安徒生童话-第82部分

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And　the　old　man　who　had　spoken　of　all　this　shook　his　headmournfully；　and　said；　〃Forgotten！　Ah；　yes；　everything　will　beforgotten！〃　And　then　the　conversation　turned　on　other　matters。

But　the　youngest　child　in　the　room；　a　boy；　with　large；　earnesteyes；　mounted　upon　a　chair　behind　the　window　curtains；　and　lookedout　into　the　yard；　where　the　moon　was　pouring　a　flood　of　light　onthe　old　gravestone；…　the　stone　that　had　always　appeared　to　him　so　dulland　flat；　but　which　lay　there　now　like　a　great　leaf　out　of　a　book　ofhistory。　All　that　the　boy　had　heard　of　Old　Preben　and　his　wifeseemed　clearly　defined　on　the　stone；　and　as　he　gazed　on　it；　andglanced　at　the　clear；　bright　moon　shining　in　the　pure　air；　it　was　asif　the　light　of　God's　countenance　beamed　over　His　beautiful　world。

〃Forgotten！　Everything　will　be　forgotten！〃　still　echoed　throughthe　room；　and　in　the　same　moment　an　invisible　spirit　whispered　tothe　heart　of　the　boy；　〃Preserve　carefully　the　seed　that　has　beenentrusted　to　thee；　that　it　may　grow　and　thrive。　Guard　it　well。　Throughthee；　my　child；　shall　the　obliterated　inscription　on　the　old；weather…beaten　grave…stone　go　forth　to　future　generations　in　clear；golden　characters。　The　old　pair　shall　again　wander　through　the　streetsarm…in…arm；　or　sit　with　their　fresh；　healthy　cheeks　on　the　bench　underthe　lime…tree；　and　smile　and　nod　at　rich　and　poor。　The　seed　of　thishour　shall　ripen　in　the　course　of　years　into　a　beautiful　poem。　Thebeautiful　and　the　good　are　never　forgotten；　they　live　always　instory　or　in　song。〃

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　THE　OLD　HOUSE

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

A　VERY　old　house　stood　once　in　a　street　with　several　that　werequite　new　and　clean。　The　date　of　its　erection　had　been　carved　on　oneof　the　beams；　and　surrounded　by　scrolls　formed　of　tulips　andhop…tendrils；　by　this　date　it　could　be　seen　that　the　old　house　wasnearly　three　hundred　years　old。　Verses　too　were　written　over　thewindows　in　old…fashioned　letters；　and　grotesque　faces；　curiouslycarved；　grinned　at　you　from　under　the　cornices。　One　story　projecteda　long　way　over　the　other；　and　under　the　roof　ran　a　leaden　gutter；with　a　dragon's　head　at　the　end。　The　rain　was　intended　to　pour　outat　the　dragon's　mouth；　but　it　ran　out　of　his　body　instead；　for　therewas　a　hole　in　the　gutter。　The　other　houses　in　the　street　were　newand　well　built；　with　large　window　panes　and　smooth　walls。　Any　onecould　see　they　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　old　house。　Perhaps　theythought；　〃How　long　will　that　heap　of　rubbish　remain　here　to　be　adisgrace　to　the　whole　street。　The　parapet　projects　so　far　forward　thatno　one　can　see　out　of　our　windows　what　is　going　on　in　thatdirection。　The　stairs　are　as　broad　as　the　staircase　of　a　castle；　andas　steep　as　if　they　led　to　a　church…tower。　The　iron　railing　looks　likethe　gate　of　a　cemetery；　and　there　are　brass　knobs　upon　it。　It　isreally　too　ridiculous。〃

Opposite　to　the　old　house　were　more　nice　new　houses；　which　hadjust　the　same　opinion　as　their　neighbors。

