安徒生童话-第10部分

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〃And　then　the　living；　mamma；〃　said　Kaela。

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　she　replied；　〃no　such　a　thing　as　a　respectable　meatsoup…　their　cookery　is　miserable　stuff。〃

The　journey　had　also　tired　Kaela；　but　she　was　always　fatigued；that　was　the　worst　of　it。　So　they　sent　for　Sophy；　and　she　was　takeninto　the　house　to　reside　with　them；　and　her　presence　there　was　a　greatadvantage。　Mamma…in…law　acknowledged　that　Sophy　was　not　only　aclever　housewife；　but　well…informed　and　acplished；　though　thatcould　hardly　be　expected　in　a　person　of　her　limited　means。　She　wasalso　a　generous…hearted；　faithful　girl；　she　showed　that　thoroughlywhile　Kaela　lay　sick；　fading　away。　When　the　casket　is　everything；the　casket　should　be　strong；　or　else　all　is　over。　And　all　was　overwith　the　casket；　for　Kaela　died。

〃She　was　beautiful；〃　said　her　mother；　〃she　was　quite　differentfrom　the　beauties　they　call　'antiques；'　for　they　are　so　damaged。　Abeauty　ought　to　be　perfect；　and　Kaela　was　a　perfect　beauty。〃

Alfred　wept；　and　mamma　wept；　and　they　both　wore　mourning。　Theblack　dress　suited　mamma　very　well；　and　she　wore　mourning　the　longest。She　had　also　to　experience　another　grief　in　seeing　Alfred　marry　again；marry　Sophy；　who　was　nothing　at　all　to　look　at。　〃He's　gone　to　the　veryextreme；〃　said　mamma…in…law；　〃he　has　gone　from　the　most　beautiful　tothe　ugliest；　and　he　has　forgotten　his　first　wife。　Men　have　noconstancy。　My　husband　was　a　very　different　man；…　but　then　he　diedbefore　me。〃

〃'Pygmalion　loved　his　Galatea；'　was　in　the　song　they　sung　at　myfirst　wedding；〃　said　Alfred；　〃I　once　fell　in　love　with　a　beautifulstatue；　which　awoke　to　life　in　my　arms；　but　the　kindred　soul；　which　isa　gift　from　heaven；　the　angel　who　can　feel　and　sympathize　with　andelevate　us；　I　have　not　found　and　won　till　now。　You　came；　Sophy；　not　inthe　glory　of　outward　beauty；　though　you　are　even　fairer　than　isnecessary。　The　chief　thing　still　remains。　You　came　to　teach　thesculptor　that　his　work　is　but　dust　and　clay　only；　an　outward　form　madeof　a　material　that　decays；　and　that　what　we　should　seek　to　obtain　isthe　ethereal　essence　of　mind　and　spirit。　Poor　Kaela！　our　life　wasbut　as　a　meeting　by　the　way…side；　in　yonder　world；　where　we　shall　knoweach　other　from　a　union　of　mind；　we　shall　be　but　mere　acquaintances。〃

〃That　was　not　a　loving　speech；〃　said　Sophy；　〃nor　spoken　like　aChristian。　In　a　future　state；　where　there　is　neither　marrying　norgiving　in　marriage；　but　where；　as　you　say；　souls　are　attracted　to　eachother　by　sympathy；　there　everything　beautiful　develops　itself；　andis　raised　to　a　higher　state　of　existence：　her　soul　will　acquire　suchpleteness　that　it　may　harmonize　with　yours；　even　more　than　mine；and　you　will　then　once　more　utter　your　first　rapturous　exclamationof　your　love；　'Beautiful；　most　beautiful！'〃

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

BY　THE　ALMSHOUSE　WINDOW

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

NEAR　the　grass…covered　rampart　which　encircles　Copenhagen　lies　agreat　red　house。　Balsams　and　other　flowers　greet　us　from　the　long　rowsof　windows　in　the　house；　whose　interior　is　sufficientlypoverty…stricken；　and　poor　and　old　are　the　people　who　inhabit　it。The　building　is　the　Warton　Almshouse。

