安徒生童话-第34部分

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g　now　if　I　were　ever　so　happy；　but　when　I　was　a　whole　bottle；　andthey　rubbed　me　with　a　cork；　didn't　I　sing　then？　I　used　to　be　calleda　plete　lark。　I　remember　when　I　went　out　to　a　picnic　with　thefurrier's　family；　on　the　day　his　daughter　was　betrothed；…　it　seemsas　if　it　only　happened　yesterday。　I　have　gone　through　a　great　dealin　my　time；　when　I　e　to　recollect：　I　have　been　in　the　fire　and　inthe　water；　I　have　been　deep　in　the　earth；　and　have　mounted　higher　inthe　air　than　most　other　people；　and　now　I　am　swinging　here；　outsidea　bird…cage；　in　the　air　and　the　sunshine。　Oh；　indeed；　it　would　beworth　while　to　hear　my　history；　but　I　do　not　speak　it　aloud；　for　agood　reason…　because　I　cannot。〃

Then　the　bottle　neck　related　his　history；　which　was　reallyrather　remarkable；　he；　in　fact；　related　it　to　himself；　or；　at　least；thought　it　in　his　own　mind。　The　little　bird　sang　his　own　song　merrily；in　the　street　below　there　was　driving　and　running　to　and　fro；　everyone　thought　of　his　own　affairs；　or　perhaps　of　nothing　at　all；　butthe　bottle　neck　thought　deeply。　He　thought　of　the　blazing　furnace　inthe　factory；　where　he　had　been　blown　into　life；　he　remembered　howhot　it　felt　when　he　was　placed　in　the　heated　oven；　the　home　from　whichhe　sprang；　and　that　he　had　a　strong　inclination　to　leap　out　againdirectly；　but　after　a　while　it　became　cooler；　and　he　found　himselfvery　fortable。　He　had　been　placed　in　a　row；　with　a　whole　regimentof　his　brothers　and　sisters　all　brought　out　of　the　same　furnace；some　of　them　had　certainly　been　blown　into　champagne　bottles；　andothers　into　beer　bottles；　which　made　a　little　difference　between　them。In　the　world　it　often　happens　that　a　beer　bottle　may　contain　themost　precious　wine；　and　a　champagne　bottle　be　filled　with　blacking；but　even　in　decay　it　may　always　be　seen　whether　a　man　has　been　wellborn。　Nobility　remains　noble；　as　a　champagne　bottle　remains　thesame；　even　with　blacking　in　its　interior。　When　the　bottles　were　packedour　bottle　was　packed　amongst　them；　it　little　expected　then　tofinish　its　career　as　a　bottle　neck；　or　to　be　used　as　a　water…glassto　a　bird's…cage；　which　is；　after　all；　a　place　of　honor；　for　it　isto　be　of　some　use　in　the　world。　The　bottle　did　not　behold　the　light　ofday　again；　until　it　was　unpacked　with　the　rest　in　the　winemerchant's　cellar；　and；　for　the　first　time；　rinsed　with　water；　whichcaused　some　very　curious　sensations。　There　it　lay　empty；　and　without　acork；　and　it　had　a　peculiar　feeling；　as　if　it　wanted　something　it　knewnot　what。　At　last　it　was　filled　with　rich　and　costly　wine；　a　corkwas　placed　in　it；　and　sealed　down。　