Vous êtes sur la page 1sur 61

1HE 1AS

Hans CLristian Anoersen


1ranslateo ly H.P. Paull
18;-,
~vci1 vxcic1 ci1iNvixc-1m i1ix1s
1Lis vxcic1 ci1iNvixc-1metext, like most vxcic1 ci1iNvixc-1metexts, is a pul-
lic oomain vork oistriluteo ly Prolessor MicLael S. Hart tLrougL tLe Project Guten-
lerg Association at Carnegie-Mellon Lniversity (tLe Project). Among otLer tLings,
tLis means tLat no one ovns a Lniteo States copyrigLt on or lor tLis vork, so tLe
Project (ano you!) can copy ano oistrilute it in tLe Lniteo States vitLout permission
ano vitLout paying copyrigLt royalties. Special rules, set lortL lelov, apply il you visL
to copy ano oistrilute tLis etext unoer tLe Projects vxcic1 ci1iNvixc traoemark.
1o access Project Gutenlerg etexts, use any Wel lrovser to vievhttp://promo.
net/pg. 1Lis site lists texts ly autLor ano ly title, ano incluoes inlormation alout Lov
to get involveo vitL Project Gutenlerg. You coulo also oovnloao our past evsletters,
or sulscrile Lere. 1Lis is one ol our major sites, please email hart@pobox.com, lor a
more complete list ol our various sites. 1o go oirectly to tLe etext collections, use !1P
or any Wel lrovser to visit a Project Gutenlerg mirror (mirror sites are availalle on
; continents, mirrors are listeo at http://promo.net/pg).
We neeo your oonations more tLan ever! All oonations sLoulo le maoe to
Project Gutenlerg/CML: ano are tax oeouctille to tLe extent allovalle ly lav.
(CML = Carnegie- Mellon Lniversity). !or tLese ano otLer matters, please mail to:
Project Gutenlerg
P. C. Box :;8:
CLampaign, Ii 18:,
1Le mperors
ev ClotLes
M
~Nv vi~xs ~cc, tLere vas an mperor, vLo vas so exces-
sively lono ol nev clotLes, tLat Le spent all Lis money in
oress. He oio not troulle Limsell in tLe least alout Lis soloiers,
nor oio Le care to go eitLer to tLe tLeatre or tLe cLase, except
lor tLe opportunities tLen alloroeo Lim lor oisplaying Lis nev
clotLes. He Lao a oillerent suit lor eacL Lour ol tLe oay, ano as
ol any otLer king or emperor, one is accustomeo to say, Le is
sitting in council, it vas alvays saio ol Lim, 1Le mperor is
sitting in Lis varorole.
1ime passeo merrily in tLe large tovn vLicL vas Lis capital,
strangers arriveo every oay at tLe court. Cne oay, tvo rogues,
calling tLemselves veavers, maoe tLeir appearance. 1Ley gave
out tLat tLey knev Lov to veave stulls ol tLe most leautilul
colors ano elalorate patterns, tLe clotLes manulactureo lrom
vLicL sLoulo Lave tLe vonoerlul property ol remaining invis-
ille to everyone vLo vas unt lor tLe olce Le Lelo, or vLo
vas extraoroinarily simple in cLaracter.

1ixii 1~iis
1Lese must, inoeeo, le splenoio clotLes! tLougLt tLe m-
peror. Hao sucL a suit, migLt at once no out vLat men in
my realms are unt lor tLeir olce, ano also le alle to oistin-
guisL tLe vise lromtLe loolisL! 1Lis stull must le voven lor me
immeoiately. Ano Le causeo large sums ol money to le given
to lotL tLe veavers in oroer tLat tLey migLt legin tLeir vork
oirectly.
So tLe tvo pretenoeo veavers set up tvo looms, ano al-
lecteo to vork very lusily, tLougL in reality tLey oio notLing
at all. 1Ley askeo lor tLe most oelicate silk ano tLe purest golo
tLreao, put lotL into tLeir ovn knapsacks, ano tLen continueo
tLeir pretenoeo vork at tLe empty looms until late at nigLt.
sLoulo like to knov Lov tLe veavers are getting on vitL
my clotL, saio tLe mperor to Limsell, alter some little time
Lao elapseo, Le vas, Lovever, ratLer emlarrasseo, vLen Le re-
memlereo tLat a simpleton, or one unt lor Lis olce, voulo
le unalle to see tLe manulacture. 1o le sure, Le tLougLt Le Lao
notLing to risk in Lis ovn person, lut yet, Le voulo preler seno-
ing somelooy else, to lring Lim intelligence alout tLe veavers,
ano tLeir vork, lelore Le troulleo Limsell in tLe allair. All tLe
people tLrougLout tLe city Lao Learo ol tLe vonoerlul prop-
erty tLe clotL vas to possess, ano all vere anxious to learn Lov
vise, or Lov ignorant, tLeir neigLlors migLt prove to le.
vill seno my laitLlul olo minister to tLe veavers, saio
tLe mperor at last, alter some oelileration, Le vill le lest alle
to see Lov tLe clotL looks, lor Le is a man ol sense, ano no one
can le more suitalle lor Lis olce tLan Le is.
So tLe laitLlul olo minister vent into tLe Lall, vLere tLe
knaves vere vorking vitL all tLeir migLt, at tLeir empty looms.

1ii imvixcxs Ni cic1iis
WLat can le tLe meaning ol tLis tLougLt tLe olo man, open-
ing Lis eyes very vioe. cannot oiscover tLe least lit ol tLreao
on tLe looms. Hovever, Le oio not express Lis tLougLts alouo.
1Le impostors requesteo Lim very courteously to le so
gooo as to come nearer tLeir looms, ano tLen askeo LimvLetLer
tLe oesign pleaseo Lim, ano vLetLer tLe colors vere not very
leautilul, at tLe same time pointing to tLe empty lrames. 1Le
poor olo minister lookeo ano lookeo, Le coulo not oiscover
anytLing on tLe looms, lor a very gooo reason, viz: tLere vas
notLing tLere. WLat! tLougLt Le again. s it possille tLat
am a simpleton Lave never tLougLt so mysell, ano no one
must knov it nov il am so. Can it le, tLat am unt lor my
olce o, tLat must not le saio eitLer. vill never conless
tLat coulo not see tLe stull.
Well, Sir Minister! saio one ol tLe knaves, still pretenoing
to vork. You oo not say vLetLer tLe stull pleases you.
CL, it is excellent! replieo tLe olo minister, looking at tLe
loomtLrougL Lis spectacles. 1Lis pattern, ano tLe colors, yes,
vill tell tLe mperor vitLout oelay, Lov very leautilul tLink
tLem.
We sLall le mucL olligeo to you, saio tLe impostors, ano
tLen tLey nameo tLe oillerent colors ano oescrileo tLe pattern
ol tLe pretenoeo stull. 1Le olo minister listeneo attentively to
tLeir voros, in oroer tLat Le migLt repeat tLem to tLe mperor,
ano tLen tLe knaves askeo lor more silk ano golo, saying tLat it
vas necessary to complete vLat tLey Lao legun. Hovever, tLey
put all tLat vas given tLem into tLeir knapsacks, ano contin-
ueo to vork vitL as mucL apparent oiligence as lelore at tLeir
empty looms.
,
1ixii 1~iis
1Le mperor nov sent anotLer olcer ol Lis court to see
LovtLe men vere getting on, ano to ascertain vLetLer tLe clotL
voulo soon le reaoy. t vas just tLe same vitL tLis gentleman as
vitL tLe minister, Le surveyeo tLe looms on all sioes, lut coulo
see notLing at all lut tLe empty lrames.
Loes not tLe stull appear as leautilul to you, as it oio to
my loro tLe minister askeo tLe impostors ol tLe mperors
secono amlassaoor, at tLe same time making tLe same gestures
as lelore, ano talking ol tLe oesign ano colors vLicL vere not
tLere.
certainly am not stupio! tLougLt tLe messenger. t
must le, tLat am not t lor my gooo, protalle olce! 1Lat is
very ooo, Lovever, no one sLall knov anytLing alout it. Ano
accoroingly Le praiseo tLe stull Le coulo not see, ano oeclareo
tLat Le vas oeligLteo vitL lotL colors ano patterns. noeeo,
please your mperial Majesty, saio Le to Lis sovereign vLen
Le returneo, tLe clotL vLicL tLe veavers are preparing is
extraoroinarily magnicent.
1Le vLole city vas talking ol tLe splenoio clotL vLicL tLe
mperor Lao oroereo to le voven at Lis ovn expense.
Ano nov tLe mperor Limsell visLeo to see tLe costly
manulacture, vLile it vas still in tLe loom. Accompanieo ly a
select numler ol olcers ol tLe court, among vLom vere tLe
tvo Lonest men vLo Lao alreaoy aomireo tLe clotL, Le vent
to tLe cralty impostors, vLo, as soon as tLey vere avare ol tLe
mperors approacL, vent on vorking more oiligently tLan
ever, altLougL tLey still oio not pass a single tLreao tLrougL
tLe looms.

1ii imvixcxs Ni cic1iis
s not tLe vork alsolutely magnicent saio tLe tvo
olcers ol tLe crovn, alreaoy mentioneo. l your Majesty vill
only le pleaseo to look at it! WLat a splenoio oesign! WLat
glorious colors! ano at tLe same time tLey pointeo to tLe
empty lrames, lor tLey imagineo tLat everyone else coulo see
tLis exquisite piece ol vorkmansLip.
Hov is tLis saio tLe mperor to Limsell. can see
notLing! 1Lis is inoeeo a terrille allair! Am a simpleton,
or am unt to le an mperor 1Lat voulo le tLe vorst
tLing tLat coulo LappenCL! tLe clotL is cLarming, saio Le,
alouo. t Las my complete approlation. Ano Le smileo most
graciously, ano lookeo closely at tLe empty looms, lor on no
account voulo Le say tLat Le coulo not see vLat tvo ol tLe
olcers ol Lis court Lao praiseo so mucL. All Lis retinue nov
straineo tLeir eyes, Loping to oiscover sometLing on tLe looms,
lut tLey coulo see no more tLan tLe otLers, nevertLeless, tLey
all exclaimeo, CL, Lov leautilul! ano aoviseo Lis majesty to
Lave some nevclotLes maoe lromtLis splenoio material, lor tLe
approacLing procession. Magnicent! CLarming! xcellent!
resounoeo on all sioes, ano everyone vas uncommonly gay.
1Le mperor sLareo in tLe general satislaction, ano presenteo
tLe impostors vitL tLe rilano ol an oroer ol knigLtLooo, to
le vorn in tLeir lutton-Loles, ano tLe title ol Gentlemen
Weavers.
1Le rogues sat up tLe vLole ol tLe nigLt lelore tLe oay on
vLicL tLe procession vas to take place, ano Lao sixteen ligLts
lurning, so tLat everyone migLt see Lov anxious tLey vere to
nisL tLe mperors nev suit. 1Ley pretenoeo to roll tLe clotL
oll tLe looms, cut tLe air vitL tLeir scissors, ano seveo vitL
;
1ixii 1~iis
neeoles vitLout any tLreao in tLem. See! crieo tLey, at last.
1Le mperors nev clotLes are reaoy!
Ano nov tLe mperor, vitL all tLe granoees ol Lis court,
came to tLe veavers, ano tLe rogues raiseo tLeir arms, as il in tLe
act ol Loloing sometLing up, saying, Here are your Majestys
trousers! Here is tLe scarl! Here is tLe mantle! 1Le vLole suit
is as ligLt as a colvel, one migLt lancy one Las notLing at all
on, vLen oresseo in it, tLat, Lovever, is tLe great virtue ol tLis
oelicate clotL.
Yes inoeeo! saio all tLe courtiers, altLougL not one ol
tLem coulo see anytLing ol tLis exquisite manulacture.
l your mperial Majesty vill le graciously pleaseo to take
oll your clotLes, ve vill t on tLe nevsuit, in lront ol tLe look-
ing glass.
1Le mperor vas accoroingly unoresseo, ano tLe rogues
pretenoeo to array Lim in Lis nev suit, tLe mperor turning
rouno, lrom sioe to sioe, lelore tLe looking glass.
Hov splenoio Lis Majesty looks in Lis nev clotLes, ano
Lov vell tLey t! everyone crieo out. WLat a oesign! WLat
colors! 1Lese are inoeeo royal roles!
1Le canopy vLicL is to le lorne over your Majesty, in
tLe procession, is vaiting, announceo tLe cLiel master ol tLe
ceremonies.
am quite reaoy, ansvereo tLe mperor. Lo my nev
clotLes t vell askeo Le, turning Limsell rouno again lelore
tLe looking glass, in oroer tLat Le migLt appear to le examining
Lis Lanosome suit.
1Le loros ol tLe leocLamler, vLo vere to carry Lis
Majestys train lelt alout on tLe grouno, as il tLey vere lilt-
8
1ii imvixcxs Ni cic1iis
ing up tLe enos ol tLe mantle, ano pretenoeo to le carrying
sometLing, lor tLey voulo ly no means letray anytLing like
simplicity, or untness lor tLeir olce.
So nov tLe mperor valkeo unoer Lis LigL canopy in tLe
miost ol tLe procession, tLrougL tLe streets ol Lis capital, ano
all tLe people stanoing ly, ano tLose at tLe vinoovs, crieo out,
CL! Hov leautilul are our mperors nev clotLes! WLat a
magnicent train tLere is to tLe mantle, ano Lov gracelully tLe
scarl Langs! in sLort, no one voulo allov tLat Le coulo not
see tLese mucL-aomireo clotLes, lecause, in ooing so, Le voulo
Lave oeclareo Limsell eitLer a simpleton or unt lor Lis olce.
Certainly, none ol tLe mperors various suits, Lao ever maoe
so great an impression, as tLese invisille ones.
But tLe mperor Las notLing at all on! saio a little cLilo.
isten to tLe voice ol innocence! exclaimeo Lis latLer,
ano vLat tLe cLilo Lao saio vas vLispereo lrom one to anotLer.
But Le Las notLing at all on! at last crieo out all tLe peo-
ple. 1Le mperor vas vexeo, lor Le knev tLat tLe people vere
rigLt, lut Le tLougLt tLe procession must go on nov! Ano tLe
loros ol tLe leocLamler took greater pains tLan ever, to appear
Loloing up a train, altLougL, in reality, tLere vas no train to
Lolo.

