安徒生童话-第44部分

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most　service？Tell　us　your　opinion…　we'll　keep　to　ours　just　the　same　though。

The　poultry　yard　was　divided　by　some　planks　from　another　yard　inwhich　there　was　a　dung…hill；　and　on　the　dung…hill　lay　and　grew　a　largecucumber　which　was　conscious　of　being　a　hot…bed　plant。

〃One　is　born　to　that；〃　said　the　cucumber　to　itself。　〃Not　all　canbe　born　cucumbers；　there　must　be　other　things；　too。　The　hens；　theducks；　and　all　the　animals　in　the　next　yard　are　creatures　too。　Now　Ihave　a　great　opinion　of　the　yard　cock　on　the　plank；　he　is　certainly　ofmuch　more　importance　than　the　weather…cock　who　is　placed　so　high　andcan't　even　creak；　much　less　crow。　The　latter　has　neither　hens　norchicks；　and　only　thinks　of　himself　and　perspires　verdigris。　No；　theyard　cock　is　really　a　cock！　His　step　is　a　dance！　His　crowing　is　music；and　wherever　he　goes　one　knows　what　a　trumpeter　is　like！　If　he　wouldonly　e　in　here！　Even　if　he　ate　me　up　stump；　stalk；　and　all；　and　Ihad　to　dissolve　in　his　body；　it　would　be　a　happy　death；〃　said　thecucumber。

In　the　night　there　was　a　terrible　storm。　The　hens；　chicks；　andeven　the　cock　sought　shelter；　the　wind　tore　down　the　planks　betweenthe　two　yards　with　a　crash；　the　tiles　came　tumbling　down；　but　theweather…cock　sat　firm。　He　did　not　even　turn　round；　for　he　could　not；and　yet　he　was　young　and　freshly　cast；　but　prudent　and　sedate。　Hehad　been　born　old；　and　did　not　at　all　resemble　the　birds　flying　in　theair…　the　sparrows；　and　the　swallows；　no；　he　despised　them；　thesemean　little　piping　birds；　these　mon　whistlers。　He　admitted　that　thepigeons；　large　and　white　and　shining　like　mother…o'…pearl；　looked　likea　kind　of　weather…cock；　but　they　were　fat　and　stupid；　and　all　theirthoughts　and　endeavours　were　directed　to　filling　themselves　with　food；and　besides；　they　were　tiresome　things　to　converse　with。　The　birdsof　passage　had　also　paid　the　weather…cock　a　visit　and　told　him　offoreign　countries；　of　airy　caravans　and　robber　stories　that　made　one'shair　stand　on　end。　All　this　was　new　and　interesting；　that　is；　forthe　first　time；　but　afterwards；　as　the　weather…cock　found　out；　theyrepeated　themselves　and　always　told　the　same　stories；　and　that'svery　tedious；　and　there　was　no　one　with　whom　one　could　associate；for　one　and　all　were　stale　and　small…minded。

〃The　world　is　no　good！〃　he　said。　〃Everything　in　it　is　so　stupid。〃

The　weather…cock　was　puffed　up；　and　that　quality　would　have　madehim　interesting　in　the　eyes　of　the　cucumber　if　it　had　known　it；　but　ithad　eyes　only　for　the　yard　cock；　who　was　now　in　the　yard　with　it。

The　wind　had　blown　the　planks；　but　the　storm　was　over。

〃What　do　you　think　of　that　crowing？〃　said　the　yard　cock　to　thehens　and　chickens。　〃It　was　a　little　rough…　it　wanted　elegance。〃

And　the　hens　and　chickens　came　up　on　the　dung…hill；　and　the　cockstrutted　about　like　a　lord。

〃Garden　plant！〃　he　said　to　the　cucumber；　and　in　that　one　wordhis　deep　learning　showed　itself；　and　it　forgot　that　he　was　peckingat　her　and　eating　it　up。　〃A　happy　death！〃

The　hens　and　the　chickens　came；　for　where　one　runs　the　othersrun　too；　they　clucked；　and　chirped；　and　looked　at　the　cock；　and　wereproud　that　he　was　of　their　kind。

