安徒生童话-第52部分

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ing　the　Muscovitelanguage。　Never　before　had　he　been　in　such　rough　and　vulgar　pany。〃One　might　believe　that　the　country　was　going　back　to　heathenism；〃he　observed。　〃This　is　the　most　terrible　moment　of　my　life。〃

Just　then　it　came　into　his　mind　that　he　would　stoop　under　thetable；　and　so　creep　to　the　door。　He　tried　it；　but　before　he　reachedthe　entry；　the　rest　discovered　what　he　was　about；　and　seized　him　bythe　feet；　when；　luckily　for　him；　off　came　the　goloshes；　and　withthem　vanished　the　whole　enchantment。　The　counsellor　now　saw　quiteplainly　a　lamp；　and　a　large　building　behind　it；　everything　lookedfamiliar　and　beautiful。　He　was　in　East　Street；　as　it　now　appears；　helay　with　his　legs　turned　towards　a　porch；　and　just　by　him　sat　thewatchman　asleep。

〃Is　it　possible　that　I　have　been　lying　here　in　the　streetdreaming？〃　said　he。　〃Yes；　this　is　East　Street；　how　beautifullybright　and　gay　it　looks！　It　is　quite　shocking　that　one　glass　ofpunch　should　have　upset　me　like　this。〃

Two　minutes　afterwards　he　sat　in　a　droschky；　which　was　to　drivehim　to　Christian's　Haven。　He　thought　of　all　the　terror　and　anxietywhich　he　had　undergone；　and　felt　thankful　from　his　heart　for　thereality　and　fort　of　modern　times；　which；　with　all　their　errors；were　far　better　than　those　in　which　he　so　lately　found　himself。

　　THE　WATCHMAN'S　ADVENTURES

〃Well；　I　declare；　there　lies　a　pair　of　goloshes；〃　said　thewatchman。　〃No　doubt；　they　belong　to　the　lieutenant　who　lives　upstairs。　They　are　lying　just　by　his　door。〃　Gladly　would　the　honestman　have　rung；　and　given　them　in；　for　a　light　was　still　burning；　buthe　did　not　wish　to　disturb　the　other　people　in　the　house；　so　he　letthem　lie。　〃These　things　must　keep　the　feet　very　warm；〃　said　he；〃they　are　of　such　nice　soft　leather。〃　Then　he　tried　them　on；　andthey　fitted　his　feet　exactly。　〃Now；〃　said　he；　〃how　droll　things　are　inthis　world！　There's　that　man　can　lie　down　in　his　warm　bed；　but　he　doesnot　do　so。　There　he　goes　pacing　up　and　down　the　room。　He　ought　to　be　ahappy　man。　He　has　neither　wife　nor　children；　and　he　goes　out　intopany　every　evening。　Oh；　I　wish　I　were　he；　then　I　should　be　ahappy　man。〃

As　he　uttered　this　wish；　the　goloshes　which　he　had　put　on　tookeffect；　and　the　watchman　at　once　became　the　lieutenant。　There　he　stoodin　his　room；　holding　a　little　piece　of　pink　paper　between　his　fingers；on　which　was　a　poem；…　a　poem　written　by　the　lieutenant　himself。　Whohas　not　had；　for　once　in　his　life；　a　moment　of　poetic　inspiration？　andat　such　a　moment；　if　the　thoughts　are　written　down；　they　flow　inpoetry。　The　following　verses　were　written　on　the　pink　paper：…