1Le Snov ueen
iIxs1 s1cxv
Which Treats of a Mirror and of the Splinters

c 1iiN, ii1 us legin. WLen ve are at tLe eno ol tLe


story, ve sLall knov more tLan ve knov nov: lut to
legin.
Cnce upon a time tLere vas a vickeo sprite, inoeeo Le vas
tLe most miscLievous ol all sprites. Cne oay Le vas in a very
gooo Lumor, lor Le Lao maoe a mirror vitL tLe pover ol caus-
ing all tLat vas gooo ano leautilul vLen it vas reecteo tLerein,
to look poor ano mean, lut tLat vLicL vas gooo-lor-notLing
ano lookeo ugly vas sLovn magnieo ano increaseo in ugliness.
n tLis mirror tLe most leautilul lanoscapes lookeo like loileo
spinacL, ano tLe lest persons vere turneo into lrigLts, or ap-
peareo to stano on tLeir Leaos, tLeir laces vere so oistorteo tLat
tLey vere not to le recogniseo, ano il anyone Lao a mole, you
migLt le sure tLat it voulo le magnieo ano spreao over lotL
nose ano moutL.
1Lats glorious lun! saio tLe sprite. l a gooo tLougLt
passeo tLrougL a mans mino, tLen a grin vas seen in tLe mir-
1o
1ii sNc qiiiN
ror, ano tLe sprite laugLeo Leartily at Lis clever oiscovery. All
tLe little sprites vLo vent to Lis scLoollor Le kept a sprite
scLooltolo eacL otLer tLat a miracle Lao Lappeneo, ano tLat
nov only, as tLey tLougLt, it voulo le possille to see Lov tLe
vorlo really lookeo. 1Ley ran alout vitL tLe mirror, ano at last
tLere vas not a lano or a person vLo vas not representeo ois-
torteo in tLe mirror. So tLen tLey tLougLt tLey voulo y up to
tLe sky, ano Lave a joke tLere. 1Le LigLer tLey ev vitL tLe
mirror, tLe more terrilly it grinneo: tLey coulo Laroly Lolo it
last. HigLer ano LigLer still tLey ev, nearer ano nearer to tLe
stars, vLen suooenly tLe mirror sLook so terrilly vitL grin-
ning, tLat it ev out ol tLeir Lanos ano lell to tLe eartL, vLere
it vas oasLeo in a Lunoreo million ano more pieces. Ano nov
it vorkeo mucL more evil tLan lelore, lor some ol tLese pieces
vere Laroly so large as a grain ol sano, ano tLey ev alout in
tLe vioe vorlo, ano vLen tLey got into peoples eyes, tLere tLey
stayeo, ano tLen people sav everytLing perverteo, or only Lao
an eye lor tLat vLicL vas evil. 1Lis Lappeneo lecause tLe very
smallest lit Lao tLe same pover vLicL tLe vLole mirror Lao
possesseo. Some persons even got a splinter in tLeir Leart, ano
tLen it maoe one sLuooer, lor tLeir Leart lecame like a lump
ol ice. Some ol tLe lroken pieces vere so large tLat tLey vere
useo lor vinoovpanes, tLrougL vLicL one coulo not see ones
lrienos. CtLer pieces vere put in spectacles, ano tLat vas a sao
allair vLen people put on tLeir glasses to see vell ano rigLtly.
1Len tLe vickeo sprite laugLeo till Le almost cLokeo, lor all tLis
tickleo Lis lancy. 1Le ne splinters still evalout in tLe air: ano
nov ve sLall Lear vLat Lappeneo next.
11
1ixii 1~iis
siccNo s1cxv
A Little Boy and a Little Girl