〃Cock…a…doodle…doo！〃　he　crowed；　〃the　chickens　will　grow　up　intogreat　hens　at　once；　if　I　cry　it　out　in　the　poultry…yard　of　the　world！〃

And　hens　and　chicks　clucked　and　chirped；　and　the　cock　announceda　great　piece　of　news。

〃A　cock　can　lay　an　egg！　And　do　you　know　what's　in　that　egg？　Abasilisk。　No　one　can　stand　the　sight　of　such　a　thing；　people　knowthat；　and　now　you　know　it　too…　you　know　what　is　in　me；　and　what　achampion　of　all　cocks　I　am！〃

With　that　the　yard　cock　flapped　his　wings；　made　his　b　swell　up；and　crowed　again；　and　they　all　shuddered；　the　hens　and　the　littlechicks…　but　they　were　very　proud　that　one　of　their　number　was　such　achampion　of　all　cocks。　They　clucked　and　chirped　till　theweather…cock　heard；　he　heard　it；　but　he　did　not　stir。

〃Everything　is　very　stupid；〃　the　weather…cock　said　to　himself。〃The　yard　cock　lays　no　eggs；　and　I　am　too　lazy　to　do　so；　if　I　liked；　Icould　lay　a　wind…egg。　But　the　world　is　not　worth　even　a　wind…egg。Everything　is　so　stupid！　I　don't　want　to　sit　here　any　longer。〃

With　that　the　weather…cock　broke　off；　but　he　did　not　kill　the　yardcock；　although　the　hens　said　that　had　been　his　intention。　And　whatis　the　moral？　〃Better　to　crow　than　to　be　puffed　up　and　break　off！

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　THE　FIR　TREE

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

FAR　down　in　the　forest；　where　the　warm　sun　and　the　fresh　airmade　a　sweet　resting…place；　grew　a　pretty　little　fir…tree；　and　yetit　was　not　happy；　it　wished　so　much　to　be　tall　like　its　panions…the　pines　and　firs　which　grew　around　it。　The　sun　shone；　and　the　softair　fluttered　its　leaves；　and　the　little　peasant　children　passed　by；prattling　merrily；　but　the　fir…tree　heeded　them　not。　Sometimes　thechildren　would　bring　a　large　basket　of　raspberries　or　strawberries；wreathed　on　a　straw；　and　seat　themselves　near　the　fir…tree；　and　say；〃Is　it　not　a　pretty　little　tree？〃　which　made　it　feel　more　unhappy　thanbefore。　And　yet　all　this　while　the　tree　grew　a　notch　or　joint　tallerevery　year；　for　by　the　number　of　joints　in　the　stem　of　a　fir…tree　wecan　discover　its　age。　Still；　as　it　grew；　it　plained；　〃Oh！　how　Iwish　I　were　as　tall　as　the　other　trees；　then　I　would　spread　out　mybranches　on　every　side；　and　my　top　would　over…look　the　wide　world。　Ishould　have　the　birds　building　their　nests　on　my　boughs；　and　whenthe　wind　blew；　I　should　bow　with　stately　dignity　like　my　tallpanions。〃　The　tree　was　so　discontented；　that　it　took　no　pleasure　inthe　warm　sunshine；　the　birds；　or　the　rosy　clouds　that　floated　overit　morning　and　evening。　Sometimes；　in　winter；　when　the　snow　laywhite　and　glittering　on　the　ground；　a　hare　would　e　springing　along；and　jump　right　over　the　little　tree；　and　then　how　mortified　it　wouldfeel！　Two　winters　passed；　and　when　the　third　arrived；　the　tree　hadgrown　so　tall　that　the　hare　was　obliged　to　run　round　it。　Yet　itremained　unsatisfied；　and　would　exclaim；　〃Oh；　if　I　could　but　keep　ongrowing　tall　and　old！　There　is　nothing　else　worth　caring　for　in　theworld！〃　In　the　autumn；　as　usual；　the　wood…cutters　came　and　cut　downseveral　of　the　tallest　trees；　and　the　young　fir…tree；　which　was　nowgrown　to　its　full　height；　shuddered　as　the　noble　trees　fell　to　theearth　with　a　crash。　After　the　branches　were　lopped　off；　the　trunkslooked　so　slender　and　bare；　that　they　could　scarcely　be　recognized。Then　they　were　placed　upon　wagons；　and　drawn　by　horses　out　of　theforest。　〃Where　were　they　going？　What　would　bee　of　them？〃　Theyoung　fir…tree　wished　very　much　to　know；　so　in　the　spring；　when　theswallows　and　the　storks　came；　it　asked；　〃Do　you　know　where　those　treeswere　taken？　Did　you　meet　them？〃