At　the　window　of　one　of　them　sat　a　little　boy　with　fresh　rosycheeks；　and　clear　sparkling　eyes；　who　was　very　fond　of　the　oldhouse；　in　sunshine　or　in　moonlight。　He　would　sit　and　look　at　thewall　from　which　the　plaster　had　in　some　places　fallen　off；　and　fancyall　sorts　of　scenes　which　had　been　in　former　times。　How　the　streetmust　have　looked　when　the　houses　had　all　gable　roofs；　open　staircases；and　gutters　with　dragons　at　the　spout。　He　could　even　see　soldierswalking　about　with　halberds。　Certainly　it　was　a　very　good　house　tolook　at　for　amusement。

An　old　man　lived　in　it；　who　wore　knee…breeches；　a　coat　withlarge　brass　buttons；　and　a　wig；　which　any　one　could　see　was　a　realwig。　Every　morning　an　old　man　came　to　clean　the　rooms；　and　to　waitupon　him；　otherwise　the　old　man　in　the　knee…breeches　would　have　beenquite　alone　in　the　house。　Sometimes　he　came　to　one　of　the　windowsand　looked　out；　then　the　little　boy　nodded　to　him；　and　the　old　mannodded　back　again；　till　they　became　acquainted；　and　were　friends；although　they　had　never　spoken　to　each　other；　but　that　was　of　noconsequence。

The　little　boy　one　day　heard　his　parents　say；　〃The　old　manopposite　is　very　well　off；　but　is　terribly　lonely。〃　The　next　Sundaymorning　the　little　boy　wrapped　something　in　a　piece　of　paper　andtook　it　to　the　door　of　the　old　house；　and　said　to　the　attendant　whowaited　upon　the　old　man；　〃Will　you　please　give　this　from　me　to　thegentleman　who　lives　here；　I　have　two　tin　soldiers；　and　this　is　oneof　them；　and　he　shall　have　it；　because　I　know　he　is　terribly　lonely。〃

And　the　old　attendant　nodded　and　looked　very　pleased；　and　thenhe　carried　the　tin　soldier　into　the　house。

Afterwards　he　was　sent　over　to　ask　the　little　boy　if　he　wouldnot　like　to　pay　a　visit　himself。　His　parents　gave　him　permission；and　so　it　was　that　he　gained　admission　to　the　old　house。

The　brassy　knobs　on　the　railings　shone　more　brightly　than　ever；　asif　they　had　been　polished　on　account　of　his　visit；　and　on　the　doorwere　carved　trumpeters　standing　in　tulips；　and　it　seemed　as　if　theywere　blowing　with　all　their　might；　their　cheeks　were　so　puffed　out。〃Tanta…ra…ra；　the　little　boy　is　ing；　Tanta…ra…ra；　the　little　boy　ising。〃

Then　the　door　opened。　All　round　the　hall　hung　old　portraits　ofknights　in　armor；　and　ladies　in　silk　gowns；　and　the　armor　rattled；　andthe　silk　dresses　rustled。　Then　came　a　staircase　which　went　up　a　longway；　and　then　came　down　a　little　way　and　led　to　a　balcony；　which　wasin　a　very　ruinous　state。　There　were　large　holes　and　long　cracks；　outof　which　grew　grass　and　leaves；　indeed　the　whole　balcony；　thecourtyard；　and　the　walls　were　so　overgrown　with　green　that　they　lookedlike　a　garden。　In　the　balcony　stood　flower…pots；　on　which　were　headshaving　asses'　ears；　but　the　flowers　in　them　grew　just　as　they　pleased。In　one　pot　pinks　were　growing　all　over　the　sides；　at　least　the　greenleaves　were　shooting　forth　stalk　and　stem；　and　saying　as　plainly　asthey　could　speak；　〃The　air　has　fanned　me；　the　sun　has　kissed　me；　and　Iam　promised　a　little　flower　for　next　Sunday…　really　for　next　Sunday。〃

Then　they　entered　a　room　in　which　the　walls　were　covered　withleather；　and　the　leather　had　golden　flowers　stamped　upon　it。