Then　it　was　labelled　〃firstquality；〃　as　if　it　had　carried　off　the　first　prize　at　anexamination；　besides；　the　wine　and　the　bottle　were　both　good；　andwhile　we　are　young　is　the　time　for　poetry。　There　were　sounds　of　songwithin　the　bottle；　of　things　it　could　not　understand；　of　green　sunnymountains；　where　the　vines　grow　and　where　the　merry　vine…dresserslaugh；　sing；　and　are　merry。　〃Ah；　how　beautiful　is　life。〃　All　thesetones　of　joy　and　song　in　the　bottle　were　like　the　working　of　a　youngpoet's　brain；　who　often　knows　not　the　meaning　of　the　tones　which　aresounding　within　him。　One　morning　the　bottle　found　a　purchaser　in　thefurrier's　apprentice；　who　was　told　to　bring　one　of　the　best　bottles　ofwine。　It　was　placed　in　the　provision　basket　with　ham　and　cheese　andsausages。　The　sweetest　fresh　butter　and　the　finest　bread　were　put　intothe　basket　by　the　furrier's　daughter　herself；　for　she　packed　it。　Shewas　young　and　pretty；　her　brown　eyes　laughed；　and　a　smile　lingeredround　her　mouth　as　sweet　as　that　in　her　eyes。　She　had　delicatehands；　beautifully　white；　and　her　neck　was　whiter　still。　It　couldeasily　be　seen　that　she　was　a　very　lovely　girl；　and　as　yet　she　was　notengaged。　The　provision　basket　lay　in　the　lap　of　the　young　girl　asthe　family　drove　out　to　the　forest；　and　the　neck　of　the　bottlepeeped　out　from　between　the　folds　of　the　white　napkin。　There　was　thered　wax　on　the　cork；　and　the　bottle　looked　straight　at　the　younggirl's　face；　and　also　at　the　face　of　the　young　sailor　who　sat　nearher。　He　was　a　young　friend；　the　son　of　a　portrait　painter。　He　hadlately　passed　his　examination　with　honor；　as　mate；　and　the　nextmorning　he　was　to　sail　in　his　ship　to　a　distant　coast。　There　hadbeen　a　great　deal　of　talk　on　this　subject　while　the　basket　was　beingpacked；　and　during　this　conversation　the　eyes　and　the　mouth　of　thefurrier's　daughter　did　not　wear　a　very　joyful　expression。　The　youngpeople　wandered　away　into　the　green　wood；　and　talked　together。　Whatdid　they　talk　about？　The　bottle　could　not　say；　for　he　was　in　theprovision　basket。　It　remained　there　a　long　time；　but　when　at　last　itwas　brought　forth　it　appeared　as　if　something　pleasant　had　happened；for　every　one　was　laughing；　the　furrier's　daughter　laughed　too；　butshe　said　very　little；　and　her　cheeks　were　like　two　roses。　Then　herfather　took　the　bottle　and　the　cork…screw　into　his　hands。　What　astrange　sensation　it　was　to　have　the　cork　drawn　for　the　first　time！The　bottle　could　never　after　that　forget　the　performance　of　thatmoment；　indeed　there　was　quite　a　convulsion　within　him　as　the　corkflew　out；　and　a　gurgling　sound　as　the　wine　was　poured　forth　into　theglasses。

