安徒生童话-第105部分

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In　front　of　the　procession　ran　the　Harlequin；　dressed　in　clothesmade　of　all　kinds　of　colored　patches　artfully　sewn　together；　with　ablack　face；　and　bells　on　his　head　like　a　sledge　horse。　He　beat　thepeople　with　his　bat；　which　made　a　great　clattering　without　hurtingthem；　and　the　people　would　crowd　together　and　fall　back；　only　toadvance　again　the　next　moment。　Little　boys　and　girls　fell　over　theirown　toes　into　the　gutter；　old　women　dispensed　digs　with　theirelbows；　and　looked　sour；　and　took　snuff。　One　laughed；　another　chatted；the　people　thronged　the　windows　and　door…steps；　and　even　all　theroofs。　The　sun　shone；　and　although　they　had　a　little　rain　too；　thatwas　good　for　the　farmer；　and　when　they　got　wetted　thoroughly；　theyonly　thought　what　a　blessing　it　was　for　the　country。

And　what　stories　grandpapa　could　tell！　As　a　little　boy　he　had　seenall　these　fine　doings　in　their　greatest　pomp。　The　oldest　of　thepolicemen　used　to　make　a　speech　from　the　platform　on　which　theshield　was　hung　up；　and　the　speech　was　in　verse；　as　if　it　had　beenmade　by　a　poet；　as；　indeed　it　had；　for　three　people　had　concocted　ittogether；　and　they　had　first　drunk　a　good　bowl　of　punch；　so　that　thespeech　might　turn　out　well。

And　the　people　gave　a　cheer　for　the　speech；　but　they　shoutedmuch　louder　for　the　Harlequin；　when　he　appeared　in　front　of　theplatform；　and　made　a　grimace　at　them。

The　fools　played　the　fool　most　admirably；　and　drank　mead　out　ofspirit…glasses；　which　they　then　flung　among　the　crowd；　by　whom　theywere　caught　up。　Grandfather　was　the　possessor　of　one　of　these　glasses；which　had　been　given　him　by　a　working　mason；　who　had　managed　tocatch　it。　Such　a　scene　was　really　very　pleasant；　and　the　shield　on　thenew　court…house　was　hung　with　flowers　and　green　wreaths。

〃One　never　forgets　a　feast　like　that；　however　old　one　may　grow；〃said　grandfather。　Nor　did　he　forget　it；　though　he　saw　many　other　grandspectacles　in　his　time；　and　could　tell　about　them　too；　but　it　was　mostpleasant　of　all　to　hear　him　tell　about　the　shield　that　was　broughtin　the　town　from　the　old　to　the　new　court…house。

Once；　when　he　was　a　little　boy；　grandpapa　had　gone　with　hisparents　to　see　this　festivity。　He　had　never　yet　been　in　the　metropolisof　the　country。　There　were　so　many　people　in　the　streets；　that　hethought　that　the　shield　was　being　carried。　There　were　many　shieldsto　be　seen；　a　hundred　rooms　might　have　been　filled　with　pictures；　ifthey　had　been　hung　up　inside　and　outside。　At　the　tailor's　werepictures　of　all　kinds　of　clothing；　to　show　that　he　could　stitch　uppeople　from　the　coarsest　to　the　finest；　at　the　tobacanufacturer's　were　pictures　of　the　most　charming　little　boys；　smokingcigars；　just　as　they　do　in　reality；　there　were　signs　with　paintedbutter；　and　herring；　clerical　collars；　and　coffins；　and　inscriptionsand　announcements　into　the　bargain。　A　person　could　walk　up　and　downfor　a　whole　day　through　the　streets；　and　tire　himself　out　with　lookingat　the　pictures；　and　then　he　would　know　all　about　what　people　lived　inthe　houses；　for　they　had　hung　out　their　shields　or　signs；　and；　asgrandfather　said；　it　was　a　very　instructive　thing；　in　a　great　town；　toknow　at　once　who　the　inhabitants　were。

