安徒生童话-第38部分

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e　lark's　cage。

〃No　let　it　stay；〃　said　the　other　boy；　〃it　looks　so　pretty〃。

And　so　it　stayed；　and　was　brought　into　the　lark's　cage。　The　poorbird　was　lamenting　its　lost　liberty；　and　beating　its　wings　against　thewires；　and　the　little　daisy　could　not　speak　or　utter　a　consoling　word；much　as　it　would　have　liked　to　do　so。　So　the　forenoon　passed。

〃I　have　no　water；〃　said　the　captive　lark；　〃they　have　all　gone　out；and　forgotten　to　give　me　anything　to　drink。　My　throat　is　dry　andburning。　I　feel　as　if　I　had　fire　and　ice　within　me；　and　the　air　isso　oppressive。　Alas！　I　must　die；　and　part　with　the　warm　sunshine；the　fresh　green　meadows；　and　all　the　beauty　that　God　has　created。〃　Andit　thrust　its　beak　into　the　piece　of　grass；　to　refresh　itself　alittle。　Then　it　noticed　the　little　daisy；　and　nodded　to　it；　and　kissedit　with　its　beak　and　said：　〃You　must　also　fade　in　here；　poor　littleflower。　You　and　the　piece　of　grass　are　all　they　have　given　me　inexchange　for　the　whole　world；　which　I　enjoyed　outside。　Each　littleblade　of　grass　shall　be　a　green　tree　for　me；　each　of　your　white　petalsa　fragrant　flower。　Alas！　you　only　remind　me　of　what　I　have　lost。〃

〃I　wish　I　could　console　the　poor　lark；〃　thought　the　daisy。　Itcould　not　move　one　of　its　leaves；　but　the　fragrance　of　its　delicatepetals　streamed　forth；　and　was　much　stronger　than　such　flowers　usuallyhave：　the　bird　noticed　it；　although　it　was　dying　with　thirst；　and　inits　pain　tore　up　the　green　blades　of　grass；　but　did　not　touch　theflower。

The　evening　came；　and　nobody　appeared　to　bring　the　poor　bird　adrop　of　water；　it　opened　its　beautiful　wings；　and　fluttered　about　inits　anguish；　a　faint　and　mournful　〃Tweet；　tweet；〃　was　all　it　couldutter；　then　it　bent　its　little　head　towards　the　flower；　and　itsheart　broke　for　want　and　longing。　The　flower　could　not；　as　on　theprevious　evening；　fold　up　its　petals　and　sleep；　it　droppedsorrowfully。　The　boys　only　came　the　next　morning；　when　they　saw　thedead　bird；　they　began　to　cry　bitterly；　dug　a　nice　grave　for　it；　andadorned　it　with　flowers。　The　bird's　body　was　placed　in　a　pretty　redbox；　they　wished　to　bury　it　with　royal　honours。　While　it　was　alive　andsang　they　forgot　it；　and　let　it　suffer　want　in　the　cage；　now；　theycried　over　it　and　covered　it　with　flowers。　The　piece　of　turf；　with　thelittle　daisy　in　it；　was　thrown　out　on　the　dusty　highway。　Nobodythought　of　the　flower　which　had　felt　so　much　for　the　bird　and　had　sogreatly　desired　to　fort　it。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　THE　DARNING…NEEDLE

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THERE　was　once　a　darning…needle　who　thought　herself　so　fine　thatshe　fancied　she　must　be　fit　for　embroidery。　〃Hold　me　tight；〃　she　wouldsay　to　the　fingers；　when　they　took　her　up；　〃don't　let　me　fall；　ifyou　do　I　shall　never　be　found　again；　I　am　so　very　fine。〃

〃That　is　your　opinion；　is　it？〃　said　the　fingers；　as　they　seizedher　round　the　body。

〃See；　I　am　ing　with　a　train；〃　said　the　darning…needle；drawing　a　long　thread　after　her；　but　there　was　no　knot　in　the　thread。