The　swallows　knew　nothing；　but　the　stork；　after　a　littlereflection；　nodded　his　head；　and　said；　〃Yes；　I　think　I　do。　I　metseveral　new　ships　when　I　flew　from　Egypt；　and　they　had　fine　masts　thatsmelt　like　fir。　I　think　these　must　have　been　the　trees；　I　assure　youthey　were　stately；　very　stately。〃

〃Oh；　how　I　wish　I　were　tall　enough　to　go　on　the　sea；〃　said　thefir…tree。　〃What　is　the　sea；　and　what　does　it　look　like？〃

〃It　would　take　too　much　time　to　explain；〃　said　the　stork；　flyingquickly　away。

〃Rejoice　in　thy　youth；〃　said　the　sunbeam；　〃rejoice　in　thy　freshgrowth；　and　the　young　life　that　is　in　thee。〃

And　the　wind　kissed　the　tree；　and　the　dew　watered　it　with　tears；but　the　fir…tree　regarded　them　not。

Christmas…time　drew　near；　and　many　young　trees　were　cut　down；　someeven　smaller　and　younger　than　the　fir…tree　who　enjoyed　neither　restnor　peace　with　longing　to　leave　its　forest　home。　These　young　trees；which　were　chosen　for　their　beauty；　kept　their　branches；　and　were　alsolaid　on　wagons　and　drawn　by　horses　out　of　the　forest。

〃Where　are　they　going？〃　asked　the　fir…tree。　〃They　are　not　tallerthan　I　am：　indeed；　one　is　much　less；　and　why　are　the　branches　notcut　off？　Where　are　they　going？〃

〃We　know；　we　know；〃　sang　the　sparrows；　〃we　have　looked　in　at　thewindows　of　the　houses　in　the　town；　and　we　know　what　is　done　with　them。They　are　dressed　up　in　the　most　splendid　manner。　We　have　seen　themstanding　in　the　middle　of　a　warm　room；　and　adorned　with　all　sorts　ofbeautiful　things；…　honey　cakes；　gilded　apples；　playthings；　and　manyhundreds　of　wax　tapers。〃

〃And　then；〃　asked　the　fir…tree；　trembling　through　all　itsbranches；　〃and　then　what　happens？〃

〃We　did　not　see　any　more；〃　said　the　sparrows；　〃but　this　was　enoughfor　us。〃

〃I　wonder　whether　anything　so　brilliant　will　ever　happen　to　me；〃thought　the　fir…tree。　〃It　would　be　much　better　than　crossing　thesea。　I　long　for　it　almost　with　pain。　Oh！　when　will　Christmas　behere？　I　am　now　as　tall　and　well　grown　as　those　which　were　taken　awaylast　year。　Oh！　that　I　were　now　laid　on　the　wagon；　or　standing　in　thewarm　room；　with　all　that　brightness　and　splendor　around　me！Something　better　and　more　beautiful　is　to　e　after；　or　the　treeswould　not　be　so　decked　out。　Yes；　what　follows　will　be　grander　and　moresplendid。　What　can　it　be？　I　am　weary　with　longing。　I　scarcely　know　howI　feel。〃

〃Rejoice　with　us；〃　said　the　air　and　the　sunlight。　〃Enjoy　thine　ownbright　life　in　the　fresh　air。〃

