安徒生童话-第23部分

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Very　soon　they　arrived　at　the　bridal　hall。　On　the　right　stoodall　the　little　lady…mice；　whispering　and　giggling；　as　if　they　weremaking　game　of　each　other。　To　the　left　were　the　gentlemen…mice；stroking　their　whiskers　with　their　fore…paws；　and　in　the　centre　of　thehall　could　be　seen　the　bridal　pair；　standing　side　by　side；　in　a　hollowcheese…rind；　and　kissing　each　other；　while　all　eyes　were　upon　them；for　they　had　already　been　betrothed；　and　were　soon　to　be　married。　Moreand　more　friends　kept　arriving；　till　the　mice　were　nearly　treadingeach　other　to　death；　for　the　bridal　pair　now　stood　in　the　doorway；　andnone　could　pass　in　or　out。

The　room　had　been　rubbed　over　with　bacon…rind；　like　the　passage；which　was　all　the　refreshment　offered　to　the　guests。　But　for　dessertthey　produced　a　pea；　on　which　a　mouse　belonging　to　the　bridal　pair　hadbitten　the　first　letters　of　their　names。　This　was　something　quiteunmon。　All　the　mice　said　it　was　a　very　beautiful　wedding；　andthat　they　had　been　very　agreeably　entertained。

After　this；　Hjalmar　returned　home。　He　had　certainly　been　ingrand　society；　but　he　had　been　obliged　to　creep　under　a　room；　and　tomake　himself　small　enough　to　wear　the　uniform　of　a　tin　soldier。FRIDAY

　FRIDAY

〃It　is　incredible　how　many　old　people　there　are　who　would　beglad　to　have　me　at　night；〃　said　Ole…Luk…Oie；　〃especially　those　whohave　done　something　wrong。　'Good　little　Ole；'　say　they　to　me；　'wecannot　close　our　eyes；　and　we　lie　awake　the　whole　night　and　see　allour　evil　deeds　sitting　on　our　beds　like　little　imps；　and　sprinkling　uswith　hot　water。　Will　you　e　and　drive　them　away；　that　we　may　havea　good　night's　rest？'　and　then　they　sigh　so　deeply　and　say；　'Wewould　gladly　pay　you　for　it。　Good…night；　Ole…Luk；　the　money　lies　onthe　window。'　But　I　never　do　anything　for　gold。〃　〃What　shall　we　doto…night？〃　asked　Hjalmar。　〃I　do　not　know　whether　you　would　care　togo　to　another　wedding；〃　he　replied；　〃although　it　is　quite　adifferent　affair　to　the　one　we　saw　last　night。　Your　sister's　largedoll；　that　is　dressed　like　a　man；　and　is　called　Herman；　intends　tomarry　the　doll　Bertha。　It　is　also　the　dolls'　birthday；　and　they　willreceive　many　presents。〃

〃Yes；　I　know　that　already；〃　said　Hjalmar；　〃my　sister　always　allowsher　dolls　to　keep　their　birthdays　or　to　have　a　wedding　when　theyrequire　new　clothes；　that　has　happened　already　a　hundred　times；　I　amquite　sure。〃

〃Yes；　so　it　may；　but　to…night　is　the　hundred　and　first　wedding；and　when　that　has　taken　place　it　must　be　the　last；　therefore　this　isto　be　extremely　beautiful。　Only　look。〃

Hjalmar　looked　at　the　table；　and　there　stood　the　little　card…boarddoll's　house；　with　lights　in　all　the　windows；　and　drawn　up　before　itwere　the　tin　soldiers　presenting　arms。　The　bridal　pair　were　seatedon　the　floor；　leaning　against　the　leg　of　the　table；　looking　verythoughtful；　and　with　good　reason。　Then　Ole…Luk…Oie　dressed　up　ingrandmother's　black　gown　married　them。

As　soon　as　the　ceremony　was　concluded；　all　the　furniture　in　theroom　joined　in　singing　a　beautiful　song；　which　had　been　posed　bythe　lead　pencil；　and　which　went　to　the　melody　of　a　military　tattoo。

