安徒生童话-第122部分

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d　associated　themselves。　They　were　〃maidens〃among　the　paver　folk；　and　determined　not　to　give　up　this　honorableappellation；　and　let　themselves　be　miscalled　〃rammers。

〃Maiden　is　a　human　name；　but　hand…rammer　is　a　thing；　and　wewon't　be　called　things…　that's　insulting　us。〃

〃My　lover　would　be　ready　to　give　up　his　engagement；〃　said　theyoungest；　who　was　betrothed　to　a　paver's　hammer；　and　the　hammer　is　thething　which　drives　great　piles　into　the　earth；　like　a　machine；　andtherefore　does　on　a　large　scale　what　ten　maidens　effect　in　a　similarway。　〃He　wants　to　marry　me　as　a　maiden；　but　whether　he　would　have　mewere　I　a　hand…rammer　is　a　question；　so　I　won't　have　my　name　changed。〃

〃And　I；〃　said　the　elder　one；　〃would　rather　have　both　my　armsbroken　off。〃

But　the　Wheelbarrow　was　of　a　different　opinion；　and　theWheelbarrow　was　looked　upon　as　of　some　consequence；　for　heconsidered　himself　a　quarter　of　a　coach；　because　he　went　about　uponone　wheel。

〃I　must　submit　to　your　notice；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　name　'maiden'is　mon　enough；　and　not　nearly　so　refined　as　'hand…rammer；'　or'stamper；'　which　latter　has　also　been　proposed；　and　through　whichyou　would　be　introduced　into　the　category　of　seals；　and　only　thinkof　the　great　stamp　of　state；　which　impresses　the　royal　seal　that　giveseffect　to　the　laws！　No；　in　your　case　I　would　surrender　my　maidenname。〃

〃No；　certainly　not！〃　exclaimed　the　elder。　〃I　am　too　old　for　that。〃

〃I　presume　you　have　never　heard　of　what　is　called　'Europeannecessity？'〃　observed　the　honest　Measuring　Tape。　〃One　must　be　ableto　adapt　one's　self　to　time　and　circumstances；　and　if　there　is　a　lawthat　the　'maiden'　is　to　be　called　'hand…rammer；'　why；　she　must　becalled　'hand…rammer；'　and　no　pouting　will　avail；　for　everything　hasits　measure。〃

〃No；　if　there　must　be　a　change；〃　said　the　younger；　〃I　shouldprefer　to　be　called　'Missy；'　for　that　reminds　one　a　little　ofmaidens。〃

〃But　I　would　rather　be　chopped　to　chips；〃　said　the　elder。

At　last　they　all　went　to　work。　The　Maidens　rode…　that　is；　theywere　put　in　a　wheelbarrow；　and　that　was　a　distinction；　but　stillthey　were　called　〃hand…rammers。〃

〃Mai…！〃　they　said；　as　they　were　bumped　upon　the　pavement。〃Mai…！〃　and　they　were　very　nearly　pronouncing　the　whole　word　〃maiden；〃but　they　broke　off　short；　and　swallowed　the　last　syllable；　for　aftermature　deliberation　they　considered　it　beneath　their　dignity　toprotest。　But　they　always　called　each　other　〃maiden；〃　and　praised　thegood　old　days　in　which　everything　had　been　called　by　its　right　name；and　those　who　were　maidens　were　called　maidens。　And　they　remained　asthey　were；　for　the　hammer　really　broke　off　his　engagement　with　theyounger　one；　for　nothing　would　suit　him　but　he　must　have　a　maidenfor　his　bride。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　UNDER　THE　WILLOW…TREE