But　the　tree　would　not　rejoice；　though　it　grew　taller　every　day；and；　winter　and　summer；　its　dark…green　foliage　might　be　seen　in　theforest；　while　passers　by　would　say；　〃What　a　beautiful　tree！〃

A　short　time　before　Christmas；　the　discontented　fir…tree　was　thefirst　to　fall。　As　the　axe　cut　through　the　stem；　and　divided　thepith；　the　tree　fell　with　a　groan　to　the　earth；　conscious　of　pain　andfaintness；　and　forgetting　all　its　anticipations　of　happiness；　insorrow　at　leaving　its　home　in　the　forest。　It　knew　that　it　should　neveragain　see　its　dear　old　panions；　the　trees；　nor　the　little　bushesand　many…colored　flowers　that　had　grown　by　its　side；　perhaps　noteven　the　birds。　Neither　was　the　journey　at　all　pleasant。　The　treefirst　recovered　itself　while　being　unpacked　in　the　courtyard　of　ahouse；　with　several　other　trees；　and　it　heard　a　man　say；　〃We　only　wantone；　and　this　is　the　prettiest。〃

Then　came　two　servants　in　grand　livery；　and　carried　the　fir…treeinto　a　large　and　beautiful　apartment。　On　the　walls　hung　pictures；and　near　the　great　stove　stood　great　china　vases；　with　lions　on　thelids。　There　were　rocking　chairs；　silken　sofas；　large　tables；　coveredwith　pictures；　books；　and　playthings；　worth　a　great　deal　of　money；…　atleast；　the　children　said　so。　Then　the　fir…tree　was　placed　in　a　largetub；　full　of　sand；　but　green　baize　hung　all　around　it；　so　that　noone　could　see　it　was　a　tub；　and　it　stood　on　a　very　handsome　carpet。How　the　fir…tree　trembled！　〃What　was　going　to　happen　to　him　now？〃　Someyoung　ladies　came；　and　the　servants　helped　them　to　adorn　the　tree。On　one　branch　they　hung　little　bags　cut　out　of　colored　paper；　and　eachbag　was　filled　with　sweetmeats；　from　other　branches　hung　gilded　applesand　walnuts；　as　if　they　had　grown　there；　and　above；　and　all　round；were　hundreds　of　red；　blue；　and　white　tapers；　which　were　fastened　onthe　branches。　Dolls；　exactly　like　real　babies；　were　placed　under　thegreen　leaves；…　the　tree　had　never　seen　such　things　before；…　and　at　thevery　top　was　fastened　a　glittering　star；　made　of　tinsel。　Oh；　it　wasvery　beautiful！

〃This　evening；〃　they　all　exclaimed；　〃how　bright　it　will　be！〃〃Oh；　that　the　evening　were　e；〃　thought　the　tree；　〃and　the　taperslighted！　then　I　shall　know　what　else　is　going　to　happen。　Will　thetrees　of　the　forest　e　to　see　me？　I　wonder　if　the　sparrows　will　peepin　at　the　windows　as　they　fly？　shall　I　grow　faster　here；　and　keep　onall　these　ornaments　summer　and　winter？〃　But　guessing　was　of　verylittle　use；　it　made　his　bark　ache；　and　this　pain　is　as　bad　for　aslender　fir…tree；　as　headache　is　for　us。　At　last　the　tapers　werelighted；　and　then　what　a　glistening　blaze　of　light　the　tree　presented！It　trembled　so　with　joy　in　all　its　branches；　that　one　of　the　candlesfell　among　the　green　leaves　and　burnt　some　of　them。　〃Help！　help！〃exclaimed　the　young　ladies；　but　there　was　no　danger；　for　theyquickly　extinguished　the　fire。　After　this；　the　tree　tried　not　totremble　at　all；　though　the　fire　frightened　him；　he　was　so　anxiousnot　to　hurt　any　of　the　beautiful　ornaments；　even　while　theirbrilliancy　dazzled　him。　And　now　the　folding　doors　were　thrown　open；and　a　troop　of　children　rushed　in　as　if　they　intended　to　upset　thetree；　they　were　followed　more　silently　by　their　elders。　For　a　momentthe　little　ones　stood　silent　with　astonishment；　and　then　theyshouted　for　joy；　till　the　room　rang；　and　they　danced　merrily　round　thetree；　while　one　present　after　another　was　taken　from　it。

