安徒生童话-第19部分

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eep。　The　tiny　little　creature　woke　very　early　in　themorning；　and　began　to　cry　bitterly　when　she　found　where　she　was；　forshe　could　see　nothing　but　water　on　every　side　of　the　large　green　leaf；and　no　way　of　reaching　the　land。　Meanwhile　the　old　toad　was　verybusy　under　the　marsh；　decking　her　room　with　rushes　and　wild　yellowflowers；　to　make　it　look　pretty　for　her　new　daughter…in…law。　Thenshe　swam　out　with　her　ugly　son　to　the　leaf　on　which　she　had　placedpoor　little　Tiny。　She　wanted　to　fetch　the　pretty　bed；　that　she　mightput　it　in　the　bridal　chamber　to　be　ready　for　her。　The　old　toad　bowedlow　to　her　in　the　water；　and　said；　〃Here　is　my　son；　he　will　be　yourhusband；　and　you　will　live　happily　in　the　marsh　by　the　stream。〃

〃Croak；　croak；　croak；〃　was　all　her　son　could　say　for　himself；　sothe　toad　took　up　the　elegant　little　bed；　and　swam　away　with　it；leaving　Tiny　all　alone　on　the　green　leaf；　where　she　sat　and　wept。She　could　not　bear　to　think　of　living　with　the　old　toad；　and　havingher　ugly　son　for　a　husband。　The　little　fishes；　who　swam　about　in　thewater　beneath；　had　seen　the　toad；　and　heard　what　she　said；　so　theylifted　their　heads　above　the　water　to　look　at　the　little　maiden。　Assoon　as　they　caught　sight　of　her；　they　saw　she　was　very　pretty；　and　itmade　them　very　sorry　to　think　that　she　must　go　and　live　with　theugly　toads。　〃No；　it　must　never　be！〃　so　they　assembled　together　inthe　water；　round　the　green　stalk　which　held　the　leaf　on　which　thelittle　maiden　stood；　and　gnawed　it　away　at　the　root　with　theirteeth。　Then　the　leaf　floated　down　the　stream；　carrying　Tiny　far　awayout　of　reach　of　land。

Tiny　sailed　past　many　towns；　and　the　little　birds　in　the　bushessaw　her；　and　sang；　〃What　a　lovely　little　creature；〃　so　the　leaf　swamaway　with　her　farther　and　farther；　till　it　brought　her　to　other　lands。A　graceful　little　white　butterfly　constantly　fluttered　round　her；and　at　last　alighted　on　the　leaf。　Tiny　pleased　him；　and　she　was　gladof　it；　for　now　the　toad　could　not　possibly　reach　her；　and　thecountry　through　which　she　sailed　was　beautiful；　and　the　sun　shone　uponthe　water；　till　it　glittered　like　liquid　gold。　She　took　off　her　girdleand　tied　one　end　of　it　round　the　butterfly；　and　the　other　end　of　theribbon　she　fastened　to　the　leaf；　which　now　glided　on　much　fasterthan　ever；　taking　little　Tiny　with　it　as　she　stood。　Presently　alarge　cockchafer　flew　by；　the　moment　he　caught　sight　of　her；　he　seizedher　round　her　delicate　waist　with　his　claws；　and　flew　with　her　intoa　tree。　The　green　leaf　floated　away　on　the　brook；　and　the　butterflyflew　with　it；　for　he　was　fastened　to　it；　and　could　not　get　away。

Oh；　how　frightened　little　Tiny　felt　when　the　cockchafer　flewwith　her　to　the　tree！　But　especially　was　she　sorry　for　the　beautifulwhite　butterfly　which　she　had　fastened　to　the　leaf；　for　if　he　couldnot　free　himself　he　would　die　of　hunger。　But　the　cockchafer　did　nottrouble　himself　at　all　about　the　matter。　He　seated　himself　by　her　sideon　a　large　green　leaf；　gave　her　some　honey　from　the　flowers　to　eat；and　told　her　she　was　very　pretty；　though　not　in　the　least　like　acockchafer。　After　a　time；　all　the　cockchafers　turned　up　their　feelers；and　said；　〃She　has　only　two　legs！　how　ugly　that　looks。〃　〃She　has　nofeelers；〃　said　another。　〃Her　waist　is　quite　slim。　Pooh！　she　is　likea　human　being。〃

