安徒生童话-第97部分

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fter　her；　and　was　now　holdingher　up　to　me。　We　dried　her　clothes　as　well　as　we　were　able；　andremained　on　the　water　till　they　were　dry；　for　we　did　not　wish　it　to　beknown　what　a　fright　we　had　had；　nor　the　danger　which　our　littleadopted　sister　had　incurred；　in　whose　life　Aphtanides　had　now　a　part。

The　summer　came；　and　the　burning　heat　of　the　sun　tinted　the　leavesof　the　trees　with　lines　of　gold。　I　thought　of　our　coolmountain…home；　and　the　fresh　water　that　flowed　near　it；　my　mother；too；　longed　for　if；　and　one　evening　we　wandered　towards　home。　Howpeaceful　and　silent　it　was　as　we　walked　on　through　the　thick；　wildthyme；　still　fragrant；　though　the　sun　had　scorched　the　leaves。　Not　asingle　herdsman　did　we　meet；　not　a　solitary　hut　did　we　pass；everything　appeared　lonely　and　deserted…　only　a　shooting　star　showedthat　in　the　heavens　there　was　yet　life。　I　know　not　whether　theclear；　blue　atmosphere　gleamed　with　its　own　light；　or　if　theradiance　came　from　the　stars；　but　we　could　distinguish　quite　plainlythe　outline　of　the　mountains。　My　mother　lighted　a　fire；　and　roastedsome　roots　she　had　brought　with　her；　and　I　and　my　little　sisterslept　among　the　bushes；　without　fear　of　the　ugly　smidraki；　fromwhose　throat　issues　fire；　or　of　the　wolf　and　the　jackal；　for　my　mothersat　by　us；　and　I　considered　her　presence　sufficient　protection。

We　reached　our　old　home；　but　the　cottage　was　in　ruins；　and　wehad　to　build　a　new　one。　With　the　aid　of　some　neighbors；　chiefly　women；the　walls　were　in　a　few　days　erected；　and　very　soon　covered　with　aroof　of　olive…branches。　My　mother　obtained　a　living　by　makingbottle…cases　of　bark　and　skins；　and　I　kept　the　sheep　belonging　tothe　priests；　who　were　sometimes　peasants；　while　I　had　for　myplayfellows　Anastasia　and　the　turtles。

Once　our　beloved　Aphtanides　paid　us　a　visit。　He　said　he　had　beenlonging　to　see　us　so　much；　and　he　remained　with　us　two　whole　happydays。　A　month　afterwards　he　came　again　to　wish　us　good…bye；　andbrought　with　him　a　large　fish　for　my　mother。　He　told　us　he　was　goingin　a　ship　to　Corfu　and　Patras；　and　could　relate　a　great　manystories；　not　only　about　the　fishermen　who　lived　near　the　gulf　ofLepanto；　but　also　of　kings　and　heroes　who　had　once　possessed　Greece；just　as　the　Turks　possess　it　now。

I　have　seen　a　bud　on　a　rose…bush　gradually；　in　the　course　of　a　fewweeks；　unfold　its　leaves　till　it　became　a　rose　in　all　its　beauty；　and；before　I　was　aware　of　it；　I　beheld　it　blooming　in　rosy　loveliness。　Thesame　thing　had　happened　to　Anastasia。　Unnoticed　by　me；　she　hadgradually　bee　a　beautiful　maiden；　and　I　was　now　also　a　stout；strong　youth。　The　wolf…skins　that　covered　the　bed　in　which　my　motherand　Anastasia　slept；　had　been　taken　from　wolves　which　I　had　myselfshot。

Years　had　gone　by　when；　one　evening；　Aphtanides　came　in。　He　hadgrown　tall　and　slender　as　a　reed；　with　strong　limbs；　and　a　dark；　brownskin。　He　kissed　us　all；　and　had　so　much　to　tell　of　what　he　had　seen　ofthe　great　ocean；　of　the　fortifications　at　Malta；　and　of　the　marvelloussepulchres　of　Egypt；　that　I　looked　up　to　him　with　a　kind　ofveneration。　His　stories　were　as　strange　as　the　legends　of　thepriests　of　olden　times。