　〃What　merry　sounds　are　on　the　wind；

　　As　marriage　rites　together　bind

　　A　quiet　and　a　loving　pair；

　　Though　formed　of　kid；　yet　smooth　and　fair！

　　Hurrah！　If　they　are　deaf　and　blind；

　　We'll　sing；　though　weather　prove　unkind。〃

And　now　came　the　present；　but　the　bridal　pair　had　nothing　toeat；　for　love　was　to　be　their　food。

〃Shall　we　go　to　a　country　house；　or　travel？〃　asked　the　bridegroom。

Then　they　consulted　the　swallow　who　had　travelled　so　far；　andthe　old　hen　in　the　yard；　who　had　brought　up　five　broods　of　chickens。

And　the　swallow　talked　to　them　of　warm　countries；　where　the　grapeshang　in　large　clusters　on　the　vines；　and　the　air　is　soft　and　mild；　andabout　the　mountains　glowing　with　colors　more　beautiful　than　we　canthink　of。

〃But　they　have　no　red　cabbage　like　we　have；〃　said　the　hen；　〃Iwas　once　in　the　country　with　my　chickens　for　a　whole　summer；　there　wasa　large　sand…pit；　in　which　we　could　walk　about　and　scratch　as　weliked。　Then　we　got　into　a　garden　in　which　grew　red　cabbage；　oh；　hownice　it　was；　I　cannot　think　of　anything　more　delicious。〃

〃But　one　cabbage　stalk　is　exactly　like　another；〃　said　the　swallow；〃and　here　we　have　often　bad　weather。〃

〃Yes；　but　we　are　accustomed　to　it；〃　said　the　hen。

〃But　it　is　so　cold　here；　and　freezes　sometimes。〃

〃Cold　weather　is　good　for　cabbages；〃　said　the　hen；　〃besides　wedo　have　it　warm　here　sometimes。　Four　years　ago；　we　had　a　summer　thatlasted　more　than　five　weeks；　and　it　was　so　hot　one　could　scarcelybreathe。　And　then　in　this　country　we　have　no　poisonous　animals；　and　weare　free　from　robbers。　He　must　be　wicked　who　does　not　consider　ourcountry　the　finest　of　all　lands。　He　ought　not　to　be　allowed　to　livehere。〃　And　then　the　hen　wept　very　much　and　said；　〃I　have　alsotravelled。　I　once　went　twelve　miles　in　a　coop；　and　it　was　not　pleasanttravelling　at　all。〃

〃The　hen　is　a　sensible　woman；〃　said　the　doll　Bertha。　〃I　don't　carefor　travelling　over　mountains；　just　to　go　up　and　e　down　again。No；　let　us　go　to　the　sand…pit　in　front　of　the　gate；　and　then　take　awalk　in　the　cabbage　garden。〃

And　so　they　settled　it。SATURDAY

　SATURDAY

〃Am　I　to　hear　any　more　stories？〃　asked　little　Hjalmar；　as　soonas　Ole…Luk…Oie　had　sent　him　to　sleep。

〃We　shall　have　no　time　this　evening；〃　said　he；　spreading　out　hisprettiest　umbrella　over　the　child。　〃Look　at　these　Chinese；〃　and　thenthe　whole　umbrella　appeared　like　a　large　china　bowl；　with　blue　treesand　pointed　bridges；　upon　which　stood　little　Chinamen　nodding　theirheads。　〃We　must　make　all　the　world　beautiful　for　to…morrow　morning；〃said　Ole…Luk…Oie；　〃for　it　will　be　a　holiday；　it　is　Sunday。　I　mustnow　go　to　the　church　steeple　and　see　if　the　little　sprites　who　livethere　have　polished　the　bells；　so　that　they　may　sound　sweetly。　ThenI　must　go　into　the　fields　and　see　if　the　wind　has　blown　the　dustfrom　the　grass　and　the　leaves；　and　the　most　difficult　task　of　allwhich　I　have　to　do；　is　to　take　down　all　the　stars　and　brighten　themup。　I　have　to　number　them　first　before　I　put　them　in　my　apron；　andalso　to　number　the　places　from　which　I　take　them；　so　that　they　maygo　back　into　the　right　holes；　or　else　they　would　not　remain；　and　weshould　have　a　number　of　falling　stars；　for　they　would　all　tumbledown　one　after　the　other。〃

