安徒生童话-第81部分

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。　The　family　who　dwelt　in　it　were　also　very　poorand　humble；　but　they　treasured　the　fear　of　God　in　their　innermosthearts。　And　now　He　was　about　to　send　them　a　child。　It　was　the　hourof　the　mother's　sorrow；　when　there　pealed　forth　from　the　churchtower　the　sound　of　festive　bells。　In　that　solemn　hour　the　sweet　andjoyous　chiming　filled　the　hearts　of　those　in　the　humble　dwellingwith　thankfulness　and　trust；　and　when；　amidst　these　joyous　sounds；　alittle　son　was　born　to　them；　the　words　of　prayer　and　praise　arose　fromtheir　overflowing　hearts；　and　their　happiness　seemed　to　ring　outover　town　and　country　in　the　liquid　tones　of　the　church　bells'chime。　The　little　one；　with　its　bright　eyes　and　golden　hair；　hadbeen　weled　joyously　on　that　dark　November　day。　Its　parents　kissedit　lovingly；　and　the　father　wrote　these　words　in　the　Bible；　〃On　thetenth　of　November；　1759；　God　sent　us　a　son。〃　And　a　short　time　after；when　the　child　had　been　baptized；　the　names　he　had　received　wereadded；　〃John　Christopher　Frederick。〃

And　what　became　of　the　little　lad？…　the　poor　boy　of　the　humbletown　of　Marbach？　Ah；　indeed；　there　was　no　one　who　thought　or　supposed；not　even　the　old　church　bell　which　had　been　the　first　to　sound　andchime　for　him；　that　he　would　be　the　first　to　sing　the　beautiful　songof　〃The　Bell。〃　The　boy　grew　apace；　and　the　world　advanced　with　him。

While　he　was　yet　a　child；　his　parents　removed　from　Marbach；　andwent　to　reside　in　another　town；　but　their　dearest　friends　remainedbehind　at　Marbach；　and　therefore　sometimes　the　mother　and　her　sonwould　start　on　a　fine　day　to　pay　a　visit　to　the　little　town。　The　boywas　at　this　time　about　six　years　old；　and　already　knew　a　great　manystories　out　of　the　Bible；　and　several　religious　psalms。　While　seatedin　the　evening　on　his　little　cane…chair；　he　had　often　heard　his　fatherread　from　Gellert's　fables；　and　sometimes　from　Klopstock's　grand　poem；〃The　Messiah。〃　He　and　his　sister；　two　years　older　than　himself；　hadoften　wept　scalding　tears　over　the　story　of　Him　who　suffered　deathon　the　cross　for　us　all。

