安徒生童话-第77部分

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Iwould　have　plucked　them　already　if　they　had　not　been　so　big。〃

〃I'll　pluck　them；〃　piped　the　young　sparrow；　who　had　no　feathersyet。

In　the　farmhouse　lived　a　young　married　couple；　they　loved　eachother　dearly；　were　industrious　and　active；　and　everything　in　theirhome　looked　very　nice。　On　Sundays　the　young　wife　came　down　early；plucked　a　handful　of　the　most　beautiful　roses；　and　put　them　into　aglass　of　water；　which　she　placed　upon　the　cupboard。

〃Now　I　see　that　it　is　Sunday；〃　said　the　husband；　kissing　hislittle　wife。　They　sat　down；　read　their　hymn…book；　and　held　eachother　by　the　hand；　while　the　sun　shone　down　upon　the　fresh　roses　andupon　them。

〃This　sight　is　really　too　tedious；〃　said　the　sparrow…mother；　whocould　see　into　the　room　from　her　nest；　and　she　flew　away。

The　same　thing　happened　on　the　following　Sunday；　for　everySunday　fresh　roses　were　put　into　the　glass；　but　the　rose…bushbloomed　as　beautifully　as　ever。　The　young　sparrows　now　had　feathers；and　wanted　very　much　to　fly　with　their　mother；　but　she　would　not　allowit；　and　so　they　had　to　stay　at　home。　In　one　of　her　flights；　however　itmay　have　happened；　she　was　caught；　before　she　was　aware　of　it；　in　ahorse…hair　　which　some　boys　had　attached　to　a　tree。　Thehorse…hair　was　drawn　tightly　round　her　leg…　as　tightly　as　if　thelatter　were　to　be　cut　off；　she　was　in　great　pain　and　terror。　Theboys　came　running　up　and　seized　her；　and　in　no　gentle　way　either。

〃It's　only　a　sparrow；〃　they　said；　they　did　not；　however；　let　hergo；　but　took　her　home　with　them；　and　every　time　she　cried　they　hit　heron　the　beak。

In　the　farmhouse　was　an　old　man　who　understood　making　soap　intocakes　and　balls；　both　for　shaving　and　washing。　He　was　a　merry　old　man；always　wandering　about。　On　seeing　the　sparrow　which　the　boys　hadbrought；　and　which　they　said　they　did　not　want；　he　asked；　〃Shall　wemake　it　look　very　pretty？〃

At　these　words　an　icy　shudder　ran　through　the　sparrow…mother。

Out　of　his　box；　in　which　were　the　most　beautiful　colours；　theold　man　took　a　quantity　of　shining　leaf…gold；　while　the　boys　had　to　goand　fetch　some　white　of　egg；　with　which　the　sparrow　was　to　besmeared　all　over；　the　gold　was　stuck　on　to　this；　and　thesparrow…mother　was　now　gilded　all　over。　But　she；　trembling　in　everylimb；　did　not　think　of　the　adornment。　Then　the　soap…man　tore　off　asmall　piece　from　the　red　lining　of　his　old　jacket；　and　cutting　it　soas　to　make　it　look　like　a　cock's　b；　he　stuck　it　to　the　bird's　head。

〃Now　you　will　see　the　gold…jacket　fly；〃　said　the　old　man；letting　the　sparrow　go；　which　flew　away　in　deadly　fear；　with　the　sunshining　upon　her。　How　she　glittered！　All　the　sparrows；　and　even　acrow…　and　an　old　boy　he　was　too…　were　startled　at　the　sight；　but　stillthey　flew　after　her　to　learn　what　kind　of　strange　bird　she　was。

Driven　by　fear　and　horror；　she　flew　homeward；　she　was　almostsinking　fainting　to　the　earth；　while　the　flock　of　pursuing　birdsincreased；　some　even　attempting　to　peck　at　her。

