安徒生童话-第99部分

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f　life；　like　trees　insummer；　and　its　appearance　was　wondrously　beautiful。　And　where　the　sunshone；　how　everything　glittered　and　sparkled；　as　if　diamond　dust　hadbeen　strewn　about；　while　the　snowy　carpet　of　the　earth　appeared　asif　covered　with　diamonds；　from　which　countless　lights　gleamed；whiter　than　even　the　snow　itself。

〃This　is　really　beautiful；〃　said　a　young　girl；　who　had　e　intothe　garden　with　a　young　man；　and　they　both　stood　still　near　the　SnowMan；　and　contemplated　the　glittering　scene。　〃Summer　cannot　show　a　morebeautiful　sight；〃　she　exclaimed；　while　her　eyes　sparkled。

〃And　we　can't　have　such　a　fellow　as　this　in　the　summer　time；〃replied　the　young　man；　pointing　to　the　Snow　Man；　〃he　is　capital。〃

The　girl　laughed；　and　nodded　at　the　Snow　Man；　and　then　trippedaway　over　the　snow　with　her　friend。　The　snow　creaked　and　crackledbeneath　her　feet；　as　if　she　had　been　treading　on　starch。

〃Who　are　these　two？〃　asked　the　Snow　Man　of　the　yard…dog。　〃You　havebeen　here　longer　than　I　have；　do　you　know　them？〃

〃Of　course　I　know　them；〃　replied　the　yard…dog；　〃she　has　stroked　myback　many　times；　and　he　has　given　me　a　bone　of　meat。　I　never　bitethose　two。〃

〃But　what　are　they？〃　asked　the　Snow　Man。

〃They　are　lovers；〃　he　replied；　〃they　will　go　and　live　in　thesame　kennel　by…and…by；　and　gnaw　at　the　same　bone。　Away；　away！〃

〃Are　they　the　same　kind　of　beings　as　you　and　I？〃　asked　the　SnowMan。

〃Well；　they　belong　to　the　same　master；〃　retorted　the　yard…dog。〃Certainly　people　who　were　only　born　yesterday　know　very　little。　I　cansee　that　in　you。　I　have　age　and　experience。　I　know　every　one　here　inthe　house；　and　I　know　there　was　once　a　time　when　I　did　not　lie　outhere　in　the　cold；　fastened　to　a　chain。　Away；　away！〃

〃The　cold　is　delightful；〃　said　the　Snow　Man；　〃but　do　tell　metell　me；　only　you　must　not　clank　your　chain　so；　for　it　jars　allthrough　me　when　you　do　that。〃

〃Away；　away！〃　barked　the　yard…dog；　〃I'll　tell　you；　they　said　I　wasa　pretty　little　fellow　once；　then　I　used　to　lie　in　a　velvet…coveredchair；　up　at　the　master's　house；　and　sit　in　the　mistress's　lap。　Theyused　to　kiss　my　nose；　and　wipe　my　paws　with　an　embroideredhandkerchief；　and　I　was　called　'Ami；　dear　Ami；　sweet　Ami。'　But　after　awhile　I　grew　too　big　for　them；　and　they　sent　me　away　to　thehousekeeper's　room；　so　I　came　to　live　on　the　lower　story。　You　can　lookinto　the　room　from　where　you　stand；　and　see　where　I　was　master　once；for　I　was　indeed　master　to　the　housekeeper。　It　was　certainly　a　smallerroom　than　those　up　stairs；　but　I　was　more　fortable；　for　I　was　notbeing　continually　taken　hold　of　and　pulled　about　by　the　children　asI　had　been。　I　received　quite　as　good　food；　or　even　better。　I　had　myown　cushion；　and　there　was　a　stove…　it　is　the　finest　thing　in　theworld　at　this　season　of　the　year。　I　used　to　go　under　the　stove；　andlie　down　quite　beneath　it。　Ah；　I　still　dream　of　that　stove。　Away；away！〃