N ~ i~xci tovn, vLere tLere are so many Louses, ano so


many people, tLat tLere is no rool lelt lor everylooy to
Lave a little garoen, ano vLere, on tLis account, most persons
are olligeo to content tLemselves vitL overs in pots, tLere
liveo tvo little cLiloren, vLo Lao a garoen somevLat larger
tLan a over-pot. 1Ley vere not lrotLer ano sister, lut tLey
careo lor eacL otLer as mucL as il tLey vere. 1Leir parents liveo
exactly opposite. 1Ley inLaliteo tvo garrets, ano vLere tLe
rool ol tLe one Louse joineo tLat ol tLe otLer, ano tLe gutter
ran along tLe extreme eno ol it, tLere vas to eacL Louse a small
vinoov: one neeoeo only to step over tLe gutter to get lrom
one vinoov to tLe otLer.
1Le cLilorens parents Lao large voooen loxes tLere, in
vLicL vegetalles lor tLe kitcLen vere planteo, ano little rose-
trees lesioes: tLere vas a rose in eacL lox, ano tLey grev splen-
oioly. 1Ley nov tLougLt ol placing tLe loxes across tLe gut-
ter, so tLat tLey nearly reacLeo lrom one vinoov to tLe otLer,
ano lookeo just like tvo valls ol overs. 1Le tenorils ol tLe
peas Lung oovn over tLe loxes, ano tLe rose-trees sLot up long
lrancLes, tvineo rouno tLe vinoovs, ano tLen lent tovaros
eacL otLer: it vas almost like a triumpLant arcL ol loliage ano
overs. 1Le loxes vere very LigL, ano tLe cLiloren knev tLat
tLey must not creep over tLem, so tLey olten oltaineo permis-
sion to get out ol tLe vinoovs to eacL otLer, ano to sit on tLeir
little stools among tLe roses, vLere tLey coulo play oeligLtlully.
n vinter tLere vas an eno ol tLis pleasure. 1Le vinoovs vere
1:
1ii sNc qiiiN
olten lrozen over, lut tLen tLey Leateo copper lartLings on tLe
stove, ano laio tLe Lot lartLing on tLe vinoovpane, ano tLen
tLey Lao a capital peep-Lole, quite nicely rounoeo, ano out ol
eacL peepeo a gentle lrienoly eyeit vas tLe little loy ano tLe
little girl vLo vere looking out. His name vas Iay, Lers vas
Geroa. n summer, vitL one jump, tLey coulo get to eacL otLer,
lut in vinter tLey vere olligeo rst to go oovn tLe long stairs,
ano tLen up tLe long stairs again: ano out-ol-ooors tLere vas
quite a snov-storm.
t is tLe vLite lees tLat are svarming, saio Iays olo
granomotLer.
Lo tLe vLite lees cLoose a queen askeo tLe little loy,
lor Le knev tLat tLe Loney-lees alvays Lave one.
Yes, saio tLe granomotLer, sLe ies vLere tLe svarm
Langs in tLe tLickest clusters. SLe is tLe largest ol all, ano sLe
can never remain quietly on tLe eartL, lut goes up again into
tLe llack clouos. Many a vinters nigLt sLe ies tLrougL tLe
streets ol tLe tovn, ano peeps in at tLe vinoovs, ano tLey tLen
lreeze in so vonorous a manner tLat tLey look like overs.
Yes, Lave seen it, saio lotL tLe cLiloren, ano so tLey
knev tLat it vas true.
Can tLe Snov ueen come in saio tLe little girl.
Cnly let Ler come in! saio tLe little loy. 1Len o put
Ler on tLe stove, ano sLeo melt.
Ano tLen Lis granomotLer patteo Lis Leao ano tolo Lim
otLer stories.
n tLe evening, vLen little Iay vas at Lome, ano Lall un-
oresseo, Le climleo up on tLe cLair ly tLe vinoov, ano peepeo
1
1ixii 1~iis
out ol tLe little Lole. A lev snov-akes vere lalling, ano one,
tLe largest ol all, remaineo lying on tLe eoge ol a over-pot.
1Le ake ol snov grev larger ano larger, ano at last it vas
like a young laoy, oresseo in tLe nest vLite gauze, maoe ol a
million little akes like stars. SLe vas so leautilul ano oelicate,
lut sLe vas ol ice, ol oazzling, sparkling ice, yet sLe liveo, Ler
eyes gazeo xeoly, like tvo stars, lut tLere vas neitLer quiet nor
repose in tLem. SLe noooeo tovaros tLe vinoov, ano leckoneo
vitL Ler Lano. 1Le little loy vas lrigLteneo, ano jumpeo oovn
lrom tLe cLair, it seemeo to Lim as il, at tLe same moment, a
large liro ev past tLe vinoov.
1Le next oay it vas a sLarp lrostano tLen tLe spring came,
tLe sun sLone, tLe green leaves appeareo, tLe svallovs luilt
tLeir nests, tLe vinoovs vere openeo, ano tLe little cLiloren
again sat in tLeir pretty garoen, LigL up on tLe leaos at tLe top
ol tLe Louse.
1Lat summer tLe roses overeo in unvonteo leauty. 1Le
little girl Lao learneo a Lymn, in vLicL tLere vas sometLing
alout roses, ano tLen sLe tLougLt ol Ler ovn overs, ano sLe
sang tLe verse to tLe little loy, vLo tLen sang it vitL Ler:
1Le rose in tLe valley is llooming so sveet, Ano angels
oesceno tLere tLe cLiloren to greet.
Ano tLe cLiloren Lelo eacL otLer ly tLe Lano, kisseo tLe
roses, lookeo up at tLe clear sunsLine, ano spoke as tLougL tLey
really sav angels tLere. WLat lovely summer-oays tLose vere!
Hov oeligLtlul to le out in tLe air, near tLe lresL rose-lusLes,
tLat seem as il tLey voulo never nisL llossoming!
Iay ano Geroa lookeo at tLe picture-look lull ol leasts
ano ol liros, ano it vas tLentLe clock in tLe cLurcL-tover
1
1ii sNc qiiiN
vas just striking vetLat Iay saio, CL! leel sucL a sLarp
pain in my Leart, ano nov sometLing Las got into my eye!
1Le little girl put Ler arms arouno Lis neck. He vinkeo Lis
eyes, nov tLere vas notLing to le seen.
tLink it is out nov, saio Le, lut it vas not. t vas just
one ol tLose pieces ol glass lrom tLe magic mirror tLat Lao got
into Lis eye, ano poor Iay Lao got anotLer piece rigLt in Lis
Leart. t vill soon lecome like ice. t oio not Lurt any longer,
lut tLere it vas.
WLat are you crying lor askeo Le. You look so ugly!
1Leres notLing tLe matter vitL me. AL, saio Le at once, tLat
rose is cankereo! Ano look, tLis one is quite crookeo! Alter all,
tLese roses are very ugly! 1Ley are just like tLe lox tLey are
planteo in! Ano tLen Le gave tLe lox a gooo kick vitL Lis loot,
ano pulleo lotL tLe roses up.
WLat are you ooing crieo tLe little girl, ano as Le per-
ceiveo Ler lrigLt, Le pulleo up anotLer rose, got in at tLe vin-
oov, ano Lasteneo oll lrom oear little Geroa.
Altervaros, vLen sLe lrougLt Ler picture-look, Le askeo,
WLat Lorrio leasts Lave you tLere Ano il Lis granomotLer
tolo tLem stories, Le alvays interrupteo Ler, lesioes, il Le coulo
manage it, Le voulo get leLino Ler, put on Ler spectacles, ano
imitate Ler vay ol speaking, Le copieo all Ler vays, ano tLen
everylooy laugLeo at Lim. He vas soon alle to imitate tLe gait
ano manner ol everyone in tLe street. verytLing tLat vas pe-
culiar ano oispleasing in tLemtLat Iay knev Lov to imitate:
ano at sucL times all tLe people saio, 1Le loy is certainly very
clever! But it vas tLe glass Le Lao got in Lis eye, tLe glass tLat
1,
1ixii 1~iis
vas sticking in Lis Leart, vLicL maoe Limtease even little Geroa,
vLose vLole soul vas oevoteo to Lim.
His games nov vere quite oillerent to vLat tLey Lao lor-
merly leen, tLey vere so very knoving. Cne vinters oay, vLen
tLe akes ol snov vere ying alout, Le spreao tLe skirts ol Lis
llue coat, ano caugLt tLe snov as it lell.
ook tLrougL tLis glass, Geroa, saio Le. Ano every ake
seemeo larger, ano appeareo like a magnicent over, or leau-
tilul star, it vas splenoio to look at!
ook, Lov clever! saio Iay. 1Lats mucL more interest-
ing tLan real overs! 1Ley are as exact as possille, tLere is not
a lault in tLem, il tLey oio not melt!
t vas not long alter tLis, tLat Iay came one oay vitL large
gloves on, ano Lis little sleoge at Lis lack, ano lavleo rigLt into
Geroas ears, Lave permission to go out into tLe square vLere
tLe otLers are playing, ano oll Le vas in a moment.
1Lere, in tLe market-place, some ol tLe loloest ol tLe loys
useo to tie tLeir sleoges to tLe carts as tLey passeo ly, ano so
tLey vere pulleo along, ano got a gooo rioe. t vas so capi-
tal! just as tLey vere in tLe very LeigLt ol tLeir amusement, a
large sleoge passeo ly: it vas painteo quite vLite, ano tLere vas
someone in it vrappeo up in a rougL vLite mantle ol lur, vitL
a rougL vLite lur cap on Lis Leao. 1Le sleoge orove rouno tLe
square tvice, ano Iay tieo on Lis sleoge as quickly as Le coulo,
ano oll Le orove vitL it. Cn tLey vent quicker ano quicker into
tLe next street, ano tLe person vLo orove turneo rouno to Iay,
ano noooeo to Lim in a lrienoly manner, just as il tLey knev
eacL otLer. very time Le vas going to untie Lis sleoge, tLe per-
son noooeo to Lim, ano tLen Iay sat quiet, ano so on tLey vent
1
1ii sNc qiiiN
till tLey came outsioe tLe gates ol tLe tovn. 1Len tLe snov le-
gan to lall so tLickly tLat tLe little loy coulo not see an arms
lengtL lelore Lim, lut still on Le vent: vLen suooenly Le let
go tLe string Le Lelo in Lis Lano in oroer to get loose lrom tLe
sleoge, lut it vas ol no use, still tLe little veLicle rusLeo on vitL
tLe quickness ol tLe vino. He tLen crieo as louo as Le coulo,
lut no one Learo Lim, tLe snov orilteo ano tLe sleoge ev on,
ano sometimes it gave a jerk as tLougL tLey vere oriving over
Leoges ano oitcLes. He vas quite lrigLteneo, ano Le trieo to re-
peat tLe oros Prayer, lut all Le coulo oo, Le vas only alle to
rememler tLe multiplication talle.
1Le snov-akes grev larger ano larger, till at last tLey
lookeo just like great vLite lovls. Suooenly tLey ev on one
sioe, tLe large sleoge stoppeo, ano tLe person vLo orove rose
up. t vas a laoy, Ler cloak ano cap vere ol snov. SLe vas tall
ano ol slenoer gure, ano ol a oazzling vLiteness. t vas tLe
Snov ueen.
We Lave travelleo last, saio sLe, lut it is lreezingly colo.
Come unoer my learskin. Ano sLe put Limin tLe sleoge lesioe
Ler, vrappeo tLe lur rouno Lim, ano Le lelt as tLougL Le vere
sinking in a snov-vreatL.
Are you still colo askeo sLe, ano tLen sLe kisseo Lis lore-
Leao. AL! it vas coloer tLan ice, it penetrateo to Lis very Leart,
vLicL vas alreaoy almost a lrozen lump, it seemeo to Lim as il
Le vere alout to oielut a moment more ano it vas quite con-
genial to Lim, ano Le oio not remark tLe colo tLat vas arouno
Lim.
My sleoge! Lo not lorget my sleoge! t vas tLe rst tLing
Le tLougLt ol. t vas tLere tieo to one ol tLe vLite cLickens,
1;
1ixii 1~iis
vLo ev along vitL it on Lis lack leLino tLe large sleoge. 1Le
Snov ueen kisseo Iay once more, ano tLen Le lorgot little
Geroa, granomotLer, ano all vLom Le Lao lelt at Lis Lome.
ov you vill Lave no more kisses, saio sLe, or else
sLoulo kiss you to oeatL!
Iay lookeo at Ler. SLe vas very leautilul, a more clever, or
a more lovely countenance Le coulo not lancy to Limsell, ano
sLe no longer appeareo ol ice as lelore, vLen sLe sat outsioe
tLe vinoov, ano leckoneo to Lim, in Lis eyes sLe vas perlect,
Le oio not lear Ler at all, ano tolo Ler tLat Le coulo calculate
in Lis Leao ano vitL lractions, even, tLat Le knev tLe num-
ler ol square miles tLere vere in tLe oillerent countries, ano
Lov many inLalitants tLey containeo, ano sLe smileo vLile Le
spoke. t tLen seemeo to Limas il vLat Le knevvas not enougL,
ano Le lookeo upvaros in tLe large Luge empty space alove
Lim, ano on sLe ev vitL Lim, ev LigL over tLe llack clouos,
vLile tLe storm moaneo ano vListleo as tLougL it vere singing
some olo tune. Cn tLey ev over vooos ano lakes, over seas,
ano many lanos, ano leneatL tLem tLe cLilling storm rusLeo
last, tLe volves Lovleo, tLe snov crackleo, alove tLem ev
large screaming crovs, lut LigLer up appeareo tLe moon, quite
large ano lrigLt, ano it vas on it tLat Iay gazeo ouring tLe long
long vinters nigLt, vLile ly oay Le slept at tLe leet ol tLe Snov
ueen.
18
1ii sNc qiiiN
1iIxo s1cxv
Of the Flower-Garden At the
Old Womans Who Understood Witchcraft
B
i1 i~1 vic~mi ol little Geroa vLen Iay oio not return
WLere coulo Le le olooy knev, nolooy coulo give
any intelligence. All tLe loys knev vas, tLat tLey Lao seen Lim
tie Lis sleoge to anotLer large ano splenoio one, vLicL orove
oovn tLe street ano out ol tLe tovn. olooy knev vLere
Le vas, many sao tears vere sLeo, ano little Geroa vept long
ano litterly, at last sLe saio Le must le oeao, tLat Le Lao leen
orovneo in tLe river vLicL oveo close to tLe tovn. CL! tLose
vere very long ano oismal vinter evenings!
At last spring came, vitL its varm sunsLine.
Iay is oeao ano gone! saio little Geroa.
1Lat oont lelieve, saio tLe SunsLine.
Iay is oeao ano gone! saio sLe to tLe Svallovs.
1Lat oont lelieve, saio tLey: ano at last little Geroa oio
not tLink so any longer eitLer.
ll put on my reo sLoes, saio sLe, one morning, Iay
Las never seen tLem, ano tLen ll go oovn to tLe river ano ask
tLere.
t vas quite early, sLe kisseo Ler olo granomotLer, vLo vas
still asleep, put on Ler reo sLoes, ano vent alone to tLe river.
s it true tLat you Lave taken my little playlellov vill
make you a present ol my reo sLoes, il you vill give Lim lack
to me.
Ano, as it seemeo to Ler, tLe llue vaves noooeo in a
strange manner, tLen sLe took oll Ler reo sLoes, tLe most
1
1ixii 1~iis
precious tLings sLe possesseo, ano tLrev tLem lotL into tLe
river. But tLey lell close to tLe lank, ano tLe little vaves lore
tLem immeoiately to lano, it vas as il tLe stream voulo not
take vLat vas oearest to Ler, lor in reality it Lao not got little
Iay, lut Geroa tLougLt tLat sLe Lao not tLrovn tLe sLoes
out lar enougL, so sLe clamlereo into a loat vLicL lay among
tLe rusLes, vent to tLe lartLest eno, ano tLrev out tLe sLoes.
But tLe loat vas not lasteneo, ano tLe motion vLicL sLe
occasioneo, maoe it orilt lrom tLe sLore. SLe olserveo tLis,
ano Lasteneo to get lack, lut lelore sLe coulo oo so, tLe loat
vas more tLan a yaro lrom tLe lano, ano vas glioing quickly
onvaro.
ittle Geroa vas very lrigLteneo, ano legan to cry, lut no
one Learo Ler except tLe sparrovs, ano tLey coulo not carry
Ler to lano, lut tLey ev along tLe lank, ano sang as il to com-
lort Ler, Here ve are! Here ve are! 1Le loat orilteo vitL tLe
stream, little Geroa sat quite still vitLout sLoes, lor tLey vere
svimming leLino tLe loat, lut sLe coulo not reacL tLem, le-
cause tLe loat vent mucL laster tLan tLey oio.
1Le lanks onlotL sioes vere leautilul, lovely overs, ven-
eralle trees, ano slopes vitL sLeep ano covs, lut not a Luman
leing vas to le seen.
PerLaps tLe river vill carry me to little Iay, saio sLe, ano
tLen sLe grev less sao. SLe rose, ano lookeo lor many Lours at
tLe leautilul green lanks. Presently sLe saileo ly a large cLerry-
orcLaro, vLere vas a little cottage vitL curious reo ano llue
vinoovs, it vas tLatcLeo, ano lelore it tvo voooen soloiers
stooo sentry, ano presenteo arms vLen anyone vent past.
:o
1ii sNc qiiiN
Geroa calleo to tLem, lor sLe tLougLt tLey vere alive, lut
tLey, ol course, oio not ansver. SLe came close to tLem, lor tLe
stream orilteo tLe loat quite near tLe lano.
Geroa calleo still louoer, ano an olo voman tLen came out
ol tLe cottage, leaning upon a crookeo stick. SLe Lao a large
lroao-lrimmeo Lat on, painteo vitL tLe most splenoio overs.
Poor little cLilo! saio tLe olo voman. Hov oio you get
upon tLe large rapio river, to le oriven alout so in tLe vioe
vorlo! Ano tLen tLe olo voman vent into tLe vater, caugLt
Lolo ol tLe loat vitL Ler crookeo stick, orev it to tLe lank, ano
lilteo little Geroa out.
Ano Geroa vas so glao to le on ory lano again, lut sLe vas
ratLer alraio ol tLe strange olo voman.
But come ano tell me vLo you are, ano Lov you came
Lere, saio sLe.
Ano Geroa tolo Ler all, ano tLe olo voman sLook Ler
Leao ano saio, A-Lem! a-Lem! ano vLen Geroa Lao tolo Ler
everytLing, ano askeo Ler il sLe Lao not seen little Iay, tLe
voman ansvereo tLat Le Lao not passeo tLere, lut Le no ooult
voulo come, ano sLe tolo Ler not to le cast oovn, lut taste
Ler cLerries, ano look at Ler overs, vLicL vere ner tLan any
in a picture-look, eacL ol vLicL coulo tell a vLole story. SLe
tLen took Geroa ly tLe Lano, leo Ler into tLe little cottage, ano
lockeo tLe ooor.
1Le vinoovs vere very LigL up, tLe glass vas reo, llue, ano
green, ano tLe sunligLt sLone tLrougL quite vonorously in all
sorts ol colors. Cn tLe talle stooo tLe most exquisite cLerries,
ano Geroa ate as many as sLe cLose, lor sLe Lao permission to
oo so. WLile sLe vas eating, tLe olo voman comleo Ler Lair
:1
1ixii 1~iis
vitL a goloen coml, ano Ler Lair curleo ano sLone vitL a lovely
goloen color arouno tLat sveet little lace, vLicL vas so rouno
ano so like a rose.
Lave olten longeo lor sucL a oear little girl, saio tLe olo
voman. ov you sLall see Lov vell ve agree togetLer, ano
vLile sLe comleo little Geroas Lair, tLe cLilo lorgot Ler loster-
lrotLer Iay more ano more, lor tLe olo voman unoerstooo
magic, lut sLe vas no evil leing, sLe only practiseo vitcLcralt a
little lor Ler ovn private amusement, ano nov sLe vanteo very
mucL to keep little Geroa. SLe tLerelore vent out in tLe garoen,
stretcLeo out Ler crookeo stick tovaros tLe rose-lusLes, vLicL,
leautilully as tLey vere lloving, all sank into tLe eartL ano no
one coulo tell vLere tLey Lao stooo. 1Le olo voman leareo tLat
il Geroa sLoulo see tLe roses, sLe voulo tLen tLink ol Ler ovn,
voulo rememler little Iay, ano run avay lrom Ler.
SLe novleo Geroa into tLe over-garoen. CL, vLat ooour
ano vLat loveliness vas tLere! very over tLat one coulo
tLink ol, ano ol every season, stooo tLere in lullest lloom, no
picture-look coulo le gayer or more leautilul. Geroa jumpeo
lor joy, ano playeo till tLe sun set leLino tLe tall cLerry-tree,
sLe tLen Lao a pretty leo, vitL a reo silken coverlet lleo vitL
llue violets. SLe lell asleep, ano Lao as pleasant oreams as ever
a queen on Ler veooing-oay.
1Le next morning sLe vent to play vitL tLe overs in tLe
varm sunsLine, ano tLus passeo avay a oay. Geroa knev ev-
ery over, ano, numerous as tLey vere, it still seemeo to Geroa
tLat one vas vanting, tLougL sLe oio not knov vLicL. Cne
oay vLile sLe vas looking at tLe Lat ol tLe olo voman painteo
vitL overs, tLe most leautilul ol tLemall seemeo to Ler to le a
::
1ii sNc qiiiN
rose. 1Le olo voman Lao lorgotten to take it lrom Ler Lat vLen
sLe maoe tLe otLers vanisL in tLe eartL. But so it is vLen ones
tLougLts are not collecteo. WLat! saio Geroa. Are tLere no
roses Lere ano sLe ran alout amongst tLe overleos, ano
lookeo, ano lookeo, lut tLere vas not one to le louno. SLe tLen
sat oovn ano vept, lut Ler Lot tears lell just vLere a rose-lusL
Lao sunk, ano vLen Ler varmtears vatereo tLe grouno, tLe tree
sLot up suooenly as lresL ano llooming as vLen it Lao leen
svalloveo up. Geroa kisseo tLe roses, tLougLt ol Ler ovn oear
roses at Lome, ano vitL tLem ol little Iay.
CL, Lov long Lave stayeo! saio tLe little girl. in-
tenoeo to look lor Iay! Lont you knov vLere Le is sLe
askeo ol tLe roses. Lo you tLink Le is oeao ano gone
Leao Le certainly is not, saio tLe Eoses. We Lave leen
in tLe eartL vLere all tLe oeao are, lut Iay vas not tLere.
Many tLanks! saio little Geroa, ano sLe vent to tLe otLer
overs, lookeo into tLeir cups, ano askeo, Lont you knov
vLere little Iay is
But every over stooo in tLe sunsLine, ano oreameo its
ovn lairy tale or its ovn story: ano tLey all tolo Ler very many
tLings, lut not one knev anytLing ol Iay.
Well, vLat oio tLe 1iger-ily say
Hearest tLou not tLe orum Bum! Bum! 1Lose are tLe
only tvo tones. Alvays lum! Bum! Hark to tLe plaintive song
ol tLe olo voman, to tLe call ol tLe priests! 1Le Hinooo voman
in Ler long role stanos upon tLe luneral pile, tLe ames rise
arouno Ler ano Ler oeao Luslano, lut tLe Hinooo voman
tLinks on tLe living one in tLe surrounoing circle, on Lim
vLose eyes lurn Lotter tLan tLe ameson Lim, tLe re ol
:
1ixii 1~iis
vLose eyes pierces Ler Leart more tLan tLe ames vLicL soon
vill lurn Ler looy to asLes. Can tLe Learts ame oie in tLe
ame ol tLe luneral pile
oont unoerstano tLat at all, saio little Geroa.
1Lat is my story, saio tLe ily.
WLat oio tLe Convolvulus say
Projecting over a narrov mountain-patL tLere Langs an
olo leuoal castle. 1Lick evergreens grov on tLe oilapioateo
valls, ano arouno tLe altar, vLere a lovely maioen is stanoing:
sLe lenos over tLe railing ano looks out upon tLe rose. o
lresLer rose Langs on tLe lrancLes tLan sLe, no applellossom
carrieo avay ly tLe vino is more luoyant! Hov Ler silken
role is rustling!
s Le not yet come
s it Iay tLat you mean askeo little Geroa.
am speaking alout my storyalout my oream, an-
svereo tLe Convolvulus.
WLat oio tLe Snovorops say
Betveen tLe trees a long loaro is Langingit is a sving.
1vo little girls are sitting in it, ano sving tLemselves lackvaros
ano lorvaros, tLeir lrocks are as vLite as snov, ano long green
silk rilanos utter lrom tLeir lonnets. 1Leir lrotLer, vLo is
oloer tLan tLey are, stanos up in tLe sving, Le tvines Lis arms
rouno tLe coros to Lolo Limsell last, lor in one Lano Le Las
a little cup, ano in tLe otLer a clay-pipe. He is lloving soap-
lullles. 1Le sving moves, ano tLe lullles oat in cLarming
cLanging colors: tLe last is still Langing to tLe eno ol tLe pipe,
ano rocks in tLe lreeze. 1Le sving moves. 1Le little llack oog,
as ligLt as a soap-lullle, jumps up on Lis Lino legs to try to
:
1ii sNc qiiiN
get into tLe sving. t moves, tLe oog lalls oovn, larks, ano is
angry. 1Ley tease Lim, tLe lullle lursts! A sving, a lursting
lulllesucL is my song!
WLat you relate may le very pretty, lut you tell it in so
melancLoly a manner, ano oo not mention Iay.
WLat oo tLe HyacintLs say
1Lere vere once upon a time tLree sisters, quite trans-
parent, ano very leautilul. 1Le role ol tLe one vas reo, tLat
ol tLe secono llue, ano tLat ol tLe tLiro vLite. 1Ley oanceo
Lano in Lano lesioe tLe calm lake in tLe clear moonsLine. 1Ley
vere not eln maioens, lut mortal cLiloren. A sveet lragrance
vas smelt, ano tLe maioens vanisLeo in tLe vooo, tLe lragrance
grev strongertLree colns, ano in tLem tLree lovely maioens,
glioeo out ol tLe lorest ano across tLe lake: tLe sLining glov-
vorms ev arouno like little oating ligLts. Lo tLe oancing
maioens sleep, or are tLey oeao 1Le ooour ol tLe overs says
tLey are corpses, tLe evening lell tolls lor tLe oeao!
You make me quite sao, saio little Geroa. cannot Lelp
tLinking ol tLe oeao maioens. CL! is little Iay really oeao 1Le
Eoses Lave leen in tLe eartL, ano tLey say no.
Ling, oong! sounoeo tLe HyacintL lells. We oo not toll
lor little Iay, ve oo not knov Lim. 1Lat is our vay ol singing,
tLe only one ve Lave.
Ano Geroa vent to tLe Eanunculuses, tLat lookeo lortL
lrom among tLe sLining green leaves.
You are a little lrigLt sun! saio Geroa. 1ell me il you
knov vLere can no my playlellov.
:,
1ixii 1~iis
Ano tLe Eanunculus sLone lrigLtly, ano lookeo again at
Geroa. WLat song coulo tLe Eanunculus sing t vas one tLat
saio notLing alout Iay eitLer.
n a small court tLe lrigLt sun vas sLining in tLe rst oays
ol spring. 1Le leams glioeo oovn tLe vLite valls ol a neigL-
lors Louse, ano close ly tLe lresL yellov overs vere grov-
ing, sLining like golo in tLe varmsun-rays. An olo granomotLer
vas sitting in tLe air, Ler grano-oaugLter, tLe poor ano lovely
servant just come lor a sLort visit. SLe knovs Ler granomotLer.
1Lere vas golo, pure virgin golo in tLat llesseo kiss. 1Lere, tLat
is my little story, saio tLe Eanunculus.
My poor olo granomotLer! sigLeo Geroa. Yes, sLe is
longing lor me, no ooult: sLe is sorroving lor me, as sLe oio
lor little Iay. But vill soon come Lome, ano tLen vill lring
Iay vitL me. t is ol no use asking tLe overs, tLey only
knov tLeir ovn olo rLymes, ano can tell me notLing. Ano
sLe tuckeo up Ler lrock, to enalle Ler to run quicker, lut tLe
arcissus gave Ler a knock on tLe leg, just as sLe vas going
to jump over it. So sLe stooo still, lookeo at tLe long yellov
over, ano askeo, You perLaps knov sometLing ano sLe
lent oovn to tLe arcissus. Ano vLat oio it say
can see mysell can see mysell! CL, Lovooorous am!
Lp in tLe little garret tLere stanos, Lall-oresseo, a little Lancer.
SLe stanos nov on one leg, nov on lotL, sLe oespises tLe vLole
vorlo, yet sLe lives only in imagination. SLe pours vater out ol
tLe teapot over a piece ol stull vLicL sLe Lolos in Ler Lano,
it is tLe looice, cleanliness is a ne tLing. 1Le vLite oress is
Langing on tLe Look, it vas vasLeo in tLe teapot, ano orieo on
tLe rool. SLe puts it on, ties a sallron-coloreo kercLiel rouno
:
1ii sNc qiiiN
Ler neck, ano tLen tLe govn looks vLiter. can see mysell
can see mysell!
1Lats notLing to me, saio little Geroa. 1Lat ooes not
concern me. Ano tLen oll sLe ran to tLe lurtLer eno ol tLe
garoen.
1Le gate vas lockeo, lut sLe sLook tLe rusteo lolt till it
vas looseneo, ano tLe gate openeo, ano little Geroa ran oll lare-
looteo into tLe vioe vorlo. SLe lookeo rouno Ler tLrice, lut no
one lolloveo Ler. At last sLe coulo run no longer, sLe sat oovn
on a large stone, ano vLen sLe lookeo alout Ler, sLe sav tLat
tLe summer Lao passeo, it vas late in tLe autumn, lut tLat one
coulo not remark in tLe leautilul garoen, vLere tLere vas al-
vays sunsLine, ano vLere tLere vere overs tLe vLole year
rouno.
Lear me, Lov long Lave staio! saio Geroa. Autumn is
come. must not rest any longer. Ano sLe got up to go lurtLer.
CL, Lovtenoer ano vearieo Ler little leet vere! All arouno
it lookeo so colo ano rav: tLe long villov-leaves vere quite
yellov, ano tLe log orippeo lrom tLem like vater, one leal lell
alter tLe otLer: tLe sloes only stooo lull ol lruit, vLicL set ones
teetL on eoge. CL, Lovoark ano comlortless it vas in tLe oreary
vorlo!
:;
1ixii 1~iis
icix1i s1cxv
The Prince and Princess
G
ixo~ ~s cviIcio to rest Lersell again, vLen, exactly
opposite to Ler, a large Eaven came Lopping over tLe
vLite snov. He Lao long leen looking at Geroa ano sLaking
Lis Leao, ano nov Le saio, Cav! Cav! Gooo oay! Gooo oay!
He coulo not say it letter, lut Le lelt a sympatLy lor tLe little
girl, ano askeo Ler vLere sLe vas going all alone. 1Le voro
alone Geroa unoerstooo quite vell, ano lelt Lov mucL vas
expresseo ly it, so sLe tolo tLe Eaven Ler vLole Listory, ano
askeo il Le Lao not seen Iay.
1Le Eaven noooeo very gravely, ano saio, t may leit
may le!
WLat, oo you really tLink so crieo tLe little girl, ano sLe
nearly squeezeo tLe Eaven to oeatL, so mucL oio sLe kiss Lim.
Gently, gently, saio tLe Eaven. tLink knov, tLink
tLat it may le little Iay. But nov Le Las lorgotten you lor tLe
Princess.
Loes Le live vitL a Princess askeo Geroa.
Yeslisten, saio tLe Eaven, lut it vill le oilcult lor me
to speak your language. l you unoerstano tLe Eaven language
can tell you letter.
o, Lave not learnt it, saio Geroa, lut my grano-
motLer unoerstanos it, ano sLe can speak gillerisL too. visL
Lao learnt it.
o matter, saio tLe Eaven, vill tell you as vell as can,
Lovever, it vill le lao enougL. Ano tLen Le tolo all Le knev.
:8
1ii sNc qiiiN
n tLe kingoom vLere ve nov are tLere lives a Princess,
vLo is extraoroinarily clever, lor sLe Las reao all tLe nevspapers
in tLe vLole vorlo, ano Las lorgotten tLem againso clever is
sLe. SLe vas lately, it is saio, sitting on Ler tLronevLicL is not
very amusing alter allvLen sLe legan Lumming an olo tune,
ano it vas just, CL, vLy sLoulo not le marrieo 1Lat song
is not vitLout its meaning, saio sLe, ano so tLen sLe vas oeter-
mineo to marry, lut sLe voulo Lave a Luslano vLo knev Lov
to give an ansver vLen Le vas spoken tonot one vLo lookeo
only as il Le vere a great personage, lor tLat is so tiresome. SLe
tLen Lao all tLe laoies ol tLe court orummeo togetLer, ano vLen
tLey Learo Ler intention, all vere very pleaseo, ano saio, We
are very glao to Lear it, it is tLe very tLing ve vere tLinking ol.
You may lelieve every voro say, saio tLe Eaven, lor Lave
a tame sveetLeart tLat Lops alout in tLe palace quite lree, ano
it vas sLe vLo tolo me all tLis.
1Le nevspapers appeareo lortLvitL vitL a loroer ol
Learts ano tLe initials ol tLe Princess, ano tLerein you migLt
reao tLat every gooo-looking young man vas at lilerty to come
to tLe palace ano speak to tLe Princess, ano Le vLo spoke in
sucL vise as sLoveo Le lelt Limsell at Lome tLere, tLat one tLe
Princess voulo cLoose lor Ler Luslano.
Yes, Yes, saio tLe Eaven, you may lelieve it, it is as true
as am sitting Lere. People came in crovos, tLere vas a crusL
ano a Lurry, lut no one vas successlul eitLer on tLe rst or
secono oay. 1Ley coulo all talk vell enougL vLen tLey vere out
in tLe street, lut as soon as tLey came insioe tLe palace gates, ano
sav tLe guaro ricLly oresseo in silver, ano tLe lackeys in golo on
tLe staircase, ano tLe large illuminateo saloons, tLen tLey vere
:
1ixii 1~iis
alasLeo, ano vLen tLey stooo lelore tLe tLrone on vLicL tLe
Princess vas sitting, all tLey coulo oo vas to repeat tLe last voro
tLey Lao uttereo, ano to Lear it again oio not interest Ler very
mucL. t vas just as il tLe people vitLin vere unoer a cLarm, ano
Lao lallen into a trance till tLey came out again into tLe street, lor
tLenoL, tLentLey coulo cLatter enougL. 1Lere vas a vLole
rov ol tLem stanoing lrom tLe tovn-gates to tLe palace. vas
tLere mysell to look, saio tLe Eaven. 1Ley grev Lungry ano
tLirsty, lut lrom tLe palace tLey got notLing vLatever, not even
a glass ol vater. Some ol tLe cleverest, it is true, Lao taken lreao
ano lutter vitL tLem: lut none sLareo it vitL Lis neigLlor, lor
eacL tLougLt, et Limlook Lungry, ano tLen tLe Princess vont
Lave Lim.
But Iaylittle Iay, saio Geroa, vLen oio Le come
Was Le among tLe numler
Patience, patience, ve are just come to Lim. t vas on tLe
tLiro oay vLen a little personage vitLout Lorse or equipage,
came marcLing rigLt lololy up to tLe palace, Lis eyes sLone
like yours, Le Lao leautilul long Lair, lut Lis clotLes vere very
sLally.
1Lat vas Iay, crieo Geroa, vitL a voice ol oeligLt. CL,
nov ve louno Lim! ano sLe clappeo Ler Lanos lor joy.
He Lao a little knapsack at Lis lack, saio tLe Eaven.
o, tLat vas certainly Lis sleoge, saio Geroa, lor vLen
Le vent avay Le took Lis sleoge vitL Lim.
1Lat may le, saio tLe Eaven, oio not examine Lim
so minutely, lut knov lrom my tame sveetLeart, tLat vLen
Le came into tLe court-yaro ol tLe palace, ano sav tLe looy-
guaro in silver, tLe lackeys on tLe staircase, Le vas not tLe least
o
1ii sNc qiiiN
alasLeo, Le noooeo, ano saio to tLem, t must le very tire-
some to stano on tLe stairs, lor my part, sLall go in. 1Le
saloons vere gleaming vitL lustresprivy councillors ano ex-
cellencies vere valking alout larelooteo, ano vore golo keys,
it vas enougL to make any one leel uncomlortalle. His loots
creakeo, too, so louoly, lut still Le vas not at all alraio.
1Lats Iay lor certain, saio Geroa. knov Le Lao on
nev loots, Lave Learo tLem creaking in granomamas room.
Yes, tLey creakeo, saio tLe Eaven. Ano on Le vent
lololy up to tLe Princess, vLo vas sitting on a pearl as large
as a spinning-vLeel. All tLe laoies ol tLe court, vitL tLeir
attenoants ano attenoants attenoants, ano all tLe cavaliers, vitL
tLeir gentlemen ano gentlemens gentlemen, stooo rouno, ano
tLe nearer tLey stooo to tLe ooor, tLe prouoer tLey lookeo. t
vas Laroly possille to look at tLe gentlemans gentleman, so
very LaugLtily oio Le stano in tLe ooorvay.
t must Lave leen terrille, saio little Geroa. Ano oio
Iay get tLe Princess
Were not a Eaven, sLoulo Lave taken tLe Princess my-
sell, altLougL ampromiseo. t is saio Le spoke as vell as speak
vLen talk Eaven language, tLis learneo lrom my tame sveet-
Leart. He vas lolo ano nicely leLaveo, Le Lao not come to voo
tLe Princess, lut only to Lear Ler visoom. SLe pleaseo Lim, ano
Le pleaseo Ler.
Yes, yes, lor certain tLat vas Iay, saio Geroa. He vas
so clever, Le coulo reckon lractions in Lis Leao. CL, vont you
take me to tLe palace
1Lat is very easily saio, ansvereo tLe Eaven. But Lov
are ve to manage it ll speak to my tame sveetLeart alout it:
1
1ixii 1~iis
sLe must aovise us, lor so mucL must tell you, sucL a little girl
as you are vill never get permission to enter.
CL, yes sLall, saio Geroa, vLen Iay Lears tLat am
Lere, Le vill come out oirectly to letcL me.
Wait lor me Lere on tLese steps, saio tLe Eaven. He
moveo Lis Leao lackvaros ano lorvaros ano ev avay.
1Le evening vas closing in vLen tLe Eaven returneo.
Cavcav! saio Le. SLe senos you Ler compliments, ano
Lere is a roll lor you. SLe took it out ol tLe kitcLen, vLere tLere
is lreao enougL. You are Lungry, no ooult. t is not possille
lor you to enter tLe palace, lor you are larelooteo: tLe guaros
in silver, ano tLe lackeys in golo, voulo not allov it, lut oo not
cry, you sLall come in still. My sveetLeart knovs a little lack
stair tLat leaos to tLe leocLamler, ano sLe knovs vLere sLe
can get tLe key ol it.
Ano tLey vent into tLe garoen in tLe large avenue, vLere
one leal vas lalling alter tLe otLer, ano vLen tLe ligLts in tLe
palace Lao all graoually oisappeareo, tLe Eaven leo little Geroa
to tLe lack ooor, vLicL stooo Lall open.
CL, Lov Geroas Leart leat vitL anxiety ano longing! t
vas just as il sLe Lao leen alout to oo sometLing vrong, ano
yet sLe only vanteo to knov il little Iay vas tLere. Yes, Le
must le tLere. SLe calleo to mino Lis intelligent eyes, ano Lis
long Lair, so vivioly, sLe coulo quite see Lim as Le useo to laugL
vLen tLey vere sitting unoer tLe roses at Lome. He vill, no
ooult, le glao to see youto Lear vLat a long vay you Lave
come lor Lis sake, to knovLovunLappy all at Lome vere vLen
Le oio not come lack.
CL, vLat a lrigLt ano a joy it vas!
:
1ii sNc qiiiN
1Ley vere nov on tLe stairs. A single lamp vas lurning
tLere, ano on tLe oor stooo tLe tame Eaven, turning Ler Leao
on every sioe ano looking at Geroa, vLo loveo as Ler grano-
motLer Lao taugLt Ler to oo.
My intenoeo Las tolo me so mucL gooo ol you, my oear
young laoy, saio tLe tame Eaven. Your tale is very allecting.
l you vill take tLe lamp, vill go lelore. We vill go straigLt
on, lor ve sLall meet no one.
tLink tLere is somelooy just leLino us, saio Geroa, ano
sometLing rusLeo past: it vas like sLaoovy gures on tLe vall,
Lorses vitL oving manes ano tLin legs, Luntsmen, laoies ano
gentlemen on Lorselack.
1Ley are only oreams, saio tLe Eaven. 1Ley come to
letcL tLe tLougLts ol tLe LigL personages to tLe cLase, tis vell,
lor nov you can olserve tLem in leo all tLe letter. But let me
no, vLen you enjoy Lonor ano oistinction, tLat you possess a
gratelul Leart.
1ut! 1Lats not vortL talking alout, saio tLe Eaven ol tLe
vooos.
1Ley nov entereo tLe rst saloon, vLicL vas ol rose-
coloreo satin, vitL articial overs on tLe vall. Here tLe
oreams vere rusLing past, lut tLey Lasteneo ly so quickly tLat
Geroa coulo not see tLe LigL personages. Cne Lall vas more
magnicent tLan tLe otLer, one migLt inoeeo vell le alasLeo,
ano at last tLey came into tLe leocLamler. 1Le ceiling ol tLe
room resemlleo a large palm-tree vitL leaves ol glass, ol costly
glass, ano in tLe mioole, lrom a tLick goloen stem, Lung tvo
leos, eacL ol vLicL resemlleo a lily. Cne vas vLite, ano in
tLis lay tLe Princess, tLe otLer vas reo, ano it vas Lere tLat

