安徒生童话-第53部分

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s　I　should　no　doubt　find　a　largemillinery　establishment。　There　is　another　that　is　perhaps　empty；　andwould　be　all　the　better　for　cleaning　out。　There　may　be　some　wellstored　with　good　articles。　Ah；　yes；〃　he　sighed；　〃I　know　one；　inwhich　everything　is　solid；　but　a　servant　is　there　already；　and　that　isthe　only　thing　against　it。　I　dare　say　from　many　I　should　hear　thewords；　'Please　to　walk　in。'　I　only　wish　I　could　slip　into　the　heartslike　a　little　tiny　thought。〃　This　was　the　word　of　mand　for　thegoloshes。　The　volunteer　shrunk　up　together；　and　menced　a　mostunusual　journey　through　the　hearts　of　the　spectators　in　the　first　row。The　first　heart　he　entered　was　that　of　a　lady；　but　he　thought　hemust　have　got　into　one　of　the　rooms　of　an　orthopedic　institution　whereplaster　casts　of　deformed　limbs　were　hanging　on　the　walls；　with　thisdifference；　that　the　casts　in　the　institution　are　formed　when　thepatient　enters；　but　here　they　were　formed　and　preserved　after　the　goodpeople　had　left。　These　were　casts　of　the　bodily　and　mental　deformitiesof　the　lady's　female　friends　carefully　preserved。　Quickly　he　passedinto　another　heart；　which　had　the　appearance　of　a　spacious；　holychurch；　with　the　white　dove　of　innocence　fluttering　over　the　altar。Gladly　would　he　have　fallen　on　his　knees　in　such　a　sacred　place；　buthe　was　carried　on　to　another　heart；　still；　however；　listening　to　thetones　of　the　organ；　and　feeling　himself　that　he　had　bee　another　anda　better　man。　The　next　heart　was　also　a　sanctuary；　which　he　feltalmost　unworthy　to　enter；　it　represented　a　mean　garret；　in　which　lay　asick　mother；　but　the　warm　sunshine　streamed　through　the　window；　lovelyroses　bloomed　in　a　little　flowerbox　on　the　roof；　two　blue　birds　sangof　childlike　joys；　and　the　sick　mother　prayed　for　a　blessing　on　herdaughter。　Next　he　crept　on　his　hands　and　knees　through　an　overfilledbutcher's　shop；　there　was　meat；　nothing　but　meat；　wherever　he　stepped；this　was　the　heart　of　a　rich；　respectable　man；　whose　name　is　doubtlessin　the　directory。　Then　he　entered　the　heart　of　this　man's　wife；　it　wasan　old；　tumble…down　pigeon…house；　the　husband's　portrait　served　as　aweather…cock；　it　was　connected　with　all　the　doors；　which　opened　andshut　just　as　the　husband's　decision　turned。　The　next　heart　was　aplete　cabi　of　mirrors；　such　as　can　be　seen　in　the　Castle　ofRosenberg。　But　these　mirrors　magnified　in　an　astonishing　degree；　inthe　middle　of　the　floor　sat；　like　the　Grand　Lama；　the　insignificantI　of　the　owner；　astonished　at　the　contemplation　of　his　own　features。At　his　next　visit　he　fancied　he　must　have　got　into　a　narrowneedlecase；　full　of　sharp　needles：　〃Oh；〃　thought　he；　〃this　must　be　theheart　of　an　old　maid；〃　but　such　was　not　the　fact；　it　belonged　to　ayoung　officer；　who　wore　several　orders；　and　was　said　to　be　a　man　ofintellect　and　heart。