〃Oh！　she　is　ugly；〃　said　all　the　lady　cockchafers；　although　Tinywas　very　pretty。　Then　the　cockchafer　who　had　run　away　with　her；believed　all　the　others　when　they　said　she　was　ugly；　and　would　havenothing　more　to　say　to　her；　and　told　her　she　might　go　where　she　liked。Then　he　flew　down　with　her　from　the　tree；　and　placed　her　on　a　daisy；and　she　wept　at　the　thought　that　she　was　so　ugly　that　even　thecockchafers　would　have　nothing　to　say　to　her。　And　all　the　while　shewas　really　the　loveliest　creature　that　one　could　imagine；　and　astender　and　delicate　as　a　beautiful　rose…leaf。　During　the　wholesummer　poor　little　Tiny　lived　quite　alone　in　the　wide　forest。　She　woveherself　a　bed　with　blades　of　grass；　and　hung　it　up　under　a　broad　leaf；to　protect　herself　from　the　rain。　She　sucked　the　honey　from　theflowers　for　food；　and　drank　the　dew　from　their　leaves　every　morning。So　passed　away　the　summer　and　the　autumn；　and　then　came　the　winter；…the　long；　cold　winter。　All　the　birds　who　had　sung　to　her　so　sweetlywere　flown　away；　and　the　trees　and　the　flowers　had　withered。　The　largeclover　leaf　under　the　shelter　of　which　she　had　lived；　was　now　rolledtogether　and　shrivelled　up；　nothing　remained　but　a　yellow　witheredstalk。　She　felt　dreadfully　cold；　for　her　clothes　were　torn；　and　shewas　herself　so　frail　and　delicate；　that　poor　little　Tiny　was　nearlyfrozen　to　death。　It　began　to　snow　too；　and　the　snow…flakes；　as　theyfell　upon　her；　were　like　a　whole　shovelful　falling　upon　one　of　us；　forwe　are　tall；　but　she　was　only　an　inch　high。　Then　she　wrapped　herselfup　in　a　dry　leaf；　but　it　cracked　in　the　middle　and　could　not　keepher　warm；　and　she　shivered　with　cold。　Near　the　wood　in　which　she　hadbeen　living　lay　a　corn…field；　but　the　corn　had　been　cut　a　long　time；nothing　remained　but　the　bare　dry　stubble　standing　up　out　of　thefrozen　ground。　It　was　to　her　like　struggling　through　a　large　wood。　Oh！how　she　shivered　with　the　cold。　She　came　at　last　to　the　door　of　afield…mouse；　who　had　a　little　den　under　the　corn…stubble。　Theredwelt　the　field…mouse　in　warmth　and　fort；　with　a　whole　roomful　ofcorn；　a　kitchen；　and　a　beautiful　dining　room。　Poor　little　Tiny　stoodbefore　the　door　just　like　a　little　beggar…girl；　and　begged　for　a　smallpiece　of　barley…corn；　for　she　had　been　without　a　morsel　to　eat　for　twodays。

〃You　poor　little　creature；〃　said　the　field…mouse；　who　was　really　agood　old　field…mouse；　〃e　into　my　warm　room　and　dine　with　me。〃　Shewas　very　pleased　with　Tiny；　so　she　said；　〃You　are　quite　wele　tostay　with　me　all　the　winter；　if　you　like；　but　you　must　keep　my　roomsclean　and　neat；　and　tell　me　stories；　for　I　shall　like　to　hear　themvery　much。〃　And　Tiny　did　all　the　field…mouse　asked　her；　and　foundherself　very　fortable。

〃We　shall　have　a　visitor　soon；〃　said　the　field…mouse　one　day；〃my　neighbor　pays　me　a　visit　once　a　week。　He　is　better　off　than　Iam；　he　has　large　rooms；　and　wears　a　beautiful　black　velvet　coat。　Ifyou　could　only　have　him　for　a　husband；　you　would　be　well　providedfor　indeed。　But　he　is　blind；　so　you　must　tell　him　some　of　yourprettiest　stories。