Look！　at　the　window　there　leans　an　old　maid。　She　plucks　thewithered　leaf　from　the　balsam；　and　looks　at　the　grass…covered　rampart；on　which　many　children　are　playing。　What　is　the　old　maid　thinkingof？　A　whole　life　drama　is　unfolding　itself　before　her　inward　gaze。

〃The　poor　little　children；　how　happy　they　are…　how　merrily　theyplay　and　romp　together！　What　red　cheeks　and　what　angels'　eyes！　butthey　have　no　shoes　nor　stockings。　They　dance　on　the　green　rampart；just　on　the　place　where；　according　to　the　old　story；　the　ground　alwayssank　in；　and　where　a　sportive；　frolicsome　child　had　been　lured　bymeans　of　flowers；　toys　and　sweetmeats　into　an　open　grave　ready　dug　forit；　and　which　was　afterwards　closed　over　the　child；　and　from　thatmoment；　the　old　story　says；　the　ground　gave　way　no　longer；　the　moundremained　firm　and　fast；　and　was　quickly　covered　with　the　green　turf。The　little　people　who　now　play　on　that　spot　know　nothing　of　the　oldtale；　else　would　they　fancy　they　heard　a　child　crying　deep　below　theearth；　and　the　dewdrops　on　each　blade　of　grass　would　be　to　themtears　of　woe。　Nor　do　they　know　anything　of　the　Danish　King　who　here；in　the　face　of　the　ing　foe；　took　an　oath　before　all　his　tremblingcourtiers　that　he　would　hold　out　with　the　citizens　of　his　capital；　anddie　here　in　his　nest；　they　know　nothing　of　the　men　who　have　foughthere；　or　of　the　women　who　from　here　have　drenched　with　boiling　waterthe　enemy；　clad　in　white；　and　'biding　in　the　snow　to　surprise　thecity。

〃No！　the　poor　little　ones　are　playing　with　light；　childishspirits。　Play　on；　play　on；　thou　little　maiden！　Soon　the　years　wille…　yes；　those　glorious　years。　The　priestly　hands　have　been　laidon　the　candidates　for　confirmation；　hand　in　hand　they　walk　on　thegreen　rampart。　Thou　hast　a　white　frock　on；　it　has　cost　thy　mother　muchlabor；　and　yet　it　is　only　cut　down　for　thee　out　of　an　old　largerdress！　You　will　also　wear　a　red　shawl；　and　what　if　it　hang　too　fardown？　People　will　only　see　how　large；　how　very　large　it　is。　You　arethinking　of　your　dress；　and　of　the　Giver　of　all　good…　so　glorious　isit　to　wander　on　the　green　rampart！

〃And　the　years　roll　by；　they　have　no　lack　of　dark　days；　but　youhave　your　cheerful　young　spirit；　and　you　have　gained　a　friend…　youknow　not　how。　You　met；　oh；　how　often！　You　walk　together　on　the　rampartin　the　fresh　spring；　on　the　high　days　and　holidays；　when　all　the　worlde　out　to　walk　upon　the　ramparts；　and　all　the　bells　of　the　churchsteeples　seem　to　be　singing　a　song　of　praise　for　the　ing　spring。

〃Scarcely　have　the　violets　e　forth；　but　there　on　the　rampart；just　opposite　the　beautiful　Castle　of　Rosenberg；　there　is　a　treebright　with　the　first　green　buds。　Every　year　this　tree　sends　forthfresh　green　shoots。　Alas！　It　is　not　so　with　the　human　heart！　Darkmists；　more　in　number　than　those　that　cover　the　northern　skies；cloud　the　human　heart。　Poor　child！　thy　friend's　bridal　chamber　is　ablack　coffin；　and　thou　beest　an　old　maid。　From　the　almshousewindow；　behind　the　balsams；　thou　shalt　look　on　the　merry　children　atplay；　and　shalt　see　thine　own　history　renewed。〃