〃What　are　they　doing？　What　will　happen　next？〃　thought　the　fir。At　last　the　candles　burnt　down　to　the　branches　and　were　put　out。Then　the　children　received　permission　to　plunder　the　tree。

Oh；　how　they　rushed　upon　it；　till　the　branches　cracked；　and　had　itnot　been　fastened　with　the　glistening　star　to　the　ceiling；　it　musthave　been　thrown　down。　The　children　then　danced　about　with　theirpretty　toys；　and　no　one　noticed　the　tree；　except　the　children's　maidwho　came　and　peeped　among　the　branches　to　see　if　an　apple　or　a　fig　hadbeen　forgotten。

〃A　story；　a　story；〃　cried　the　children；　pulling　a　little　fat　mantowards　the　tree。

〃Now　we　shall　be　in　the　green　shade；〃　said　the　man；　as　he　seatedhimself　under　it；　〃and　the　tree　will　have　the　pleasure　of　hearingalso；　but　I　shall　only　relate　one　story；　what　shall　it　be？Ivede…Avede；　or　Humpty　Dumpty；　who　fell　down　stairs；　but　soon　got　upagain；　and　at　last　married　a　princess。〃

〃Ivede…Avede；〃　cried　some。　〃Humpty　Dumpty；〃　cried　others；　andthere　was　a　fine　shouting　and　crying　out。　But　the　fir…tree　remainedquite　still；　and　thought　to　himself；　〃Shall　I　have　anything　to　do　withall　this？〃　but　he　had　already　amused　them　as　much　as　they　wished。　Thenthe　old　man　told　them　the　story　of　Humpty　Dumpty；　how　he　fell　downstairs；　and　was　raised　up　again；　and　married　a　princess。　And　thechildren　clapped　their　hands　and　cried；　〃Tell　another；　tellanother；〃　for　they　wanted　to　hear　the　story　of　〃Ivede…Avede；〃　but　theyonly　had　〃Humpty　Dumpty。〃　After　this　the　fir…tree　became　quitesilent　and　thoughtful；　never　had　the　birds　in　the　forest　told　suchtales　as　〃Humpty　Dumpty；〃　who　fell　down　stairs；　and　yet　married　aprincess。

〃Ah！　yes；　so　it　happens　in　the　world；〃　thought　the　fir…tree；　hebelieved　it　all；　because　it　was　related　by　such　a　nice　man。　〃Ah！well；〃　he　thought；　〃who　knows？　perhaps　I　may　fall　down　too；　andmarry　a　princess；〃　and　he　looked　forward　joyfully　to　the　next　evening；expecting　to　be　again　decked　out　with　lights　and　playthings；　goldand　fruit。　〃To…morrow　I　will　not　tremble；〃　thought　he；　〃I　will　enjoyall　my　splendor；　and　I　shall　hear　the　story　of　Humpty　Dumpty　again；and　perhaps　Ivede…Avede。〃　And　the　tree　remained　quiet　and　thoughtfulall　night。　In　the　morning　the　servants　and　the　housemaid　came　in。〃Now；〃　thought　the　fir；　〃all　my　splendor　is　going　to　begin　again。〃　Butthey　dragged　him　out　of　the　room　and　up　stairs　to　the　garret；　andthrew　him　on　the　floor；　in　a　dark　corner；　where　no　daylight　shone；　andthere　they　left　him。　〃What　does　this　mean？〃　thought　the　tree；　〃what　amI　to　do　here？　I　can　hear　nothing　in　a　place　like　this；〃　and　he　hadtime　enough　to　think；　for　days　and　nights　passed　and　no　one　camenear　him；　and　when　at　last　somebody　did　e；　it　was　only　to　putaway　large　boxes　in　a　corner。　So　the　tree　was　pletely　hidden　fromsight　as　if　it　had　never　existed。　〃It　is　winter