed. I hope that when you arrive at honours and -dignities you will show a grateful heart.’</p> - -<p>‘Do not talk of that!’ said the wood-raven.</p> - -<p>They now entered the first saloon; its walls were covered with -rose-coloured satin, embroidered with gold flowers. The Dreams rustled -past them, but with such rapidity that Gerda could not see them. The -apartments through which they<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_97" id="page_97">{97}</a></span> passed vied with each other in splendour, -and at last they reached the sleeping-hall. In the centre of this room -stood a pillar of gold resembling the stem of a large palm-tree, whose -leaves of glass, costly glass, formed the ceiling, and depending from -the tree, hung near the door, on thick golden stalks, two beds in the -form of lilies—the one was white, wherein reposed the princess, the -other was red, and here must Gerda seek her playfellow, Kay. She bent -aside one of the red leaves and saw a brown neck. Oh, it must be Kay! -She called him by his name aloud, held the lamp close to him, the Dreams -again rushed by—he awoke, turned his head, and behold! it was not Kay.</p> - -<p>The prince resembled him only about the throat; he was, however, young -and handsome; and the princess looked out from the white lily petals, -and asked what was the matter. Then little Gerda wept and told her whole -story, and what the ravens had done for her. ‘Poor child!’ said the -prince and princess; and they praised the ravens, and said they were not -at all angry with them. Such liberties must never be taken again in -their palace, but this time they should be rewarded.</p> - -<div class="figright" style="width: 183px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_097.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_097.jpg" width="183" height="293" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>CABINET COUNCILLORS WERE WALKING ABOUT BAREFOOTED</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘Would you like to fly away free to the woods?’ asked the princess, -addressing the ravens, ‘or to have the appointment secured to you as -Court-Ravens with the perquisites belonging to the kitchen, such as -crumbs and leavings?’</p> - -<p>And both the ravens bowed low and chose the appointment<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_98" id="page_98">{98}</a></span> at Court, for -they thought of old age, and said it would be so comfortable to be well -provided for in their declining years. Then the prince arose and made -Gerda sleep in his bed; and she folded her little hands, thinking, ‘How -kind both men and animals are to me!’ She closed her eyes and slept -soundly and sweetly, and all the Dreams flitted about her; they looked -like angels from heaven, and seemed to be drawing a sledge whereon Kay -sat and nodded to her. But this was only fancy, for as soon as she awoke -all the beautiful visions had vanished.</p> - -<p>The next day she was dressed from head to foot in silk and velvet. She -was invited to stay at the palace and enjoy all sorts of diversions, but -she begged only for a little carriage and a horse, and a pair of little -boots,—all she desired was to go again into the wide world to seek Kay.</p> - -<p>And they gave her the boots and a muff besides; she was dressed so -prettily. And as soon as she was ready there drove up to the door a new -carriage of pure gold with the arms of the prince and princess -glittering upon it like a star, the coachman, the footman, and -outriders, all wearing gold crowns. The prince and princess themselves -helped her into the carriage and wished her success. The wood-raven, who -was now married, accompanied her the first three miles; he sat by her -side, for riding backwards was a thing he could not bear. The other -raven stood at the door flapping her wings; she did not go with them on -account of a headache she had felt ever since she had received her -appointment, in consequence of eating too much. The carriage was well -provided with sugar-plums, fruit, and gingerbread nuts.</p> - -<p>‘Farewell! farewell!’ cried the prince and princess. Little Gerda wept, -and the raven wept out of sympathy. But his farewell was a far sorer -trial; he flew up to the branch of a tree and flapped his black wings at -the carriage till it was out of sight.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_99" id="page_99">{99}</a></span></p> - -<h3><a name="PART_THE_FIFTH" id="PART_THE_FIFTH"></a> -<a href="images/i_b_099.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_099.jpg" width="383" height="270" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<br /> -PART THE FIFTH</h3> - -<p class="chead">THE LITTLE ROBBER MAIDEN</p> - -<p class="nind">THEY drove through the dark, dark forest; the carriage shone like a -torch. Unfortunately its brightness attracted the eyes of the robbers -who dwelt in the forest-shades; they could not bear it.</p> - -<p>‘That is gold! gold!’ cried they. Forward they rushed, seized the -horses, stabbed the outriders, coachman, and footmen to death, and -dragged little Gerda out of the carriage.</p> - -<p>‘She is plump, she is pretty, she has been fed on nut-kernels,’ said the -old robber-wife, who had a long, bristly beard, and eyebrows hanging -like bushes over her eyes. ‘She is like a little fat lamb, and how -smartly she is dressed!’ and she drew out her bright dagger, glittering -most terribly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_100" id="page_100">{100}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Oh, oh!’ cried the woman, for at the very moment she had lifted her -dagger to stab Gerda, her own wild and wilful daughter jumped upon her -back and bit her ear violently. ‘You naughty child!’ said the mother.</p> - -<p>‘She shall play with me,’ said the little robber-maiden, ‘she shall give -me her muff and her pretty frock, and sleep with me in my bed!’ And then -she bit her mother again, till the robber-wife sprang up and shrieked -with pain, whilst the robbers all laughed, saying, ‘Look at her playing -with her young one!’</p> - -<p>‘I will get into the carriage,’ and so spoiled and wayward was the -little robber-maiden that she always had her own way, and she and Gerda -sat together in the carriage, and drove over stock and stone farther and -farther into the wood. The little robber-maiden was about as tall as -Gerda, but much stronger; she had broad shoulders, and a very dark skin; -her eyes were quite black, and had an expression almost melancholy. She -put her arm round Gerda’s waist, and said, ‘She shall not kill thee so -long as I love thee! Art thou not a princess?’</p> - -<p>‘No!’ said Gerda; and then she told her all that had happened to her, -and how much she loved little Kay.</p> - -<p>The robber-maiden looked earnestly in her face, shook her head, and -said, ‘She shall not kill thee even if I do quarrel with thee; then, -indeed, I would rather do it myself!’ And she dried Gerda’s tears, and -put both her hands into the pretty muff that was so soft and warm.</p> - -<p>The carriage at last stopped in the middle of the courtyard of the -robbers’ castle. This castle was half-ruined; crows and ravens flew out -of the openings, and some fearfully large bull-dogs, looking as if they -could devour a man in a moment, jumped round the carriage; they did not -bark, for that was forbidden.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_101" id="page_101">{101}</a></span></p> - -<p>The maidens entered a large, smoky hall, where a tremendous fire was -blazing on the stone floor; the smoke rose up to the ceiling, seeking a -way of escape, for there was no chimney; a large caldron full of soup -was boiling over the fire, whilst hares and rabbits were roasting on the -spit.</p> - -<p>‘Thou shalt sleep with me and my little pets to-night!’ said the -robber-maiden. Then they had some food, and afterwards went to the -corner wherein lay straw and a piece of carpet. Nearly a hundred pigeons -were perched on staves and laths around them; they seemed to be asleep, -but were startled when the little maidens approached.</p> - -<p>‘These all belong to me,’ said Gerda’s companion, and seizing hold of -one of the nearest, she held the poor bird by the feet and swung it. -‘Kiss it,’ said she, flapping it into Gerda’s face. ‘The rabble from the -wood sit up there,’ continued she, pointing to a number of laths -fastened across a hole in the wall; ‘those are wood-pigeons, they would -fly away if I did not keep them shut up. And here is my old favourite!’ -She pulled forward by the horn a reindeer who wore a bright copper ring -round his neck, by which he was fastened to a large stone. ‘We are -obliged to chain him up, or he would run away from us; every evening I -tickle his neck with my sharp dagger; it makes him fear me so much!’ and -the robber-maiden drew out a long dagger from a gap in the wall, and -passed it over the reindeer’s throat; the poor animal struggled and -kicked, but the girl laughed, and then she pulled Gerda into bed with -her.</p> - -<p>‘Will you keep the dagger in your hand whilst you sleep?’ asked Gerda, -looking timidly at the dangerous plaything.</p> - -<p>‘I always sleep with my dagger by my side,’ replied the little -robber-maiden; ‘one never knows what may happen. But now tell me all -over again what you told me before about<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_102" id="page_102">{102}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 382px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_102.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_102.jpg" width="382" height="497" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>AND THE NEARER THEY WERE TO THE DOOR THE PROUDER THEY -LOOKED</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_103" id="page_103">{103}</a></span></p> - -<p>Kay, and the reason of your coming into the wide world all by yourself.’</p> - -<p>And Gerda again related her history, and the wood-pigeons imprisoned -above listened, but the others were fast asleep. The little -robber-maiden threw one arm round Gerda’s neck, and holding the dagger -with the other, was also soon asleep; one could hear her heavy -breathing, but Gerda could not close her eyes throughout the night—she -knew not what would become of her, whether she would even be suffered to -live. The robbers sat round the fire drinking and singing. Oh, it was a -dreadful night for the poor little girl!</p> - -<p>Then spoke the wood-pigeons, ‘Coo, coo, coo! we have seen little Kay. A -white fowl carried his sledge, he himself was in the Snow Queen’s -chariot, which passed through the wood whilst we sat in our nest. She -breathed upon us young ones as she passed, and all died of her breath -excepting us two,—coo, coo, coo!’</p> - -<p>‘What are you saying?’ cried Gerda; ‘where was the Snow Queen going? Do -you know anything about it?’</p> - -<p>‘She travels most likely to Lapland, where ice and snow abide all the -year round. Ask the reindeer bound to the rope there.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, ice and snow are there all through the year; it is a glorious -land!’ said the reindeer. ‘There, free and happy, one can roam through -the wide sparkling valleys! There the Snow Queen has her summer-tent; -her strong castle is very far off, near the North Pole, on the island -called Spitsbergen.’</p> - -<p>‘O Kay, dear Kay!’ sighed Gerda.</p> - -<p>‘You must lie still,’ said the robber-maiden, ‘or I will thrust my -dagger into your side.’</p> - -<p>When morning came Gerda repeated to her what the wood-pigeons had said, -and the little robber-maiden looked grave for<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_104" id="page_104">{104}</a></span> a moment, then nodded her -head, saying, ‘No matter! no matter! Do you know where Lapland is?’ -asked she of the reindeer.</p> - -<p>‘Who should know but I?’ returned the animal, his eyes kindling. ‘There -was I born and bred, there how often have I bounded over the wild icy -plains!’</p> - -<p>‘Listen to me!’ said the robber-maiden to Gerda. ‘You see all our men -are gone; my mother is still here and will remain, but towards noon she -will drink a little out of the great flask, and after that she will -sleep—then I will do something for you!’ And so saying she jumped out -of bed, sprang upon her mother, pulled her by the beard, and said, ‘My -own dear mam, good morning!’ and the mother caressed her so roughly that -she was red and blue all over; however, it was from pure love.</p> - -<p>When her mother was fast asleep, the robber-maiden went up to the -reindeer, and said, ‘I should have great pleasure in stroking you a few -more times with my sharp dagger, for then you look so droll, but never -mind, I will unloose your chain and help you to escape, on condition -that you run as fast as you can to Lapland, and take this little girl to -the castle of the Snow Queen, where her playfellow is. You must have -heard her story, for she speaks loud enough, and you know well how to -listen.’</p> - -<p>The reindeer bounded with joy, and the robber-maiden lifted Gerda on his -back, taking the precaution to bind her on firmly, as well as to give -her a little cushion to sit on. ‘And here,’ said she, ‘are your fur -boots, you will need them in that cold country; the muff I must keep -myself, it is too pretty to part with; but you shall not be frozen. Here -are my mother’s huge gloves, they reach up to the elbow; put them -on—now your hands look as clumsy as my old mother’s!’</p> - -<p>And Gerda shed tears of joy.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_105" id="page_105">{105}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘I cannot bear to see you crying!’ said the little robber-maiden, ‘you -ought to look glad; see, here are two loaves and a piece of bacon for -you, that you may not be hungry on the way.’ She fastened this provender -also on the reindeer’s back, opened the door, called away the great -dogs, and then cutting asunder with her dagger the rope which bound the -reindeer, shouted to him, ‘Now then, run! but take good care of the -little girl.’</p> - -<p>And Gerda stretched out her hands to the robber-maiden and bade her -farewell, and the reindeer fleeted through the forest, over stock and -stone, over desert and heath, over meadow and moor. The wolves howled -and the ravens shrieked. ‘Isch! Isch!’ a red light flashed—one might -have fancied the sky was sneezing.</p> - -<p>‘Those are my dear old Northern Lights!’ said the reindeer; ‘look at -them, how beautiful they are!’ And he ran faster than ever, night and -day he ran—the loaves were eaten, so was the bacon—at last they were -in Lapland.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_106" id="page_106">{106}</a></span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_107" id="page_107">{107}</a></span></p> - -<h3><a name="PART_THE_SIXTH" id="PART_THE_SIXTH"></a> -<a href="images/i_b_106.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_106.jpg" width="382" height="515" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">AND FLAPPED HIS BLACK WINGS AT THE CARRIAGE TILL IT WAS -OUT OF SIGHT</span> -<br /><br /> -PART THE SIXTH</h3> - -<p class="chead">THE LAPLAND WOMAN AND THE FINLAND WOMAN</p> - -<p class="nind">THEY stopped at a little hut, a wretched hut it was; the roof very -nearly touched the ground, and the door was so low that whoever wished -to go either in or out was obliged to crawl upon hands and knees. No one -was at home except the old Lapland woman, who was busy boiling fish over -a lamp filled with train oil. The reindeer related to her Gerda’s whole -history, not, however, till after he had made her acquainted with his -own, which appeared to him of much more importance. Poor Gerda, -meanwhile, was so overpowered by the cold that she could not speak.</p> - -<p>‘Ah, poor things!’ said the Lapland woman, ‘you have still a long way -before you! You have a hundred miles to run before you can arrive in -Finland: the Snow Queen dwells there, and burns blue lights every -evening. I will write for you a few words on a piece of dried -stock-fish—paper I have none—and you may take it with you to the wise -Finland woman who lives there; she will advise you better than I can.’</p> - -<p>So when Gerda had well warmed herself and taken some food, the Lapland -woman wrote a few words on a dried stock-fish, bade Gerda take care of -it, and bound her once more firmly on the reindeer’s back.</p> - -<p>Onwards they sped, the wondrous Northern Lights, now of the loveliest, -brightest blue colour, shone all through the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_108" id="page_108">{108}</a></span> night, and amidst these -splendid illuminations they arrived in Finland, and knocked at the -chimney of the wise-woman, for door to her house she had none.</p> - -<p>Hot, very hot was it within—so much so that the wise-woman wore -scarcely any clothing; she was low in stature and very dirty. She -immediately loosened little Gerda’s dress, took off her fur boots and -thick gloves, laid a piece of ice on the reindeer’s head, and then read -what was written on the stock-fish. She read it three times. After the -third reading she knew it by heart, and threw the fish into the -porridge-pot, for it might make a very excellent supper, and she never -wasted anything.</p> - -<p>The reindeer then repeated his own story, and when that was finished he -told of little Gerda’s adventures, and the wise-woman twinkled her wise -eyes, but spoke not a word.</p> - -<p>‘Thou art so powerful,’ continued the reindeer, ‘that I know thou canst -twist all the winds of the world into a thread, of which if the pilot -loosen one knot he will have a favourable wind; if he loosen the second -it will blow sharp, and if he loosen the third, so tremendous a storm -will arise that the trees of the forest will be uprooted, and the ship -wrecked. Wilt thou not mix for this little maiden that wonderful draught -which will give her the strength of twelve men, and thus enable her to -overcome the Snow Queen?’</p> - -<p>‘The strength of twelve men!’ repeated the wise-woman, ‘that would be of -much use to be sure!’ and she walked away, drew forth a large parchment -roll from a shelf and began to read. What strange characters were seen -inscribed on the scroll as the wise-woman slowly unrolled it! She read -so intently that the perspiration ran down her forehead.</p> - -<p>But the reindeer pleaded so earnestly for little Gerda, and Gerda’s eyes -were raised so entreatingly and tearfully, that at last the wise-woman’s -eyes began to twinkle again out of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_109" id="page_109">{109}</a></span> sympathy, and she drew the reindeer -into a corner, and putting a fresh piece of ice upon his head, whispered -thus:</p> - -<p>‘Little Kay is still with the Snow Queen, in whose abode everything is -according to his taste, and therefore he believes it to be the best -place in the world. But that is because he has a glass splinter in his -heart, and a glass splinter in his eye—until he has got rid of them he -will never feel like a human being, and the Snow Queen will always -maintain her influence over him.’</p> - -<p>‘But canst thou not give something to little Gerda whereby she may -overcome all these evil influences?’</p> - -<div class="figright" style="width: 227px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_109.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_109.jpg" width="227" height="534" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE LITTLE ROBBER-MAIDEN</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘I can give her no power so great as that which she already possesses. -Seest thou not how strong she is? Seest thou not that both men and -animals must serve her—a poor little girl wandering barefoot through -the world? Her power is greater than ours; it proceeds from her heart, -from<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_110" id="page_110">{110}</a></span> her being a loving and innocent child. If this power which she -already possesses cannot give her access to the Snow Queen’s palace, and -enable her to free Kay’s eye and heart from the glass fragment, we can -do nothing for her! Two miles hence is the Snow Queen’s garden; thither -thou canst carry the little maiden. Put her down close by the bush -bearing red berries and half covered with snow: lose no time, and hasten -back to this place!’</p> - -<p>And the wise-woman lifted Gerda on the reindeer’s back, and away they -went.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, I have left my boots behind! I have left my gloves behind,’ cried -little Gerda, when it was too late. The cold was piercing, but the -reindeer dared not stop; on he ran until he reached the bush with the -red berries. Here he set Gerda down, kissed her, the tears rolling down -his cheeks the while, and ran fast back again—which was the best thing -he could do. And there stood poor Gerda, without shoes, without gloves, -alone in that barren region, that terribly icy-cold Finland.</p> - -<p>She ran on as fast as she could; a whole regiment of snow-flakes came to -meet her. They did not fall from the sky, which was cloudless and bright -with the Northern Lights; they ran straight along the ground, and the -farther Gerda advanced the larger they grew. Gerda then remembered how -large and curious the snow-flakes had appeared to her when one day she -had looked at them through a burning-glass; these, however, were very -much larger, they were living forms, they were in fact the Snow Queen’s -guards. Their shapes were the strangest that could be imagined; some -looked like great ugly porcupines, others like snakes rolled into knots -with their heads peering forth, and others like little fat bears with -bristling hair—all, however, were alike dazzlingly white—all were -living snow-flakes. Little Gerda began to repeat ‘Our Father’:<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_111" id="page_111">{111}</a></span> -meanwhile, the cold was so intense that she could see her own breath, -which, as it escaped her mouth, ascended into the air like vapour; the -cold grew intense, the vapour more dense, and at length took the forms -of little bright angels which, as they touched the earth, became larger -and more distinct. They wore helmets on their heads, and carried shields -and spears in their hands; their number increased so rapidly that, by -the time Gerda had finished her prayer, a whole legion stood around her. -They thrust with their spears against the horrible snow-flakes, which -fell into thousands of pieces, and little Gerda walked on unhurt and -undaunted. The angels touched her hands and feet, and then she scarcely -felt the cold, and boldly approached the Snow Queen’s palace.</p> - -<p>But before we accompany her there, let us see what Kay is doing. He is -certainly not thinking of little Gerda; least of all can he imagine that -she is now standing at the palace gate.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_112" id="page_112">{112}</a></span></p> - -<h3><a name="PART_THE_SEVENTH" id="PART_THE_SEVENTH"></a> -<a href="images/i_b_112.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_112.jpg" width="381" height="297" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<br /> -PART THE SEVENTH</h3> - -<p class="chead">WHICH TREATS OF THE SNOW QUEEN’S PALACE, AND OF WHAT CAME TO PASS -THEREIN</p> - -<p class="nind">THE walls of the palace were formed of the driven snow, its doors and -windows of the cutting winds. There were above a hundred halls, the -largest of them many miles in extent, all illuminated by the Northern -Lights, all alike vast, empty, icily cold, and dazzlingly white. No -sounds of mirth ever resounded through these dreary spaces; no cheerful -scene refreshed the sight—not even so much as a bear’s ball, such as -one might imagine sometimes takes place, the tempest forming a band of -musicians, and the polar bears standing on their hind paws and -exhibiting themselves in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_113" id="page_113">{113}</a></span> oddest positions. Nor was there ever a -card-assembly, wherein the cards might be held in the mouth and dealt -out by paws; nor even a small select coffee-party for the white young -lady foxes. Vast, empty, and cold were the Snow Queen’s chambers, and -the Northern Lights flashed, now high, now low, in regular gradations. -In the midst of the empty, interminable snow saloon lay a frozen lake; -it was broken into a thousand pieces, but these pieces so exactly -resembled each other, that the breaking of them might well be deemed a -work of more than human skill. The Snow Queen, when at home, always sat -in the centre of this lake; she used to say that she was then sitting on -the Mirror of Reason, and that hers was the best, indeed the only one, -in the world.</p> - -<p>Little Kay was quite blue, nay, almost black with cold, but he did not -observe it, for the Snow Queen had kissed away the shrinking feeling he -used to experience, and his heart was like a lump of ice. He was busied -among the sharp icy fragments, laying and joining them together in every -possible way, just as people do with what are called Chinese puzzles. -Kay could form the most curious and complete figures—this was the -ice-puzzle of reason—and in his eyes these figures were of the utmost -importance. He often formed whole words, but there was one word he could -never succeed in forming—it was Eternity. The Snow Queen had said to -him, ‘When thou canst put that figure together, thou shalt become thine -own master and I will give thee the whole world, and a new pair of -skates besides.’</p> - -<p>But he could never do it.</p> - -<p>‘Now I am going to the warm countries,’ said the Snow Queen. ‘I shall -flit through the air, and look into the black caldrons’—she meant the -burning mountains, Etna and Vesuvius. ‘I shall whiten them a little; -that will be good<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_114" id="page_114">{114}</a></span> for the citrons and vineyards.’ So away flew the Snow -Queen, leaving Kay sitting all alone in the large empty hall of ice. He -looked at the fragments, and thought and thought till his head ached. He -sat so still and so stiff that one might have fancied that he too was -frozen.</p> - -<p>Cold and cutting blew the winds when little Gerda passed through the -palace gates, but she repeated her evening prayer, and they immediately -sank to rest. She entered the large, cold, empty hall: she saw Kay, she -recognised him, she flew upon his neck, she held him fast, and cried, -‘Kay! dear, dear Kay! I have found thee at last!’</p> - -<p>But he sat still as before, cold, silent, motionless; his unkindness -wounded poor Gerda deeply. Hot and bitter were the tears she shed; they -fell upon his breast, they reached his heart, they thawed the ice and -dissolved the tiny splinter of glass within it. He looked at her whilst -she sang her hymn—</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">‘Our roses bloom and fade away,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Our Infant Lord abides alway;<br /></span> -<span class="i1">May we be blessed His face to see,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">And ever little children be!’<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>Then Kay burst into tears. He wept till the glass splinter floated in -his eye and fell with his tears; he knew his old companion immediately, -and exclaimed with joy, ‘Gerda, my dear little Gerda, where hast thou -been all this time?—and where have I been?’</p> - -<p>He looked around him. ‘How cold it is here! how wide and empty!’ and he -embraced Gerda, whilst she laughed and wept by turns. Even the pieces of -ice took part in their joy; they danced about merrily, and when they -were wearied and lay down they formed of their own accord the mystical -letters of which the Snow Queen had said that when Kay could put<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_115" id="page_115">{115}</a></span> them -together he should be his own master, and that she would give him the -whole world, with a new pair of skates besides.</p> - -<p>And Gerda kissed his cheeks, whereupon they became fresh and glowing as -ever; she kissed his eyes, and they sparkled like her own; she kissed -his hands and feet, and he was once more healthy and merry. The Snow -Queen might now come home as soon as she liked—it mattered not; Kay’s -charter of freedom stood written on the mirror in bright icy characters.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 380px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_115.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_115.jpg" width="380" height="288" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>SHE RAN ON AS FAST AS SHE COULD</p></div> -</div> - -<p>They took each other by the hand, and wandered forth out of the palace, -talking meanwhile about the aged grandmother and the rose-trees on the -roof of their houses; and as they walked on, the winds were hushed into -a calm, and the sun burst forth in splendour from among the dark -storm-clouds. When<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_116" id="page_116">{116}</a></span> they arrived at the bush with the red berries, they -found the reindeer standing by awaiting their arrival; he had brought -with him another and younger reindeer, whose udders were full, and who -gladly gave her warm milk to refresh the young travellers.</p> - -<p>The old reindeer and the young hind now carried Kay and Gerda on their -backs, first to the little hot room of the wise-woman of Finland, where -they warmed themselves, and received advice how to proceed in their -journey home, and afterwards to the abode of the Lapland woman, who made -them some new clothes and provided them with a sledge.</p> - -<p>The whole party now ran on together till they came to the boundary of -the country; but just where the green leaves began to sprout, the -Lapland woman and the two reindeers took their leave. ‘Farewell! -farewell!’ said they all. And the first little birds they had seen for -many a long day began to chirp, and warble their pretty songs; and the -trees of the forest burst upon them full of rich and variously tinted -foliage. Suddenly the green boughs parted asunder, and a spirited horse -galloped up. Gerda knew it well, for it was the one which had been -harnessed to her gold coach; and on it sat a young girl wearing a bright -scarlet cap, and with pistols on the holster before her. It was indeed -no other than the robber-maiden, who, weary of her home in the forest, -was going on her travels, first to the north and afterwards to other -parts of the world. She at once recognised Gerda, and Gerda had not -forgotten her. Most joyful was their greeting.</p> - -<p>‘A fine gentleman you are, to be sure, you graceless young truant!’ said -she to Kay. ‘I should like to know if you deserved that any one should -be running to the end of the world on your account!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_117" id="page_117">{117}</a></span>’</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 382px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_117.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_117.jpg" width="382" height="511" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>SHE ENTERED THE LARGE, COLD, EMPTY HALL</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_118" id="page_118">{118}</a></span></p> - -<p>But Gerda stroked her cheeks, and asked after the prince and princess.</p> - -<p>‘They are gone travelling into foreign countries,’ replied the -robber-maiden.</p> - -<p>‘And the raven?’ asked Gerda.</p> - -<p>‘Ah! the raven is dead,’ returned she. ‘The tame beloved has become a -widow; so she hops about with a piece of worsted wound round her leg; -she moans most piteously, and chatters more than ever! But tell me now -all that has happened to you, and how you managed to pick up your old -playfellow.’</p> - -<p>And Gerda and Kay told their story.</p> - -<p>‘Snip-snap-snurre-basselurre!’ said the robber-maiden. She pressed the -hands of both, promised that if ever she passed through their town she -would pay them a visit, and then bade them farewell, and rode away out -into the wide world.</p> - -<p>Kay and Gerda walked on hand in hand, and wherever they went it was -spring, beautiful spring, with its bright flowers and green leaves.</p> - -<p>They arrived at a large town, the church bells were ringing merrily, and -they immediately recognised the high towers rising into the sky—it was -the town wherein they had lived. Joyfully they passed through the -streets, joyfully they stopped at the door of Gerda’s grandmother. They -walked up the stairs and entered the well-known room. The clock said -‘Tick, tick!’ and the hands moved as before. Only one alteration could -they find, and that was in themselves, for they saw that they were now -full-grown persons. The rose-trees on the roof blossomed in front of the -open window, and there beneath them stood the children’s stools. Kay and -Gerda went and sat down upon them, still holding each other by the -hands; the cold, hollow splendour of the Snow Queen’s palace they had -forgotten, it seemed to them only an unpleasant<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_119" id="page_119">{119}</a></span> dream. The grandmother -meanwhile sat amid God’s bright sunshine, and read from the Bible these -words: ‘Unless ye become as little children, ye shall not enter into the -kingdom of heaven.’</p> - -<p>And Kay and Gerda gazed on each other; they now understood the words of -their hymn—</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">‘Our roses bloom and fade away,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Our Infant Lord abides alway;<br /></span> -<span class="i1">May we be blessed His face to see,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">And ever little children be!’<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>There they sat, those two happy ones, grown-up and yet -children—children in heart, while all around them glowed bright -summer,—warm, glorious summer.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 92px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_119.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_119.jpg" width="92" height="251" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_120" id="page_120">{120}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 461px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_120.