安徒生童话-第64部分

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〃Yes；　she　is　here；　here　in　this　sacred　hour；〃　replied　the　angel；pointing　to　a　corner　of　the　room；　and　there；…　where　in　herlife…time；　the　mother　had　taken　her　seat　amidst　flowers　andpictures：　in　that　spot；　where　she；　like　the　blessed　fairy　of　thehouse；　had　weled　husband；　children；　and　friends；　and；　like　asunbeam；　had　spread　joy　and　cheerfulness　around　her；　the　centre　andheart　of　them　all；…　there；　in　that　very　spot；　sat　a　strange　woman；clothed　in　long；　flowing　garments；　and　occupying　the　place　of　the　deadwife　and　mother。　It　was　the　fairy；　and　her　name　was　〃Sorrow。〃　A　hottear　rolled　into　her　lap；　and　formed　itself　into　a　pearl；　glowing　withall　the　colors　of　the　rainbow。　The　angel　seized　it：　the；　pearlglittered　like　a　star　with　seven…fold　radiance。　The　pearl　of　Sorrow；the　last；　which　must　not　be　wanting；　increases　the　lustre；　andexplains　the　meaning　of　all　the　other　pearls。

〃Do　you　see　the　shimmer　of　the　rainbow；　which　unites　earth　toheaven？〃　So　has　there　been　a　bridge　built　between　this　world　and　thenext。　Through　the　night　of　the　grave　we　gaze　upwards　beyond　thestars　to　the　end　of　all　things。　Then　we　glance　at　the　pearl　of　Sorrow；in　which　are　concealed　the　wings　which　shall　carry　us　away　toeternal　happiness。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　THE　LITTLE　ELDER…TREE　MOTHER

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THERE　was　once　a　little　boy　who　had　caught　cold；　he　had　gone　outand　got　wet　feet。　Nobody　had　the　least　idea　how　it　had　happened；　theweather　was　quite　dry。　His　mother　undressed　him；　put　him　to　bed；　andordered　the　teapot　to　be　brought　in；　that　she　might　make　him　a　goodcup　of　tea　from　the　elder…tree　blossoms；　which　is　so　warming。　At　thesame　time；　the　kind…hearted　old　man　who　lived　by　himself　in　theupper　storey　of　the　house　came　in；　he　led　a　lonely　life；　for　he　had　nowife　and　children；　but　he　loved　the　children　of　others　very　much；and　he　could　tell　so　many　fairy　tales　and　stories；　that　it　was　apleasure　to　hear　him。

〃Now；　drink　your　tea；〃　said　the　mother；　〃perhaps　you　will　hear　astory。〃

〃Yes；　if　I　only　knew　a　fresh　one；〃　said　the　old　man；　and　noddedsmilingly。　〃But　how　did　the　little　fellow　get　his　wet　feet？〃　he　thenasked。

〃That；〃　replied　the　mother；　〃nobody　can　understand。〃

〃Will　you　tell　me　a　story？〃　asked　the　boy。

〃Yes；　if　you　can　tell　me　as　nearly　as　possible　how　deep　is　thegutter　in　the　little　street　where　you　go　to　school。〃

〃Just　half　as　high　as　my　top…boots；〃　replied　the　boy；　〃but　thenI　must　stand　in　the　deepest　holes。〃

〃There；　now　we　know　where　you　got　your　wet　feet；〃　said　the　oldman。　〃I　ought　to　tell　you　a　story；　but　the　worst　of　it　is；　I　do　notknow　any　more。〃

〃You　can　make　one　up；〃　said　the　little　boy。　〃Mother　says　you　cantell　a　fairy　tale　about　anything　you　look　at　or　touch。〃

〃That　is　all　very　well；　but　such　tales　or　stories　are　worthnothing！　No；　the　right　ones　e　by　themselves　and　knock　at　myforehead　saying：　'Here　I　am。'〃

〃Will　not　one　knock　soon？〃　asked　the　boy；　and　the　mother　smiledwhile　she　put　elder…tree　blossoms　into　the　teapot　and　poured　boilingwater　over　them。　〃Pray；　tell　me　a　story。〃

