安徒生童话-第49部分

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e　winked　andblinked；　but　they　could　not　fly　away；　for　their　wings　had　beenpulled　off；　this；　added　to　the　hunger　she　felt；　was　horrible　torture。

〃If　this　lasts　much　longer；〃　she　said；　〃I　shall　not　be　able　tobear　it。〃　But　it　did　last；　and　she　had　to　bear　it；　without　beingable　to　help　herself。

A　tear；　followed　by　many　scalding　tears；　fell　upon　her　head；　androlled　over　her　face　and　neck；　down　to　the　loaf　on　which　she　stood。Who　could　be　weeping　for　Inge？　She　had　a　mother　in　the　world　still；and　the　tears　of　sorrow　which　a　mother　sheds　for　her　child　will　alwaysfind　their　way　to　the　child's　heart；　but　they　often　increase　thetorment　instead　of　being　a　relief。　And　Inge　could　hear　all　that　wassaid　about　her　in　the　world　she　had　left；　and　every　one　seemed　cruelto　her。　The　sin　she　had　mitted　in　treading　on　the　loaf　was　known　onearth；　for　she　had　been　seen　by　the　cowherd　from　the　hill；　when　shewas　crossing　the　marsh　and　had　disappeared。

When　her　mother　wept　and　exclaimed；　〃Ah；　Inge！　what　grief　thouhast　caused　thy　mother〃　she　would　say；　〃Oh　that　I　had　never　been　born！My　mother's　tears　are　useless　now。〃

And　then　the　words　of　the　kind　people　who　had　adopted　her　cameto　her　ears；　when　they　said；　〃Inge　was　a　sinful　girl；　who　did　notvalue　the　gifts　of　God；　but　trampled　them　under　her　feet。〃

〃Ah；〃　thought　Inge；　〃they　should　have　punished　me；　and　drivenall　my　naughty　tempers　out　of　me。〃

A　song　was　made　about　〃The　girl　who　trod　on　a　loaf　to　keep　hershoes　from　being　soiled；〃　and　this　song　was　sung　everywhere。　The　storyof　her　sin　was　also　told　to　the　little　children；　and　they　called　her〃wicked　Inge；〃　and　said　she　was　so　naughty　that　she　ought　to　bepunished。　Inge　heard　all　this；　and　her　heart　became　hardened　andfull　of　bitterness。

But　one　day；　while　hunger　and　grief　were　gnawing　in　her　hollowframe；　she　heard　a　little；　innocent　child；　while　listening　to　the　taleof　the　vain；　haughty　Inge；　burst　into　tears　and　exclaim；　〃But　will　shenever　e　up　again？〃

And　she　heard　the　reply；　〃No；　she　will　never　e　up　again。〃

〃But　if　she　were　to　say　she　was　sorry；　and　ask　pardon；　and　promisenever　to　do　so　again？〃　asked　the　little　one。

〃Yes；　then　she　might　e；　but　she　will　not　beg　pardon；〃　was　theanswer。

〃Oh；　I　wish　she　would！〃　said　the　child；　who　was　quite　unhappyabout　it。　〃I　should　be　so　glad。　I　would　give　up　my　doll　and　all　myplaythings；　if　she　could　only　e　here　again。　Poor　Inge！　it　is　sodreadful　for　her。〃

These　pitying　words　perated　to　Inge's　inmost　heart；　andseemed　to　do　her　good。　It　was　the　first　time　any　one　had　said；　〃PoorInge！〃　without　saying　something　about　her　faults。　A　little　innocentchild　was　weeping；　and　praying　for　mercy　for　her。　It　made　her　feelquite　strange；　and　she　would　gladly　have　wept　herself；　and　it　added　toher　torment　to　find　she　could　not　do　so。　And　while　she　thus　sufferedin　a　place　where　nothing　changed；　years　passed　away　on　earth；　andshe　heard　her　name　less　frequently　mentioned。　But　one　day　a　sighreached　her　ear；　and　the　words；　〃Inge！　Inge！　what　a　grief　thou　hastbeen　to　me！　I　said　it　would　be　so。〃　It　was　the　last　sigh　of　herdying　mother。