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_120.jpg" width="461" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE ELFIN KING’S HOUSEKEEPER</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_121" id="page_121">{121}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="ELFIN-MOUNT" id="ELFIN-MOUNT"></a>ELFIN-MOUNT</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">S</span>EVERAL large lizards were running nimbly in and out among the clefts of -an old tree; they could understand each other perfectly well, for they -all spoke the lizards’ language. ‘Only hear what a rumbling and -grumbling there is in the old Elfin-mount yonder!’ observed one lizard. -‘I have not been able to close my eyes for the last two nights; I might -as well have had the toothache, for the sleep I have had!’</p> - -<p>‘There is something in the wind, most certainly!’ rejoined the second -lizard. ‘They raise the Mount upon four red pillars till cock-crowing; -there is a regular cleaning and dusting going on, and the Elfin-maidens -are learning new dances—such a stamping they make in them! There is -certainly something in the wind!’</p> - -<p>‘Yes; I have been talking it over with an earth-worm of my -acquaintance,’ said a third lizard. ‘The earth-worm has just come from -the Mount; he has been grubbing in the ground there for days and nights -together, and has overheard a good deal; he can’t see at all, poor -wretch! but no one can be quicker than he is at feeling and hearing. -They are expecting strangers at the Elfin-mount—distinguished -strangers; but who they are, the earth-worm would not say; most likely -he did not know. All the wills-o’-the-wisp are engaged to form a -procession of torches—so they call it; and all the silver and gold, of -which there is such a store in the Elfin<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_122" id="page_122">{122}</a></span>-mount, is being fresh rubbed -up, and set out to shine in the moonlight.’</p> - -<p>‘But who can these strangers be?’ exclaimed all the lizards with one -voice. ‘What can be in the wind? Only listen!—what buzzing and -humming!’</p> - -<p>Just then the Elfin-mount parted asunder; and an elderly Elfin damsel -came tripping out—she was the old Elfin-King’s housekeeper, and -distantly related to his family, on which account she wore an amber -heart on her forehead, but was otherwise plainly dressed. Like all other -elves, she was hollow in the back. She was very quick and light-footed; -trip—trip—trip, away she ran, straight into the marsh, to the -night-raven. ‘You are invited to Elfin-mount, for this very evening,’ -said she; ‘but will you not first do us a very great kindness, and be -the bearer of the other invitations? You do not keep house, yourself, -you know; so you can easily oblige us. We are expecting some very -distinguished strangers, Trolds in fact; and his Elfin Majesty intends -to welcome them in person.’</p> - -<p>‘Who are to be invited?’ inquired the night-raven.</p> - -<p>‘Why, to the grand ball all the world may come; even men, if they could -but talk in their sleep, or do a little bit of anything in our way. But -the first banquet must be very select; none but guests of the very -highest rank must be present. To say the truth, I and the King have been -having a little dispute; for I insist, that not even ghosts may be -admitted to-night. The Mer-King and his daughters must be invited first; -they don’t much like coming on land, but I’ll promise they shall each -have a wet stone, or, perhaps, something better still, to sit on; and -then, I think, they cannot possibly refuse us this time. All old Trolds -of the first rank we must have; also, the River-Spirit and the Nisses; -and, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_123" id="page_123">{123}</a></span> fancy, we cannot pass over the Death-Horse and Kirkegrim; true, -they do not belong to our set, they are too solemn for us, but they are -connected with the family, and pay us regular visits.’</p> - -<p>‘Caw!’ said the night-raven; and away he flew to bear the invitations.</p> - -<p>The Elfin-maidens were still dancing in the Elfin-mount; they danced -with long scarfs woven from mist and moonlight, and for those who like -that sort of thing it looks pretty enough. The large state-room in the -Mount had been regularly cleaned and cleared out; the floor had been -washed with moonshine, and the walls rubbed with witches’ fat till they -shone as tulips do when held up to the light. In the kitchen, frogs were -roasting on the spit; while divers other choice dishes, such as mushroom -seed, hemlock soup, etc., were prepared or preparing. These were to -supply the first courses; rusty nails, bits of coloured glass, and such -like dainties, were to come in for the dessert; there was also bright -saltpetre wine, and ale brewed in the brewery of the Wise Witch of the -Moor.</p> - -<p>The old Elfin-King’s gold crown had been fresh rubbed with powdered -slate-pencil; new curtains had been hung up in all the -sleeping-rooms,—yes, there was indeed a rare bustle and commotion.</p> - -<p>‘Now, we must have the rooms scented with cows’ hairs and swine’s -bristles; and then, I think, I shall have done my part!’ said the -Elfin-King’s housekeeper.</p> - -<p>‘Dear papa,’ said the youngest of the daughters, ‘won’t you tell me now -who these grand visitors are?’</p> - -<p>‘Well!’ replied His Majesty, ‘I suppose there’s no use in keeping it a -secret. Let two of my daughters get themselves ready for their -wedding-day, that’s all! Two of them most certainly will be married. The -Chief of the Norwegian Trolds,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_124" id="page_124">{124}</a></span> he who dwells in old Dofrefield, and has -so many castles of freestone among these rocky fastnesses, besides a -gold-mine,—which is a capital thing, let me tell you,—he is coming -down here with his two boys, who are both to choose themselves a bride. -Such an honest, straightforward, true old Norseman is this mountain -chief! so merry and jovial! he and I are old comrades; he came down here -years ago to fetch his wife; she is dead now; she was the daughter of -the Rock-King at Möen. Oh, how I long to see the old Norseman again! His -sons, they say, are rough unmannerly cubs, but perhaps report may have -done them injustice, and at any rate they are sure to improve in a year -or two, when they have sown their wild oats. Let me see how you will -polish them up!’</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 247px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_124.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_124.jpg" width="247" height="227" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE MER-KING MUST BE INVITED FIRST</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘And how soon are they to be here?’ inquired his youngest daughter -again.</p> - -<p>‘That depends on wind and weather!’ returned the Elfin-<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_125" id="page_125">{125}</a></span>King. ‘They -travel economically; they come at the ship’s convenience. I wanted them -to pass over by Sweden, but the old man would not hear of that. He does -not keep pace with the times, that’s the only fault I can find with -him.’</p> - -<p>Just then two wills-o’-the-wisp were seen dancing up in a vast hurry, -each trying to get before the other, and to be the first to bring the -news.</p> - -<p>‘They come, they come!’ cried both with one voice.</p> - -<p>‘Give me my crown, and let me stand in the moonlight!’ said the -Elfin-King.</p> - -<p>And his seven daughters lifted their long scarfs and bowed low to the -earth.</p> - -<p>There stood the Trold Chief from the Dofrefield, wearing a crown -composed of icicles and polished pine cones; for the rest, he was -equipped in a bear-skin cloak and sledge-boots; his sons were clad more -slightly, and kept their throats uncovered, by way of showing that they -cared nothing about the cold.</p> - -<p>‘Is that a mount?’ asked the youngest of them, pointing to it. ‘Why, up -in Norway we should call it a cave!’</p> - -<p>‘You foolish boy!’ replied his father; ‘a cave you go into, a mount you -go up! Where are your eyes, not to see the difference?’</p> - -<p>The only thing that surprised them in this country, they said, was that -the people should speak and understand their language.</p> - -<p>‘Behave yourselves now!’ said the old man; ‘don’t let your host fancy -you never went into decent company before!’</p> - -<p>And now they all entered the Elfin-mount, into the grand saloon, where a -really very select party was assembled, although at such short notice -that it seemed almost as though some fortunate gust of wind had blown -them together. And every<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_126" id="page_126">{126}</a></span> possible arrangement had been made for the -comfort of each of the guests; the Mer-King’s family, for instance, sat -at table in large tubs of water, and they declared they felt quite as if -they were at home. All behaved with strict good-breeding except the two -young northern Trolds, who at last so far forgot themselves as to put -their legs on the table.</p> - -<p>‘Take your legs away from the plates!’ said their father, and they -obeyed, but not so readily as they might have done. Presently they took -some pine cones out of their pockets and began pelting the lady who sat -between them, and then, finding their boots incommode them, they took -them off, and coolly gave them to this lady to hold. But their father, -the old mountain Chief, conducted himself very differently; he talked so -delightfully about the proud Norse mountains, and the torrents, white -with dancing spray, that dashed foaming down their rocky steeps with a -noise loud and hoarse as thunder, yet musical as the full burst of an -organ, touched by a master hand; he told of the salmon leaping up from -the wild waters while the Neck was playing on his golden harp; he told -of the star-light winter nights when the sledge bells tinkled so -merrily, and the youths ran with lighted torches over the icy crust, so -glassy and transparent that through it they could see the fishes -whirling to and fro in deadly terror beneath their feet; he told of the -gallant northern youths and pretty maidens singing songs of old time, -and dancing the Hallinge dance,—yes, so charmingly he described all -this, that you could not but fancy you heard and saw it all. Oh fie, for -shame: all of a sudden the mountain Chief turned round upon the elderly -Elfin maiden, and gave her a cousinly salute, and he was not yet -connected ever so remotely with the family.</p> - -<p>The young Elfin-maidens were now called upon to dance. First they danced -simple dances, then stamping dances, and</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 458px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_126fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_126fp.jpg" width="458" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_127" id="page_127">{127}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">they did both remarkably well. Last came the most difficult of all, the -‘Dance out of the dance,’ as it was called. Bravo! how long their legs -seemed to grow, and how they whirled and spun about! You could hardly -distinguish legs from arms, or arms from legs. Round and round they -went, such whirling and twirling, such whirring and whizzing there was -that it made the death-horse feel quite dizzy, and at last he grew so -unwell that he was obliged to leave the table.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 298px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_127.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_127.jpg" width="298" height="199" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THEY FELT QUITE AS IF THEY WERE AT HOME</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘Hurrah!’ cried the mountain Chief, ‘they know how to use their limbs -with a vengeance! but can they do nothing else than dance, stretch out -their feet, and spin round like a whirlwind?’</p> - -<p>‘You shall judge for yourself,’ replied the Elfin-King, and here he -called the eldest of his daughters to him. She was transparent and fair -as moonlight; she was, in fact, the most delicate of all the sisters; -she put a white wand between her lips and vanished: that was her -accomplishment.</p> - -<p>But the mountain Chief said he should not at all like his<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_128" id="page_128">{128}</a></span> wife to -possess such an accomplishment as this, and he did not think his sons -would like it either.</p> - -<p>The second could walk by the side of herself, just as though she had a -shadow, which elves and trolds never have.</p> - -<p>The accomplishment of the third sister was of quite another kind: she -had learned how to brew good ale from the Wise Witch of the Moor, and -she also knew how to lard alder-wood with glow-worms.</p> - -<p>‘She will make a capital housewife,’ remarked the old mountain Chief.</p> - -<p>And now advanced the fourth Elfin damsel; she carried a large gold harp, -and no sooner had she struck the first chord than all the company lifted -their left feet—for elves are left-sided—and when she struck the -second chord, they were all compelled to do whatever she wished.</p> - -<p>‘A dangerous lady, indeed!’ said the old Trold Chief. Both of his sons -now got up and strode out of the mount; they were heartily weary of -these accomplishments.</p> - -<p>‘And what can the next daughter do?’ asked the mountain Chief.</p> - -<p>‘I have learned to love the north,’ replied she, ‘and I have resolved -never to marry unless I may go to Norway.’</p> - -<p>But the youngest of the sisters whispered to the old man, ‘That is only -because she has heard an old Norse rhyme, which says that when the end -of the world shall come, the Norwegian rocks shall stand firm amid the -ruins; she is very much afraid of death, and therefore she wants to go -to Norway.’</p> - -<p>‘Ho, ho!’ cried the mountain Chief, ‘sits the wind in that quarter? But -what can the seventh and last do?’</p> - -<p>‘The sixth comes before the seventh,’ said the Elfin-King; for he could -count better than to make such a mistake. However, the sixth seemed in -no hurry to come forward.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_129" id="page_129">{129}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘I can only tell people the truth,’ said she. ‘Let no one trouble -himself about me; I have enough to do to sew my shroud!’</p> - -<p>And now came the seventh and last, and what could she do? Why, she could -tell fairy tales, as many as any one could wish to hear.</p> - -<p>‘Here are my five fingers,’ said the mountain Chief; ‘tell me a story -for each finger.’</p> - -<p>And the Elfin-maiden took hold of his wrist, and told her stories, and -he laughed till his sides ached, and when she came to the finger that -wore a gold ring, as though it knew it might be wanted, the mountain -Chief suddenly exclaimed, ‘Hold fast what thou hast; the hand is thine! -I will have thee myself to wife!’ But the Elfin-maiden said that she had -still two more stories to tell, one for the ring-finger, and another for -the little finger.</p> - -<p>‘Keep them for next winter, we’ll hear them then,’ replied the mountain -Chief. ‘And we’ll hear about the “Loves of the Fir-Tree and the Birch,” -about the Valkyria’s gifts too, for we all love fairy legends in Norway, -and no one there can tell them so charmingly as thou dost. And then we -will sit in our rocky halls, whilst the fir-logs are blazing and -crackling in the stove, and drink mead out of the golden horns of the -old Norse kings; the Neck has taught me a few of his rare old ditties, -besides the Garbo will often come and pay us a visit, and he will sing -thee all the sweet songs that the mountain maidens sang in days of -yore;—that will be most delightful! The salmon in the torrent will -spring up and beat himself against the rock walls, but in vain, he will -not be able to get in. Oh, thou canst not imagine what a happy, glorious -life we lead in that dear old Norway! But where are the boys?’</p> - -<p>Where were the boys? Why, they were racing about in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_130" id="page_130">{130}</a></span> the fields and -blowing out the poor wills-o’-the-wisp, who were just ranging themselves -in the proper order to make a procession of torches.</p> - -<p>‘What do you mean by making all this riot?’ inquired the mountain Chief. -‘I have been choosing you a mother; now you come and choose yourselves -wives from among your aunts.’</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 382px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_130.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_130.jpg" width="382" height="247" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>I WILL HAVE THEE MYSELF TO WIFE</p></div> -</div> - -<p>But his sons said they would rather make speeches and drink toasts; they -had not the slightest wish to marry. And accordingly they made speeches, -tossed off their glasses and turned them topsy-turvy on the table, to -show that they were quite empty; after this they took off their coats, -and most unceremoniously lay down on the table and went to sleep. But -the old mountain Chief, the while, danced round the hall<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_131" id="page_131">{131}</a></span> with his young -bride, and exchanged boots with her, because that is not so vulgar as -exchanging rings.</p> - -<p>‘Listen, the cock is crowing!’ exclaimed the lady-housekeeper. ‘We must -make haste and shut the window-shutters close, or the sun will scorch -our complexions.’</p> - -<p>And herewith Elfin-mount closed.</p> - -<p>But outside, in the cloven trunk, the lizards kept running up and down, -and one and all declared, ‘What a capital fellow that old Norwegian -Trold is!’ ‘For my part, I prefer the boys,’ said the earth-worm;—but -he, poor wretch, could see nothing either of them or of their father, so -his opinion was not worth much.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_132" id="page_132">{132}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 458px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_132.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_132.jpg" width="458" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE LITTLE MERMAID</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_133" id="page_133">{133}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_LITTLE_MERMAID" id="THE_LITTLE_MERMAID"></a>THE LITTLE MERMAID</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">F</span>AR out in the wide sea,—where the water is blue as the loveliest -cornflower, and clear as the purest crystal, where it is so deep that -very, very many church-towers must be heaped one upon another in order -to reach from the lowest depth to the surface above,—dwell the -Mer-people.</p> - -<p>Now you must not imagine that there is nothing but sand below the water: -no, indeed, far from it! Trees and plants of wondrous beauty grow there, -whose stems and leaves are so light, that they are waved to and fro by -the slightest motion of the water, almost as if they were living beings. -Fishes, great and small, glide in and out among the branches, just as -birds fly about among our trees.</p> - -<p>Where the water is deepest stands the palace of the Mer-king. The walls -of this palace are of coral, and the high, pointed windows are of amber; -the roof, however, is composed of mussel-shells, which, as the billows -pass over them, are continually opening and shutting. This looks -exceedingly pretty, especially as each of these mussel-shells contains a -number of bright, glittering pearls, one only of which would be the most -costly ornament in the diadem of a king in the upper world.</p> - -<p>The Mer-king, who lived in this palace, had been for many years a -widower; his old mother managed the household affairs for him. She was, -on the whole, a sensible sort of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_134" id="page_134">{134}</a></span> lady, although extremely proud of -her high birth and station, on which account she wore twelve oysters on -her tail, whilst the other inhabitants of the sea, even those of -distinction, were allowed only six. In every other respect she merited -unlimited praise, especially for the affection she showed to the six -little princesses, her grand-daughters. These were all very beautiful -children; the youngest was, however, the most lovely; her skin was as -soft and delicate as a rose-leaf, her eyes were of as deep a blue as the -sea, but like all other mermaids, she had no feet, her body ended in a -tail like that of a fish.</p> - -<p>The whole day long the children used to play in the spacious apartments -of the palace, where beautiful flowers grew out of the walls on all -sides around them. When the great amber windows were opened, fishes -would swim into these apartments as swallows fly into our rooms; but the -fishes were bolder than the swallows, they swam straight up to the -little princesses, ate from their hands, and allowed themselves to be -caressed.</p> - -<p>In front of the palace there was a large garden, full of fiery red and -dark blue trees, whose fruit glittered like gold, and whose flowers -resembled a bright, burning sun. The sand that formed the soil of the -garden was of a bright blue colour, something like flames of sulphur; -and a strangely beautiful blue was spread over the whole, so that one -might have fancied oneself raised very high in the air, with the sky at -once above and below, certainly not at the bottom of the sea. When the -waters were quite still, the sun might be seen looking like a purple -flower, out of whose cup streamed forth the light of the world.</p> - -<p>Each of the little princesses had her own plot in the garden, where she -might plant and sow at her pleasure. One chose hers to be made in the -shape of a whale, another preferred the figure of a mermaid, but the -youngest had hers quite round</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 452px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_134fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_134fp.jpg" width="452" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_135" id="page_135">{135}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">like the sun, and planted in it only those flowers that were red, as the -sun seemed to her. She was certainly a singular child, very quiet and -thoughtful. Whilst her sisters were adorning themselves with all sorts -of gay things that came out of a ship which had been wrecked, she asked -for nothing but a beautiful white marble statue of a boy, which had been -found in it. She put the statue in her garden, and planted a red weeping -willow by its side. The tree grew up quickly, and let its long boughs -fall upon the bright blue ground, where ever-moving shadows played in -violet hues, as if boughs and root were embracing.</p> - -<p>Nothing pleased the little princess more than to hear about the world of -human beings living above the sea. She made her old grandmother tell her -everything she knew about ships, towns, men, and land animals, and was -particularly pleased when she heard that the flowers of the upper world -had a pleasant fragrance (for the flowers of the sea are scentless), and -that the woods were green, and the fishes fluttering among the branches -of various gay colours, and that they could sing with a loud clear -voice. The old lady meant birds, but she called them fishes, because her -grandchildren, having never seen a bird, would not otherwise have -understood her.</p> - -<p>‘When you have attained your fifteenth year,’ added she, ‘you will be -permitted to rise to the surface of the sea; you will then sit by -moonlight in the clefts of the rocks, see the ships sail by, and learn -to distinguish towns and men.’</p> - -<p>The next year the eldest of the sisters reached this happy age, but the -others—alas! the second sister was a year younger than the eldest, the -third a year younger than the second, and so on; the youngest had still -five whole years to wait till that joyful time should come when she also -might rise to the surface of the water and see what was going on in the -upper world;<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_136" id="page_136">{136}</a></span> however, the eldest promised to tell the others of -everything she might see, when the first day of her being of age -arrived; for the grandmother gave them but little information, and there -was so much that they wished to hear.</p> - -<p>But none of all the sisters longed so ardently for the day when she -should be released from childish restraint as the youngest, she who had -longest to wait, and was so quiet and thoughtful. Many a night she stood -by the open window, looking up through the clear blue water, whilst the -fishes were leaping and playing around her. She could see the sun and -the moon; their light was pale, but they appeared larger than they do to -those who live in the upper world. If a shadow passed over them, she -knew it must be either a whale or a ship sailing by full of human -beings, who indeed little thought that, far beneath them, a little -mermaid was passionately stretching forth her white hands towards their -ship’s keel.</p> - -<p>The day had now arrived when the eldest princess had attained her -fifteenth year, and was therefore allowed to rise up to the surface of -the sea.</p> - -<p>When she returned she had a thousand things to relate. Her chief -pleasure had been to sit upon a sandbank in the moonlight, looking at -the large town which lay on the coast, where lights were beaming like -stars, and where music was playing; she had heard the distant noise of -men and carriages, she had seen the high church-towers, had listened to -the ringing of the bells; and just because she could not go there she -longed the more after all these things.</p> - -<p>How attentively did her youngest sister listen to her words! And when -she next stood at night-time by her open window, gazing upward through -the blue waters, she thought so intensely of the great noisy city that -she fancied she could hear the church-bells ringing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_137" id="page_137">{137}</a></span></p> - -<p>Next year the second sister received permission to swim wherever she -pleased. She rose to the surface of the sea, just when the sun was -setting; and this sight so delighted her, that she declared it to be -more beautiful than anything else she had seen above the waters.</p> - -<p>‘The whole sky seemed tinged with gold,’ said she, ‘and it is impossible -for me to describe to you the beauty of the clouds. Now red, now violet, -they glided over me; but still more swiftly flew over the water a flock -of white swans, just where the sun was descending; I looked after them, -but the sun disappeared, and the bright rosy light on the surface of the -sea and on the edges of the clouds was gradually extinguished.’</p> - -<div class="figright" style="width: 138px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_137.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_137.jpg" width="138" height="332" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>SHE WAS ON THE WHOLE A SENSIBLE SORT OF LADY</p></div> -</div> - -<p>It was now time for the third sister to visit the upper world. She was -the boldest of the six, and ventured up a river. On its shores she saw -green hills covered with woods and vineyards, from among which arose -houses and castles; she heard the birds singing, and the sun shone with -so much power, that she was continually obliged to plunge below, in -order to cool her burning face. In a little bay she met with a number of -children, who were bathing and jumping about; she would have joined in -their gambols, but the children fled back to land in great terror, and a -little black animal barked at her in such a manner, that she herself was -frightened at last, and swam back to the sea. She could not, however, -forget the green woods,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_138" id="page_138">{138}</a></span> the verdant hills, and the pretty children, -who, although they had no fins, were swimming about in the river so -fearlessly.</p> - -<p>The fourth sister was not so bold, she remained in the open sea, and -said on her return home she thought nothing could be more beautiful. She -had seen ships sailing by, so far off that they looked like sea-gulls, -she had watched the merry dolphins gambolling in the water, and the -enormous whales, sending up into the air a thousand sparkling fountains.</p> - -<p>The year after, the fifth sister attained her fifteenth year. Her -birthday happened at a different season to that of her sisters; it was -winter, the sea was of a green colour, and immense icebergs were -floating on its surface. These, she said, looked like pearls; they were, -however, much larger than the church-towers in the land of human beings. -She sat down upon one of these pearls, and let the wind play with her -long hair, but then all the ships hoisted their sails in terror, and -escaped as quickly as possible. In the evening the sky was covered with -sails; and whilst the great mountains of ice alternately sank and rose -again, and beamed with a reddish glow, flashes of lightning burst forth -from the clouds, and the thunder rolled on, peal after peal. The sails -of all the ships were instantly furled, and horror and affright reigned -on board, but the princess sat still on the iceberg, looking -unconcernedly at the blue zig-zag of the flashes.</p> - -<p>The first time that either of these sisters rose out of the sea, she was -quite enchanted at the sight of so many new and beautiful objects, but -the novelty was soon over, and it was not long ere their own home -appeared more attractive than the upper world, for there only did they -find everything agreeable.</p> - -<p>Many an evening would the five sisters rise hand in hand from the depths -of the ocean. Their voices were far sweeter than any human voice, and -when a storm was coming on, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_139" id="page_139">{139}</a></span> would swim in front of the ships, and -sing,—oh! how sweetly did they sing! describing the happiness of those -who lived at the bottom of the sea, and entreating the sailors not to be -afraid, but to come down to them.</p> - -<p>The mariners, however, did not understand their words; they fancied the -song was only the whistling of the wind, and thus they lost the hidden -glories of the sea; for if their ships were wrecked, all on board were -drowned, and none but dead men ever entered the Mer-king’s palace.</p> - -<p>Whilst the sisters were swimming at evening-time, the youngest would -remain motionless and alone, in her father’s palace, looking up after -them. She would have wept, but mermaids cannot weep, and therefore, when -they are troubled, suffer infinitely more than human beings do.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, if I were but fifteen!’ sighed she, ‘I know that I should love the -upper world and its inhabitants so much.’</p> - -<p>At last the time she had so longed for arrived.</p> - -<p>‘Well, now it is your turn,’ said the grandmother; ‘come here, that I -may adorn you like your sisters.’ And she wound around her hair a wreath -of white lilies, whose every petal was the half of a pearl, and then -commanded eight large oysters to fasten themselves to the princess’s -tail, in token of her high rank.</p> - -<p>‘But that is so very uncomfortable!’ said the little princess.</p> - -<p>‘One must not mind slight inconveniences when one wishes to look well,’ -said the old lady.</p> - -<p>How willingly would the princess have given up all this splendour, and -exchanged her heavy crown for the red flowers of her garden, which were -so much more becoming to her. But she dared not do so. ‘Farewell,’ said -she; and she rose from the sea, light as a flake of foam.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_140" id="page_140">{140}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 265px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_140.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_140.jpg" width="265" height="394" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE YOUNGEST WAS THE MOST LOVELY</p></div> -</div> - -<p>When, for the first time in her life, she appeared on the surface of the -water, the sun had just sunk below the horizon, the clouds were beaming -with bright golden and rosy hues, the evening star was shining in the -pale western sky, the air was mild and refreshing, and the sea as smooth -as a looking-glass. A large ship with three masts lay on the still -waters; one sail only was unfurled, but not a breath was stirring, and -the sailors<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_141" id="page_141">{141}</a></span> were quietly seated on the cordage and ladders of the -vessel. Music and song resounded from the deck, and after it grew dark -hundreds of lamps all on a sudden burst forth into light, whilst -innumerable flags were fluttering overhead. The little mermaid swam -close up to the captain’s cabin, and every now and then when the ship -was raised by the motion of the water, she could look through the clear -window panes. She saw within many richly dressed men; the handsomest -among them was a young prince with large black eyes. He could not -certainly be more than sixteen years old, and it was in honour of his -birthday that a grand festival was being celebrated. The crew were -dancing on the deck, and when the young prince appeared among them, a -hundred rockets were sent up into the air, turning night into day, and -so terrifying the little mermaid, that for some minutes she plunged -beneath the water. However, she soon raised her little head again, and -then it seemed as if all the stars were falling down upon her. Such a -fiery shower she had never even seen before, never had she heard that -men possessed such wonderful powers. Large suns revolved around her, -bright fishes swam in the air, and everything was reflected perfectly on -the clear surface of the sea. It was so light in the ship, that -everything could be seen distinctly. Oh, how happy the young prince was! -He shook hands with the sailors, laughed and jested with them, whilst -sweet notes of music mingled with the silence of night.</p> - -<p>It was now late, but the little mermaid could not tear herself away from -the ship and the handsome young prince. She remained looking through the -cabin window, rocked to and fro by the waves. There was a foaming and -fermentation in the depths beneath, and the ship began to move on -faster; the sails were spread, the waves rose high, thick clouds -gathered over the sky, and the noise of distant thunder was heard. