安徒生童话-第50部分

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oppositeilluminated　him　as　he　sat；　both　hands　pressed　tightly　over　his　cap；　inwhich　the　treasure　lay；　and　then　he　found　out　what　feelings　reallyreigned　in　his　heart；　and　knew　exactly　which　way　they　tended。　And　yet；when　the　fire　was　extinguished；　and　the　goblin　again　began　to　reflect；he　hesitated；　and　said　at　last；　〃I　must　divide　myself　between　the　two；I　cannot　quite　give　up　the　huckster；　because　of　the　jam。〃

And　this　is　a　representation　of　human　nature。　We　are　like　thegoblin；　we　all　go　to　visit　the　huckster　〃because　of　the　jam。〃

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　THE　GOLDEN　TREASURE

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THE　drummer's　wife　went　into　the　church。　She　saw　the　new　altarwith　the　painted　pictures　and　the　carved　angels。　Those　upon　the　canvasand　in　the　glory　over　the　altar　were　just　as　beautiful　as　the　carvedones；　and　they　were　painted　and　gilt　into　the　bargain。　Their　hairgleamed　golden　in　the　sunshine；　lovely　to　behold；　but　the　realsunshine　was　more　beautiful　still。　It　shone　redder；　clearer　throughthe　dark　trees；　when　the　sun　went　down。　It　was　lovely　thus　to　lookat　the　sunshine　of　heaven。　And　she　looked　at　the　red　sun；　and　shethought　about　it　so　deeply；　and　thought　of　the　little　one　whom　thestork　was　to　bring；　and　the　wife　of　the　drummer　was　very　cheerful；　andlooked　and　looked；　and　wished　that　the　child　might　have　a　gleam　ofsunshine　given　to　it；　so　that　it　might　at　least　bee　like　one　of　theshining　angels　over　the　altar。

And　when　she　really　had　the　little　child　in　her　arms；　and　heldit　up　to　its　father；　then　it　was　like　one　of　the　angels　in　thechurch　to　behold；　with　hair　like　gold…　the　gleam　of　the　setting　sunwas　upon　it。

〃My　golden　treasure；　my　riches；　my　sunshine！〃　said　the　mother；　andshe　kissed　the　shining　locks；　and　it　sounded　like　music　and　song　inthe　room　of　the　drummer；　and　there　was　joy；　and　life；　and　movement。The　drummer　beat　a　roll…　a　roll　of　joy。　And　the　Drum　said…　theFire…drum；　that　was　beaten　when　there　was　a　fire　in　the　town：

〃Red　hair！　the　little　fellow　has　red　hair！　Believe　the　drum；　andnot　what　your　mother　says！　Rub…a　dub；　rub…a　dub！〃

And　the　town　repeated　what　the　Fire…drum　had　said。

The　boy　was　taken　to　church；　the　boy　was　christened。　There　wasnothing　much　to　be　said　about　his　name；　he　was　called　Peter。　The　wholetown；　and　the　Drum　too；　called　him　Peter　the　drummer's　boy　with　thered　hair；　but　his　mother　kissed　his　red　hair；　and　called　him　hergolden　treasure。

In　the　hollow　way　in　the　clayey　bank；　many　had　scratched　theirnames　as　a　remembrance。

〃Celebrity　is　always　something！〃　said　the　drummer；　and　so　hescratched　his　own　name　there；　and　his　little　son's　name　likewise。

And　the　swallows　came。　They　had；　on　their　long　journey；　seenmore　durable　characters　engraven　on　rocks；　and　on　the　walls　of　thetemples　in　Hindostan；　mighty　deeds　of　great　kings；　immortal　names；so　old　that　no　one　now　could　read　or　speak　them。　Remarkable　celebrity！

In　the　clayey　bank　the　martens　built　their　nest。　They　boredholes　in　the　deep　declivity；　and　the　splashing　rain　and　the　thinmist　came　and　crumbled　and　washed　the　names　away；　and　the　drummer'sname　also；　and　that　of　his　little　son。

