安徒生童话-第69部分

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ed　first　from　the　carriage。

〃See　for　yourself　in　the　passport；〃　he　replied。　〃I　am　myself；〃　anda　famous　fellow　he　looked；　arrayed　in　bear…skin　and　fur　boots。　〃I　amthe　man　on　whom　many　persons　fix　their　hopes。　e　to　me　to…morrow；and　I'll　give　you　a　New　Year's　present。　I　throw　shillings　and　penceamong　the　people；　I　give　balls；　no　less　than　thirty…one；　indeed；that　is　the　highest　number　I　can　spare　for　balls。　My　ships　are　oftenfrozen　in；　but　in　my　offices　it　is　warm　and　fortable。　My　name　isJANUARY。　I'm　a　merchant；　and　I　generally　bring　my　accounts　with　me。〃

Then　the　second　alighted。　He　seemed　a　merry　fellow。　He　was　adirector　of　a　theatre；　a　manager　of　masked　balls；　and　a　leader　ofall　the　amusements　we　can　imagine。　His　luggage　consisted　of　a　greatcask。

〃We'll　dance　the　bung　out　of　the　cask　at　carnival　time；〃　saidhe；　〃I'll　prepare　a　merry　tune　for　you　and　for　myself　too。Unfortunately　I　have　not　long　to　live…　the　shortest　time；　in　fact；of　my　whole　family…　only　twenty…eight　days。　Sometimes　they　pop　me　in　aday　extra；　but　I　trouble　myself　very　little　about　that。　Hurrah！〃

〃You　must　not　shout　so；〃　said　the　sentry。

〃Certainly　I　may　shout；〃　retorted　the　man；　〃I'm　Prince　Carnival；travelling　under　the　name　of　FEBRUARY。〃

The　third　now　got　out。　He　looked　a　personification　of　fasting；　buthe　carried　his　nose　very　high；　for　he　was　related　to　the　〃forty（k）nights；〃　and　was　a　weather　prophet。　But　that　is　not　a　verylucrative　office；　and　therefore　he　praised　fasting。　In　his　button…holehe　carried　a　little　bunch　of　violets；　but　they　were　very　small。

〃MARCH；　March；〃　the　fourth　called　after　him；　slapping　him　on　theshoulder；　〃don't　you　smell　something？　Make　haste　into　the　guardroom；　they're　drinking　punch　there；　that's　your　favorite　drink。　Ican　smell　it　out　here　already。　Forward；　Master　March。〃　But　it　wasnot　true；　the　speaker　only　wanted　to　remind　him　of　his　name；　and　tomake　an　APRIL　fool　of　him；　for　with　that　fun　the　fourth　generallybegan　his　career。　He　looked　very　jovial；　did　little　work；　and　hadthe　more　holidays。　〃If　the　world　were　only　a　little　more　settled；〃said　he：　〃but　sometimes　I'm　obliged　to　be　in　a　good　humor；　andsometimes　a　bad　one；　according　to　circumstances；　now　rain；　nowsunshine。　I'm　kind　of　a　house　agent；　also　a　manager　of　funerals。　I　canlaugh　or　cry；　according　to　circumstances。　I　have　my　summer　wardrobe　inthis　box　here；　but　it　would　be　very　foolish　to　put　it　on　now。　Here　Iam。　On　Sundays　I　go　out　walking　in　shoes　and　white　silk　stockings；　anda　muff。〃

After　him；　a　lady　stepped　out　of　the　coach。　She　called　herselfMiss　MAY。　She　wore　a　summer　dress　and　overshoes；　her　dress　was　a　lightgreen；　and　she　wore　anemones　in　her　hair。　She　was　so　scented　withwild…thyme；　that　it　made　the　sentry　sneeze。

〃Your　health；　and　God　bless　you；〃　was　her　salutation　to　him。

How　pretty　she　was！　and　such　a　singer！　not　a　theatre　singer；　nor　aballad　singer；　no；　but　a　singer　of　the　woods；　for　she　wandered　throughthe　gay　green　forest；　and　had　a　concert　there　for　her　own　amusement。