The　fingers　then　placed　the　point　of　the　needle　against　the　cook'sslipper。　There　was　a　crack　in　the　upper　leather；　which　had　to　besewn　together。

〃What　coarse　work！〃　said　the　darning…needle；　〃I　shall　never　getthrough。　I　shall　break！…　I　am　breaking！〃　and　sure　enough　she　broke。〃Did　I　not　say　so？〃　said　the　darning…needle；　〃I　know　I　am　too　fine　forsuch　work　as　that。〃

〃This　needle　is　quite　useless　for　sewing　now；〃　said　the　fingers；but　they　still　held　it　fast；　and　the　cook　dropped　some　sealing…waxon　the　needle；　and　fastened　her　handkerchief　with　it　in　front。

〃So　now　I　am　a　breast…pin；〃　said　the　darning…needle；　〃I　knewvery　well　I　should　e　to　honor　some　day：　merit　is　sure　to　rise；〃　andshe　laughed；　quietly　to　herself；　for　of　course　no　one　ever　saw　adarning…needle　laugh。　And　there　she　sat　as　proudly　as　if　she　were　in　astate　coach；　and　looked　all　around　her。　〃May　I　be　allowed　to　ask　ifyou　are　made　of　gold？〃　she　inquired　of　her　neighbor；　a　pin；　〃youhave　a　very　pretty　appearance；　and　a　curious　head；　although　you　arerather　small。　You　must　take　pains　to　grow；　for　it　is　not　every　one　whohas　sealing…wax　dropped　upon　him；〃　and　as　she　spoke；　thedarning…needle　drew　herself　up　so　proudly　that　she　fell　out　of　thehandkerchief　right　into　the　sink；　which　the　cook　was　cleaning。　〃NowI　am　going　on　a　journey；〃　said　the　needle；　as　she　floated　away　withthe　dirty　water；　〃I　do　hope　I　shall　not　be　lost。〃　But　she　really　waslost　in　a　gutter。　〃I　am　too　fine　for　this　world；〃　said　thedarning…needle；　as　she　lay　in　the　gutter；　〃but　I　know　who　I　am；　andthat　is　always　some　fort。〃　So　the　darning…needle　kept　up　herproud　behavior；　and　did　not　lose　her　good　humor。　Then　there　floatedover　her　all　sorts　of　things；…　chips　and　straws；　and　pieces　of　oldnewspaper。　〃See　how　they　sail；〃　said　the　darning…needle；　〃they　donot　know　what　is　under　them。　I　am　here；　and　here　I　shall　stick。　See；there　goes　a　chip；　thinking　of　nothing　in　the　world　but　himself…only　a　chip。　There's　a　straw　going　by　now；　how　he　turns　and　twistsabout！　Don't　be　thinking　too　much　of　yourself；　or　you　may　chance　torun　against　a　stone。　There　swims　a　piece　of　newspaper；　what　is　writtenupon　it　has　been　forgotten　long　ago；　and　yet　it　gives　itself　airs。　Isit　here　patiently　and　quietly。　I　know　who　I　am；　so　I　shall　not　move。〃

One　day　something　lying　close　to　the　darning…needle　glittered　sosplendidly　that　she　thought　it　was　a　diamond；　yet　it　was　only　apiece　of　broken　bottle。　The　darning…needle　spoke　to　it；　because　itsparkled；　and　represented　herself　as　a　breast…pin。　〃I　suppose　youare　really　a　diamond？〃　she　said。

〃Why　yes；　something　of　the　kind；〃　he　replied；　and　so　each　believedthe　other　to　be　very　valuable；　and　then　they　began　to　talk　about　theworld；　and　the　conceited　people　in　it。

〃I　have　been　in　a　lady's　work…box；〃　said　the　darning…needle；〃and　this　lady　was　the　cook。　She　had　on　each　hand　five　fingers；　andanything　so　conceited　as　these　five　fingers　I　have　never　seen；　and　yetthey　were　only　employed　to　take　me　out　of　the　box　and　to　put　me　backagain。〃