　〃OH　WERE　I　RICH！

〃Oh　were　I　rich！　How　oft；　in　youth's　bright　hour；

　　When　youthful　pleasures　banish　every　care；

I　longed　for　riches　but　to　gain　a　power；

The　sword　and　plume　and　uniform　to　wear！

The　riches　and　the　honor　came　for　me；

Yet　still　my　greatest　wealth　was　poverty：

Ah；　help　and　pity　me！

〃Once　in　my　youthful　hours；　when　gay　and　free；

　　A　maiden　loved　me；　and　her　gentle　kiss；

Rich　in　its　tender　love　and　purity；

　　Taught　me；　alas！　too　much　of　earthly　bliss。

Dear　child！　She　only　thought　of　youthful　glee；

　　She　loved　no　wealth；　but　fairy　tales　and　me。

　　Thou　knowest：　ah；　pity　me！

　〃Oh　were　I　rich！　again　is　all　my　prayer：

　　　That　child　is　now　a　woman；　fair　and　free；

　As　good　and　beautiful　as　angels　are。

　　　Oh；　were　I　rich　in　lovers'　poetry；

　To　tell　my　fairy　tale；　love's　richest　lore！

　　But　no；　I　must　be　silent…　I　am　poor。

　　Ah；　wilt　thou　pity　me？

〃Oh　were　I　rich　in　truth　and　peace　below；

　　I　need　not　then　my　poverty　bewail。

To　thee　I　dedicate　these　lines　of　woe；

　　Wilt　thou　not　understand　the　mournful　tale？

A　leaf　on　which　my　sorrows　I　relate…

　　Dark　story　of　a　darker　night　of　fate。

　　　Ah；　bless　and　pity　me！〃

〃Well；　yes；　people　write　poems　when　they　are　in　love；　but　a　wiseman　will　not　print　them。　A　lieutenant　in　love；　and　poor。　This　is　atriangle；　or　more　properly　speaking；　the　half　of　the　broken　die　offortune。〃　The　lieutenant　felt　this　very　keenly；　and　therefore　leanedhis　head　against　the　window…frame；　and　sighed　deeply。　〃The　poorwatchman　in　the　street；〃　said　he；　〃is　far　happier　than　I　am。　Heknows　not　what　I　call　poverty。　He　has　a　home；　a　wife　and　children；　whoweep　at　his　sorrow　and　rejoice　at　his　joy。　Oh；　how　much　happier　Ishould　be　could　I　change　my　being　and　position　with　him；　and　passthrough　life　with　his　humble　expectations　and　hopes！　Yes；　he　is　indeedhappier　than　I　am。〃

At　this　moment　the　watchman　again　became　a　watchman；　for　having；through　the　goloshes　of　Fortune；　passed　into　the　existence　of　thelieutenant；　and　found　himself　less　contented　than　he　expected；　hehad　preferred　his　former　condition；　and　wished　himself　again　awatchman。　〃That　was　an　ugly　dream；〃　said　he；　〃but　droll　enough。　Itseemed　to　me　as　if　I　were　the　lieutenant　up　yonder；　but　there　was　nohappiness　for　me。　I　missed　my　wife　and　the　little　ones；　who　are　alwaysready　to　smother　me　with　kisses。〃　He　sat　down　again　and　nodded；　but　hecould　not　get　the　dream　out　of　his　thoughts；　and　he　still　had　thegoloshes　on　his　feet。　A　falling　star　gleamed　across　the　sky。　〃Theregoes　one！〃　cried　he。　〃However；　there　are　quite　enough　left；　I　shouldvery　much　like　to　examine　these　a　little　nearer；　especially　themoon；　for　that　could　not　slip　away　under　one's　hands。　The　student；　forwhom　my　wife　washes；　says　that　when　we　die　we　shall　fly　from　onestar　to　another。　If　that　were　true；　it　would　be　very　delightful；　but　Idon't　believe　it。　I　wish　I　could　make　a　little　spring　up　there　now；I　would　willingly　let　my　body　lie　here　on　the　steps。〃

There　are　certain　things　in　the　world　which　should　be　uttered　verycautiously；　doubly　so　when　the　speaker　has　on　his　feet　the　goloshes　ofFortune。　Now　we　shall　hear　what　happened　to　the　watchman。