On　his　first　visit　to　Marbach；　the　town　appeared　to　have　changedbut　very　little；　and　it　was　not　far　enough　away　to　be　forgotten。　Thehouse；　with　its　pointed　gable；　narrow　windows；　overhanging　walls　andstories；　projecting　one　beyond　another；　looked　just　the　same　as　informer　times。　But　in　the　churchyard　there　were　several　new　graves；　andthere　also；　in　the　grass；　close　by　the　wall；　stood　the　old　churchbell！　It　had　been　taken　down　from　its　high　position；　in　consequence　ofa　crack　in　the　metal　which　prevented　it　from　ever　chiming　again；　and　anew　bell　now　occupied　its　place。　The　mother　and　son　were　walking　inthe　churchyard　when　they　discovered　the　old　bell；　and　they　stood　stillto　look　at　it。　Then　the　mother　reminded　her　little　boy　of　what　auseful　bell　this　had　been　for　many　hundred　years。　It　had　chimed　forweddings　and　for　christenings；　it　had　tolled　for　funerals；　and　to　givethe　alarm　in　case　of　fire。　With　every　event　in　the　life　of　man　thebell　had　made　its　voice　heard。　His　mother　also　told　him　how　thechiming　of　that　old　bell　had　once　filled　her　heart　with　joy　andconfidence；　and　that　in　the　midst　of　the　sweet　tones　her　child　hadbeen　given　to　her。　And　the　boy　gazed　on　the　large；　old　bell　with　thedeepest　interest。　He　bowed　his　head　over　it　and　kissed　it；　old；　thrownaway；　and　cracked　as　it　was；　and　standing　there　amidst　the　grass　andtles。　The　boy　never　forgot　what　his　mother　told　him；　and　thetones　of　the　old　bell　reverberated　in　his　heart　till　he　reachedmanhood。　In　such　sweet　remembrance　was　the　old　bell　cherished　by　theboy；　who　grew　up　in　poverty　to　be　tall　and　slender；　with　a　freckledplexion　and　hair　almost　red；　but　his　eyes　were　clear　and　blue　asthe　deep　sea；　and　what　was　his　career　to　be？　His　career　was　to　begood；　and　his　future　life　enviable。　We　find　him　taking　high　honorsat　the　military　school　in　the　division　manded　by　the　member　of　afamily　high　in　position；　and　this　was　an　honor；　that　is　to　say；　goodluck。　He　wore　gaiters；　stiff　collars；　and　powdered　hair；　and　by　thishe　was　recognized；　and；　indeed；　he　might　be　known　by　the　word　ofmand…　〃March！　halt！　front！〃

The　old　church　bell　had　long　been　quite　forgotten；　and　no　oneimagined　it　would　ever　again　be　sent　to　the　melting　furnace　to　make　itas　it　was　before。　No　one　could　possibly　have　foretold　this。　Equallyimpossible　would　it　have　been　to　believe　that　the　tones　of　the　oldbell　still　echoed　in　the　heart　of　the　boy　from　Marbach；　or　that　oneday　they　would　ring　out　loud　enough　and　strong　enough　to　be　heardall　over　the　world。　They　had　already　been　heard　in　the　narrow　spacebehind　the　school…wall；　even　above　the　deafening　sounds　of　〃March！halt！　front！〃　They　had　chimed　so　loudly　in　the　heart　of　the　youngster；that　he　had　sung　them　to　his　panions；　and　their　tones　resoundedto　the　very　borders　of　the　country。　He　was　not　a　free　scholar　in　themilitary　school；　neither　was　he　provided　with　clothes　or　food。　Buthe　had　his　number；　and　his　own　peg；　for　everything　here　was　orderedlike　clockwork；　which　we　all　know　is　of　the　greatest　utility…　peopleget　on　so　much　better　together　when　their　position　and　duties　areunderstood。　It　is　by　pressure　that　a　jewel　is　stamped。　The　pressure　ofregularity　and　discipline　here　stamped　the　jewel；　which　in　thefuture　the　world　so　well　knew。

In　the　chief　town　of　the　province　a　great　festival　was　beingcelebrated。　The　light　streamed　forth　from　thousands　of　lamps；　andthe　rockets　shot　upwards　towards　the　sky；　filling　the　air　with　showersof　colored　fiery　sparks。　A　record　of　this　bright　display　will　livein　the　memory　of　man；　for　through　it　the　pupil　in　the　militaryschool　was　in　tears　and　sorrow。　He　had　dared　to　attempt　to　reachforeign　territories　unnoticed；　and　must　therefore　give　upfatherland；　mother；　his　dearest　friends；　all；　or　sink　down　into　thestream　of　mon　life。　The　old　church　bell　had　still　some　fort；it　stood　in　the　shelter　of　the　church　wall　in　Marbach；　once　soelevated；　now　quite　forgotten。　The　wind　roared　around　it；　and　couldhave　readily　related　the　story　of　its　origin　and　of　its　sweetchimes；　and　the　wind　could　also　tell　of　him　to　whom　he　had　broughtfresh　air　when；　in　the　woods　of　a　neighboring　country；　he　had　sunkdown　exhausted　with　fatigue；　with　no　other　worldly　possessions　thanhope　for　the　future；　and　a　written　leaf　from　〃Fiesco。〃　The　windcould　have　told　that　his　only　protector　was　an　artist；　who；　by　readingeach　leaf　to　him；　made　it　plain；　and　that　they　amused　themselves　byplaying　at　nine…pins　together。　The　wind　could　also　describe　the　palefugitive；　who；　for　weeks　and　months；　lay　in　a　wretched　littleroad…side　inn；　where　the　landlord　got　drunk　and　raved；　and　where　themerry…makers　had　it　all　their　own　way。　And　he；　the　pale　fugitive；　sangof　the　ideal。