〃Does　a　stove　look　beautiful？〃　asked　the　Snow　Man；　〃is　it　at　alllike　me？〃

〃It　is　just　the　reverse　of　you；'　said　the　dog；　〃it's　as　black　as　acrow；　and　has　a　long　neck　and　a　brass　knob；　it　eats　firewood；　sothat　fire　spurts　out　of　its　mouth。　We　should　keep　on　one　side；　orunder　it；　to　be　fortable。　You　can　see　it　through　the　window；　fromwhere　you　stand。〃

Then　the　Snow　Man　looked；　and　saw　a　bright　polished　thing　with　abrazen　knob；　and　fire　gleaming　from　the　lower　part　of　it。　The　Snow　Manfelt　quite　a　strange　sensation　e　over　him；　it　was　very　odd；　he　knewnot　what　it　meant；　and　he　could　not　account　for　it。　But　there　arepeople　who　are　not　men　of　snow；　who　understand　what　it　is。　〃'And　whydid　you　leave　her？〃　asked　the　Snow　Man；　for　it　seemed　to　him　thatthe　stove　must　be　of　the　female　sex。　〃How　could　you　give　up　such　afortable　place？〃

〃I　was　obliged；〃　replied　the　yard…dog。　〃They　turned　me　out　ofdoors；　and　chained　me　up　here。　I　had　bitten　the　youngest　of　mymaster's　sons　in　the　leg；　because　he　kicked　away　the　bone　I　wasgnawing。　'Bone　for　bone；'　I　thought；　but　they　were　so　angry；　andfrom　that　time　I　have　been　fastened　with　a　chain；　and　lost　my　bone。Don't　you　hear　how　hoarse　I　am。　Away；　away！　I　can't　talk　any　more　likeother　dogs。　Away；　away；　that　is　the　end　of　it　all。〃

But　the　Snow　Man　was　no　longer　listening。　He　was　looking　intothe　housekeeper's　room　on　the　lower　storey；　where　the　stove　stood　onits　four　iron　legs；　looking　about　the　same　size　as　the　Snow　Manhimself。　〃What　a　strange　crackling　I　feel　within　me；〃　he　said。〃Shall　I　ever　get　in　there？　It　is　an　innocent　wish；　and　innocentwishes　are　sure　to　be　fulfilled。　I　must　go　in　there　and　lean　againsther；　even　if　I　have　to　break　the　window。〃

〃You　must　never　go　in　there；〃　said　the　yard…dog；　〃for　if　youapproach　the　stove；　you'll　melt　away；　away。〃

〃I　might　as　well　go；〃　said　the　Snow　Man；　〃for　I　think　I　ambreaking　up　as　it　is。〃

During　the　whole　day　the　Snow　Man　stood　looking　in　through　thewindow；　and　in　the　twilight　hour　the　room　became　still　moreinviting；　for　from　the　stove　came　a　gentle　glow；　not　like　the　sun　orthe　moon；　no；　only　the　bright　light　which　gleams　from　a　stove　whenit　has　been　well　fed。　When　the　door　of　the　stove　was　opened；　theflames　darted　out　of　its　mouth；　this　is　customary　with　all　stoves。　Thelight　of　the　flames　fell　directly　on　the　face　and　breast　of　the　SnowMan　with　a　ruddy　gleam。　〃I　can　endure　it　no　longer；〃　said　he；　〃howbeautiful　it　looks　when　it　stretches　out　its　tongue？〃

The　night　was　long；　but　did　not　appear　so　to　the　Snow　Man；　whostood　there　enjoying　his　own　reflections；　and　crackling　with　the　cold。In　the　morning；　the　window…panes　of　the　housekeeper's　room　werecovered　with　ice。　They　were　the　most　beautiful　ice…flowers　any　SnowMan　could　desire；　but　they　concealed　the　stove。　These　window…paneswould　not　thaw；　and　he　could　see　nothing　of　the　stove；　which　hepictured　to　himself；　as　if　it　had　been　a　lovely　human　being。　Thesnow　crackled　and　the　wind　whistled　around　him；　it　was　just　the　kindof　frosty　weather　a　Snow　Man　might　thoroughly　enjoy。　But　he　did　notenjoy　it；　how；　indeed；　could　he　enjoy　anything　when　he　was　〃stovesick？〃