〃How　much　you　know！〃　I　exclaimed；　〃and　what　wonders　you　canrelate？〃

〃I　think　what　you　once　told　me；　the　finest　of　all；〃　he　replied；〃you　told　me　of　a　thing　that　has　never　been　out　of　my　thoughts…　of　thegood　old　custom　of　'the　bond　of　friendship；'…　a　custom　I　should　liketo　follow。　Brother；　let　you　and　I　go　to　church；　as　your　father　andAnastasia's　father　once　did。　Your　sister　Anastasia　is　the　mostbeautiful　and　most　innocent　of　maidens；　and　she　shall　consecrate　thedeed。　No　people　have　such　grand　old　customs　as　we　Greeks。〃

Anastasia　blushed　like　a　young　rose；　and　my　mother　kissedAphtanides。

At　about　two　miles　from　our　cottage；　where　the　earth　on　the　hillis　sheltered　by　a　few　scattered　trees；　stood　the　little　church；　with　asilver　lamp　hanging　before　the　altar。　I　put　on　my　best　clothes；　andthe　white　tunic　fell　in　graceful　folds　over　my　hips。　The　red　jacketfitted　tight　and　close；　the　tassel　on　my　Fez　cap　was　of　silver；　and　inmy　girdle　glittered　a　knife　and　my　pistols。　Aphtanides　was　clad　in　theblue　dress　worn　by　the　Greek　sailors；　on　his　breast　hung　a　silvermedal　with　the　figure　of　the　Virgin　Mary；　and　his　scarf　was　ascostly　as　those　worn　by　rich　lords。　Every　one　could　see　that　we　wereabout　to　perform　a　solemn　ceremony。　When　we　entered　the　little；unpretending　church；　the　evening　sunlight　streamed　through　the　opendoor　on　the　burning　lamp；　and　glittered　on　the　golden　pictureframes。　We　knelt　down　together　on　the　altar　steps；　and　Anastasiadrew　near　and　stood　beside　us。　A　long；　white　garment　fell　ingraceful　folds　over　her　delicate　form；　and　on　her　white　neck　and　bosomhung　a　chain　entwined　with　old　and　new　coins；　forming　a　kind　ofcollar。　Her　black　hair　was　fastened　into　a　knot；　and　confined　by　aheaddress　formed　of　gold　and　silver　coins　which　had　been　found　in　anancient　temple。　No　Greek　girl　had　more　beautiful　ornaments　than　these。Her　countenance　glowed；　and　her　eyes　were　like　two　stars。　We　all　threeoffered　a　silent　prayer；　and　then　she　said　to　us；　〃Will　you　be　friendsin　life　and　in　death？〃

〃Yes；〃　we　replied。

〃Will　you　each　remember　to　say；　whatever　may　happen；　'My　brotheris　a　part　of　myself；　his　secret　is　my　secret；　my　happiness　is　his；self…sacrifice；　patience；　everything　belongs　to　me　as　they　do　tohim？'〃

And　we　again　answered；　〃Yes。〃　Then　she　joined　out　hands　and　kissedus　on　the　forehead；　and　we　again　prayed　silently。　After　this　apriest　came　through　a　door　near　the　altar；　and　blessed　us　all　three。Then　a　song　was　sung　by　other　holy　men　behind　the　altar…screen；　andthe　bond　of　eternal　friendship　was　confirmed。　When　we　arose；　I　sawmy　mother　standing　by　the　church　door；　weeping。

How　cheerful　everything　seemed　now　in　our　little　cottage　by　theDelphian　springs！　On　the　evening　before　his　departure；　Aphtanidessat　thoughtfully　beside　me　on　the　slopes　of　the　mountain。　His　armwas　flung　around　me；　and　mine　was　round　his　neck。　We　spoke　of　thesorrows　of　Greece；　and　of　the　men　of　the　country　who　could　be　trusted。Every　thought　of　our　souls　lay　clear　before　us。　Presently　I　seized　hishand：　〃Aphtanides；〃　I　exclaimed；　〃there　is　one　thing　still　that　youmust　know；…　one　thing　that　till　now　has　been　a　secret　between　myselfand　Heaven。　My　whole　soul　is　filled　with　love；…　with　a　love　strongerthan　the　love　I　bear　to　my　mother　and　to　thee。