Nearly　every　one　is　acquainted　with　the　great　power　of　steam；　wehave　proved　it　by　the　rapidity　with　which　we　can　travel；　both　on　arailroad　or　in　a　steamship　across　the　sea。　But　this　speed　is　likethe　movements　of　the　sloth；　or　the　crawling　march　of　the　snail；　whenpared　to　the　swiftness　with　which　light　travels；　light　fliesnieen　million　times　faster　than　the　fleetest　race…horse；　andelectricity　is　more　rapid　still。　Death　is　an　electric　shock　which　wereceive　in　our　hearts；　and　on　the　wings　of　electricity　the　liberatedsoul　flies　away　swiftly；　the　light　from　the　sun　travels　to　our　earthniy…five　millions　of　miles　in　eight　minutes　and　a　few　seconds；but　on　the　wings　of　electricity；　the　mind　requires　only　a　second　toacplish　the　same　distance。　The　space　between　the　heavenly　bodiesis；　to　thought；　no　farther　than　the　distance　which　we　may　have　to　walkfrom　one　friend's　house　to　another　in　the　same　town；　yet　this　electricshock　obliges　us　to　use　our　bodies　here　below；　unless；　like　thewatchman；　we　have　on　the　goloshes　of　Fortune。

In　a　very　few　seconds　the　watchman　had　travelled　more　than　twohundred　thousand　miles　to　the　moon；　which　is　formed　of　a　lightermaterial　than　our　earth；　and　may　be　said　to　be　as　soft　as　new　fallensnow。　He　found　himself　on　one　of　the　circular　range　of　mountains　whichwe　see　represented　in　Dr。　Madler's　large　map　of　the　moon。　The　interiorhad　the　appearance　of　a　large　hollow；　bowl…shaped；　with　a　depthabout　half　a　mile　from　the　brim。　Within　this　hollow　stood　a　largetown；　we　may　form　some　idea　of　its　appearance　by　pouring　the　whiteof　an　egg　into　a　glass　of　water。　The　materials　of　which　it　was　builtseemed　just　as　soft；　and　pictured　forth　cloudy　turrets　and　sail…liketerraces；　quite　transparent；　and　floating　in　the　thin　air。　Our　earthhung　over　his　head　like　a　great　dark　red　ball。　Presently　he　discovereda　number　of　beings；　which　might　certainly　be　called　men；　but　were　verydifferent　to　ourselves。　A　more　fantastical　imagination　than　Herschel'smust　have　discovered　these。　Had　they　been　placed　in　groups；　andpainted；　it　might　have　been　said；　〃What　beautiful　foliage！〃　They　hadalso　a　language　of　their　own。　No　one　could　have　expected　the　soul　ofthe　watchman　to　understand　it；　and　yet　he　did　understand　it；　for　oursouls　have　much　greater　capabilities　then　we　are　inclined　tobelieve。　Do　we　not；　in　our　dreams；　show　a　wonderful　dramatic　talent？each　of　our　acquaintance　appears　to　us　then　in　his　own　character；and　with　his　own　voice；　no　man　could　thus　imitate　them　in　his　wakinghours。　How　clearly；　too；　we　are　reminded　of　persons　whom　we　have　notseen　for　many　years；　they　start　up　suddenly　to　the　mind's　eye　with　alltheir　peculiarities　as　living　realities。　In　fact；　this　memory　of　thesoul　is　a　fearful　thing；　every　sin；　every　sinful　thought　it　canbring　back；　and　we　may　well　ask　how　we　are　to　give　account　of　〃everyidle　word〃　that　may　have　been　whispered　in　the　heart　or　uttered　withthe　lips。　The　spirit　of　the　watchman　therefore　understood　very　wellthe　language　of　the　inhabitants　of　the　moon。　They　were　disputing　aboutour　earth；　and　doubted　whether　it　could　be　inhabited。　Theatmosphere；　they　asserted；　must　be　too　dense　for　any　inhabitants　ofthe　moon　to　exist　there。　They　maintained　that　the　moon　alone　wasinhabited；　and　was　really　the　heavenly　body　in　which　the　old　worldpeople　lived。　They　likewise　talked　politics。

