安徒生童话-第76部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


estioned　him；　and；in　broken　sentences；　he　soon　heard　the　whole　story；　and　also　about　theMetal　Pig；　and　the　wonderful　ride　to　the　picture…gallery；　which　wascertainly　rather　inprehensible。　The　painter；　however；　consoledthe　little　fellow；　and　tried　to　soften　the　lady's　anger；　but　she　wouldnot　be　pacified　till　her　husband　returned　with　Bellissima；　who　hadbeen　with　the　police。　Then　there　was　great　rejoicing；　and　thepainter　caressed　the　boy；　and　gave　him　a　number　of　pictures。　Oh；what　beautiful　pictures　these　were！…　figures　with　funny　heads；　and；above　all；　the　Metal　Pig　was　there　too。　Oh；　nothing　could　be　moredelightful。　By　means　of　a　few　strokes；　it　was　made　to　appear　on　thepaper；　and　even　the　house　that　stood　behind　it　had　been　sketched　in。Oh；　if　he　could　only　draw　and　paint！　He　who　could　do　this　couldconjure　all　the　world　before　him。　The　first　leisure　moment　duringthe　next　day；　the　boy　got　a　pencil；　and　on　the　back　of　one　of　theother　drawings　he　attempted　to　copy　the　drawing　of　the　Metal　Pig；and　he　succeeded。　Certainly　it　was　rather　crooked；　rather　up　and　down；one　leg　thick；　and　another　thin；　still　it　was　like　the　copy；　and　hewas　overjoyed　at　what　he　had　done。　The　pencil　would　not　go　quite　as　itought；…　he　had　found　that　out；　but　the　next　day　he　tried　again。　Asecond　pig　was　drawn　by　the　side　of　the　first；　and　this　looked　ahundred　times　better；　and　the　third　attempt　was　so　good；　thateverybody　might　know　what　it　was　meant　to　represent。

And　now　the　glovemaking　went　on　but　slowly。　The　orders　given　bythe　shops　in　the　town　were　not　finished　quickly；　for　the　Metal　Pig　hadtaught　the　boy　that　all　objects　may　be　drawn　upon　paper；　andFlorence　is　a　picture…book　in　itself　for　any　one　who　chooses　to　turnover　its　pages。　On　the　Piazza　dell　Trinita　stands　a　slender　pillar；and　upon　it　is　the　goddess　of　Justice；　blindfolded；　with　her　scales　inher　hand。　She　was　soon　represented　on　paper；　and　it　was　theglovemaker's　boy　who　placed　her　there。　His　collection　of　picturesincreased；　but　as　yet　they　were　only　copies　of　lifeless　objects；when　one　day　Bellissima　came　gambolling　before　him：　〃Stand　still；〃cried　he；　〃and　I　will　draw　you　beautifully；　to　put　amongst　mycollection。〃

But　Bellissima　would　not　stand　still；　so　she　must　be　bound　fast　inone　position。　He　tied　her　head　and　tail；　but　she　barked　and　jumped；and　so　pulled　and　tightened　the　string；　that　she　was　nearly　strangled；and　just　then　her　mistress　walked　in。

〃You　wicked　boy！　the　poor　little　creature！〃　was　all　she　couldutter。

She　pushed　the　boy　from　her；　thrust　him　away　with　her　foot；　calledhim　a　most　ungrateful；　good…for…nothing；　wicked　boy；　and　forbade　himto　enter　the　house　again。　Then　she　wept；　and　kissed　her　littlehalf…strangled　Bellissima。　At　this　moment　the　painter　entered　theroom。