〃Were　they　not　high…born？〃

〃High…born！〃　said　the　darning…needle；　〃no　indeed；　but　sohaughty。　They　were　five　brothers；　all　born　fingers；　they　kept　veryproudly　together；　though　they　were　of　different　lengths。　The　one　whostood　first　in　the　rank　was　named　the　thumb；　he　was　short　and　thick；and　had　only　one　joint　in　his　back；　and　could　therefore　make　but　onebow；　but　he　said　that　if　he　were　cut　off　from　a　man's　hand；　that　manwould　be　unfit　for　a　soldier。　Sweet…tooth；　his　neighbor；　dippedhimself　into　sweet　or　sour；　pointed　to　the　sun　and　moon；　and　formedthe　letters　when　the　fingers　wrote。　Longman；　the　middle　finger；　lookedover　the　heads　of　all　the　others。　Gold…band；　the　next　finger；　wore　agolden　circle　round　his　waist。　And　little　Playman　did　nothing　atall；　and　seemed　proud　of　it。　They　were　boasters；　and　boasters　theywill　remain；　and　therefore　I　left　them。〃

〃And　now　we　sit　here　and　glitter；〃　said　the　piece　of　brokenbottle。

At　the　same　moment　more　water　streamed　into　the　gutter；　so　that　itoverflowed；　and　the　piece　of　bottle　was　carried　away。

〃So　he　is　promoted；〃　said　the　darning…needle；　〃while　I　remainhere；　I　am　too　fine；　but　that　is　my　pride；　and　what　do　I　care？〃　And　soshe　sat　there　in　her　pride；　and　had　many　such　thoughts　as　these；…　〃Icould　almost　fancy　that　I　came　from　a　sunbeam；　I　am　so　fine。　Itseems　as　if　the　sunbeams　were　always　looking　for　me　under　the　water。Ah！　I　am　so　fine　that　even　my　mother　cannot　find　me。　Had　I　still　myold　eye；　which　was　broken　off；　I　believe　I　should　weep；　but　no；　Iwould　not　do　that；　it　is　not　genteel　to　cry。〃

One　day　a　couple　of　street　boys　were　paddling　in　the　gutter；　forthey　sometimes　found　old　nails；　farthings；　and　other　treasures。　It　wasdirty　work；　but　they　took　great　pleasure　in　it。　〃Hallo！〃　cried　one；　ashe　pricked　himself　with　the　darning…needle；　〃here's　a　fellow　for　you。〃

〃I　am　not　a　fellow；　I　am　a　young　lady；〃　said　the　darning…needle；but　no　one　heard　her。

The　sealing…wax　had　e　off；　and　she　was　quite　black；　but　blackmakes　a　person　look　slender；　so　she　thought　herself　even　finer　thanbefore。

〃Here　es　an　egg…shell　sailing　along；〃　said　one　of　the　boys；so　they　stuck　the　darning…needle　into　the　egg…shell。

〃White　walls；　and　I　am　black　myself；〃　said　the　darning…needle；〃that　looks　well；　now　I　can　be　seen；　but　I　hope　I　shall　not　besea…sick；　or　I　shall　break　again。〃　She　was　not　sea…sick；　and　she　didnot　break。　〃It　is　a　good　thing　against　sea…sickness　to　have　a　steelstomach；　and　not　to　forget　one's　own　importance。　Now　my　sea…sicknesshas　past：　delicate　people　can　bear　a　great　deal。〃

Crack　went　the　egg…shell；　as　a　waggon　passed　over　it。　〃Goodheavens；　how　it　crushes！〃　said　the　darning…needle。　〃I　shall　be　sicknow。　I　am　breaking！〃　but　she　did　not　break；　though　the　waggon　wentover　her　as　she　lay　at　full　length；　and　there　let　her　lie。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　THE　DROP　OF　WATER

