安徒生童话-第113部分

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lanced　at　a　curious　round　thing　like　an　old　apple；which　lay　near　a　long；　leafless　cabbage…stalk。　It　was；　however；　not　anapple；　but　an　old　ball；　which　had　lain　for　years　in　the　gutter；　andwas　soaked　through　with　water。

〃Thank　goodness；　here　es　one　of　my　own　class；　with　whom　I　cantalk；〃　said　the　ball；　examining　the　gilded　top。　〃I　am　made　ofmorocco；〃　she　said。　〃I　was　sewn　together　by　a　young　lady；　and　I　have　aSpanish　cork　in　my　body；　but　no　one　would　think　it；　to　look　at　me　now。I　was　once　engaged　to　a　swallow；　but　I　fell　in　here　from　the　gutterunder　the　roof；　and　I　have　lain　here　more　than　five　years；　and　havebeen　thoroughly　drenched。　Believe　me；　it　is　a　long　time　for　a　youngmaiden。〃

The　top　said　nothing；　but　he　thought　of　his　old　love；　and　the　moreshe　said；　the　more　clear　it　became　to　him　that　this　was　the　same　ball。

The　servant　then　came　to　clean　out　the　dust…bin。

〃Ah；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃here　is　a　gilt　top。〃　So　the　top　wasbrought　again　to　notice　and　honor；　but　nothing　more　was　heard　of　thelittle　ball。　He　spoke　not　a　word　about　his　old　love；　for　that　soondied　away。　When　the　beloved　object　has　lain　for　five　years　in　agutter；　and　has　been　drenched　through；　no　one　cares　to　know　heragain　on　meeting　her　in　a　dust…bin。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

THE　TRAVELLING　PANION

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

POOR　John　was　very　sad；　for　his　father　was　so　ill；　he　had　nohope　of　his　recovery。　John　sat　alone　with　the　sick　man　in　the　littleroom；　and　the　lamp　had　nearly　burnt　out；　for　it　was　late　in　the　night。

〃You　have　been　a　good　son；　John；〃　said　the　sick　father；　〃and　Godwill　help　you　on　in　the　world。〃　He　looked　at　him；　as　he　spoke；　withmild；　earnest　eyes；　drew　a　deep　sigh；　and　died；　yet　it　appeared　asif　he　still　slept。

John　wept　bitterly。　He　had　no　one　in　the　wide　world　now；　neitherfather；　mother；　brother；　nor　sister。　Poor　John！　he　knelt　down　by　thebed；　kissed　his　dead　father's　hand；　and　wept　many；　many　bittertears。　But　at　last　his　eyes　closed；　and　he　fell　asleep　with　his　headresting　against　the　hard　bedpost。　Then　he　dreamed　a　strange　dream；he　thought　he　saw　the　sun　shining　upon　him；　and　his　father　alive　andwell；　and　even　heard　him　laughing　as　he　used　to　do　when　he　was　veryhappy。　A　beautiful　girl；　with　a　golden　crown　on　her　head；　and　long；shining　hair；　gave　him　her　hand；　and　his　father　said；　〃See　what　abride　you　have　won。　She　is　the　loveliest　maiden　on　the　whole　earth。〃Then　he　awoke；　and　all　the　beautiful　things　vanished　before　hiseyes；　his　father　lay　dead　on　the　bed；　and　he　was　all　alone。　Poor　John！

During　the　following　week　the　dead　man　was　buried。　The　sonwalked　behind　the　coffin　which　contained　his　father；　whom　he　so　dearlyloved；　and　would　never　again　behold。　He　heard　the　earth　fall　on　thecoffin…lid；　and　watched　it　till　only　a　corner　remained　in　sight；　andat　last　that　also　disappeared。　He　felt　as　if　his　heart　would　breakwith　its　weight　of　sorrow；　till　those　who　stood　round　the　grave　sang　apsalm；　and　the　sweet；　holy　tones　brought　tears　into　his　eyes；　whichrelieved　him。　The　sun　shone　brightly　down　on　the　green　trees；　as　if　itwould　say；　〃You　must　not　be　so　sorrowful；　John。　Do　you　see　thebeautiful　blue　sky　above　you？　Your　father　is　up　there；　and　he　prays　tothe　loving　Father　of　all；　that　you　may　do　well　in　the　future。〃

