安徒生童话-第98部分

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brings　its　own　punishment。　In　hiseagerness；　he　came　so　near　the　edge　of　the　purse　that　he　slipped　outinto　the　pocket　of　the　trousers；　and　when；　in　the　evening；　the　pursewas　taken　out；　the　shilling　was　left　behind　in　the　corner　to　whichit　had　fallen。　As　the　clothes　were　being　carried　into　the　hall；　theshilling　fell　out　on　the　floor；　unheard　and　unnoticed　by　any　one。The　next　morning　the　clothes　were　taken　back　to　the　room；　thegentleman　put　them　on；　and　started　on　his　journey　again；　but　theshilling　remained　behind　on　the　floor。　After　a　time　it　was　found；and　being　considered　a　good　coin；　was　placed　with　three　other　coins。〃Ah；〃　thought　the　shilling；　〃this　is　pleasant；　I　shall　now　see　theworld；　bee　acquainted　with　other　people；　and　learn　other　customs。〃

〃Do　you　call　that　a　shilling？〃　said　some　one　the　next　moment。〃That　is　not　a　genuine　coin　of　the　country；…　it　is　false；　it　is　goodfor　nothing。〃

Now　begins　the　story　as　it　was　afterwards　related　by　theshilling　himself。

〃'False！　good　for　nothing！'　said　he。　That　remark　went　throughand　through　me　like　a　dagger。　I　knew　that　I　had　a　true　ring；　andthat　mine　was　a　genuine　stamp。　These　people　must　at　all　events　bewrong；　or　they　could　not　mean　me。　But　yes；　I　was　the　one　they　called'false；　and　good　for　nothing。'

〃'Then　I　must　pay　it　away　in　the　dark；'　said　the　man　who　hadreceived　me。　So　I　was　to　be　got　rid　of　in　the　darkness；　and　be　againinsulted　in　broad　daylight。

〃'False！　good　for　nothing！'　Oh；　I　must　contrive　to　get　lost；thought　I。　And　I　trembled　between　the　fingers　of　the　people　every　timethey　tried　to　pass　me　off　slyly　as　a　coin　of　the　country。　Ah！unhappy　shilling　that　I　was！　Of　what　use　were　my　silver；　my　stamp；　andmy　real　value　here；　where　all　these　qualities　were　worthless。　In　theeyes　of　the　world；　a　man　is　valued　just　according　to　the　opinionformed　of　him。　It　must　be　a　shocking　thing　to　have　a　guiltyconscience；　and　to　be　sneaking　about　on　account　of　wicked　deeds。　Asfor　me；　innocent　as　I　was；　I　could　not　help　shuddering　before　theireyes　whenever　they　brought　me　out；　for　I　knew　I　should　be　thrownback　again　up　the　table　as　a　false　pretender。　At　length　I　was　paidaway　to　a　poor　old　woman；　who　received　me　as　wages　for　a　hard　day'swork。　But　she　could　not　again　get　rid　of　me；　no　one　would　take　me。　Iwas　to　the　woman　a　most　unlucky　shilling。　'I　am　positively　obligedto　pass　this　shilling　to　somebody；'　said　she；　'I　cannot；　with　the　bestintentions；　lay　by　a　bad　shilling。　The　rich　baker　shall　have　it；…　hecan　bear　the　loss　better　than　I　can。　But；　after　all；　it　is　not　a　rightthing　to　do。'