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

OF　course　you　know　what　is　meant　by　a　magnifying　glass…　one　ofthose　round　spectacle…glasses　that　make　everything　look　a　hundredtimes　bigger　than　it　is？　When　any　one　takes　one　of　these　and　holdsit　to　his　eye；　and　looks　at　a　drop　of　water　from　the　pond　yonder；　hesees　above　a　thousand　wonderful　creatures　that　are　otherwise　neverdiscerned　in　the　water。　But　there　they　are；　and　it　is　no　delusion。It　almost　looks　like　a　great　plateful　of　spiders　jumping　about　in　acrowd。　And　how　fierce　they　are！　They　tear　off　each　other's　legs。　andarms　and　bodies；　before　and　behind；　and　yet　they　are　merry　andjoyful　in　their　way。

Now；　there　once　was　an　old　man　whom　all　the　people　calledKribble…Krabble；　for　that　was　his　name。　He　always　wanted　the　best　ofeverything；　and　when　he　could　not　manage　it　otherwise；　he　did　it　bymagic。

There　he　sat　one　day；　and　held　his　magnifying…glass　to　his　eye；and　looked　at　a　drop　of　water　that　had　been　taken　out　of　a　puddle　bythe　ditch。　But　what　a　kribbling　and　krabbling　was　there！　All　thethousands　of　little　creatures　hopped　and　sprang　and　tugged　at　oneanother；　and　ate　each　other　up。

〃That　is　horrible！〃　said　old　Kribble…Krabble。　〃Can　one　notpersuade　them　to　live　in　peace　and　quietness；　so　that　each　one　maymind　his　own　business？〃

And　he　thought　it　over　and　over；　but　it　would　not　do；　and　so　hehad　recourse　to　magic。

〃I　must　give　them　color；　that　they　may　be　seen　more　plainly；〃　saidhe；　and　he　poured　something　like　a　little　drop　of　red　wine　into　thedrop　of　water；　but　it　was　witches'　blood　from　the　lobes　of　the　ear；the　finest　kind；　at　ninepence　a　drop。　And　now　the　wonderful　littlecreatures　were　pink　all　over。　It　looked　like　a　whole　town　of　nakedwild　men。

〃What　have　you　there？〃　asked　another　old　magician；　who　had　noname…　and　that　was　the　best　thing　about　him。

〃Yes；　if　you　can　guess　what　it　is；〃　said　Kribble…Krabble；　〃I'llmake　you　a　present　of　it。〃

But　it　is　not　so　easy　to　find　out　if　one　does　not　know。

And　the　magician　who　had　no　name　looked　through　themagnifying…glass。

It　looked　really　like　a　great　town　reflected　there；　in　which　allthe　people　were　running　about　without　clothes。　It　was　terrible！　But　itwas　still　more　terrible　to　see　how　one　beat　and　pushed　the　other；and　bit　and　hacked；　and　tugged　and　mauled　him。　Those　at　the　top　werebeing　pulled　down；　and　those　at　the　bottom　were　struggling　upwards。

〃Look！　look！　his　leg　is　longer　than　mine！　Bah！　Away　with　it！　Thereis　one　who　has　a　little　bruise。　It　hurts　him；　but　it　shall　hurt　himstill　more。〃

And　they　hacked　away　at　him；　and　they　pulled　at　him；　and　ate　himup；　because　of　the　little　bruise。　And　there　was　one　sitting　as　stillas　any　little　maiden；　and　wishing　only　for　peace　and　quietness。　Butnow　she　had　to　e　out；　and　they　tugged　at　her；　and　pulled　her　about；and　ate　her　up。

〃That's　funny！〃　said　the　magician。

〃Yes；　but　what　do　you　think　it　is？〃　said　Kribble…Krabble。　〃Can　youfind　that　out？〃

〃Why；　one　can　see　that　easily　enough；〃　said　the　other。　〃That's　Paris；or　some　other　great　city；　for　they're　all　alike。　It's　a　great　city！〃

〃It's　a　drop　of　puddle　water！〃　said　Kribble…Krabble。

　THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　THE　DRYAD

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

WE　are　travelling　to　Paris　to　the　Exhibition。

Now　we　are　there。　That　was　a　journey；　a　flight　without　magic。　Weflew　on　the　wings　of　steam　over　the　sea　and　across　the　land。