For　many　heavy　days　and　dark　nights　the　heart　must　suffer　toenable　it　to　endure　trial　and　temptation；　yet；　amidst　it　all；　wouldthe　minstrel　sing。　Dark　days　and　cold　nights　also　passed　over　theold　bell；　and　it　noticed　them　not；　but　the　bell　in　the　man's　heartfelt　it　to　be　a　gloomy　time。　What　would　bee　of　this　young　man；and　what　would　bee　of　the　old　bell？

The　old　bell　was；　after　a　time；　carried　away　to　a　greater　distancethan　any　one；　even　the　warder　in　the　bell　tower；　ever　imagined；　andthe　bell　in　the　breast　of　the　young　man　was　heard　in　countries　wherehis　feet　had　never　wandered。　The　tones　went　forth　over　the　wideocean　to　every　part　of　the　round　world。

We　will　now　follow　the　career　of　the　old　bell。　It　was；　as　wehave　said；　carried　far　away　from　Marbach　and　sold　as　old　copper；then　sent　to　Bavaria　to　be　melted　down　in　a　furnace。　And　then　whathappened？

In　the　royal　city　of　Bavaria；　many　years　after　the　bell　had　beenremoved　from　the　tower　and　melted　down；　some　metal　was　required　fora　monument　in　honor　of　one　of　the　most　celebrated　characters　which　aGerman　people　or　a　German　land　could　produce。　And　now　we　see　howwonderfully　things　are　ordered。　Strange　things　sometimes　happen　inthis　world。

In　Denmark；　in　one　of　those　green　islands　where　the　foliage　of　thebeech…woods　rustles　in　the　wind；　and　where　many　Huns'　graves　may　beseen；　was　another　poor　boy　born。　He　wore　wooden　shoes；　and　when　hisfather　worked　in　a　ship…yard；　the　boy；　wrapped　up　in　an　old　worn…outshawl；　carried　his　dinner　to　him　every　day。　This　poor　child　was　nowthe　pride　of　his　country；　for　the　sculptured　marble；　the　work　of　hishands；　had　astonished　the　world。*　To　him　was　offered　the　honor　offorming　from　the　clay；　a　model　of　the　figure　of　him　whose　name；〃John　Christopher　Frederick；〃　had　been　written　by　his　father　in　theBible。　The　bust　was　cast　in　bronze；　and　part　of　the　metal　used　forthis　purpose　was　the　old　church　bell；　whose　tones　had　died　away　fromthe　memory　of　those　at　home　and　elsewhere。　The　metal；　glowing　withheat；　flowed　into　the　mould；　and　formed　the　head　and　bust　of　thestatue　which　was　unveiled　in　the　square　in　front　of　the　old　castle。The　statue　represented　in　living；　breathing　reality；　the　form　of　himwho　was　born　in　poverty；　the　boy　from　Marbach；　the　pupil　of　themilitary　school；　the　fugitive　who　struggled　against　poverty　andoppression；　from　the　outer　world；　Germany's　great　and　immortal　poet；who　sung　of　Switzerland's　deliverer；　William　Tell；　and　of　theheaven…inspired　Maid　of　Orleans。