After　this；　Inge　heard　her　kind　mistress　say；　〃Ah；　poor　Inge！shall　I　ever　see　thee　again？　Perhaps　I　may；　for　we　know　not　what　mayhappen　in　the　future。〃　But　Inge　knew　right　well　that　her　mistresswould　never　e　to　that　dreadful　place。

Time…passed…　a　long　bitter　time…　then　Inge　heard　her　namepronounced　once　more；　and　saw　what　seemed　two　bright　stars　shiningabove　her。　They　were　two　gentle　eyes　closing　on　earth。　Many　yearshad　passed　since　the　little　girl　had　lamented　and　wept　about　〃poorInge。〃　That　child　was　now　an　old　woman；　whom　God　was　taking　toHimself。　In　the　last　hour　of　existence　the　events　of　a　whole　lifeoften　appear　before　us；　and　this　hour　the　old　woman　remembered　how；when　a　child；　she　had　shed　tears　over　the　story　of　Inge；　and　sheprayed　for　her　now。　As　the　eyes　of　the　old　woman　closed　to　earth；the　eyes　of　the　soul　opened　upon　the　hidden　things　of　eternity；　andthen　she；　in　whose　last　thoughts　Inge　had　been　so　vividly　present；　sawhow　deeply　the　poor　girl　had　sunk。　She　burst　into　tears　at　thesight；　and　in　heaven；　as　she　had　done　when　a　little　child　on　earth；she　wept　and　prayed　for　poor　Inge。　Her　tears　and　her　prayers　echoedthrough　the　dark　void　that　surrounded　the　tormented　captive　soul；and　the　unexpected　mercy　was　obtained　for　it　through　an　angel's　tears。As　in　thought　Inge　seemed　to　act　over　again　every　sin　she　hadmitted　on　earth；　she　trembled；　and　tears　she　had　never　yet　beenable　to　weep　rushed　to　her　eyes。　It　seemed　impossible　that　the　gatesof　mercy　could　ever　be　opened　to　her；　but　while　she　acknowledgedthis　in　deep　penitence；　a　beam　of　radiant　light　shot　suddenly　into　thedepths　upon　her。　More　powerful　than　the　sunbeam　that　dissolves　the　manof　snow　which　the　children　have　raised；　more　quickly　than　thesnowflake　melts　and　bees　a　drop　of　water　on　the　warm　lips　of　achild；　was　the　stony　form　of　Inge　changed；　and　as　a　little　bird　shesoared；　with　the　speed　of　lightning；　upward　to　the　world　of　mortals。　Abird　that　felt　timid　and　shy　to　all　things　around　it；　that　seemed　toshrink　with　shame　from　meeting　any　living　creature；　and　hurriedlysought　to　conceal　itself　in　a　dark　corner　of　an　old　ruined　wall；　thereit　sat　cowering　and　unable　to　utter　a　sound；　for　it　was　voiceless。　Yethow　quickly　the　little　bird　discovered　the　beauty　of　everything　aroundit。　The　sweet；　fresh　air；　the　soft　radiance　of　the　moon；　as　itslight　spread　over　the　earth；　the　fragrance　which　exhaled　from　bush　andtree；　made　it　feel　happy　as　it　sat　there　clothed　in　its　fresh；bright　plumage。　All　creation　seemed　to　speak　of　beneficence　andlove。　The　bird　wanted　to　give　utterance　to　thoughts　that　stirred　inhis　breast；　as　the　cuckoo　and　the　nightingale　in　the　spring；　but　itcould　not。　Yet　in　heaven　can　be　heard　the　song　of　praise；　even　froma　worm；　and　the　notes　trembling　in　the　breast　of　the　bird　were　asaudible　to　Heaven　even　as　the　psalms　of　David　before　they　hadfashioned　themselves　into　words　and　song。