〃Peter's　name　will　last　a　full　year　and　a　half　longer！〃　said　thefather。

〃Fool！〃　thought　the　Fire…drum；　but　it　only　said；　〃Dub；　dub；　dub；rub…a…dub！〃

He　was　a　boy　full　of　life　and　gladness；　this　drummer's　son　withthe　red　hair。　He　had　a　lovely　voice。　He　could　sing；　and　he　sang　like　abird　in　the　woodland。　There　was　melody；　and　yet　no　melody。

〃He　must　bee　a　chorister　boy；〃　said　his　mother。　〃He　shallsing　in　the　church；　and　stand　among　the　beautiful　gilded　angels　whoare　like　him！〃

〃Fiery　cat！〃　said　some　of　the　witty　ones　of　the　town。

The　Drum　heard　that　from　the　neighbors'　wives。

〃Don't　go　home；　Peter；〃　cried　the　street　boys。　〃If　you　sleep　inthe　garret；　there'll　be　a　fire　in　the　house；　and　the　fire…drum　willhave　to　be　beaten。〃

〃Look　out　for　the　drumsticks；〃　replied　Peter；　and；　small　as　hewas；　he　ran　up　boldly；　and　gave　the　foremost　such　a　punch　in　thebody　with　his　fist；　that　the　fellow　lost　his　legs　and　tumbled　over；and　the　others　took　their　legs　off　with　themselves　very　rapidly。

The　town　musician　was　very　genteel　and　fine。　He　was　the　son　of　theroyal　plate…washer。　He　was　very　fond　of　Peter；　and　would　sometimestake　him　to　his　home；　and　he　gave　him　a　violin；　and　taught　him　to　playit。　It　seemed　as　if　the　whole　art　lay　in　the　boy's　fingers；　and　hewanted　to　be　more　than　a　drummer…　he　wanted　to　bee　musician　tothe　town。

〃I'll　be　a　soldier；〃　said　Peter；　for　he　was　still　quite　a　littlelad；　and　it　seemed　to　him　the　finest　thing　in　the　world　to　carry　agun；　and　to　be　able　to　march　one；　two…　one；　two；　and　to　wear　a　uniformand　a　sword。

〃Ah；　you　learn　to　long　for　the　drum…skin；　drum；　dum；　dum！〃　saidthe　Drum。

〃Yes；　if　he　could　only　march　his　way　up　to　be　a　general！〃　observedhis　father；　〃but　before　he　can　do　that；　there　must　be　war。〃

〃Heaven　forbid！〃　said　his　mother。

〃We　have　nothing　to　lose；〃　remarked　the　father。

〃Yes；　we　have　my　boy；〃　she　retorted。

〃But　suppose　he　came　back　a　general！〃　said　the　father。

〃Without　arms　and　legs！〃　cried　the　mother。　〃No；　I　would　ratherkeep　my　golden　treasure　with　me。〃

〃Drum；　dum；　dum！〃　The　Fire…drum　and　all　the　other　drums　werebeating；　for　war　had　e。　The　soldiers　all　set　out；　and　the　son　ofthe　drummer　followed　them。　〃Red…head。　Golden　treasure！〃

The　mother　wept；　the　father　in　fancy　saw　him　〃famous；〃　the　townmusician　was　of　opinion　that　he　ought　not　to　go　to　war；　but　shouldstay　at　home　and　learn　music。

〃Red…head；〃　said　the　soldiers；　and　little　Peter　laughed；　butwhen　one　of　them　sometimes　said　to　another；　〃Foxey；〃　he　would　bite　histeeth　together　and　look　another　way…　into　the　wide　world。　He　did　notcare　for　the　nickname。

The　boy　was　active；　pleasant　of　speech；　and　good…humored；　thatis　the　best　canteen；　said　his　old　rades。

And　many　a　night　he　had　to　sleep　under　the　open　sky；　wet　throughwith　the　driving　rain　or　the　falling　mist；　but　his　good　humor　neverforsook　him。　The　drum…sticks　sounded；　〃Rub…a…dub；　all　up；　all　up！〃Yes；　he　was　certainly　born　to　be　a　drummer。