The　poor　volunteer　came　out　of　the　last　heart　in　the　row　quitebewildered。　He　could　not　collect　his　thoughts；　and　imagined　hisfoolish　fancies　had　carried　him　away。　〃Good　gracious！〃　he　sighed；　〃Imust　have　a　tendency　to　softening　of　the　brain；　and　here　it　is　soexceedingly　hot　that　the　blood　is　rushing　to　my　head。〃　And　thensuddenly　recurred　to　him　the　strange　event　of　the　evening　before；　whenhis　head　had　been　fixed　between　the　iron　railings　in　front　of　thehospital。　〃That　is　the　cause　of　it　all！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I　must　dosomething　in　time。　A　Russian　bath　would　be　a　very　good　thing　tobegin　with。　I　wish　I　were　lying　on　one　of　the　highest　shelves。〃　Sureenough；　there　he　lay　on　an　upper　shelf　of　a　vapor　bath；　still　in　hisevening　costume；　with　his　boots　and　goloshes　on；　and　the　hot　dropsfrom　the　ceiling　falling　on　his　face。　〃Ho！〃　he　cried；　jumping　down　andrushing　towards　the　plunging　bath。　The　attendant　stopped　him　with　aloud　cry；　when　he　saw　a　man　with　all　his　clothes　on。　The　volunteerhad；　however；　presence　of　mind　enough　to　whisper；　〃It　is　for　a　wager；〃but　the　first　thing　he　did；　when　he　reached　his　own　room；　was　to　put　alarge　blister　on　his　neck；　and　another　on　his　back；　that　his　crazy　fitmight　be　cured。　The　next　morning　his　back　was　very　sore；　which　was　allhe　gained　by　the　goloshes　of　Fortune。

　THE　CLERK'S　TRANSFORMATION

The　watchman；　whom　we　of　course　have　not　forgotten；　thought；　aftera　while；　of　the　goloshes　which　he　had　found　and　taken　to　the　hospital；so　he　went　and　fetched　them。　But　neither　the　lieutenant　nor　any　one　inthe　street　could　recognize　them　as　their　own；　so　he　gave　them　up　tothe　police。　〃They　look　exactly　like　my　own　goloshes；〃　said　one　ofthe　clerks；　examining　the　unknown　articles；　as　they　stood　by　theside　of　his　own。　〃It　would　require　even　more　than　the　eye　of　ashoemaker　to　know　one　pair　from　the　other。〃

〃Master　clerk；〃　said　a　servant　who　entered　with　some　papers。　Theclerk　turned　and　spoke　to　the　man；　but　when　he　had　done　with　him；　heturned　to　look　at　the　goloshes　again；　and　now　he　was　in　greaterdoubt　than　ever　as　to　whether　the　pair　on　the　right　or　on　the　leftbelonged　to　him。　〃Those　that　are　wet　must　be　mine；〃　thought　he；　but　hethought　wrong；　it　was　just　the　reverse。　The　goloshes　of　Fortune　werethe　wet　pair；　and；　besides；　why　should　not　a　clerk　in　a　policeoffice　be　wrong　sometimes？　So　he　drew　them　on；　thrust　his　papersinto　his　pocket；　placed　a　few　manuscripts　under　his　arm；　which　hehad　to　take　with　him；　and　to　make　abstracts　from　at　home。　Then；　asit　was　Sunday　morning　and　the　weather　very　fine；　he　said　to　himself；〃A　walk　to　Fredericksburg　will　do　me　good：〃　so　away　he　went。

There　could　not　be　a　quieter　or　more　steady　young　man　than　thisclerk。　We　will　not　grudge　him　this　little　walk；　it　was　just　thething　to　do　him　good　after　sitting　so　much。　He　went　on　at　first　like　amere　automaton；　without　thought　or　wish；　therefore　the　goloshes　had　noopportunity　to　display　their　magic　power。　In　the　avenue　he　met　with　anacquaintance；　one　of　our　young　poets；　who　told　him　that　he　intended　tostart　on　the　following　day　on　a　summer　excursion。　〃Are　you　reallygoing　away　so　soon？〃　asked　the　clerk。　〃What　a　free；　happy　man　you　are。You　can　roam　about　where　you　will；　while　such　as　we　are　tied　by　thefoot。〃

〃But　it　is　fastened　to　the　bread…tree；〃　replied　the　poet。　〃Youneed　have　no　anxiety　for　the　morrow；　and　when　you　are　old　there　is　apension　for　you。〃