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THE　region　round　the　little　town　of　Kjoge　is　very　bleak　andcold。　The　town　lies　on　the　sea　shore；　which　is　always　beautiful；　buthere　it　might　be　more　beautiful　than　it　is；　for　on　every　side　thefields　are　flat；　and　it　is　a　long　way　to　the　forest。　But　whenpersons　reside　in　a　place　and　get　used　to　it；　they　can　always　findsomething　beautiful　in　it；…　something　for　which　they　long；　even　in　themost　charming　spot　in　the　world　which　is　not　home。　It　must　be　ownedthat　there　are　in　the　outskirts　of　the　town　some　humble　gardens　on　thebanks　of　a　little　stream　that　runs　on　towards　the　sea；　and　in　summerthese　gardens　look　very　pretty。　Such　indeed　was　the　opinion　of　twolittle　children；　whose　parents　were　neighbors；　and　who　played　in　thesegardens；　and　forced　their　way　from　one　garden　to　the　other　through　thegooseberry…bushes　that　divided　them。　In　one　of　the　gardens　grew　anelder…tree；　and　in　the　other　an　old　willow；　under　which　the　childrenwere　very　fond　of　playing。　They　had　permission　to　do　so；　althoughthe　tree　stood　close　by　the　stream；　and　they　might　easily　havefallen　into　the　water；　but　the　eye　of　God　watches　over　the　littleones；　otherwise　they　would　never　be　safe。　At　the　same　time；　thesechildren　were　very　careful　not　to　go　too　near　the　water；　indeed；　theboy　was　so　afraid　of　it；　that　in　the　summer；　while　the　otherchildren　were　splashing　about　in　the　sea；　nothing　could　entice　himto　join　them。　They　jeered　and　laughed　at　him；　and　he　was　obliged　tobear　it　all　as　patiently　as　he　could。　Once　the　neighbor's　little　girl；Joanna；　dreamed　that　she　was　sailing　in　a　boat；　and　the　boy…　Knudwas　his　name…　waded　out　in　the　water　to　join　her；　and　the　water　cameup　to　his　neck；　and　at　last　closed　over　his　head；　and　in　a　moment　hehad　disappeared。　When　little　Knud　heard　this　dream；　it　seemed　as　if　hecould　not　bear　the　mocking　and　jeering　again；　how　could　he　dare　togo　into　the　water　now；　after　Joanna's　dream！　He　never　would　do　it；　forthis　dream　always　satisfied　him。　The　parents　of　these　children；　whowere　poor；　often　sat　together　while　Knud　and　Joanna　played　in　thegardens　or　in　the　road。　Along　this　road…　a　row　of　willow…trees　hadbeen　planted　to　separate　it　from　a　ditch　on　one　side　of　it。　Theywere　not　very　handsome　trees；　for　the　tops　had　been　cut　off；however；　they　were　intended　for　use；　and　not　for　show。　The　oldwillow…tree　in　the　garden　was　much　handsomer；　and　therefore　thechildren　were　very　fond　of　sitting　under　it。　The　town　had　a　largemarket…place；　and　at　the　fair…time　there　would　be　whole　rows；　likestreets；　of　tents　and　booths　containing　silks　and　ribbons；　and　toysand　cakes；　and　everything　that　could　be　wished　for。　There　werecrowds　of　people；　and　sometimes　the　weather　would　be　rainy；　and　splashwith　moisture　the　woollen　jackets　of　the　peasants；　but　it　did　notdestroy　the　beautiful　fragrance　of　the　honey…cakes　and　gingerbreadwith　which　one　booth　was　filled；　and　the　best　of　it　was；　that　theman　who　sold　these　cakes　always　lodged　during　the　fair…time　withlittle　Knud's　parents。　So　every　now　and　then　he　had　a　present　ofgingerbread；　and　of　course　Joanna　always　had　a　share。　And；　moredelightful　still；　the　gingerbread　seller　knew　all　sorts　of　things　totell　and　could　even　relate　stories　about　his　own　gingerbread。　So　oneevening　he　told　them　a　story　that　made　such　a　deep　impression　on　thechildren　that　they　never　forgot　it；　and　therefore　I　think　we　may　aswell　hear　it　too；　for　it　is　not　very　long。