〃Now　es　the　young　lady；〃　said　those　in　the　carriage；　and　outstepped　a　young　dame；　delicate；　proud；　and　pretty。　It　was　MistressJUNE；　in　whose　service　people　bee　lazy　and　fond　of　sleeping　forhours。　She　gives　a　feast　on　the　longest　day　of　the　year；　that　theremay　be　time　for　her　guests　to　partake　of　the　numerous　dishes　at　hertable。　Indeed；　she　keeps　her　own　carriage；　but　still　she　travelledby　the　mail；　with　the　rest；　because　she　wished　to　show　that　she　wasnot　high…minded。　But　she　was　not　without　a　protector；　her　youngerbrother；　JULY；　was　with　her。　He　was　a　plump　young　fellow；　clad　insummer　garments　and　wearing　a　straw　hat。　He　had　but　very　littleluggage　with　him；　because　it　was　so　cumbersome　in　the　great　heat；　hehad；　however；　swimming…trousers　with　him；　which　are　nothing　tocarry。　Then　came　the　mother　herself；　in　crinoline；　Madame　AUGUST；　awholesale　dealer　in　fruit；　proprietress　of　a　large　number　of　fishponds　and　a　land　cultivator。　She　was　fat　and　heated；　yet　she　could　useher　hands　well；　and　would　herself　carry　out　beer　to　the　laborers　inthe　field。　〃In　the　sweat　of　the　face　shalt　thou　eat　bread；〃　saidshe；　〃it　is　written　in　the　Bible。〃　After　work；　came　the　recreations；dancing　and　playing　in　the　greenwood；　and　the　〃harvest　homes。〃　She　wasa　thorough　housewife。

After　her　a　man　came　out　of　the　coach；　who　is　a　painter；　he　is　thegreat　master　of　colors；　and　is　named　SEPTEMBER。　The　forest；　on　hisarrival；　had　to　change　its　colors　when　he　wished　it；　and　how　beautifulare　the　colors　he　chooses！　The　woods　glow　with　hues　of　red　and　goldand　brown。　This　great　master　painter　could　whistle　like　a　blackbird。He　was　quick　in　his　work；　and　soon　entwined　the　tendrils　of　the　hopplant　around　his　beer　jug。　This　was　an　ornament　to　the　jug；　and　he　hasa　great　love　for　ornament。　There　he　stood　with　his　color　pot　in　hishand；　and　that　was　the　whole　of　his　luggage。　A　land…owner　followed；who　in　the　month　for　sowing　seed　attended　to　the　ploughing　and　wasfond　of　field　sports。　Squire　OCTOBER　brought　his　dog　and　his　gunwith　him；　and　had　nuts　in　his　game　bag。　〃Crack；　crack。〃　He　had　a　greatdeal　of　luggage；　even　an　English　plough。　He　spoke　of　farming；　but　whathe　said　could　scarcely　be　heard　for　the　coughing　and　gasping　of　hisneighbor。　It　was　NOVEMBER；　who　coughed　violently　as　he　got　out。　He　hada　cold；　which　caused　him　to　use　his　pocket…handkerchief　continually；and　yet　he　said　he　was　obliged　to　acpany　servant　girls　to　their　newplaces；　and　initiate　them　into　their　winter　service。　He　said　hethought　his　cold　would　never　leave　him　when　he　went　out　woodcutting；for　he　was　a　master　sawyer；　and　had　to　supply　wood　to　the　wholeparish。　He　spent　his　evenings　preparing　wooden　soles　for　skates；　forhe　knew；　he　said；　that　in　a　few　weeks　these　shoes　would　be　wantedfor　the　amusement　of　skating。　At　length　the　last　passenger　made　herappearance；…　old　Mother　DECEMBER；　with　her　fire…stool。　The　dame　wasvery　old；　but　her　eyes　glistened　like　two　stars。　She　carried　on　herarm　a　flower…pot；　in　which　a　little　fir…tree　was　growing。　〃This　tree　Ishall　guard　and　cherish；〃　she　said；　〃that　it　may　grow　large　byChristmas　Eve；　and　reach　from　the　ground　to　the　ceiling；　to　be　coveredand　adorned　with　flaming　candles；　golden　apples；　and　little　figures。The　fire…stool　will　be　as　warm　as　a　stove；　and　I　shall　then　bring　astory　book　out　of　my　pocket；　and　read　aloud　till　all　the　children　inthe　room　are　quite　quiet。　Then　the　little　figures　on　the　tree　willbee　lively；　and　the　little　waxen　angel　at　the　top　spread　out　hiswings　of　gold…leaf；　and　fly　down　from　his　green　perch。　He　will　kissevery　one　in　the　room；　great　and　small；　yes；　even　the　poor　childrenwho　stand　in　the　passage；　or　out　in　the　street　singing　a　carol　aboutthe　'Star　of　Bethlehem。'〃