〃Long　life　to　the　betrothed；〃　cried　the　papa；　and　every　glasswas　emptied　to　the　dregs；　while　the　young　sailor　kissed　hisbeautiful　bride。

〃Happiness　and　blessing　to　you　both；〃　said　the　old　people…fatherand　mother；　and　the　young　man　filled　the　glasses　again。

〃Safe　return；　and　a　wedding　this　day　next　year；〃　he　cried；　andwhen　the　glasses　were　empty　he　took　the　bottle；　raised　it　on　high；　andsaid；　〃Thou　hast　been　present　here　on　the　happiest　day　of　my　life；thou　shalt　never　be　used　by　others！〃　So　saying；　he　hurled　it　high　inthe　air。

The　furrier's　daughter　thought　she　should　never　see　it　again；but　she　was　mistaken。　It　fell　among　the　rushes　on　the　borders　of　alittle　woodland　lake。　The　bottle　neck　remembered　well　how　long　itlay　there　unseen。　〃I　gave　them　wine；　and　they　gave　me　muddy　water；〃　hehad　said　to　himself；　〃but　I　suppose　it　was　all　well　meant。〃　He　couldno　longer　see　the　betrothed　couple；　nor　the　cheerful　old　people；　butfor　a　long　time　he　could　hear　them　rejoicing　and　singing。　At　lengththere　came　by　two　peasant　boys；　who　peeped　in　among　the　reeds　andspied　out　the　bottle。　Then　they　took　it　up　and　carried　it　home　withthem；　so　that　once　more　it　was　provided　for。　At　home　in　their　woodencottage　these　boys　had　an　elder　brother；　a　sailor；　who　was　about　tostart　on　a　long　voyage。　He　had　been　there　the　day　before　to　sayfarewell；　and　his　mother　was　now　very　busy　packing　up　various　thingsfor　him　to　take　with　him　on　his　voyage。　In　the　evening　his　fatherwas　going　to　carry　the　parcel　to　the　town　to　see　his　son　once　more；and　take　him　a　farewell　greeting　from　his　mother。　A　small　bottle　hadalready　been　filled　with　herb　tea；　mixed　with　brandy；　and　wrapped　in　aparcel；　but　when　the　boys　came　in　they　brought　with　them　a　largerand　stronger　bottle；　which　they　had　found。　This　bottle　would　hold　somuch　more　than　the　little　one；　and　they　all　said　the　brandy　would　beso　good　for　plaints　of　the　stomach；　especially　as　it　was　mixed　withmedical　herbs。　The　liquid　which　they　now　poured　into　the　bottle　wasnot　like　the　red　wine　with　which　it　had　once　been　filled；　these　werebitter　drops；　but　they　are　of　great　use　sometimes…for　the　stomach。　Thenew　large　bottle　was　to　go；　not　the　little　one：　so　the　bottle　oncemore　started　on　its　travels。　It　was　taken　on　board　（for　Peter　Jensenwas　one　of　the　crew）　the　very　same　ship　in　which　the　young　mate　was　tosail。　But　the　mate　did　not　see　the　bottle：　indeed；　if　he　had　hewould　not　have　known　it；　or　supposed　it　was　the　one　out　of　whichthey　had　drunk　to　the　felicity　of　the　betrothed　and　to　the　prospect　ofa　marriage　on　his　own　happy　return。　Certainly　the　bottle　no　longerpoured　forth　wine；　but　it　contained　something　quite　as　good；　and　so　ithappened　that　whenever　Peter　Jensen　brought　it　out；　his　messmates　gaveit　the　name　of　〃the　apothecary；〃　for　it　contained　the　best　medicine　tocure　the　stomach；　and　he　gave　it　out　quite　willingly　as　long　as　a　dropremained。　Those　were　happy　days；　and　the　bottle　would　sing　when　rubbedwith　a　cork；　and　it　was　called　a　great　lark；〃　〃Peter　Jensen's　lark。〃

Long　days　and　months　rolled　by；　during　which　the　bottle　stoodempty　in　a　corner；　when　a　storm　arose…　whether　on　the　passage　out　orhome　it　could　not　tell；　for　it　had　never　been　ashore。　It　was　aterrible　storm；　great　waves　arose；　darkly　heaving　and　tossing　thevessel　to　and　fro。　The　main　mast　was　split　asunder；　the　ship　spranga　leak；　and　the　pumps　became　useless；　while　all　around　was　black　asnight。　At　the　last　moment；　when　the　ship　was　sinking；　the　young　matewrote　on　a　piece　of　paper；　〃We　are　going　down：　God's　will　be　done。〃Then　he　wrote　the　name　of　his　betrothed；　his　own　name；　and　that　of　theship。　Then　he　put　the　leaf　in　an　empty　bottle　that　happened　to　be　athand；　corked　it　down　tightly；　and　threw　it　into　the　foaming　sea。　Heknew　not　that　it　was　the　very　same　bottle　from　which　the　goblet　of　joyand　hope　had　once　been　filled　for　him；　and　now　it　was　tossing　on　thewaves　with　his　last　greeting；　and　a　message　from　the　dead。　The　shipsank；　and　the　crew　sank　with　her；　but　the　bottle　flew　on　like　abird；　for　it　bore　within　it　a　loving　letter　from　a　loving　heart。　Andas　the　sun　rose　and　set；　the　bottle　felt　as　at　the　time　of　its　firstexistence；　when　in　the　heated　glowing　stove　it　had　a　longing　to　flyaway。　It　outlived　the　storms　and　the　calm；　it　struck　against　no　rocks；was　not　devoured　by　sharks；　but　drifted　on　for　more　than　a　year；sometimes　towards　the　north；　sometimes　towards　the　south；　just　asthe　current　carried　it。　It　was　in　all　other　ways　its　own　master；　buteven　of　that　one　may　get　tired。　The　written　leaf；　the　last　farewell　ofthe　bridegroom　to　his　bride；　would　only　bring　sorrow　when　once　itreached　her　hands；　but　where　were　those　hands；　so　soft　and　delicate；which　had　once　spread　the　table…cloth　on　the　fresh　grass　in　thegreen　wood；　on　the　day　of　her　betrothal？　Ah；　yes！　where　was　thefurrier's　daughter？　and　where　was　the　land　which　might　lie　nearestto　her　home？