And　this　is　what　happened　with　these　shields；　when　grandpapacame　to　the　town。　He　told　it　me　himself；　and　he　hadn't　〃a　rogue　on　hisback；〃　as　mother　used　to　tell　me　he　had　when　he　wanted　to　make　mebelieve　something　outrageous；　for　now　he　looked　quite　trustworthy。

The　first　night　after　he　came　to　the　town　had　been　signalized　bythe　most　terrible　gale　ever　recorded　in　the　newspapers…　a　gale　such　asnone　of　the　inhabitants　had　ever　before　experienced。　The　air　wasdark　with　flying　tiles；　old　wood…work　crashed　and　fell；　and　awheelbarrow　ran　up　the　streets　all　alone；　only　to　get　out　of　theway。　There　was　a　groaning　in　the　air；　and　a　howling　and　a　shrieking；and　altogether　it　was　a　terrible　storm。　The　water　in　the　canal　roseover　the　banks；　for　it　did　not　know　where　to　run。　The　storm　swept　overthe　town；　carrying　plenty　of　chimneys　with　it；　and　more　than　one　proudweathercock　on　a　church　tower　had　to　bow；　and　has　never　got　over　itfrom　that　time。

There　was　a　kind　of　sentry…house；　where　dwelt　the　venerable　oldsuperintendent　of　the　fire　brigade；　who　always　arrived　with　the　lastengine。　The　storm　would　not　leave　this　little　sentry…house　alone；but　must　needs　tear　it　from　its　fastenings；　and　roll　it　down　thestreet；　and；　wonderfully　enough；　it　stopped　opposite　to　the　door　ofthe　dirty　journeyman　plasterer；　who　had　saved　three　lives　at　thelast　fire；　but　the　sentry…house　thought　nothing　of　that。

The　barber's　shield；　the　great　brazen　dish；　was　carried　away；and　hurled　straight　into　the　embrasure　of　the　councillor　of　justice；and　the　whole　neighborhood　said　this　looked　almost　like　malice；inasmuch　as　they；　and　nearly　all　the　friends　of　the　councillor's　wife；used　to　call　that　lady　〃the　Razor〃　for　she　was　so　sharp　that　sheknew　more　about　other　people's　business　than　they　knew　about　itthemselves。

A　shield　with　a　dried　salt　fish　painted　on　it　flew　exactly　infront　of　the　door　of　a　house　where　dwelt　a　man　who　wrote　anewspaper。　That　was　a　very　poor　joke　perpetrated　by　the　gale；　whichseemed　to　have　forgotten　that　a　man　who　writes　in　a　paper　is　not　thekind　of　person　to　understand　any　liberty　taken　with　him；　for　he　is　aking　in　his　own　newspaper；　and　likewise　in　his　own　opinion。

The　weathercock　flew　to　the　opposite　house；　where　he　perched；looking　the　picture　of　malice…　so　the　neighbors　said。

The　cooper's　tub　stuck　itself　up　under　the　head　of　〃ladies'costumes。〃

The　eating…house　keeper's　bill　of　fare；　which　had　hung　at　his　doorin　a　heavy　frame；　was　posted　by　the　storm　over　the　entrance　to　thetheatre；　where　nobody　went。　〃It　was　a　ridiculous　list…　horse…radish；soup；　and　stuffed　cabbage。〃　And　now　people　came　in　plenty。

The　fox's　skin；　the　honorable　sign　of　the　furrier；　was　foundfastened　to　the　bell…pull　of　a　young　man　who　always　went　to　earlylecture；　and　looked　like　a　furled　umbrella。　He　said　he　was　strivingafter　truth；　and　was　considered　by　his　aunt　〃a　model　and　an　example。〃