〃'Ah！'　sighed　I　to　myself；　'am　I　also　to　be　a　burden　on　theconscience　of　this　poor　woman？　Am　I　then　in　my　old　days　sopletely　changed？'　The　woman　offered　me　to　the　rich　baker；　but　heknew　the　current　money　too　well；　and　as　soon　as　he　received　me　hethrew　me　almost　in　the　woman's　face。　She　could　get　no　bread　for　me；and　I　felt　quite　grieved　to　the　heart　that　I　should　be　cause　of　somuch　trouble　to　another；　and　be　treated　as　a　cast…off　coin。　I　who；in　my　young　days；　felt　so　joyful　in　the　certainty　of　my　own　value；　andknew　so　well　that　I　bore　a　genuine　stamp。　I　was　as　sorrowful　now　asa　poor　shilling　can　be　when　nobody　will　have　him。　The　woman　took　mehome　again　with　her；　and　looking　at　me　very　earnestly；　she　said；'No；　I　will　not　try　to　deceive　any　one　with　thee　again。　I　will　borea　hole　through　thee；　that　everyone　may　know　that　thou　art　a　falseand　worthless　thing；　and　yet；　why　should　I　do　that？　Very　likely　thouart　a　lucky　shilling。　A　thought　has　just　struck　me　that　it　is　so；and　I　believe　it。　Yes；　I　will　make　a　hole　in　the　shilling；'　saidshe；　'and　run　a　string　through　it；　and　then　give　it　to　my　neighbor'slittle　one　to　hang　round　her　neck；　as　a　lucky　shilling。'　So　shedrilled　a　hole　through　me。

〃It　is　really　not　at　all　pleasant　to　have　a　hole　bored　throughone；　but　we　can　submit　to　a　great　deal　when　it　is　done　with　a　goodintention。　A　string　was　drawn　through　the　hole；　and　I　became　a　kind　ofmedal。　They　hung　me　round　the　neck　of　a　little　child；　and　the　childlaughed　at　me　and　kissed　me；　and　I　rested　for　one　whole　night　on　thewarm；　innocent　breast　of　a　child。

〃In　the　morning　the　child's　mother　took　me　between　her　fingers；and　had　certain　thoughts　about　me；　which　I　very　soon　found　out。　First；she　looked　for　a　pair　of　scissors；　and　cut　the　string。

〃'Lucky　shilling！'　said　she；　'certainly　this　is　what　I　mean　totry。'　Then　she　laid　me　in　vinegar　till　I　became　quite　green；　and　afterthat　she　filled　up　the　hole　with　cement；　rubbed　me　a　little　tobrighten　me　up；　and　went　out　in　the　twilight　hour　to　the　lotterycollector；　to　buy　herself　a　ticket；　with　a　shilling　that　shouldbring　luck。　How　everything　seemed　to　cause　me　trouble。　The　lotterycollector　pressed　me　so　hard　that　I　thought　I　should　crack。　I　had　beencalled　false；　I　had　been　thrown　away；…　that　I　knew；　and　there　weremany　shillings　and　coins　with　inscriptions　and　stamps　of　all　kindslying　about。　I　well　knew　how　proud　they　were；　so　I　avoided　them　fromvery　shame。　With　the　collector　were　several　men　who　seemed　to　have　agreat　deal　to　do；　so　I　fell　unnoticed　into　a　chest；　among　severalother　coins。

〃Whether　the　lottery　ticket　gained　a　prize；　I　know　not；　but　this　Iknow；　that　in　a　very　few　days　after；　I　was　recognized　as　a　badshilling；　and　laid　aside。　Everything　that　happened　seemed　always　toadd　to　my　sorrow。　Even　if　a　man　has　a　good　character；　it　is　of　nouse　for　him　to　deny　what　is　said　of　him；　for　he　is　not　considered　animpartial　judge　of　himself。

〃A　year　passed；　and　in　this　way　I　had　been　changed　from　hand　tohand；　always　abused；　always　looked　at　with　displeasure；　and　trusted　byno　one；　but　I　trusted　in　myself；　and　had　no　confidence　in　the　world。Yes；　that　was　a　very　dark　time。

〃At　length　one　day　I　was　passed　to　a　traveller；　a　foreigner；　thevery　same　who　had　brought　me　away　from　home；　and　he　was　simple　andtrue…hearted　enough　to　take　me　for　current　coin。　But　would　he　alsoattempt　to　pass　me？　and　should　I　again　hear　the　outcry；　'False！good…for…nothing！'　The　traveller　examined　me　attentively；　'I　took　theefor　good　coin；'　said　he；　then　suddenly　a　smile　spread　all　over　hisface。　I　have　never　seen　such　a　smile　on　any　other　face　as　on　his。　'Nowthis　is　singular；'　said　he；　'it　is　a　coin　from　my　own　country；　a　good；true；　shilling　from　home。　Some　one　has　bored　a　hole　through　it；　andpeople　have　no　doubt　called　it　false。　How　curious　that　it　shoulde　into　my　hands。　I　will　take　it　home　with　me　to　my　own　house。'