〃I　will　always　be　good；〃　said　John；　〃and　then　I　shall　go　to　bewith　my　father　in　heaven。　What　joy　it　will　be　when　we　see　each　otheragain！　How　much　I　shall　have　to　relate　to　him；　and　how　many　thingshe　will　be　able　to　explain　to　me　of　the　delights　of　heaven；　andteach　me　as　he　once　did　on　earth。　Oh；　what　joy　it　will　be！〃

He　pictured　it　all　so　plainly　to　himself；　that　he　smiled　evenwhile　the　tears　ran　down　his　cheeks。

The　little　birds　in　the　chestnut…trees　twittered；　〃Tweet；tweet；〃　they　were　so　happy；　although　they　had　seen　the　funeral；　butthey　seemed　as　if　they　knew　that　the　dead　man　was　now　in　heaven；　andthat　he　had　wings　much　larger　and　more　beautiful　than　their　own；　andhe　was　happy　now；　because　he　had　been　good　here　on　earth；　and　theywere　glad　of　it。　John　saw　them　fly　away　out　of　the　green　trees　intothe　wide　world；　and　he　longed　to　fly　with　them；　but　first　he　cut　out　alarge　wooden　cross；　to　place　on　his　father's　grave；　and　when　hebrought　it　there　in　the　evening；　he　found　the　grave　decked　out　withgravel　and　flowers。　Strangers　had　done　this；　they　who　had　known　thegood　old　father　who　was　now　dead；　and　who　had　loved　him　very　much。

Early　the　next　morning；　John　packed　up　his　little　bundle　ofclothes；　and　placed　all　his　money；　which　consisted　of　fifty　dollarsand　a　few　shillings；　in　his　girdle；　with　this　he　determined　to　try　hisfortune　in　the　world。　But　first　he　went　into　the　churchyard；　and；　byhis　father's　grave；　he　offered　up　a　prayer；　and　said；　〃Farewell。〃

As　he　passed　through　the　fields；　all　the　flowers　looked　freshand　beautiful　in　the　warm　sunshine；　and　nodded　in　the　wind；　as　if　theywished　to　say；　〃Wele　to　the　green　wood；　where　all　is　fresh　andbright。〃

Then　John　turned　to　have　one　more　look　at　the　old　church；　in　whichhe　had　been　christened　in　his　infancy；　and　where　his　father　hadtaken　him　every　Sunday　to　hear　the　service　and　join　in　singing　thepsalms。　As　he　looked　at　the　old　tower；　he　espied　the　ringer　standingat　one　of　the　narrow　openings；　with　his　little　pointed　red　cap　onhis　head；　and　shading　his　eyes　from　the　sun　with　his　bent　arm。　Johnnodded　farewell　to　him；　and　the　little　ringer　waved　his　red　cap；laid　his　hand　on　his　heart；　and　kissed　his　hand　to　him　a　great　manytimes；　to　show　that　he　felt　kindly　towards　him；　and　wished　him　aprosperous　journey。