The　day　of　battle　dawned。　The　sun　had　not　yet　risen；　but　themorning　was　e。　The　air　was　cold；　the　battle　was　hot；　there　was　mistin　the　air；　but　still　more　gunpowder…smoke。　The　bullets　and　shellsflew　over　the　soldiers'　heads；　and　into　their　heads…　into　their　bodiesand　limbs；　but　still　they　pressed　forward。　Here　or　there　one　orother　of　them　would　sink　on　his　knees；　with　bleeding　temples　and　aface　as　white　as　chalk。　The　little　drummer　still　kept　his　healthycolor；　he　had　suffered　no　damage；　he　looked　cheerfully　at　the　dog　ofthe　regiment；　which　was　jumping　along　as　merrily　as　if　the　whole　thinghad　been　got　up　for　his　amusement；　and　as　if　the　bullets　were　onlyflying　about　that　he　might　have　a　game　of　play　with　them。

〃March！　Forward！　March！〃　This；　was　the　word　of　mand　for　thedrum。　The　word　had　not　yet　been　given　to　fall　back；　though　theymight　have　done　so；　and　perhaps　there　would　have　been　much　sense　init；　and　now　at　last　the　word　〃Retire〃　was　given；　but　our　littledrummer　beat　〃Forward！　march！〃　for　he　had　understood　the　mand　thus；and　the　soldiers　obeyed　the　sound　of　the　drum。　That　was　a　good　roll；and　proved　the　summons　to　victory　for　the　men；　who　had　already　begunto　give　way。

Life　and　limb　were　lost　in　the　battle。　Bombshells　tore　away　theflesh　in　red　strips；　bombshells　lit　up　into　a　terrible　glow　thestrawheaps　to　which　the　wounded　had　dragged　themselves；　to　lieuntended　for　many　hours；　perhaps　for　all　the　hours　they　had　to　live。

It's　no　use　thinking　of　it；　and　yet　one　cannot　help　thinking　ofit；　even　far　away　in　the　peaceful　town。　The　drummer　and　his　wifealso　thought　of　it；　for　Peter　was　at　the　war。

〃Now；　I'm　tired　of　these　plaints；〃　said　the　Fire…drum。

Again　the　day　of　battle　dawned；　the　sun　had　not　yet　risen；　butit　was　morning。　The　drummer　and　his　wife　were　asleep。　They　had　beentalking　about　their　son；　as；　indeed；　they　did　almost　every　night；for　he　was　out　yonder　in　God's　hand。　And　the　father　dreamt　that　thewar　was　over；　that　the　soldiers　had　returned　home；　and　that　Peter　worea　silver　cross　on　his　breast。　But　the　mother　dreamt　that　she　hadgone　into　the　church；　and　had　seen　the　painted　pictures　and　the　carvedangels　with　the　gilded　hair；　and　her　own　dear　boy；　the　golden　treasureof　her　heart；　who　was　standing　among　the　angels　in　white　robes；singing　so　sweetly；　as　surely　only　the　angels　can　sing；　and　that　hehad　soared　up　with　them　into　the　sunshine；　and　nodded　so　kindly　at　hismother。

〃My　golden　treasure！〃　she　cried　out；　and　she　awoke。　〃Now　thegood　God　has　taken　him　to　Himself！〃　She　folded　her　hands；　and　hidher　face　in　the　cotton　curtains　of　the　bed；　and　wept。　〃Where　does　herest　now？　among　the　many　in　the　big　grave　that　they　have　dug　for　thedead？　Perhaps　he's　in　the　water　in　the　marsh！　Nobody　knows　hisgrave；　no　holy　words　have　been　read　over　it！〃　And　the　Lord's　Prayerwent　inaudibly　over　her　lips；　she　bowed　her　head；　and　was　so　wearythat　she　went　to　sleep。

And　the　days　went　by；　in　life　as　in　dreams！

It　was　evening。　Over　the　battle…field　a　rainbow　spread；　whichtouched　the　forest　and　the　deep　marsh。