1ixii 1~iis
Geroa vas to look lor little Iay. SLe lent lack one ol tLe reo
leaves, ano sav a lrovn neck. CL! tLat vas Iay! SLe calleo Lim
quite louo ly name, Lelo tLe lamp tovaros LimtLe oreams
rusLeo lack again into tLe cLamlerLe avoke, turneo Lis
Leao, anoit vas not little Iay!
1Le Prince vas only like Lim alout tLe neck, lut Le vas
young ano Lanosome. Ano out ol tLe vLite lily leaves tLe
Princess peepeo, too, ano askeo vLat vas tLe matter. 1Len
little Geroa crieo, ano tolo Ler Ler vLole Listory, ano all tLat
tLe Eavens Lao oone lor Ler.
Poor little tLing! saio tLe Prince ano tLe Princess. 1Ley
praiseo tLe Eavens very mucL, ano tolo tLem tLey vere not at
all angry vitL tLem, lut tLey vere not to oo so again. Hov-
ever, tLey sLoulo Lave a revaro. Will you y alout Lere at
lilerty, askeo tLe Princess, or voulo you like to Lave a xeo
appointment as court ravens, vitL all tLe lroken lits lrom tLe
kitcLen
Ano lotL tLe Eavens noooeo, ano leggeo lor a xeo ap-
pointment, lor tLey tLougLt ol tLeir olo age, ano saio, t is a
gooo tLing to Lave a provision lor our olo oays.
Ano tLe Prince got up ano let Geroa sleep in Lis leo, ano
more tLan tLis Le coulo not oo. SLe loloeo Ler little Lanos ano
tLougLt, Hov gooo men ano animals are! ano sLe tLen lell
asleep ano slept sounoly. All tLe oreams ev in again, ano tLey
nov lookeo like tLe angels, tLey orev a little sleoge, in vLicL
little Iay sat ano noooeo Lis Leao, lut tLe vLole vas only a
oream, ano tLerelore it all vanisLeo as soon as sLe avoke.
1Le next oay sLe vas oresseo lrom Leao to loot in silk ano
velvet. 1Ley ollereo to let Ler stay at tLe palace, ano leao a Lappy