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_142" id="page_142">{142}</a></span> -sailors perceived that a storm was coming on, so they again furled the -sails. The great vessel was tossed about on the tempestuous ocean like a -light boat, and the waves rose to an immense height, towering over the -ship, which alternately sank beneath and rose above them. To the little -mermaid this seemed most delightful, but the ship’s crew thought very -differently. The vessel cracked, the stout masts bent under the violence -of the billows, the waters rushed in. For a minute the ship tottered to -and fro, then the main-mast broke, as if it had been a reed; the ship -turned over, and was filled with water. The little mermaid now perceived -that the crew was in danger, for she herself was forced to beware of the -beams and splinters torn from the vessel, and floating about on the -waves. But at the same time it became pitch dark so that she could not -distinguish anything; presently, however, a dreadful flash of lightning -disclosed to her the whole of the wreck. Her eyes sought the young -prince—the same instant the ship sank to the bottom. At first she was -delighted, thinking that the prince must now come to her abode; but she -soon remembered that man cannot live in water, and that therefore if the -prince ever entered her palace, it would be as a corpse.</p> - -<p>‘Die! no, he must not die!’ She swam through the fragments with which -the water was strewn regardless of the danger she was incurring, and at -last found the prince all but exhausted, and with great difficulty -keeping his head above water. He had already closed his eyes, and must -inevitably have been drowned, had not the little mermaid come to his -rescue. She seized hold of him and kept him above water, suffering the -current to bear them on together.</p> - -<p>Towards morning the storm was hushed; no trace, however, remained of the -ship. The sun rose like fire out of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_143" id="page_143">{143}</a></span> sea; his beams seemed to -restore colour to the prince’s cheeks, but his eyes were still closed. -The mermaid kissed his high forehead and stroked his wet hair away from -his face. He looked like the marble statue in her garden; she kissed him -again and wished most fervently that he might recover.</p> - -<p>She now saw the dry land with its mountains glittering with snow. A -green wood extended along the coast, and at the entrance of the wood -stood a chapel or convent, she could not be sure which. Citron and lemon -trees grew in the garden adjoining it, an avenue of tall palm trees led -up to the door. The sea here formed a little bay, in which the water was -quite smooth but very deep, and under the cliffs there were dry, firm -sands. Hither swam the little mermaid with the seemingly dead prince; -she laid him upon the warm sand, and took care to place his head high, -and to turn his face to the sun.</p> - -<p>The bells began to ring in the large white building which stood before -her, and a number of young girls came out to walk in the garden. The -mermaid went away from the shore, hid herself behind some stones, -covered her head with foam, so that her little face could not be seen, -and watched the prince with unremitting attention.</p> - -<p>It was not long before one of the young girls approached. She seemed -quite frightened at finding the prince in this state, apparently dead; -soon, however, she recovered herself, and ran back to call her sisters. -The little mermaid saw that the prince revived, and that all around -smiled kindly and joyfully upon him—for her, however, he looked not, he -knew not that it was she who had saved him, and when the prince was -taken into the house she felt so sad, that she immediately plunged -beneath the water, and returned to her father’s palace.</p> - -<p>If she had been before quiet and thoughtful, she now grew<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_144" id="page_144">{144}</a></span> still more -so. Her sisters asked her what she had seen in the upper world, but she -made no answer.</p> - -<p>Many an evening she rose to the place where she had left the prince. She -saw the snow on the mountains melt, the fruits in the garden ripen and -gathered, but the prince she never saw, so she always returned -sorrowfully to her subterranean abode. Her only pleasure was to sit in -her little garden gazing on the beautiful statue so like the prince. She -cared no longer for her flowers; they grew up in wild luxuriance, -covered the steps, and entwined their long stems and tendrils among the -boughs of the trees, so that her whole garden became a bower.</p> - -<p>At last, being unable to conceal her sorrow any longer, she revealed the -secret to one of her sisters, who told it to the other princesses, and -they to some of their friends. Among them was a young mermaid who -recollected the prince, having been an eye-witness herself to the -festivities in the ship; she knew also in what country the prince lived, -and the name of its king.</p> - -<p>‘Come, little sister!’ said the princesses, and embracing her, they rose -together arm in arm, out of the water, just in front of the prince’s -palace.</p> - -<p>This palace was built of bright yellow stones, a flight of white marble -steps led from it down to the sea. A gilded cupola crowned the building, -and white marble figures, which might almost have been taken for real -men and women, were placed among the pillars surrounding it. Through the -clear glass of the high windows one might look into magnificent -apartments hung with silken curtains, the walls adorned with magnificent -paintings. It was a real treat to the little royal mermaids to behold so -splendid an abode; they gazed through the windows of one of the largest -rooms, and in the centre saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_145" id="page_145">{145}</a></span> a fountain playing, whose waters sprang up -so high as to reach the glittering cupola above, through which the -sunbeams fell dancing on the water, and brightening the pretty plants -which grew around it.</p> - -<p>The little mermaid now knew where her beloved prince dwelt, and -henceforth she went there almost every evening. She often approached -nearer the land than her sisters had ventured, and even swam up the -narrow channel that flowed under the marble balcony. Here on a bright -moonlight night, she would watch the young prince, who believed himself -alone.</p> - -<p>Sometimes she saw him sailing on the water in a gaily painted boat with -many coloured flags waving above. She would then hide among the green -reeds which grew on the banks, listening to his voice, and if any one in -the boat noticed the rustling of her long silver veil, which was caught -now and then by the light breeze, they only fancied it was a swan -flapping his wings.</p> - -<p>Many a night when the fishermen were casting their nets by the beacon’s -light, she heard them talking of the prince, and relating the noble -actions he had performed. She was then so happy, thinking how she had -saved his life when struggling with the waves, and remembering how his -head had rested on her bosom, and how she had kissed him when he knew -nothing of it, and could never even dream of such a thing.</p> - -<p>Human beings became more and more dear to her every day; she wished that -she were one of them. Their world seemed to her much larger than that of -the mer-people; they could fly over the ocean in their ships, as well as -climb to the summits of those high mountains that rose above the clouds; -and their wooded domains extended much farther than a mermaid’s eye -could penetrate.</p> - -<p>There were many things that she wished to hear explained,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_146" id="page_146">{146}</a></span> but her -sisters could not give her any satisfactory answer; she was again -obliged to have recourse to the old queen-mother, who knew a great deal -about the upper world, which she used to call ‘the country above the -sea.’</p> - -<p>‘Do men when they are not drowned live for ever?’ she asked one day. ‘Do -they not die as we do, who live at the bottom of the sea?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ was the grandmother’s reply, ‘they must die like us, and their -life is much shorter than ours. We live to the age of three hundred -years, but when we die, we become foam on the sea, and are not allowed -even to share a grave among those that are dear to us. We have no -immortal souls, we can never live again, and are like the grass which, -when once cut down, is withered for ever. Human beings, on the contrary, -have souls that continue to live when their bodies become dust, and as -we rise out of the water to admire the abode of man, they ascend to -glorious unknown dwellings in the skies which we are not permitted to -see.’</p> - -<p>‘Why have not <i>we</i> immortal souls?’ asked the little mermaid. ‘I would -willingly give up my three hundred years to be a human being for only -one day, thus to become entitled to that heavenly world above.’</p> - -<p>‘You must not think of that,’ answered her grandmother, ‘it is much -better as it is; we live longer and are far happier than human beings.’</p> - -<p>‘So I must die, and be dashed like foam over the sea, never to rise -again and hear the gentle murmur of the ocean, never again see the -beautiful flowers and the bright sun! Tell me, dear grandmother, are -there no means by which I may obtain an immortal soul?’</p> - -<p>‘No!’ replied the old lady. ‘It is true that if thou couldst so win the -affections of a human being as to become<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_147" id="page_147">{147}</a></span> dearer to him than either -father or mother; if he loved thee with all his heart, and promised -whilst the priest joined his hands with thine to be always faithful to -thee; then his soul would flow into thine, and thou wouldst then become -partaker of human bliss. But that can never be! for what in our eyes is -the most beautiful part of our body, the tail, the inhabitants of the -earth think hideous, they cannot bear it. To appear handsome to them, -the body must have two clumsy props which they call legs.’</p> - -<p>The little mermaid sighed and looked mournfully at the scaly part of her -form, otherwise so fair and delicate.</p> - -<p>‘We are happy,’ added the old lady, ‘we shall jump and swim about -merrily for three hundred years; that is a long time, and afterwards we -shall repose peacefully in death. This evening we have a court ball.’</p> - -<p>The ball which the queen-mother spoke of was far more splendid than any -that earth has ever seen. The walls of the saloon were of crystal, very -thick, but yet very clear; hundreds of large mussel-shells were planted -in rows along them; these shells were some of rose-colour, some green as -grass, but all sending forth a bright light, which not only illuminated -the whole apartment, but also shone through the glassy walls so as to -light up the waters around for a great space, and making the scales of -the numberless fishes, great and small, crimson and purple, silver and -gold-coloured, appear more brilliant than ever.</p> - -<p>Through the centre of the saloon flowed a bright, clear stream, on the -surface of which danced mermen and mermaids to the melody of their own -sweet voices, voices far sweeter than those of the dwellers upon earth. -The little princess sang more harmoniously than any other, and they -clapped their hands and applauded her. She was pleased at this, for she<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_148" id="page_148">{148}</a></span> -knew well that there was neither on earth or in the sea a more beautiful -voice than hers. But her thoughts soon returned to the world above her: -she could not forget the handsome prince; she could not control her -sorrow at not having an immortal soul. She stole away from her father’s -palace, and whilst all was joy within, she sat alone lost in thought in -her little neglected garden. On a sudden she heard the tones of horns -resounding over the water far away in the distance, and she said to -herself, ‘Now he is going out to hunt, he whom I love more than my -father and my mother, with whom my thoughts are constantly occupied, and -to whom I would so willingly trust the happiness of my life! All! all, -will I risk to win him—and an immortal soul! Whilst my sisters are -still dancing in the palace, I will go to the enchantress whom I have -hitherto feared so much, but who is, nevertheless, the only person who -can advise and help me.’</p> - -<div class="figleft" style="width: 232px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_148.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_148.jpg" width="232" height="367" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THEY ATE FROM THEIR HANDS</p></div> -</div> - -<p>So the little mermaid left the garden, and went to the foaming whirlpool -beyond which dwelt the enchantress. She had never been this way -before—neither flowers nor sea-grass bloomed along her path; she had to -traverse an extent of bare grey sand till she reached the whirlpool, -whose waters were<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_149" id="page_149">{149}</a></span> eddying and whizzing like mill-wheels, tearing -everything they could seize along with them into the abyss below. She -was obliged to make her way through this horrible place, in order to -arrive at the territory of the enchantress. Then she had to pass through -a boiling, slimy bog, which the enchantress called her turf-moor: her -house stood in a wood beyond this, and a strange abode it was. All the -trees and bushes around were polypi, looking like hundred-headed -serpents shooting up out of the ground; their branches were long slimy -arms with fingers of worms, every member, from the root to the uttermost -tip, ceaselessly moving and extending on all sides. Whatever they seized -they fastened upon so that it could not loosen itself from their grasp. -The little mermaid stood still for a minute looking at this horrible -wood; her heart beat with fear, and she would certainly have returned -without attaining her object, had she not remembered the prince—and -immortality. The thought gave her new courage, she bound up her long -waving hair, that the polypi might not catch hold of it, crossed her -delicate arms over her bosom, and, swifter than a fish can glide through -the water, she passed these unseemly trees, who stretched their eager -arms after her in vain. She could not, however, help seeing that every -polypus had something in his grasp, held as firmly by a thousand little -arms as if enclosed by iron bands. The whitened skeletons of a number of -human beings who had been drowned in the sea, and had sunk into the -abyss, grinned horribly from the arms of these polypi; helms, chests, -skeletons of land animals were also held in their embrace; among other -things might be seen even a little mermaid whom they had seized and -strangled! What a fearful sight for the unfortunate princess!</p> - -<p>But she got safely through this wood of horrors, and then<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_150" id="page_150">{150}</a></span> arrived at a -slimy place, where immense, fat snails were crawling about, and in the -midst of this place stood a house built of the bones of unfortunate -people who had been shipwrecked. Here sat the witch caressing a toad in -the same manner as some persons would a pet bird. The ugly fat snails -she called her chickens, and she permitted them to crawl about her.</p> - -<p>‘I know well what you would ask of me,’ said she to the little princess. -‘Your wish is foolish enough, yet it shall be fulfilled, though its -accomplishment is sure to bring misfortune on you, my fairest princess. -You wish to get rid of your tail, and to have instead two stilts like -those of human beings, in order that a young prince may fall in love -with you, and that you may obtain an immortal soul. Is it not so?’ -Whilst the witch spoke these words, she laughed so violently that her -pet toad and snails fell from her lap. ‘You come just at the right -time,’ continued she; ‘had you come after sunset, it would not have been -in my power to have helped you before another year. I will prepare for -you a drink with which you must swim to land, you must sit down upon the -shore and swallow it, and then your tail will fall and shrink up to the -things which men call legs. This transformation will, however, be very -painful; you will feel as though a sharp knife passed through your body. -All who look on you after you have been thus changed will say that you -are the loveliest child of earth they have ever seen; you will retain -your peculiar undulating movements, and no dancer will move so lightly, -but every step you take will cause you pain all but unbearable; it will -seem to you as though you were walking on the sharp edges of swords, and -your blood will flow. Can you endure all this suffering? If so, I will -grant your request.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, I will,’ answered the princess, with a faltering voice;<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_151" id="page_151">{151}</a></span> for she -remembered her dear prince, and the immortal soul which her suffering -might win.</p> - -<p>‘Only consider,’ said the witch, ‘that you can never again become a -mermaid, when once you have received a human form. You may never return -to your sisters, and your father’s palace; and unless you shall win the -prince’s love to such a degree that he shall leave father and mother for -you, that you shall be mixed up with all his thoughts and wishes, and -unless the priest join your hands, so that you become man and wife, you -will never obtain the immortality you seek. The morrow of the day on -which he is united to another will see your death; your heart will break -with sorrow, and you will be changed to foam on the sea.’</p> - -<p>‘Still I will venture!’ said the little mermaid, pale and trembling as a -dying person.</p> - -<p>‘Besides all this, I must be paid, and it is no slight thing that I -require for my trouble. Thou hast the sweetest voice of all the dwellers -in the sea, and thou thinkest by its means to charm the prince; this -voice, however, I demand as my recompense. The best thing thou -possessest I require in exchange for my magic drink; for I shall be -obliged to sacrifice my own blood, in order to give it the sharpness of -a two-edged sword.’</p> - -<p>‘But if you take my voice from me,’ said the princess, ‘what have I left -with which to charm the prince?’</p> - -<p>‘Thy graceful form,’ replied the witch, ‘thy modest gait, and speaking -eyes. With such as these, it will be easy to infatuate a vain human -heart. Well now! hast thou lost courage? Put out thy little tongue, that -I may cut it off, and take it for myself, in return for my magic drink.’</p> - -<p>‘Be it so!’ said the princess, and the witch took up her caldron, in -order to mix her potion. ‘Cleanliness is a good<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_152" id="page_152">{152}</a></span> thing,’ remarked she, -as she began to rub the caldron with a handful of toads and snails. She -then scratched her bosom, and let the black blood trickle down into the -caldron, every moment throwing in new ingredients, the smoke from the -mixture assuming such horrible forms, as were enough to fill beholders -with terror, and a moaning and groaning proceeding from it, which might -be compared to the weeping of crocodiles. The magic drink at length -became clear and transparent as pure water; it was ready.</p> - -<p>‘Here it is!’ said the witch to the princess, cutting out her tongue at -the same moment. The poor little mermaid was now dumb: she could neither -sing nor speak.</p> - -<p>‘If the polypi should attempt to seize you, as you pass through my -little grove,’ said the witch, ‘you have only to sprinkle some of this -magic drink over them, and their arms will burst into a thousand -pieces.’ But the princess had no need of this counsel, for the polypi -drew hastily back, as soon as they perceived the bright phial, that -glittered in her hand like a star; thus she passed safely through the -formidable wood over the moor, and across the foaming mill-stream.</p> - -<p>She now looked once again at her father’s palace; the lamps in the -saloon were extinguished, and all the family were asleep. She would not -go in, for she could not speak if she did; she was about to leave her -home for ever; her heart was ready to break with sorrow at the thought; -she stole into the garden, plucked a flower from the bed of each of her -sisters as a remembrance, kissed her hand again and again, and then rose -through the dark blue waters to the world above.</p> - -<p>The sun had not yet risen when she arrived at the prince’s dwelling, and -ascended those well-known marble steps. The moon still shone in the sky -when the little mermaid drank off the wonderful liquid contained in her -phial. She felt it run<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_153" id="page_153">{153}</a></span> through her like a sharp knife, and she fell -down in a swoon. When the sun rose, she awoke; and felt a burning pain -in all her limbs, but—she saw standing close to her the object of her -love, the handsome young prince, whose coal-black eyes were fixed -inquiringly upon her. Full of shame she cast down her own, and -perceived, instead of the long fish-like tail she had hitherto borne, -two slender legs; but she was quite naked, and tried in vain to cover -herself with her long thick hair. The prince asked who she was, and how -she had got there; and she, in reply, smiled and gazed upon him with her -bright blue eyes, for alas! she could not speak. He then led her by the -hand into the palace. She found that the witch had told her true—she -felt as though she were walking on the edges of sharp swords, but she -bore the pain willingly; on she passed, light as a zephyr, and all who -saw her wondered at her light, undulating movements.</p> - -<p>When she entered the palace, rich clothes of muslin and silk were -brought to her; she was lovelier than all who dwelt there, but she could -neither speak nor sing. Some female slaves, gaily dressed in silk and -gold brocade, sang before the prince and his royal parents; and one of -them distinguished herself by her clear sweet voice, which the prince -applauded by clapping his hands. This made the little mermaid very sad, -for she knew that she used to sing far better than the young slave. -‘Alas!’ thought she, ‘if he did but know that, for his sake, I have -given away my voice for ever.’</p> - -<p>The slaves began to dance; our lovely little mermaiden then arose, -stretched out her delicate white arms, and hovered gracefully about the -room. Every motion displayed more and more the perfect symmetry and -elegance of her figure; and the expression which beamed in her speaking -eyes touched the hearts of the spectators far more than the song of the -slaves.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_154" id="page_154">{154}</a></span></p> - -<p>All present were enchanted, but especially the young prince, who called -her his dear little foundling. And she danced again and again, although -every step cost her excessive pain. The prince then said she should -always be with him; and accordingly a sleeping-place was prepared for -her on velvet cushions in the anteroom of his own apartment.</p> - -<p>The prince caused a suit of male apparel to be made for her, in order -that she might accompany him in his rides; so together they traversed -the fragrant woods, where green boughs brushed against their shoulders, -and the birds sang merrily among the fresh leaves. With him she climbed -up steep mountains, and although her tender feet bled, so as to be -remarked by the attendants, she only smiled, and followed her dear -prince to the heights, whence they could see the clouds chasing each -other beneath them, like a flock of birds migrating to other countries.</p> - -<p>During the night she would, when all in the palace were at rest, walk -down the marble steps, in order to cool her feet in the deep waters; she -would then think of those beloved ones who dwelt in the lower world.</p> - -<p>One night, as she was thus bathing her feet, her sisters swam together -to the spot, arm in arm and singing, but alas! so mournfully! She -beckoned to them, and they immediately recognised her, and told her how -great was the mourning in her father’s house for her loss. From this -time the sisters visited her every night; and once they brought with -them the old grandmother, who had not seen the upper world for a great -many years; they likewise brought their father, the Mer-king, with his -crown on his head; but these two old people did not venture near enough -to land to be able to speak to her.</p> - -<p>The little mermaiden became dearer and dearer to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_155" id="page_155">{155}</a></span> prince every day; -but he only looked upon her as a sweet, gentle child, and the thought of -making her his wife never entered his head. And yet his wife she must -be, ere she could receive an immortal soul; his wife she must be, or she -would change into foam, and be driven restlessly over the billows of the -sea!</p> - -<p>‘Dost thou not love me above all others?’ her eyes seemed to ask, as he -pressed her fondly in his arms, and kissed her lovely brow.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 381px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_155.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_155.jpg" width="381" height="152" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>MANY AN EVENING SHE ROSE TO THE PLACE</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘Yes,’ the prince would say, ‘thou art dearer to me than any other, for -no one is as good as thou art! Thou lovest me so much; and thou art so -like a young maiden whom I have seen but once, and may never see again. -I was on board a ship, which was wrecked by a sudden tempest; the waves -threw me on the shore, near a holy temple, where a number of young girls -are occupied constantly with religious services. The youngest of them -found me on the shore, and saved my life. I saw her only once, but her -image is vividly impressed upon my memory, and her alone can I love. But -she belongs to the holy temple; and thou who resemblest her so much hast -been given to me for consolation; never will we be parted!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_156" id="page_156">{156}</a></span>’</p> - -<p>‘Alas! he does not know that it was I who saved his life,’ thought the -little mermaiden, sighing deeply; ‘I bore him over the wild waves, into -the wooded bay, where the holy temple stood; I sat behind the rocks, -waiting till some one should come. I saw the pretty maiden approach, -whom he loves more than me,’—and again she heaved a deep sigh, for she -could not weep. ‘He said that the young girl belongs to the holy temple; -she never comes out into the world, so they cannot meet each other -again,—and I am always with him, see him daily; I will love him, and -devote my whole life to him.’</p> - -<p>‘So the prince is going to be married to the beautiful daughter of the -neighbouring king,’ said the courtiers, ‘that is why he is having that -splendid ship fitted out. It is announced that he wishes to travel, but -in reality he goes to see the princess; a numerous retinue will -accompany him.’ The little mermaiden smiled at these and similar -conjectures, for she knew the prince’s intentions better than any one -else.</p> - -<p>‘I must go,’ he said to her, ‘I must see the beautiful princess; my -parents require me to do so; but they will not compel me to marry her, -and bring her home as my bride. And it is quite impossible for me to -love her, for she cannot be so like the beautiful girl in the temple as -thou art; and if I were obliged to choose, I should prefer thee, my -little silent foundling, with the speaking eyes.’ And he kissed her rosy -lips, played with her locks, and folded her in his arms, whereupon arose -in her heart a sweet vision of human happiness, and immortal bliss.</p> - -<p>‘Thou art not afraid of the sea, art thou, my sweet silent child?’ asked -he tenderly, as they stood together in the splendid ship, which was to -take them to the country of the neighbouring king. And then he told her -of the storms that<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_157" id="page_157">{157}</a></span> sometimes agitate the waters; of the strange fishes -that inhabit the deep, and of the wonderful things seen by divers. But -she smiled at his words, for she knew better than any child of earth -what went on in the depths of the ocean.</p> - -<p>At night-time, when the moon shone brightly, and when all on board were -fast asleep, she sat in the ship’s gallery, looking down into the sea. -It seemed to her, as she gazed through the foamy track made by the -ship’s keel, that she saw her father’s palace, and her grandmother’s -silver crown. She then saw her sisters rise out of the water, looking -sorrowful and stretching out their hands towards her. She nodded to -them, smiled, and would have explained that everything was going on -quite according to her wishes; but just then the cabin boy approached, -upon which the sisters plunged beneath the water so suddenly that the -boy thought what he had seen on the waves was nothing but foam.</p> - -<p>The next morning the ship entered the harbour of the king’s splendid -capital. Bells were rung, trumpets sounded, and soldiers marched in -procession through the city, with waving banners, and glittering -bayonets. Every day witnessed some new entertainments, balls and parties -followed each other; the princess, however, was not yet in the town; she -had been sent to a distant convent for education, and had there been -taught the practice of all royal virtues. At last she arrived at the -palace.</p> - -<p>The little mermaid had been anxious to see this unparalleled princess; -and she was now obliged to confess that she had never before seen so -beautiful a creature.</p> - -<p>The skin of the princess was so white and delicate that the veins might -be seen through it, and her dark eyes sparkled beneath a pair of finely -formed eye-brows.</p> - -<p>‘It is herself!’ exclaimed the prince, when they met, ‘it<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_158" id="page_158">{158}</a></span> is she who -saved my life, when I lay like a corpse on the sea-shore!’ and he -pressed his blushing bride to his beating heart.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, I am all too happy!’ said he to his dumb foundling. ‘What I never -dared to hope for has come to pass. Thou must rejoice in my happiness, -for thou lovest me more than all others who surround me.’—And the -little mermaid kissed his hand in silent sorrow; it seemed to her as if -her heart was breaking already, although the morrow of his marriage-day, -which must inevitably see her death, had not yet dawned.</p> - -<p>Again rung the church-bells, whilst heralds rode through the streets of -the capital, to announce the approaching bridal. Odorous flames burned -in silver candlesticks on all the altars; the priests swung their golden -censers; and bride and bridegroom joined hands, whilst the holy words -that united them were spoken. The little mermaid, clad in silk and cloth -of gold, stood behind the princess, and held the train of the bridal -dress; but her ear heard nothing of the solemn music; her eye saw not -the holy ceremony; she remembered her approaching end, she remembered -that she had lost both this world and the next.</p> - -<p>That very same evening bride and bridegroom went on board the ship; -cannons were fired, flags waved with the breeze, and in the centre of -the deck stood a magnificent pavilion of purple and cloth of gold, -fitted up with the richest and softest couches. Here the princely pair -were to spend the night. A favourable wind swelled the sails, and the -ship glided lightly over the blue waters.</p> - -<p>As soon as it was dark, coloured lamps were hung out and dancing began -on the deck. The little mermaid was thus involuntarily reminded of what -she had seen the first time she rose to the upper world. The spectacle -that now presented itself was equally splendid—and she was obliged to -join in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_159" id="page_159">{159}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 382px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_159.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_159.jpg" width="382" height="504" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>WHEN THE SUN AROSE SHE AWOKE</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_160" id="page_160">{160}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">dance, hovering lightly as a bird over the ship boards. All applauded -her, for never had she danced with more enchanting grace. Her little -feet suffered extremely, but she no longer felt the pain; the anguish -her heart suffered was much greater. It was the last evening she might -see him, for whose sake she had forsaken her home and all her family, -had given away her beautiful voice, and suffered daily the most violent -pain—all without his having the least suspicion of it. It was the last -evening that she might breathe the same atmosphere in which he, the -beloved one, lived; the last evening when she might behold the deep blue -sea, and the starry heavens—an eternal night, in which she might -neither think nor dream, awaited her. And all was joy in the ship; and -she, her heart filled with thoughts of death and annihilation, smiled -and danced with the others, till past midnight. Then the prince kissed -his lovely bride, and arm in arm they entered the magnificent tent -prepared for their repose.</p> - -<p>All was now still; the steersman alone stood at the ship’s helm. The -little mermaid leaned her white arms on the gallery, and looked towards -the east, watching for the dawn; she well knew that the first sunbeam -would witness her dissolution. She saw her sisters rise out of the sea; -deadly pale were their features; and their long hair no more fluttered -over their shoulders, it had all been cut off.