〃Look　at　her！　Look　at　her！〃　they　all　cried。

〃Look　at　her！　Look　at　her〃　cried　her　little　ones。　as　sheapproached　the　nest。　〃That　is　certainly　a　young　peacock；　for　itglitters　in　all　colours；　it　makes　one's　eyes　ache；　as　mother　toldus。　Peep！　that's　'the　beautiful'。〃　And　then　they　pecked　at　the　birdwith　their　little　beaks　so　that　it　was　impossible　for　her　to　getinto　the　nest；　she　was　so　exhausted　that　she　couldn't　even　say　〃Peep！〃much　less　〃I　am　your　own　mother！〃　The　other　birds；　too；　now　fellupon　the　sparrow　and　plucked　off　feather　after　feather　until　shefell　bleeding　into　the　rose…bush。

〃Poor　creature！〃　said　all　the　roses；　〃only　be　still；　and　we　willhide　you。　Lean　your　little　head　against　us。

The　sparrow　spread　out　her　wings　once　more；　then　drew　them　closelyto　her；　and　lay　dead　near　the　neighbouring　family；　the　beautiful　freshroses。

〃Peep！〃　sounded　from　the　nest。　〃Where　can　mother　be　so　long？It's　more　than　I　can　understand。　It　cannot　be　a　trick　of　hers；　andmean　that　we　are　now　to　take　care　of　ourselves。　She　has　left　us　thehouse　as　an　inheritance；　but　to　which　of　us　is　it　to　belong　when　wehave　families　of　our　own？〃

〃Yes；　it　won't　do　for　you　to　stay　with　me　when　I　increase　myhousehold　with　a　wife　and　children；〃'　said　the　smallest。

〃I　daresay　I　shall　have　more　wives　and　children　than　you；〃　saidthe　second。

〃But　I　am　the　eldest！〃　exclaimed　the　third。　Then　they　all　gotexcited；　they　hit　out　with　their　wings；　pecked　with　their　beaks；　andflop！　one　after　another　was　thrown　out　of　the　nest。　There　they　laywith　their　anger；　holding　their　heads　on　one　side　and　blinking　the　eyethat　was　turned　upwards。　That　was　their　way　of　looking　foolish。

They　could　fly　a　little；　by　practice　they　learned　to　improve；and　at　last　they　agreed　upon　a　sign　by　which　to　recognise　each　otherif　they　should　meet　in　the　world　later　on。　It　was　to　be　one　〃Peep！〃and　three　scratches　on　the　ground　with　the　left　foot。

The　young　one　who　had　remained　behind　in　the　nest　made　himselfas　broad　as　he　could；　for　he　was　the　proprietor。　But　this　greatnessdid　not　last　long。　In　the　night　the　red　flames　burst　through　thewindow　and　seized　the　roof；　the　dry　straw　blazed　up　high；　and　thewhole　house；　together　with　the　young　sparrow；　was　burned。　The　twoothers；　who　wanted　to　marry；　thus　saved　their　lives　by　a　stroke　ofluck。

When　the　sun　rose　again　and　everything　looked　as　refreshed　as　ifit　had　had　a　quiet　sleep；　there　only　remained　of　the　farmhouse　a　fewblack　charred　beams　leaning　against　the　chimney；　which　was　now　its　ownmaster。　Thick　smoke　still　rose　from　the　ruins；　but　the　rose…bush　stoodyonder；　fresh；　blooming；　and　untouched；　every　flower　and　every　twigbeing　reflected　in　the　clear　water。

〃How　beautifully　the　roses　bloom　before　the　ruined　house；〃exclaimed　a　passer…by。　〃A　pleasanter　picture　cannot　be　imagined。　Imust　have　that。〃　And　the　man　took　out　of　his　portfolio　a　little　bookwith　white　leaves：　he　was　a　painter；　and　with　his　pencil　he　drew　thesmoking　house；　the　charred　beams　and　the　overhanging　chimney；　whichbent　more　and　more；　in　the　foreground　he　put　the　large；　bloomingrose…bush；　which　presented　a　charming　view。　For　its　sake　alone　thewhole　picture　had　been　drawn。