Christmas…time　drew　near；　and　a　peasant　who　dwelt　close　by　the　oldwall　stuck　up　a　pole　with　some　ears　of　corn　fastened　to　the　top；that　the　birds　of　heaven　might　have　feast；　and　rejoice　in　the　happy；blessed　time。　And　on　Christmas　morning　the　sun　arose　and　shone　uponthe　ears　of　corn；　which　were　quickly　surrounded　by　a　number　oftwittering　birds。　Then；　from　a　hole　in　the　wall；　gushed　forth　insong　the　swelling　thoughts　of　the　bird　as　he　issued　from　his　hidingplace　to　perform　his　first　good　deed　on　earth；…　and　in　heaven　it　waswell　known　who　that　bird　was。

The　winter　was　very　hard；　the　ponds　were　covered　with　ice；　andthere　was　very　little　food　for　either　the　beasts　of　the　field　or　thebirds　of　the　air。　Our　little　bird　flew　away　into　the　public　roads；　andfound　here　and　there；　in　the　ruts　of　the　sledges；　a　grain　of　corn；　andat　the　halting　places　some　crumbs。　Of　these　he　ate　only　a　few；　buthe　called　around　him　the　other　birds　and　the　hungry　sparrows；　thatthey　too　might　have　food。　He　flew　into　the　towns；　and　looked　about；and　wherever　a　kind　hand　had　strewed　bread　on　the　window…sill　forthe　birds；　he　only　ate　a　single　crumb　himself；　and　gave　all　the　restto　the　rest　of　the　other　birds。　In　the　course　of　the　winter　the　birdhad　in　this　way　collected　many　crumbs　and　given　them　to　other　birds；till　they　equalled　the　weight　of　the　loaf　on　which　Inge　had　trod　tokeep　her　shoes　clean；　and　when　the　last　bread…crumb　had　been　found　andgiven；　the　gray　wings　of　the　bird　became　white；　and　spreadthemselves　out　for　flight。

〃See；　yonder　is　a　sea…gull！〃　cried　the　children；　when　they　saw　thewhite　bird；　as　it　dived　into　the　sea；　and　rose　again　into　the　clearsunlight；　white　and　glittering。　But　no　one　could　tell　whither　itwent　then　although　some　declared　it　flew　straight　to　the　sun。

THE　END。

　　1872

　　THE　GOBLIN　AND　THE　HUCKSTER

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THERE　was　once　a　regular　student；　who　lived　in　a　garret；　and　hadno　possessions。　And　there　was　also　a　regular　huckster；　to　whom　thehouse　belonged；　and　who　occupied　the　ground　floor。　A　goblin　lived　withthe　huckster；　because　at　Christmas　he　always　had　a　large　dish　fullof　jam；　with　a　great　piece　of　butter　in　the　middle。　The　huckster　couldafford　this；　and　therefore　the　goblin　remained　with　the　huckster；which　was　very　cunning　of　him。

One　evening　the　student　came　into　the　shop　through　the　back　doorto　buy　candles　and　cheese　for　himself；　he　had　no　one　to　send；　andtherefore　he　came　himself；　he　obtained　what　he　wished；　and　then　thehuckster　and　his　wife　nodded　good　evening　to　him；　and　she　was　awoman　who　could　do　more　than　merely　nod；　for　she　had　usually　plenty　tosay　for　herself。　The　student　nodded　in　return　as　he　turned　to　leave；then　suddenly　stopped；　and　began　reading　the　piece　of　paper　in　whichthe　cheese　was　wrapped。　It　was　a　leaf　torn　out　of　an　old　book；　abook　that　ought　not　to　have　been　torn　up；　for　it　was　full　of　poetry。

〃Yonder　lies　some　more　of　the　same　sort；〃　said　the　huckster：　〃Igave　an　old　woman　a　few　coffee　berries　for　it；　you　shall　have　the　restfor　sixpence；　if　you　will。〃