</p> - -<p>‘We have given it to the witch,’ said they, ‘to induce her to help thee, -so that thou mayest not die. She has given to us a penknife: here it is! -Before the sun rises, thou must plunge it into the prince’s heart; and -when his warm blood trickles down upon thy feet they will again be -changed to a fish-like tail; thou wilt once more become a mermaid, and -wilt live thy full three hundred years, ere thou changest to foam on the -sea. But hasten! either he or thou must die<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_161" id="page_161">{161}</a></span> before sunrise. Our aged -mother mourns for thee so much her grey hair has fallen off through -sorrow, as ours fell before the scissors of the witch. Kill the prince, -and come down to us! Hasten! hasten! dost thou not see the red streaks -on the eastern sky, announcing the near approach of the sun? A few -minutes more and he rises, and then all will be over with thee.’ At -these words they sighed deeply and vanished.</p> - -<p>The little mermaid drew aside the purple curtains of the pavilion, where -lay the bride and bridegroom; bending over them, she kissed the prince’s -forehead, and then glancing at the sky, she saw that the dawning light -became every moment brighter. The prince’s lips unconsciously murmured -the name of his bride—he was dreaming of her, and her only, whilst the -fatal penknife trembled in the hand of the unhappy mermaid. All at once, -she threw far out into the sea that instrument of death; the waves rose -like bright blazing flames around, and the water where it fell seemed -tinged with blood. With eyes fast becoming dim and fixed, she looked -once more at her beloved prince; then plunged from the ship into the -sea, and felt her body slowly but surely dissolving into foam.</p> - -<p>The sun rose from his watery bed; his beams fell so softly and warmly -upon her, that our little mermaid was scarcely sensible of dying. She -still saw the glorious sun; and over her head hovered a thousand -beautiful, transparent forms; she could still distinguish the white -sails of the ship, and the bright red clouds in the sky; the voices of -those airy creatures above her had a melody so sweet and soothing, that -a human ear would be as little able to catch the sound as her eye was -capable of distinguishing their forms; they hovered around her without -wings, borne by their own lightness through the air. The little mermaid -at last saw that she had a body as transparent<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_162" id="page_162">{162}</a></span> as theirs; and felt -herself raised gradually from the foam of the sea to higher regions.</p> - -<p>‘Where are they taking me?’ asked she, and her words sounded just like -the voices of those heavenly beings.</p> - -<p>‘Speak you to the daughters of air?’ was the answer. ‘The mermaid has no -immortal soul, and can only acquire that heavenly gift by winning the -love of one of the sons of men; her immortality depends upon union with -man. Neither do the daughters of air possess immortal souls, but they -can acquire them by their own good deeds. We fly to hot countries, where -the children of earth are sinking under sultry pestilential breezes—our -fresh cooling breath revives them. We diffuse ourselves through the -atmosphere; we perfume it with the delicious fragrance of flowers; and -thus spread delight and health over the earth. By doing good in this -manner for three hundred years, we win immortality, and receive a share -of the eternal bliss of human beings. And thou, poor little mermaid! -who, following the impulse of thine own heart, hast done and suffered so -much, thou art now raised to the airy world of spirits, that by -performing deeds of kindness for three hundred years, thou mayest -acquire an immortal soul.’</p> - -<p>The little mermaid stretched out her transparent arms to the sun; and, -for the first time in her life, tears moistened her eyes.</p> - -<p>And now again all were awake and rejoicing in the ship; she saw the -prince, with his pretty bride; they had missed her; they looked -sorrowfully down on the foamy waters, as if they knew she had plunged -into the sea; unseen she kissed the bridegroom’s forehead, smiled upon -him, and then, with the rest of the children of air, soared high above -the rosy cloud which was sailing so peacefully over the ship.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 454px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_162fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_162fp.jpg" width="454" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_163" id="page_163">{163}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘After three hundred years we shall fly in the kingdom of Heaven!’</p> - -<p>‘We may arrive there even sooner,’ whispered one of her sisters. ‘We fly -invisibly through the dwellings of men, where there are children; and -whenever we find a good child, who gives pleasure to his parents and -deserves their love, the good God shortens our time of probation. No -child is aware that we are flitting about his room, and that whenever -joy draws from us a smile, a year is struck out of our three hundred. -But when we see a rude naughty child, we weep bitter tears of sorrow, -and every tear we shed adds a day to our time of probation.’</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 246px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_163.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_163.jpg" width="246" height="259" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_164" id="page_164">{164}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 436px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_164.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_164.jpg" width="436" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>FATHER-STORK</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_165" id="page_165">{165}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_STORKS" id="THE_STORKS"></a>THE STORKS</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">O</span>N the roof of a house situated at the extremity of a small town, a -stork had built his nest. There sat the mother-stork, with her four -young ones, who all stretched out their little black bills, which had -not yet become red. Not far off, upon the parapet, erect and proud, -stood the father-stork; he had drawn one of his legs under him, being -weary of standing on two. You might have fancied him carved in wood, he -stood so motionless. ‘It looks so grand,’ thought he, ‘for my wife to -have a sentinel to keep guard over her nest; people cannot know that I -am her husband, they will certainly think that I am commanded to stand -here—how well it looks!’ and so he remained standing on one leg.</p> - -<p>In the street below, a number of children were playing together. When -they saw the storks, one of the liveliest amongst them began to sing as -much as he could remember of some old rhymes about storks, in which he -was soon joined by the others—</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">‘Stork! stork! long-legged stork!<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Into thy nest I prithee walk;<br /></span> -<span class="i1">There sits thy mate,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">With her four children so great.<br /></span> -<span class="i1">The first we’ll hang like a cat,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">The second we’ll burn,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">The third on a spit we’ll turn,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">The fourth drown dead as a rat!’<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>‘Only listen to what the boys are singing,’ said the little storks; -‘they say we shall be hanged and burnt!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_166" id="page_166">{166}</a></span>’</p> - -<p>‘Never mind,’ said the mother, ‘don’t listen to them; they will do you -no harm.’</p> - -<p>But the boys went on singing, and pointed their fingers at the storks: -only one little boy, called Peter, said ‘it was a sin to mock and tease -animals, and that he would have nothing to do with it.’</p> - -<p>The mother-stork again tried to comfort her little ones. ‘Never mind,’ -said she; ‘see how composedly your father is standing there, and upon -one leg only.’</p> - -<p>‘But we are so frightened!’ said the young ones, drawing their heads -down into the nest.</p> - -<p>The next day, when the children were again assembled to play together, -and saw the storks, they again began their song—</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">‘The first we ‘ll hang like a cat,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">The second we’ll burn!’<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>‘And are we really to be hanged and burnt?’ asked the young storks.</p> - -<p>‘No indeed!’ said the mother. ‘You shall learn to fly: I will teach you -myself. Then we can fly over to the meadow, and pay a visit to the -frogs. They will bow to us in the water, and say, “Croak, croak!” and -then we shall eat them; will not that be nice?’</p> - -<p>‘And what then?’ asked the little storks.</p> - -<p>‘Then all the storks in the country will gather together, and the -autumnal exercise will begin. It is of the greatest consequence that you -should fly well then; for every one who does not, the general will stab -to death with his bill; so you must pay great attention when we begin to -drill you, and learn very quickly.’</p> - -<p>‘Then we shall really be killed after all, as the boys said? Oh, listen! -they are singing it again!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_167" id="page_167">{167}</a></span>’</p> - -<p>‘Attend to me, and not to them!’ said the mother. ‘After the grand -exercise, we shall fly to warm countries, far, far away from here, over -mountains and forests. We shall fly to Egypt, where are the -three-cornered stone houses whose summits reach the clouds; they are -called pyramids, and are older than it is possible for storks to -imagine. There is a river too, which overflows its banks, so as to make -the whole country like a marsh, and we shall go into the marsh and eat -frogs.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh!’ said the young ones.</p> - -<p>‘Yes, it is delightful! one does nothing but eat all the day long. And -whilst we are so comfortable, in this country not a single green leaf is -left on the trees, and it is so cold that the clouds are frozen, and -fall down upon the earth in little white pieces.’—She meant snow, but -she could not express herself more clearly.</p> - -<p>‘And will the naughty boys be frozen to pieces too?’ asked the young -storks.</p> - -<p>‘No, they will not be frozen to pieces; but they will be nearly as badly -off as if they were; they will be obliged to crowd round the fire in -their little dark rooms; while you, on the contrary, will be flying -about in foreign lands, where there are beautiful flowers and warm -sunshine.’</p> - -<p>Well, time passed away, and the young storks grew so tall, that when -they stood upright in the nest they could see the country around to a -great distance. The father-stork used to bring them every day the nicest -little frogs, as well as snails, and all the other stork tit-bits he -could find. Oh! it was so droll to see him show them his tricks; he -would lay his head upon his tail, make a rattling noise with his bill, -and then tell them such charming stories all about the moors.</p> - -<p>‘Now you must learn to fly!’ said the mother one day; and accordingly, -all the four young storks were obliged to come<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_168" id="page_168">{168}</a></span> out upon the parapet. -Oh, how they trembled! And though they balanced themselves on their -wings, they were very near falling.</p> - -<p>‘Only look at me,’ said the mother. ‘This is the way you must hold your -heads; and in this manner place your feet,—one, two! one, two! this -will help you to get on.’ She flew a little way, and the young ones made -an awkward spring after her,—bounce! down they fell; for their bodies -were heavy.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 385px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_168.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_168.jpg" width="385" height="297" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>‘STORK! STORK! LONG-LEGGED STORK!’</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘I will not fly,’ said one of the young ones, as he crept back into the -nest. ‘I do not want to go into the warm countries!’</p> - -<p>‘Do you want to be frozen to death during the winter? Shall the boys -come, and hang, burn, or roast you? Wait a little, I will call them!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_169" id="page_169">{169}</a></span>’</p> - -<p>‘Oh no!’ said the little stork; and again he began to hop about on the -roof like the others. By the third day they could fly pretty well, and -so they thought they could also sit and take their ease in the air; but -bounce! down they tumbled, and found themselves obliged to make use of -their wings. The boys now came into the street, singing their favourite -song—</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">‘Stork! stork! long-legged stork!’<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>‘Shall not we fly down and peck out their eyes?’ said the young ones.</p> - -<p>‘No, leave them alone!’ said the mother. ‘Attend to me, that is of much -more importance!—one, two, three, now to the right!—one, two, three, -now to the left, round the chimneypot! That was very well; you managed -your wings so neatly last time, that I will permit you to come with me -to-morrow to the marsh: several first-rate stork families will be there -with their children. Let it be said that mine are the prettiest and best -behaved of all; and remember to stand very upright, and to throw out -your chest; that looks well, and gives such an air of distinction!’</p> - -<p>‘But are we not to take revenge upon those rude boys?’ asked the young -ones.</p> - -<p>‘Let them screech as much as they please! You will fly among the clouds, -you will go to the land of the pyramids, when they must shiver with -cold, and have not a single green leaf to look at, nor a single sweet -apple to eat!’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, we shall be revenged!’ whispered they one to another. And then -they were drilled again.</p> - -<p>Of all the boys in the town, the forwardest in singing nonsensical -verses was always the same one who had begun teasing the storks, a -little urchin not more than six years old. The young storks indeed -fancied him a hundred years old, because<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_170" id="page_170">{170}</a></span> he was bigger than either -their father or mother, and what should they know about the ages of -children, or grown up human beings! All their schemes of revenge were -aimed at this little boy; he had been the first to tease them, and -continued to do so. The young storks were highly excited about it, and -the older they grew, the less they were inclined to endure persecution. -Their mother, in order to pacify them, at last promised that they should -be revenged, but not until the last day of their stay in this place.</p> - -<p>‘We must first see how you behave yourselves at the grand exercise; if -then you should fly badly, and the general should thrust his beak into -your breast, the boys will, in some measure, be proved in the right. Let -me see how well you will behave!’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, that you shall!’ said the young ones. And now they really took -great pains, practised every day, and at last flew so lightly and -prettily, that it was a pleasure to see them.</p> - -<div class="figleft" style="width: 113px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_170.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_170.jpg" width="113" height="523" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>AND FETCH ONE FOR EACH OF THE BOYS</p></div> -</div> - -<p>Well, now came the autumn. All the storks assembled, in order to fly -together to warm countries for the winter. What a practising there was! -Away they went over woods and fields, towns and villages, merely to see -how well they could fly, for they had a long journey before them. The -young storks distinguished themselves so honourably that they were -pronounced ‘worthy of frogs and serpents.’ This was the highest -character</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 478px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_170fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_170fp.jpg" width="478" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_171" id="page_171">{171}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">they could obtain; now they were allowed to eat frogs and serpents, and -accordingly they did eat them.</p> - -<p>‘Now we will have our revenge!’ said they.</p> - -<p>‘Very well!’ said the mother; ‘I have been thinking what will be the -best. I know where the pool is in which all the little human children -lie until the storks come and take them to their parents: the pretty -little things sleep and dream so pleasantly as they will never dream -again. All parents like to have a little child, and all children like to -have a little brother or sister. We will fly to the pool and fetch one -for each of the boys who has not sung that wicked song, nor made a jest -of the storks; and the other naughty children shall have none.’</p> - -<p>‘But he who first sung those naughty rhymes! that great ugly fellow! -what shall we do to him?’ cried the young storks.</p> - -<p>‘In the pool there lies a little child who has dreamed away his life; we -will take it for him, and he will weep because he has only a little dead -brother. But as to the good boy who said it was a sin to mock and tease -animals, surely you have not forgotten him? We will bring him two little -ones, a brother and a sister. And as this little boy’s name is Peter, -you too shall for the future be called “Peter!”<span class="lftspc">’</span></p> - -<p>And it came to pass just as the mother said; and all the storks were -called ‘Peter,’ and are still so called to this very day.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_172" id="page_172">{172}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 455px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_172.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_172.jpg" width="455" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>‘OH! HOW PRETTY THAT IS!’ HE WOULD SAY</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_173" id="page_173">{173}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_NIGHTINGALE" id="THE_NIGHTINGALE"></a>THE NIGHTINGALE</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">I</span>N China, as you well know, the Emperor is Chinese, and all around him -are Chinese also. Now what I am about to relate happened many years ago, -but even on that very account it is the more important that you should -hear the story now, before it is forgotten.</p> - -<p>The Emperor’s palace was the most magnificent palace in the world; it -was made entirely of fine porcelain, exceedingly costly; but at the same -time so brittle, that it was dangerous even to touch it.</p> - -<p>The choicest flowers were to be seen in the garden; and to the most -splendid of all these little silver bells were fastened, in order that -their tinkling might prevent any one from passing by without noticing -them. Yes! everything in the Emperor’s garden was excellently well -arranged; and the garden extended so far, that even the gardener did not -know the end of it; whoever walked beyond it, however, came to a -beautiful wood, with very high trees; and beyond that, to the sea. The -wood went down quite to the sea, which was very deep and blue; large -ships could sail close under the branches; and among the branches dwelt -a nightingale, who sang so sweetly, that even the poor fisherman, who -had so much else to do, when he came out at night-time to cast his nets, -would stand still and listen to her song. ‘Oh! how pretty that is!’ he -would say—but then he was obliged to mind his work, and forget the -bird; yet the following night, if again the nightingale sang, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_174" id="page_174">{174}</a></span> -fisherman came out, again he would say, ‘Oh! how pretty that is!’</p> - -<p>Travellers came from all parts of the world to the Emperor’s city; and -they admired the city, the palace, and the garden; but if they heard the -nightingale, they all said, ‘This is the best.’ And they talked about -her after they went home, and learned men wrote books about the city, -the palace, and the garden; nor did they forget the nightingale: she was -extolled above everything else; and poets wrote the most beautiful -verses about the nightingale of the wood near the sea.</p> - -<p>These books went round the world, and one of them at last reached the -Emperor. He was sitting in his golden arm-chair; he read and read, and -nodded his head every moment; for these splendid descriptions of the -city, the palace, and the garden pleased him greatly. ‘But the -nightingale is the best of all,’ was written in the book.</p> - -<p>‘What in the world is this?’ said the Emperor. ‘The nightingale! I do -not know it at all! Can there be such a bird in my empire, in my garden -even, without my having even heard of it? Truly one may learn something -from books.’</p> - -<p>So he called his Cavalier;<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> now this was so grand a personage, that no -one of inferior rank might speak to him; and if one did venture to ask -him a question, his only answer was ‘Pish!’ which has no particular -meaning.</p> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Gentleman in waiting.</p></div> - -<p>‘There is said to be a very remarkable bird here, called the -nightingale,’ said the Emperor; ‘her song, they say, is worth more than -anything else in all my dominions; why has no one ever told me of her?’</p> - -<p>‘I have never before heard her mentioned,’ said the Cavalier; ‘she has -never been presented at court.’</p> - -<p>‘I wish her to come, and sing before me this evening,’ said<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_175" id="page_175">{175}</a></span> the -Emperor. ‘The whole world knows what I have, and I do not know it -myself!’</p> - -<p>‘I have never before heard her mentioned,’ said the Cavalier, ‘but I -will seek her, I will find her.’</p> - -<p>But where was she to be found? The Cavalier ran up one flight of steps, -down another, through halls, and through passages; not one of all whom -he met had ever heard of the nightingale; and the Cavalier returned to -the Emperor, and said, ‘It must certainly be an invention of the man who -wrote the book. Your Imperial Majesty must not believe all that is -written in books; much in them is pure invention, and there is what is -called the Black Art.’</p> - -<p>‘But the book in which I have read it,’ said the Emperor, ‘was sent me -by the high and mighty Emperor of Japan, and therefore it cannot be -untrue. I wish to hear the nightingale; she must be here this evening, -and if she do not come, after supper the whole court shall be flogged.’</p> - -<p>‘Tsing-pe!’ said the Cavalier; and again he ran upstairs, and -downstairs, through halls, and through passages, and half the court ran -with him; for not one would have relished the flogging. Many were the -questions asked respecting the wonderful nightingale, whom the whole -world talked of, and about whom no one at court knew anything.</p> - -<p>At last they met a poor little girl in the kitchen, who said, ‘Oh yes! -the nightingale! I know her very well. Oh! how she can sing! Every -evening I carry the fragments left at table to my poor sick mother. She -lives by the sea-shore; and when I am coming back, and stay to rest a -little in the wood, I hear the nightingale sing; it makes the tears come -into my eyes! it is just as if my mother kissed me.’</p> - -<p>‘Little kitchen maiden,’ said the Cavalier, ‘I will procure for you a -sure appointment in the kitchen, together with per<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_176" id="page_176">{176}</a></span>mission to see His -Majesty the Emperor dine, if you will conduct us to the nightingale, for -she is expected at court this evening.’</p> - -<p>So they went together to the wood, where the nightingale was accustomed -to sing; and half the court went with them. Whilst on their way, a cow -began to low.</p> - -<p>‘Oh!’ said the court pages, ‘now we have her! It is certainly an -extraordinary voice for so small an animal; surely I have heard it -somewhere before.’</p> - -<p>‘No, those are cows you hear lowing,’ said the little kitchen-maid, ‘we -are still far from the place.’</p> - -<p>The frogs were now croaking in the pond.</p> - -<p>‘That is famous!’ said the chief court-preacher, ‘now I hear her; it -sounds just like little church-bells.’</p> - -<p>‘No, those are frogs,’ said the little kitchen-maid, ‘but now I think we -shall soon hear her.’</p> - -<p>Then began the nightingale to sing.</p> - -<p>‘There she is!’ said the little girl. ‘Listen! listen! there she sits,’ -and she pointed to a little grey bird up in the branches.</p> - -<p>‘Is it possible?’ said the Cavalier. ‘I should not have thought it. How -simple she looks! she must certainly have changed colour at the sight of -so many distinguished personages.’</p> - -<p>‘Little nightingale!’ called out the kitchen-maid, ‘our gracious Emperor -wishes you to sing something to him.’</p> - -<p>‘With the greatest pleasure,’ said the nightingale, and she sang in such -a manner that it was delightful to hear her.</p> - -<p>‘It sounds like glass bells,’ said the Cavalier. ‘And look at her little -throat, how it moves! It is singular that we should never have heard her -before; she will have great success at court.’</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_176fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_176fp.jpg" width="450" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_177" id="page_177">{177}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Shall I sing again to the Emperor?’ asked the nightingale, for she -thought the Emperor was among them.</p> - -<p>‘Most excellent nightingale!’ said the Cavalier, ‘I have the honour to -invite you to a court festival, which is to take place this evening, -when His Imperial Majesty will be enchanted with your delightful song.’</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 379px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_177.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_177.jpg" width="379" height="240" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>AMONG THE BRANCHES DWELT A NIGHTINGALE</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘My song would sound far better among the green trees,’ said the -nightingale; however, she followed willingly when she heard that the -Emperor wished it.</p> - -<p>There was a regular trimming and polishing at the palace; the walls and -the floors, which were all of porcelain, glittered with a thousand gold -lamps; the loveliest flowers, with the merriest tinkling bells, were -placed in the passages; there was a running to and fro, which made all -the bells to ring, so that one could not hear his own words.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_178" id="page_178">{178}</a></span></p> - -<p>In the midst of the grand hall where the Emperor sat, a golden perch was -erected, on which the nightingale was to sit. The whole court was -present, and the little kitchen-maid received permission to stand behind -the door, for she had now actually the rank and title of ‘Maid of the -Kitchen.’ All were dressed out in their finest clothes; and all eyes -were fixed upon the little grey bird, to whom the Emperor nodded as a -signal for her to begin.</p> - -<p>And the nightingale sang so sweetly, that tears came into the Emperor’s -eyes, tears rolled down his cheeks; and the nightingale sang more -sweetly still, and touched the hearts of all who heard her; and the -Emperor was so merry, that he said, ‘The nightingale should have his -golden slippers, and wear them round her neck.’ But the nightingale -thanked him, and said she was already sufficiently rewarded.</p> - -<p>‘I have seen tears in the Emperor’s eyes; that is the greatest reward I -can have. The tears of an Emperor have a particular value. Heaven knows -I am sufficiently rewarded.’ And then she sang again with her sweet, -lovely voice.</p> - -<p>‘It is the most amiable coquetry ever known,’ said the ladies present; -and they put water into their mouths, and tried to move their throats as -she did when they spoke; they thought to become nightingales also. -Indeed even the footmen and chamber-maids declared that they were quite -contented; which was a great thing to say, for of all people they are -the most difficult to satisfy. Yes indeed! the nightingale’s success was -complete. She was now to remain at court, to have her own cage; with -permission to fly out twice in the day, and once in the night. Twelve -attendants were allotted her, who were to hold a silken band, fastened -round her foot; and they kept good hold. There was no pleasure in -excursions made in this manner.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_179" id="page_179">{179}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 383px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_179.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_179.jpg" width="383" height="512" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THEY ADMIRED THE CITY, THE PALACE, AND THE GARDEN</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_180" id="page_180">{180}</a></span></p> - -<p>All the city was talking of the wonderful bird; and when two persons -met, one would say only ‘night,’ and the other ‘gale,’ and then they -sighed, and understood each other perfectly; indeed eleven of the -children of the citizens were named after the nightingale, but none of -them had her tones in their throats.</p> - -<p>One day a large parcel arrived for the Emperor, on which was written -‘Nightingale.’</p> - -<p>‘Here we have another new book about our far-famed bird,’ said the -Emperor. But it was not a book; it was a little piece of mechanism, -lying in a box; an artificial nightingale, which was intended to look -like the living one, but was covered all over with diamonds, rubies, and -sapphires. When this artificial bird had been wound up, it could sing -one of the tunes that the real nightingale sang; and its tail, all -glittering with silver and gold, went up and down all the time. A little -band was fastened round its neck, on which was written, ‘The nightingale -of the Emperor of China is poor compared with the nightingale of the -Emperor of Japan.’</p> - -<p>‘That is famous!’ said every one; and he who had brought the bird -obtained the title of ‘Chief Imperial Nightingale Bringer.’ ‘Now they -shall sing together; we will have a duet.’</p> - -<p>And so they must sing together; but it did not succeed, for the real -nightingale sang in her own way, and the artificial bird produced its -tones by wheels. ‘It is not his fault,’ said the artist, ‘he keeps exact -time and quite according to method.’</p> - -<p>So the artificial bird must now sing alone; he was quite as successful -as the real nightingale; and then he was so much prettier to look at; -his plumage sparkled like jewels.</p> - -<p>Three and thirty times he sang one and the same tune, and yet he was not -weary; every one would willingly have heard<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_181" id="page_181">{181}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 297px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_181.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_181.jpg" width="297" height="534" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE KITCHEN-MAID</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_182" id="page_182">{182}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">him again; however, the Emperor now wished the real nightingale should -sing something—but where was she? No one had remarked that she had -flown out of the open window; flown away to her own green wood.</p> - -<p>‘What is the meaning of this?’ said the Emperor; and all the courtiers -abused the nightingale, and called her a most ungrateful creature. ‘We -have the best bird at all events,’ said they, and for the four and -thirtieth time they heard the same tune, but still they did not quite -know it, because it was so difficult. The artist praised the bird -inordinately; indeed he declared it was superior to the real -nightingale, not only in its exterior, all sparkling with diamonds, but -also intrinsically.</p> - -<p>‘For see, my noble lords, his Imperial Majesty especially, with the real -nightingale, one could never reckon on what was coming; but everything -is settled with the artificial bird; he will sing in this one way, and -no other: this can be proved, he can be taken to pieces, and the works -can be shown, where the wheels lie, how they move, and how one follows -from another.’</p> - -<p>‘That is just what I think,’ said everybody; and the artist received -permission to show the bird to the people on the following Sunday. ‘They -too should hear him sing,’ the Emperor said. So they heard him, and were -as well pleased as if they had all been drinking tea; for it is tea that -makes Chinese merry, and they all said oh! and raised their -fore-fingers, and nodded their heads. But the fisherman, who had heard -the real nightingale, said, ‘It sounds very pretty, almost like the real -bird; but yet there is something wanting, I do not know what.’</p> - -<p>The real nightingale was, however, banished the empire.</p> - -<p>The artificial bird had his place on a silken cushion, close to the -Emperor’s bed; all the presents he received, gold and precious stones, -lay around him; he had obtained the rank and title of ‘High Imperial -Dessert Singer,’ and, therefore, his<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_183" id="page_183">{183}</a></span> place was number one on the left -side; for the Emperor thought that the side where the heart was situated -must be the most honourable, and the heart is situated on the left side -of an Emperor, as well as with other folks.</p> - -<p>And the artist wrote five and twenty volumes about the artificial bird, -with the longest and most difficult words that are to be found in the -Chinese language. So, of course, all said they had read and understood -them, otherwise they would have been stupid, and perhaps would have been -flogged.