The　bottle　knew　not；　it　travelled　onward　and　onward；　and　at　lastall　this　wandering　about　became　wearisome；　at　all　events　it　was　notits　usual　occupation。　But　it　had　to　travel；　till　at　length　itreached　land…　a　foreign　country。　Not　a　word　spoken　in　this　countrycould　the　bottle　understand；　it　was　a　language　it　had　never　beforeheard；　and　it　is　a　great　loss　not　to　be　able　to　understand　a　language。The　bottle　was　fished　out　of　the　water；　and　examined　on　all　sides。　Thelittle　letter　contained　within　it　was　discovered；　taken　out；　andturned　and　twisted　in　every　direction；　but　the　people　could　notunderstand　what　was　written　upon　it。　They　could　be　quite　sure　that　thebottle　had　been　thrown　overboard　from　a　vessel；　and　that　somethingabout　it　was　written　on　this　paper：　but　what　was　written？　that　was　thequestion；…　so　the　paper　was　put　back　into　the　bottle；　and　then　bothwere　put　away　in　a　large　cupboard　of　one　of　the　great　houses　of　thetown。　Whenever　any　strangers　arrived；　the　paper　was　taken　out　andturned　over　and　over；　so　that　the　address；　which　was　only　written　inpencil；　became　almost　illegible；　and　at　last　no　one　coulddistinguish　any　letters　on　it　at　all。　For　a　whole　year　the　bottleremained　standing　in　the　cupboard；　and　then　it　was　taken　up　to　theloft；　where　it　soon　became　covered　with　dust　and　cobwebs。　Ah！　howoften　then　it　thought　of　those　better　days…　of　the　times　when　in　thefresh；　green　wood；　it　had　poured　forth　rich　wine；　or；　while　rockedby　the　swelling　waves；　it　had　carried　in　its　bosom　a　secret；　a　letter；a　last　parting　sigh。　For　full　twenty　years　it　stood　in　the　loft；　andit　might　have　stayed　there　longer　but　that　the　house　was　going　to　berebuilt。　The　bottle　was　discovered　when　the　roof　was　taken　off；　theytalked　about　it；　but　the　bottle　did　not　understand　what　they　said…　alanguage　is　not　to　be　learnt　by　living　in　a　loft；　even　for　twentyyears。　〃If　I　had　been　down　stairs　in　the　room；〃　thought　the　bottle；　〃Imight　have　learnt　it。〃　It　was　now　washed　and　rinsed；　which　process　wasreally　quite　necessary；　and　afterwards　it　looked　clean　andtransparent；　and　felt　young　again　in　its　old　age；　but　the　paperwhich　it　had　carried　so　faithfully　was　destroyed　in　the　washing。They　filled　the　bottle　with　seeds；　though　it　scarcely　knew　what　hadbeen　placed　in　it。　Then　they　corked　it　down　tightly；　and　carefullywrapped　it　up。　There　not　even　the　light　of　a　torch　or　lantern　couldreach　it；　much　less　the　brightness　of　the　sun　or　moon。　〃And　yet；〃thought　the　bottle；　〃men　go　on　a　journey　that　they　may　see　as　muchas　possible；　and　I　can　see　nothing。〃　However；　it　did　something　quiteas　important；　it　travelled　to　the　place　of　its　destination；　and　wasunpacked。