〃And　whom　do　you　love？〃　asked　Aphtanides。　And　his　face　and　neckgrew　red　as　fire。

〃I　love　Anastasia；〃　I　replied。

Then　his　hand　trembled　in　mine；　and　he　became　pale　as　a　corpse。I　saw　it；　I　understood　the　cause；　and　I　believe　my　hand　trembledtoo。　I　bent　towards　him；　I　kissed　his　forehead；　and　whispered；　〃I　havenever　spoken　of　this　to　her；　and　perhaps　she　does　not　love　me。Brother；　think　of　this；　I　have　seen　her　daily；　she　has　grown　up　besideme；　and　has　bee　a　part　of　my　soul。〃

〃And　she　shall　be　thine；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃thine！　I　may　not　wrongthee；　nor　will　I　do　so。　I　also　love　her；　but　tomorrow　I　depart。　In　ayear　we　will　see　each　other　again；　but　then　you　will　be　married；　shallit　not　be　so？　I　have　a　little　gold　of　my　own；　it　shall　be　yours。　Youmust　and　shall　take　it。〃

We　wandered　silently　homeward　across　the　mountains。　It　was　late　inthe　evening　when　we　reached　my　mother's　door。　Anastasia　held　thelamp　as　we　entered；　my　mother　was　not　there。　She　looked　atAphtanides　with　a　sweet　but　mournful　expression　on　her　face。〃To…morrow　you　are　going　to　leave　us；〃　she　said。　〃I　am　very　sorry。〃

〃Sorry！〃　he　exclaimed；　and　his　voice　was　troubled　with　a　griefas　deep　as　my　own。　I　could　not　speak；　but　he　seized　her　hand　and　said；〃Our　brother　yonder　loves　you；　and　is　he　not　dear　to　you？　His　verysilence　now　proves　his　affection。〃

Anastasia　trembled；　and　burst　into　tears。　Then　I　saw　no　one；thought　of　none；　but　her。　I　threw　my　arms　round　her；　and　pressed　mylips　to　hers。　As　she　flung　her　arms　round　my　neck；　the　lamp　fell　tothe　ground；　and　we　were　in　darkness；　dark　as　the　heart　of　poorAphtanides。

Before　daybreak　he　rose；　kissed　us　all；　and　said　〃Farewell；〃　andwent　away。　He　had　given　all　his　money　to　my　mother　for　us。　Anastasiawas　betrothed　to　me；　and　in　a　few　days　afterwards　she　became　my　wife。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

THE　SHIRT…COLLAR

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THERE　was　once　a　fine　gentleman　who　possessed　among　other　things　aboot…jack　and　a　hair…brush；　but　he　had　also　the　finest　shirt…collar　inthe　world；　and　of　this　collar　we　are　about　to　hear　a　story。　The　collarhad　bee　so　old　that　he　began　to　think　about　getting　married；　andone　day　he　happened　to　find　himself　in　the　same　washing…tub　as　agarter。　〃Upon　my　word；〃　said　the　shirt…collar；　〃I　have　never　seenanything　so　slim　and　delicate；　so　neat　and　soft　before。　May　Iventure　to　ask　your　name？〃

〃I　shall　not　tell　you；〃　replied　the　garter。

〃Where　do　you　reside　when　you　are　at　home？〃　asked　theshirt…collar。　But　the　garter　was　naturally　shy；　and　did　not　know　howto　answer　such　a　question。

〃I　presume　you　are　a　girdle；〃　said　the　shirt…collar；　〃a　sort　ofunder　girdle。　I　see　that　you　are　useful；　as　well　as　ornamental；　mylittle　lady。〃