</p> - -<p>Thus it went on for a year. The Emperor, the court, and all the Chinese -knew every note of the artificial bird’s song by heart; but that was the -very reason they enjoyed it so much, they could now sing with him. The -little boys in the street sang ‘Zizizi, cluck, cluck, cluck!’ and the -Emperor himself sang too—yes indeed, that was charming!</p> - -<p>But one evening, when the bird was in full voice, and the Emperor lay in -bed, and listened, there was suddenly a noise, ‘bang,’ inside the bird, -then something sprang ‘fur-r-r-r,’ all the wheels were running about, -and the music stopped.</p> - -<p>The Emperor jumped quickly out of bed, and had his chief physician -called; but of what use could he be? Then a clockmaker was fetched, and -at last, after a great deal of discussion and consultation, the bird was -in some measure put to rights again; but the clockmaker said he must be -spared much singing, for the pegs were almost worn out, and it was -impossible to renew them, at least so that the music should be correct.</p> - -<p>There was great lamentation, for now the artificial bird was allowed to -sing only once a year, and even then there were difficulties; however, -the artist made a short speech full of his favourite long words, and -said the bird was as good as ever: so then, of course, it was as good as -ever.</p> - -<p>When five years were passed away, a great affliction visited<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_184" id="page_184">{184}</a></span> the whole -empire, for in their hearts the people thought highly of their Emperor; -and now he was ill, and it was reported that he could not live. A new -Emperor had already been chosen, and the people stood in the street, -outside the palace, and asked the Cavalier how the Emperor was?</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 379px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_184.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_184.jpg" width="379" height="357" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE CHIEF IMPERIAL NIGHTINGALE BRINGER</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘Pish!’ said he, and shook his head.</p> - -<p>Cold and pale lay the Emperor in his magnificent bed; all the court -believed him to be already dead, and every one had<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_185" id="page_185">{185}</a></span> hastened away to -greet the new Emperor; the men ran out for a little gossip on the -subject, and the maids were having a grand coffee-party.</p> - -<p>The floors of all the rooms and passages were covered with cloth, in -order that not a step should be heard—it was everywhere so still! so -still! But the Emperor was not yet dead; stiff and pale he lay in his -splendid bed, with the long velvet curtains, and heavy gold tassels. A -window was opened above, and the moon shone down on the Emperor and the -artificial bird.</p> - -<p>The poor Emperor could scarcely breathe; it appeared to him as though -something was sitting on his chest; he opened his eyes, and saw that it -was Death, who had put on the Emperor’s crown, and with one hand held -the golden scimitar, with the other the splendid imperial banner; -whilst, from under the folds of the thick velvet hangings, the -strangest-looking heads were seen peering forth; some with an expression -absolutely hideous, and others with an extremely gentle and lovely -aspect: they were the bad and good deeds of the Emperor, which were now -all fixing their eyes upon him, whilst Death sat on his heart.</p> - -<p>‘Dost thou know this?’ they whispered one after another. ‘Dost thou -remember that?’ And they began reproaching him in such a manner that the -sweat broke out upon his forehead.</p> - -<p>‘I have never known anything like it,’ said the Emperor. ‘Music, music, -the great Chinese drum!’ cried he; ‘let me not hear what they are -saying.’</p> - -<p>They went on, however; and Death, quite in the Chinese fashion, nodded -his head to every word.</p> - -<p>‘Music, music!’ cried the Emperor. ‘Thou dear little artificial bird! -sing, I pray thee, sing!—I have given thee gold<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_186" id="page_186">{186}</a></span> and precious stones, I -have even hung my golden slippers round thy neck—sing, I pray thee, -sing!’</p> - -<p>But the bird was silent; there was no one there to wind him up, and he -could not sing without this. Death continued to stare at the Emperor -with his great hollow eyes! and everywhere it was still, fearfully -still!</p> - -<p>All at once the sweetest song was heard from the window; it was the -little living nightingale who was sitting on a branch outside—she had -heard of her Emperor’s severe illness, and was come to sing to him of -comfort and hope. As she sang, the spectral forms became paler and -paler, the blood flowed more and more quickly through the Emperor’s -feeble members, and even Death listened and said, ‘Go on, little -nightingale, go on.’</p> - -<p>‘Wilt thou give me the splendid gold scimitar? Wilt thou give me the gay -banner, and the Emperor’s crown?’</p> - -<p>And Death gave up all these treasures for a song; and the nightingale -sang on: she sang of the quiet churchyard, where white roses blossom, -where the lilac sends forth its fragrance, and the fresh grass is -bedewed with the tears of the sorrowing friends of the departed. Then -Death was seized with a longing after his garden, and like a cold white -shadow, flew out at the window.</p> - -<p>‘Thanks, thanks,’ said the Emperor, ‘thou heavenly little bird, I know -thee well. I have banished thee from my realm, and thou hast sung away -those evil faces from my bed, and Death from my heart; how shall I -reward thee?’</p> - -<p>‘Thou hast already rewarded me,’ said the nightingale; ‘I have seen -tears in thine eyes, as when I sang to thee for the first time: those I -shall never forget, they are jewels which do so much good to a -minstrel’s heart! but sleep now, and wake fresh and healthy; I will sing -thee to sleep.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_187" id="page_187">{187}</a></span>’</p> - -<p>And she sang—and the Emperor fell into a sweet sleep. Oh, how soft and -kindly was that sleep!</p> - -<p>The sun shone in at the window when he awoke, strong and healthy. Not -one of his servants had returned, for they all believed him dead; but -the nightingale still sat and sang.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 386px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_187.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_187.jpg" width="386" height="296" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>HE WAS QUITE AS SUCCESSFUL AS THE REAL NIGHTINGALE</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘Thou shalt always stay with me,’ said the Emperor, ‘thou shalt only -sing when it pleases thee, and the artificial bird I will break into a -thousand pieces.’</p> - -<p>‘Do not so,’ said the nightingale; ‘truly he has done what he could; -take care of him. I cannot stay in the palace; but let me come when I -like: I will sit on the branches close to the window, in the evening, -and sing to thee, that thou<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_188" id="page_188">{188}</a></span> mayest become happy and thoughtful. I will -sing to thee of the joyful and the sorrowing, I will sing to thee of all -that is good or bad, which is concealed from thee. The little minstrel -flies afar to the fisherman’s hut, to the peasant’s cottage, to all who -are far distant from thee and thy court. I love thy heart more than thy -crown, and yet the crown has an odour of something holy about it. I will -come, I will sing. But thou must promise me one thing.’</p> - -<p>‘Everything,’ said the Emperor. And now he stood in his imperial -splendour, which he had put on himself, and held the scimitar so heavy -with gold to his heart. ‘One thing I beg of thee: let no one know that -thou hast a little bird, who tells thee everything, then all will go on -well.’ And the nightingale flew away.</p> - -<p>The attendants came in to look at their dead Emperor. Lo! there they -stood—and the Emperor said, ‘Good-morning!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_189" id="page_189">{189}</a></span>’</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 456px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_189.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_189.jpg" width="456" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE WILD SWANS</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_190" id="page_190">{190}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_WILD_SWANS" id="THE_WILD_SWANS"></a>THE WILD SWANS</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">F</span>AR hence, in a country whither the Swallows fly in our winter-time, -there dwelt a King who had eleven sons, and one daughter, the beautiful -Elise. The eleven brothers (they were princes) went to school with stars -on their breasts and swords by their sides; they wrote on golden tablets -with diamond pens, and could read either with a book or without one—in -short, it was easy to perceive that they were princes. Their sister -Elise used to sit upon a little glass stool, and had a picture-book -which had cost the half of a kingdom. Oh, the children were so happy! -but happy they were not to remain always.</p> - -<p>Their father the King married a very wicked Queen, who was not at all -kind to the poor children; they found this out on the first day after -the marriage, when there was a grand gala at the palace; for when the -children played at receiving company, instead of having as many cakes -and sweetmeats as they liked, the Queen gave them only some sand in a -little dish, and told them to imagine that was something nice.</p> - -<p>The week after, she sent the little Elise to be brought up by some -peasants in the country, and it was not long before she told the King so -many falsehoods about the poor princes that he would have nothing more -to do with them.</p> - -<p>‘Away, out into the world, and take care of yourselves,’ said the wicked -Queen; ‘fly away in the form of great speechless birds.’ But she could -not make their transformation so</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 457px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_190fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_190fp.jpg" width="457" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_191" id="page_191">{191}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">disagreeable as she wished,—the Princes were changed into eleven white -swans. Sending forth a strange cry, they flew out of the palace windows, -over the park and over the wood.</p> - -<p>It was still early in the morning when they passed by the place where -Elise lay sleeping in the peasant’s cottage; they flew several times -round the roof, stretched their long necks, and flapped their wings, but -no one either heard or saw them; they were forced to fly away, up to the -clouds and into the wide world, so on they went to the forest, which -extended as far as the sea-shore.</p> - -<p>The poor little Elise stood in the peasant’s cottage amusing herself -with a green leaf, for she had no other plaything. She pricked a hole in -the leaf and peeped through it at the sun, and then she fancied she saw -her brother’s bright eyes, and whenever the warm sunbeams shone full -upon her cheeks, she thought of her brother’s kisses.</p> - -<p>One day passed exactly like the other. When the wind blew through the -thick hedge of rose-trees in front of the house, she would whisper to -the roses, ‘Who is more beautiful than you?’ but the roses would shake -their heads and say, ‘Elise.’ And when the peasant’s wife sat on Sundays -at the door of her cottage reading her hymn-book, the wind would rustle -in the leaves and say to the book, ‘Who is more pious than -thou?’—‘Elise,’ replied the hymn-book. And what the roses and the -hymn-book said, was no more than the truth.</p> - -<p>Elise was now fifteen years old, she was sent for home; but when the -Queen saw how beautiful she was, she hated her the more, and would -willingly have transformed her like her brothers into a wild swan, but -she dared not do so, because the King wished to see his daughter.</p> - -<p>So the next morning the Queen went into a bath which was made of marble, -and fitted up with soft pillows and the gayest<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_192" id="page_192">{192}</a></span> carpets; she took three -toads, kissed them, and said to one, ‘Settle thou upon Elise’s head that -she may become dull and sleepy like thee.’—‘Settle thou upon her -forehead,’ said she to another, ‘and let her become ugly like thee, so -that her father may not know her again.’ And ‘Do thou place thyself upon -her bosom,’ whispered she to the third, ‘that her heart may become -corrupt and evil, a torment to herself.’ She then put the toads into the -clear water, which was immediately tinted with a green colour, and -having called Elise, took off her clothes and made her get into the -bath—one toad settled among her hair, another on her forehead, and the -third upon her bosom, but Elise seemed not at all aware of it; she rose -up and three poppies were seen swimming on the water. Had not the -animals been poisonous and kissed by a witch, they would have been -changed into roses whilst they remained on Elise’s head and heart—she -was too good for magic to have any power over her. When the Queen -perceived this, she rubbed walnut juice all over the maiden’s skin, so -that it became quite swarthy, smeared a nasty salve over her lovely -face, and entangled her long thick hair,—it was impossible to recognise -the beautiful Elise after this.</p> - -<p>When her father saw her he was shocked, and said she could not be his -daughter; no one would have anything to do with her but the mastiff and -the swallows; but they, poor things, could not say anything in her -favour.</p> - -<p>Poor Elise wept, and thought of her eleven brothers, not one of whom she -saw at the palace. In great distress she stole away and wandered the -whole day over fields and moors, till she reached the forest. She knew -not where to go, but she was so sad, and longed so much to see her -brothers, who had been driven out into the world, that she determined to -seek and find them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_193" id="page_193">{193}</a></span></p> - -<p>She had not been long in the forest when night came on, and she lost her -way amid the darkness. So she lay down on the soft moss, said her -evening prayer, and leaned her head against the trunk of a tree. It was -so still in the forest, the air was mild, and from the grass and mould -around gleamed the green light of many hundred glowworms, and when Elise -lightly touched one of the branches hanging over her, bright insects -fell down upon her like falling stars.</p> - -<p>All the night long she dreamed of her brothers. They were all children -again, played together, wrote with diamond pens upon golden tablets, and -looked at the pictures in the beautiful book which had cost half of a -kingdom. But they did not as formerly make straight strokes and pothooks -upon the tablets; no, they wrote of the bold actions they had performed, -and the strange adventures they had encountered, and in the picture-book -everything seemed alive—the birds sang, men and women stepped from the -book and talked to Elise and her brothers; however, when she turned over -the leaves, they jumped back into their places, so that the pictures did -not get confused together.</p> - -<p>When Elise awoke the sun was already high in the heavens. She could not -see it certainly, for the tall trees of the forest entwined their -thickly leaved branches closely together, which, as the sunbeams played -upon them, looked like a golden veil waving to and fro. And the air was -so fragrant, and the birds perched upon Elise’s shoulders. She heard the -noise of water, there were several springs forming a pool, with the -prettiest pebbles at the bottom, bushes were growing thickly round, but -the deer had trodden a broad path through them, and by this path Elise -went down to the water’s edge. The water was so clear that had not the -boughs and bushes around been moved to and fro by the wind, you might -have fancied they<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_194" id="page_194">{194}</a></span> were painted upon the smooth surface, so distinctly -was each little leaf mirrored upon it, whether glowing in the sunlight -or lying in the shade.</p> - -<p>As soon as Elise saw her face reflected in the water, she was quite -startled, so brown and ugly did it look; however, when she wetted her -little hand, and rubbed her brow and eyes, the white skin again -appeared.—So Elise took off her clothes, stepped into the fresh water, -and in the whole world there was not a king’s daughter more beautiful -than she then appeared.</p> - -<p>After she had again dressed herself, and had braided her long hair, she -went to the bubbling spring, drank out of the hollow of her hand, and -then wandered farther into the forest. She knew not where she was going, -but she thought of her brothers, and of the good God who, she felt, -would never forsake her. He it was who made the wild crab-trees grow in -order to feed the hungry, and who showed her a tree whose boughs bent -under the weight of their fruit. She made her noonday meal under its -shade, propped up the boughs, and then walked on amid the dark twilight -of the forest. It was so still that she could hear her own footsteps, -and the rustling of each little withered leaf that was crushed beneath -her feet; not a bird was to be seen, not a single sunbeam penetrated -through the thick foliage, and the tall stems of the trees stood so -close together, that when she looked straight before her, she seemed -enclosed by trellis-work upon trellis-work. Oh! there was a solitariness -in this forest such as Elise had never known before.</p> - -<p>And the night was so dark! not a single glowworm sent forth its light. -Sad and melancholy she lay down to sleep, and then it seemed to her as -though the boughs above her opened, and that she saw the Angel of God -looking down upon her with gentle aspect, and a thousand little cherubs -all around<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_195" id="page_195">{195}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 381px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_195.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_195.jpg" width="381" height="515" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>SO ELISE TOOK OFF HER CLOTHES AND STEPPED INTO THE -WATER</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_196" id="page_196">{196}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">him. When she awoke in the morning she could not tell whether this was a -dream, or whether she had really been so watched.</p> - -<p>She walked on a little farther and met an old woman with a basket full -of berries; the old woman gave her some of them, and Elise asked if she -had not seen eleven princes ride through the wood.</p> - -<p>‘No,’ said the old woman, ‘but I saw yesterday eleven Swans with golden -crowns on their heads swim down the brook near this place.’</p> - -<p>And she led Elise on a little farther to a precipice, the base of which -was washed by a brook; the trees on each side stretched their long leafy -branches towards each other, and where they could not unite, the roots -had disengaged themselves from the earth and hung their interlaced -fibres over the water.</p> - -<p>Elise bade the old woman farewell, and wandered by the side of the -stream till she came to the place where it reached the open sea.</p> - -<p>The great, the beautiful sea lay extended before the maiden’s eyes, but -not a ship, not a boat was to be seen; how was she to go on? She -observed the numberless little stones on the shore, all of which the -waves had washed into a round form; glass, iron, stone, everything that -lay scattered there, had been moulded into shape, and yet the water -which had effected this was much softer than Elise’s delicate little -hand. ‘It rolls on unweariedly,’ said she, ‘and subdues what is so hard; -I will be no less unwearied! Thank you for the lesson you have given me, -ye bright rolling waves; some day, my heart tells me, you shall carry me -to my dear brothers!’</p> - -<p>There lay upon the wet sea-grass eleven white swan-feathers; Elise -collected them together; drops of water hung about them, whether dew or -tears she could not tell. She<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_197" id="page_197">{197}</a></span> was quite alone on the sea-shore, but she -did not care for that; the sea presented an eternal variety to her, more -indeed in a few hours than the gentle inland waters would have offered -in a whole year. When a black cloud passed over the sky, it seemed as if -the sea would say, ‘I too can look dark,’ and then the wind would blow -and the waves fling out their white foam; but when the clouds shone with -a bright red tint, and the winds were asleep, the sea also became like a -rose-leaf in hue; it was now green, now white, but as it reposed -peacefully, a slight breeze on the shore caused the water to heave -gently like the bosom of a sleeping child.</p> - -<p>At sunset Elise saw eleven Wild Swans with golden crowns on their heads -fly towards the land; they flew one behind another, looking like a -streaming white ribbon. Elise climbed the precipice, and concealed -herself behind a bush; the swans settled close to her, and flapped their -long white wings.</p> - -<p>As the sun sank beneath the water, the swans also vanished, and in their -place stood eleven handsome princes, the brothers of Elise. She uttered -a loud cry, for although they were very much altered, Elise knew that -they were, felt that they must be, her brothers; she ran into their -arms, called them by their names—and how happy were <i>they</i> to see and -recognise their sister, who was now grown so tall and so beautiful! They -laughed and wept, and soon told each other how wickedly their -step-mother had acted towards them.</p> - -<p>‘We,’ said the eldest of the brothers, ‘fly or swim as long as the sun -is above the horizon, but when it sinks below, we appear again in our -human form; we are therefore obliged to look out for a safe -resting-place, for if at sunset we were flying among the clouds, we -should fall down as soon as we resumed our own form. We do not dwell -here, a land quite as beautiful as this lies on the opposite side of the -sea, but it is far off. To<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_198" id="page_198">{198}</a></span> reach it, we have to cross the deep waters, -and there is no island midway on which we may rest at night; one little -solitary rock rises from the waves, and upon it we only just find room -enough to stand side by side. There we spend the night in our human -form, and when the sea is rough, we are sprinkled by its foam; but we -are thankful for this resting-place, for without it we</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 384px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_198.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_198.jpg" width="384" height="287" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>AND MET AN OLD WOMAN WITH A BASKET FULL OF BERRIES</p></div> -</div> - -<p class="nind">should never be able to visit our dear native country. Only once in the -year is this visit to the home of our fathers permitted; we require two -of the longest days for our flight, and can remain here only eleven -days, during which time we fly over the large forest, whence we can see -the palace in which we were born, where our father dwells, and the tower -of the church in which our mother was buried. Here even the trees and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_199" id="page_199">{199}</a></span> -bushes seem of kin to us, here the wild horses still race over the -plains, as in the days of our childhood, here the charcoal-burner still -sings the same old tunes to which we used to dance in our youth, here we -are still attracted, and here we have found thee, thou dear little -sister! We have yet two days longer to stay here, then we must fly over -the sea to a land beautiful indeed, but not our fatherland. How shall we -take thee with us? we have neither ship nor boat!’</p> - -<p>‘How shall I be able to release you?’ said the sister. And so they went -on talking almost the whole of the night. They slumbered only a few -hours.</p> - -<p>Elise was awakened by the rustling of swans’ wings which were fluttering -above her. Her brothers were again transformed, and for some time flew -around in large circles. At last they flew far, far away; one of them -remained behind, it was the youngest; he laid his head in her lap and -she stroked his white wings; they remained the whole day together. -Towards evening the others came back, and when the sun was set, again -they stood on the firm ground in their natural form.</p> - -<p>‘To-morrow we shall fly away, and may not return for a year, but we -cannot leave thee; hast thou courage to accompany us? My arm is strong -enough to bear thee through the forest; shall we not have sufficient -strength in our wings to transport thee over the sea?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, take me with you,’ said Elise. They spent the whole night in -weaving a mat of the pliant willow bark and the tough rushes, and their -mat was thick and strong. Elise lay down upon it, and when the sun had -risen, and the brothers were again transformed into wild swans, they -seized the mat with their beaks and flew up high among the clouds with -their dear sister, who was still sleeping. The sunbeams shone full upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_200" id="page_200">{200}</a></span> -her face, so one of the swans flew over her head, and shaded her with -his broad wings.</p> - -<p>They were already far from land when Elise awoke: she thought she was -still dreaming, so strange did it appear to her to be travelling through -the air, and over the sea. By her side lay a cluster of pretty berries, -and a handful of savoury roots. Her youngest brother had collected and -laid them there; and she thanked him with a smile, for she knew him as -the swan who flew over her head and shaded her with his wings.</p> - -<p>They flew so high, that the first ship they saw beneath them seemed like -a white sea-gull hovering over the water. Elise saw behind her a large -cloud, it looked like a mountain, and on it she saw the gigantic shadows -of herself and the eleven swans—it formed a picture more splendid than -any she had ever yet seen; soon, however, the sun rose higher, the cloud -remained far behind, and then the floating shadowy picture disappeared.</p> - -<p>The whole day they continued flying with a whizzing noise somewhat like -an arrow, but yet they went slower than usual—they had their sister to -carry. A heavy tempest was gathering, the evening approached; anxiously -did Elise watch the sun, it was setting. Still the solitary rock could -not be seen; it appeared to her that the swans plied their wings with -increasing vigour. Alas! it would be her fault if her brothers did not -arrive at the place in time; they would become human beings when the sun -set, and if this happened before they reached the rock, they must fall -into the sea, and be drowned. She prayed to God most fervently, still no -rock was to be seen; the black clouds drew nearer, violent gusts of wind -announced the approach of a tempest, the clouds rested perpendicularly -upon a fearfully large wave which rolled quickly forwards, one flash of -lightning rapidly succeeded another.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_201" id="page_201">{201}</a></span></p> - -<p>The sun was now on the rim of the sea. Elise’s heart beat violently; the -swans shot downwards so swiftly that she thought she must fall, but -again they began to hover; the sun was half sunk beneath the water, and -at that moment she saw the little rock below her; it looked like a -seal’s head when he raises it just above the water. And the sun was -sinking fast,—it seemed scarcely larger than a star,—her foot touched -the hard ground, and it vanished altogether, like the last spark on a -burnt piece of paper. Arm in arm stood her brothers around her—there -was only just room for her and them; the sea beat tempestuously against -the rock, flinging over them a shower of foam; the sky seemed in a -continual blaze, with the fast-succeeding flashes of fire that lightened -it, and peal after peal rolled on the thunder, but sister and brothers -kept firm hold of each other’s hands. They sang a psalm, and their psalm -gave them comfort and courage.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 383px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_201.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_201.jpg" width="383" height="107" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>NOT A BOAT WAS TO BE SEEN</p></div> -</div> - -<p>By daybreak the air was pure and still, and as soon as the sun rose, the -swans flew away with Elise from the rock. The waves rose higher and -higher, and when they looked from the clouds down upon the -blackish-green sea, covered as it was with white foam, they might have -fancied that millions of swans were swimming on its surface.</p> - -<p>As day advanced, Elise saw floating in the air before her a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_202" id="page_202">{202}</a></span> land of -mountains intermixed with glaciers, and in the centre a palace a mile in -length, with splendid colonnades, surrounded by palm-trees and -gorgeous-looking flowers as large as mill-wheels. She asked if this were -the country to which they were flying, but the swans shook their heads, -for what she saw was the beautiful airy castle of the fairy Morgana, -where no human being was admitted; and whilst Elise still bent her eyes -upon it, mountains, trees, and castle all disappeared, and in their -place stood twelve churches with high towers and pointed windows—she -fancied she heard the organ play, but it was only the murmur of the sea. -She was now close to these churches, but behold! they have changed into -a large fleet sailing under them; she looked down and saw it was only a -sea-mist passing rapidly over the water. An eternal variety floated -before her eyes, till at last the actual land to which she was going -appeared in sight. Beautiful blue mountains, cedar woods, towns, and -castles rose to view. Long before sunset Elise sat down among the -mountains, in front of a large cavern; delicate young creepers grew -around so thickly, that it appeared covered with gay embroidered -carpets.</p> - -<p>‘Now we shall see what thou wilt dream of to-night!’ said her youngest -brother, as he showed her the sleeping-chamber destined for her.</p> - -<p>‘Oh that I could dream how you might be released from the spell!’ said -she; and this thought completely occupied her. She prayed most earnestly -for God’s assistance, nay, even in her dreams she continued praying, and -it appeared to her that she was flying up high in the air towards the -castle of the fairy Morgana. The fairy came forward to meet her, radiant -and beautiful, and yet she fancied she resembled the old woman who had -given her berries in the forest, and told her of the swans with golden -crowns.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_203" id="page_203">{203}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Thou <i>canst</i> release thy brothers,’ said she, ‘but hast thou courage -and patience sufficient? The water is indeed softer than thy delicate -hands, and yet can mould the hard stones to its will, but then it cannot -feel the pain which thy tender fingers will feel; it has no heart, and -cannot suffer the anxiety and grief which thou must suffer. Dost thou -see these stinging-nettles which I have in my hand? There are many of -the same kind growing round the cave where thou art sleeping; only those -that grow there or on the graves in the church-yard are of use, remember -that! Thou must pluck them, although they will sting thy hand; thou must -trample on the nettles with thy feet, and get yarn from them, and with -this yarn thou must weave eleven shirts with long sleeves;—throw them -over the eleven wild swans, and the spell is broken. But mark this: from -the moment that thou beginnest thy work till it is completed, even -should it occupy thee for years, thou must not speak a word; the first -syllable that escapes thy lips will fall like a dagger into the hearts -of thy brothers; on thy tongue depends their life. Mark well all this!’</p> - -<p>And at the same moment the fairy touched Elise’s hands with a nettle, -which made them burn like fire, and Elise awoke. It was broad daylight, -and close to her lay a nettle like the one she had seen in her dream. -She fell upon her knees, thanked God, and then went out of the cave in -order to begin her work. She plucked with her own delicate hands the -disagreeable stinging-nettles; they burned large blisters on her hands -and arms, but she bore the pain willingly in the hope of releasing her -dear brothers. She trampled on the nettles with her naked feet, and spun -the green yarn.</p> - -<p>At sunset came her brothers. Elise’s silence quite frightened them, they -thought it must be the effect of some fresh spell of their wicked -step-mother; but when they saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_204" id="page_204">{204}</a></span> her blistered hands, they found out what -their sister was doing for their sakes. The youngest brother wept, and -when his tears fell upon her hands, Elise felt no more pain, the -blisters disappeared.</p> - -<p>The whole night she spent in her work, for she could not rest till she -had released her brothers. All the following days she sat in her -solitude, for the swans had flown away; but never had time passed so -quickly. One shirt was ready; she now began the second.</p> - -<div class="figleft" style="width: 199px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_204.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_204.jpg" width="199" height="525" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THERE WAS ONLY JUST ROOM FOR HER AND THEM</p></div> -</div> - -<p>Suddenly a hunting-horn resounded among the mountains. Elise was -frightened. The noise came nearer, she heard the hounds barking; in -great terror she fled into the cave, bound up the nettles which she had -gathered and combed into a bundle, and sat down upon it.