And　that　is　the　life　drama　that　passes　before　the　old　maid　whileshe　looks　out　upon　the　rampart；　the　green；　sunny　rampart；　where　thechildren；　with　their　red　cheeks　and　bare　shoeless　feet；　arerejoicing　merrily；　like　the　other　free　little　birds。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　CHILDREN'S　PRATTLE

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

AT　a　rich　merchant's　house　there　was　a　children's　party；　and　thechildren　of　rich　and　great　people　were　there。　The　merchant　was　alearned　man；　for　his　father　had　sent　him　to　college；　and　he　had　passedhis　examination。　His　father　had　been　at　first　only　a　cattle　dealer；but　always　honest　and　industrious；　so　that　he　had　made　money；　andhis　son；　the　merchant；　had　managed　to　increase　his　store。　Clever　as　hewas；　he　had　also　a　heart；　but　there　was　less　said　of　his　heart　than　ofhis　money。　All　descriptions　of　people　visited　at　the　merchant's　house；well　born；　as　well　as　intellectual；　and　some　who　possessed　neitherof　these　remendations。

Now　it　was　a　children's　party；　and　there　was　children's　prattle；which　always　is　spoken　freely　from　the　heart。　Among　them　was　abeautiful　little　girl；　who　was　terribly　proud；　but　this　had　beentaught　her　by　the　servants；　and　not　by　her　parents；　who　were　far　toosensible　people。

Her　father　was　groom　of　the　Chambers；　which　is　a　high　office　atcourt；　and　she　knew　it。　〃I　am　a　child　of　the　court；〃　she　said；　now　shemight　just　as　well　have　been　a　child　of　the　cellar；　for　no　one　canhelp　his　birth；　and　then　she　told　the　other　children　that　she　waswell…born；　and　said　that　no　one　who　was　not　well…born　could　rise　inthe　world。　It　was　no　use　to　read　and　be　industrious；　for　if　a　personwas　not　well…born；　he　could　never　achieve　anything。　〃And　those　whosenames　end　with　'sen；'〃　said　she；　〃can　never　be　anything　at　all。　Wemust　put　our　arms　akimbo；　and　make　the　elbow　quite　pointed；　so　as　tokeep　these　'sen'　people　at　a　great　distance。〃　And　then　she　stuck　outher　pretty　little　arms；　and　made　the　elbows　quite　pointed；　to　show　howit　was　to　be　done；　and　her　little　arms　were　very　pretty；　for　she　was　asweet…looking　child。

But　the　little　daughter　of　the　merchant　became　very　angry　atthis　speech；　for　her　father's　name　was　Petersen；　and　she　knew　that　thename　ended　in　〃sen；〃　and　therefore　she　said　as　proudly　as　she　could；〃But　my　papa　can　buy　a　hundred　dollars'　worth　of　bonbons；　and　givethem　away　to　children。　Can　your　papa　do　that？〃

〃Yes；　and　my　papa；〃　said　the　little　daughter　of　the　editor　of　apaper；　〃my　papa　can　put　your　papa　and　everybody's　papa　into　thenewspaper。　All　sorts　of　people　are　afraid　of　him；　my　mamma　says；　forhe　can　do　as　he　likes　with　the　paper。〃　And　the　little　maiden　lookedexceedingly　proud；　as　if　she　had　been　a　real　princess；　who　may　beexpected　to　look　proud。