〃Gilding　will　fade　in　damp　weather；

　To　endure；　there　is　nothing　like　leather；〃said　the　walls。　Chairs　handsomely　carved；　with　elbows　on　each　side；and　with　very　high　backs；　stood　in　the　room；　and　as　they　creakedthey　seemed　to　say；　〃Sit　down。　Oh　dear；　how　I　am　creaking。　I　shallcertainly　have　the　gout　like　the　old　cupboard。　Gout　in　my　back；　ugh。〃

And　then　the　little　boy　entered　the　room　where　the　old　man　sat。

〃Thank　you　for　the　tin　soldier　my　little　friend；〃　said　the　oldman；　〃and　thank　you　also　for　ing　to　see　me。〃

〃Thanks；　thanks；〃　or　〃Creak；　creak；〃　said　all　the　furniture。

There　was　so　much　that　the　pieces　of　furniture　stood　in　eachother's　way　to　get　a　sight　of　the　little　boy。

On　the　wall　near　the　centre　of　the　room　hung　the　picture　of　abeautiful　lady；　young　and　gay；　dressed　in　the　fashion　of　the　oldentimes；　with　powdered　hair；　and　a　full；　stiff　skirt。　She　said　neither〃thanks〃　nor　〃creak；〃　but　she　looked　down　upon　the　little　boy　with　hermild　eyes；　and　then　he　said　to　the　old　man；

〃Where　did　you　get　that　picture？〃

〃From　the　shop　opposite；〃　he　replied。　〃Many　portraits　hang　therethat　none　seem　to　trouble　themselves　about。　The　persons　they　representhave　been　dead　and　buried　long　since。　But　I　knew　this　lady　manyyears　ago；　and　she　has　been　dead　nearly　half　a　century。〃

Under　a　glass　beneath　the　picture　hung　a　nosegay　of　witheredflowers；　which　were　no　doubt　half　a　century　old　too；　at　least　theyappeared　so。

And　the　pendulum　of　the　old　clock　went　to　and　fro；　and　the　handsturned　round；　and　as　time　passed　on；　everything　in　the　room　grewolder；　but　no　one　seemed　to　notice　it。

〃They　say　at　home；〃　said　the　little　boy；　〃that　you　are　verylonely。〃

〃Oh；〃　replied　the　old　man；　〃I　have　pleasant　thoughts　of　all　thathas　passed；　recalled　by　memory；　and　now　you　are　e　to　visit　me；and　that　is　very　pleasant。〃

Then　he　took　from　the　book…case；　a　book　full　of　picturesrepresenting　long　processions　of　wonderful　coaches；　such　as　arenever　seen　at　the　present　time。　Soldiers　like　the　knave　of　clubs；and　citizens　with　waving　banners。　The　tailors　had　a　flag　with　a　pairof　scissors　supported　by　two　lions；　and　on　the　shoemakers'　flagthere　were　not　boots；　but　an　eagle　with　two　heads；　for　theshoemakers　must　have　everything　arranged　so　that　they　can　say；　〃Thisis　a　pair。〃　What　a　picture…book　it　was；　and　then　the　old　man　went　intoanother　room　to　fetch　apples　and　nuts。　It　was　very　pleasant；certainly；　to　be　in　that　old　house。

〃I　cannot　endure　it；〃　said　the　tin　soldier；　who　stood　on　ashelf；　〃it　is　so　lonely　and　dull　here。　I　have　been　accustomed　tolive　in　a　family；　and　I　cannot　get　used　to　this　life。　I　cannot　bearit。　The　whole　day　is　long　enough；　but　the　evening　is　longer。　It　is　nothere　like　it　was　in　your　house　opposite；　when　your　father　and　mothertalked　so　cheerfully　together；　while　you　and　all　the　dear　childrenmade　such　a　delightful　noise。　No；　it　is　all　lonely　in　the　old　man'shouse。　Do　you　think　he　gets　any　kisses？　Do　you　think　he　ever　hasfriendly　looks；　or　a　Christmas　tree？　He　will　have　nothing　now　butthe　grave。　Oh；　I　cannot　bear　it。〃