〃Once　upon　a　time；〃　said　he；　〃there　lay　on　my　counter　twogingerbread　cakes；　one　in　the　shape　of　a　man　wearing　a　hat；　theother　of　a　maiden　without　a　bon。　Their　faces　were　on　the　sidethat　was　uppermost；　for　on　the　other　side　they　looked　verydifferent。　Most　people　have　a　best　side　to　their　characters；　whichthey　take　care　to　show　to　the　world。　On　the　left；　just　where　the　heartis；　the　gingerbread　man　had　an　almond　stuck　in　to　represent　it；　butthe　maiden　was　honey　cake　all　over。　They　were　placed　on　the　counter　assamples；　and　after　lying　there　a　long　time　they　at　last　fell　in　lovewith　each　other；　but　neither　of　them　spoke　of　it　to　the　other；　as　theyshould　have　done　if　they　expected　anything　to　follow。　'He　is　a　man；　heought　to　speak　the　first　word；'　thought　the　gingerbread　maiden；　butshe　felt　quite　happy…　she　was　sure　that　her　love　was　returned。　But　histhoughts　were　far　more　ambitious；　as　the　thoughts　of　a　man　oftenare。　He　dreamed　that　he　was　a　real　street　boy；　that　he　possessedfour　real　pennies；　and　that　he　had　bought　the　gingerbread　lady；　andate　her　up。　And　so　they　lay　on　the　counter　for　days　and　weeks；　tillthey　grew　hard　and　dry；　but　the　thoughts　of　the　maiden　became　evermore　tender　and　womanly。　'Ah　well；　it　is　enough　for　me　that　I　havebeen　able　to　live　on　the　same　counter　with　him；'　said　she　one　day；when　suddenly；　'crack；'　and　she　broke　in　two。　'Ah；'　said　thegingerbread　man　to　himself；　'if　she　had　only　known　of　my　love；　shewould　have　kept　together　a　little　longer。'　And　here　they　both　are；　andthat　is　their　history；〃　said　the　cake　man。　〃You　think　the　history　oftheir　lives　and　their　silent　love；　which　never　came　to　anything；very　remarkable；　and　there　they　are　for　you。〃　So　saying；　he　gaveJoanna　the　gingerbread　man；　who　was　still　quite　whole…　and　to　Knud　thebroken　maiden；　but　the　children　had　been　so　much　impressed　by　thestory；　that　they　had　not　the　heart　to　eat　the　lovers　up。

The　next　day　they　went　into　the　churchyard；　and　took　the　twocake　figures　with　them；　and　sat　down　under　the　church　wall；　whichwas　covered　with　luxuriant　ivy　in　summer　and　winter；　and　looked　asif　hung　with　rich　tapestry。　They　stuck　up　the　two　gingerbreadfigures　in　the　sunshine　among　the　green　leaves；　and　then　told　thestory；　and　all　about　the　silent　love　which　came　to　nothing；　to　a　groupof　children。　They　called　it；　〃love；〃　because　the　story　was　solovely；　and　the　other　children　had　the　same　opinion。　But　when　theyturned　to　look　at　the　gingerbread　pair；　the　broken　maiden　was　gone！A　great　boy；　out　of　wickedness；　had　eaten　her　up。　At　first　thechildren　cried　about　it；　but　afterwards；　thinking　very　probably　thatthe　poor　lover　ought　not　to　be　left　alone　in　the　world；　they　ate　himup　too：　but　they　never　forgot　the　story。

The　two　children　still　continued　to　play　together　by　theelder…tree；　and　under　the　willow；　and　the　little　maiden　sang　beautifulsongs；　with　a　voice　that　was　as　clear　as　a　bell。　Knud；　on　thecontrary；　had　not　a　note　of　music　in　him；　but　knew　the　words　of　thesongs；　and　that　of　course　is　something。　The　people　of　Kjoge；　andeven　the　rich　wife　of　the　man　who　kept　the　fancy　shop；　would　stand　andlisten　while　Joanna　was　singing；　and　say；　〃She　has　really　a　very　sweetvoice。〃