But　Tiny　did　not　feel　at　all　interested　about　this　neighbor；　forhe　was　a　mole。　However；　he　came　and　paid　his　visit　dressed　in　hisblack　velvet　coat。

〃He　is　very　rich　and　learned；　and　his　house　is　twenty　times　largerthan　mine；〃　said　the　field…mouse。

He　was　rich　and　learned；　no　doubt；　but　he　always　spoke　slightinglyof　the　sun　and　the　pretty　flowers；　because　he　had　never　seen　them。Tiny　was　obliged　to　sing　to　him；　〃Lady…bird；　lady…bird；　fly　awayhome；〃　and　many　other　pretty　songs。　And　the　mole　fell　in　love　with　herbecause　she　had　such　a　sweet　voice；　but　he　said　nothing　yet；　for　hewas　very　cautious。　A　short　time　before；　the　mole　had　dug　a　longpassage　under　the　earth；　which　led　from　the　dwelling　of　thefield…mouse　to　his　own；　and　here　she　had　permission　to　walk　withTiny　whenever　she　liked。　But　he　warned　them　not　to　be　alarmed　at　thesight　of　a　dead　bird　which　lay　in　the　passage。　It　was　a　perfectbird；　with　a　beak　and　feathers；　and　could　not　have　been　dead　long；　andwas　lying　just　where　the　mole　had　made　his　passage。　The　mole　took　apiece　of　phosphorescent　wood　in　his　mouth；　and　it　glittered　likefire　in　the　dark；　then　he　went　before　them　to　light　them　through　thelong；　dark　passage。　When　they　came　to　the　spot　where　lay　the　deadbird；　the　mole　pushed　his　broad　nose　through　the　ceiling；　the　earthgave　way；　so　that　there　was　a　large　hole；　and　the　daylight　shoneinto　the　passage。　In　the　middle　of　the　floor　lay　a　dead　swallow；　hisbeautiful　wings　pulled　close　to　his　sides；　his　feet　and　his　head　drawnup　under　his　feathers；　the　poor　bird　had　evidently　died　of　the　cold。It　made　little　Tiny　very　sad　to　see　it；　she　did　so　love　the　littlebirds；　all　the　summer　they　had　sung　and　twittered　for　her　sobeautifully。　But　the　mole　pushed　it　aside　with　his　crooked　legs；　andsaid；　〃He　will　sing　no　more　now。　How　miserable　it　must　be　to　be　born　alittle　bird！　I　am　thankful　that　none　of　my　children　will　ever　bebirds；　for　they　can　do　nothing　but　cry；　'Tweet；　tweet；'　and　always　dieof　hunger　in　the　winter。〃

〃Yes；　you　may　well　say　that；　as　a　clever　man！〃　exclaimed　thefield…mouse；　〃What　is　the　use　of　his　twittering；　for　when　winter　eshe　must　either　starve　or　be　frozen　to　death。　Still　birds　are　very　highbred。〃

Tiny　said　nothing；　but　when　the　two　others　had　turned　theirbacks　on　the　bird；　she　stooped　down　and　stroked　aside　the　softfeathers　which　covered　the　head；　and　kissed　the　closed　eyelids。〃Perhaps　this　was　the　one　who　sang　to　me　so　sweetly　in　the　summer；〃she　said；　〃and　how　much　pleasure　it　gave　me；　you　dear；　pretty　bird。〃