〃You　must　not　speak　to　me；〃　said　the　garter；　〃I　do　not　think　Ihave　given　you　any　encouragement　to　do　so。〃

〃Oh；　when　any　one　is　as　beautiful　as　you　are；〃　said　theshirt…collar；　〃is　not　that　encouragement　enough？〃

〃Get　away；　don't　e　so　near　me；〃　said　the　garter；　〃you　appear　tome　quite　like　a　man。〃

〃I　am　a　fine　gentleman　certainly；〃　said　the　shirt…collar；　〃Ipossess　a　boot…jack　and　a　hair…brush。〃　This　was　not　true；　for　thesethings　belonged　to　his　master；　but　he　was　a　boaster。

〃Don't　e　so　near　me；〃　said　the　garter；　〃I　am　not　accustomedto　it。〃

〃Affectation！〃　said　the　shirt…collar。

Then　they　were　taken　out　of　the　wash…tub；　starched；　and　hungover　a　chair　in　the　sunshine；　and　then　laid　on　the　ironing…board。And　now　came　the　glowing　iron。　〃Mistress　widow；〃　said　theshirt…collar；　〃little　mistress　widow；　I　feel　quite　warm。　I　amchanging；　I　am　losing　all　my　creases。　You　are　burning　a　hole　in　me。Ugh！　I　propose　to　you。〃

〃You　old　rag；〃　said　the　flat…iron；　driving　proudly　over　thecollar；　for　she　fancied　herself　a　steam…engine；　which　rolls　over　therailway　and　draws　carriages。　〃You　old　rag！〃　said　she。

The　edges　of　the　shirt…collar　were　a　little　frayed；　so　thescissors　were　brought　to　cut　them　smooth。　〃Oh！〃　exclaimed　theshirt…collar；　〃what　a　first…rate　dancer　you　would　make；　you　canstretch　out　your　leg　so　well。　I　never　saw　anything　so　charming；　I　amsure　no　human　being　could　do　the　same。〃

〃I　should　think　not；〃　replied　the　scissors。

〃You　ought　to　be　a　countess；〃　said　the　shirt　collar；　〃but　all　Ipossess　consists　of　a　fine　gentleman；　a　boot…jack；　and　a　b。　Iwish　I　had　an　estate　for　your　sake。〃

〃What！　is　he　going　to　propose　to　me？〃　said　the　scissors；　and　shebecame　so　angry　that　she　cut　too　sharply　into　the　shirt　collar；　and　itwas　obliged　to　be　thrown　by　as　useless。

〃I　shall　be　obliged　to　propose　to　the　hair…brush；〃　thought　theshirt　collar；　so　he　remarked　one　day；　〃It　is　wonderful　whatbeautiful　hair　you　have；　my　little　lady。　Have　you　never　thought　ofbeing　engaged？〃

〃You　might　know　I　should　think　of　it；〃　answered　the　hair　brush；　〃Iam　engaged　to　the　boot…jack。〃

〃Engaged！〃　cried　the　shirt　collar；　〃now　there　is　no　one　left　topropose　to；〃　and　then　he　pretended　to　despise　all　love…making。

A　long　time　passed；　and　the　shirt　collar　was　taken　in　a　bag　to　thepaper…mill。　Here　was　a　large　pany　of　rags；　the　fine　ones　lying　bythemselves；　separated　from　the　coarser；　as　it　ought　to　be。　They　hadall　many　things　to　relate；　especially　the　shirt　collar；　who　was　aterrible　boaster。　〃I　have　had　an　immense　number　of　love　affairs；〃　saidthe　shirt　collar；　〃no　one　left　me　any　peace。　It　is　true　I　was　a　veryfine　gentleman；　quite　stuck　up。　I　had　a　boot…jack　and　a　brush　that　Inever　used。　You　should　have　seen　me　then；　when　I　was　turned　down。　Ishall　never　forget　my　first　love；　she　was　a　girdle；　so　charming；　andfine；　and　soft；　and　she　threw　herself　into　a　washing　tub　for　mysake。　There　was　a　widow　too；　who　was　warmly　in　love　with　me；　but　Ileft　her　alone；　and　she　became　quite　black。　The　next　was　afirst…rate　dancer；　she　gave　me　the　wound　from　which　I　still　suffer；she　was　so　passionate。　Even　my　own　hair…brush　was　in　love　with　me；　andlost　all　her　hair　through　neglected　love。　Yes；　I　have　had　greatexperience　of　this　kind；　but　my　greatest　grief　was　for　the　garter…　thegirdle　I　meant　to　say…　that　jumped　into　the　wash…tub。　I　have　a　greatdeal　on　my　conscience；　and　it　is　really　time　I　should　be　turned　intowhite　paper。〃