Those　were　happy　days；　but　they　could　not　last　forever。　Theneighbors　were　separated；　the　mother　of　the　little　girl　was　dead；and　her　father　had　thoughts　of　marrying　again　and　of　residing　in　thecapital；　where　he　had　been　promised　a　very　lucrative　appointment　asmessenger。　The　neighbors　parted　with　tears；　the　children　wept　sadly；but　their　parents　promised　that　they　should　write　to　each　other　atleast　once　a　year。

After　this；　Knud　was　bound　apprentice　to　a　shoemaker；　he　wasgrowing　a　great　boy；　and　could　not　be　allowed　to　run　wild　anylonger。　Besides；　he　was　going　to　be　confirmed。　Ah；　how　happy　hewould　have　been　on　that　festal　day　in　Copenhagen　with　little　Joanna；but　he　still　remained　at　Kjoge；　and　had　never　seen　the　great　city；though　the　town　is　not　five　miles　from　it。　But　far　across　the　bay；when　the　sky　was　clear；　the　towers　of　Copenhagen　could　be　seen；　and　onthe　day　of　his　confirmation　he　saw　distinctly　the　golden　cross　onthe　principal　church　glittering　in　the　sun。　How　often　his　thoughtswere　with　Joanna！　but　did　she　think　of　him？　Yes。　About　Christmascame　a　letter　from　her　father　to　Knud's　parents；　which　stated　thatthey　were　going　on　very　well　in　Copenhagen；　and　mentioningparticularly　that　Joanna's　beautiful　voice　was　likely　to　bring　her　abrilliant　fortune　in　the　future。　She　was　engaged　to　sing　at　a　concert；and　she　had　already　earned　money　by　singing；　out　of　which　she　sent　herdear　neighbors　at　Kjoge　a　whole　dollar；　for　them　to　make　merry　onChristmas　eve；　and　they　were　to　drink　her　health。　She　had　herselfadded　this　in　a　postscript；　and　in　the　same　postscript　she　wrote；〃Kind　regards　to　Knud。〃

The　good　neighbors　wept；　although　the　news　was　so　pleasant；　butthey　wept　tears　of　joy。　Knud's　thoughts　had　been　daily　with　Joanna；and　now　he　knew　that　she　also　had　thought　of　him；　and　the　nearer　thetime　came　for　his　apprenticeship　to　end；　the　clearer　did　it　appearto　him　that　he　loved　Joanna；　and　that　she　must　be　his　wife；　and　asmile　came　on　his　lips　at　the　thought；　and　at　one　time　he　drew　thethread　so　fast　as　he　worked；　and　pressed　his　foot　so　hard　againstthe　knee　strap；　that　he　ran　the　awl　into　his　finger；　but　what　did　hecare　for　that？　He　was　determined　not　to　play　the　dumb　lover　as　boththe　gingerbread　cakes　had　done；　the　story　was　a　good　lesson　to　him。

At　length　he　bee　a　journeyman；　and　then；　for　the　first　time；　heprepared　for　a　journey　to　Copenhagen；　with　his　knapsack　packed　andready。　A　master　was　expecting　him　there；　and　he　thought　of　Joanna；　andhow　glad　she　would　be　to　see　him。　She　was　now　seventeen；　and　henieen　years　old。　He　wanted　to　buy　a　gold　ring　for　her　in　Kjoge；　butthen　he　recollected　how　far　more　beautiful　such　things　would　be　inCopenhagen。　So　he　took　leave　of　his　parents；　and　on　a　rainy　day；late　in　the　autumn；　wandered　forth　on　foot　from　the　town　of　his　birth。The　leaves　were　falling　from　the　trees；　and；　by　the　time　he　arrived　athis　new　master's　in　the　great　metropolis；　he　was　wet　through。　On　thefollowing　Sunday　he　intended　to　pay　his　first　visit　to　Joanna'sfather。　When　the　day　came；　the　new　journeyman's　clothes　were　broughtout；　and　a　new　hat；　which　he　had　brought　in　Kjoge。　The　hat　becamehim　very　well；　for　hitherto　he　had　only　worn　a　cap。　He　found　the　housethat　he　sought　easily；　but　had　to　mount　so　many　stairs　that　hebecame　quite　giddy；　it　surprised　him　to　find　how　people　lived　over　oneanother　in　this　dreadful　town。