The　mole　now　stopped　up　the　hole　through　which　the　daylight　shone；and　then　acpanied　the　lady　home。　But　during　the　night　Tiny　couldnot　sleep；　so　she　got　out　of　bed　and　wove　a　large；　beautiful　carpet　ofhay；　then　she　carried　it　to　the　dead　bird；　and　spread　it　over　him；with　some　down　from　the　flowers　which　she　had　found　in　thefield…mouse's　room。　It　was　as　soft　as　wool；　and　she　spread　some　ofit　on　each　side　of　the　bird；　so　that　he　might　lie　warmly　in　the　coldearth。　〃Farewell；　you　pretty　little　bird；〃　said　she；　〃farewell；thank　you　for　your　delightful　singing　during　the　summer；　when　allthe　trees　were　green；　and　the　warm　sun　shone　upon　us。　Then　she　laidher　head　on　the　bird's　breast；　but　she　was　alarmed　immediately；　for　itseemed　as　if　something　inside　the　bird　went　〃thump；　thump。〃　It　was　thebird's　heart；　he　was　not　really　dead；　only　benumbed　with　the　cold；　andthe　warmth　had　restored　him　to　life。　In　autumn；　all　the　swallows　flyaway　into　warm　countries；　but　if　one　happens　to　linger；　the　coldseizes　it；　it　bees　frozen；　and　falls　down　as　if　dead；　it　remainswhere　it　fell；　and　the　cold　snow　covers　it。　Tiny　trembled　very　much；she　was　quite　frightened；　for　the　bird　was　large；　a　great　deallarger　than　herself；…　she　was　only　an　inch　high。　But　she　took　courage；laid　the　wool　more　thickly　over　the　poor　swallow；　and　then　took　a　leafwhich　she　had　used　for　her　own　counterpane；　and　laid　it　over　thehead　of　the　poor　bird。　The　next　morning　she　again　stole　out　to　seehim。　He　was　alive　but　very　weak；　he　could　only　open　his　eyes　for　amoment　to　look　at　Tiny；　who　stood　by　holding　a　piece　of　decayed　woodin　her　hand；　for　she　had　no　other　lantern。　〃Thank　you；　pretty　littlemaiden；〃　said　the　sick　swallow；　〃I　have　been　so　nicely　warmed；　thatI　shall　soon　regain　my　strength；　and　be　able　to　fly　about　again　in　thewarm　sunshine。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　she；　〃it　is　cold　out　of　doors　now；　it　snows　andfreezes。　Stay　in　your　warm　bed；　I　will　take　care　of　you。〃

Then　she　brought　the　swallow　some　water　in　a　flower…leaf；　andafter　he　had　drank；　he　told　her　that　he　had　wounded　one　of　his　wingsin　a　thorn…bush；　and　could　not　fly　as　fast　as　the　others；　who　weresoon　far　away　on　their　journey　to　warm　countries。　Then　at　last　hehad　fallen　to　the　earth；　and　could　remember　no　more；　nor　how　he　cameto　be　where　she　had　found　him。　The　whole　winter　the　swallow　remainedunderground；　and　Tiny　nursed　him　with　care　and　love。　Neither　themole　nor　the　field…mouse　knew　anything　about　it；　for　they　did　not　likeswallows。　Very　soon　the　spring　time　came；　and　the　sun　warmed　theearth。　Then　the　swallow　bade　farewell　to　Tiny；　and　she　opened　the　holein　the　ceiling　which　the　mole　had　made。　The　sun　shone　in　upon　themso　beautifully；　that　the　swallow　asked　her　if　she　would　go　with　him；she　could　sit　on　his　back；　he　said；　and　he　would　fly　away　with　herinto　the　green　woods。　But　Tiny　knew　it　would　make　the　field…mouse　verygrieved　if　she　left　her　in　that　manner；　so　she　said；　〃No；　I　cannot。〃

〃Farewell；　then；　farewell；　you　good；　pretty　little　maiden；〃　saidthe　swallow；　and　he　flew　out　into　the　sunshine。

Tiny　looked　after　him；　and　the　tears　rose　in　her　eyes。　She　wasvery　fond　of　the　poor　swallow。

〃Tweet；　tweet；〃　sang　the　bird；　as　he　flew　out　into　the　greenwoods；　and　Tiny　felt　very　sad。　She　was　not　allowed　to　go　out　intothe　warm　sunshine。　The　corn　which　had　been　sown　in　the　field　overthe　house　of　the　field…mouse　had　grown　up　high　into　the　air；　andformed　a　thick　wood　to　Tiny；　who　was　only　an　inch　in　height。