But　now　we　will　descend　to　East　Street；　and　see　what　happened　tothe　watchman's　body。　He　sat　lifeless　on　the　steps。　His　staff　hadfallen　out　of　his　hand；　and　his　eyes　stared　at　the　moon；　about　whichhis　honest　soul　was　wandering。

〃What　is　it　o'clock；　watchman？〃　inquired　a　passenger。　But　therewas　no　answer　from　the　watchman。

The　man　then　pulled　his　nose　gently；　which　caused　him　to　losehis　balance。　The　body　fell　forward；　and　lay　at　full　length　on　theground　as　one　dead。

All　his　rades　were　very　much　frightened；　for　he　seemed　quitedead；　still　they　allowed　him　to　remain　after　they　had　given　noticeof　what　had　happened；　and　at　dawn　the　body　was　carried　to　thehospital。　We　might　imagine　it　to　be　no　jesting　matter　if　the　soul　ofthe　man　should　chance　to　return　to　him；　for　most　probably　it　wouldseek　for　the　body　in　East　Street　without　being　able　to　find　it。　Wemight　fancy　the　soul　inquiring　of　the　police；　or　at　the　addressoffice；　or　among　the　missing　parcels；　and　then　at　length　finding　it　atthe　hospital。　But　we　may　fort　ourselves　by　the　certainty　that　thesoul；　when　acting　upon　its　own　impulses；　is　wiser　than　we　are；　it　isthe　body　that　makes　it　stupid。

As　we　have　said；　the　watchman's　body　had　been　taken　to　thehospital；　and　here　it　was　placed　in　a　room　to　be　washed。　Naturally；the　first　thing　done　here　was　to　take　off　the　goloshes；　upon　which　thesoul　was　instantly　obliged　to　return；　and　it　took　the　direct　road　tothe　body　at　once；　and　in　a　few　seconds　the　man's　life　returned　to　him。He　declared；　when　he　quite　recovered　himself；　that　this　had　been　themost　dreadful　night　he　had　ever　passed；　not　for　a　hundred　pounds　wouldhe　go　through　such　feelings　again。　However；　it　was　all　over　now。

The　same　day　he　was　allowed　to　leave；　but　the　goloshes　remained　atthe　hospital。

THE　EVENTFUL　MOMENT　…　A　MOST　UNUSUAL　JOURNEY

Every　inhabitant　of　Copenhagen　knows　what　the　entrance　toFrederick's　Hospital　is　like；　but　as　most　probably　a　few　of　thosewho　read　this　little　tale　may　not　reside　in　Copenhagen；　we　will　give　ashort　description　of　it。