〃You　must　not　look　only　on　the　sorrowful　side；〃　said　the　littleboy；　〃I　think　everything　in　this　house　is　beautiful；　and　all　the　oldpleasant　thoughts　e　back　here　to　pay　visits。〃

〃Ah；　but　I　never　see　any；　and　I　don't　know　them；〃　said　the　tinsoldier；　〃and　I　cannot　bear　it。〃

〃You　must　bear　it；〃　said　the　little　boy。　Then　the　old　man　cameback　with　a　pleasant　face；　and　brought　with　him　beautiful　preservedfruits；　as　well　as　apples　and　nuts；　and　the　little　boy　thought　no　moreof　the　tin　soldier。　How　happy　and　delighted　the　little　boy　was；　andafter　he　returned　home；　and　while　days　and　weeks　passed；　a　greatdeal　of　nodding　took　place　from　one　house　to　the　other；　and　then　thelittle　boy　went　to　pay　another　visit。　The　carved　trumpeters　blew〃Tanta…ra…ra。　There　is　the　little　boy。　Tanta…ra…ra。〃　The　swords　andarmor　on　the　old　knight's　pictures　rattled。　The　silk　dressesrustled；　the　leather　repeated　its　rhyme；　and　the　old　chairs　had　thegout　in　their　backs；　and　cried；　〃Creak；〃　it　was　all　exactly　like　thefirst　time；　for　in　that　house；　one　day　and　one　hour　were　just　likeanother。　〃I　cannot　bear　it　any　longer；〃　said　the　tin　soldier；　〃Ihave　wept　tears　of　tin；　it　is　so　melancholy　here。　Let　me　go　to　thewars；　and　lose　an　arm　or　a　leg；　that　would　be　some　change；　I　cannotbear　it。　Now　I　know　what　it　is　to　have　visits　from　one's　oldrecollections；　and　all　they　bring　with　them。　I　have　had　visits　frommine；　and　you　may　believe　me　it　is　not　altogether　pleasant。　I　was　verynearly　jumping　from　the　shelf。　I　saw　you　all　in　your　house　opposite；as　if　you　were　really　present。　It　was　Sunday　morning；　and　you　childrenstood　round　the　table；　singing　the　hymn　that　you　sing　every　morning。You　were　standing　quietly；　with　your　hands　folded；　and　your　father　andmother。　You　were　standing　quietly；　with　your　hands　folded；　and　yourfather　and　mother　were　looking　just　as　serious；　when　the　dooropened；　and　your　little　sister　Maria；　who　is　not　two　years　old；　wasbrought　into　the　room。　You　know　she　always　dances　when　she　hears　musicand　singing　of　any　sort；　so　she　began　to　dance　immediately；　althoughshe　ought　not　to　have　done　so；　but　she　could　not　get　into　the　righttime　because　the　tune　was　so　slow；　so　she　stood　first　on　one　leg　andthen　on　the　other；　and　bent　her　head　very　low；　but　it　would　not　suitthe　music。　You　all　stood　looking　very　grave；　although　it　was　verydifficult　to　do　so；　but　I　laughed　so　to　myself　that　I　fell　down　fromthe　table；　and　got　a　bruise；　which　is　there　still；　I　know　it　was　notright　to　laugh。　So　all　this；　and　everything　else　that　I　have　seen；keeps　running　in　my　head；　and　these　must　be　the　old　recollections　thatbring　so　many　thoughts　with　them。　Tell　me　whether　you　still　sing　onSundays；　and　tell　me　about　your　little　sister　Maria；　and　how　my　oldrade　is；　the　other　tin　soldier。　Ah；　really　he　must　be　very　happy；　Icannot　endure　this　life。〃