〃Yes；　if　stories　came　by　themselves；　they　are　so　proud；　theyonly　e　when　they　please。…　But　wait；〃　he　said　suddenly；　〃there　isone。　Look　at　the　teapot；　there　is　a　story　in　it　now。〃

And　the　little　boy　looked　at　the　teapot；　the　lid　rose　upgradually；　the　elder…tree　blossoms　sprang　forth　one　by　one；　freshand　white；　long　boughs　came　forth；　even　out　of　the　spout　they　grewup　in　all　directions；　and　formed　a　bush…　nay；　a　large　elder　tree；which　stretched　its　branches　up　to　the　bed　and　pushed　the　curtainsaside；　and　there　were　so　many　blossoms　and　such　a　sweet　fragrance！In　the　midst　of　the　tree　sat　a　kindly…looking　old　woman　with　a　strangedress；　it　was　as　green　as　the　leaves；　and　trimmed　with　large　whiteblossoms；　so　that　it　was　difficult　to　say　whether　it　was　real　cloth；or　the　leaves　and　blossoms　of　the　elder…tree。

〃What　is　this　woman's　name？〃　asked　the　little　boy。

〃Well；　the　Romans　and　Greeks　used　to　call　her　a　Dryad；〃　said　theold　man；　〃but　we　do　not　understand　that。　Out　in　the　sailors'　quarterthey　give　her　a　better　name；　there　she　is　called　elder…tree　mother。Now；　you　must　attentively　listen　to　her　and　look　at　the　beautifulelder…tree。

〃Just　such　a　large　tree；　covered　with　flowers；　stands　out　there；it　grew　in　the　corner　of　an　humble　little　yard；　under　this　tree　sattwo　old　people　one　afternoon　in　the　beautiful　sunshine。　He　was　an　old；old　sailor；　and　she　his　old　wife；　they　had　alreadygreat…grandchildren；　and　were　soon　to　celebrate　their　goldenwedding；　but　they　could　not　remember　the　date；　and　the　elder…treemother　was　sitting　in　the　tree　and　looked　as　pleased　as　this　one　here。'I　know　very　well　when　the　golden　wedding　is　to　take　place；'　she　said；but　they　did　not　hear　it…　they　were　talking　of　bygone　days。

〃'Well；　do　you　remember？'　said　the　old　sailor；　'when　we　were　quitesmall　and　used　to　run　about　and　play…　it　was　in　the　very　same　yardwhere　we　now　are…　we　used　to　put　little　branches　into　the　ground　andmake　a　garden。'

〃'Yes；'　said　the　old　woman；　'I　remember　it　very　well；　we　used　towater　the　branches；　and　one　of　them；　an　elder…tree　branch；　tookroot；　and　grew　and　became　the　large　tree　under　which　we　are　nowsitting　as　old　people。'

〃'Certainly；　you　are　right；'　he　said；　'and　in　yonder　cornerstood　a　large　water…tub；　there　I　used　to　sail　my　boat；　which　I　had　cutout　myself…　it　sailed　so　well；　but　soon　I　had　to　sail　somewhere　else。'

〃'But　first　we　went　to　school　to　learn　something；'　she　said；'and　then　we　were　confirmed；　we　both　wept　on　that　day；　but　in　theafternoon　we　went　out　hand　in　hand；　and　ascended　the　high　roundtower　and　looked　out　into　the　wide　world　right　over　Copenhagen　and　thesea；　then　we　walked　to　Fredericksburg；　where　the　king　and　the　queenwere　sailing　about　in　their　magnificent　boat　on　the　canals。'

〃'But　soon　I　had　to　sail　about　somewhere　else；　and　for　manyyears　I　was　travelling　about　far　away　from　home。'