John　continued　his　journey；　and　thought　of　all　the　wonderfulthings　he　should　see　in　the　large；　beautiful　world；　till　he　foundhimself　farther　away　from　home　than　ever　he　had　been　before。　He　didnot　even　know　the　names　of　the　places　he　passed　through；　and　couldscarcely　understand　the　language　of　the　people　he　met；　for　he　wasfar　away；　in　a　strange　land。　The　first　night　he　slept　on　a　haystack；out　in　the　fields；　for　there　was　no　other　bed　for　him；　but　it　seemedto　him　so　nice　and　fortable　that　even　a　king　need　not　wish　for　abetter。　The　field；　the　brook；　the　haystack；　with　the　blue　sky　above；formed　a　beautiful　sleeping…room。　The　green　grass；　with　the　little　redand　white　flowers；　was　the　carpet；　the　elder…bushes　and　the　hedgesof　wild　roses　looked　like　garlands　on　the　walls；　and　for　a　bath　hecould　have　the　clear；　fresh　water　of　the　brook；　while　the　rushes　bowedtheir　heads　to　him；　to　wish　him　good　morning　and　good　evening。　Themoon；　like　a　large　lamp；　hung　high　up　in　the　blue　ceiling；　and　hehad　no　fear　of　its　setting　fire　to　his　curtains。　John　slept　here　quitesafely　all　night；　and　when　he　awoke；　the　sun　was　up；　and　all　thelittle　birds　were　singing　round　him；　〃Good　morning；　good　morning。Are　you　not　up　yet？〃

It　was　Sunday；　and　the　bells　were　ringing　for　church。　As　thepeople　went　in；　John　followed　them；　he　heard　God's　word；　joined　insinging　the　psalms；　and　listened　to　the　preacher。　It　seemed　to　himjust　as　if　he　were　in　his　own　church；　where　he　had　been　christened；and　had　sung　the　psalms　with　his　father。　Out　in　the　churchyard　wereseveral　graves；　and　on　some　of　them　the　grass　had　grown　very　high。John　thought　of　his　father's　grave；　which　he　knew　at　last　would　looklike　these；　as　he　was　not　there　to　weed　and　attend　to　it。　Then　heset　to　work；　pulled　up　the　high　grass；　raised　the　wooden　crosses　whichhad　fallen　down；　and　replaced　the　wreaths　which　had　been　blown　awayfrom　their　places　by　the　wind；　thinking　all　the　time；　〃Perhaps　someone　is　doing　the　same　for　my　father's　grave；　as　I　am　not　there　to　doit　〃

Outside　the　church　door　stood　an　old　beggar；　leaning　on　hiscrutch。　John　gave　him　his　silver　shillings；　and　then　he　continuedhis　journey；　feeling　lighter　and　happier　than　ever。　Towards　evening；the　weather　became　very　stormy；　and　he　hastened　on　as　quickly　as　hecould；　to　get　shelter；　but　it　was　quite　dark　by　the　time　he　reacheda　little　lonely　church　which　stood　on　a　hill。　〃I　will　go　in　here；〃he　said；　〃and　sit　down　in　a　corner；　for　I　am　quite　tired；　and　wantrest。〃

So　he　went　in；　and　seated　himself；　then　he　folded　his　hands；　andoffered　up　his　evening　prayer；　and　was　soon　fast　asleep　anddreaming；　while　the　thunder　rolled　and　the　lightning　flashedwithout。　When　he　awoke；　it　was　still　night；　but　the　storm　hadceased；　and　the　moon　shone　in　upon　him　through　the　windows。　Then　hesaw　an　open　coffin　standing　in　the　centre　of　the　church；　whichcontained　a　dead　man；　waiting　for　burial。　John　was　not　at　all　timid；he　had　a　good　conscience；　and　he　knew　also　that　the　dead　can　neverinjure　any　one。　It　is　living　wicked　men　who　do　harm　to　others。　Twosuch　wicked　persons　stood　now　by　the　dead　man；　who　had　been　brought　tothe　church　to　be　buried。　Their　evil　intentions　were　to　throw　thepoor　dead　body　outside　the　church　door；　and　not　leave　him　to　rest　inhis　coffin。

〃Why　do　you　do　this？〃　asked　John；　when　he　saw　what　they　were　goingto　do；　〃it　is　very　wicked。　Leave　him　to　rest　in　peace；　in　Christ'sname。〃

〃Nonsense；〃　replied　the　two　dreadful　men。　〃He　has　cheated　us；　heowed　us　money　which　he　could　not　pay；　and　now　he　is　dead　we　shallnot　get　a　penny；　so　we　mean　to　have　our　revenge；　and　let　him　lielike　a　dog　outside　the　church　door。〃