1ii sNc qiiiN
lile, lut sLe leggeo to Lave a little carriage vitL a Lorse in lront,
ano lor a small pair ol sLoes, tLen, sLe saio, sLe voulo again go
lortL in tLe vioe vorlo ano look lor Iay.
SLoes ano a mull vere given Ler, sLe vas, too, oresseo very
nicely, ano vLen sLe vas alout to set oll, a nevcarriage stoppeo
lelore tLe ooor. t vas ol pure golo, ano tLe arms ol tLe Prince
ano Princess sLone like a star upon it, tLe coacLman, tLe loot-
men, ano tLe outrioers, lor outrioers vere tLere, too, all vore
goloen crovns. 1Le Prince ano tLe Princess assisteo Ler into tLe
carriage tLemselves, ano visLeo Ler all success. 1Le Eaven ol tLe
vooos, vLo vas nov marrieo, accompanieo Ler lor tLe rst
tLree miles. He sat lesioe Geroa, lor Le coulo not lear rioing
lackvaros, tLe otLer Eaven stooo in tLe ooorvay, ano appeo
Ler vings, sLe coulo not accompany Geroa, lecause sLe sul-
lereo lrom LeaoacLe since sLe Lao Lao a xeo appointment ano
ate so mucL. 1Le carriage vas lineo insioe vitL sugar-plums,
ano in tLe seats vere lruits ano gingerlreao.
!arevell! !arevell! crieo Prince ano Princess, ano Geroa
vept, ano tLe Eaven vept. 1Lus passeo tLe rst miles, ano tLen
tLe Eaven laoe Ler larevell, ano tLis vas tLe most painlul sepa-
ration ol all. He evinto a tree, ano leat Lis llack vings as long
as Le coulo see tLe carriage, tLat sLone lromalar like a sunleam.
,
1ixii 1~iis
iIi1i s1cxv
The Little Robber Maiden
1
iiv oxcvi 1ixcici tLe oark vooo, lut tLe carriage
sLone like a torcL, ano it oazzleo tLe eyes ol tLe rollers,
so tLat tLey coulo not lear to look at it.
1is golo! 1is golo! tLey crieo, ano tLey rusLeo lorvaro,
seizeo tLe Lorses, knockeo oovn tLe little postilion, tLe coacL-
man, ano tLe servants, ano pulleo little Geroa out ol tLe carriage.
Hov plump, Lov leautilul sLe is! SLe must Lave leen leo
on nut-kernels, saio tLe olo lemale roller, vLo Lao a long,
scrully learo, ano lusLy eyelrovs tLat Lung oovn over Ler
eyes. SLe is as gooo as a latteo laml! Hov nice sLe vill le!
Ano tLen sLe orev out a knile, tLe llaoe ol vLicL sLone so tLat
it vas quite oreaolul to leLolo.
CL! crieo tLe voman at tLe same moment. SLe Lao leen
litten in tLe ear ly Ler ovn little oaugLter, vLo Lung at Ler
lack, ano vLo vas so vilo ano unmanagealle, tLat it vas quite
amusing to see Ler. You naugLty cLilo! saio tLe motLer: ano
nov sLe Lao not time to kill Geroa.
SLe sLall play vitL me, saio tLe little roller cLilo. SLe
sLall give me Ler mull, ano Ler pretty lrock, sLe sLall sleep in
my leo! Ano tLen sLe gave Ler motLer anotLer lite, so tLat sLe
jumpeo, ano ran rouno vitL tLe pain, ano tLe Eollers laugLeo,
ano saio, ook, Lov sLe is oancing vitL tLe little one!
vill go into tLe carriage, saio tLe little roller maioen,
ano sLe voulo Lave Ler vill, lor sLe vas very spoileo ano
very Leaostrong. SLe ano Geroa got in, ano tLen avay tLey
orove over tLe stumps ol lelleo trees, oeeper ano oeeper into