〃Well；　now　the　coach　may　drive　away；〃　said　the　sentry；　〃we　havethe　whole　twelve。　Let　the　horses　be　put　up。〃

〃First；　let　all　the　twelve　e　to　me；〃　said　the　captain　onduty；　〃one　after　another。　The　passports　I　will　keep　here。　Each　of　themis　available　for　one　month；　when　that　has　passed；　I　shall　write　thebehavior　of　each　on　his　passport。　Mr。　JANUARY；　have　the　goodness　toe　here。〃　And　Mr。　January　stepped　forward。

When　a　year　has　passed；　I　think　I　shall　be　able　to　tell　you　whatthe　twelve　passengers　have　brought　to　you；　to　me；　and　to　all　of　us。Now　I　do　not　know；　and　probably　even　they　don't　know　themselves；　forwe　live　in　strange　times。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　THE　MARSH　KING'S　DAUGHTER

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THE　storks　relate　to　their　little　ones　a　great　many　stories；　andthey　are　all　about　moors　and　reed　banks；　and　suited　to　their　age　andcapacity。　The　youngest　of　them　are　quite　satisfied　with　〃kribble；krabble；〃　or　such　nonsense；　and　think　it　very　grand；　but　the　elderones　want　something　with　a　deeper　meaning；　or　at　least　something　abouttheir　own　family。

We　are　only　acquainted　with　one　of　the　two　longest　and　oldeststories　which　the　storks　relate…　it　is　about　Moses；　who　was　exposed　byhis　mother　on　the　banks　of　the　Nile；　and　was　found　by　the　king'sdaughter；　who　gave　him　a　good　education；　and　he　afterwards　became　agreat　man；　but　where　he　was　buried　is　still　unknown。

Every　one　knows　this　story；　but　not　the　second；　very　likelybecause　it　is　quite　an　inland　story。　It　has　been　repeated　from　mouthto　mouth；　from　one　stork…mamma　to　another；　for　thousands　of　years；　andeach　has　told　it　better　than　the　last；　and　now　we　mean　to　tell　itbetter　than　all。