'Joy　thrilled　through　me　when　I　heard　this。　I　had　been　once　morecalled　a　good；　honest　shilling；　and　I　was　to　go　back　to　my　own　home；where　each　and　all　would　recognize　me；　and　know　that　I　was　made　ofgood　silver；　and　bore　a　true；　genuine　stamp。　I　should　have　been　gladin　my　joy　to　throw　out　sparks　of　fire；　but　it　has　never　at　any　timebeen　my　nature　to　sparkle。　Steel　can　do　so；　but　not　silver。　I　waswrapped　up　in　fine；　white　paper；　that　I　might　not　mix　with　the　othercoins　and　be　lost；　and　on　special　occasions；　when　people　from　my　owncountry　happened　to　be　present；　I　was　brought　forward　and　spoken　ofvery　kindly。　They　said　I　was　very　interesting；　and　it　was　really　quiteworth　while　to　notice　that　those　who　are　interesting　have　often　nota　single　word　to　say　for　themselves。

〃At　length　I　reached　home。　All　my　cares　were　at　an　end。　Joyagain　overwhelmed　me；　for　was　I　not　good　silver；　and　had　I　not　agenuine　stamp？　I　had　no　more　insults　or　disappointments　to　endure；although；　indeed；　there　was　a　hole　through　me；　as　if　I　were　false；　butsuspicions　are　nothing　when　a　man　is　really　true；　and　every　one　shouldpersevere　in　acting　honestly；　for　an　will　be　made　right　in　time。That　is　my　firm　belief；〃　said　the　shilling。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　THE　SNAIL　AND　THE　ROSE…TREE

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

ROUND　about　the　garden　ran　a　hedge　of　hazel…bushes；　beyond　thehedge　were　fields　and　meadows　with　cows　and　sheep；　but　in　the　middleof　the　garden　stood　a　Rose…tree　in　bloom；　under　which　sat　a　Snail；whose　shell　contained　a　great　deal…　that　is；　himself。

〃Only　wait　till　my　time　es；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　do　more　thangrow　roses；　bear　nuts；　or　give　milk；　like　the　hazel…bush；　the　cows　andthe　sheep。〃

〃I　expect　a　great　deal　from　you；〃　said　the　rose…tree。　〃May　I　askwhen　it　will　appear？〃

〃I　take　my　time；〃　said　the　snail。　〃You're　always　in　such　ahurry。　That　does　not　excite　expectation。〃

The　following　year　the　snail　lay　in　almost　the　same　spot；　in　thesunshine　under　the　rose…tree；　which　was　again　budding　and　bearingroses　as　fresh　and　beautiful　as　ever。　The　snail　crept　half　out　ofhis　shell；　stretched　out　his　horns；　and　drew　them　in　again。

〃Everything　is　just　as　it　was　last　year！　No　progress　at　all；　therose…tree　sticks　to　its　roses　and　gets　no　farther。〃

The　summer　and　the　autumn　passed；　the　rose…tree　bore　roses　andbuds　till　the　snow　fell　and　the　weather　became　raw　and　wet；　then　itbent　down　its　head；　and　the　snail　crept　into　the　ground。

A　new　year　began；　the　roses　made　their　appearance；　and　the　snailmade　his　too。

〃You　are　an　old　rose…tree　now；〃　said　the　snail。　〃You　must　makehaste　and　die。　You　have　given　the　world　all　that　you　had　in　you；whether　it　was　of　much　importance　is　a　question　that　I　have　not　hadtime　to　think　about。　But　this　much　is　clear　and　plain；　that　you　havenot　done　the　least　for　your　inner　development；　or　you　would　haveproduced　something　else。　Have　you　anything　to　say　in　defence？　You　willnow　soon　be　nothing　but　a　stick。　Do　you　understand　what　I　say？〃