Later　in　the　day　the　two　sparrows　who　had　been　born　there　came　by。〃Where　is　the　house？〃　they　asked。　〃Where　is　the　nest？　Peep！　All　isburned　and　our　strong　brother　too。　That's　what　he　has　now　forkeeping　the　nest。　The　roses　got　off　very　well；　there　they　stillstand　with　their　red　cheeks。　They　certainly　do　not　mourn　at　theirneighbours'　misfortunes。　I　don't　want　to　talk　to　them；　and　it　looksmiserable　here…　that's　my　opinion。〃　And　away　they　went。

On　a　beautiful　sunny　autumn　day…　one　could　almost　have　believed　itwas　still　the　middle　of　summer…　there　hopped　about　in　the　dryclean…swept　courtyard　before　the　principal　entrance　of　the　Hall　anumber　of　black；　white；　and　gaily…coloured　pigeons；　all　shining　in　thesunlight。　The　pigeon…mothers　said　to　their　young　ones：　〃Stand　ingroups；　stand　in　groups！　for　that　looks　much　better。〃

〃What　kind　of　creatures　are　those　little　grey　ones　that　runabout　behind　us？〃　asked　an　old　pigeon；　with　red　and　green　in　her　eyes。〃Little　grey　ones！　Little　grey　ones！〃　she　cried。

〃They　are　sparrows；　and　good　creatures。　We　have　always　had　thereputation　of　being　pious；　so　we　will　allow　them　to　pick　up　the　cornwith　us；　they　don't　interrupt　our　talk；　and　they　scrape　so　prettilywhen　they　bow。〃

Indeed　they　were　continually　making　three　foot…scrapings　withthe　left　foot　and　also　said　〃Peep！〃　By　this　means　they　recognised　eachother；　for　they　were　the　sparrows　from　the　nest　on　the　burned　house。

〃Here　is　excellent　fare！〃　said　the　sparrow。　The　pigeons　struttedround　one　another；　puffed　out　their　chests　mightily；　and　had　their　ownprivate　views　and　opinions。

〃Do　you　see　that　pouter　pigeon？〃　said　one　to　the　other。　〃Do　yousee　how　she　swallows　the　peas？　She　eats　too　many；　and　the　best　onestoo。　Curoo！　Curoo！　How　she　lifts　her　crest；　the　ugly；　spitefulcreature！　Curoo！　Curoo！〃　And　the　eyes　of　all　sparkled　with　malice。〃Stand　in　groups！　Stand　in　groups！　Little　grey　ones；　little　grey　ones！Curoo；　curoo；　curoo！〃

So　their　chatter　ran　on；　and　so　it　will　run　on　for　thousands　ofyears。　The　sparrows　ate　lustily；　they　listened　attentively；　and　evenstood　in　the　ranks　with　the　others；　but　it　did　not　suit　them　at　all。They　were　full；　and　so　they　left　the　pigeons；　exchanging　opinionsabout　them；　slipped　in　under　the　garden　palings；　and　when　they　foundthe　door　leading　into　the　house　open；　one　of　them；　who　was　more　thanfull；　and　therefore　felt　brave；　hopped　on　to　the　threshold。　〃Peep！〃said　he；　〃I　may　venture　that。〃

〃Peep！〃　said　the　other；　〃so　may　I；　and　something　more　too！〃　and　hehopped　into　the　room。　No　one　was　there；　the　third　sparrow；　seeingthis；　flew　still　farther　into　the　room；　exclaiming；　〃All　or　nothing！It　is　a　curious　man's　nest　all　the　same；　and　what　have　they　put　uphere？　What　is　it？〃

Close　to　the　sparrows　the　roses　were　blooming；　they　were　reflectedin　the　water；　and　the　charred　beams　leaned　against　the　overhangingchimney。　〃Do　tell　me　what　this　is。　How　es　this　in　a　room　at　theHall？〃　And　all　three　sparrows　wanted　to　fly　over　the　roses　and　thechimney；　but　flew　against　a　flat　wall。　It　was　all　a　picture；　a　greatsplendid　picture；　which　the　artist　had　painted　from　a　sketch。