〃'And　I　often　cried　about　you；　for　I　was　afraid　lest　you　weredrowned　and　lying　at　the　bottom　of　the　sea。　Many　a　time　I　got　up　inthe　night　and　looked　if　the　weathercock　had　turned；　it　turned　often；but　you　did　not　return。　I　remember　one　day　distinctly：　the　rain　waspouring　down　in　torrents；　the　dust…man　had　e　to　the　house　where　Iwas　in　service；　I　went　down　with　the　dust…bin　and　stood　for　a　momentin　the　doorway；　and　looked　at　the　dreadful　weather。　Then　the　postmangave　me　a　letter；　it　was　from　you。　Heavens！　how　that　letter　hadtravelled　about。　I　tore　it　open　and　read　it；　I　cried　and　laughed　atthe　same　time；　and　was　so　happy！　Therein　was　written　that　you　werestaying　in　the　hot　countries；　where　the　coffee　grows。　These　must　bemarvellous　countries。　You　said　a　great　deal　about　them；　and　I　read　allwhile　the　rain　was　pouring　down　and　I　was　standing　there　with　thedust…bin。　Then　suddenly　some　one　put　his　arm　round　my　waist…'

〃'Yes；　and　you　gave　him　a　hearty　smack　on　the　cheek；'　said　the　oldman。

〃'I　did　not　know　that　it　was　you…　you　had　e　as　quickly　asyour　letter；　and　you　looked　so　handsome；　and　so　you　do　still。　Youhad　a　large　yellow　silk　handkerchief　in　your　pocket　and　a　shininghat　on。　You　looked　so　well；　and　the　weather　in　the　street　washorrible！'

〃'Then　we　married；'　he　said。　'Do　you　remember　how　we　got　our　firstboy；　and　then　Mary；　Niels；　Peter；　John；　and　Christian？'

'Oh　yes；　and　now　they　have　all　grown　up；　and　have　bee　usefulmembers　of　society；　whom　everybody　cares　for。'

〃'And　their　children　have　had　children　again；'　said　the　oldsailor。　'Yes；　these　are　children's　children；　and　they　are　strong　andhealthy。　If　I　am　not　mistaken；　our　wedding　took　place　at　this　seasonof　the　year。'

〃'Yes；　to…day　is　your　golden　wedding…day；'　said　the　littleelder…tree　mother；　stretching　her　head　down　between　the　two　oldpeople；　who　thought　that　she　was　their　neighbour　who　was　nodding　tothem；　they　looked　at　each　other　and　clasped　hands。　Soon　afterwards　thechildren　and　grandchildren　came；　for　they　knew　very　well　that　it　wasthe　golden　wedding…day；　they　had　already　wished　them　joy　and　happinessin　the　morning；　but　the　old　people　had　forgotten　it；　although　theyremembered　things　so　well　that　had　passed　many；　many　years　ago。　Theelder…tree　smelt　strongly；　and　the　setting　sun　illuminated　the　facesof　the　two　old　people；　so　that　they　looked　quite　rosy；　the　youngest　ofthe　grandchildren　danced　round　them；　and　cried　merrily　that　therewould　be　a　feast　in　the　evening；　for　they　were　to　have　hot　potatoes；and　the　elder　mother　nodded　in　the　tree　and　cried　'Hooray'　with　theothers。〃

〃But　that　was　no　fairy　tale；〃　said　the　little　boy　who　had　listenedto　it。

〃You　will　presently　understand　it；〃　said　the　old　man　who　toldthe　story。　〃Let　us　ask　little　elder…tree　mother　about　it。〃

〃That　was　no　fairy　tale；〃　said　the　little　elder…tree　mother；〃but　now　it　es！　Real　life　furnishes　us　with　subjects　for　the　mostwonderful　fairy　tales；　for　otherwise　my　beautiful　elder…bush　could　nothave　grown　forth　out　of　the　teapot。〃