〃You　frighten　me；〃　said　the　rose…　tree。　〃I　have　never　thought　ofthat。〃

〃No；　you　have　never　taken　the　trouble　to　think　at　all。　Have　youever　given　yourself　an　account　why　you　bloomed；　and　how　yourblooming　es　about…　why　just　in　that　way　and　in　no　other？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　rose…tree。　〃I　bloom　in　gladness；　because　I　cannotdo　otherwise。　The　sun　shone　and　warmed　me；　and　the　air　refreshed　me；　Idrank　the　clear　dew　and　the　invigorating　rain。　I　breathed　and　I　lived！Out　of　the　earth　there　arose　a　power　within　me；　whilst　from　above　Ialso　received　strength；　I　felt　an　ever…renewed　and　ever…increasinghappiness；　and　therefore　I　was　obliged　to　go　on　blooming。　That　wasmy　life；　I　could　not　do　otherwise。〃

〃You　have　led　a　very　easy　life；〃　remarked　the　snail。

〃Certainly。　Everything　was　given　me；〃　said　the　rose…tree。　〃Butstill　more　was　given　to　you。　Yours　is　one　of　those　deep…thinkingnatures；　one　of　those　highly　gifted　minds　that　astonishes　the　world。〃

〃I　have　not　the　slightest　intention　of　doing　so；〃　said　thesnail。　〃The　world　is　nothing　to　me。　What　have　I　to　do　with　theworld？　I　have　enough　to　do　with　myself；　and　enough　in　myself〃

〃But　must　we　not　all　here　on　earth　give　up　our　best　parts　toothers；　and　offer　as　much　as　lies　in　our　power？　It　is　true；　I　haveonly　given　roses。　But　you…　you　who　are　so　richly　endowed…　what　haveyou　given　to　the　world？　What　will　you　give　it？〃

〃What　have　I　given？　What　am　I　going　to　give？　I　spit　at　it；　it'sgood　for　nothing；　and　does　not　concern　me。　For　my　part；　you　may　goon　bearing　roses；　you　cannot　do　anything　else。　Let　the　hazel　bush　bearnuts；　and　the　cows　and　sheep　give　milk；　they　have　each　their　public。　Ihave　mine　in　myself。　I　retire　within　myself　and　there　I　stop。　Theworld　is　nothing　to　me。〃

With　this　the　snail　withdrew　into　his　house　and　blocked　up　theentrance。

〃That's　very　sad；〃　said　the　rose　tree。　〃I　cannot　creep　intomyself；　however　much　I　might　wish　to　do　so；　I　have　to　go　on　bearingroses。　Then　they　drop　their　leaves；　which　are　blown　away　by　thewind。　But　I　once　saw　how　a　rose　was　laid　in　the　mistress'shymn…book；　and　how　one　of　my　roses　found　a　place　in　the　bosom　of　ayoung　beautiful　girl；　and　how　another　was　kissed　by　the　lips　of　achild　in　the　glad　joy　of　life。　That　did　me　good；　it　was　a　realblessing。　Those　are　my　recollections；　my　life。〃

And　the　rose　tree　went　on　blooming　in　innocence；　while　the　snaillay　idling　in　his　house…　the　world　was　nothing　to　him。

Years　passed　by。

The　snail　had　turned　to　earth　in　the　earth；　and　the　rose　tree　too。Even　the　souvenir　rose　in　the　hymn…book　was　faded；　but　in　the　gardenthere　were　other　rose　trees　and　other　snails。　The　latter　crept　intotheir　houses　and　spat　at　the　world；　for　it　did　not　concern　them。

Shall　we　read　the　story　all　over　again？　It　will　be　just　the　same。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　THE　SNOW　MAN