〃Peep！〃　said　the　sparrows；　〃it's　nothing。　It　only　looks　likesomething。　Peep！　that　is　'the　beautiful。'　Do　you　understand　it？　Idon't。〃

And　they　flew　away；　for　some　people　came　into　the　room。

Days　and　years　went　by。　The　pigeons　had　often　cooed；　not　to　saygrowled…　the　spiteful　creatures；　the　sparrows　had　been　frozen　inwinter　and　had　lived　merrily　in　summer：　they　were　all　betrothed；　ormarried；　or　whatever　you　like　to　call　it。　They　had　little　ones；　and　ofcourse　each　one　thought　his　own　the　handsomest　and　cleverest；　one　flewthis　way；　another　that；　and　when　they　met　they　recognised　each　otherby　their　〃Peep！〃　and　the　three　scrapes　with　the　left　foot。　Theeldest　had　remained　an　old　maid　and　had　no　nest　nor　young　ones。　It　washer　pet　idea　to　see　a　great　city；　so　she　flew　to　Copenhagen。

There　was　a　large　house　painted　in　many　gay　colours　standing　closeto　the　castle　and　the　canal；　upon　which　latter　were　to　be　seen　manyships　laden　with　apples　and　pottery。　The　windows　of　the　house　werebroader　at　the　bottom　than　at　the　top；　and　when　the　sparrows　lookedthrough　them；　every　room　appeared　to　them　like　a　tulip　with　thebrightest　colours　and　shades。　But　in　the　middle　of　the　tulip　stoodwhite　men；　made　of　marble；　a　few　were　of　plaster；　still；　looked　atwith　sparrows'　eyes；　that　es　to　the　same　thing。　Up　on　the　roofstood　a　metal　chariot　drawn　by　metal　horses；　and　the　goddess　ofVictory；　also　of　metal；　was　driving。　It　was　Thorwaldsen's　Museum。

〃How　it　shines！　how　it　shines！〃　said　the　maiden　sparrow。　〃Isuppose　that　is　'the　beautiful。'　Peep！　But　here　it　is　larger　than　apeacock。〃　She　still　remembered　what　in　her　childhood's　days　her　motherhad　looked　upon　as　the　greatest　among　the　beautiful。　She　flew　downinto　the　courtyard：　there　everything　was　extremely　fine。　Palms　andbranches　were　painted　on　the　walls；　and　in　the　middle　of　the　courtstood　a　great　blooming　rose…tree　spreading　out　its　fresh　boughs；covered　with　roses；　over　a　grave。　Thither　flew　the　maiden　sparrow；　forshe　saw　several　of　her　own　kind　there。　A　〃peep〃　and　threefoot…scrapings…　in　this　way　she　had　often　greeted　throughout　the　year；and　no　one　here　had　responded；　for　those　who　are　once　parted　do　notmeet　every　day；　and　so　this　greeting　had　bee　a　habit　with　her。But　to…day　two　old　sparrows　and　a　young　one　answered　with　a　〃peep〃　andthe　thrice…repeated　scrape　with　the　left　foot。

〃Ah！　Good…day！　good…day！〃　They　were　two　old　ones　from　the　nest　anda　little　one　of　the　family。　〃Do　we　meet　here？　It's　a　grand　place；but　there's　not　much　to　eat。　This　is　'the　beautiful。'　Peep！〃