And　then　she　took　the　little　boy　out　of　bed　and　placed　him　onher　bosom；　the　elder　branches；　full　of　blossoms；　closed　over　them；it　was　as　if　they　sat　in　a　thick　leafy　bower　which　flew　with　themthrough　the　air；　it　was　beautiful　beyond　all　description。　The　littleelder…tree　mother　had　suddenly　bee　a　charming　young　girl；　but　herdress　was　still　of　the　same　green　material；　covered　with　whiteblossoms；　as　the　elder…tree　mother　had　worn；　she　had　a　real　elderblossom　on　her　bosom；　and　a　wreath　of　the　same　flowers　was　wound　roundher　curly　golden　hair；　her　eyes　were　so　large　and　so　blue　that　itwas　wonderful　to　look　at　them。　She　and　the　boy　kissed　each　other；and　then　they　were　of　the　same　age　and　felt　the　same　joys。　They　walkedhand　in　hand　out　of　the　bower；　and　now　stood　at　home　in　a　beautifulflower　garden。　Near　the　green　lawn　the　father's　walking…stick　was　tiedto　a　post。　There　was　life　in　this　stick　for　the　little　ones；　for　assoon　as　they　seated　themselves　upon　it　the　polished　knob　turned　into　aneighing　horse's　head；　a　long　black　mane　was　fluttering　in　the　wind；and　four　strong　slender　legs　grew　out。　The　animal　was　fiery　andspirited；　they　galloped　round　the　lawn。　〃Hooray！　now　we　shall　ride　faraway；　many　miles！〃　said　the　boy；　〃we　shall　ride　to　the　nobleman'sestate　where　we　were　last　year。〃　And　they　rode　round　the　lawn　again；and　the　little　girl；　who；　as　we　know；　was　no　other　than　the　littleelder…tree　mother；　continually　cried；　〃Now　we　are　in　the　country！　Doyou　see　the　farmhouse　there；　with　the　large　baking　stove；　whichprojects　like　a　gigantic　egg　out　of　the　wall　into　the　road？　Theelder…tree　spreads　its　branches　over　it；　and　the　cock　struts　about　andscratches　for　the　hens。　Look　how　proud　he　is！　Now　we　are　near　thechurch；　it　stands　on　a　high　hill；　under　the　spreading　oak　trees；　oneof　them　is　half　dead！　Now　we　are　at　the　smithy；　where　the　fire　roarsand　the　half…naked　men　beat　with　their　hammers　so　that　the　sparksfly　far　and　wide。　Let's　be　off　to　the　beautiful　farm！〃　And　they　passedby　everything　the　little　girl；　who　was　sitting　behind　on　the　stick；described；　and　the　boy　saw　it；　and　yet　they　only　went　round　thelawn。　Then　they　played　in　a　side…walk；　and　marked　out　a　littlegarden　on　the　ground；　she　took　elder…blossoms　out　of　her　hair　andplanted　them；　and　they　grew　exactly　like　those　the　old　peopleplanted　when　they　were　children；　as　we　have　heard　before。　Theywalked　about　hand　in　hand；　just　as　the　old　couple　had　done　when　theywere　little；　but　they　did　not　go　to　the　round　tower　nor　to　theFredericksburg　garden。　No；　the　little　girl　seized　the　boy　round　thewaist；　and　then　they　flew　far　into　the　country。　It　was　spring　and　itbecame　summer；　it　was　autumn　and　it　became　winter；　and　thousands　ofpictures　reflected　themselves　in　the　boy's　eyes　and　heart；　and　thelittle　girl　always　sang　again；　〃You　will　never　forget　that！〃　Andduring　their　whole　flight　the　elder…tree　smelt　so　sweetly；　henoticed　the　roses　and　the　fresh　beeches；　but　the　elder…tree　smelt　muchstronger；　for　the　flowers　were　fixed　on　the　little　girl's　bosom；against　which　the　boy　often　rested　his　head　during　the　flight。

〃It　is　beautiful　here　in　spring；〃　said　the　little　girl；　and　theywere　again　in　the　green　beechwood；　where　the　thyme　breathed　forthsweet　fragrance　at　their　feet；　and　the　pink　anemones　looked　lovelyin　the　green　moss。　〃Oh！　that　it　were　always　spring　in　the　fragrantbeechwood！〃