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

In　the　year　1834　there　was　an　exhibition　in　the　Academy　of　Arts　atFlorence。　Two　pictures；　placed　side　by　side；　attracted　a　largenumber　of　spectators。　The　smaller　of　the　two　represented　a　littleboy　sitting　at　a　table；　drawing；　before　him　was　a　little　white　poodle；curiously　shaven；　but　as　the　animal　would　not　stand　still；　it　had　beenfastened　with　a　string　to　its　head　and　tail；　to　keep　it　in　oneposition。　The　truthfulness　and　life　in　this　picture　interested　everyone。　The　painter　was　said　to　be　a　young　Florentine；　who　had　been　foundin　the　streets；　when　a　child；　by　an　old　glovemaker；　who　had　broughthim　up。　The　boy　had　taught　himself　to　draw：　it　was　also　said　that　ayoung　artist；　now　famous；　had　discovered　talent　in　the　child　just　ashe　was　about　to　be　sent　away　for　having　tied　up　madame's　favoritelittle　dog；　and　using　it　as　a　model。　The　glovemaker's　boy　had　alsobee　a　great　painter；　as　the　picture　proved；　but　the　largerpicture　by　its　side　was　a　still　greater　proof　of　his　talent。　Itrepresented　a　handsome　boy；　clothed　in　rags；　lying　asleep；　and　leaningagainst　the　Metal　Pig　in　the　street　of　the　Porta　Rosa。　All　thespectators　knew　the　spot　well。　The　child's　arms　were　round　the　neck　ofthe　Pig；　and　he　was　in　a　deep　sleep。　The　lamp　before　the　picture　ofthe　Madonna　threw　a　strong；　effective　light　on　the　pale；　delicate　faceof　the　child。　It　was　a　beautiful　picture。　A　large　gilt　framesurrounded　it；　and　on　one　corner　of　the　frame　a　laurel　wreath　had　beenhung；　but　a　black　band；　twined　unseen　among　the　green　leaves；　and　astreamer　of　crape；　hung　down　from　it；　for　within　the　last　few　days　theyoung　artist　had…　died。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　THE　MONEY…BOX

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

IN　a　nursery　where　a　number　of　toys　lay　scattered　about；　amoney…box　stood　on　the　top　of　a　very　high　wardrobe。　It　was　made　ofclay　in　the　shape　of　a　pig；　and　had　been　bought　of　the　potter。　Inthe　back　of　the　pig　was　a　slit；　and　this　slit　had　been　enlarged　with　aknife；　so　that　dollars；　or　crown　pieces；　might　slip　through；　and；indeed　there　were　two　in　the　box；　besides　a　number　of　pence。　Themoney…pig　was　stuffed　so　full　that　it　could　no　longer　rattle；　which　isthe　highest　state　of　perfection　to　which　a　money…pig　can　attain。　Therehe　stood　upon　the　cupboard；　high　and　lofty；　looking　down　uponeverything　else　in　the　room。　He　knew　very　well　that　he　had　enoughinside　him　to　buy　up　all　the　other　toys；　and　this　gave　him　a　very　goodopinion　of　his　own　value。　The　rest　thought　of　this　fact　also；　althoughthey　did　not　express　it；　for　there　were　so　many　other　things　to　talkabout。　A　large　doll；　still　handsome；　though　rather　old；　for　her　neckhad　been　mended；　lay　inside　one　of　the　drawers　which　was　partlyopen。　She　called　out　to　the　others；　〃Let　us　have　a　game　at　being　menand　women；　that　is　something　worth　playing　at。〃

Upon　this　there　was　a　great　uproar；　even　the　engravings；　whichhung　in　frames　on　the　wall；　turned　round　in　their　excitement；　andshowed　that　they　had　a　wrong　side　to　them；　although　they　had　not　theleast　intention　to　expose　themselves　in　this　way；　or　to　object　tothe　game。　It　was　late　at　night；　but　as　the　moon　shone　through　thewindows；　they　had　light　at　a　cheap　rate。　And　as　the　game　was　now　tobegin；　all　were　invited　to　take　part　in　it；　even　the　children's　wagon；which　certainly　belonged　to　the　coarser　playthings。　〃Each　has　itsown　value；〃　said　the　wagon；　〃we　cannot　all　be　noblemen；　there　mustbe　some　to　do　the　work。〃