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

〃IT　is　so　delightfully　cold；〃　said　the　Snow　Man；　〃that　it　makes　mywhole　body　crackle。　This　is　just　the　kind　of　wind　to　blow　life　intoone。　How　that　great　red　thing　up　there　is　staring　at　me！〃　He　meant　thesun；　who　was　just　setting。　〃It　shall　not　make　me　wink。　I　shallmanage　to　keep　the　pieces。〃

He　had　two　triangular　pieces　of　tile　in　his　head；　instead　of　eyes；his　mouth　was　made　of　an　old　broken　rake；　and　was；　of　course；furnished　with　teeth。　He　had　been　brought　into　existence　amidst　thejoyous　shouts　of　boys；　the　jingling　of　sleigh…bells；　and　theslashing　of　whips。　The　sun　went　down；　and　the　full　moon　rose；　large；round；　and　clear；　shining　in　the　deep　blue。

〃There　it　es　again；　from　the　other　side；〃　said　the　Snow　Man；who　supposed　the　sun　was　showing　himself　once　more。　〃Ah；　I　havecured　him　of　staring；　though；　now　he　may　hang　up　there；　and　shine；that　I　may　see　myself。　If　I　only　knew　how　to　manage　to　move　awayfrom　this　place；…　I　should　so　like　to　move。　If　I　could；　I　wouldslide　along　yonder　on　the　ice；　as　I　have　seen　the　boys　do；　but　I　don'tunderstand　how；　I　don't　even　know　how　to　run。〃

〃Away；　away；〃　barked　the　old　yard…dog。　He　was　quite　hoarse；　andcould　not　pronounce　〃Bow　wow〃　properly。　He　had　once　been　an　indoordog；　and　lay　by　the　fire；　and　he　had　been　hoarse　ever　since。　〃Thesun　will　make　you　run　some　day。　I　saw　him；　last　winter；　make　yourpredecessor　run；　and　his　predecessor　before　him。　Away；　away；　theyall　have　to　go。〃

〃I　don't　understand　you；　rade；〃　said　the　Snow　Man。　〃Is　thatthing　up　yonder　to　teach　me　to　run？　I　saw　it　running　itself　a　littlewhile　ago；　and　now　it　has　e　creeping　up　from　the　other　side。

〃You　know　nothing　at　all；〃　replied　the　yard…dog；　〃but　then；　you'veonly　lately　been　patched　up。　What　you　see　yonder　is　the　moon；　andthe　one　before　it　was　the　sun。　It　will　e　again　to…morrow；　andmost　likely　teach　you　to　run　down　into　the　ditch　by　the　well；　for　Ithink　the　weather　is　going　to　change。　I　can　feel　such　pricks　and　stabsin　my　left　leg；　I　am　sure　there　is　going　to　be　a　change。〃

〃I　don't　understand　him；〃　said　the　Snow　Man　to　himself；　〃but　Ihave　a　feeling　that　he　is　talking　of　something　very　disagreeable。The　one　who　stared　so　just　now；　and　whom　he　calls　the　sun；　is　not　myfriend；　I　can　feel　that　too。〃

〃Away；　away；〃　barked　the　yard…dog；　and　then　he　turned　roundthree　times；　and　crept　into　his　kennel　to　sleep。

There　was　really　a　change　in　the　weather。　Towards　morning；　a　thickfog　covered　the　whole　country　round；　and　a　keen　wind　arose；　so　thatthe　cold　seemed　to　freeze　one's　bones；　but　when　the　sun　rose；　thesight　was　splendid。　Trees　and　bushes　were　covered　with　hoar　frost；　andlooked　like　a　forest　of　white　coral；　while　on　every　twig　glitteredfrozen　dew…drops。　The　many　delicate　forms　concealed　in　summer　byluxuriant　foliage；　were　now　clearly　defined；　and　looked　likeglittering　lace…work。　From　every　twig　glistened　a　white　radiance。The　birch；　waving　in　the　wind；　looked　full　of　life；　like　trees　insummer；　and　its　appearance　was　wondrously　beautiful。　And　where　the　sunshone；　ho