〃Ah；　yes；　but　you　have　the　best　of　it；〃　said　the　clerk；　〃it　mustbe　so　delightful　to　sit　and　write　poetry。　The　whole　world　makes　itselfagreeable　to　you；　and　then　you　are　your　own　master。　You　should　try　howyou　would　like　to　listen　to　all　the　trivial　things　in　a　court　ofjustice。〃　The　poet　shook　his　head；　so　also　did　the　clerk；　eachretained　his　own　opinion；　and　so　they　parted。　〃They　are　strangepeople；　these　poets；〃　thought　the　clerk。　〃I　should　like　to　try　what　itis　to　have　a　poetic　taste；　and　to　bee　a　poet　myself。　I　am　sure　Ishould　not　write　such　mournful　verses　as　they　do。　This　is　a　splendidspring　day　for　a　poet；　the　air　is　so　remarkably　clear；　the　cloudsare　so　beautiful；　and　the　green　grass　has　such　a　sweet　smell。　For　manyyears　I　have　not　felt　as　I　do　at　this　moment。〃

We　perceive；　by　these　remarks；　that　he　had　already　bee　apoet。　By　most　poets　what　he　had　said　would　be　considered　mon…place；or　as　the　Germans　call　it；　〃insipid。〃　It　is　a　foolish　fancy　to　lookupon　poets　as　different　to　other　men。　There　are　many　who　are　morethe　poets　of　nature　than　those　who　are　professed　poets。　The　differenceis　this；　the　poet's　intellectual　memory　is　better；　he　seizes　upon　anidea　or　a　sentiment；　until　he　can　embody　it；　clearly　and　plainly　inwords；　which　the　others　cannot　do。　But　the　transition　from　a　characterof　every…day　life　to　one　of　a　more　gifted　nature　is　a　greattransition；　and　so　the　clerk　became　aware　of　the　change　after　atime。　〃What　a　delightful　perfume；〃　said　he；　〃it　reminds　me　of　theviolets　at　Aunt　Lora's。　Ah；　that　was　when　I　was　a　little　boy。　Dear　me；how　long　it　seems　since　I　thought　of　those　days！　She　was　a　good　oldmaiden　lady！　she　lived　yonder；　behind　the　Exchange。　She　always　had　asprig　or　a　few　blossoms　in　water；　let　the　winter　be　ever　so　severe。I　could　smell　the　violets；　even　while　I　was　placing　warm　pennypieces　against　the　frozen　panes　to　make　peep…holes；　and　a　prettyview　it　was　on　which　I　peeped。　Out　in　the　river　lay　the　ships；icebound；　and　forsaken　by　their　crews；　a　screaming　crow　representedthe　only　living　creature　on　board。　But　when　the　breezes　of　springcame；　everything　started　into　life。　Amidst　shouting　and　cheers　theships　were　tarred　and　rigged；　and　then　they　sailed　to　foreign　lands。

〃I　remain　here；　and　always　shall　remain；　sitting　at　my　post　at　thepolice　office；　and　letting　others　take　passports　to　distant　lands。Yes；　this　is　my　fate；〃　and　he　sighed　deeply。　Suddenly　he　paused。　〃Goodgracious；　what　has　e　over　me？　I　never　felt　before　as　I　do　now；　itmust　be　the　air　of　spring。　It　is　overpowering；　and　yet　it　isdelightful。〃

He　felt　in　his　pockets　for　some　of　his　papers。　〃These　will　give　mesomething　else　to　think　of；〃　said　he。　Casting　his　eyes　on　the　firstpage　of　one；　he　read；　〃'Mistress　Sigbirth；　an　original　Tragedy；　inFive　Acts。'　What　is　this？…　in　my　own　handwriting；　too！　Have　Iwritten　this　tragedy？〃　He　read　again；　〃'The　Intrigue　on　the　Promenade；or；　the　Fast…Day。　A　Vaudeville。'　However　did　I　get　all　this？　Someone　must　have　put　them　into　my　pocket。　And　here　is　a　letter！〃　It　wasfrom　the　manager　of　a　theatre；　the　pieces　were　rejected；　not　at　all　inpolite　terms。