〃Indeed　I　will；〃　said　the　student；　〃give　me　the　book　instead　ofthe　cheese；　I　can　eat　my　bread　and　butter　without　cheese。　It　wouldbe　a　sin　to　tear　up　a　book　like　this。　You　are　a　clever　man；　and　apractical　man；　but　you　understand　no　more　about　poetry　than　thatcask　yonder。〃

This　was　a　very　rude　speech；　especially　against　the　cask；　butthe　huckster　and　the　student　both　laughed；　for　it　was　only　said　infun。　But　the　goblin　felt　very　angry　that　any　man　should　venture　to　saysuch　things　to　a　huckster　who　was　a　householder　and　sold　the　bestbutter。　As　soon　as　it　was　night；　and　the　shop　closed；　and　every　one　inbed　except　the　student；　the　goblin　stepped　softly　into　the　bedroomwhere　the　huckster's　wife　slept；　and　took　away　her　tongue；　which　ofcourse；　she　did　not　then　want。　Whatever　object　in　the　room　he　placedhis　tongue　upon　immediately　received　voice　and　speech；　and　was　able　toexpress　its　thoughts　and　feelings　as　readily　as　the　lady　herself　coulddo。　It　could　only　be　used　by　one　object　at　a　time；　which　was　a　goodthing；　as　a　number　speaking　at　once　would　have　caused　great　confusion。The　goblin　laid　the　tongue　upon　the　cask；　in　which　lay　a　quantity　ofold　newspapers。

〃Is　it　really　true；〃　he　asked；　that　you　do　not　know　what　poetryis？〃

〃Of　course　I　know；〃　replied　the　cask：　〃poetry　is　something　thatalways　stand　in　the　corner　of　a　newspaper；　and　is　sometimes　cut　out；and　I　may　venture　to　affirm　that　I　have　more　of　it　in　me　than　thestudent　has；　and　I　am　only　a　poor　tub　of　the　huckster's。〃

Then　the　goblin　placed　the　tongue　on　the　coffee　mill；　and　how　itdid　go　to　be　sure！　Then　he　put　it　on　the　butter　tub　and　the　cashbox；　and　they　all　expressed　the　same　opinion　as　the　waste…paper　tub；and　a　majority　must　always　be　respected。

〃Now　I　shall　go　and　tell　the　student；〃　said　the　goblin；　and　withthese　words　he　went　quietly　up　the　back　stairs　to　the　garret　where　thestudent　lived。　He　had　a　candle　burning　still；　and　the　goblin　peepedthrough　the　keyhole　and　saw　that　he　was　reading　in　the　torn　book；which　he　had　brought　out　of　the　shop。　But　how　light　the　room　was！　Fromthe　book　shot　forth　a　ray　of　light　which　grew　broad　and　full；　like　thestem　of　a　tree；　from　which　bright　rays　spread　upward　and　over　thestudent's　head。　Each　leaf　was　fresh；　and　each　flower　was　like　abeautiful　female　head；　some　with　dark　and　sparkling　eyes；　and　otherswith　eyes　that　were　wonderfully　blue　and　clear。　The　fruit　gleamed　likestars；　and　the　room　was　filled　with　sounds　of　beautiful　music。　Thelittle　goblin　had　never　imagined；　much　less　seen　or　heard　of；　anysight　so　glorious　as　this。　He　stood　still　on　tiptoe；　peeping　in；till　the　light　went　out　in　the　garret。　The　student　no　doubt　hadblown　out　his　candle　and　gone　to　bed；　but　the　little　goblin　remainedstanding　there　nevertheless；　and　listening　to　the　music　which　stillsounded　on；　soft　and　beautiful；　a　sweet　cradle…song　for　the　student；who　had　lain　down　to　rest。〃