The　money…pig　was　the　only　one　who　received　a　writteninvitation。　He　stood　so　high　that　they　were　afraid　he　would　not　accepta　verbal　message。　But　in　his　reply；　he　said；　if　he　had　to　take　a　part；he　must　enjoy　the　sport　from　his　own　home；　they　were　to　arrange　forhim　to　do　so；　and　so　they　did。　The　little　toy　theatre　was　thereforeput　up　in　such　a　way　that　the　money…pig　could　look　directly　into　it。Some　wanted　to　begin　with　a　edy；　and　afterwards　to　have　a　tea　partyand　a　discussion　for　mental　improvement；　but　they　menced　with　thelatter　first。　The　rocking…horse　spoke　of　training　and　races；　the　wagonof　railways　and　steam　power；　for　these　subjects　belonged　to　each　oftheir　professions；　and　it　was　right　they　should　talk　of　them。　Theclock　talked　politics…　〃tick；　tick；〃　he　professed　to　know　what　was　thetime　of　day；　but　there　was　a　whisper　that　he　did　not　go　correctly。　Thebamboo　cane　stood　by；　looking　stiff　and　proud：　he　was　vain　of　hisbrass　ferrule　and　silver　top；　and　on　the　sofa　lay　two　worked　cushions；pretty　but　stupid。　When　the　play　at　the　little　theatre　began；　the　restsat　and　looked　on；　they　were　requested　to　applaud　and　stamp；　or　crack；when　they　felt　gratified　with　what　they　saw。　But　the　riding…whipsaid　he　never　cracked　for　old　people；　only　for　the　young　who　werenot　yet　married。　〃I　crack　for　everybody；〃　said　the　cracker。

〃Yes；　and　a　fine　noise　you　make；〃　thought　the　audience；　as　theplay　went　on。

It　was　not　worth　much；　but　it　was　very　well　played；　and　all　thecharacters　turned　their　painted　sides　to　the　audience；　for　they　weremade　only　to　be　seen　on　one　side。　The　acting　was　wonderful；excepting　that　sometimes　they　came　out　beyond　the　lamps；　because　thewires　were　a　little　too　long。　The　doll；　whose　neck　had　been　darned；was　so　excited　that　the　place　in　her　neck　burst；　and　the　money…pigdeclared　he　must　do　something　for　one　of　the　players；　as　they　hadall　pleased　him　so　much。　So　he　made　up　his　mind　to　remember　one　ofthem　in　his　will；　as　the　one　to　be　buried　with　him　in　the　familyvault；　whenever　that　event　should　happen。　They　all　enjoyed　theedy　so　much；　that　they　gave　up　all　thoughts　of　the　tea　party；　andonly　carried　out　their　idea　of　intellectual　amusement；　which　theycalled　playing　at　men　and　women；　and　there　was　nothing　wrong　about　it；for　it　was　only　play。　All　the　while；　each　one　thought　most　of　himself；or　of　what　the　money…pig　could　be　thinking。　His　thoughts　were　on；　ashe　supposed；　a　very　distant　time…　of　making　his　will；　and　of　hisburial；　and　of　when　it　might　all　e　to　pass。　Certainly　sooner　thanhe　expected…　for　all　at　once　down　he　came　from　the　top　of　the　press；fell　on　the　ground；　and　was　broken　to　pieces。　Then　the　pennieshopped　and　danced　about　in　the　most　amusing　manner。　The　little　onestwirled　round　like　tops；　and　the　large　ones　rolled　away　as　far　as　theycould；　especially　the　one　great　silver　crown　piece　who　had　often　to　goout　into　the　world；　and　now　he　had　his　wish　as　well　as　all　the　rest　ofthe　money。　The　pieces　of　the　money…pig　were　thrown　into　thedust…bin；　and　the　next　day　there　stood　a　new　money…pig　on　thecupboard；　but　it　had　not　a　farthing　in　its　inside　yet；　andtherefore；　like　the　old　one；　it　could　not　rattle。　This　was　thebeginning　with　him；　and　we　will　make　it　the　end　of　our　story。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　THE　NEIGHBOURING　FAMILIES