1ii sNc qiiiN
tLe vooos. 1Le little roller maioen vas as tall as Geroa, lut
stronger, lroaoer-sLouloereo, ano ol oark complexion, Ler
eyes vere quite llack, tLey lookeo almost melancLoly. SLe
emlraceo little Geroa, ano saio, 1Ley sLall not kill you as
long as am not oispleaseo vitL you. You are, ooultless, a
Princess
o, saio little Geroa, vLo tLen relateo all tLat Lao Lap-
peneo to Ler, ano Lov mucL sLe careo alout little Iay.
1Le little roller maioen lookeo at Ler vitL a serious air,
noooeo Ler Leao sligLtly, ano saio, 1Ley sLall not kill you,
even il am angry vitL you: tLen vill oo it mysell, ano sLe
orieo Geroas eyes, ano put lotL Ler Lanos in tLe Lanosome
mull, vLicL vas so solt ano varm.
At lengtL tLe carriage stoppeo. 1Ley vere in tLe miost ol
tLe court-yaro ol a rollers castle. t vas lull ol cracks lrom
top to lottom, ano out ol tLe openings magpies ano rooks vere
ying, ano tLe great lull-oogs, eacL ol vLicL lookeo as il Le
coulo svallov a man, jumpeo up, lut tLey oio not lark, lor
tLat vas lorliooen.
n tLe miost ol tLe large, olo, smoking Lall lurnt a great
re on tLe stone oor. 1Le smoke oisappeareo unoer tLe stones,
ano Lao to seek its ovn egress. n an immense caloron soup vas
loiling, ano rallits ano Lares vere leing roasteo on a spit.
You sLall sleep vitL me to-nigLt, vitL all my animals,
saio tLe little roller maioen. 1Ley Lao sometLing to eat ano
orink, ano tLen vent into a corner, vLere strav ano carpets
vere lying. Besioe tLem, on latLs ano percLes, sat nearly a Lun-
oreo pigeons, all asleep, seemingly, lut yet tLey moveo a little
vLen tLe roller maioen came. 1Ley are all mine, saio sLe, at
;
1ixii 1~iis
tLe same time seizing one tLat vas next to Ler ly tLe legs ano
sLaking it so tLat its vings uttereo. Iiss it, crieo tLe little
girl, ano ung tLe pigeon in Geroas lace. Lp tLere is tLe ral-
lle ol tLe vooo, continueo sLe, pointing to several latLs vLicL
vere lasteneo lelore a Lole LigL up in tLe vall, tLats tLe ral-
lle, tLey voulo all y avay immeoiately, il tLey vere not vell
lasteneo in. Ano Lere is my oear olo Bac, ano sLe laio Lolo
ol tLe Lorns ol a reinoeer, tLat Lao a lrigLt copper ring rouno
its neck, ano vas tetLereo to tLe spot. We are olligeo to lock
tLis lellov in too, or Le voulo make Lis escape. very evening
tickle Lis neck vitL my sLarp knile, Le is so lrigLteneo at it!
ano tLe little girl orev lortL a long knile, lrom a crack in tLe
vall, ano let it glioe over tLe Eeinoeers neck. 1Le poor animal
kickeo, tLe girl laugLeo, ano pulleo Geroa into leo vitL Ler.
Lo you inteno to keep your knile vLile you sleep askeo
Geroa, looking at it ratLer learlully.
alvays sleep vitL tLe knile, saio tLe little roller
maioen. 1Lere is no knoving vLat may Lappen. But tell me
nov, once more, all alout little Iay, ano vLy you Lave starteo
oll in tLe vioe vorlo alone. Ano Geroa relateo all, lrom tLe
very leginning: tLe Wooo-pigeons cooeo alove in tLeir cage,
ano tLe otLers slept. 1Le little roller maioen vouno Ler arm
rouno Geroas neck, Lelo tLe knile in tLe otLer Lano, ano
snoreo so louo tLat everylooy coulo Lear Ler, lut Geroa coulo
not close Ler eyes, lor sLe oio not knov vLetLer sLe vas to live
or oie. 1Le rollers sat rouno tLe re, sang ano orank, ano tLe
olo lemale roller jumpeo alout so, tLat it vas quite oreaolul
lor Geroa to see Ler.
8
1ii sNc qiiiN
1Len tLe Wooo-pigeons saio, Coo! Coo! We Lave seen lit-
tle Iay! A vLite Len carries Lis sleoge, Le Limsell sat in tLe car-
riage ol tLe Snov ueen, vLo passeo Lere, oovn just over tLe
vooo, as ve lay in our nest. SLe llev upon us young ones, ano
all oieo except ve tvo. Coo! Coo!
WLat is tLat you say up tLere crieo little Geroa. WLere
oio tLe Snov ueen go to Lo you knov anytLing alout it
SLe is no ooult gone to aplano, lor tLere is alvays snov
ano ice tLere. Cnly ask tLe Eeinoeer, vLo is tetLereo tLere.
ce ano snov is tLere! 1Lere it is, glorious ano leautilul!
saio tLe Eeinoeer. Cne can spring alout in tLe large sLining
valleys! 1Le Snov ueen Las Ler summer-tent tLere, lut Ler
xeo alooe is LigL up tovaros tLe ortL Pole, on tLe slano
calleo Spitzlergen.
CL, Iay! Poor little Iay! sigLeo Geroa.
Lo you cLoose to le quiet saio tLe roller maioen. l
you oont, sLall make you.
n tLe morning Geroa tolo Ler all tLat tLe Wooo-pigeons
Lao saio, ano tLe little maioen lookeo very serious, lut sLe noo-
oeo Ler Leao, ano saio, 1Lats no mattertLats no matter. Lo
you knov vLere aplano lies! sLe askeo ol tLe Eeinoeer.
WLo sLoulo knov letter tLan saio tLe animal, ano Lis
eyes rolleo in Lis Leao. vas lorn ano lreo tLeretLere leapt
alout on tLe elos ol snov.
isten, saio tLe roller maioen to Geroa. You see tLat
tLe men are gone, lut my motLer is still Lere, ano vill remain.
Hovever, tovaros morning sLe takes a oraugLt out ol tLe large
ask, ano tLen sLe sleeps a little: tLen vill oo sometLing lor
you. SLe nov jumpeo out ol leo, ev to Ler motLer, vitL

1ixii 1~iis
Ler arms rouno Ler neck, ano pulling Ler ly tLe learo, saio,
Gooo morrov, my ovn sveet nanny-goat ol a motLer. Ano
Ler motLer took Lolo ol Ler nose, ano pincLeo it till it vas reo
ano llue, lut tLis vas all oone out ol pure love.
WLen tLe motLer Lao taken a sup at Ler ask, ano vas Lav-
ing a nap, tLe little roller maioen vent to tLe Eeinoeer, ano
saio, sLoulo very mucL like to give you still many a tickling
vitL tLe sLarp knile, lor tLen you are so amusing, Lovever,
vill untetLer you, ano Lelp you out, so tLat you may go lack
to aplano. But you must make gooo use ol your legs, ano take
tLis little girl lor me to tLe palace ol tLe Snov ueen, vLere
Ler playlellov is. You Lave Learo, suppose, all sLe saio, lor
sLe spoke louo enougL, ano you vere listening.
1Le Eeinoeer gave a louno lor joy. 1Le roller maioen
lilteo up little Geroa, ano took tLe precaution to lino Ler last
on tLe Eeinoeers lack, sLe even gave Ler a small cusLion to
sit on. Here are your vorsteo leggins, lor it vill le colo, lut
tLe mull sLall keep lor mysell, lor it is so very pretty. But
oo not visL you to le colo. Here is a pair ol lineo gloves ol
my motLers, tLey just reacL up to your ellov. Cn vitL tLem!
ov you look alout tLe Lanos just like my ugly olo motLer!
Ano Geroa vept lor joy.
cant lear to see you lretting, saio tLe little roller
maioen. 1Lis is just tLe time vLen you ougLt to look pleaseo.
Here are tvo loaves ano a Lam lor you, so tLat you vont
starve. 1Le lreao ano tLe meat vere lasteneo to tLe Eeinoeers
lack, tLe little maioen openeo tLe ooor, calleo in all tLe oogs,
ano tLen vitL Ler knile cut tLe rope tLat lasteneo tLe animal,
o
1ii sNc qiiiN
ano saio to Lim, ov, oll vitL you, lut take gooo care ol tLe
little girl!
Ano Geroa stretcLeo out Ler Lanos vitL tLe large vaooeo
gloves tovaros tLe roller maioen, ano saio, !arevell! ano
tLe Eeinoeer ev on over lusL ano lramlle tLrougL tLe great
vooo, over moor ano LeatL, as last as Le coulo go.
Losa! Losa! vas Learo in tLe sky. t vas just as il some-
looy vas sneezing.
1Lese are my olo nortLern-ligLts, saio tLe Eeinoeer,
look Lov tLey gleam! Ano on Le nov speo still quicker
oay ano nigLt on Le vent: tLe loaves vere consumeo, ano tLe
Lam too, ano nov tLey vere in aplano.
sIx1i s1cxv
The Lapland Woman and the Finland Woman
S
iooiNiv 1iiv s1cvvio lelore a little Louse, vLicL lookeo
very miseralle. 1Le rool reacLeo to tLe grouno, ano tLe
ooor vas so lov, tLat tLe lamily vere olligeo to creep upon
tLeir stomacLs vLen tLey vent in or out. olooy vas at Lome
except an olo aplano voman, vLo vas oressing sL ly tLe
ligLt ol an oil lamp. Ano tLe Eeinoeer tolo Ler tLe vLole ol
Geroas Listory, lut rst ol all Lis ovn, lor tLat seemeo to Lim
ol mucL greater importance. Geroa vas so cLilleo tLat sLe coulo
not speak.
Poor tLing, saio tLe aplano voman, you Lave lar to
run still. You Lave more tLan a Lunoreo miles to go lelore you
1
1ixii 1~iis
get to !inlano, tLere tLe Snov ueen Las Ler country-Louse,
ano lurns llue ligLts every evening. vill give you a lev voros
lrom me, vLicL vill vrite on a orieo Laleroine, lor paper
Lave none, tLis you can take vitL you to tLe !inlano voman,
ano sLe vill le alle to give you more inlormation tLan can.
WLen Geroa Lao varmeo Lersell, ano Lao eaten ano orunk,
tLe aplano voman vrote a lev voros on a orieo Laleroine,
leggeo Geroa to take care ol tLem, put Ler on tLe Eeinoeer,
louno Ler last, ano avay sprang tLe animal. Losa! Losa! vas
again Learo in tLe air, tLe most cLarming llue ligLts lurneo tLe
vLole nigLt in tLe sky, ano at last tLey came to !inlano. 1Ley
knockeo at tLe cLimney ol tLe !inlano voman, lor as to a ooor,
sLe Lao none.
1Lere vas sucL a Leat insioe tLat tLe !inlano voman
Lersell vent alout almost nakeo. SLe vas oiminutive ano oirty.
SLe immeoiately looseneo little Geroas clotLes, pulleo oll Ler
tLick gloves ano loots, lor otLervise tLe Leat voulo Lave leen
too greatano alter laying a piece ol ice on tLe Eeinoeers
Leao, reao vLat vas vritten on tLe sL-skin. SLe reao it tLree
times: sLe tLen knev it ly Leart, so sLe put tLe sL into tLe
cuploarolor it migLt very vell le eaten, ano sLe never tLrev
anytLing avay.
1Len tLe Eeinoeer relateo Lis ovn story rst, ano alter-
varos tLat ol little Geroa, ano tLe !inlano voman vinkeo Ler
eyes, lut saio notLing.
You are so clever, saio tLe Eeinoeer, you can, knov,
tvist all tLe vinos ol tLe vorlo togetLer in a knot. l tLe seaman
loosens one knot, tLen Le Las a gooo vino, il a secono, tLen it
llovs pretty stily, il Le unooes tLe tLiro ano lourtL, tLen it
:
1ii sNc qiiiN
rages so tLat tLe lorests are upturneo. Will you give tLe little
maioen a potion, tLat sLe may possess tLe strengtL ol tvelve
men, ano vanquisL tLe Snov ueen
1Le strengtL ol tvelve men! saio tLe !inlano voman.
MucL gooo tLat voulo le! 1Len sLe vent to a cuploaro,
ano orev out a large skin rolleo up. WLen sLe Lao unrolleo it,
strange cLaracters vere to le seen vritten tLereon, ano tLe !in-
lano voman reao at sucL a rate tLat tLe perspiration trickleo
oovn Ler loreLeao.
But tLe Eeinoeer leggeo so Laro lor little Geroa, ano Geroa
lookeo so imploringly vitL tearlul eyes at tLe !inlano voman,
tLat sLe vinkeo, ano orev tLe Eeinoeer asioe into a corner,
vLere tLey vLispereo togetLer, vLile tLe animal got some lresL
ice put on Lis Leao.
1is true little Iay is at tLe Snov ueens, ano nos ev-
erytLing tLere quite to Lis taste, ano Le tLinks it tLe very lest
place in tLe vorlo, lut tLe reason ol tLat is, Le Las a splinter ol
glass in Lis eye, ano in Lis Leart. 1Lese must le got out rst, otL-
ervise Le vill never go lack to mankino, ano tLe Snov ueen
vill retain Ler pover over Lim.
But can you give little Geroa notLing to take vLicL vill
enoue Ler vitL pover over tLe vLole
can give Ler no more pover tLan vLat sLe Las alreaoy.
Lont you see Lov great it is Lont you see Lov men ano an-
imals are lorceo to serve Ler, Lov vell sLe gets tLrougL tLe
vorlo larelooteo SLe must not Lear ol Ler pover lrom us,
tLat pover lies in Ler Leart, lecause sLe is a sveet ano inno-
cent cLilo! l sLe cannot get to tLe Snov ueen ly Lersell, ano
rio little Iay ol tLe glass, ve cannot Lelp Ler. 1vo miles Lence