〃I　have　only　fifty　dollars；〃　said　John；　〃it　is　all　I　possess　inthe　world；　but　I　will　give　it　to　you　if　you　will　promise　me　faithfullyto　leave　the　dead　man　in　peace。　I　shall　be　able　to　get　on　withoutthe　money；　I　have　strong　and　healthy　limbs；　and　God　will　always　helpme。〃

〃Why；　of　course；〃　said　the　horrid　men；　〃if　you　will　pay　his　debtwe　will　both　promise　not　to　touch　him。　You　may　depend　upon　that；〃and　then　they　took　the　money　he　offered　them；　laughed　at　him　for　hisgood　nature；　and　went　their　way。

Then　he　laid　the　dead　body　back　in　the　coffin；　folded　the　hands；and　took　leave　of　it；　and　went　away　contentedly　through　the　greatforest。　All　around　him　he　could　see　the　prettiest　little　elves　dancingin　the　moonlight；　which　shone　through　the　trees。　They　were　notdisturbed　by　his　appearance；　for　they　knew　he　was　good　and　harmlessamong　men。　They　are　wicked　people　only　who　can　never　obtain　aglimpse　of　fairies。　Some　of　them　were　not　taller　than　the　breadth　of　afinger；　and　they　wore　golden　bs　in　their　long；　yellow　hair。　Theywere　rocking　themselves　two　together　on　the　large　dew…drops　with　whichthe　leaves　and　the　high　grass　were　sprinkled。　Sometimes　thedew…drops　would　roll　away；　and　then　they　fell　down　between　the　stemsof　the　long　grass；　and　caused　a　great　deal　of　laughing　and　noise　amongthe　other　little　people。　It　was　quite　charming　to　watch　them　atplay。　Then　they　sang　songs；　and　John　remembered　that　he　had　learntthose　pretty　songs　when　he　was　a　little　boy。　Large　speckled　spiders；with　silver　crowns　on　their　heads；　were　employed　to　spin　suspensionbridges　and　palaces　from　one　hedge　to　another；　and　when　the　tiny　dropsfell　upon　them；　they　glittered　in　the　moonlight　like　shining　glass。This　continued　till　sunrise。　Then　the　little　elves　crept　into　theflower…buds；　and　the　wind　seized　the　bridges　and　palaces；　andfluttered　them　in　the　air　like　cobwebs。

As　John　left　the　wood；　a　strong　man's　voice　called　after　him；〃Hallo；　rade；　where　are　you　travelling？〃

〃Into　the　wide　world；〃　he　replied；　〃I　am　only　a　poor　lad；　I　haveneither　father　nor　mother；　but　God　will　help　me。〃

〃I　am　going　into　the　wide　world　also；〃　replied　the　stranger；〃shall　we　keep　each　other　pany？〃

〃With　all　my　heart；〃　he　said；　and　so　they　went　on　together。　Soonthey　began　to　like　each　other　very　much；　for　they　were　both　good；but　John　found　out　that　the　stranger　was　much　more　clever　thanhimself。　He　had　travelled　all　over　the　world；　and　could　describealmost　everything。　The　sun　was　high　in　the　heavens　when　they　seatedthemselves　under　a　large　tree　to　eat　their　breakfast；　and　at　thesame　moment　an　old　woman　came　towards　them。　She　was　very　old　andalmost　bent　double。　She　leaned　upon　a　stick　and　carried　on　her　backa　bundle　of　firewood；　which　she　had　collected　in　the　forest；　her　apronwas　tied　round　it；　and　John　saw　three　great　stems　of　fern　and　somewillow　twigs　peeping　out。　just　as　she　came　close　up　to　them；　herfoot　slipped　and　she　fell　to　the　ground　screaming　loudly；　poor　oldwoman；　she　had　broken　her　leg！　John　proposed　directly　that　they　shouldcarry　the　old　woman　home　to　her　cottage；　but　the　stranger　opened　hisknapsack　and　took　out　a　box；　in　which　he　said　he　had　a　salve　thatwould　quickly　make　her　leg　well　and　strong　again；　so　that　she　would　beable　to　walk　home　herself；　as　if　her　leg　had　never　been　broken。　Andall　that　he　would　ask　in　return　was　the　three　fern　stems　which　shecarried　in　her　apron。