〃Hark　ye！　Mr。　Luk…Oie；〃　said　an　old　portrait　which　hung　on　thewall　of　Hjalmar's　bedroom。　〃Do　you　know　me？　I　am　Hjalmar'sgreat…grandfather。　I　thank　you　for　telling　the　boy　stories；　but　youmust　not　confuse　his　ideas。　The　stars　cannot　be　taken　down　from　thesky　and　polished；　they　are　spheres　like　our　earth；　which　is　a　goodthing　for　them。〃

〃Thank　you；　old　great…grandfather；〃　said　Ole…Luk…Oie。　〃I　thankyou；　you　may　be　the　head　of　the　family；　as　no　doubt　you　are；　but　Iam　older　than　you。　I　am　an　ancient　heathen。　The　old　Romans　andGreeks　named　me　the　Dream…god。　I　have　visited　the　noblest　houses；and　continue　to　do　so；　still　I　know　how　to　conduct　myself　both　to　highand　low；　and　now　you　may　tell　the　stories　yourself：〃　and　soOle…Luk…Oie　walked　off；　taking　his　umbrellas　with　him。

〃Well；　well；　one　is　never　to　give　an　opinion；　I　suppose；〃　grumbledthe　portrait。　And　it　woke　Hjalmar。SUNDAY

　SUNDAY

〃Good　evening；〃　said　Ole…Luk…Oie。

Hjalmar　nodded；　and　then　sprang　out　of　bed；　and　turned　hisgreat…grandfather's　portrait　to　the　wall；　so　that　it　might　notinterrupt　them　as　it　had　done　yesterday。　〃Now；〃　said　he；　〃you　musttell　me　some　stories　about　five　green　peas　that　lived　in　one　pod；　orof　the　chickseed　that　courted　the　chickweed；　or　of　the　darning　needle；who　acted　so　proudly　because　she　fancied　herself　an　embroideryneedle。〃

〃You　may　have　too　much　of　a　good　thing；〃　said　Ole…Luk…Oie。　〃Youknow　that　I　like　best　to　show　you　something；　so　I　will　show　you　mybrother。　He　is　also　called　Ole…Luk…Oie　but　he　never　visits　any　one　butonce；　and　when　he　does　e；　he　takes　him　away　on　his　horse；　and　tellshim　stories　as　they　ride　along。　He　knows　only　two　stories。　One　ofthese　is　so　wonderfully　beautiful；　that　no　one　in　the　world　canimagine　anything　at　all　like　it；　but　the　other　is　just　as　ugly　andfrightful；　so　that　it　would　be　impossible　to　describe　it。〃　ThenOle…Luk…Oie　lifted　Hjalmar　up　to　the　window。　〃There　now；　you　can　seemy　brother；　the　other　Ole…Luk…Oie；　he　is　also　called　Death。　Youperceive　he　is　not　so　bad　as　they　represent　him　in　picture　books；there　he　is　a　skeleton；　but　now　his　coat　is　embroidered　with　silver；and　he　wears　the　splendid　uniform　of　a　hussar；　and　a　mantle　of　blackvelvet　flies　behind　him；　over　the　horse。　Look；　how　he　gallopsalong。〃　Hjalmar　saw　that　as　this　Ole…Luk…Oie　rode　on；　he　lifted　up　oldand　young；　and　carried　them　away　on　his　horse。　Some　he　seated　in　frontof　him；　and　some　behind；　but　always　inquired　first；　〃How　stands　themark…book？〃