〃You　are　going　to　be　married；　Tiny；〃　said　the　field…mouse。　〃Myneighbor　has　asked　for　you。　What　good　fortune　for　a　poor　child　likeyou。　Now　we　will　prepare　your　wedding　clothes。　They　must　be　bothwoollen　and　linen。　Nothing　must　be　wanting　when　you　are　the　mole'swife。〃

Tiny　had　to　turn　the　spindle；　and　the　field…mouse　hired　fourspiders；　who　were　to　weave　day　and　night。　Every　evening　the　molevisited　her；　and　was　continually　speaking　of　the　time　when　thesummer　would　be　over。　Then　he　would　keep　his　wedding…day　with　Tiny；but　now　the　heat　of　the　sun　was　so　great　that　it　burned　the　earth；　andmade　it　quite　hard；　like　a　stone。　As　soon；　as　the　summer　was　over；　thewedding　should　take　place。　But　Tiny　was　not　at　all　pleased；　for　shedid　not　like　the　tiresome　mole。　Every　morning　when　the　sun　rose；　andevery　evening　when　it　went　down；　she　would　creep　out　at　the　door；and　as　the　wind　blew　aside　the　ears　of　corn；　so　that　she　could　see　theblue　sky；　she　thought　how　beautiful　and　bright　it　seemed　out　there；and　wished　so　much　to　see　her　dear　swallow　again。　But　he　neverreturned；　for　by　this　time　he　had　flown　far　away　into　the　lovely　greenforest。

When　autumn　arrived；　Tiny　had　her　outfit　quite　ready；　and　thefield…mouse　said　to　her；　〃In　four　weeks　the　wedding　must　take　place。〃

Then　Tiny　wept；　and　said　she　would　not　marry　the　disagreeablemole。

〃Nonsense；〃　replied　the　field…mouse。　〃Now　don't　be　obstinate；　or　Ishall　bite　you　with　my　white　teeth。　He　is　a　very　handsome　mole；　thequeen　herself　does　not　wear　more　beautiful　velvets　and　furs。　Hiskitchen　and　cellars　are　quite　full。　You　ought　to　be　very　thankfulfor　such　good　fortune。〃

So　the　wedding…day　was　fixed；　on　which　the　mole　was　to　fetchTiny　away　to　live　with　him；　deep　under　the　earth；　and　never　again　tosee　the　warm　sun；　because　he　did　not　like　it。　The　poor　child　wasvery　unhappy　at　the　thought　of　saying　farewell　to　the　beautiful　sun；and　as　the　field…mouse　had　given　her　permission　to　stand　at　thedoor；　she　went　to　look　at　it　once　more。

〃Farewell　bright　sun；〃　she　cried；　stretching　out　her　arm　towardsit；　and　then　she　walked　a　short　distance　from　the　house；　for　thecorn　had　been　cut；　and　only　the　dry　stubble　remained　in　the　fields。〃Farewell；　farewell；〃　she　repeated；　twining　her　arm　round　a　little　redflower　that　grew　just　by　her　side。　〃Greet　the　little　swallow　fromme；　if　you　should　see　him　again。〃

〃Tweet；　tweet；〃　sounded　over　her　head　suddenly。　She　looked　up；　andthere　was　the　swallow　himself　flying　close　by。　As　soon　as　he　spiedTiny；　he　was　delighted；　and　then　she　told　him　how　unwilling　she　feltto　marry　the　ugly　mole；　and　to　live　always　beneath　the　earth；　andnever　to　see　the　bright　sun　any　more。　And　as　she　told　him　she　wept。

〃Cold　winter　is　ing；〃　said　the　swallow；　〃and　I　am　going　tofly　away　into　warmer　countries。　Will　you　go　with　me？　You　can　sit　on　myback；　and　fasten　yourself　on　with　your　sash。　Then　we　can　fly　away　fromthe　ugly　mole　and　his　gloomy　rooms；…　far　away；　over　the　mountains；into　warmer　countries；　where　the　sun　shines　more　brightly…　thanhere；　where　it　is　always　summer；　and　the　flowers　bloom　in　greaterbeauty。　Fly　now　with　me；　dear　li