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

ONE　would　have　thought　that　something　important　was　going　on　inthe　duck…pond；　but　it　was　nothing　after　all。　All　the　ducks　lyingquietly　on　the　water　or　standing　on　their　heads　in　it…　for　theycould　do　that…　at　once　swarm　to　the　sides；　the　traces　of　their　feetwere　seen　in　the　wet　earth；　and　their　cackling　was　heard　far　and　wide。The　water；　which　a　few　moments　before　had　been　as　clear　and　smoothas　a　mirror；　became　very　troubled。　Before；　every　tree；　everyneighbouring　bush；　the　old　farmhouse　with　the　holes　in　the　roof　andthe　swallows'　nest；　and　especially　the　great　rose…bush　full　offlowers；　had　been　reflected　in　it。　The　rose…bush　covered　the　walland　hung　out　over　the　water；　in　which　everything　was　seen　as　if　in　apicture；　except　that　it　all　stood　on　its　head；　but　when　the　waterwas　troubled　everything　got　mixed　up；　and　the　picture　was　gone。　Twofeathers　which　the　fluttering　ducks　had　lost　floated　up　and　down；suddenly　they　took　a　rush　as　if　the　wind　were　ing；　but　as　it　didnot　e　they　had　to　lie　still；　and　the　water　once　more　became　quietand　smooth。　The　roses　were　again　reflected；　they　were　verybeautiful；　but　they　did　not　know　it；　for　no　one　had　told　them。　The　sunshone　among　the　delicate　leaves；　everything　breathed　forth　theloveliest　fragrance；　and　all　felt　as　we　do　when　we　are　filled　with　joyat　the　thought　of　our　happiness。

〃How　beautiful　existence　is！〃　said　each　rose。　〃The　only　thing　thatI　wish　for　is　to　be　able　to　kiss　the　sun；　because　it　is　so　warm　andbright。　I　should　also　like　to　kiss　those　roses　down　in　the　water；which　are　so　much　like　us；　and　the　pretty　little　birds　down　in　thenest。　There　are　some　up　above　too；　they　put　out　their　heads　and　pipesoftly；　they　have　no　feathers　like　their　father　and　mother。　We　havegood　neighbours；　both　below　and　above。　How　beautiful　existence　is！〃

The　young　ones　above　and　below…　those　below　were　really　onlyshadows　in　the　water…　were　sparrows；　their　parents　were　sparrowstoo；　and　had　taken　possession　of　the　empty　swallows'　nest　of　lastyear；　and　now　lived　in　it　as　if　it　were　their　own　property。

〃Are　those　the　duck's　children　swimming　here？〃　asked　the　youngsparrows　when　they　saw　the　feathers　on　the　water。

〃If　you　must　ask　questions；　ask　sensible　ones；〃　said　their　mother。〃Don't　you　see　that　they　are　feathers；　such　as　I　wear　and　you　willwear　too？　But　ours　are　finer。　Still；　I　should　like　to　have　them　upin　the　nest；　for　they　keep　one　warm。　I　am　very　curious　to　know　whatthe　ducks　were　so　startled　about；　not　about　us；　certainly；　althoughI　did　say　'peep'　to　you　pretty　loudly。　The　thick…headed　roses　ought　toknow　why；　but　they　know　nothing　at　all；　they　only　look　at　themselvesand　smell。　I　am　heartily　tired　of　such　neighbours。〃