〃What　trouble　they　have　taken　with　that　bottle　over　yonder！〃said　one；　and　very　likely　it　is　broken　after　all。〃　But　the　bottlewas　not　broken；　and；　better　still；　it　understood　every　word　that　wassaid：　this　language　it　had　heard　at　the　furnaces　and　at　the　winemerchant's；　in　the　forest　and　on　the　ship；…　it　was　the　only　good　oldlanguage　it　could　understand。　It　had　returned　home；　and　the　languagewas　as　a　wele　greeting。　For　very　joy；　it　felt　ready　to　jump　outof　people's　hands；　and　scarcely　noticed　that　its　cork　had　beendrawn；　and　its　contents　emptied　out；　till　it　found　itself　carried　to　acellar；　to　be　left　there　and　forgotten。　〃There's　no　place　like　home；even　if　it's　a　cellar。〃　It　never　occurred　to　him　to　think　that　hemight　lie　there　for　years；　he　felt　so　fortable。　For　many　long　yearshe　remained　in　the　cellar；　till　at　last　some　people　came　to　carry　awaythe　bottles；　and　ours　amongst　the　number。

Out　in　the　garden　there　was　a　great　festival。　Brilliant　lamps　hungin　festoons　from　tree　to　tree；　and　paper　lanterns；　through　which　thelight　shone　till　they　looked　like　transparent　tulips。　It　was　abeautiful　evening；　and　the　weather　mild　and　clear。　The　stars　twinkled；and　the　new　moon；　in　the　form　of　a　crescent；　was　surrounded　by　theshadowy　disc　of　the　whole　moon；　and　looked　like　a　gray　globe　with　agolden　rim：　it　was　a　beautiful　sight　for　those　who　had　good　eyes。The　illumination　extended　even　to　the　most　retired　of　the　gardenwalks；　at　least　not　so　retired　that　any　one　need　lose　himself　there。In　the　borders　were　placed　bottles；　each　containing　a　light；　and　amongthem　the　bottle　with　which　we　are　acquainted；　and　whose　fate　it　was；one　day；　to　be　only　a　bottle　neck；　and　to　serve　as　a　water…glass　toa　bird's…cage。　Everything　here　appeared　lovely　to　our　bottle；　for　itwas　again　in　the　green　wood；　amid　joy　and　feasting；　again　it　heardmusic　and　song；　and　the　noise　and　murmur　of　a　crowd；　especially　inthat　part　of　the　garden　where　the　lamps　blazed；　and　the　paper　lanternsdisplayed　their　brilliant　colors。　It　stood　in　a　distant　walkcertainly；　but　a　place　pleasant　for　contemplation；　and　it　carried　alight；　and　was　at　once　useful　and　ornamental。　In　such　an　hour　it　iseasy　to　forget　that　one　has　spent　twenty　years　in　a　loft；　and　a　goodthing　it　is　to　be　able　to　do　so。　Close　before　the　bottle　passed　asingle　pair；　like　the　bridal　pair…　the　mate　and　the　furrier'sdaughter…　who　had　so　long　ago　wandered　in　the　wood。　It　seemed　to　thebottle　as　if　he　were　living　that　time　over　again。　Not　only　theguests　but　other　people　were　walking　in　the　garden；　who　were　allowedto　witness　the　splendor　and　the　festivities。　Among　the　latter　camean　old　maid；　who　seemed　to　be　quite　alone　in　the　world。　She　was