The　first　stork　pair　who　related　it　lived　at　the　time　it　happened；and　had　their　summer　residence　on　the　rafters　of　the　Viking's　house；which　stood　near　the　wild　moorlands　of　Wendsyssell；　that　is；　tospeak　more　correctly；　the　great　moorheath；　high　up　in　the　north　ofJutland；　by　the　Skjagen　peak。　This　wilderness　is　still　an　immense　wildheath　of　marshy　ground；　about　which　we　can　read　in　the　〃OfficialDirectory。〃　It　is　said　that　in　olden　times　the　place　was　a　lake；　theground　of　which　had　heaved　up　from　beneath；　and　now　the　moorlandextends　for　miles　in　every　direction；　and　is　surrounded　by　dampmeadows；　trembling；　undulating　swamps；　and　marshy　ground　coveredwith　turf；　on　which　grow　bilberry　bushes　and　stunted　trees。　Mistsare　almost　always　hovering　over　this　region；　which；　seventy　years　ago；was　overrun　with　wolves。　It　may　well　be　called　the　Wild　Moor；　andone　can　easily　imagine；　with　such　a　wild　expanse　of　marsh　and　lake；how　lonely　and　dreary　it　must　have　been　a　thousand　years　ago。　Manythings　may　be　noticed　now　that　existed　then。　The　reeds　grow　to　thesame　height；　and　bear　the　same　kind　of　long；　purple…brown　leaves；　withtheir　feathery　tips。　There　still　stands　the　birch；　with　its　white　barkand　its　delicate；　loosely　hanging　leaves；　and　with　regard　to　theliving　beings　who　frequented　this　spot；　the　fly　still　wears　a　gauzydress　of　the　same　cut；　and　the　favorite　colors　of　the　stork　are　white；with　black　and　red　for　stockings。　The　people；　certainly；　in　thosedays；　wore　very　different　dresses　to　those　they　now　wear；　but　if　anyof　them；　be　he　huntsman　or　squire；　master　or　servant；　ventured　onthe　wavering；　undulating；　marshy　ground　of　the　moor；　they　met　with　thesame　fate　a　thousand　years　ago　as　they　would　now。　The　wanderer　sank；and　went　down　to　the　Marsh　King；　as　he　is　named；　who　rules　in　thegreat　moorland　empire　beneath。　They　also　called　him　〃Gunkel　King；〃　butwe　like　the　name　of　〃Marsh　King〃　better；　and　we　will　give　him　thatname　as　the　storks　do。　Very　little　is　known　of　the　Marsh　King'srule；　but　that；　perhaps；　is　a　good　thing。

In　the　neighborhood　of　the　moorlands；　and　not　far　from　the　greatarm　of　the　North　Sea　and　the　Cattegat　which　is　called　theLumfjorden；　lay　the　castle　of　the　Viking；　with　its　water…tight　stonecellars；　its　tower；　and　its　three　projecting　storeys。　On　the　ridgeof　the　roof　the　stork　had　built　his　nest；　and　there　the　stork…mammasat　on　her　eggs　and　felt　sure　her　hatching　would　e　to　something。

One　evening；　stork…papa　stayed　out　rather　late；　and　when　he　camehome　he　seemed　quite　busy；　bustling；　and　important。　〃I　havesomething　very　dreadful　to　tell　you；〃　said　he　to　the　stork…mamma。

〃Keep　it　to　yourself　then；〃　she　replied。　〃Remember　that　I　amhatching　eggs；　it　may　agitate　me；　and　will　affect　them。〃

〃You　must　know　it　at　once；〃　said　he。　〃The　daughter　of　our　hostin　Egypt　has　arrived　here。　She　has　ventured　to　take　this　journey；and　now　she　is　lost。〃

〃She　who　sprung　from　the　race　of　the　fairies；　is　it？〃　cried　themother　stork。　〃Oh；　tell　me　all　about　it；　you　know　I　cannot　bear　tobe　kept　waiting　at　a　time　when　I　am　hatching　eggs。〃

〃Well；　you　see；　mother；〃　he　replied；　〃she　believed　what　thedoctors　said；　and　what　I　have　heard　you　state　also；　that　themoor…flowers　which　grow　about　here　would　heal　her　sick　father；　and　shehas　flown　to　the　north　in　swan's　plumage；　in　pany　with　some　otherswan…princesses；　who　e　to　these　parts　every　year　to　renew　theiryouth。　She　came；　and　where　is　she　now！〃

〃You　enter　into　particulars　too　much；〃　said　the　mamma　stork；〃and　the　eggs　may　take　cold；　I　cannot　bear　such　suspense　as　this。〃

〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　kept　watch；　and　this　evening　I　went　amongthe　rushes　where　I　thought　the　marshy　ground　would　bear　me；　andwhile　I　was　there　three　swans　came。　Something　in　their　manner　offlying　seemed　to　say　to　me；　'Look　carefully　now；　there　is　one　notall　swan；　only　swan's　feathers。'　You　know；　mother；　you　have　the　sameintuitive　feeling　that　I　have；　you　know　whether　a　thing　is　right　ornot　immediately。〃