The　inscription　〃Institution　for　Superior　Education〃　was　foundnear　the　billiard　club；　which　place　of　resort　was　further　adorned　withthe　words；　〃Children　brought　up　by　hand。〃　Now；　this　was　not　at　allwitty；　but；　you　see；　the　storm　had　done　it；　and　no　one　has　any　controlover　that。

It　was　a　terrible　night；　and　in　the　morning…　only　think！…　nearlyall　the　shields　had　changed　places。　In　some　places　the　inscriptionswere　so　malicious；　that　grandfather　would　not　speak　of　them　at　all；but　I　saw　that　he　was　chuckling　secretly；　and　there　may　have　been　someinaccuracy　in　his　description；　after　all。

The　poor　people　in　the　town；　and　still　more　the　strangers；　werecontinually　making　mistakes　in　the　people　they　wanted　to　see；　norwas　this　to　be　avoided；　when　they　went　according　to　the　shields　thatwere　hung　up。　Thus；　for　instance；　some　who　wanted　to　go　to　a　verygrave　assembly　of　elderly　men；　where　important　affairs　were　to　bediscussed；　found　themselves　in　a　noisy　boys'　school；　where　all　thepany　were　leaping　over　the　chairs　and　tables。

There　were　also　people　who　made　a　mistake　between　the　church　andthe　theatre；　and　that　was　terrible　indeed！

Such　a　storm　we　have　never　witnessed　in　our　day；　for　that　onlyhappened　in　grandpapa's　time；　when　he　was　quite　a　little　boy。Perhaps　we　shall　never　experience　a　storm　of　the　kind；　but　ourgrandchildren　may；　and　we　can　only　hope　and　pray　that　all　may　stayat　home　while　the　storm　is　moving　the　shields。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　THE　STORY　OF　A　MOTHER

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

A　MOTHER　sat　by　her　little　child；　she　was　very　sad；　for　she　fearedit　would　die。　It　was　quite　pale；　and　its　little　eyes　were　closed；and　sometimes　it　drew　a　heavy　deep　breath；　almost　like　a　sigh；　andthen　the　mother　gazed　more　sadly　than　ever　on　the　poor　littlecreature。　Some　one　knocked　at　the　door；　and　a　poor　old　man　walkedin。　He　was　wrapped　in　something　that　looked　like　a　greathorse…cloth；　and　he　required　it　truly　to　keep　him　warm；　for　it　wascold　winter；　the　country　everywhere　lay　covered　with　snow　and　ice；　andthe　wind　blew　so　sharply　that　it　cut　one's　face。　The　little　childhad　dozed　off　to　sleep　for　a　moment；　and　the　mother；　seeing　that　theold　man　shivered　with　the　cold；　rose　and　placed　a　small　mug　of　beer　onthe　stove　to　warm　for　him。　The　old　man　sat　and　rocked　the　cradle；and　the　mother　seated　herself　on　a　chair　near　him；　and　looked　at　hersick　child　who　still　breathed　heavily；　and　took　hold　of　its　littlehand。

〃You　think　I　shall　keep　him；　do　you　not？〃　she　said。　〃Ourall…merciful　God　will　surely　not　take　him　away　from　me。〃

The　old　man；　who　was　indeed　Death　himself；　nodded　his　head　in　apeculiar　manner；　which　might　have　signified　either　Yes；　or　No；　and　themother　cast　down　her　eyes；　while　the　tears　rolled　down　her　cheeks。Then　her　head　became　heavy；　for　she　had　not　closed　her　eyes　forthree　days　and　nights；　and　she　slept；　but　only　for　a　moment。　Shiveringwith　cold；　she　started　up　and　looked　round　the　room。　The　old　man　wasgone；　and　her　child…　it　was　gone　too！…　the　old　man　had　taken　it　withhim。　In　the　corner　of　the　room　the　old　clock　began　to　strike；〃whirr〃　went　the　chains；　the　heavy　weight　sank　to　the　ground；　andthe　clock　stopped；　and　the　poor　mother　rushed　out　of　the　house　callingfor　her　child。　Out　in　the　snow　sat　a　woman　in　long　black　garments；　andshe　said　to　the　mother；　〃Death　has　been　with　you　in　your　room。　I　sawhim　hastening　away　with　your　little　child；　he　strides　faster　thanthe　wind；　and　never　brings　back　what　he　has　taken　away。〃