〃That　is　terrible　disease　for　a　Snow　Man；〃　said　the　yard…dog；　〃Ihave　suffered　from　it　myself；　but　I　got　over　it。　Away；　away；〃　hebarked　and　then　he　added；　〃the　weather　is　going　to　change。〃　And　theweather　did　change；　it　began　to　thaw。　As　the　warmth　increased；　theSnow　Man　decreased。　He　said　nothing　and　made　no　plaint；　which　isa　sure　sign。　One　morning　he　broke；　and　sunk　down　altogether；　and；behold；　where　he　had　stood；　something　like　a　broomstick　remainedsticking　up　in　the　ground。　It　was　the　pole　round　which　the　boys　hadbuilt　him　up。　〃Ah；　now　I　understand　why　he　had　such　a　great　longingfor　the　stove；〃　said　the　yard…dog。　〃Why；　there's　the　shovel　that　isused　for　cleaning　out　the　stove；　fastened　to　the　pole。〃　The　Snow　Manhad　a　stove　scraper　in　his　body；　that　was　what　moved　him　so。　〃But　it'sall　over　now。　Away；　away。〃　And　soon　the　winter　passed。　〃Away；　away；〃barked　the　hoarse　yard…dog。　But　the　girls　in　the　house　sang；

〃e　from　your　fragrant　home；　green　thyme；

　　Stretch　your　soft　branches；　willow…tree；

The　months　are　bringing　the　sweet　spring…time；

　　When　the　lark　in　the　sky　sings　joyfully。

e　gentle　sun；　while　the　cuckoo　sings；

And　I'll　mock　his　note　in　my　wanderings。〃

And　nobody　thought　any　more　of　the　Snow　Man。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　THE　SNOW　QUEEN

IN　SEVEN　STORIES

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

　　STORY　THE　FIRST

WHICH　describes　a　looking…glass　and　the　broken　fragments。

You　must　attend　to　the　mencement　of　this　story；　for　when　we　getto　the　end　we　shall　know　more　than　we　do　now　about　a　very　wickedhobgoblin；　he　was　one　of　the　very　worst；　for　he　was　a　real　demon。One　day；　when　he　was　in　a　merry　mood；　he　made　a　looking…glass　whichhad　the　power　of　making　everything　good　or　beautiful　that　wasreflected　in　it　almost　shrink　to　nothing；　while　everything　that　wasworthless　and　bad　looked　increased　in　size　and　worse　than　ever。　Themost　lovely　landscapes　appeared　like　boiled　spinach；　and　the　peoplebecame　hideous；　and　looked　as　if　they　stood　on　their　heads　and　hadno　bodies。　Their　countenances　were　so　distorted　that　no　one　couldrecognize　them；　and　even　one　freckle　on　the　face　appeared　to　spreadover　the　whole　of　the　nose　and　mouth。　The　demon　said　this　was　veryamusing。　When　a　good　or　pious　thought　passed　through　the　mind　of　anyone　it　was　misrepresented　in　the　glass；　and　then　how　the　demon　laughedat　his　cunning　invention。　All　who　went　to　the　demon's　school…　for　hekept　a　school…　talked　everywhere　of　the　wonders　they　had　seen；　anddeclared　that　people　could　now；　for　the　first　time；　see　what　the　worldand　mankind　were　really　like。　They　carried　the　glass　about　everywhere；till　at　last　there　was　not　a　land　nor　a　people　who　had　not　been　lookedat　through　this　distorted　mirror。　They　wanted　even　to　fly　with　it　upto　heaven　to　see　the　angels；　but　the　higher　they　flew　the　moreslippery　the　glass　became；　and　they　could　scarcely　hold　it；　till　atlast　it　slipped　from　their　hands；　fell　to　the　earth；　and　was　brokeninto　millions　of　pieces。　But　now　the　looking…glass　caused　moreunhappiness　than　ever；　for　some　of　the　fragments　were　not　so　largeas　a　grain　of　sand；　and　they　flew　about　the　world　into　everycountry。　When　one　of　these　tiny　atoms　flew　into　a　person's　eye；　itstuck　there　unknown　to　him；　and　from　that　moment　he　saw　everythingthrough　a　distorted　medium；　or　could　see　only　the　worst　side　of　whathe　looked　at；　for　even　the　smallest　fragment　retained　the　same　powerwhich　had　belonged　to　the　whole　mirror。　Some　few　persons　even　got　afragment　of　the　looking…glass　in　their　hearts；　and　this　was　veryterrible；　for　their　hearts　became　cold　like　a　lump　of　ice。　A　few　ofthe　pieces　were　so　large　that　they　could　be　used　as　window…panes；　itwould　have　been　a　sad　thing　to　look　at　our　friends　through　them。　Otherpieces　were　made　into　spectacles；　this　was　dreadful　for　those　who　worethem；　for　they　could　see　nothing　either　rightly　or　justly。　At　all　thisthe　wicked　demon　laughed　till　his　sides　shook…　it　tickled　him　so　tosee　the　mischief　he　had　done。　There　were　still　a　number　of　theselittle　fragments　of　glass　floating　about　in　the　air；　and　now　you　shallhear　what　happened　with　one　of　them。