1ixii 1~iis
tLe garoen ol tLe Snov ueen legins, tLitLer you may carry
tLe little girl. Set Ler oovn ly tLe large lusL vitL reo lerries,
stanoing in tLe snov, oont stay talking, lut Lasten lack as last
as possille. Ano nov tLe !inlano voman placeo little Geroa
on tLe Eeinoeers lack, ano oll Le ran vitL all imaginalle speeo.
CL! Lave not got my loots! Lave not lrougLt my
gloves! crieo little Geroa. SLe remarkeo sLe vas vitLout tLem
lrom tLe cutting lrost, lut tLe Eeinoeer oareo not stano still,
on Le ran till Le came to tLe great lusL vitL tLe reo lerries, ano
tLere Le set Geroa oovn, kisseo Ler moutL, vLile large lrigLt
tears oveo lrom tLe animals eyes, ano tLen lack Le vent as
last as possille. 1Lere stooo poor Geroa nov, vitLout sLoes
or gloves, in tLe very mioole ol oreaolul icy !inlano.
SLe ran on as last as sLe coulo. 1Lere tLen came a vLole
regiment ol snov-akes, lut tLey oio not lall lrom alove, ano
tLey vere quite lrigLt ano sLining lrom tLe Aurora Borealis.
1Le akes ran along tLe grouno, ano tLe nearer tLey came tLe
larger tLey grev. Geroa vell rememlereo Lovlarge ano strange
tLe snov-akes appeareo vLen sLe once sav tLem tLrougL a
magnilying-glass, lut nov tLey vere large ano terric in an-
otLer mannertLey vere all alive. 1Ley vere tLe outposts ol
tLe Snov ueen. 1Ley Lao tLe most vonorous sLapes, some
lookeo like large ugly porcupines, otLers like snakes knotteo
togetLer, vitL tLeir Leaos sticking out, ano otLers, again, like
small lat lears, vitL tLe Lair stanoing on eno: all vere ol oaz-
zling vLitenessall vere living snov-akes.
ittle Geroa repeateo tLe oros Prayer. 1Le colo vas so in-
tense tLat sLe coulo see Ler ovn lreatL, vLicL came like smoke
out ol Ler moutL. t grevtLicker ano tLicker, ano took tLe lorm

1ii sNc qiiiN
ol little angels, tLat grev more ano more vLen tLey toucLeo
tLe eartL. All Lao Lelms on tLeir Leaos, ano lances ano sLielos
in tLeir Lanos, tLey increaseo in numlers, ano vLen Geroa Lao
nisLeo tLe oros Prayer, sLe vas surrounoeo ly a vLole le-
gion. 1Ley tLrust at tLe Lorrio snov-akes vitL tLeir spears,
so tLat tLey evinto a tLousano pieces, ano little Geroa valkeo
on lravely ano in security. 1Le angels patteo Ler Lanos ano leet,
ano tLen sLe lelt tLe colo less, ano vent on quickly tovaros tLe
palace ol tLe Snov ueen.
But nov ve sLall see Lov Iay lareo. He never tLougLt ol
Geroa, ano least ol all tLat sLe vas stanoing lelore tLe palace.
siviN1i s1cxv
What Took Place in the Palace of the Snow Queen,
and what Happened Afterward
1
ii ~iis ci tLe palace vere ol oriving snov, ano tLe vin-
oovs ano ooors ol cutting vinos. 1Lere vere more tLan
a Lunoreo Lalls tLere, accoroing as tLe snov vas oriven ly tLe
vinos. 1Le largest vas many miles in extent, all vere ligLteo
up ly tLe poverlul Aurora Borealis, ano all vere so large, so
empty, so icy colo, ano so resplenoent! MirtL never reigneo
tLere, tLere vas never even a little lear-lall, vitL tLe storm
lor music, vLile tLe polar lears vent on tLeir Lino legs ano
sLoveo oll tLeir steps. ever a little tea-party ol vLite young
laoy loxes, vast, colo, ano empty vere tLe Lalls ol tLe Snov
ueen. 1Le nortLern-ligLts sLone vitL sucL precision tLat one
,
1ixii 1~iis
coulo tell exactly vLen tLey vere at tLeir LigLest or lovest oe-
gree ol lrigLtness. n tLe mioole ol tLe empty, enoless Lall ol
snov, vas a lrozen lake, it vas crackeo in a tLousano pieces,
lut eacL piece vas so like tLe otLer, tLat it seemeo tLe vork
ol a cunning articer. n tLe mioole ol tLis lake sat tLe Snov
ueen vLen sLe vas at Lome, ano tLen sLe saio sLe vas sitting
in tLe Mirror ol Lnoerstanoing, ano tLat tLis vas tLe only one
ano tLe lest tLing in tLe vorlo.
ittle Iay vas quite llue, yes nearly llack vitL colo, lut
Le oio not olserve it, lor sLe Lao kisseo avay all leeling ol colo
lrom Lis looy, ano Lis Leart vas a lump ol ice. He vas orag-
ging along some pointeo at pieces ol ice, vLicL Le laio to-
getLer in all possille vays, lor Le vanteo to make sometLing
vitL tLem, just as ve Lave little at pieces ol vooo to make ge-
ometrical gures vitL, calleo tLe CLinese Puzzle. Iay maoe all
sorts ol gures, tLe most complicateo, lor it vas an ice-puzzle
lor tLe unoerstanoing. n Lis eyes tLe gures vere extraoroinar-
ily leautilul, ano ol tLe utmost importance, lor tLe lit ol glass
vLicL vas in Lis eye causeo tLis. He louno vLole gures vLicL
representeo a vritten voro, lut Le never coulo manage to rep-
resent just tLe voro Le vanteotLat voro vas eternity, ano
tLe Snov ueen Lao saio, l you can oiscover tLat gure, you
sLall le your ovn master, ano vill make you a present ol tLe
vLole vorlo ano a pair ol nev skates. But Le coulo not no it
out.
am going nov to varm lanos, saio tLe Snov ueen.
must Lave a look oovn into tLe llack calorons. t vas tLe vol-
canoes Vesuvius ano tna tLat sLe meant. vill just give tLem
a coating ol vLite, lor tLat is as it ougLt to le, lesioes, it is gooo

1ii sNc qiiiN
lor tLe oranges ano tLe grapes. Ano tLen avay sLe ev, ano
Iay sat quite alone in tLe empty Lalls ol ice tLat vere miles long,
ano lookeo at tLe llocks ol ice, ano tLougLt ano tLougLt till Lis
skull vas almost crackeo. 1Lere Le sat quite lenumleo ano mo-
tionless, one voulo Lave imagineo Le vas lrozen to oeatL.
Suooenly little Geroa steppeo tLrougL tLe great portal into
tLe palace. 1Le gate vas lormeo ol cutting vinos, lut Geroa re-
peateo Ler evening prayer, ano tLe vinos vere laio as tLougL
tLey slept, ano tLe little maioen entereo tLe vast, empty, colo
Lalls. 1Lere sLe leLelo Iay: sLe recogniseo Lim, ev to em-
lrace Lim, ano crieo out, Ler arms rmly Loloing LimtLe vLile,
Iay, sveet little Iay! Have tLen louno you at last
But Le sat quite still, lenumleo ano colo. 1Len little Geroa
sLeo lurning tears, ano tLey lell on Lis losom, tLey penetrateo
to Lis Leart, tLey tLaveo tLe lumps ol ice, ano consumeo tLe
splinters ol tLe looking-glass, Le lookeo at Ler, ano sLe sang tLe
Lymn:
1Le rose in tLe valley is llooming so sveet, Ano angels
oesceno tLere tLe cLiloren to greet.
Hereupon Iay lurst into tears, Le vept so mucL tLat
tLe splinter rolleo out ol Lis eye, ano Le recogniseo Ler, ano
sLouteo, Geroa, sveet little Geroa! WLere Lave you leen
so long Ano vLere Lave leen He lookeo rouno Lim.
Hov colo it is Lere! saio Le. Hov empty ano colo! Ano
Le Lelo last ly Geroa, vLo laugLeo ano vept lor joy. t vas so
leautilul, tLat even tLe llocks ol ice oanceo alout lor joy, ano
vLen tLey vere tireo ano laio tLemselves oovn, tLey lormeo
exactly tLe letters vLicL tLe Snov ueen Lao tolo Lim to no
;
1ixii 1~iis
out, so nov Le vas Lis ovn master, ano Le voulo Lave tLe
vLole vorlo ano a pair ol nev skates into tLe largain.
Geroa kisseo Lis cLeeks, ano tLey grev quite llooming,
sLe kisseo Lis eyes, ano tLey sLone like Ler ovn, sLe kisseo Lis
Lanos ano leet, ano Le vas again vell ano merry. 1Le Snov
ueen migLt come lack as soon as sLe likeo, tLere stooo Lis
oiscLarge vritten in resplenoent masses ol ice.
1Ley took eacL otLer ly tLe Lano, ano vanoereo lortL out
ol tLe large Lall, tLey talkeo ol tLeir olo granomotLer, ano ol tLe
roses upon tLe rool, ano vLerever tLey vent, tLe vinos ceaseo
raging, ano tLe sun lurst lortL. Ano vLen tLey reacLeo tLe lusL
vitL tLe reo lerries, tLey louno tLe Eeinoeer vaiting lor tLem.
He Lao lrougLt anotLer, a young one, vitL Lim, vLose uooer
vas lleo vitL milk, vLicL Le gave to tLe little ones, ano kisseo
tLeir lips. 1Ley tLen carrieo Iay ano Geroarst to tLe !in-
lano voman, vLere tLey varmeo tLemselves in tLe varmroom,
ano learneo vLat tLey vere to oo on tLeir journey Lome, ano
tLey vent to tLe aplano voman, vLo maoe some nev clotLes
lor tLem ano repaireo tLeir sleoges.
1Le Eeinoeer ano tLe young Lino leapeo along lesioe
tLem, ano accompanieo tLem to tLe lounoary ol tLe country.
Here tLe rst vegetation peepeo lortL, Lere Iay ano Geroa
took leave ol tLe aplano voman. !arevell! !arevell! tLey
all saio. Ano tLe rst green luos appeareo, tLe rst little liros
legan to cLirrup, ano out ol tLe vooo came, rioing on a mag-
nicent Lorse, vLicL Geroa knev (it vas one ol tLe leaoers
in tLe goloen carriage), a young oamsel vitL a lrigLt-reo cap
on Ler Leao, ano armeo vitL pistols. t vas tLe little roller
maioen, vLo, tireo ol leing at Lome, Lao oetermineo to make
8
1ii sNc qiiiN
a journey to tLe nortL, ano altervaros in anotLer oirection, il
tLat oio not please Ler. SLe recogniseo Geroa immeoiately, ano
Geroa knev Ler too. t vas a joylul meeting.
You are a ne lellov lor tramping alout, saio sLe to little
Iay, sLoulo like to knov, laitL, il you oeserve tLat one sLoulo
run lrom one eno ol tLe vorlo to tLe otLer lor your sake
But Geroa patteo Ler cLeeks, ano inquireo lor tLe Prince
ano Princess.
1Ley are gone alroao, saio tLe otLer.
But tLe Eaven askeo little Geroa.
CL! 1Le Eaven is oeao, sLe ansvereo. His tame sveet-
Leart is a vioov, ano vears a lit ol llack vorsteo rouno Ler
leg, sLe laments most piteously, lut its all mere talk ano stull!
ov tell me vLat youve leen ooing ano Lov you manageo to
catcL Lim.
Ano Geroa ano Iay lotL tolo tLeir story.
Ano ScLnipp-scLnapp-scLnurre-lasselurre, saio tLe rol-
ler maioen, ano sLe took tLe Lanos ol eacL, ano promiseo tLat
il sLe sLoulo some oay pass tLrougL tLe tovn vLere tLey liveo,
sLe voulo come ano visit tLem, ano tLen avay sLe rooe. Iay
ano Geroa took eacL otLers Lano: it vas lovely spring veatLer,
vitL alunoance ol overs ano ol veroure. 1Le cLurcL-lells
rang, ano tLe cLiloren recogniseo tLe LigL tovers, ano tLe large
tovn, it vas tLat in vLicL tLey ovelt. 1Ley entereo ano Las-
teneo up to tLeir granomotLers room, vLere everytLing vas
stanoing as lormerly. 1Le clock saio tick! tack! ano tLe n-
ger moveo rouno, lut as tLey entereo, tLey remarkeo tLat tLey
vere nov grovn up. 1Le roses on tLe leaos Lung llooming in
at tLe open vinoov, tLere stooo tLe little cLilorens cLairs, ano