The　hospital　is　separated　from　the　street　by　an　iron　railing；　inwhich　the　bars　stand　so　wide　apart　that；　it　is　said；　some　very　slimpatients　have　squeezed　through；　and　gone　to　pay　little　visits　in　thetown。　The　most　difficult　part　of　the　body　to　get　through　was　the　head；and　in　this　case；　as　it　often　happens　in　the　world；　the　small　headswere　the　most　fortunate。　This　will　serve　as　sufficient　introduction　toour　tale。　One　of　the　young　volunteers；　of　whom；　physically　speaking；it　might　be　said　that　he　had　a　great　head；　was　on　guard　that　eveningat　the　hospital。　The　rain　was　pouring　down；　yet；　in　spite　of　these　twoobstacles；　he　wanted　to　go　out　just　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　it　wasnot　worth　while；　he　thought；　to　make　a　confidant　of　the　porter；　ashe　could　easily　slip　through　the　iron　railings。　There　lay　thegoloshes；　which　the　watchman　had　forgotten。　It　never　occurred　to　himthat　these　could　be　goloshes　of　Fortune。　They　would　be　veryserviceable　to　him　in　this　rainy　weather；　so　he　drew　them　on。　Now　camethe　question　whether　he　could　squeeze　through　the　palings；　hecertainly　had　never　tried；　so　he　stood　looking　at　them。　〃I　wish　togoodness　my　head　was　through；〃　said　he；　and　instantly；　though　it　wasso　thick　and　large；　it　slipped　through　quite　easily。　The　goloshesanswered　that　purpose　very　well；　but　his　body　had　to　follow；　andthis　was　impossible。　〃I　am　too　fat；〃　he　said；　〃I　thought　my　head　wouldbe　the　worst；　but　I　cannot　get　my　body　through；　that　is　certain。〃　Thenhe　tried　to　pull　his　head　back　again；　but　without　success；　he　couldmove　his　neck　about　easily　enough；　and　that　was　all。　His　first　feelingwas　one　of　anger；　and　then　his　spirits　sank　below　zero。　The　goloshesof　Fortune　had　placed　him　in　this　terrible　position；　and　unfortunatelyit　never　occurred　to　him　to　wish　himself　free。　No；　instead　ofwishing　he　kept　twisting　about；　yet　did　not　stir　from　the　spot。　Therain　poured；　and　not　a　creature　could　be　seen　in　the　street。　Theporter's　bell　he　was　unable　to　reach；　and　however　was　he　to　get　loose！He　foresaw　that　he　should　have　to　stay　there　till　morning；　and　thenthey　must　send　for　a　smith　to　file　away　the　iron　bars；　and　thatwould　be　a　work　of　time。　All　the　charity　children　would　just　begoing　to　school：　and　all　the　sailors　who　inhabited　that　quarter　of　thetown　would　be　there　to　see　him　standing　in　the　pillory。　What　a　crowdthere　would　be。　〃Ha；〃　he　cried；　〃the　blood　is　rushing　to　my　head；and　I　shall　go　mad。　I　believe　I　am　crazy　already；　oh；　I　wish　I　werefree；　then　all　these　sensations　would　pass　off。〃　This　is　just　whathe　ought　to　have　said　at　first。　The　moment　he　had　expressed　thethought　his　head　was　free。　He　started　back；　quite　bewildered　withthe　fright　which　the　goloshes　of　Fortune　had　caused　him。　But　we　mustnot　suppose　it　was　all　over；　no；　indeed；　there　was　worse　to　eyet。　The　night　passed；　and　the　whole　of　the　following　day；　but　noone　sent　for　the　goloshes。　In　the　evening　a　declamatory　performancewas　to　take　place　at　the　amateur　theatre　in　a　distant　street。　Thehouse　was　crowded；　among　the　audience　was　the　young　volunteer　from　thehospital；　who　seemed　to　have　quite　forgotten　his　adventures　of　theprevious　evening。　He　had　on　the　goloshes；　they　had　not　been　sentfor；　and　as　the　streets　were　still　very　dirty；　they　were　of　greatservice　to　him。　A　new　poem；　entitled　〃My　Aunt's　Spectacles；〃　was　beingrecited。　It　described　these　spectacles　as　possessing　a　wonderfulpower；　if　any　one　put　them　on　in　a　large　assembly　the　peopleappeared　like　cards；　and　the　future　events　of　ensuing　years　could　beeasily　foretold　by　them。　The　idea　struck　him　that　he　should　verymuch　like　to　have　such　a　pair　of　spectacles；　for；　if　used　rightly；they　would　perhaps　enable　him　to　see　into　the　hearts　of　people；which　he　thought　would　be　more　interesting　than　to　know　what　was　goingto　happen　next　year；　for　future　events　would　be　sure　to　showthemselves；　but　the　hearts　of　people　never。　〃I　can　fancy　what　I　shouldsee　in　the　whole　row　of　ladies　and　gentlemen　on　the　first　seat；　if　Icould　only　look　into　their　hearts；　that　lady；　I　imagine；　keeps　a　storefor　things　of　all　descriptions；　how　my　eyes　would　wander　about　in　thatcollection；　with　many　ladies　I　should　no　doubt　find　a　largemillinery　establishment。　There　is　another　that　is　perhaps　empty；　and