</p> - -<p>In the same moment a large dog sprang out from the bushes; two others -immediately followed; they barked loudly, ran away and then returned. It -was not long<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_205" id="page_205">{205}</a></span> before the hunters stood in front of the cave; the -handsomest among them was the King of that country; he stepped up to -Elise. Never had he seen a lovelier maiden.</p> - -<p>‘How camest thou here, thou beautiful child?’ said he. Elise shook her -head; she dared not speak, a word might have cost her the life of her -brothers; and she hid her hands under her apron lest the King should see -how she was suffering.</p> - -<p>‘Come with me,’ said he, ‘thou must not stay here! If thou art good as -thou art beautiful, I will dress thee in velvet and silk, I will put a -gold crown upon thy head, and thou shalt dwell in my palace!’ So he -lifted her upon his horse, while she wept and wrung her hands; but the -King said, ‘I only desire thy happiness! thou shalt thank me for this -some day!’ and away he rode over mountains and valleys, holding her on -his horse in front, whilst the other hunters followed. When the sun set, -the King’s magnificent capital with its churches and cupolas lay before -them, and the King led Elise into the palace, where, in a high marble -hall, fountains were playing, and the walls and ceiling displayed the -most beautiful paintings. But Elise cared not for all this splendour; -she wept and mourned in silence, even whilst some female attendants -dressed her in royal robes, wove costly pearls in her hair, and drew -soft gloves over her blistered hands.</p> - -<p>And now she was full dressed, and as she stood in her splendid attire, -her beauty was so dazzling, that the courtiers all bowed low before her; -and the King chose her for his bride, although the Archbishop shook his -head, and whispered that the ‘beautiful lady of the wood must certainly -be a witch, who had blinded their eyes, and infatuated the King’s -heart.’</p> - -<p>But the King did not listen; he ordered that music should be played. A -sumptuous banquet was served up, and the loveliest<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_206" id="page_206">{206}</a></span> maidens danced round -the bride; she was led through fragrant gardens into magnificent halls, -but not a smile was seen to play upon her lips or beam from her eyes. -The King then opened a small room next her sleeping apartment; it was -adorned with costly green tapestry, and exactly resembled the cave in -which she had been found; upon the ground lay the bundle of yarn which -she had spun from the nettles, and by the wall hung the shirt she had -completed. One of the hunters had brought all this, thinking there must -be something wonderful in it.</p> - -<p>‘Here thou mayest dream of thy former home,’ said the King; ‘here is the -work which employed thee; amidst all thy present splendour it may -sometimes give thee pleasure to fancy thyself there again.’</p> - -<p>When Elise saw what was so dear to her heart, she smiled, and the blood -returned to her cheeks; she thought her brothers might still be -released, and she kissed the King’s hand; he pressed her to his heart -and ordered the bells of all the churches in the city to be rung, to -announce the celebration of their wedding. The beautiful dumb maiden of -the wood was to become Queen of the land.</p> - -<p>The Archbishop whispered evil words in the King’s ear, but they made no -impression upon him; the marriage was solemnised, and the Archbishop -himself was obliged to put the crown upon her head. In his rage he -pressed the narrow rim so firmly on her forehead that it hurt her; but a -heavier weight (sorrow for her brothers) lay upon her heart, she did not -feel bodily pain. She was still silent, a single word would have killed -her brothers; her eyes, however, beamed with heartfelt love to the King, -so good and handsome, who had done so much to make her happy. She became -more warmly attached to him every day. Oh, how much she wished she might -con<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_207" id="page_207">{207}</a></span>fide to him all her sorrows! but she was forced to remain silent, -she could not speak until her work was completed. To this end she stole -away every night, and went into the little room that was fitted up in -imitation of the cave; there she worked at her shirts, but by the time -she had begun the seventh all her yarn was spent.</p> - -<p>She knew that the nettles she needed grew in the church-yard, but she -must gather them herself; how was she to get them?</p> - -<p>‘Oh, what is the pain in my fingers compared to the anguish my heart -suffers?’ thought she. ‘I must venture to the church-yard; the good God -will not withdraw His protection from me!’</p> - -<p>Fearful as though she were about to do something wrong, one moonlight -night she crept down to the garden, and through the long avenues got -into the lonely road leading to the church-yard. She saw sitting on one -of the broadest tombstones a number of ugly old witches. They took off -their ragged clothes as if they were going to bathe, and digging with -their long lean fingers into the fresh grass, drew up the dead bodies -and devoured the flesh. Elise was obliged to pass close by them, and the -witches fixed their wicked eyes upon her; but she repeated her prayer, -gathered the stinging-nettles, and took them back with her into the -palace. One person only had seen her; it was the Archbishop, he was -awake when others slept; now he was convinced that all was not right -about the Queen: she must be a witch, who had through her enchantments -infatuated the King, and all the people.</p> - -<p>In the Confessional he told the King what he had seen, and what he -feared; and when the slanderous words came from his lips, the sculptured -images of the saints shook their heads as though they would say, ‘It is -untrue, Elise is innocent!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_208" id="page_208">{208}</a></span>’ But the Archbishop explained the omen quite -otherwise; he thought it was a testimony against her that the holy -images shook their heads at hearing of her sin.</p> - -<p>Two large tears rolled down the King’s cheeks. He returned home in -doubt; he pretended to sleep at night, though sleep never visited him; -and he noticed that Elise rose from her bed every night, and every time -he followed her secretly and saw her enter her little room.</p> - -<p>His countenance became darker every day; Elise perceived it, though she -knew not the cause. She was much pained, and besides, what did she not -suffer in her heart for her brothers! Her bitter tears ran down on the -royal velvet and purple; they looked like bright diamonds, and all who -saw the magnificence that surrounded her, wished themselves in her -place. She had now nearly finished her work, only one shirt was wanting; -unfortunately, yarn was wanting also, she had not a single nettle left. -Once more, only this one time, she must go to the church-yard and gather -a few handfuls. She shuddered when she thought of the solitary walk and -of the horrid witches, but her resolution was as firm as her trust in -God.</p> - -<p>Elise went; the King and the Archbishop followed her; they saw her -disappear at the church-yard door, and when they came nearer, they saw -the witches sitting on the tombstones as Elise had seen them, and the -King turned away, for he believed her whose head had rested on his bosom -that very evening to be amongst them. ‘Let the people judge her!’ said -he. And the people condemned her to be burnt.</p> - -<p>She was now dragged from the King’s sumptuous apartments into a dark, -damp prison, where the wind whistled through the grated window. Instead -of velvet and silk, they gave her the bundle of nettles she had -gathered; on that must<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_209" id="page_209">{209}</a></span> she lay her head, the shirts she had woven must -serve her as mattress and counterpane;—but they could not have given -her anything she valued so much; and she continued her work, at the same -time praying earnestly to her God. The boys sang scandalous songs about -her in front of her prison; not a soul comforted her with one word of -love.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 295px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_209.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_209.jpg" width="295" height="396" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>I MUST VENTURE TO THE CHURCH-YARD</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_210" id="page_210">{210}</a></span></p> - -<p>Towards evening she heard the rustling of Swans’ wings at the grating. -It was the youngest of her brothers, who had at last found his sister, -and she sobbed aloud for joy, although she knew that the coming night -would probably be the last of her life; but then her work was almost -finished and her brother was near.</p> - -<p>The Archbishop came in order to spend the last hour with her; he had -promised the King he would; but she shook her head and entreated him -with her eyes and gestures to go—this night she must finish her work, -or all she had suffered, her pain, her anxiety, her sleepless nights, -would be in vain. The Archbishop went away with many angry words, but -the unfortunate Elise knew herself to be perfectly innocent, and went on -with her work.</p> - -<p>Little mice ran busily about and dragged the nettles to her feet, -wishing to help her; and the thrush perched on the iron bars of the -window, and sang all night as merrily as he could, that Elise might not -lose courage.</p> - -<p>It was still twilight, just one hour before sunrise, when the eleven -brothers stood before the palace gates, requesting an audience with the -King; but it could not be, they were told, it was still night, the King -was asleep, and they dared not wake him. They entreated, they -threatened, the guard came up, the King himself at last stepped out to -ask what was the matter,—at that moment the sun rose, the brothers -could be seen no longer, and eleven white Swans flew away over the -palace.</p> - -<p>The people poured forth from the gates of the city; they wished to see -the witch burnt. One wretched horse drew the cart in which Elise was -placed; a coarse frock of sackcloth had been put on her, her beautiful -long hair hung loosely over her shoulders, her cheeks were of a deadly -paleness, her lips moved<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_211" id="page_211">{211}</a></span> gently, and her fingers wove the green yarn: -even on her way to her cruel death she did not give up her work; the ten -shirts lay at her feet, she was now labouring to complete the eleventh. -The rabble insulted her.</p> - -<p>‘Look at the witch, how she mutters! She has not a hymn-book in her -hand, no, there she sits with her accursed hocus-pocus. Tear it from -her, tear it into a thousand pieces!’</p> - -<p>And they all crowded about her, and were on the point of snatching away -the shirts, when eleven white Swans came flying towards the cart; they -settled all round her, and flapped their wings. The crowd gave way in -terror.</p> - -<p>‘It is a sign from Heaven! she is certainly innocent!’ whispered some; -they dared not say so aloud.</p> - -<p>The Sheriff now seized her by the hand—in a moment she threw the eleven -shirts over the Swans, and eleven handsome Princes appeared in their -place. The youngest had, however, only one arm, and a wing instead of -the other, for one sleeve was deficient in his shirt, it had not been -quite finished.</p> - -<p>‘Now I may speak,’ said she: ‘I am innocent!’</p> - -<p>And the people who had seen what had happened bowed before her as before -a saint. She, however, sank lifeless in her brothers’ arms; suspense, -fear, and grief had quite exhausted her.</p> - -<p>‘Yes, she is innocent,’ said her eldest brother, and he now related -their wonderful history. Whilst he spoke a fragrance as delicious as -though it proceeded from millions of roses, diffused itself around, for -every piece of wood in the funeral pile had taken root and sent forth -branches, a hedge of blooming red roses surrounded Elise, and above all -the others blossomed a flower of dazzling white colour, bright as a -star; the King<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_212" id="page_212">{212}</a></span> plucked it and laid it on Elise’s bosom, whereupon she -awoke from her trance with peace and joy in her heart.</p> - -<p>And all the church-bells began to ring of their own accord, and birds -flew to the spot in swarms, and there was a festive procession back to -the palace, such as no King has ever seen equalled.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 149px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_212.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_212.jpg" width="149" height="245" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_213" id="page_213">{213}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 449px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_213.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_213.jpg" width="449" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>I HAVE SCARCELY CLOSED MY EYES THE WHOLE NIGHT THROUGH</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_214" id="page_214">{214}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_REAL_PRINCESS" id="THE_REAL_PRINCESS"></a>THE REAL PRINCESS</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">T</span>HERE 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 bedclothes 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> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 452px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_214fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_214fp.jpg" width="452" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_215" id="page_215">{215}</a></span></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> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 151px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_215.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_215.jpg" width="151" height="403" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE OLD KING HIMSELF WENT OUT TO OPEN IT</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_216" id="page_216">{216}</a></span></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> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 256px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_216.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_216.jpg" width="256" height="291" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE PEAS WERE PRESERVED IN THE CABINET OF CURIOSITIES</p></div> -</div> - -<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>Was not this a lady of real delicacy?<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_217" id="page_217">{217}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 495px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_217.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_217.jpg" width="495" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>KAREN</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_218" id="page_218">{218}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_RED_SHOES" id="THE_RED_SHOES"></a>THE RED SHOES</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">T</span>HERE was once a little girl, very pretty and delicate, but so poor that -in summer-time she always went barefoot, and in winter wore large wooden -shoes, so that her little ankles grew quite red and sore.</p> - -<p>In the village dwelt the shoemaker’s mother. She sat down one day and -made out of some old pieces of red cloth a pair of little shoes; they -were clumsy enough, certainly, but they fitted the little girl tolerably -well, and she gave them to her. The little girl’s name was Karen.</p> - -<p>It was the day of her mother’s funeral when the red shoes were given to -Karen; they were not at all suitable for mourning, but she had no -others, and in them she walked with bare legs behind the miserable straw -bier.</p> - -<p>Just then a large old carriage rolled by; in it sat a large old lady; -she looked at the little girl and pitied her, and she said to the -priest, ‘Give me the little girl and I will take care of her.’</p> - -<p>And Karen thought it was all for the sake of the red shoes that the old -lady had taken this fancy to her, but the old lady said they were -frightful, and they were burnt. And Karen was dressed very neatly; she -was taught to read and to work; and people told her she was pretty—but -the mirror said, ‘Thou art more than pretty, thou art beautiful!’</p> - -<p>It happened one day that the Queen travelled through that part of the -country with her little daughter, the Princess; and all the people, -Karen amongst them, crowded in front of</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 456px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_218fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_218fp.jpg" width="456" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_219" id="page_219">{219}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">the palace, whilst the little Princess stood, dressed in white, at a -window, for every one to see her. She wore neither train nor gold crown; -but on her feet were pretty red morocco shoes, much prettier ones indeed -than those the shoemaker’s mother had made for little Karen. Nothing in -the world could be compared to these red shoes!</p> - -<p>Karen was now old enough to be confirmed, she was to have both new frock -and new shoes. The rich shoemaker in the town took the measure of her -little foot. Large glass cases full of neat shoes and shining boots were -fixed round the room; however, the old lady’s sight was not very good, -and, naturally enough, she had not so much pleasure in looking at them -as Karen had. Amongst the shoes was a pair of red ones, just like those -worn by the Princess. How gay they were! and the shoemaker said they had -been made for a count’s daughter, but had not quite fitted her.</p> - -<p>‘They are of polished leather,’ said the old lady, ‘see how they shine!’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, they shine beautifully!’ exclaimed Karen. And as the shoes fitted -her, they were bought; but the old lady did not know that they were red, -for she would never have suffered Karen to go to confirmation in red -shoes. But Karen did so. Everybody looked at her feet, and as she walked -up the nave to the chancel, it seemed to her that even the antique -sculptured figures on the monuments, with their stiff ruffs and long -black robes, fixed their eyes on her red shoes. Of them only she thought -when the Bishop laid his hand on her head, when he spoke of Holy -Baptism, of her covenant with God, and how that she must now be a -full-grown Christian. The organ sent forth its deep, solemn tones, the -children’s sweet voices mingled with those of the choristers, but Karen -still thought only of her red shoes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_220" id="page_220">{220}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 381px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_220.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_220.jpg" width="381" height="499" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>AND KAREN WAS DRESSED VERY NEATLY</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_221" id="page_221">{221}</a></span></p> - -<p>That afternoon, when the old lady was told that Karen had worn red shoes -at her confirmation, she was much vexed, and told Karen that they were -quite unsuitable, and that, henceforward, whenever she went to church, -she must wear black shoes, were they ever so old.</p> - -<p>Next Sunday was the communion day. Karen looked first at the red shoes, -then at the black ones, then at the red again, and—put them on.</p> - -<p>It was beautiful sunshiny weather; Karen and the old lady walked to -church through the corn-fields; the path was very dusty.</p> - -<p>At the church door stood an old soldier; he was leaning on crutches, and -had a marvellously long beard, not white, but reddish-hued, and he bowed -almost to the earth, and asked the old lady if he might wipe the dust -off her shoes. And Karen put out her little foot also. ‘Oh, what pretty -dancing-shoes!’ quoth the old soldier; ‘take care, and mind you do not -let them slip off when you dance’; and he passed his hands over them.</p> - -<p>The old lady gave the soldier a halfpenny, and then went with Karen into -church.</p> - -<p>And every one looked at Karen’s red shoes; and all the carved figures, -too, bent their gaze upon them; and when Karen knelt before the altar, -the red shoes still floated before her eyes; she thought of them and of -them only, and she forgot to join in the hymn of praise—she forgot to -repeat ‘Our Father.’</p> - -<p>At last all the people came out of church, and the old lady got into her -carriage. Karen was just lifting her foot to follow her, when the old -soldier standing in the porch exclaimed, ‘Only look, what pretty -dancing-shoes!’ And Karen could not help it, she felt she must make a -few of her dancing steps;<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_222" id="page_222">{222}</a></span> and after she had once begun, her feet -continued to move, just as though the shoes had received power over -them; she danced round the church-yard, she could not stop. The coachman -was obliged to run after her; he took hold of her and lifted her into -the carriage, but the feet still continued to dance, so as to kick the -good old lady most cruelly. At last the shoes were taken off, and the -feet had rest.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 382px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_222.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_222.jpg" width="382" height="229" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>KAREN AND THE OLD LADY WALKED TO CHURCH</p></div> -</div> - -<p>And now the shoes were put away in a press, but Karen could not help -going to look at them every now and then.</p> - -<p>The old lady lay ill in bed; the doctor said she could not live much -longer. She certainly needed careful nursing, and who should be her -nurse and constant attendant but Karen? But there was to be a grand ball -in the town. Karen was invited; she looked at the old lady who was -almost dying—she looked at the red shoes—she put them on, there could -be no harm in doing that, at least; she went to the ball, and began<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_223" id="page_223">{223}</a></span> to -dance. But when she wanted to move to the right, the shoes bore her to -the left; and when she would dance up the room, the shoes danced down -the room, danced down the stairs, through the streets, and through the -gates of the town. Dance she did, and dance she must, straight out into -the dark wood.</p> - -<p>Something all at once shone through the trees. She thought at first it -must be the moon’s bright face, shining blood-red through the night -mists; but no, it was the old soldier with the red beard—he sat there, -nodding at her, and repeating, ‘Only look, what pretty dancing-shoes!’</p> - -<p>She was very much frightened, and tried to throw off her red shoes, but -could not unclasp them. She hastily tore off her stockings; but the -shoes she could not get rid of—they had, it seemed, grown on to her -feet. Dance she did, and dance she must, over field and meadow, in rain -and in sunshine, by night and by day. By night! that was most horrible! -She danced into the lonely church-yard, but the dead there danced not, -they were at rest. She would fain have sat down on the poor man’s grave, -where the bitter tansy grew, but for her there was neither rest nor -respite. She danced past the open church door; there she saw an angel, -clad in long white robes, and with wings that reached from his shoulders -to the earth; his countenance was grave and stern, and in his hand he -held a broad glittering sword.</p> - -<p>‘Dance thou shalt,’ said he; ‘dance on, in thy red shoes, till thou art -pale and cold, and thy skin shrinks and crumples up like a skeleton’s! -Dance thou shalt still, from door to door, and wherever proud, vain -children live thou shalt knock, so that they may hear thee and fear! -Dance shalt thou, dance on——’</p> - -<p>‘Mercy!’ cried Karen; but she heard not the angel’s answer,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_224" id="page_224">{224}</a></span> for the -shoes carried her through the gate, into the fields, along highways and -by-ways, and still she must dance.</p> - -<p>One morning she danced past a door she knew well; she heard -psalm-singing from within, and presently a coffin, strewn with flowers, -was borne out. Then Karen knew that the good old lady was dead, and she -felt herself a thing forsaken by all mankind, and accursed by the Angel -of God.</p> - -<div class="figleft" style="width: 182px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_224.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_224.jpg" width="182" height="526" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>HE SAT THERE NODDING AT HER</p></div> -</div> - -<p>Dance she did, and dance she must, even through the dark night; the -shoes bore her continually over thorns and briars, till her limbs were -torn and bleeding. Away she danced over the heath to a little solitary -house; she knew that the headsman dwelt there, and she tapped with her -fingers against the panes, crying—</p> - -<p>‘Come out! come out!—I cannot come in to you, I am dancing.’</p> - -<p>And the headsman replied, ‘Surely thou knowest not who I am. I cut off -the heads of wicked men, and my axe is very sharp and keen.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_225" id="page_225">{225}</a></span>’</p> - -<p>‘Cut not off my head!’ said Karen; ‘for then I could not live to repent -of my sin; but cut off my feet with the red shoes.’</p> - -<p>And then she confessed to him all her sin, and the headsman cut off her -feet with the red shoes on them; but even after this the shoes still -danced away with those little feet over the fields, and into the deep -forests.</p> - -<p>And the headsman made her a pair of wooden feet and hewed down some -boughs to serve her as crutches, and he taught her the psalm which is -always repeated by criminals, and she kissed the hand that had guided -the axe, and went her way over the heath. ‘Now I have certainly suffered -quite enough through the red shoes,’ thought Karen, ‘I will go to church -and let people see me once more!’ and she went as fast as she could to -the church-porch, but as she approached it, the red shoes danced before -her and she was frightened and turned her back.</p> - -<p>All that week through she endured the keenest anguish and shed many -bitter tears; however, when Sunday came, she said to herself, ‘Well, I -must have suffered and striven enough by this time, I dare say I am -quite as good as many of those who are holding their heads so high in -church.’ So she took courage and went there, but she had not passed the -churchyard gate before she saw the red shoes again dancing before her, -and in great terror she again turned back, and more deeply than ever -bewailed her sin.</p> - -<p>She then went to the pastor’s house, and begged that some employment -might be given her, promising to work diligently and do all she could; -she did not wish for any wages, she said, she only wanted a roof to -shelter her, and to dwell with good people. And the pastor’s wife had -pity on her, and took her into her service. And Karen was grateful and -industrious.</p> - -<p>Every evening she sat silently listening to the pastor, while<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_226" id="page_226">{226}</a></span> he read -the Holy Scriptures aloud. All the children loved her, but when she -heard them talk about dress and finery, and about being as beautiful as -a queen, she would sorrowfully shake her head.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 385px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_226.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_226.jpg" width="385" height="287" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>DANCE SHE MUST, OVER FIELD AND MEADOW</p></div> -</div> - -<p>Again Sunday came, all the pastor’s household went to church, and they -asked her if she would not go too, but she sighed and looked with tears -in her eyes upon her crutches.</p> - -<p>When they were all gone, she went into her own little, lowly chamber—it -was but just large enough to contain a bed and chair—and there she sat -down with her psalm-book in her hand, and whilst she was meekly and -devoutly reading in it, the wind wafted the tones of the organ from the -church into<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_227" id="page_227">{227}</a></span> her room, and she lifted up her face to heaven and prayed, -with tears, ‘O God, help me!’</p> - -<p>Then the sun shone brightly, so brightly!—and behold! close before her -stood the white-robed Angel of God, the same whom she had seen on that -night of horror at the church-porch, but his hand wielded not now, as -then, a sharp, threatening sword—he held a lovely green bough, full of -roses. With this he touched the ceiling, which immediately rose to a -great height, a bright gold star spangling in the spot where the Angel’s -green bough had touched it. And he touched the walls, whereupon the room -widened, and Karen saw the organ, the old monuments, and the -congregation all sitting in their richly carved seats and singing from -their psalm-books.</p> - -<p>For the church had come home to the poor girl in her narrow chamber, or -rather the chamber had grown, as it were, into the church; she sat with -the rest of the pastor’s household, and, when the psalm was ended, they -looked up and nodded to her, saying, ‘Thou didst well to come, Karen!’</p> - -<p>‘This is mercy!’ said she.</p> - -<p>And the organ played again, and the children’s voices in the choir -mingled so sweetly and plaintively with it! The bright sunbeams streamed -warmly through the windows upon Karen’s seat; her heart was so full of -sunshine, of peace and gladness, that it broke; her soul flew upon a -sunbeam to her Father in heaven, where not a look of reproach awaited -her, not a word was breathed of the red shoes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_228" id="page_228">{228}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 421px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_228.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_228.jpg" width="421" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>TWO ROGUES CALLING THEMSELVES WEAVERS MADE THEIR -APPEARANCE</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_229" id="page_229">{229}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_EMPERORS_NEW_CLOTHES" id="THE_EMPERORS_NEW_CLOTHES"></a>THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">M</span>ANY 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 away 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 colours and elaborate -patterns, the clothes manufactured from which should have the wonderful -property of remaining invisible to every one 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_230" id="page_230">{230}</a></span></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 neighbours 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 colours were not very beautiful, at the same time -pointing to the empty<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_231" id="page_231">{231}</a></span> 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 colours—yes, I will tell -the Emperor without delay how very beautiful I think them.’</p> - -<div class="figright" style="width: 135px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_231.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_231.jpg" width="135" height="168" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>‘OH, IT IS EXCELLENT!’ REPLIED THE MINISTER</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘We shall be much obliged to you,’ said the impostors, and then they -named the different colours 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_232" id="page_232">{232}</a></span></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 colours 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 colours -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 whilst -it was still on 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 colours!’ and, at the same -time, they pointed to the empty frames; for they imagined that every one -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<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_233" id="page_233">{233}</a></span> 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 every one 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 -every one 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> - -<div class="figright" style="width: 93px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_233.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_233.jpg" width="93" height="254" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>AS IF IN THE ACT OF HOLDING SOMETHING UP</p></div> -</div> - -<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<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_234" id="page_234">{234}</a></span> 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> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 386px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_234.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_234.jpg" width="386" height="188" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>SO NOW THE EMPEROR WALKED UNDER HIS HIGH CANOPY</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘How splendid his Majesty looks in his new clothes! and how well they -fit!’ every one cried out. ‘What a design! what colours! 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_235" id="page_235">{235}</a></span> the looking-glass, in -order that he might appear to be examining his handsome suit.</p> - -<p>The lords of the bed-chamber, 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 pretending to be carrying something; for they would by no -means betray anything like simplicity or unfitness for their office.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 345px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_235.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_235.jpg" width="345" height="182" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<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. ‘Listen to -the voice of innocence!’ exclaimed his father; and what the child had -said was whispered from one to another.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_236" id="page_236">{236}</a></span></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 bed-chamber -took greater pains than ever to appear holding up a train, although, in -reality, there was no train to hold.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 169px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_236.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_236.jpg" width="169" height="168" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_237" id="page_237">{237}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 388px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_237.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_237.jpg" width="388" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_238" id="page_238">{238}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_SWINEHERD" id="THE_SWINEHERD"></a>THE SWINEHERD</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">T</span>HERE 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 <i>was</i> 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_239" id="page_239">{239}</a></span></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> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 248px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_239.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_239.jpg" width="248" height="419" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>ALL CARES AND SORROWS WERE FORGOTTEN BY HIM WHO INHALED -ITS FRAGRANCE</p></div> -</div> - -<p>But the Princess touched it, and was almost ready to cry.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_240" id="page_240">{240}</a></span></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 -humour,’ said the Emperor. So the nightingale came forth, and sang so -delightfully that at first no one could say anything ill-humoured of -her.</p> - -<p>‘<i>Superbe! charmant!</i>’ exclaimed the ladies; for they all used to -chatter French, each one worse than her neighbour.</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 pig-sty; 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> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">‘Ach! du lieber Augustin,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Alles ist weg, weg, weg!’<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a><br /></span> - -</div> - -<div class="stanza"><div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> -<span class="i0">‘Ah! dear Augustine,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">All is gone, gone, gone!’<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_241" id="page_241">{241}</a></span></p></div> - -<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> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 224px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_241.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_241.jpg" width="224" height="374" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>AND HE WEPT LIKE A CHILD</p></div> -</div> - -<p>Now the Princess happened to walk that way; and when she heard the tune, -she stood quite still, and seemed pleased;<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_242" id="page_242">{242}</a></span> for she could play ‘Lieber -Augustin’; 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> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">‘Ach! du lieber Augustin,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Alles ist weg, weg, weg!’<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<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<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_243" id="page_243">{243}</a></span> 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> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 228px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_243.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_243.jpg" width="228" height="292" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>‘ACH! DU LIEBER AUGUSTIN’</p></div> -</div> - -<p>The swineherd—that is to say, the Prince, for no one knew that he was -other than an ill-favoured 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 <i>superbe</i>!’ 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!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_244" id="page_244">{244}</a></span>’</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 every one -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 pig-sty?’ 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> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 451px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_244fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_244fp.jpg" width="451" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_245" id="page_245">{245}</a></span></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 colour -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 wouldst not have an -honourable prince! thou couldst 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> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">‘Ach! du lieber Augustin,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Alles ist weg, weg, weg!’<br /></span> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_246" id="page_246">{246}</a></span></div></div> -</div> - -<div class="figright" style="width: 203px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_246.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_246.jpg" width="203" height="563" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>UP FLEW THE TRUNK</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_247" id="page_247">{247}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_FLYING_TRUNK" id="THE_FLYING_TRUNK"></a>THE FLYING TRUNK</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">T</span>HERE was once a merchant, so rich that he might have paved the whole -street where he lived and an alley besides with pieces of silver, but -this he did not do; he knew another way of using his money, and whenever -he laid out a shilling he gained a crown in return: a merchant he lived, -and a merchant he died.</p> - -<p>All his money then went to his son. But the son lived merrily and spent -all his time in pleasures, went to masquerades every evening, made -bank-notes into paper kites, and played at ducks and drakes in the pond -with gold pieces instead of stones. In this manner his money soon -vanished, until at last he had only a few pennies left, and his wardrobe -was reduced to a pair of slippers and an old dressing-gown. His friends -cared no more about him, now that they could no longer walk abroad with -him; one of them, however, more good-natured than the rest, sent him an -old trunk, with this advice, ‘Pack up, and be off!’ This was all very -fine, but he had nothing that he could pack up, so he put himself into -the trunk.</p> - -<p>It was a droll trunk! When the lock was pressed close it could fly. The -merchant’s son did press the lock, and lo! up flew the trunk with him -through the chimney, high into the clouds, on and on, higher and higher; -the lower part cracked, which rather frightened him, for if it had -broken in two, a pretty fall he would have had!</p> - -<p>However, it descended safely, and he found himself in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_248" id="page_248">{248}</a></span> Turkey. He hid -the trunk under a heap of dry leaves in a wood, and walked into the next -town: he could do so very well, for among the Turks everybody goes about -clad as he was, in dressing-gown and slippers. He met a nurse, carrying -a little child in her arms. ‘Hark ye, Turkish nurse,’ quoth he; ‘what -palace is that with the high windows close by the town?’</p> - -<div class="figleft" style="width: 191px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_248.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_248.jpg" width="191" height="305" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE SON LIVED MERRILY</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘The King’s daughter dwells there,’ replied the nurse; ‘it has been -prophesied of her that she shall be made very unhappy by a lover, and -therefore no one may visit her, except when the King and Queen are with -her.’</p> - -<p>‘Thank you,’ said the merchant’s son, and he immediately went back into -the wood, sat down in his trunk, flew up to the roof of the palace, and -crept through the window into the Princess’s apartment.</p> - -<p>She was lying asleep on the sofa. She was so beautiful that the -merchant’s son could not help kneeling down to kiss her hand, whereupon -she awoke, and was not a little frightened at the sight of this -unexpected visitor; but he told her, however, that he was the Turkish -prophet, and had come down from the sky on purpose to woo her, and on -hearing this she was well pleased. So they sat down side by side, and he -talked to her about her eyes, how that they were beautiful dark-blue -seas, and that thoughts and feelings floated<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_249" id="page_249">{249}</a></span> like mermaidens therein; -and he spoke of her brow, how that it was a fair snowy mountain, with -splendid halls and pictures, and many other such like things he told -her.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 289px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_249.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_249.jpg" width="289" height="381" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>HE MET A NURSE</p></div> -</div> - -<p>Oh, these were charming stories! and thus he wooed the Princess, and she -immediately said ‘Yes!’</p> - -<p>‘But you must come here on Saturday,’ said she; ‘the King and Queen have -promised to drink tea with me that<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_250" id="page_250">{250}</a></span> evening; they will be so proud and -so pleased when they hear that I am to marry the Turkish prophet! And -mind you tell them a very pretty story, for they are exceedingly fond of -stories; my mother likes them to be very moral and aristocratic, and my -father likes them to be merry, so as to make him laugh.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, I shall bring no other bridal present than a tale,’ replied the -merchant’s son; and here they parted, but not before the Princess had -given her lover a sabre all covered with gold. He knew excellently well -what use to make of this present.</p> - -<p>So he flew away, bought a new dressing-gown, and then sat down in the -wood to compose the tale which was to be ready by Saturday, and -certainly he found composition not the easiest thing in the world.</p> - -<p>At last he was ready, and at last Saturday came.</p> - -<p>The King, the Queen, and the whole court were waiting tea for him at the -Princess’s palace. The suitor was received with much ceremony.</p> - -<p>‘Will you not tell us a story?’ asked the Queen; ‘a story that is -instructive and full of deep meaning.’</p> - -<p>‘But let it make us laugh,’ said the King.</p> - -<p>‘With pleasure,’ replied the merchant’s son; and now you must hear his -story:—</p> - -<p> </p> - -<p>There was once a bundle of matches, who were all extremely proud of -their high descent, for their genealogical tree, that is to say, the -tall fir-tree, from which each of them was a splinter, had been a tree -of great antiquity, and distinguished by his height from all the other -trees of the forest. The matches were now lying on the mantlepiece, -between a tinder-box and an old iron saucepan, and to these two they -often<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_251" id="page_251">{251}</a></span> talked about their youth. ‘Ah, when we were upon the green -branches,’ said they; ‘when we really lived upon green branches—that -was a happy time! Every morning and evening we had diamond-tea—that is, -dew; the whole day long we had sunshine, at least whenever the sun -shone, and all the little birds used to tell stories to us. It might -easily be seen, too, that we were rich, for the other trees were clothed -with leaves only during the summer, whereas our family could afford to -wear green clothes both summer and winter. But at last came the -wood-cutters: then was the great revolution, and our family was -dispersed. The paternal trunk obtained a situation as mainmast to a -magnificent ship, which could sail round the world if it chose; the -boughs were transported to various places, and our vocation was -henceforth to kindle lights for low, common people. Now you will -understand how it comes to pass that persons of such high descent as we -are should be living in a kitchen.’</p> - -<p>‘To be sure, mine is a very different history,’ remarked the iron -saucepan, near which the matches were lying. ‘From the moment I came -into the world until now, I have been rubbed and scrubbed, and boiled -over and over again—oh, how many times! I love to have to do with what -is solidly good, and am really of the first importance in this house. My -only recreation is to stand clean and bright upon this mantlepiece after -dinner, and hold some rational conversation with my companions. However, -excepting the water-pail, who now and then goes out into the court, we -all of us lead a very quiet domestic life here. Our only newsmonger is -the turf-basket, but he talks in such a democratic way about -“government” and the “people”—why, I assure you, not long ago, there -was an old jar standing here, who was so much shocked by what he heard -said that he fell down from the mantlepiece and broke<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_252" id="page_252">{252}</a></span> into a thousand -pieces! That turf-basket is a Liberal, that’s the fact.’</p> - -<p>‘Now, you talk too much,’ interrupted the tinder-box, and the steel -struck the flint, so that the sparks flew out. ‘Why should we not spend -a pleasant evening?’</p> - -<div class="figleft" style="width: 140px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_252.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_252.jpg" width="140" height="367" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>‘WILL YOU TELL US A STORY?’ ASKED THE QUEEN</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘Yes, let us settle who is of highest rank among us!’ proposed the -matches.</p> - -<p>‘Oh no; for my part I would rather not speak of myself,’ objected the -earthenware pitcher. ‘Suppose we have an intellectual entertainment? I -will begin; I will relate something of everyday life, such as we have -all experienced; one can easily transport oneself into it, and that is -so interesting! Near the Baltic, among the Danish beech-groves——’</p> - -<p>‘That is a capital beginning!’ cried all the plates at once; ‘it will -certainly be just the sort of story for me!’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, there I spent my youth in a very quiet family; the furniture was -rubbed, the floors were washed, clean curtains were hung up every -fortnight.’</p> - -<p>‘How very interesting! what a charming way you have of describing -things!’ said the hair-broom. ‘Any one might guess immediately that it -is a lady who is speaking; the tale breathes such a spirit of -cleanliness!’</p> - -<p>‘Very true; so it does!’ exclaimed the water-pail, and in the excess of -his delight he gave a little jump, so that some of the water splashed -upon the floor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_253" id="page_253">{253}</a></span></p> - -<p>And the pitcher went on with her tale, and the end proved as good as the -beginning.</p> - -<p>All the plates clattered applause, and the hair-broom took some green -parsley out of the sand-hole and crowned the pitcher, for he knew that -this would vex the others; and, thought he, ‘If I crown her to-day, she -will crown me to-morrow.’</p> - -<p>‘Now I will dance,’ said the fire-tongs, and accordingly she did dance, -and oh! it was wonderful to see how high she threw one of her legs up -into the air; the old chair-cover in the corner tore with horror at -seeing her. ‘Am not I to be crowned too?’ asked the tongs, and she was -crowned forthwith.</p> - -<p>‘These are the vulgar rabble!’ thought the matches.</p> - -<div class="figright" style="width: 248px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_253.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_253.jpg" width="248" height="262" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>‘BUT LET IT MAKE US LAUGH,’ SAID THE KING</p></div> -</div> - -<p>The tea-urn was now called upon to sing, but she had a cold; she said -she could only sing when she was boiling; however, this was all her -pride and affectation. The fact was she never cared to sing except when -she was standing on the parlour-table before company.</p> - -<p>On the window-ledge lay an old quill-pen, with which the maids used to -write; there was nothing remarkable about her, except that she had been -dipped too low in the ink; however, she was proud of that. ‘If the -tea-urn does not choose to sing,’ quoth she, ‘she may let it alone; -there is a nightingale<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_254" id="page_254">{254}</a></span> in the cage hung just outside—he can sing; to -be sure, he had never learnt the notes—never mind, we will not speak -evil of any one this evening!’</p> - -<p>‘I think it highly indecorous,’ observed the tea-kettle, who was the -vocalist of the kitchen, and a half-brother of the tea-urn’s, ‘that a -foreign bird should be listened to. Is it patriotic? I appeal to the -turf-basket.’</p> - -<p>‘I am only vexed,’ said the turf-basket. ‘I am vexed from my inmost soul -that such things are thought of at all. Is it a becoming way of spending -the evening? Would it not be much more rational to reform the whole -house, and establish a totally new order of things, rather more -according to nature? Then every one would get into his right place, and -I would undertake to direct the revolution. What say you to it? That -would be something worth the doing!’</p> - -<p>‘Oh yes, we will make a grand commotion!’ cried they all. Just then the -door opened—it was the servant-maid. They all stood perfectly still, -not one dared stir, yet there was not a single kitchen utensil among -them all but was thinking about the great things he could have done, and -how great was his superiority over the others.</p> - -<p>‘Ah, if I had chosen it,’ thought each of them, ‘what a merry evening we -might have had!’</p> - -<p>The maid took the matches and struck a light—oh, how they sputtered and -blazed up!</p> - -<p>‘Now every one may see,’ thought they, ‘that we are of highest rank; -what a splendid, dazzling light we give, how glorious!’—and in another -moment they were burnt out.</p> - -<p> </p> - -<p>‘That is a capital story,’ said the Queen; ‘I quite felt myself -transported into the kitchen;—yes, thou shalt have our daughter!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_255" id="page_255">{255}</a></span>’</p> - -<p>‘With all my heart,’ said the King; ‘on Monday thou shalt marry our -daughter.’ They said ‘thou’ to him now, since he was so soon to become -one of the family.</p> - -<p>The wedding was a settled thing; and on the evening preceding, the whole -city was illuminated; cakes, buns, and sugar-plums were thrown out among -the people; all the little boys in the streets stood upon tiptoes, -shouting ‘Hurrah!’ and whistling through their fingers—it was famous!</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 259px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_255.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_255.jpg" width="259" height="318" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THEIR SLIPPERS FLEW ABOUT THEIR EARS</p></div> -</div> - -<p>‘Well, I suppose I ought to do my part too,’ thought the merchant’s son, -so he went and bought sky-rockets, squibs, Catherine-wheels, -Roman-candles, and all kinds of fireworks<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_256" id="page_256">{256}</a></span> conceivable; put them all -into his trunk, and flew up into the air, letting them off as he flew.</p> - -<p>Hurrah! what a glorious sky-rocket was that!</p> - -<p>All the Turks jumped up to look, so hastily that their slippers flew -about their ears; such a meteor they had never seen before. Now they -might be sure that it was indeed the prophet who was to marry their -Princess.</p> - -<p>As soon as the merchant’s son had returned in his trunk to the wood, he -said to himself, ‘I will now go into the city and hear what people say -about me, and what sort of figure I made in the air.’ And, certainly, -this was a very natural idea.</p> - -<p>Oh, what strange accounts were given! Every one whom he accosted had -beheld the bright vision in a way peculiar to himself, but all agreed -that it was marvellously beautiful.</p> - -<p>‘I saw the great prophet with my own eyes,’ declared one; ‘he had eyes -like sparkling stars, and a beard like foaming water.’</p> - -<p>‘He flew enveloped in a mantle of fire,’ said another; ‘the prettiest -little cherubs were peeping forth from under its folds.’</p> - -<p>Yes; he heard of many beautiful things, and the morrow was to be his -wedding-day.</p> - -<p>He now went back to the wood, intending to get into his trunk again, but -where was it?</p> - -<p>Alas! the trunk was burnt. One spark from the fireworks had been left in -it, and set it on fire; the trunk now lay in ashes. The poor merchant’s -son could never fly again—could never again visit his bride.</p> - -<p>She sat the livelong day upon the roof of her palace expecting him; she -expects him still; he, meantime, goes about the world telling stories, -but none of his stories now are so pleasant as that one which he related -in the Princess’s palace about the Brimstone Matches.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 448px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_256fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_256fp.jpg" width="448" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_257" id="page_257">{257}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 441px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_257.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_257.jpg" width="441" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_258" id="page_258">{258}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_LEAPING_MATCH" id="THE_LEAPING_MATCH"></a>THE LEAPING MATCH</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">T</span>HE flea, the grasshopper, and the frog once wanted to try which of them -could jump highest; so they invited the whole world, and anybody else -who liked, to come and see the grand sight. Three famous jumpers were -they, as was seen by every one when they met together in the room.</p> - -<p>‘I will give my daughter to him who shall jump highest,’ said the King; -‘it would be too bad for you to have the trouble of jumping, and for us -to offer you no prize.’</p> - -<p>The flea was the first to introduce himself; he had such polite manners, -and bowed to the company on every side, for he was of noble blood; -besides, he was accustomed to the society of man, which had been a great -advantage to him.</p> - -<p>Next came the grasshopper; he was not quite so slightly and elegantly -formed as the flea; however, he knew perfectly well how to conduct -himself, and wore a green uniform, which belonged to him by right of -birth. Moreover, he declared himself to have sprung from a very ancient -and honourable Egyptian family, and that in his present home he was very -highly esteemed, so much so, indeed, that he had been taken out of the -field and put into a card-house three stories high, built on purpose for -him, and all of court-cards, the coloured sides being turned inwards: as -for the doors and windows in his house, they were cut out of the body of -the Queen of Hearts. ‘And I can sing so well,’ added he, ‘that sixteen -parlour-bred crickets, who have chirped and chirped ever since they -were<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_259" id="page_259">{259}</a></span> born and yet could never get anybody to build them a card-house, -after hearing me have fretted themselves ten times thinner than ever, -out of sheer envy and vexation!’ Both the flea and the grasshopper knew -excellently well how to make the most of themselves, and each considered -himself quite an equal match for a princess.</p> - -<div class="figright" style="width: 207px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_259.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_259.jpg" width="207" height="407" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE OLD COUNCILLOR</p></div> -</div> - -<p>The frog said not a word; however, it might be that he thought the more, -and the house-dog, after going snuffing about him, confessed that the -frog must be of a good family. And the old councillor, who in vain -received three orders to hold his tongue, declared that the frog must be -gifted with the spirit of prophecy, for that one could read on his back -whether there was to be a severe or a mild winter, which, to be sure, is -more than can be read on the back of the man who writes the weather -almanack.</p> - -<p>‘Ah, I say nothing for the present!’ remarked the old King, ‘but I -observe everything, and form my own private opinion thereupon.’ And now -the match began. The flea jumped so high that no one could see what had -become of him, and so they insisted that he had not jumped at all, -‘which was disgraceful, after he had made such a fuss!’</p> - -<p>The grasshopper only jumped half as high, but he jumped<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_260" id="page_260">{260}</a></span> right into the -King’s face, and the King declared he was quite disgusted by his -rudeness.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 219px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_260.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_260.jpg" width="219" height="411" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>‘I SAY NOTHING FOR THE PRESENT,’ REMARKED THE KING</p></div> -</div> - -<p>The frog stood still as if lost in thought; at last people fancied he -did not intend to jump at all.</p> - -<p>‘I’m afraid he is ill!’ said the dog; and he went snuffing<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_261" id="page_261">{261}</a></span> at him -again, when lo! all at once he made a little side-long jump into the lap -of the Princess, who was sitting on a low stool close by.</p> - -<p>Then spoke the King: ‘There is nothing higher than my daughter, -therefore he who jumps up to her jumps highest; but only a person of -good understanding would ever have thought of that, and thus the frog -has shown us that he has understanding. He has brains in his head, that -he has!’</p> - -<div class="figright" style="width: 198px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_261.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_261.jpg" width="198" height="337" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p>And thus the frog won the Princess.</p> - -<p>‘I jumped highest for all that!’ exclaimed the flea. ‘But it’s all the -same to me; let her have the stiff-legged, slimy creature, if she like -him! I jumped highest, but I am too light and airy for this stupid -world; the people can neither see me nor catch me; dulness and heaviness -win the day with them!’</p> - -<p>And so the flea went into foreign service, where, it is said, he was -killed.</p> - -<p>And the grasshopper sat on a green bank, meditating on the world and its -goings on, and at length he repeated the flea’s last words—‘Yes, -dulness and heaviness win the day! dulness and heaviness win the day!’ -And then he again began singing his own peculiar, melancholy song, and -it is from him that we have learnt this history; and yet, my friend, -though you read it here in a printed book, it may not be perfectly -true.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_262" id="page_262">{262}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 388px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_262.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_262.jpg" width="388" height="391" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE CHIMNEY-SWEEPER</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_263" id="page_263">{263}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_SHEPHERDESS_AND_THE_CHIMNEY-SWEEPER" id="THE_SHEPHERDESS_AND_THE_CHIMNEY-SWEEPER"></a> -<a href="images/i_b_263.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_263.jpg" width="383" height="147" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<br /><br /> -THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE CHIMNEY-SWEEPER</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">H</span>AVE you never seen an old-fashioned oaken-wood cabinet, quite black -with age and covered with varnish and carving-work? Just such a piece of -furniture, an old heir-loom that had been the property of its present -mistress’s great-grandmother, once stood in a parlour. It was carved -from top to bottom—roses, tulips, and little stags’ heads with long, -branching antlers, peering forth from the curious scrolls and foliage -surrounding them. Moreover, in the centre panel of the cabinet was -carved the full-length figure of a man, who seemed to be perpetually -grinning, perhaps at himself, for in truth he was a most ridiculous -figure; he had crooked legs, small horns on his forehead, and a long -beard. The children of the house used to call him ‘the crooked-legged -Field-marshal-Major-General-Corporal-Sergeant,’ for this was a long, -hard name, and not many figures, whether carved in wood or in stone, -could boast of such a title. There he stood, his eyes always fixed upon -the table under the pier-glass, for on this table stood a pretty little -porcelain shepherdess, her mantle gathered<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_264" id="page_264">{264}</a></span> gracefully round her, and -fastened with a red rose; her shoes and hat were gilt, her hand held a -crook—oh, she was charming! Close by her stood a little -chimney-sweeper, likewise of porcelain. He was as clean and neat as any -of the other figures, indeed, the manufacturer might just as well have -made a prince as a chimney-sweeper of him, for though elsewhere black as -a coal, his face was as fresh and rosy as a girl’s, which was certainly -a mistake,—it ought to have been black. His ladder in his hand, there -he kept his station, close by the little shepherdess; they had been -placed together from the first, had always remained on the same spot, -and had thus plighted their troth to each other; they suited each other -so well, they were both young people, both of the same kind of -porcelain, both alike fragile and delicate.</p> - -<p>Not far off stood a figure three times as large as the others. It was an -old Chinese mandarin who could nod his head; he too was of porcelain, -and declared that he was grandfather to the little shepherdess. He could -not prove his assertion; however, he insisted that he had authority over -her, and so, when ‘the crooked-legged -Field-marshal-Major-General-Corporal-Sergeant’ made proposals to the -little shepherdess, he nodded his head in token of his consent.</p> - -<p>‘Now, you will have a husband,’ said the old mandarin to her, ‘a husband -who, I verily believe, is of mahogany-wood; you will be the wife of a -Field-marshal-Major-General-Corporal-Sergeant, of a man who has a whole -cabinet full of silverplate, besides a store of no one knows what in the -secret drawers!’</p> - -<p>‘I will not go into that dismal cabinet!’ declared the little -shepherdess. ‘I have heard say that eleven porcelain ladies are already -imprisoned there.’</p> - -<p>‘Then you shall be the twelfth, and you will be in good company!’ -rejoined the mandarin. ‘This very night, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_265" id="page_265">{265}</a></span> the old cabinet creaks, -your nuptials shall be celebrated, as sure as I am a Chinese mandarin!’</p> - -<p>Whereupon he nodded his head and fell asleep.</p> - -<p>But the little shepherdess wept, and turned to the beloved of her heart, -the porcelain chimney-sweep.</p> - -<p>‘I believe I must ask you,’ said she, ‘to go out with me into the wide -world, for here we cannot stay.’</p> - -<p>‘I will do everything you wish,’ replied the little chimney-sweeper; -‘let us go at once. I think I can support you by my profession.’</p> - -<p>‘If you could but get off the table!’ sighed she; ‘I shall never be -happy till we are away, out in the wide world.’</p> - -<p>And he comforted her, and showed her how to set her little foot on the -carved edges and gilded foliage twining round the leg of the table, till -at last they reached the floor. But turning to look at the old cabinet, -they saw everything in a grand commotion, all the carved stags putting -their little heads farther out, raising their antlers, and moving their -throats, whilst ‘the crooked-legged -Field-marshal-Major-General-Corporal-Sergeant’ sprang up, and shouted -out to the old Chinese mandarin, ‘Look, they are eloping! they are -eloping!’ They were not a little frightened, and quickly jumped into an -open drawer for protection.</p> - -<p>In this drawer there were three or four incomplete packs of cards, and -also a little puppet-theatre; a play was being performed, and all the -queens, whether of diamonds, hearts, clubs, or spades, sat in the front -row fanning themselves with the flowers they held in their hands; behind -them stood the knaves, showing that they had each two heads, one above -and one below, as most cards have. The play was about two persons who -were crossed in love, and the shepherdess wept over it, for it was just -like her own history.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_266" id="page_266">{266}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘I cannot bear this!’ said she. ‘Let us leave the drawer.’ But when they -had again reached the floor, on looking up at the table, they saw that -the old Chinese mandarin had awakened, and was rocking his whole body to -and fro with rage.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, the old mandarin is coming!’ cried the little shepherdess, and down -she fell on her porcelain knees in the greatest distress. ‘A sudden -thought has struck me,’ said the chimney-sweeper: ‘suppose we creep into -the large pot-pourri vase that stands in the corner; there we can rest -upon roses and lavender, and throw salt in his eyes if he come near us.’