〃Listen　to　the　dear　little　birds　up　there；〃　said　the　roses；〃they　begin　to　want　to　sing　too；　but　are　not　able　to　manage　it　yet。But　it　will　soon　e。　What　a　pleasure　that　must　be！　It　is　fine　tohave　such　cheerful　neighbours。〃

Suddenly　two　horses　came　galloping　up　to　be　watered。　A　peasant　boyrode　on　one；　and　he　had　taken　off　all　his　clothes　except　his　largebroad　black　hat。　The　boy　whistled　like　a　bird；　and　rode　into　thepond　where　it　was　deepest；　and　as　he　passed　the　rose…bush　he　plucked　arose　and　stuck　it　in　his　hat。　Now　he　looked　dressed；　and　rode　on。The　other　roses　looked　after　their　sister；　and　asked　each　other；〃Where　can　she　be　going　to？〃　But　none　of　them　knew。

〃I　should　like　to　go　out　into　the　world　for　once；〃　said　one；〃but　here　at　home　among　our　green　leaves　it　is　beautiful　too。　Thewhole　day　long　the　sun　shines　bright　and　warm；　and　in　the　night　thesky　shines　more　beautifully　still；　we　can　see　that　through　all　thelittle　holes　in　it。〃

They　meant　the　stars；　but　they　knew　no　better。

〃We　make　it　lively　about　the　house；〃　said　the　sparrow…mother；　〃andpeople　say　that　a　swallows'　nest　brings　luck；　so　they　are　glad　ofus。　But　such　neighbours　as　ours！　A　rose…bush　on　the　wall　like　thatcauses　damp。　I　daresay　it　will　be　taken　away；　then　we　shall；perhaps；　have　some　corn　growing　here。　The　roses　are　good　for　nothingbut　to　be　looked　at　and　to　be　smelt；　or　at　most　to　be　stuck　in　ahat。　Every　year；　as　I　have　been　told　by　my　mother；　they　fall　off。The　farmer's　wife　preserves　them　and　strews　salt　among　them；　then　theyget　a　French　name　which　I　neither　can　pronounce　nor　care　to；　and　areput　into　the　fire　to　make　a　nice　smell。　You　see；　that's　their　life；they　exist　only　for　the　eye　and　the　nose。　Now　you　know。〃

In　the　evening；　when　the　gnats　were　playing　about　in　the　warmair　and　in　the　red　clouds；　the　nightingale　came　and　sang　to　theroses　that　the　beautiful　was　like　sunshine　to　the　world；　and　thatthe　beautiful　lived　for　ever。　The　roses　thought　that　the　nightingalewas　singing　about　itself；　and　that　one　might　easily　have　believed；they　had　no　idea　that　the　song　was　about　them。　But　they　were　verypleased　with　it；　and　wondered　whether　all　the　little　sparrows　couldbee　nightingales。

〃I　understand　the　song　of　that　bird　very　well；〃　said　the　youngsparrows。　〃There　was　only　one　word　that　was　not　clear　to　me。　What　does'the　beautiful'　mean？〃

〃Nothing　at　all；〃　answered　their　mother；　〃that's　only　somethingexternal。　Up　at　the　Hall；　where　the　pigeons　have　their　own　house；and　corn　and　peas　are　strewn　before　them　every　day…　I　have　dinedwith　them　myself；　and　that　you　shall　do　in　time；　too；　for　tell　me　whatpany　you　keep　and　I'll　tell　you　who　you　are…　up　at　the　Hall　theyhave　two　birds　with　green　necks　and　a　crest　upon　their　heads；　they　canspread　out　their　tails　like　a　great　wheel；　and　these　are　so　brightwith　various　colours　that　it　makes　one's　eyes　ache。　These　birds　arecalled　peacocks；　and　that　is　'the　beautiful。'　If　they　were　onlyplucked　a　little　they　would　look　no　better　than　the　rest　of　us。　Iwould　have　plucked　them　already　if　they　had　not　been　so　big。〃

〃I'll　pluck　them；〃　piped　the　young