〃Only　tell　me　which　way　he　has　gone；〃　said　the　mother；　tell　me　theway；　I　will　find　him。〃

〃I　know　the　way；〃　said　the　woman　in　the　black　garments；　〃butbefore　I　tell　you；　you　must　sing　to　me　all　the　songs　that　you　havesung　to　your　child；　I　love　these　songs；　I　have　heard　them　before。　I　amNight；　and　I　saw　your　tears　flow　as　you　sang。〃

〃I　will　sing　them　all　to　you；〃　said　the　mother；　〃but　do　not　detainme　now。　I　must　overtake　him；　and　find　my　child。〃

But　Night　sat　silent　and　still。　Then　the　mother　wept　and　sang；　andwrung　her　hands。　And　there　were　many　songs；　and　yet　even　more　tears；till　at　length　Night　said；　〃Go　to　the　right；　into　the　dark　forest　offir…trees；　for　I　saw　Death　take　that　road　with　your　little　child。〃

Within　the　wood　the　mother　came　to　cross　roads；　and　she　knew　notwhich　to　take。　Just　by　stood　a　thorn…bush；　it　had　neither　leaf　norflower；　for　it　was　the　cold　winter　time；　and　icicles　hung　on　thebranches。　〃Have　you　not　seen　Death　go　by；　with　my　little　child？〃　sheasked。

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　thorn…bush；　〃but　I　will　not　tell　you　whichway　he　has　taken　until　you　have　warmed　me　in　your　bosom。　I　am　freezingto　death　here；　and　turning　to　ice。〃

Then　she　pressed　the　bramble　to　her　bosom　quite　close；　so　thatit　might　be　thawed；　and　the　thorns　pierced　her　flesh；　and　greatdrops　of　blood　flowed；　but　the　bramble　shot　forth　fresh　greenleaves；　and　they　became　flowers　on　the　cold　winter's　night；　so　warm　isthe　heart　of　a　sorrowing　mother。　Then　the　bramble…bush　told　her　thepath　she　must　take。　She　came　at　length　to　a　great　lake；　on　which　therewas　neither　ship　nor　boat　to　be　seen。　The　lake　was　not　frozensufficiently　for　her　to　pass　over　on　the　ice；　nor　was　it　open　enoughfor　her　to　wade　through；　and　yet　she　must　cross　it；　if　she　wished　tofind　her　child。　Then　she　laid　herself　down　to　drink　up　the　water　ofthe　lake；　which　was　of　course　impossible　for　any　human　being　to　do；but　the　bereaved　mother　thought　that　perhaps　a　miracle　might　takeplace　to　help　her。　〃You　will　never　succeed　in　this；〃　said　the　lake；let　us　make　an　agreement　together　which　will　be　better。　I　love　tocollect　pearls；　and　your　eyes　are　the　purest　I　have　ever　seen。　Ifyou　will　weep　those　eyes　away　in　tears　into　my　waters；　then　I　willtake　you　to　the　large　hothouse　where　Death　dwells　and　rears　flowersand　trees；　every　one　of　which　is　a　human　life。〃

〃Oh；　what　would　I　not　give　to　reach　my　child！〃　said　the　weepingmother；　and　as　she　still　continued　to　weep；　her　eyes　fell　into　thedepths　of　the　lake；　and　became　two　costly　pearls。