But　outside　the　door；　which　stood　ajar；　was　a　poor　boy；　peepingthrough　the　crack　of　the　door。　He　was　of　such　a　lowly　station　thathe　had　not　been　allowed　even　to　enter　the　room。　He　had　been　turningthe　spit　for　the　cook；　and　she　had　given　him　permission　to　standbehind　the　door　and　peep　in　at　the　well…dressed　children；　who　werehaving　such　a　merry　time　within；　and　for　him　that　was　a　great　deal。〃Oh；　if　I　could　be　one　of　them；〃　thought　he；　and　then　he　heard　whatwas　said　about　names；　which　was　quite　enough　to　make　him　more　unhappy。His　parents　at　home　had　not　even　a　penny　to　spare　to　buy　anewspaper；　much　less　could　they　write　in　one；　and　worse　than　all；his　father's　name；　and　of　course　his　own；　ended　in　〃sen；〃　andtherefore　he　could　never　turn　out　well；　which　was　a　very　sadthought。　But　after　all；　he　had　been　born　into　the　world；　and　thestation　of　life　had　been　chosen　for　him；　therefore　he　must　be　content。

And　this　is　what　happened　on　that　evening。

Many　years　passed；　and　most　of　the　children　became　grown…uppersons。

There　stood　a　splendid　house　in　the　town；　filled　with　all　kinds　ofbeautiful　and　valuable　objects。　Everybody　wished　to　see　it；　and　peopleeven　came　in　from　the　country　round　to　be　permitted　to　view　thetreasures　it　contained。

Which　of　the　children　whose　prattle　we　have　described；　couldcall　this　house　his　own？　One　would　suppose　it　very　easy　to　guess。No；　no；　it　is　not　so　very　easy。　The　house　belonged　to　the　poorlittle　boy　who　had　stood　on　that　night　behind　the　door。　He　hadreally　bee　something　great；　although　his　name　ended　in　〃sen；〃…for　it　was　Thorwaldsen。

And　the　three　other　children…　the　children　of　good　birth；　ofmoney；　and　of　intellectual　pride；…　well；　they　were　respected　andhonored　in　the　world；　for　they　had　been　well　provided　for　by　birth　andposition；　and　they　had　no　cause　to　reproach　themselves　with　whatthey　had　thought　and　spoken　on　that　evening　long　ago；　for；　afterall；　it　was　mere　〃children's　prattle。〃

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　DELAYING　IS　NOT　FORGETTING

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THERE　was　an　old　mansion　surrounded　by　a　marshy　ditch　with　adrawbridge　which　was　but　seldom　let　down：…　not　all　guests　are　goodpeople。　Under　the　roof　were　loopholes　to　shoot　through；　and　to　pourdown　boiling　water　or　even　molten　lead　on　the　enemy；　should　heapproach。　Inside　the　house　the　rooms　were　very　high　and　had　ceilingsof　beams；　and　that　was　very　useful　considering　the　great　deal　of　smokewhich　rose　up　from　the　chimney　fire　where　the　large；　damp　logs　of　woodsmouldered。　On　the　walls　hung　pictures　of　knights　in　armour　andproud　ladies　in　gorgeous　dresses；　the　most　stately　of　all　walked　aboutalive。　She　was　called　Meta　Mogen；　she　was　the　mistress　of　the　house；to　her　belonged　the　castle。

Towards　the　evening　robbers　came；　they　killed　three　of　herpeople　and　also　the　yard…dog；　and　attached　Mrs。　Meta　to　the　kennelby　the　chain；　while　they　themselves　made　good　cheer　in　the　hall　anddrank　the　wine　and　the　good　ale　out　of　her　cellar。　Mrs。　Meta　was　nowon　the　chain；　she　could　not　even　bark。

But　lo！　the　servant　of　one　of　the　robbers　secretly　approached　her；they　must　not　see　it；　otherwise　they　would　have　killed　him。