〃Good；〃　they　all　answered。

〃Yes；　but　let　me　see　for　myself；〃　he　replied；　and　they　wereobliged　to　give　him　the　books。　Then　all　those　who　had　〃Very　good；〃or　〃Exceedingly　good；〃　came　in　front　of　the　horse；　and　heard　thebeautiful　story；　while　those　who　had　〃Middling；〃　or　〃Tolerablygood；〃　in　their　books；　were　obliged　to　sit　behind；　and　listen　to　thefrightful　tale。　They　trembled　and　cried；　and　wanted　to　jump　downfrom　the　horse；　but　they　could　not　get　free；　for　they　seemedfastened　to　the　seat。

〃Why；　Death　is　a　most　splendid　Luk…Oie；〃　said　Hjalmar。　〃I　am　notin　the　least　afraid　of　him。〃

〃You　need　have　no　fear　of　him；〃　said　Ole…Luk…Oie；　〃if　you　takecare　and　keep　a　good　conduct　book。〃

〃Now　I　call　that　very　instructive；〃　murmured　thegreat…grandfather's　portrait。　〃It　is　useful　sometimes　to　express　anopinion；〃　so　he　was　quite　satisfied。

These　are　some　of　the　doings　and　sayings　of　Ole…Luk…Oie。　I　hope　hemay　visit　you　himself　this　evening；　and　relate　some　more。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

OUR　AUNT

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

You　ought　to　have　known　our　aunt；　she　was　charming！　That　is　tosay；　she　was　not　charming　at　all　as　the　word　is　usually　understood；but　she　was　good　and　kind；　amusing　in　her　way；　and　was　just　as　any　oneought　to　be　whom　people　are　to　talk　about　and　to　laugh　at。　She　mighthave　been　put　into　a　play；　and　wholly　and　solely　on　account　of　thefact　that　she　only　lived　for　the　theatre　and　for　what　was　dohere。　She　was　an　honorable　matron；　but　Agent　Fabs；　whom　she　used　tocall　〃Flabs；〃　declared　that　our　aunt　was　stage…struck。

〃The　theatre　is　my　school；〃　said　she；　〃the　source　of　my　knowledge。From　thence　I　have　resuscitated　Biblical　history。　Now；　'Moses'　and'Joseph　in　Egypt'…　there　are　operas　for　you！　I　get　my　universalhistory　from　the　theatre；　my　geography；　and　my　knowledge　of　men。　Outof　the　French　pieces　I　get　to　know　life　in　Paris…　slippery；　butexceedingly　interesting。　How　I　have　cried　over　〃La　FamilleRoquebourg'…　that　the　man　must　drink　himself　to　death；　so　that　she　maymarry　the　young　fellow！　Yes；　how　many　tears　I　have　wept　in　the　fiftyyears　I　have　subscribed　to　the　theatre！〃

Our　aunt　knew　every　acting　play；　every　bit　of　scenery；　everycharacter；　every　one　who　appeared　or　had　appeared。　She　seemed　reallyonly　to　live　during　the　nine　months　the　theatre　was　open。　Summertimewithout　a　summer　theatre　seemed　to　be　only　a　time　that　made　her　old；while；　on　the　other　hand；　a　theatrical　evening　that　lasted　tillmidnight　was　a　lengthening　of　her　life。　She　did　not　say；　as　otherpeople　do；　〃Now　we　shall　have　spring；　the　stork　is　here；〃　or；　〃They'veadvertised　the　first　strawberries　in　the　papers。〃　She；　on　thecontrary；　used　to　announce　the　ing　of　autumn；　with　〃Have　youheard　they're　selling　boxes　for　the　theatre？　now　the　performances　willbegin。〃

She　used　to　value　a　lodging　entirely　according　to　its　proximity　tothe　theatre。　It　was　a　real　sorrow　to　her　when　she　had　to　leave　thelittle　lane　behind　the　playhouse；　and　move　into　the　great　streetthat　lay　a　little　farther　off；　and　live　there　in　a　house　where　she　hadno　opposite　neighbors。