〃That　is　rather　too　high　a　price；〃　said　the　old　woman；　nodding　herhead　quite　strangely。　She　did　not　seem　at　all　inclined　to　part　withthe　fern　stems。　However；　it　was　not　very　agreeable　to　lie　there　with　abroken　leg；　so　she　gave　them　to　him；　and　such　was　the　power　of　theointment；　that　no　sooner　had　he　rubbed　her　leg　with　it　than　the　oldmother　rose　up　and　walked　even　better　than　she　had　done　before。　Butthen　this　wonderful　ointment　could　not　be　bought　at　a　chemist's。

〃What　can　you　want　with　those　three　fern　rods？〃　asked　John　ofhis　fellow…traveller。

〃Oh；　they　will　make　capital　brooms；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　like　thembecause　I　have　strange　whims　sometimes。〃　Then　they　walked　ontogether　for　a　long　distance。

〃How　dark　the　sky　is　being；〃　said　John；　〃and　look　at　thosethick；　heavy　clouds。〃

〃Those　are　not　clouds；〃　replied　his　fellow…traveller；　〃they　aremountains…　large　lofty　mountains…　on　the　tops　of　which　we　should　beabove　the　clouds；　in　the　pure；　free　air。　Believe　me；　it　isdelightful　to　ascend　so　high；　tomorrow　we　shall　be　there。〃　But　themountains　were　not　so　near　as　they　appeared；　they　had　to　travel　awhole　day　before　they　reached　them；　and　pass　through　black　forests　andpiles　of　rock　as　large　as　a　town。　The　journey　had　been　so　fatiguingthat　John　and　his　fellow…traveller　stopped　to　rest　at　a　roadsideinn；　so　that　they　might　gain　strength　for　their　journey　on　the　morrow。In　the　large　public　room　of　the　inn　a　great　many　persons　wereassembled　to　see　a　edy　performed　by　dolls。　The　showman　had　justerected　his　little　theatre；　and　the　people　were　sitting　round　the　roomto　witness　the　performance。　Right　in　front；　in　the　very　best　place；sat　a　stout　butcher；　with　a　great　bull…dog　by　his　side　who　seemed　verymuch　inclined　to　bite。　He　sat　staring　with　all　his　eyes；　and　so　indeeddid　every　one　else　in　the　room。　And　then　the　play　began。　It　was　apretty　piece；　with　a　king　and　a　queen　in　it；　who　sat　on　a　beautifulthrone；　and　had　gold　crowns　on　their　heads。　The　trains　to　theirdresses　were　very　long；　according　to　the　fashion；　while　theprettiest　of　wooden　dolls；　with　glass　eyes　and　large　mustaches；stood　at　the　doors；　and　opened　and　shut　them；　that　the　fresh　air　mighte　into　the　room。　It　was　a　very　pleasant　play；　not　at　allmournful；　but　just　as　the　queen　stood　up　and　walked　across　thestage；　the　great　bull…dog；　who　should　have　been　held　back　by　hismaster；　made　a　spring　forward；　and　caught　the　queen　in　the　teeth　bythe　slender　wrist；　so　that　it　snapped　in　two。　This　was　a　very　dreadfuldisaster。　The　poor　man；　who　was　exhibiting　the　dolls；　was　muchannoyed；　and　quite　sad　about　his　queen；　she　was　the　prettiest　dollhe　had；　and　the　bull…dog　had　broken　her　head　and　shoulders　off。　Butafter　all　the　people　were　gone　away；　the　stranger；　who　came　with　John；said　that　he　could　soon