〃Yes；　of　course；〃　said　she；　〃but　tell　me　about　the　princess；　Iam　tired　of　hearing　about　the　swan's　feathers。〃

〃Well；　you　know　that　in　the　middle　of　the　moor　there　issomething　like　a　lake；〃　said　the　stork…papa。　〃You　can　see　the　edgeof　it　if　you　raise　yourself　a　little。　Just　there；　by　the　reeds　and　thegreen　banks；　lay　the　trunk　of　an　elder…tree；　upon　this　the　three　swansstood　flapping　their　wings；　and　looking　about　them；　one　of　themthrew　off　her　plumage；　and　I　immediately　recognized　her　as　one　ofthe　princesses　of　our　home　in　Egypt。　There　she　sat；　without　anycovering　but　her　long；　black　hair。　I　heard　her　tell　the　two　othersto　take　great　care　of　the　swan's　plumage；　while　she　dipped　down　intothe　water　to　pluck　the　flowers　which　she　fancied　she　saw　there。　Theothers　nodded；　and　picked　up　the　feather　dress；　and　took　possession　ofit。　I　wonder　what　will　bee　of　it？　thought　I；　and　she　most　likelyasked　herself　the　same　question。　If　so；　she　received　an　answer；　a　verypractical　one；　for　the　two　swans　rose　up　and　flew　away　with　her　swan'splumage。　'Dive　down　now！'　they　cried；　'thou　shalt　never　more　fly　inthe　swan's　plumage；　thou　shalt　never　again　see　Egypt；　here；　on　themoor；　thou　wilt　remain。'　So　saying；　they　tore　the　swan's　plumageinto　a　thousand　pieces；　the　feathers　drifted　about　like　a　snow…shower；and　then　the　two　deceitful　princesses　flew　away。〃

〃Why；　that　is　terrible；〃　said　the　stork…mamma；　〃I　feel　as　if　Icould　hardly　bear　to　hear　any　more；　but　you　must　tell　me　what　happenednext。〃

〃The　princess　wept　and　lamented　aloud；　her　tears　moistened　theelder　stump；　which　was　really　not　an　elder　stump　but　the　Marsh　Kinghimself；　he　who　in　marshy　ground　lives　and　rules。　I　saw　myself　how　thestump　of　the　tree　turned　round；　and　was　a　tree　no　more；　while　long；clammy　branches　like　arms；　were　extended　from　it。　Then　the　poorchild　was　terribly　frightened；　and　started　up　to　run　away。　Shehastened　to　cross　the　green；　slimy　ground；　but　it　will　not　bear　anyweight；　much　less　hers。　She　quickly　sank；　and　the　elder　stump　divedimmediately　after　her；　in　fact；　it　was　he　who　drew　her　down。　Greatblack　bubbles　rose　up　out　of　the　moor…slime；　and　with　these　everytrace　of　the　two　vanished。　And　now　the　princess　is　buried　in　thewild　marsh；　she　will　never　now　carry　flowers　to　Egypt　to　cure　herfather。　It　would　have　broken　your　heart；　mother；　had　you　seen　it。〃

〃You　ought　not　to　have　told　me；〃　said　she；　〃at　such　a　time　asthis；　the　eggs　might　suffer。　But　I　think　the　princess　will　soon　findhelp；　some　one　will　rise　up　to　help　her。　Ah！　if　it　had　been　you　orI；　or　one　of　our　people；　it　would　have　been　all　over　with　us。〃

I　mean　to　go　every　day；〃　said　he；　〃to　see　if　anything　es　topass；〃　and　so　he　did。

A　long　time　went　by；　but　at　last　he　saw　a　green　stalk　shootingup　out　of　the　deep；　marshy　ground。　As　it　reached　the　surface　of　themarsh；　a　leaf　spread　out；　and　unfolded　itself　broader　and　broader；　andclose　to　it　came　forth　a　bud。

One　morning；　when　the　stork…papa　was　flying　over　the　stem；　hesaw　that　the　power