And　the　shirt　collar　came　to　this　at　last。　All　the　rags　weremade　into　white　paper；　and　the　shirt　collar　became　the　veryidentical　piece　of　paper　which　we　now　see；　and　on　which　this　storyis　printed。　It　happened　as　a　punishment　to　him；　for　having　boastedso　shockingly　of　things　which　were　not　true。　And　this　is　a　warningto　us；　to　be　careful　how　we　act；　for　we　may　some　day　find　ourselves　inthe　rag…bag；　to　be　turned　into　white　paper；　on　which　our　whole　historymay　be　written；　even　its　most　secret　actions。　And　it　would　not　bepleasant　to　have　to　run　about　the　world　in　the　form　of　a　piece　ofpaper；　telling　everything　we　have　done；　like　the　boasting　shirtcollar。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　THE　SILVER　SHILLING

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THERE　was　once　a　shilling；　which　came　forth　from　the　mintspringing　and　shouting；　〃Hurrah！　now　I　am　going　out　into　the　wideworld。〃　And　truly　it　did　go　out　into　the　wide　world。　The　children　heldit　with　warm　hands；　the　miser　with　a　cold　and　convulsive　grasp；　andthe　old　people　turned　it　about；　goodness　knows　how　many　times；　whilethe　young　people　soon　allowed　it　to　roll　away　from　them。　Theshilling　was　made　of　silver；　it　contained　very　little　copper；　andconsidered　itself　quite　out　in　the　world　when　it　had　been　circulatedfor　a　year　in　the　country　in　which　it　had　been　coined。　One　day；　itreally　did　go　out　into　the　world；　for　it　belonged　to　a　gentleman　whowas　about　to　travel　in　foreign　lands。　This　gentleman　was　not　awarethat　the　shilling　lay　at　the　bottom　of　his　purse　when　he　started；　tillhe　one　day　found　it　between　his　fingers。　〃Why；〃　cried　he；　〃here　is　ashilling　from　home；　well；　it　must　go　on　its　travels　with　me　now！〃and　the　shilling　jumped　and　rattled　for　joy；　when　it　was　put　backagain　into　the　purse。

Here　it　lay　among　a　number　of　foreign　panions；　who　werealways　ing　and　going；　one　taking　the　place　of　another；　but　theshilling　from　home　was　always　put　back；　and　had　to　remain　in　thepurse；　which　was　certainly　a　mark　of　distinction。　Many　weeks　passed；during　which　the　shilling　had　travelled　a　long　distance　in　thepurse；　without　in　the　least　knowing　where　he　was。　He　had　found　outthat　the　other　coins　were　French　and　Italian；　and　one　coin　said　theywere　in　this　town；　and　another　said　they　were　in　that；　but　theshilling　was　unable　to　make　out　or　imagine　what　they　meant。　A　mancertainly　cannot　see　much　of　the　world　if　he　is　tied　up　in　a　bag；and　this　was　really　the　shilling's　fate。　But　one　day；　as　he　waslying　in　the　purse；　he　noticed　that　it　was　not　quite　closed；　and　so　heslipped　near　to　the　opening　to　have　a　little　peep　into　society。　Hecertainly　had　not　the　least　idea　of　what　would　follow；　but　he　wascurious；　and　curiosity　often　brings　its　own　punishment。　In　hiseagerness；　he　came　so　near　the　edge　of　the　purse　that　he　slipped　ou