〃You　are　given　away；〃　said　the　little　boy；　〃you　must　stay。　Don'tyou　see　that？〃　Then　the　old　man　came　in；　with　a　box　containing　manycurious　things　to　show　him。　Rouge…pots；　scent…boxes；　and　old　cards；　solarge　and　so　richly　gilded；　that　none　are　ever　seen　like　them　in　thesedays。　And　there　were　smaller　boxes　to　look　at；　and　the　piano　wasopened；　and　inside　the　lid　were　painted　landscapes。　But　when　the　oldman　played；　the　piano　sounded　quite　out　of　tune。　Then　he　looked　at　thepicture　he　had　bought　at　the　broker's；　and　his　eyes　sparkledbrightly　as　he　nodded　at　it；　and　said；　〃Ah；　she　could　sing　that　tune。〃

〃I　will　go　to　the　wars！　I　will　go　to　the　wars！〃　cried　the　tinsoldier　as　loud　as　he　could；　and　threw　himself　down　on　the　floor。Where　could　he　have　fallen？　The　old　man　searched；　and　the　little　boysearched；　but　he　was　gone；　and　could　not　be　found。　〃I　shall　find　himagain；〃　said　the　old　man；　but　he　did　not　find　him。　The　boards　of　thefloor　were　open　and　full　of　holes。　The　tin　soldier　had　fallenthrough　a　crack　between　the　boards；　and　lay　there　now　in　an　opengrave。　The　day　went　by；　and　the　little　boy　returned　home；　the　weekpassed；　and　many　more　weeks。　It　was　winter；　and　the　windows　were　quitefrozen；　so　the　little　boy　was　obliged　to　breathe　on　the　panes；　and　ruba　hole　to　peep　through　at　the　old　house。　Snow　drifts　were　lying　in　allthe　scrolls　and　on　the　inscriptions；　and　the　steps　were　covered　withsnow　as　if　no　one　were　at　home。　And　indeed　nobody　was　home；　for　theold　man　was　dead。　In　the　evening；　a　hearse　stopped　at　the　door；　andthe　old　man　in　his　coffin　was　placed　in　it。　He　was　to　be　taken　tothe　country　to　be　buried　there　in　his　own　grave；　so　they　carried　himaway；　no　one　followed　him；　for　all　his　friends　were　dead；　and　thelittle　boy　kissed　his　hand　to　the　coffin　as　the　hearse　moved　away　withit。　A　few　days　after；　there　was　an　auction　at　the　old　house；　andfrom　his　window　the　little　boy　saw　the　people　carrying　away　thepictures　of　old　knights　and　ladies；　the　flower…pots　with　the　longears；　the　old　chairs；　and　the　cup…boards。　Some　were　taken　one　way；some　another。　Her　portrait；　which　had　been　bought　at　the　picturedealer's；　went　back　again　to　his　shop；　and　there　it　remained；　for　noone　seemed　to　know　her；　or　to　care　for　the　old　picture。　In　the　spring；they　began　to　pull　the　house　itself　down；　people　called　it　pleterubbish。　From　the　street　could　be　seen　the　room　in　which　the　wallswere　covered　with　leather；　ragged　and　torn；　and　the　green　in　thebalcony　hung　straggling　over　the　beams；　they　pulled　it　down　quickly；for　it　looked　ready　to　fall；　and　at　last　it　was　cleared　awayaltogether。　〃What　a　good　riddance；〃　said　the　neighbors'　houses。　Veryshortly；　a　fine　new　house　was　built　farther　back　from　the　road；　it　hadlofty　windows　and　smooth　walls；　but　in　front；　on　the　spot　where　theold　house　really　stood；　a　little　garden　was　planted；　and　wild　vinesgrew　up　over　the　neighboring　walls；　in　front　of　the　garden　werelarge　iron　railings　and　a　great　gate；　which　looked　very　stately。People　used　to　stop　and　peep　through　the　railings。　The　sparrowsassembled　in　dozens　upon　the　wild　vines；　and　chattered　all　together　asloud　as　they　could；　but　not　about　the　old　house；　none　of　them　couldremember　it；　for　many　years　had　passed　by；　so　many　indeed；　that　thelittle　boy　was　now　a　man；　and　a　really　good　man　too；　and　his　parentswere　v