Yes；　our　time　is　the　time　of　fairy　tales。

We　are　in　the　midst　of　Paris；　in　a　great　hotel。　Blooming　flowersornament　the　staircases；　and　soft　carpets　the　floors。

Our　room　is　a　very　cosy　one；　and　through　the　open　balcony　doorwe　have　a　view　of　a　great　square。　Spring　lives　down　there；　it　has　eto　Paris；　and　arrived　at　the　same　time　with　us。　It　has　e　in　theshape　of　a　glorious　young　chestnut　tree；　with　delicate　leaves　newlyopened。　How　the　tree　gleams；　dressed　in　its　spring　garb；　before　allthe　other　trees　in　the　place！　One　of　these　latter　had　been　struckout　of　the　list　of　living　trees。　It　lies　on　the　ground　with　rootsexposed。　On　the　place　where　it　stood；　the　young　chestnut　tree　is　to　beplanted；　and　to　flourish。

It　still　stands　towering　aloft　on　the　heavy　wagon　which　hasbrought　it　this　morning　a　distance　of　several　miles　to　Paris。　Foryears　it　had　stood　there；　in　the　protection　of　a　mighty　oak　tree；under　which　the　old　venerable　clergyman　had　often　sat；　with　childrenlistening　to　his　stories。

The　young　chestnut　tree　had　also　listened　to　the　stories；　forthe　Dryad　who　lived　in　it　was　a　child　also。　She　remembered　the　timewhen　the　tree　was　so　little　that　it　only　projected　a　short　way　abovethe　grass　and　ferns　around。　These　were　as　tall　as　they　would　everbe；　but　the　tree　grew　every　year；　and　enjoyed　the　air　and　thesunshine；　and　drank　the　dew　and　the　rain。　Several　times　it　was　also；as　it　must　be；　well　shaken　by　the　wind　and　the　rain；　for　that　is　apart　of　education。

The　Dryad　rejoiced　in　her　life；　and　rejoiced　in　the　sunshine；and　the　singing　of　the　birds；　but　she　was　most　rejoiced　at　humanvoices；　she　understood　the　language　of　men　as　well　as　she　understoodthat　of　animals。

Butterflies；　cockchafers；　dragon…flies；　everything　that　couldfly　came　to　pay　a　visit。　They　could　all　talk。　They　told　of　thevillage；　of　the　vineyard；　of　the　forest；　of　the　old　castle　with　itsparks　and　canals　and　ponds。　Down　in　the　water　dwelt　also　livingbeings；　which；　in　their　way；　could　fly　under　the　water　from　oneplace　to　another…　beings　with　knowledge　and　delineation。　They　saidnothing　at　all；　they　were　so　clever！

And　the　swallow；　who　had　dived；　told　about　the　pretty　littlegoldfish；　of　the　thick　turbot；　the　fat　brill；　and　the　old　carp。　Theswallow　could　describe　all　that　very　well；　but；　〃Self　is　the　man；〃　shesaid。　〃One　ought　to　see　these　things　one's　self。〃　But　how　was　theDryad　ever　to　see　such　beings？　She　was　obliged　to　be　satisfied　withbeing　able　to　look　over　the　beautiful　country　and　see　the　busyindustry　of　men。

It　was　glorious；　but　most　glorious　of　all　when　the　old　clergymansat　under　the　oak　tree　and　talked　of　France；　and　of　the　great　deeds　ofher　sons　and　daughters；　whose　names　will　be　mentioned　withadmiration　through　all　time。

Then　the　Dryad　heard　of　the　shepherd　girl；　Joan　of　Arc；　and　ofCharlotte　Corday；　she　heard　about　Henry　the　Fourth；　and　Napoleon　theFirst；　she　heard　names　whose　echo　sounds　in　the　hearts　of　the　people。

The　village　children　listened　attentively；　and　the　Dryad　no　lessattentively；　s