　SECOND　STORY

A　LITTLE　BOY　AND　A　LITTLE　GIRL

In　a　large　town；　full　of　houses　and　people；　there　is　not　roomfor　everybody　to　have　even　a　little　garden；　therefore　they　are　obligedto　be　satisfied　with　a　few　flowers　in　flower…pots。　In　one　of　theselarge　towns　lived　two　poor　children　who　had　a　garden　somethinglarger　and　better　than　a　few　flower…pots。　They　were　not　brother　andsister；　but　they　loved　each　other　almost　as　much　as　if　they　hadbeen。　Their　parents　lived　opposite　to　each　other　in　two　garrets；　wherethe　roofs　of　neighboring　houses　projected　out　towards　each　other　andthe　water…pipe　ran　between　them。　In　each　house　was　a　little　window；　sothat　any　one　could　step　across　the　gutter　from　one　window　to　theother。　The　parents　of　these　children　had　each　a　large　wooden　box　inwhich　they　cultivated　kitchen　herbs　for　their　own　use；　and　a　littlerose…bush　in　each　box；　which　grew　splendidly。　Now　after　a　while　theparents　decided　to　place　these　two　boxes　across　the　water…pipe；　sothat　they　reached　from　one　window　to　the　other　and　looked　like　twobanks　of　flowers。　Sweet…peas　drooped　over　the　boxes；　and　therose…bushes　shot　forth　long　branches；　which　were　trained　round　thewindows　and　clustered　together　almost　like　a　triumphal　arch　ofleaves　and　flowers。　The　boxes　were　very　high；　and　the　children　knewthey　must　not　climb　upon　them；　without　permission；　but　they　wereoften；　however；　allowed　to　step　out　together　and　sit　upon　their　littlestools　under　the　rose…bushes；　or　play　quietly。　In　winter　all　thispleasure　came　to　an　end；　for　the　windows　were　sometimes　quite　frozenover。　But　then　they　would　warm　copper　pennies　on　the　stove；　and　holdthe　warm　pennies　against　the　frozen　pane；　there　would　be　very　soon　alittle　round　hole　through　which　they　could　peep；　and　the　soft　brighteyes　of　the　little　boy　and　girl　would　beam　through　the　hole　at　eachwindow　as　they　looked　at　each　other。　Their　names　were　Kay　and　Gerda。In　summer　they　could　be　together　with　one　jump　from　the　window；　but　inwinter　they　had　to　go　up　and　down　the　long　staircase；　and　outthrough　the　snow　before　they　could　meet。

〃See　there　are　the　white　bees　swarming；〃　said　Kay's　oldgrandmother　one　day　when　it　was　snowing。