〃Hem；　hem！〃　said　he；　sitting　down　on　a　bench；　his　thoughts　werevery　elastic；　and　his　heart　softened　strangely。　Involuntarily　heseized　one　of　the　nearest　flowers；　it　was　a　little；　simple　daisy。All　that　botanists　can　say　in　many　lectures　was　explained　in　amoment　by　this　little　flower。　It　spoke　of　the　glory　of　its　birth；　ittold　of　the　strength　of　the　sunlight；　which　had　caused　its　delicateleaves　to　expand；　and　given　to　it　such　sweet　perfume。　The　struggles　oflife　which　arouse　sensations　in　the　bosom　have　their　type　in　thetiny　flowers。　Air　and　light　are　the　lovers　of　the　flowers；　but　lightis　the　favored　one；　towards　light　it　turns；　and　only　when　lightvanishes　does　it　fold　its　leaves　together；　and　sleep　in　the　embracesof　the　air。〃

〃It　is　light　that　adorns　me；〃　said　the　flower。

〃But　the　air　gives　you　the　breath　of　life；〃　whispered　the　poet。

Just　by　him　stood　a　boy；　splashing　with　his　stick　in　a　marshyditch。　The　water…drops　spurted　up　among　the　green　twigs；　and　the　clerkthought　of　the　millions　of　animalculae　which　were　thrown　into　theair　with　every　drop　of　water；　at　a　height　which　must　be　the　same　tothem　as　it　would　be　to　us　if　we　were　hurled　beyond　the　clouds。　Asthe　clerk　thought　of　all　these　things；　and　became　conscious　of　thegreat　change　in　his　own　feelings；　he　smiled；　and　said　to　himself；　〃Imust　be　asleep　and　dreaming；　and　yet；　if　so；　how　wonderful　for　a　dreamto　be　so　natural　and　real；　and　to　know　at　the　same　time　too　that　it　isbut　a　dream。　I　hope　I　shall　be　able　to　remember　it　all　when　I　waketomorrow。　My　sensations　seem　most　unaccountable。　I　have　a　clearperception　of　everything　as　if　I　were　wide　awake。　I　am　quite　sure　if　Irecollect　all　this　tomorrow；　it　will　appear　utterly　ridiculous　andabsurd。　I　have　had　this　happen　to　me　before。　It　is　with　the　cleveror　wonderful　things　we　say　or　hear　in　dreams；　as　with　the　gold　whiches　from　under　the　earth；　it　is　rich　and　beautiful　when　we　possessit；　but　when　seen　in　a　true　light　it　is　but　as　stones　and　witheredleaves。〃

〃Ah！〃　he　sighed　mournfully；　as　he　gazed　at　the　birds　singingmerrily；　or　hopping　from　branch　to　branch；　〃they　are　much　better　offthan　I。　Flying　is　a　glorious　power。　Happy　is　he　who　is　born　withwings。　Yes；　if　I　could　change　myself　into　anything　I　would　be　a　littlelark。〃　At　the　same　moment　his　coat…tails　and　sleeves　grew　together　andformed　wings；　his　clothes　changed　to　feathers；　and　his　goloshes　toclaws。　He　felt　what　was　taking　place；　and　laughed　to　himself。　〃Well；now　it　is　evident　I　must　be　dreaming；　but　I　never　had　such　a　wilddream　as　this。〃　And　then　he　flew　up　into　the　green　boughs　and　sang；but　there　was　no　poetry　in　the　song；　for　his　poetic　nature　had　lefthim。　The　goloshes；　like　all　persons　who　wish　to　do　a　thing　thoroughly；could　only　attend　to　one　thing　at　a　time。　He　wished　to　be　a　poet；and　he　became　one。　Then　he　wanted　to　be　a　little　bird；　and　in　thischange　he　lost　the　characteristics　of　the　former　one。　〃Well；〃thought　he；　〃this　is　charming；　by　day　I　sit　in　a　police…office；amongst　the　dryest　law　papers；　and　at　night　I　can　dream　that　I　am　alark；　flying　about　in　the　gardens　of　Fredericksburg。　Really　a　pleteedy　could　be　written　about　it。〃　Then　he　flew　down　into　the　grass；turned　his　head　about　in　every　direction；　and　tapped　his　beak　on　thebending　blades　of　grass；　which；　in　proportion　to　his　size；　seemed　tohim　as　long　as　the　palm…leaves　in　northern　Africa。