On　entering　a　room　in　which　everything　denoted　prosperity；Joanna's　father　received　him　very　kindly。　The　new　wife　was　astranger　to　him；　but　she　shook　hands　with　him；　and　offered　him　coffee。

〃Joanna　will　be　very　glad　to　see　you；〃　said　her　father。　〃Youhave　grown　quite　a　nice　young　man；　you　shall　see　her　presently；　she　isa　good　child；　and　is　the　joy　of　my　heart；　and；　please　God；　she　willcontinue　to　be　so；　she　has　her　own　room　now；　and　pays　us　rent　for　it。〃And　the　father　knocked　quite　politely　at　a　door；　as　if　he　were　astranger；　and　then　they　both　went　in。　How　pretty　everything　was　inthat　room！　a　more　beautiful　apartment　could　not　be　found　in　thewhole　town　of　Kjoge；　the　queen　herself　could　scarcely　be　betteracmodated。　There　were　carpets；　and　rugs；　and　window　curtainshanging　to　the　ground。　Pictures　and　flowers　were　scattered　about。There　was　a　velvet　chair；　and　a　looking…glass　against　the　wall；　intowhich　a　person　might　be　in　danger　of　stepping；　for　it　was　as　largeas　a　door。　All　this　Knud　saw　at　a　glance；　and　yet；　in　truth；　he　sawnothing　but　Joanna。　She　was　quite　grown　up；　and　very　different　fromwhat　Knud　had　fancied　her；　and　a　great　deal　more　beautiful。　In　allKjoge　there　was　not　a　girl　like　her；　and　how　graceful　she　looked；although　her　glance　at　first　was　odd；　and　not　familiar；　but　for　amoment　only；　then　she　rushed　towards　him　as　if　she　would　have　kissedhim；　she　did　not；　however；　although　she　was　very　near　it。　Yes；　shereally　was　joyful　at　seeing　the　friend　of　her　childhood　once　more；　andthe　tears　even　stood　in　her　eyes。　Then　she　asked　so　many　questionsabout　Knud's　parents；　and　everything；　even　to　the　elder…tree　and　thewillow；　which　she　called　〃elder…mother　and　willow…father；〃　as　ifthey　had　been　human　beings；　and　so；　indeed；　they　might　be；　quite　asmuch　as　the　gingerbread　cakes。　Then　she　talked　about　them；　and　thestory　of　their　silent　love；　and　how　they　lay　on　the　counter　togetherand　split　in　two；　and　then　she　laughed　heartily；　but　the　bloodrushed　into　Knud's　cheeks；　and　his　heart　beat　quickly。　Joanna　wasnot　proud　at　all；　he　noticed　that　through　her　he　was　invited　by　herparents　to　remain　the　whole　evening　with　them；　and　she　poured　outthe　tea　and　gave　him　a　cup　herself；　and　afterwards　she　took　a　book　andread　aloud　to　them；　and　it　seemed　to　Knud　as　if　the　story　was　allabout　himself　and　his　love；　for　it　agreed　so　well　with　his　ownthoughts。　And　then　she　sang　a　simple　song；　which；　through　her　singing；became　a　true　story；　and　as　if　she　poured　forth　the　feelings　of　herown　heart。

〃Oh；〃　he　thought；　〃she　knows　I　am　fond　of　her。〃　The　tears　he　couldnot　restrain　rolled　down　his　cheeks