〃This　is　a　wonderful　place；〃　said　the　goblin；　〃I　never　expectedsuch　a　thing。　I　should　like　to　stay　here　with　the　student；〃　and　thelittle　man　thought　it　over；　for　he　was　a　sensible　little　spirit。　Atlast　he　sighed；　〃but　the　student　has　no　jam！〃　So　he　went　down　stairsagain　into　the　huckster's　shop；　and　it　was　a　good　thing　he　got　backwhen　he　did；　for　the　cask　had　almost　worn　out　the　lady's　tongue；　hehad　given　a　description　of　all　that　he　contained　on　one　side；　andwas　just　about　to　turn　himself　over　to　the　other　side　to　describe　whatwas　there；　when　the　goblin　entered　and　restored　the　tongue　to　thelady。　But　from　that　time　forward；　the　whole　shop；　from　the　cash　boxdown　to　the　pinewood　logs；　formed　their　opinions　from　that　of　thecask；　and　they　all　had　such　confidence　in　him；　and　treated　him　with　somuch　respect；　that　when　the　huckster　read　the　criticisms　ontheatricals　and　art　of　an　evening；　they　fancied　it　must　all　efrom　the　cask。

But　after　what　he　had　seen；　the　goblin　could　no　longer　sit　andlisten　quietly　to　the　wisdom　and　understanding　down　stairs；　so；　assoon　as　the　evening　light　glimmered　in　the　garret；　he　took　courage；for　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　the　rays　of　light　were　strong　cables；drawing　him　up；　and　obliging　him　to　go　and　peep　through　the　keyhole；and；　while　there；　a　feeling　of　vastness　came　over　him　such　as　weexperience　by　the　ever…moving　sea；　when　the　storm　breaks　forth；　and　itbrought　tears　into　his　eyes。　He　did　not　himself　know　why　he　wept；yet　a　kind　of　pleasant　feeling　mingled　with　his　tears。　〃Howwonderfully　glorious　it　would　be　to　sit　with　the　student　under　sucha　tree；〃　but　that　was　out　of　the　question；　he　must　be　content　tolook　through　the　keyhole；　and　be　thankful　for　even　that。

There　he　stood　on　the　old　landing；　with　the　autumn　wind　blowingdown　upon　him　through　the　trap…door。　It　was　very　cold；　but　thelittle　creature　did　not　really　feel　it；　till　the　light　in　the　garretwent　out；　and　the　tones　of　music　died　away。　Then　how　he　shivered；and　crept　down　stairs　again　to　his　warm　corner；　where　it　felthome…like　and　fortable。　And　when　Christmas　came　again；　andbrought　the　dish　of　jam　and　the　great　lump　of　butter；　he　liked　thehuckster　best　of　all。

Soon　after；　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　the　goblin　was　awoke　bya　terrible　noise　and　knocking　against　the　window　shutters　and　thehouse　doors；　and　by　the　sound　of　the　watchman's　horn；　for　a　great　firehad　broken　out；　and　the　whole　street　appeared　full　of　flames。　Was　itin　their　house；　or　a　neighbor's？　No　one　could　tell；　for　terror　hadseized　upon　all。　The　huckster's　wife　was　so　bewildered　that　she　tookher　gold　ear…rings　out　of　her　ears　and　put　them　in　her　pocket；　thatshe　might　save　something　at　least。　The　huckster　ran　to　get　hisbusiness　papers；　and　the　servant　resolved　to　save　her　blue　silkmantle；　which　she　had　managed　to　buy。　Each　wished　to　keep　the　bestthings　they　had。　The　goblin　had　the　same　wish；　for；　with　one　spring；he　was　up　stairs　and　in　the　student's　room；　whom　he　found　standingby　the　open　window；　and　looking　quite　calmly　at　the　fire；　which　wasraging　at　the　house　of　a　neighbor　opposite。　The　goblin　caught　up　thewonderful　book　which　lay　on　the　table；　and　popped　it　into　his　red　cap；which　he　held　tightly　with　both　hands。　The　greatest　treasure　in　thehouse　was　saved；　and　he　ran　away　with　it　to　the　roof；　and　seatedhimself　on　the　chimney。　The　flames　of　the　burning　house　oppositeilluminated　him　as　he　sat；　both　hands　pressed　tightly　over　his　cap；　inwhich　the　treasure　lay