In　another　moment　all　was　darkness　around　him。　It　seemed　as　ifsomething　immense　had　been　thrown　over　him。　A　sailor　boy　had　flung　hislarge　cap　over　the　bird；　and　a　hand　came　underneath　and　caught　theclerk　by　the　back　and　wings　so　roughly；　that　he　squeaked；　and　thencried　out　in　his　alarm；　〃You　impudent　rascal；　I　am　a　clerk　in　thepolice…office！〃　but　it　only　sounded　to　the　boy　like　〃tweet；　tweet；〃　sohe　tapped　the　bird　on　the　beak；　and　walked　away　with　him。　In　theavenue　he　met　two　school…boys；　who　appeared　to　belong　to　a　betterclass　of　society；　but　whose　inferior　abilities　kept　them　in　the　lowestclass　at　school。　These　boys　bought　the　bird　for　eightpence；　and　so　theclerk　returned　to　Copenhagen。　〃It　is　well　for　me　that　I　amdreaming；〃　he　thought；　〃otherwise　I　should　bee　really　angry。First　I　was　a　poet；　and　now　I　am　a　lark。　It　must　have　been　thepoetic　nature　that　changed　me　into　this　little　creature。　It　is　amiserable　story　indeed；　especially　now　I　have　fallen　into　the　hands　ofboys。　I　wonder　what　will　be　the　end　of　it。〃　The　boys　carried　himinto　a　very　elegant　room；　where　a　stout；　pleasant…looking　ladyreceived　them；　but　she　was　not　at　all　gratified　to　find　that　theyhad　brought　a　lark…　a　mon　field…bird　as　she　called　it。　However；　sheallowed　them　for　one　day　to　place　the　bird　in　an　empty　cage　thathung　near　the　window。　〃It　will　please　Polly　perhaps；〃　she　said；laughing　at　a　large　gray　parrot；　who　was　swinging　himself　proudly　on　aring　in　a　handsome　brass　cage。　〃It　is　Polly's　birthday；〃　she　addedin　a　simpering　tone；　〃and　the　little　field…bird　has　e　to　offerhis　congratulations。〃

Polly　did　not　answer　a　single　word；　he　continued　to　swingproudly　to　and　fro；　but　a　beautiful　canary；　who　had　been　broughtfrom　his　own　warm；　fragrant　fatherland；　the　summer　previous；　beganto　sing　as　loud　as　he　could。

〃You　screamer！〃　said　the　lady；　throwing　a　white　handkerchiefover　the　cage。

〃Tweet；　tweet；〃　sighed　he；　〃what　a　dreadful　snowstorm！〃　and　thenhe　became　silent。

The　clerk；　or　as　the　lady　called　him　the　field…bird；　was　placed　ina　little　cage　close　to　the　canary；　and　not　far　from　the　parrot。　Theonly　human　speech　which　Polly　could　utter；　and　which　she　sometimeschattered　forth　most　ically；　was　〃Now　let　us　be　men。〃　All　besideswas　a　scream；　quite　as　unintelligible　as　the　warbling　of　thecanary…bird；　excepting　to　the　clerk；　who　being　now　a　bird；　couldunderstand　his　rades　very　well。

〃I　flew　beneath　green　palm…trees；　and　amidst　the　bloomingalmond…trees；〃　sang　the　canary。　〃I　flew　with　my　brothers　and　sistersover　beautiful　flowers；　and　across　the　clear；　bright　sea；　whichreflected　the　waving　foliage　in　its　glittering　depths；　and　I　have　seenmany　gay　parrots；　who　could　relate　long　and　delightful　stories。

〃They　were　wild　birds；〃　answered　the　pa