〃At　home；〃　said　she；　〃my　windows　must　be　my　opera…box。　Onecannot　sit　and　look　into　one's　self　till　one's　tired；　one　must　seepeople。　But　now　I　live　just　as　if　I'd　go　into　the　country。　If　I　wantto　see　human　beings；　I　must　go　into　my　kitchen；　and　sit　down　on　thesink；　for　there　only　I　have　opposite　neighbors。　No；　when　I　lived　in　mydear　little　lane；　I　could　look　straight　down　into　the　ironmonger'sshop；　and　had　only　three　hundred　paces　to　the　theatre；　and　now　I'vethree　thousand　paces　to　go；　military　measurement。〃

Our　aunt　was　sometimes　ill；　but　however　unwell　she　might　feel；　shenever　missed　the　play。　The　doctor　prescribed　one　day　that　she　shouldput　her　feet　in　a　bran　bath；　and　she　followed　his　advice；　but　shedrove　to　the　theatre　all　the　same；　and　sat　with　her　feet　in　branthere。　If　she　had　died　there；　she　would　have　been　very　glad。Thorwaldsen　died　in　the　theatre；　and　she　called　that　a　happy　death。

She　could　not　imagine　but　that　in　heaven　there　must　be　a　theatretoo。　It　had　not；　indeed；　been　promised　us；　but　we　might　very　wellimagine　it。　The　many　distinguished　actors　and　actresses　who　had　passedaway　must　surely　have　a　field　for　their　talent。

Our　aunt　had　an　electric　wire　from　the　theatre　to　her　room。　Atelegram　used　to　be　dispatched　to　her　at　coffee…time；　and　it　used　toconsist　of　the　words；　〃Herr　Sivertsen　is　at　the　machinery；〃　for　it　washe　who　gave　the　signal　for　drawing　the　curtain　up　and　down　and　forchanging　the　scenes。

From　him　she　used　to　receive　a　short　and　concise　description　ofevery　piece。　His　opinion　of　Shakspeare's　〃Tempest；〃　was；　〃Madnonsense！　There's　so　much　to　put　up；　and　the　first　scene　begins　with'Water　to　the　front　of　the　wings。'〃　That　is　to　say；　the　water　had　toe　forward　so　far。　But　when；　on　the　other　hand；　the　same　interiorscene　remained　through　five　acts；　he　used　to　pronounce　it　asensible；　well…written　play；　a　resting　play；　which　performed　itself；without　putting　up　scenes。

In　earlier　times；　by　which　name　our　aunt　used　to　designatethirty　years　ago；　she　and　the　before…mentioned　Herr　Sivertsen　had　beenyounger。　At　that　time　he　had　already　been　connected　with　themachinery；　and　was；　as　she　said；　her　benefactor。　It　used　to　be　thecustom　in　those　days　that　in　the　evening　performances　in　the　onlytheatre　the　town　possessed；　spectators　were　admitted　to　the　partcalled　the　〃flies；〃　over　the　stage；　and　every　machinist　had　one　or　twoplaces　to　give　away。　Often　the　flies　were　quite　full　of　goodpany；　it　was　said　that　generals'　wives　and　privy　councillors'　wiveshad　been　up　there。　It　was　quite　interesting　to　look　down　behind　thescenes；　and　to　see　how　the　people　walked　to　and　fro　on　the　stagewhen　the　curtain　was　down。

Our　aunt　had　been　there　several　times；　as　well　when　there　was　atragedy　as　when　there　was　a　ballet；　for　the　pieces　in　which　there　werethe　greatest　number　of　characters　on　the　stage　were　the　mostinteresting　to　see　from　the　flies。　One　sat　pretty　much　in　the　darkup　there；　and　most　people　took　their　supper　up　with　them。　Once　threeapples　and　a　great　piece　of　bread　and　butter　and　sausage　fell　downright　into　the　dungeon　of　Ugolino；　where　that　unhappy　man　was　to　bestarved　to　death；　and　there　was　great　laughter　among　the　audience。　Thesausage　was　one　of　the　weightiest　reasons　why　the　worthy　managementrefused　in　future　to　have　any　spectators　up　in　the　flies。

〃But　I　was　there　seven…and…thirty　times；〃　said　our　aunt；　〃and　Ishall　always　remember　Mr。　Sivertsen　for　that。〃

On　the　very　last　evening　when　the　flies　were　sti