〃Have　they　a　queen　bee？〃　asked　the　little　boy；　for　he　knew　thatthe　real　bees　had　a　queen。

〃To　be　sure　they　have；〃　said　the　grandmother。　〃She　is　flying　therewhere　the　swarm　is　thickest。　She　is　the　largest　of　them　all；　and　neverremains　on　the　earth；　but　flies　up　to　the　dark　clouds。　Often　atmidnight　she　flies　through　the　streets　of　the　town；　and　looks　in　atthe　windows；　then　the　ice　freezes　on　the　panes　into　wonderfulshapes；　that　look　like　flowers　and　castles。〃

〃Yes；　I　have　seen　them；〃　said　both　the　children；　and　they　knewit　must　be　true。

〃Can　the　Snow　Queen　e　in　here？〃　asked　the　little　girl。

〃Only　let　her　e；〃　said　the　boy；　〃I'll　set　her　on　the　stoveand　then　she'll　melt。〃

Then　the　grandmother　smoothed　his　hair　and　told　him　some　moretales。　One　evening；　when　little　Kay　was　at　home；　half　undressed；　heclimbed　on　a　chair　by　the　window　and　peeped　out　through　the　littlehole。　A　few　flakes　of　snow　were　falling；　and　one　of　them；　ratherlarger　than　the　rest；　alighted　on　the　edge　of　one　of　the　flower　boxes。This　snow…flake　grew　larger　and　larger；　till　at　last　it　became　thefigure　of　a　woman；　dressed　in　garments　of　white　gauze；　which　lookedlike　millions　of　starry　snow…flakes　linked　together。　She　was　fairand　beautiful；　but　made　of　ice…　shining　and　glittering　ice。　Stillshe　was　alive　and　her　eyes　sparkled　like　bright　stars；　but　there　wasneither　peace　nor　rest　in　their　glance。　She　nodded　towards　thewindow　and　waved　her　hand。　The　little　boy　was　frightened　and　sprangfrom　the　chair；　at　the　same　moment　it　seemed　as　if　a　large　bird　flewby　the　window。　On　the　following　day　there　was　a　clear　frost；　andvery　soon　came　the　spring。　The　sun　shone；　the　young　green　leaves　burstforth；　the　swallows　built　their　nests；　windows　were　opened；　and　thechildren　sat　once　more　in　the　garden　on　the　roof；　high　above　all　theother　rooms。　How　beautiful　the　roses　blossomed　this　summer。　The　littlegirl　had　learnt　a　hymn　in　which　roses　were　spoken　of；　and　then　shethought　of　their　own　roses；　and　she　sang　the　hymn　to　the　little　boy；and　he　sang　too：…

　　〃Roses　bloom　and　cease　to　be；

　　　But　we　shall　the　Christ…child　see。〃Then　the　little　ones　held　each　other　by　the　hand；　and　kissed　theroses；　and　looked　at　the　bright　sunshine；　and　spoke　to　it　as　if　theChrist…child　were　there。　Those　were　splendid　summer　days。　Howbeautiful　and　fresh　it　was　out　among　the　rose…bushes；　which　seemedas　if　they　would　never　leave　off　blooming。　One　day　Kay　and　Gerda　satlooking　at　a　book　full　of　pictures　of　animals　and　birds；　and　then　justas　the　clock　in　the　church　tower　struck　twelve；　Kay　said；　〃Oh；something　has　struck　my　heart！〃　and　soon　after；　〃There　is　something　inmy　eye。〃

The　little　girl　put　her　arm　round　his　neck；　and　looked　into　hiseye；　but　she　could　see　nothing。

〃I　think　it　is　gone；〃　he　said。　But　it　was　not　gone；　it　was　oneof　those　bits　of　the　looking…glass…　that　magic　mirror；　of　which　wehave　spoken…　the　ugly　glass　which　made　everything　great　and　goodappear　small　and　ugly；　while　all　that　was　wicked　and　bad　became　morevisible；　and　every　little　fault　could　be　plainly　seen。　Poor　l