*　The　Danish　sculptor　Thorwaldsen。

It　was　a　beautiful　sunny　day；　flags　were　waving　from　tower　androof　in　royal　Stuttgart；　and　the　church　bells　were　ringing　a　joyouspeal。　One　bell　was　silent；　but　it　was　illuminated　by　the　brightsunshine　which　streamed　from　the　head　and　bust　of　the　renowned　figure；of　which　it　formed　a　part。　On　this　day；　just　one　hundred　years　hadpassed　since　the　day　on　which　the　chiming　of　the　old　church　bell　atMarbach　had　filled　the　mother's　heart　with　trust　and　joy…　the　day　onwhich　her　child　was　born　in　poverty；　and　in　a　humble　home；　the　samewho；　in　after…years；　became　rich；　became　the　noble　woman…hearted　poet；a　blessing　to　the　world…　the　glorious；　the　sublime；　the　immortal　bard；John　Christoper　Frederick　Schiller！

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　THE　OLD　GRAVE…STONE

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

IN　a　house；　with　a　large　courtyard；　in　a　provincial　town；　atthat　time　of　the　year　in　which　people　say　the　evenings　are　growinglonger；　a　family　circle　were　gathered　together　at　their　old　home。　Alamp　burned　on　the　table；　although　the　weather　was　mild　and　warm；and　the　long　curtains　hung　down　before　the　open　windows；　and　withoutthe　moon　shone　brightly　in　the　dark…blue　sky。

But　they　were　not　talking　of　the　moon；　but　of　a　large；　old　stohat　lay　below　in　the　courtyard　not　very　far　from　the　kitchen　door。The　maids　often　laid　the　clean　copper　saucepans　and　kitchen　vessels　onthis　stone；　that　they　might　dry　in　the　sun；　and　the　children　were　fondof　playing　on　it。　It　was；　in　fact；　an　old　grave…stone。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　master　of　the　house；　〃I　believe　the　stone　camefrom　the　graveyard　of　the　old　church　of　the　convent　which　was　pulleddown；　and　the　pulpit；　the　monuments；　and　the　grave…stones　sold。　Myfather　bought　the　latter；　most　of　them　were　cut　in　two　and　used　forpaving…stones；　but　that　one　stone　was　preserved　whole；　and　laid　in　thecourtyard。〃

〃Any　one　can　see　that　it　is　a　grave…stone；〃　said　the　eldest　of　thechildren；　〃the　representation　of　an　hour…glass　and　part　of　thefigure　of　an　angel　can　still　be　traced；　but　the　inscription　beneath　isquite　worn　out；　excepting　the　name　'Preben；'　and　a　large　'S'　closeby　it；　and　a　little　farther　down　the　name　of　'Martha'　can　be　easilyread。　But　nothing　more；　and　even　that　cannot　be　seen　unless　it　hasbeen　raining；　or　when　we　have　washed　the　stone。〃

〃Dear　me！　how　singular。　Why　that　must　be　the　grave…stone　of　PrebenSchwane　and　his　wife。〃

The　old　man　who　said　this　looked　old　enough　to　be　thegrandfather　of　all　present　in　the　room。