It　has　been　said；　and　is　preserved　in　popular　belief；　that　wherethe　rainbow　touches　the　earth　a　treasure　lies　buried；　a　goldentreasure；　and　here　there　was　one。　No　one　but　his　mother　thought　of　thelittle　drummer；　and　therefore　she　dreamt　of　him。

And　the　days　went　by；　in　life　as　in　dreams！

Not　a　hair　of　his　head　had　been　hurt；　not　a　golden　hair。

〃Drum…ma…rum！　drum…ma…rum！　there　he　is！〃　the　Drum　might　have　said；and　his　mother　might　have　sung；　if　she　had　seen　or　dreamt　it。

With　hurrah　and　song；　adorned　with　green　wreaths　of　victory；they　came　home；　as　the　war　was　at　an　end；　and　peace　had　been　signed。The　dog　of　the　regiment　sprang　on　in　front　with　large　bounds；　and　madethe　way　three　times　as　long　for　himself　as　it　really　was。

And　days　and　weeks　went　by；　and　Peter　came　into　his　parents'　room。He　was　as　brown　as　a　wild　man；　and　his　eyes　were　bright；　and　hisface　beamed　like　sunshine。　And　his　mother　held　him　in　her　arms；　shekissed　his　lips；　his　forehead；　and　his　red　hair。　She　had　her　boyback　again；　he　had　not　a　silver　cross　on　his　breast；　as　his　father　haddreamt；　but　he　had　sound　limbs；　a　thing　the　mother　had　not　dreamt。　Andwhat　a　rejoicing　was　there！　They　laughed　and　they　wept；　and　Peterembraced　the　old　Fire…drum。

〃There　stands　the　old　skeleton　still！〃　he　said。

And　the　father　beat　a　roll　upon　it。

〃One　would　think　that　a　great　fire　had　broken　out　here；〃　saidthe　Fire…drum。　〃Bright　day！　fire　in　the　heart！　golden　treasure！　skrat！skr…r…at！　skr…r…r…r…at！〃

And　what　then？　What　then！…　Ask　the　town　musician。

〃Peter's　far　outgrowing　the　drum；〃　he　said。　〃Peter　will　be　greaterthan　I。〃

And　yet　he　was　the　son　of　a　royal　plate…washer；　but　all　that　hehad　learned　in　half　a　lifetime；　Peter　learned　in　half　a　year。

There　was　something　so　merry　about　him；　something　so　trulykind…hearted。　His　eyes　gleamed；　and　his　hair　gleamed　too…　there　was　nodenying　that！

〃He　ought　to　have　his　hair　dyed；〃　said　the　neighbor's　wife。〃That　answered　capitally　with　the　policeman's　daughter；　and　she　gota　husband。〃

〃But　her　hair　turned　as　green　as　duckweed；　and　was　always　havingto　be　colored　up。〃

〃She　knows　how　to　manage　for　herself；〃　said　the　neighbors；　〃and　socan　Peter。　He　es　to　the　most　genteel　houses；　even　to　theburgomaster's　where　he　gives　Miss　Charlotte　piano…forte　lessons。〃

He　could　play！　He　could　play；　fresh　out　of　his　heart；　the　mostcharming　pieces；　that　had　never　been　put　upon　music…paper。　He　playedin　the　bright　nights；　and　in　the　dark　nights；　too。　The　neighborsdeclared　it　was　unbearable；　and　the　Fire…drum　was　of　the　same　opinion。

He　played　until　his　thoughts　soared　up；　and　burst　forth　in　greatplans　for　the　future：

〃To　be　famous！〃

And　burgomaster's　Charlotte　sat　at　the　piano。　Her　delicate　fingersdanced　over　the　keys；　and　made　them　ring　into　Peter's　heart。　It　seemedtoo　much　for　him　to　bear；　and　this　happened　not　once；　but　manytimes；　and　at　last　one　day　he　seized　the　delicate　fingers　and　thewhite　hand；　and　kissed　it；　and　looked　into　her　great　brown　eyes。Heaven　knows　what　he　said；　but　we　may　be　allowed　to　guess　at　it。Charlotte　blushed　to　guess　at　it。　She　reddened　from　brow　to　neck；and　answered　not　a　single　word；　and　then　strangers　came　into　the　room；and　one　of　them　was　the　state　councillor's　son。　He　had　a　lofty　whiteforehead；　and　carried　it　so　high　that　it　seemed　to　go　back　into　hisneck。　And　Peter　sat　by　her　a　long　time；　and　she　looked　at　him　withgentle　eyes。