〃Mrs。　Meta　Mogen；〃　said　the　fellow；　〃do　you　still　remember　howmy　father；　when　your　husband　was　still　alive；　had　to　ride　on　thewooden　horse？　You　prayed　for　him；　but　it　was　no　good；　he　was　to　rideuntil　his　limbs　were　paralysed；　but　you　stole　down　to　him；　as　Isteal　now　to　you；　you　yourself　put　little　stones　under　each　of　hisfeet　that　he　might　have　support；　nobody　saw　it；　or　they　pretendednot　to　see　it；　for　you　were　then　the　young　gracious　mistress。　Myfather　has　told　me　this；　and　I　have　not　forgotten　it！　Now　I　willfree　you；　Mrs。　Meta　Mogen！〃

Then　they　pulled　the　horses　out　of　the　stable　and　rode　off　in　rainand　wind　to　obtain　the　assistance　of　friends。

〃Thus　the　small　service　done　to　the　old　man　was　richlyrewarded！〃　said　Meta　Mogen。

〃Delaying　is　not　forgetting；〃　said　the　fellow。

The　robbers　were　hanged。

There　was　an　old　mansion；　it　is　still　there；　it　did　not　belongto　Mrs。　Meta　Mogen；　it　belonged　to　another　old　noble　family。

We　are　now　in　the　present　time。　The　sun　is　shining　on　the　giltknob　of　the　tower；　little　wooded　islands　lie　like　bouquets　on　thewater；　and　wild　swans　are　swimming　round　them。　In　the　garden　growroses；　the　mistress　of　the　house　is　herself　the　finest　rose　petal；　shebeams　with　joy；　the　joy　of　good　deeds：　however；　not　done　in　the　wideworld；　but　in　her　heart；　and　what　is　preserved　there　is　not　forgotten。Delaying　is　not　forgetting！

Now　she　goes　from　the　mansion　to　a　little　peasant　hut　in　thefield。　Therein　lives　a　poor　paralysed　girl；　the　window　of　her　littleroom　looks　northward；　the　sun　does　not　enter　here。　The　girl　can　onlysee　a　small　piece　of　field　which　is　surrounded　by　a　high　fence。　Butto…day　the　sun　shines　here…　the　warm；　beautiful　sun　of　God　is　withinthe　little　room；　it　es　from　the　south　through　the　new　window；　whereformerly　the　wall　was。

The　paralysed　girl　sits　in　the　warm　sunshine　and　can　see　thewood　and　the　lake；　the　world　had　bee　so　large；　so　beautiful；　andonly　through　a　single　word　from　the　kind　mistress　of　the　mansion。

〃The　word　was　so　easy；　the　deed　so　small；〃　she　said；　〃the　joy　itafforded　me　was　infinitely　great　and　sweet！〃

And　therefore　she　does　many　a　good　deed；　thinks　of　all　in　thehumble　cottages　and　in　the　rich　mansions；　where　there　are　alsoafflicted　ones。　It　is　concealed　and　hidden；　but　God　does　not　forgetit。　Delayed　is　not　forgotten！

An　old　house　stood　there；　it　was　in　the　large　town　with　its　busytraffic。　There　are　rooms　and　halls　in　it；　but　we　do　not　enter　them；　weremain　in　the　kitchen；　where　it　is　warm　and　light；　clean　and　tidy；　thecopper　utensils　are　shining；　the　table　as　if　polished　with　beeswax；the　sink　looks　like　a　freshly　scoured　meatboard。　All　this　a　singleservant　has　done；　and　yet　she　has　time　to　spare　as　if　she　wished　to　goto　church；　she　wears　a　bow　on　her　cap；　a　black　bow；　that　signifiesmourning。　But　she　has　no　one　to　mourn；　neither　father　nor　mother；neither　relations　nor　sweetheart。　She　is　a　poor　girl。　One　day　shewas　engaged　to　a　poor　fellow；　they　loved　each　other　dearly。

One　day　he　came　to　her　and　said：

〃We　both　have　nothing！　The　rich　widow　over　the　way　in　the　basementhas　made　advances　to　me；　she　will　make　me　rich；　but　you　are　in　myheart；　what　do　you　advise　me　to　do？〃

〃I　advise