Many　people　came　out　of　the　side　rooms　where　the　beautifulmarble　statues　stood　and　approached　the　grave　where　lay　the　greatmaster　who　had　created　these　works　of　art。　All　stood　with　enrapturedfaces　round　Thorwaldsen's　grave；　and　a　few　picked　up　the　fallenrose…leaves　and　preserved　them。　They　had　e　from　afar：　one　frommighty　England；　others　from　Germany　and　France。　The　fairest　of　theladies　plucked　one　of　the　roses　and　hid　it　in　her　bosom。　Then　thesparrows　thought　that　the　roses　reigned　here；　and　that　the　house　hadbeen　built　for　their　sake。　That　appeared　to　them　to　be　really　toomuch；　but　since　all　the　people　showed　their　love　for　the　roses；　theydid　not　wish　to　be　behindhand。　〃Peep！〃　they　said　sweeping　the　groundwith　their　tails；　and　blinking　with　one　eye　at　the　roses；　they　had　notlooked　at　them　long　before　they　were　convinced　that　they　were　theirold　neighbours。　And　so　they　really　were。　The　painter　who　had　drawn　therose…bush　near　the　ruined　house；　had　afterwards　obtained　permission　todig　it　up；　and　had　given　it　to　the　architect；　for　finer　roses　hadnever　been　seen。　The　architect　had　planted　it　upon　Thorwaldsen'sgrave；　where　it　bloomed　as　an　emblem　of　'the　beautiful'　and　yieldedfragrant　red　rose…leaves　to　be　carried　as　mementoes　to　distant　lands。

〃Have　you　obtained　an　appointment　here　in　the　city？〃　asked　thesparrows。　The　roses　nodded；　they　recognized　their　grey　neighboursand　were　pleased　to　see　them　again。　〃How　glorious　it　is　to　live　and　tobloom；　to　see　old　friends　again；　and　happy　faces　every　day。　It　is　asif　every　day　were　a　festival。〃　〃Peep！〃　said　the　sparrows。　〃Yes；　theyare　really　our　old　neighbours；　we　remember　their　origin　near　the　pond。Peep！　how　they　have　got　on。　Yes；　some　succeed　while　they　are　asleep。Ah！　there's　a　faded　leaf；　I　can　see　that　quite　plainly。〃　And　theypecked　at　it　till　it　fell　off。　But　the　tree　stood　there　fresher　andgreener　than　ever；　the　roses　bloomed　in　the　sunshine　onThorwaldsen's　grave　and　became　associated　with　his　immortal　name。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

THE　NIGHTINGALE

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

IN　China；　you　know；　the　emperor　is　a　Chinese；　and　all　thoseabout　him　are　Chinamen　also。　The　story　I　am　going　to　tell　you　happeneda　great　many　years　ago；　so　it　is　well　to　hear　it　now　before　it　isforgotten。　The　emperor's　palace　was　the　most　beautiful　in　the　world。It　was　built　entirely　of　porcelain；　and　very　costly；　but　so　delicateand　brittle　that　whoever　touched　it　was　obliged　to　be　careful。　Inthe　garden　could　be　seen　the　most　singular　flowers；　with　pretty　silverbells　tied　to　them；　which　tinkled　so　that　every　one　who　passed　couldnot　help　noticing　the　flowers。　Indeed；　everything　in　the　emperor'sgarden　was　remarkable；　and　it　extended　so　far　that　the　gardenerhimself　did　not　know　where　it　ended。　Those　who　travelled　beyond　itslimits　knew　that　there　was　a　noble　forest；　with　lofty　trees；　slopingdown　to　the　deep　blue　sea；　and　the　great　ships　sailed　under　the　shadowof　its　branches。　In　one　of　these　trees　lived　a　nightingale；　who　sangso　beautifully　that　even　the　poor　fishermen；　who　had　so　many　otherthings　to　do；　would　stop　and　listen。　Sometimes；　when　they　went　atnight　to　spread　their　s；　they　would　hear　her　sing；　and　say；　〃Oh；　isnot　that　beautiful？〃　But　when　they　returned　to　their　fishing；　theyforgot　the　bird　until　the　next　night。　Then　they　would　hear　it　again；and　exclaim　〃Oh；　how　beautiful　is　the　nightingale's　song！〃

Travellers　from　every　country　in　the　world　came　to　the　city　of　theemperor；　which　they　admired　very　much；　as　well　as　the　palace　andgardens；　but　when　they　heard　the　nightingale；　they　all　declared　itt