Then　the　lake　lifted　her　up；　and　wafted　her　across　to　the　oppositeshore　as　if　she　were　on　a　swing；　where　stood　a　wonderful　building　manymiles　in　length。　No　one　could　tell　whether　it　was　a　mountain　coveredwith　forests　and　full　of　caves；　or　whether　it　had　been　built。　Butthe　poor　mother　could　not　see；　for　she　had　wept　her　eyes　into　thelake。　〃Where　shall　I　find　Death；　who　went　away　with　my　littlechild？〃　she　asked。

〃He　has　not　arrived　here　yet；〃　said　an　old　gray…haired　woman；who　was　walking　about；　and　watering　Death's　hothouse。　〃How　have　youfound　your　way　here？　and　who　helped　you？〃

〃God　has　helped　me；〃　she　replied。　〃He　is　merciful；　will　you　not　bemerciful　too？　Where　shall　I　find　my　little　child？〃

〃I　did　not　know　the　child；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃and　you　areblind。　Many　flowers　and　trees　have　faded　to…night；　and　Death　will　soone　to　transplant　them。　You　know　already　that　every　human　being　has　alife…tree　or　a　life…flower；　just　as　may　be　ordained　for　him。　They　looklike　other　plants；　but　they　have　hearts　that　beat。　Children's　heartsalso　beat：　from　that　you　may　perhaps　be　able　to　recognize　yourchild。　But　what　will　you　give　me；　if　I　tell　you　what　more　you　willhave　to　do？

〃I　have　nothing　to　give；〃　said　the　afflicted　mother；　〃but　Iwould　go　to　the　ends　of　the　earth　for　you。〃

〃I　can　give　you　nothing　to　do　for　me　there；〃　said　the　old　woman；〃but　you　can　give　me　your　long　black　hair。　You　know　yourself　that　itis　beautiful；　and　it　pleases　me。　You　can　take　my　white　hair　inexchange；　which　will　be　something　in　return。〃

〃Do　you　ask　nothing　more　than　that？〃　said　she。　〃I　will　give　itto　you　with　pleasure。〃

And　she　gave　up　her　beautiful　hair；　and　received　in　return　thewhite　locks　of　the　old　woman。　Then　they　went　into　Death's　vasthothouse；　where　flowers　and　trees　grew　together　in　wonderfulprofusion。　Blooming　hyacinths；　under　glass　bells；　and　peonies；　likestrong　trees。　There　grew　water…plants；　some　quite　fresh；　and　otherslooking　sickly；　which　had　water…snakes　twining　round　them；　and　blackcrabs　clinging　to　their　stems。　There　stood　noble　palm…trees；　oaks；　andplantains；　and　beneath　them　bloomed　thyme　and　parsley。　Each　tree　andflower　had　a　name；　each　represented　a　human　life；　and　belonged　tomen　still　living；　some　in　China；　others　in　Greenland；　and　in　all　partsof　the　world。　Some　large　trees　had　been　planted　in　little　pots；　sothat　they　were　cramped　for　room；　and　seemed　about　to　burst　the　potto　pieces；　while　many　weak　little　flowers　were　growing　in　rich　soil；with　moss　all　around　them；　carefully　tended　and　cared　for。　Thesorrowing　mother　bent　over　the　little　plants；　and　heard　the　humanheart　beating　in　each；　and　recognized　the　beatings　of　her　child'sheart　among　millions　of　others。

〃That　is　it；〃　she　cried；　stretching　out　her　hand　towards　alittle　crocus…flower　which　hung　down　its　sickly　head。

〃Do　not　touch　the　flower；〃　exclaimed　the　old　woman；　〃but　placeyourself　here；　and　when　Death　es…　I　expect　him　every　minute…　do　notlet　him　pull　up　that　plant；　but　threaten　him　that　if　he　does　youwill　serve　the　other　flowers　in　the　same　manner。　This　will　make　himafraid；　for　he　must　account　to　God　for　each　of　them。　None　can　beuprooted；　unless　he　receives　permission　to　do　so。〃

There　rushed　through　the　hothouse　a　chill　of　icy　coldness；　and　theblind　mother　felt　that　Death　had　arrived。