〃Yes；〃　he　continued；　〃these　people　were　among　the　last　who　wereburied　in　the　churchyard　of　the　old　convent。　They　were　a　very　worthyold　couple；　I　can　remember　them　well　in　the　days　of　my　boyhood。Every　one　knew　them；　and　they　were　esteemed　by　all。　They　were　theoldest　residents　in　the　town；　and　people　said　they　possessed　a　tonof　gold；　yet　they　were　always　very　plainly　dressed；　in　the　coarseststuff；　but　with　linen　of　the　purest　whiteness。　Preben　and　Marthawere　a　fine　old　couple；　and　when　they　both　sat　on　the　bench；　at　thetop　of　the　steep　stone　steps；　in　front　of　their　house；　with　thebranches　of　the　linden…tree　waving　above　them；　and　nodded　in　a　gentle；friendly　way　to　passers　by；　it　really　made　one　feel　quite　happy。They　were　very　good　to　the　poor；　they　fed　them　and　clothed　them；　andin　their　benevolence　there　was　judgment　as　well　as　trueChristianity。　The　old　woman　died　first；　that　day　is　still　quitevividly　before　my　eyes。　I　was　a　little　boy；　and　had　acpanied　myfather　to　the　old　man's　house。　Martha　had　fallen　into　the　sleep　ofdeath　just　as　we　arrived　there。　The　corpse　lay　in　a　bedroom；　near　tothe　one　in　which　we　sat；　and　the　old　man　was　in　great　distress　andweeping　like　a　child。　He　spoke　to　my　father；　and　to　a　few　neighborswho　were　there；　of　how　lonely　he　should　feel　now　she　was　gone；　and　howgood　and　true　she；　his　dead　wife；　had　been　during　the　number　ofyears　that　they　had　passed　through　life　together；　and　how　they　hadbee　acquainted；　and　learnt　to　love　each　other。　I　was；　as　I　havesaid；　a　boy；　and　only　stood　by　and　listened　to　what　the　others　said；but　it　filled　me　with　a　strange　emotion　to　listen　to　the　old　man；and　to　watch　how　the　color　rose　in　his　cheeks　as　he　spoke　of　thedays　of　their　courtship；　of　how　beautiful　she　was；　and　how　many　littletricks　he　had　been　guilty　of；　that　he　might　meet　her。　And　then　hetalked　of　his　wedding…day；　and　his　eyes　brightened；　and　he　seemed　tobe　carried　back；　by　his　words；　to　that　joyful　time。　And　yet　thereshe　was；　lying　in　the　next　room；　dead…　an　old　woman；　and　he　was　an　oldman；　speaking　of　the　days　of　hope；　long　passed　away。　Ah；　well；　so　itis；　then　I　was　but　a　child；　and　now　I　am　old；　as　old　as　Preben　Schwahen　was。　Time　passes　away；　and　all　things　changed。　I　can　rememberquite　well　the　day　on　which　she　was　buried；　and　how　Old　Prebenwalked　close　behind　the　coffin。

〃A　few　years　before　this　time　the　old　couple　had　had　theirgrave…stone　prepared；　with　an　inscription　and　their　names；　but　not　thedate。　In　the　evening　the　stone　was　taken　to　the　churchyard；　and　laidon　the　grave。　A　year　later　it　was　taken　up；　that　Old　Preben　might　belaid　by　the　side　of　his　wife。　They　did　not　leave　behind　them　wealth；they　left　behind　them　far　less　than　people　had　believed　theypossessed；　what　there　was　went　to　families　distantly　related　tothem；　of　whom；　till　then；　no　one　had　ever　heard。　The　old　house；　withits　balcony　of　wickerwork；　and　the　bench　at　the　top　of　the　high　steps；under　the　lime…tree；　was　considered；　by　the　road…inspectors；　too　oldand　rotten　to　be　left　standing。　Afterwards；　when　the　same　fatebefell　the　convent　church；　and　the　graveyard　was　destroyed；　thegrave…stone　of　Preben　and　Martha；　like　everything　else；　was　sold　towhoever　would　buy　it。　And　so　it　happened　that　this　stone　was　not　cutin　two　as　many　others　had　been；　but　now　lies　in　the　courtyard　below；　ascouring　block　for　the　maids；　and　a　playground　for　the　children。　Thepaved　street　now　passes　over　the　resting　place　of　Old　Preben　and　hiswife；　no　one　thinks　of　them　any　more　now。〃

And　the　old　man　who　had　spoken　of　all　this　shook　his　headmournfully；　and　said；　〃Forgotten！　Ah；　yes；　everything　will　beforgotten！〃　And　then　the　conversation　turned