</p> - -<p>‘That will not do at all,’ said she; ‘besides, I know that the old -mandarin was once betrothed to the pot-pourri vase, and no doubt there -is still some slight friendship existing between them. No, there is no -help for it, we must wander forth together into the wide world.’</p> - -<p>‘Hast thou indeed the courage to go with me into the wide world?’ asked -the chimney-sweeper. ‘Hast thou considered how large it is, and that we -may never return home again?’</p> - -<p>‘I have,’ replied she.</p> - -<p>And the chimney-sweeper looked keenly at her, and then said, ‘My path -leads through the chimney! hast thou indeed the courage to creep with me -through the stove, through the flues and the tunnel? Well do I know the -way! We shall mount up so high that they cannot come near us, and at the -top there is a cavern that leads into the wide world.’</p> - -<p>And he led her to the door of the stove.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, how black it looks!’ sighed she; however, she went on with him, -through the flues and through the tunnel, where it was dark, pitch -dark.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_267" id="page_267">{267}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Now we are in the chimney,’ said he; ‘and look, what a lovely star -shines above us!’</p> - -<p>And there was actually a star in the sky, shining right down upon them, -as if to show them the way. And they crawled and crept—a fearful path -was theirs—so high, so very high! but he guided and supported her, and -showed her the best places whereon to plant her tiny porcelain feet, -till they reached the edge of the chimney, where they sat down to rest, -for they were very tired, and indeed not without reason.</p> - -<p>Heaven with all its stars was above them, and the town with all its -roofs lay beneath them; the wide, wide world surrounded them. The poor -shepherdess had never imagined all this; she leant her little head on -her chimney-sweeper’s arm, and wept so vehemently that the gilding broke -off from her waistband.</p> - -<p>‘This is too much!’ exclaimed she. ‘This can I not endure! The world is -all too large! Oh that I were once more upon the little table under the -pier-glass! I shall never be happy till I am there again. I have -followed thee out into the wide world, surely thou canst follow me home -again, if thou lovest me!’</p> - -<p>And the chimney-sweeper talked very sensibly to her, reminding her of -the old Chinese mandarin and ‘the crooked-legged -Field-marshal-Major-General-Corporal-Sergeant,’ but she wept so -bitterly, and kissed her little chimney-sweep so fondly, that at last he -could not but yield to her request, unreasonable as it was.</p> - -<p>So with great difficulty they crawled down the chimney, crept through -the flues and the tunnel, and at length found themselves once more in -the dark stove; but they still lurked behind the door, listening, before -they would venture to return<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_268" id="page_268">{268}</a></span> into the room. Everything was quite still; -they peeped out: alas! on the ground lay the old Chinese mandarin. In -attempting to follow the runaways, he had fallen down off the table and -had broken into three pieces; his head lay shaking in a corner; ‘the -crooked-legged Field-marshal-Major-General-Corporal-Sergeant’ stood -where he had always stood, thinking over what had happened.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, how shocking!’ exclaimed the little shepherdess; ‘old grandfather -is broken in pieces, and we are the cause! I shall never survive it!’ -and she wrung her delicate hands.</p> - -<p>‘He can be put together again,’ replied the chimney-sweeper. ‘He can -very easily be put together; only be not so impatient! If they glue his -back together, and put a strong rivet in his neck, then he will be as -good as new again, and will be able to say plenty of unpleasant things -to us.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you really think so?’ asked she. And then they climbed up the table -to the place where they had stood before.</p> - -<p>‘See how far we have been!’ observed the chimney-sweeper, ‘we might have -spared ourselves all the trouble.’</p> - -<p>‘If we could but have old grandfather put together!’ said the -shepherdess. ‘Will it cost very much?’</p> - -<p>And he was put together; the family had his back glued and his neck -riveted; he was as good as new, but could no longer nod his head.</p> - -<p>‘You have certainly grown very proud since you broke in pieces!’ -remarked the crooked-legged -Field-marshal-Major-General-Corporal-Sergeant, ‘but I must say, for my -part, I do not see that there is anything to be proud of. Am I to have -her or am I not? Just answer me that!’</p> - -<p>And the chimney-sweeper and the little shepherdess looked imploringly at -the old mandarin; they were so afraid lest he should nod his head. But -nod he could not, and it was dis<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_269" id="page_269">{269}</a></span>agreeable to him to tell a stranger -that he had a rivet in his neck: so the young porcelain people always -remained together; they blessed the grandfather’s rivet, and loved each -other till they broke in pieces.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 170px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_269.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_269.jpg" width="170" height="371" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_270" id="page_270">{270}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 431px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_270.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_270.jpg" width="431" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE POOR DUCKLING WAS SCORNED BY ALL</p><p>THE POOR DUCKLING WAS SCORNED BY ALL</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_271" id="page_271">{271}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_UGLY_DUCKLING" id="THE_UGLY_DUCKLING"></a>THE UGLY DUCKLING</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">I</span>T was beautiful in the country, it was summer-time; the wheat was -yellow, the oats were green, the hay was stacked up in the green -meadows, and the stork paraded about on his long red legs, discoursing -in Egyptian, which language he had learned from his mother. The fields -and meadows were skirted by thick woods, and a deep lake lay in the -midst of the woods.—Yes, it was indeed beautiful in the country! The -sunshine fell warmly on an old mansion, surrounded by deep canals, and -from the walls down to the water’s edge there grew large burdock-leaves, -so high that children could stand upright among them without being -perceived. This place was as wild and unfrequented as the thickest part -of the wood, and on that account a duck had chosen to make her nest -there. She was sitting on her eggs; but the pleasure she had felt at -first was now almost gone, because she had been there so long, and had -so few visitors, for the other ducks preferred swimming on the canals to -sitting among the burdock-leaves gossiping with her.</p> - -<p>At last the eggs cracked one after another, ‘Tchick tchick!’ All the -eggs were alive, and one little head after another appeared. ‘Quack, -quack,’ said the duck, and all got up as well as they could; they peeped -about from under the green leaves, and as green is good for the eyes, -their mother let them look as long as they pleased.</p> - -<p>‘How large the world is!’ said the little ones, for they<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_272" id="page_272">{272}</a></span> found their -present situation very different to their former confined one, while yet -in the egg-shells.</p> - -<p>‘Do you imagine this to be the whole of the world?’ said the mother; ‘it -extends far beyond the other side of the garden, to the pastor’s field; -but I have never been there. Are you all here?’ And then she got up. -‘No, I have not got you all, the largest egg is still here. How long -will this last? I am so weary of it!’ And then she sat down again.</p> - -<p>‘Well, and how are you getting on?’ asked an old duck, who had come to -pay her a visit.</p> - -<p>‘This one egg keeps me so long,’ said the mother, ‘it will not break. -But you should see the others; they are the prettiest little ducklings I -have seen in all my days; they are all like their father,—the -good-for-nothing fellow! he has not been to visit me once.’</p> - -<p>‘Let me see the egg that will not break,’ said the old duck; ‘depend -upon it, it is a turkey’s egg. I was cheated in the same way once -myself, and I had such trouble with the young ones; for they were afraid -of the water, and I could not get them there. I called and scolded, but -it was all of no use. But let me see the egg—ah yes! to be sure, that -is a turkey’s egg. Leave it, and teach the other little ones to swim.’</p> - -<p>‘I will sit on it a little longer,’ said the duck. ‘I have been sitting -so long, that I may as well spend the harvest here.’</p> - -<p>‘It is no business of mine,’ said the old duck, and away she waddled.</p> - -<p>The great egg burst at last, ‘Tchick, tchick,’ said the little one, and -out it tumbled—but oh, how large and ugly it was! The duck looked at -it, ‘That is a great, strong creature,’ said she, ‘none of the others -are at all like it; can it be a young turkey-cock? Well, we shall soon -find out, it must go into the water, though I push it in myself!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_273" id="page_273">{273}</a></span></p> - -<p>The next day there was delightful weather, and the sun shone warmly upon -all the green leaves when mother-duck with all her family went down to -the canal; plump she went into the water, ‘Quack, quack,’ cried she, and -one duckling after another jumped in. The water closed over their heads, -but all came up again, and swam together in the pleasantest manner; -their legs moved without effort. All were there, even the ugly grey one.</p> - -<p>‘No! it is not a turkey,’ said the old duck; ‘only see how prettily it -moves its legs, how upright it holds itself; it is my own child! it is -also really very pretty when one looks more closely at it; quack, quack, -now come with me, I will take you into the world, introduce you in the -duck-yard; but keep close to me, or some one may tread on you, and -beware of the cat.’</p> - -<p>So they came into the duck-yard. There was a horrid noise; two families -were quarrelling about the remains of an eel, which in the end was -secured by the cat.</p> - -<p>‘See, my children, such is the way of the world,’ said the mother-duck, -wiping her beak, for she too was fond of roasted eels. ‘Now use your -legs,’ said she, ‘keep together, and bow to the old duck you see yonder. -She is the most distinguished of all the fowls present, and is of -Spanish blood, which accounts for her dignified appearance and manners. -And look, she has a red rag on her leg; that is considered extremely -handsome, and is the greatest distinction a duck can have. Don’t turn -your feet inwards; a well-educated duckling always keeps his legs far -apart, like his father and mother, just so—look, now bow your necks, -and say “quack.”<span class="lftspc">’</span></p> - -<p>And they did as they were told. But the other ducks who were in the yard -looked at them and said aloud, ‘Only see, now we have another brood, as -if there were not enough of us already. And fie! how ugly that one is! -We will not endure<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_274" id="page_274">{274}</a></span> it’; and immediately one of the ducks flew at him, -and bit him in the neck.</p> - -<p>‘Leave him alone,’ said the mother, ‘he is doing no one any harm.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, but he is so large, and so strange-looking, and therefore he shall -be teased.’</p> - -<p>‘Those are fine children that our good mother has,’ said the old duck -with the red rag on her leg. ‘All are pretty except one, and that has -not turned out well; I almost wish it could be hatched over again.’</p> - -<p>‘That cannot be, please your highness,’ said the mother. ‘Certainly he -is not handsome, but he is a very good child, and swims as well as the -others, indeed rather better. I think he will grow like the others all -in good time, and perhaps will look smaller. He stayed so long in the -egg-shell, that is the cause of the difference,’ and she scratched the -duckling’s neck, and stroked his whole body. ‘Besides,’ added she, ‘he -is a drake; I think he will be very strong, therefore it does not matter -so much; he will fight his way through.’</p> - -<p>‘The other ducks are very pretty,’ said the old duck, ‘pray make -yourselves at home, and if you find an eel’s head you can bring it to -me.’</p> - -<p>And accordingly they made themselves at home.</p> - -<p>But the poor little duckling, who had come last out of its egg-shell, -and who was so ugly, was bitten, pecked, and teased by both ducks and -hens. ‘It is so large,’ said they all. And the turkey-cock, who had come -into the world with spurs on, and therefore fancied he was an emperor, -puffed himself up like a ship in full sail, and marched up to the -duckling quite red with passion. The poor little thing scarcely knew -what to do; he was quite distressed, because he was so ugly, and because -he was the jest of the poultry-yard.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_275" id="page_275">{275}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 379px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_275.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_275.jpg" width="379" height="310" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>HE CAME TO A WIDE MOOR</p></div> -</div> - -<p>So passed the first day, and afterwards matters grew worse and worse; -the poor duckling was scorned by all. Even his brothers and sisters -behaved unkindly, and were constantly saying, ‘The cat fetch thee, thou -nasty creature!’ The mother said, ‘Ah, if thou wert only far away!’ The -ducks bit him, the hens pecked him, and the girl who fed the poultry -kicked him. He ran over the hedge; the little birds in the bushes were -terrified. ‘That is because I am so ugly,’ thought the duckling, -shutting his eyes, but he ran on. At last he came to a wide moor, where -lived some wild ducks; here he lay the whole night, so tired and so -comfortless. In the morning the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_276" id="page_276">{276}</a></span> wild ducks flew up, and perceived their -new companion. ‘Pray, who are you?’ asked they; and our little duckling -turned himself in all directions, and greeted them as politely as -possible.</p> - -<p>‘You are really uncommonly ugly,’ said the wild ducks; ‘however that -does not matter to us, provided you do not marry into our families.’ -Poor thing! he had never thought of marrying; he only begged permission -to lie among the reeds, and drink the water of the moor.</p> - -<p>There he lay for two whole days—on the third day there came two wild -geese, or rather ganders, who had not been long out of their egg-shells, -which accounts for their impertinence.</p> - -<p>‘Hark ye,’ said they, ‘you are so ugly that we like you infinitely well; -will you come with us, and be a bird of passage? On another moor, not -far from this, are some dear, sweet, wild geese, as lovely creatures as -have ever said “hiss, hiss.” You are truly in the way to make your -fortune, ugly as you are.’</p> - -<p>Bang! a gun went off all at once, and both wild geese were stretched -dead among the reeds; the water became red with blood;—bang! a gun went -off again, whole flocks of wild geese flew up from among the reeds, and -another report followed.</p> - -<p>There was a grand hunting party: the hunters lay in ambush all around; -some were even sitting in the trees, whose huge branches stretched far -over the moor. The blue smoke rose through the thick trees like a mist, -and was dispersed as it fell over the water; the hounds splashed about -in the mud, the reeds and rushes bent in all directions. How frightened -the poor little duck was! He turned his head, thinking to hide it under -his wings, and in a moment a most formidable-looking dog stood close to -him, his tongue hanging out of his mouth, his eyes sparkling fearfully. -He opened wide his jaws at the sight of our duckling, showed him his -sharp white teeth, and, splash, splash! he was gone, gone without -hurting him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_277" id="page_277">{277}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Well! let me be thankful,’ sighed he, ‘I am so ugly, that even the dog -will not eat me.’</p> - -<p>And now he lay still, though the shooting continued among the reeds, -shot following shot.</p> - -<p>The noise did not cease till late in the day, and even then the poor -little thing dared not stir; he waited several hours before he looked -around him, and then hastened away from the moor as fast as he could. He -ran over fields and meadows, though the wind was so high that he had -some difficulty in proceeding.</p> - -<p>Towards evening he reached a wretched little hut, so wretched that it -knew not on which side to fall, and therefore remained standing. The -wind blew violently, so that our poor little duckling was obliged to -support himself on his tail, in order to stand against it; but it became -worse and worse. He then remarked that the door had lost one of its -hinges, and hung so much awry that he could creep through the crevice -into the room, which he did.</p> - -<p>In this room lived an old woman, with her tom-cat and her hen; and the -cat, whom she called her little son, knew how to set up his back and -purr; indeed he could even emit sparks when stroked the wrong way. The -hen had very short legs, and was therefore called ‘Cuckoo Shortlegs’; -she laid very good eggs, and the old woman loved her as her own child.</p> - -<p>The next morning the new guest was perceived; the cat began to mew, and -the hen to cackle.</p> - -<p>‘What is the matter?’ asked the old woman, looking round; however, her -eyes were not good, so she took the young duckling to be a fat duck who -had lost her way. ‘This is a capital catch,’ said she, ‘I shall now have -duck’s eggs, if it be not a drake: we must try.’</p> - -<p>And so the duckling was put to the proof for three weeks, but no eggs -made their appearance.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_278" id="page_278">{278}</a></span></p> - -<p>Now the cat was the master of the house, and the hen was the mistress, -and they used always to say, ‘We and the World,’ for they imagined -themselves to be not only the half of the world, but also by far the -better half. The duckling thought it was possible to be of a different -opinion, but that the hen would not allow.</p> - -<p>‘Can you lay eggs?’ asked she.</p> - -<p>‘No.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, then, hold your tongue.’</p> - -<p>And the cat said, ‘Can you set up your back? can you purr?’</p> - -<p>‘No.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, then, you should have no opinion when reasonable persons are -speaking.’</p> - -<p>So the duckling sat alone in a corner, and was in a very bad humour; -however, he happened to think of the fresh air and bright sunshine, and -these thoughts gave him such a strong desire to swim again that he could -not help telling it to the hen.</p> - -<p>‘What ails you?’ said the hen. ‘You have nothing to do, and, therefore, -brood over these fancies; either lay eggs, or purr, then you will forget -them.’</p> - -<p>‘But it is so delicious to swim,’ said the duckling, ‘so delicious when -the waters close over your head, and you plunge to the bottom.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, that is a queer sort of a pleasure,’ said the hen; ‘I think you -must be crazy. Not to speak of myself, ask the cat—he is the most -sensible animal I know—whether he would like to swim or to plunge to -the bottom of the water. Ask our mistress, the old woman—there is no -one in the world wiser than she—do you think she would take pleasure in -swimming, and in the waters closing over her head?’</p> - -<p>‘You do not understand me,’ said the duckling.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_279" id="page_279">{279}</a></span></p> - -<p>‘What, we do not understand you! so you think yourself wiser than the -cat, and the old woman, not to speak of myself. Do not fancy any such -thing, child, but be thankful for all the kindness that has been shown -you. Are you not lodged in a warm room, and have you not the advantage -of society from which you can learn something? But you are a simpleton, -and it is wearisome to have anything to do with you. Believe me, I wish -you well. I tell you unpleasant truths, but it is thus that real -friendship is shown. Come, for once give yourself the trouble to learn -to purr, or to lay eggs.’</p> - -<p>‘I think I will go out into the wide world again,’ said the duckling.</p> - -<p>‘Well, go,’ answered the hen.</p> - -<p>So the duckling went. He swam on the surface of the water, he plunged -beneath, but all animals passed him by, on account of his ugliness. And -the autumn came, the leaves turned yellow and brown, the wind caught -them and danced them about, the air was very cold, the clouds were heavy -with hail or snow, and the raven sat on the hedge and croaked:—the poor -duckling was certainly not very comfortable!</p> - -<p>One evening, just as the sun was setting with unusual brilliancy, a -flock of large beautiful birds rose from out of the brushwood; the -duckling had never seen anything so beautiful before; their plumage was -of a dazzling white, and they had long, slender necks. They were swans; -they uttered a singular cry, spread out their long, splendid wings, and -flew away from these cold regions to warmer countries, across the open -sea. They flew so high, so very high! and the little ugly duckling’s -feelings were so strange; he turned round and round in the water like a -mill-wheel, strained his neck to look after them, and sent forth such a -loud and strange cry, that it almost frightened himself.—Ah! he could -not forget them, those noble<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_280" id="page_280">{280}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 383px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_280.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_280.jpg" width="383" height="509" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>AND THE CAT SAID, ‘CAN YOU PURR?’</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_281" id="page_281">{281}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">birds! those happy birds! When he could see them no longer, he plunged -to the bottom of the water, and when he rose again was almost beside -himself. The duckling knew not what the birds were called, knew not -whither they were flying, yet he loved them as he had never before loved -anything; he envied them not, it would never have occurred to him to -wish such beauty for himself; he would have been quite contented if the -duck in the duck-yard had but endured his company—the poor ugly animal!</p> - -<p>And the winter was so cold, so cold! The duckling was obliged to swim -round and round in the water, to keep it from freezing; but every night -the opening in which he swam became smaller and smaller; it froze so -that the crust of ice crackled; the duckling was obliged to make good -use of his legs to prevent the water from freezing entirely; at last, -wearied out, he lay stiff and cold in the ice.</p> - -<p>Early in the morning there passed by a peasant, who saw him, broke the -ice in pieces with his wooden shoe, and brought him home to his wife.</p> - -<p>He now revived; the children would have played with him, but our -duckling thought they wished to tease him, and in his terror jumped into -the milk-pail, so that the milk was spilled about the room: the good -woman screamed and clapped her hands; he flew thence into the pan where -the butter was kept, and thence into the meal-barrel, and out again, and -then how strange he looked!</p> - -<p>The woman screamed, and struck at him with the tongs; the children ran -races with each other trying to catch him, and laughed and screamed -likewise. It was well for him that the door stood open; he jumped out -among the bushes into the new-fallen snow—he lay there as in a dream.</p> - -<p>But it would be too melancholy to relate all the trouble and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_282" id="page_282">{282}</a></span> misery -that he was obliged to suffer during the severity of the winter—he was -lying on a moor among the reeds, when the sun began to shine warmly -again, the larks sang, and beautiful spring had returned.</p> - -<p>And once more he shook his wings. They were stronger than formerly, and -bore him forwards quickly, and before he was well aware of it, he was in -a large garden where the apple-trees stood in full bloom, where the -syringas sent forth their fragrance and hung their long green branches -down into the winding canal. Oh, everything was so lovely, so full of -the freshness of spring! And out of the thicket came three beautiful -white swans. They displayed their feathers so proudly, and swam so -lightly, so lightly! The duckling knew the glorious creatures, and was -seized with a strange melancholy.</p> - -<p>‘I will fly to them, those kingly birds!’ said he. ‘They will kill me, -because I, ugly as I am, have presumed to approach them; but it matters -not, better to be killed by them than to be bitten by the ducks, pecked -by the hens, kicked by the girl who feeds the poultry, and to have so -much to suffer during the winter!’ He flew into the water, and swam -towards the beautiful creatures—they saw him and shot forward to meet -him. ‘Only kill me,’ said the poor animal, and he bowed his head low, -expecting death,—but what did he see in the water?—he saw beneath him -his own form, no longer that of a plump, ugly, grey bird—it was that of -a swan.</p> - -<p>It matters not to have been born in a duck-yard, if one has been hatched -from a swan’s egg.</p> - -<p>The good creature felt himself really elevated by all the troubles and -adversities he had experienced. He could now rightly estimate his own -happiness, and the larger swans swam round him, and stroked him with -their beaks.</p> - -<p>Some little children were running about in the garden;<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_283" id="page_283">{283}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 355px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_283.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_283.jpg" width="355" height="561" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>AND EVERY ONE SAID, ‘THE NEW ONE IS THE BEST’</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_284" id="page_284">{284}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">they threw grain and bread into the water, and the youngest exclaimed, -‘There is a new one!’—the others also cried out, ‘Yes, there is a new -swan come!’ and they clapped their hands, and danced around. They ran to -their father and mother, bread and cake were thrown into the water, and -every one said, ‘The new one is the best, so young, and so beautiful!’ -and the old swans bowed before him. The young swan felt quite ashamed, -and hid his head under his wings; he scarcely knew what to do, he was -all too happy, but still not proud, for a good heart is never proud.</p> - -<p>He remembered how he had been persecuted and derided, and he now heard -every one say he was the most beautiful of all beautiful birds. The -syringas bent down their branches towards him low into the water, and -the sun shone so warmly and brightly—he shook his feathers, stretched -his slender neck, and in the joy of his heart said, ‘How little did I -dream of so much happiness when I was the ugly, despised duckling!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_285" id="page_285">{285}</a></span>’</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 448px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_285.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_285.jpg" width="448" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_286" id="page_286">{286}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="THE_NAUGHTY_BOY" id="THE_NAUGHTY_BOY"></a>THE NAUGHTY BOY</h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">T</span>HERE was once an old poet, such a good, honest old poet! He was sitting -alone in his own little room on a very stormy evening; the wind was -roaring without, and the rain poured down in torrents. But the old man -sat cosily by his warm stove, the fire was blazing brightly, and some -apples were roasting in front of it.</p> - -<p>‘Those poor people who have no roof to shelter them to-night will, most -assuredly, not have a dry thread left on their skin,’ said the -kind-hearted old man.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, open the door! open the door! I am so cold, and quite wet through -besides—open the door!’ cried a voice from without. The voice was like -a child’s, and seemed half-choked with sobs. ‘Rap, rap, rap!’ it went on -knocking at the door, whilst the rain still kept streaming down from the -clouds, and the wind rattled among the window-panes.</p> - -<p>‘Poor thing!’ said the old poet; and he arose and opened the door. There -stood a little boy, almost naked; the water trickled down from his long -flaxen hair; he was shivering with cold, and had he been left much -longer out in the street, he must certainly have perished in the storm.</p> - -<p>‘Poor boy!’ said the old poet again, taking him by the hand, and leading -him into his room. ‘Come to me, and we’ll soon make thee warm again, and -I will give thee some wine, and some roasted apples for thy supper, my -pretty child!’</p> - -<p>And, of a truth, the boy was exceedingly pretty. His eyes</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 454px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_286fp.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_286fp.jpg" width="454" height="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_287" id="page_287">{287}</a></span></p> - -<p class="nind">shone as bright as stars, and his hair, although dripping with water, -curled in beautiful ringlets. He looked quite like a little cherub, but -he was very pale, and trembled in every limb with cold. In his hand he -held a pretty little cross-bow, but it seemed entirely spoilt by the -rain, and the colours painted on the arrows all ran one into another.</p> - -<p>The old poet sat down again beside the stove, and took the little boy in -his lap; he wrung the water out of his streaming hair, warmed the -child’s hands within his own, and gave him mulled wine to drink. The boy -soon became himself again, the rosy colour returned to his cheeks, he -jumped down from the old man’s lap, and danced around him on the floor.</p> - -<p>‘Thou art a merry fellow!’ said the poet. ‘Thou must tell me thy name.’</p> - -<p>‘They call me Cupid,’ replied the boy. ‘Don’t you know me? There lies my -bow; ah, you can’t think how capitally I can shoot! See, the weather is -fine again now; the moon is shining bright.’</p> - -<p>‘But thy bow is spoilt,’ said the old man.</p> - -<p>‘That would be a sad disaster, indeed,’ remarked the boy, as he took the -bow in his hand and examined it closely. ‘Oh, it is quite dry by this -time, and it is not a bit damaged; the string, too, is quite strong -enough, I think. However, I may as well try it!’ He then drew his bow, -placed an arrow before the string, took his aim, and shot direct into -the old poet’s heart. ‘Now you may be sure that my cross-bow is not -spoilt!’ cried he, as, with a loud laugh, he ran away.</p> - -<p>The naughty boy! This was, indeed, ungrateful of him, to shoot to the -heart the good old man who had so kindly taken him in, warmed him, and -dried his clothes, given him sweet wine, and nice roasted apples for -supper!</p> - -<p>The poor poet lay groaning on the ground, for the arrow<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_288" id="page_288">{288}</a></span> had wounded him -sorely. ‘Fie, for shame, Cupid!’ cried he, ‘thou art a wicked boy! I -will tell all good children how thou hast treated me, and bid them take -heed and never play with thee, for thou wilt assuredly do them a -mischief, as thou hast done to me.’</p> - -<p>All the good boys and girls to whom he related this story were on their -guard against the wicked boy, Cupid; but, notwithstanding, he made fools -of them again and again, he is so terribly cunning! When the students -are returning home from lecture, he walks by their side, dressed in a -black gown, and with a book under his arm. They take him to be a -fellow-student, and so they suffer him to walk arm-in-arm with them, -just as if he were one of their intimate friends. But whilst they are -thus familiar with him, all of a sudden he thrusts his arrows into their -bosoms. Even when young girls are going to church, he will follow and -watch for his opportunity: he is always waylaying people. In the -theatre, he sits in the great chandelier, and kindles such a bright, hot -flame, men fancy it a lamp, but they are soon undeceived. He wanders -about in the royal gardens and all the public walks, making mischief -everywhere; nay, once he even shot thy father and mother to the heart! -Only ask them, dear child, and they will certainly tell thee all about -it. In fine, this fellow, this Cupid, is a very wicked boy! Do not play -with him! He waylays everybody, boys and girls, youths and maidens, men -and women, rich and poor, old and young. Only think of this: he once -shot an arrow into thy good old grandmother’s heart! It happened a long -time ago, and she has recovered from the wound, but she will never -forget him, depend upon it.</p> - -<p>Fie, for shame! wicked Cupid! Is he not a mischievous boy?</p> - -<p>Beware of him, beware of him, dear child!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_289" id="page_289">{289}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 290px;"> -<a href="images/i_b_289.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_b_289.jpg" width="290" height="439" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>THE END</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_290" id="page_290">{290}</a></span></p> - -<p class="fint"> -Printed by T. and <span class="smcap">A. 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