〃Here　it　is　splendid　in　summer！〃　she　said；　and　they　passed　byold　castles　of　the　age　of　chivalry。　The　high　walls　and　indentedbattlements　were　reflected　in　the　water　of　the　ditches；　on　which　swanswere　swimming　and　peering　into　the　old　shady　avenues。　The　corn　wavedin　the　field　like　a　yellow　sea。　Red　and　yellow　flowers　grew　in　theditches；　wild　hops　and　convolvuli　in　full　bloom　in　the　hedges。　Inthe　evening　the　moon　rose；　large　and　round；　and　the　hayricks　in　themeadows　smelt　sweetly。　〃One　can　never　forget　it！〃

〃Here　it　is　beautiful　in　autumn！〃　said　the　little　girl；　and　theatmosphere　seemed　twice　as　high　and　blue；　while　the　wood　shone　withcrimson；　green；　and　gold。　The　hounds　were　running　off；　flocks　ofwild　fowl　flew　screaming　over　the　barrows；　while　the　bramble　bushestwined　round　the　old　stones。　The　dark…blue　sea　was　covered　withwhite…sailed　ships；　and　in　the　barns　sat　old　women；　girls；　andchildren　picking　hops　into　a　large　tub；　the　young　ones　sang　songs；　andthe　old　people　told　fairy　tales　about　goblins　and　sorcerers。　Itcould　not　be　more　pleasant　anywhere。

〃Here　it's　agreeable　in　winter！〃　said　the　little　girl；　and　all　thetrees　were　covered　with　hoar…frost；　so　that　they　looked　like　whitecoral。　The　snow　creaked　under　one's　feet；　as　if　one　had　new　bootson。　One　shooting　star　after　another　traversed　the　sky。　In　the　room　theChristmas　tree　was　lit；　and　there　were　song　and　merriment。　In　thepeasant's　cottage　the　violin　sounded；　and　games　were　played　forapple　quarters；　even　the　poorest　child　said；　〃It　is　beautiful　inwinter！〃

And　indeed　it　was　beautiful！　And　the　little　girl　showed　everythingto　the　boy；　and　the　elder…tree　continued　to　breathe　forth　sweetperfume；　while　the　red　flag　with　the　white　cross　was　streaming　inthe　wind；　it　was　the　flag　under　which　the　old　sailor　had　served。　Theboy　became　a　youth；　he　was　to　go　out　into　the　wide　world；　far　awayto　the　countries　where　the　coffee　grows。　But　at　parting　the　littlegirl　took　an　elder…blossom　from　her　breast　and　gave　it　to　him　as　akeepsake。　He　placed　it　in　his　prayer…book；　and　when　he　opened　it　indistant　lands　it　was　always　at　the　place　where　the　flower　ofremembrance　was　lying；　and　the　more　he　looked　at　it　the　fresher　itbecame；　so　that　he　could　almost　smell　the　fragrance　of　the　woods　athome。　He　distinctly　saw　the　little　girl；　with　her　bright　blue　eyes；peeping　out　from　behind　the　petals；　and　heard　her　whispering；　〃Here　itis　beautiful　in　spring；　in　summer；　in　autumn；　and　in　winter；〃　andhundreds　of　pictures　passed　through　his　mind。

Thus　many　years　rolled　by。　He　had　now　bee　an　old　man；　and　wassitting；　with　his　old　wife；　under　an　elder…tree　in　full　bloom。　Theyheld　each　other　by　the　hand　exactly　as　the　great…grandfather　and　thegreat…grandmother　had　done　outside；　and；　like　them；　they　talkedabout　bygone　days　and　of　their　golden　wedding。　The　little　girl　withthe　blue　eyes　and　elder…blossoms　in　her　hair　was　sitting　high　up　inthe　tree；　and　nodded　to　them；　saying；　〃To…day　is　the　goldenwedding！〃　And　then　she　took　two　flowers　out　of　her　wreath　and　kissedthem。　They　glittered　at　first　like