At　home　that　evening　he　spoke　of　travel　in　the　wide　world；　andof　the　golden　treasure　that　lay　hidden　for　him　in　his　violin。

〃To　be　famous！〃

〃Tum…me…lum；　tum…me…lum；　tum…me…lum！〃　said　the　Fire…drum。　〃Peterhas　gone　clear　out　of　his　wits。　I　think　there　must　be　a　fire　in　thehouse。〃

Next　day　the　mother　went　to　market。

〃Shall　I　tell　you　news；　Peter？〃　she　asked　when　she　came　home。　〃Acapital　piece　of　news。　Burgomaster's　Charlotte　has　engaged　herselfto　the　state　councillor's　son；　the　betrothal　took　place　yesterdayevening。〃

〃No！〃　cried　Peter；　and　he　sprang　up　from　his　chair。　But　his　motherpersisted　in　saying　〃Yes。〃　She　had　heard　it　from　the　baker's　wife；whose　husband　had　it　from　the　burgomaster's　own　mouth

And　Peter　became　as　pale　as　death；　and　sat　down　again。

〃Good　Heaven！　what's　the　matter　with　you？〃　asked　his　mother。

〃Nothing；　nothing；　only　leave　me　to　myself；〃　he　answered　but　thetears　were　running　down　his　cheeks。

〃My　sweet　child；　my　golden　treasure！〃　cried　the　mother；　and　shewept；　but　the　Fire…drum　sang；　not　out　loud；　but　inwardly。

〃Charlotte's　gone！　Charlotte's　gone！　and　now　the　song　is　done。〃

But　the　song　was　not　done；　there　were　many　more　verses　in　it；　longverses；　the　most　beautiful　verses；　the　golden　treasures　of　a　life。

〃She　behaves　like　a　mad　woman；〃　said　the　neighbor's　wife。　〃All　theworld　is　to　see　the　letters　she　gets　from　her　golden　treasure；　andto　read　the　words　that　are　written　in　the　papers　about　his　violinplaying。　And　he　sends　her　money　too；　and　that's　very　useful　to　hersince　she　has　been　a　widow。〃

〃He　plays　before　emperors　and　kings；〃　said　the　town　musician。　〃Inever　had　that　fortune；　but　he's　my　pupil；　and　he　does　not　forgethis　old　master。〃

And　his　mother　said；

〃His　father　dreamt　that　Peter　came　home　from　the　war　with　a　silvercross。　He　did　not　gain　one　in　the　war；　but　it　is　still　moredifficult　to　gain　one　in　this　way。　Now　he　has　the　cross　of　honor。　Ifhis　father　had　only　lived　to　see　it！〃

〃He's　grown　famous！〃　said　the　Fire…drum；　and　all　his　native　townsaid　the　same　thing；　for　the　drummer's　son；　Peter　with　the　red　hair…Peter　whom　they　had　known　as　a　little　boy；　running　about　in　woodenshoes；　and　then　as　a　drummer；　playing　for　the　dancers…　was　beefamous！

〃He　played　at　our　house　before　he　played　in　the　presence　ofkings；〃　said　the　burgomaster's　wife。　〃At　that　time　he　was　quitesmitten　with　Charlotte。　He　was　always　of　an　aspiring　turn。　At　thattime　he　was　saucy　and　an　enthusiast。　My　husband　laughed　when　heheard　of　the　foolish　affair；　and　now　our　Charlotte　is　a　statecouncillor's　wife。〃

A　golden　treasure　had　been　hidden　in　the　heart　and　soul　of　thepoor　child；　who　had　beaten　the　roll　as　a　drummer…　a　roll　of　victoryfor　those　who　had　been　ready　to　retreat。　There　was　a　golden　treasurein　hi