1ixii 1~iis
Iay ano Geroa sat oovn on tLem, Loloing eacL otLer ly tLe
Lano, tLey lotL Lao lorgotten tLe colo empty splenoor ol tLe
Snov ueen, as tLougL it Lao leen a oream. 1Le granomotLer
sat in tLe lrigLt sunsLine, ano reao alouo lrom tLe Bille: Ln-
less ye lecome as little cLiloren, ye cannot enter tLe kingoom
ol Leaven.
Ano Iay ano Geroa lookeo in eacL otLers eyes, ano all at
once tLey unoerstooo tLe olo Lymn:
1Le rose in tLe valley is llooming so sveet, Ano angels
oesceno tLere tLe cLiloren to greet.
1Lere sat tLe tvo grovn-up persons, grovn-up, ano yet
cLiloren, cLiloren at least in Leart, ano it vas summer-time,
summer, glorious summer!
,o
1Le Eeo SLoes
1
iixi ~s cNci a little girl vLo vas very pretty ano oeli-
cate, lut in summer sLe vas lorceo to run alout vitL lare
leet, sLe vas so poor, ano in vinter vear very large voooen
sLoes, vLicL maoe Ler little insteps quite reo, ano tLat lookeo
so oangerous!
n tLe mioole ol tLe village liveo olo Lame SLoemaker, sLe
sat ano seveo togetLer, as vell as sLe coulo, a little pair ol sLoes
out ol olo reo strips ol clotL, tLey vere very clumsy, lut it vas
a kino tLougLt. 1Ley vere meant lor tLe little girl. 1Le little girl
vas calleo Iaren.
Cn tLe very oay Ler motLer vas lurieo, Iaren receiveo tLe
reo sLoes, ano vore tLem lor tLe rst time. 1Ley vere certainly
not intenoeo lor mourning, lut sLe Lao no otLers, ano vitL
stockingless leet sLe lolloveo tLe poor strav coln in tLem.
Suooenly a large olo carriage orove up, ano a large olo laoy
sat in it: sLe lookeo at tLe little girl, lelt compassion lor Ler, ano
tLen saio to tLe clergyman:
Here, give me tLe little girl. vill aoopt Ler!
Ano Iaren lelieveo all tLis Lappeneo on account ol tLe reo
sLoes, lut tLe olo laoy tLougLt tLey vere Lorrille, ano tLey
,1
1ixii 1~iis
vere lurnt. But Iaren Lersell vas cleanly ano nicely oresseo,
sLe must learn to reao ano sev, ano people saio sLe vas a nice
little tLing, lut tLe looking-glass saio: 1Lou art more tLan nice,
tLou art leautilul!
ov tLe queen once travelleo tLrougL tLe lano, ano sLe
Lao Ler little oaugLter vitL Ler. Ano tLis little oaugLter vas a
princess, ano people streameo to tLe castle, ano Iaren vas tLere
also, ano tLe little princess stooo in Ler ne vLite oress, in a
vinoov, ano let Lersell le stareo at, sLe Lao neitLer a train nor
a goloen crovn, lut splenoio reo morocco sLoes. 1Ley vere
certainly lar Lanosomer tLan tLose Lame SLoemaker Lao maoe
lor little Iaren. otLing in tLe vorlo can le compareo vitL reo
sLoes.
ov Iaren vas olo enougL to le conrmeo, sLe Lao nev
clotLes ano vas to Lave nev sLoes also. 1Le ricL sLoemaker
in tLe city took tLe measure ol Ler little loot. 1Lis took place
at Lis Louse, in Lis room, vLere stooo large glass-cases, lleo
vitL elegant sLoes ano lrilliant loots. All tLis lookeo cLarming,
lut tLe olo laoy coulo not see vell, ano so Lao no pleasure in
tLem. n tLe miost ol tLe sLoes stooo a pair ol reo ones, just
like tLose tLe princess Lao vorn. Hov leautilul tLey vere! 1Le
sLoemaker saio also tLey Lao leen maoe lor tLe cLilo ol a count,
lut Lao not tteo.
1Lat must le patent leatLer! saio tLe olo laoy. 1Ley
sLine so!
Yes, tLey sLine! saio Iaren, ano tLey tteo, ano vere
lougLt, lut tLe olo laoy knev notLing alout tLeir leing reo,
else sLe voulo never Lave alloveo Iaren to Lave gone in reo
sLoes to le conrmeo. Yet sucL vas tLe case.
,:
1ii xio sicis
verylooy lookeo at Ler leet, ano vLen sLe steppeo
tLrougL tLe cLancel ooor on tLe cLurcL pavement, it seemeo
to Ler as il tLe olo gures on tLe tomls, tLose portraits ol olo
preacLers ano preacLers vives, vitL still rulls, ano long llack
oresses, xeo tLeir eyes on Ler reo sLoes. Ano sLe tLougLt
only ol tLem as tLe clergyman laio Lis Lano upon Ler Leao,
ano spoke ol tLe Loly laptism, ol tLe covenant vitL Goo, ano
Lov sLe sLoulo le nov a matureo CLristian, ano tLe organ
pealeo so solemnly, tLe sveet cLilorens voices sang, ano tLe
olo music-oirectors sang, lut Iaren only tLougLt ol Ler reo
sLoes.
n tLe alternoon, tLe olo laoy Learo lrom everyone tLat tLe
sLoes Lao leen reo, ano sLe saio tLat it vas very vrong ol Iaren,
tLat it vas not at all lecoming, ano tLat in luture Iaren sLoulo
only go in llack sLoes to cLurcL, even vLen sLe sLoulo le oloer.
1Le next Sunoay tLere vas tLe sacrament, ano Iaren
lookeo at tLe llack sLoes, lookeo at tLe reo oneslookeo at
tLem again, ano put on tLe reo sLoes.
1Le sun sLone gloriously, Iaren ano tLe olo laoy valkeo
along tLe patL tLrougL tLe corn, it vas ratLer ousty tLere.
At tLe cLurcL ooor stooo an olo soloier vitL a crutcL, ano
vitL a vonoerlully long learo, vLicL vas more reo tLan vLite,
ano Le loveo to tLe grouno, ano askeo tLe olo laoy vLetLer Le
migLt oust Ler sLoes. Ano Iaren stretcLeo out Ler little loot.
See, vLat leautilul oancing sLoes! saio tLe soloier. Sit
rm vLen you oance, ano Le put Lis Lano out tovaros tLe
soles.
Ano tLe olo laoy gave tLe olo soloier alms, ano vent into
tLe cLurcL vitL Iaren.
,
1ixii 1~iis
Ano all tLe people in tLe cLurcL lookeo at Iarens reo
sLoes, ano all tLe pictures, ano as Iaren knelt lelore tLe altar,
ano raiseo tLe cup to Ler lips, sLe only tLougLt ol tLe reo sLoes,
ano tLey seemeo to svim in it, ano sLe lorgot to sing Ler psalm,
ano sLe lorgot to pray, Cur !atLer in Heaven!
ovall tLe people vent out ol cLurcL, ano tLe olo laoy got
into Ler carriage. Iaren raiseo Ler loot to get in alter Ler, vLen
tLe olo soloier saio,
ook, vLat leautilul oancing sLoes!
Ano Iaren coulo not Lelp oancing a step or tvo, ano vLen
sLe legan Ler leet continueo to oance, it vas just as tLougL tLe
sLoes Lao pover over tLem. SLe oanceo rouno tLe cLurcL cor-
ner, sLe coulo not leave oll, tLe coacLman vas olligeo to run al-
ter ano catcL Lolo ol Ler, ano Le lilteo Ler in tLe carriage, lut Ler
leet continueo to oance so tLat sLe troo on tLe olo laoy oreao-
lully. At lengtL sLe took tLe sLoes oll, ano tLen Ler legs Lao
peace.
1Le sLoes vere placeo in a closet at Lome, lut Iaren coulo
not avoio looking at tLem.
ov tLe olo laoy vas sick, ano it vas saio sLe coulo not
recover. SLe must le nurseo ano vaiteo upon, ano tLere vas no
one vLose outy it vas so mucL as Iarens. But tLere vas a great
lall in tLe city, to vLicL Iaren vas inviteo. SLe lookeo at tLe
olo laoy, vLo coulo not recover, sLe lookeo at tLe reo sLoes,
ano sLe tLougLt tLere coulo le no sin in it, sLe put on tLe reo
sLoes, sLe migLt oo tLat also, sLe tLougLt. But tLen sLe vent to
tLe lall ano legan to oance.
WLen sLe vanteo to oance to tLe rigLt, tLe sLoes voulo
oance to tLe lelt, ano vLen sLe vanteo to oance up tLe room,
,
1ii xio sicis
tLe sLoes oanceo lack again, oovn tLe steps, into tLe street, ano
out ol tLe city gate. SLe oanceo, ano vas lorceo to oance straigLt
out into tLe gloomy vooo.
1Len it vas suooenly ligLt up among tLe trees, ano sLe lan-
cieo it must le tLe moon, lor tLere vas a lace, lut it vas tLe olo
soloier vitL tLe reo learo, Le sat tLere, noooeo Lis Leao, ano
saio, ook, vLat leautilul oancing sLoes!
1Len sLe vas terrieo, ano vanteo to ing oll tLe reo sLoes,
lut tLey clung last, ano sLe pulleo oovn Ler stockings, lut tLe
sLoes seemeo to Lave grovn to Ler leet. Ano sLe oanceo, ano
must oance, over elos ano meaoovs, in rain ano sunsLine, ly
nigLt ano oay, lut at nigLt it vas tLe most learlul.
SLe oanceo over tLe cLurcLyaro, lut tLe oeao oio not
oancetLey Lao sometLing letter to oo tLan to oance. SLe
visLeo to seat Lersell on a poor mans grave, vLere tLe litter
tansy grev, lut lor Ler tLere vas neitLer peace nor rest, ano
vLen sLe oanceo tovaros tLe open cLurcL ooor, sLe sav an an-
gel stanoing tLere. He vore long, vLite garments, Le Lao vings
vLicL reacLeo lrom Lis sLouloers to tLe eartL, Lis countenance
vas severe ano grave, ano in Lis Lano Le Lelo a svoro, lroao
ano glittering.
Lance sLalt tLou! saio Le. Lance in tLy reo sLoes till
tLou art pale ano colo! 1ill tLy skin sLrivels up ano tLou art a
skeleton! Lance sLalt tLou lromooor to ooor, ano vLere prouo,
vain cLiloren ovell, tLou sLalt knock, tLat tLey may Lear tLee
ano tremlle! Lance sLalt tLou!
Mercy! crieo Iaren. But sLe oio not Lear tLe angels re-
ply, lor tLe sLoes carrieo Ler tLrougL tLe gate into tLe elos,
across roaos ano lrioges, ano sLe must keep ever oancing.
,,
1ixii 1~iis
Cne morning sLe oanceo past a ooor vLicL sLe vell knev.
WitLin sounoeo a psalm, a coln, oeckeo vitL overs, vas
lorne lortL. 1Len sLe knev tLat tLe olo laoy vas oeao, ano lelt
tLat sLe vas alanooneo ly all, ano conoemneo ly tLe angel ol
Goo.
SLe oanceo, ano sLe vas lorceo to oance tLrougL tLe
gloomy nigLt. 1Le sLoes carrieo Ler over stack ano stone, sLe
vas torn till sLe lleo, sLe oanceo over tLe LeatL till sLe came to
a little Louse. Here, sLe knev, ovelt tLe executioner, ano sLe
tappeo vitL Ler ngers at tLe vinoov, ano saio, Come out!
Come out! cannot come in, lor am lorceo to oance!
Ano tLe executioner saio, 1Lou oost not knov vLo am,
lancy strike lao peoples Leaos oll, ano Lear tLat my axe
rings!
Lont strike my Leao oll! saio Iaren. 1Len cant re-
pent ol my sins! But strike oll my leet in tLe reo sLoes!
Ano tLen sLe conlesseo Ler entire sin, ano tLe executioner
struck oll Ler leet vitL tLe reo sLoes, lut tLe sLoes oanceo avay
vitL tLe little leet across tLe elo into tLe oeep vooo.
Ano Le carveo out little voooen leet lor Ler, ano crutcLes,
taugLt Ler tLe psalm criminals alvays sing, ano sLe kisseo tLe
Lano vLicL Lao vieloeo tLe axe, ano vent over tLe LeatL.
ov Lave sullereo enougL lor tLe reo sLoes! saio sLe.
ov vill go into tLe cLurcL tLat people may see me! Ano
sLe Lasteneo tovaros tLe cLurcL ooor: lut vLen sLe vas near
it, tLe reo sLoes oanceo lelore Ler, ano sLe vas terrieo, ano
turneo rouno. 1Le vLole veek sLe vas unLappy, ano vept
many litter tears, lut vLen Sunoay returneo, sLe saio, Well,
nov Lave sullereo ano struggleo enougL! really lelieve am
,
1ii xio sicis
as gooo as many a one vLo sits in tLe cLurcL, ano Lolos Ler
Leao so LigL!
Ano avay sLe vent lololy, lut sLe Lao not got lartLer tLan
tLe cLurcLyaro gate lelore sLe savtLe reo sLoes oancing lelore
Ler, ano sLe vas lrigLteneo, ano turneo lack, ano repenteo ol
Ler sin lrom Ler Leart.
Ano sLe vent to tLe parsonage, ano leggeo tLat tLey voulo
take Ler into service, sLe voulo le very inoustrious, sLe saio,
ano voulo oo everytLing sLe coulo, sLe oio not care alout tLe
vages, only sLe visLeo to Lave a Lome, ano le vitL gooo peo-
ple. Ano tLe clergymans vile vas sorry lor Ler ano took Ler
into service, ano sLe vas inoustrious ano tLougLtlul. SLe sat still
ano listeneo vLen tLe clergyman reao tLe Bille in tLe evenings.
All tLe cLiloren tLougLt a great oeal ol Ler, lut vLen tLey spoke
ol oress, ano granoeur, ano leauty, sLe sLook Ler Leao.
1Le lolloving Sunoay, vLen tLe lamily vas going to
cLurcL, tLey askeo Ler vLetLer sLe voulo not go vitL tLem,
lut sLe glanceo sorrovlully, vitL tears in Ler eyes, at Ler
crutcLes. 1Le lamily vent to Lear tLe voro ol Goo, lut sLe
vent alone into Ler little cLamler, tLere vas only room lor a
leo ano cLair to stano in it, ano Lere sLe sat oovn vitL Ler
Prayer-Book, ano vLilst sLe reao vitL a pious mino, tLe vino
lore tLe strains ol tLe organ tovaros Ler, ano sLe raiseo Ler
tearlul countenance, ano saio, C Goo, Lelp me!
Ano tLe sun sLone so clearly, ano straigLt lelore Ler stooo
tLe angel ol Goo in vLite garments, tLe same sLe Lao seen tLat
nigLt at tLe cLurcL ooor, lut Le no longer carrieo tLe sLarp
svoro, lut in its steao a splenoio green spray, lull ol roses.
Ano Le toucLeo tLe ceiling vitL tLe spray, ano tLe ceiling rose
,;
1ixii 1~iis
so LigL, ano vLere Le Lao toucLeo it tLere gleameo a goloen
star. Ano Le toucLeo tLe valls, ano tLey vioeneo out, ano sLe
sav tLe organ vLicL vas playing, sLe sav tLe olo pictures ol
tLe preacLers ano tLe preacLers vives. 1Le congregation sat in
cusLioneo seats, ano sang out ol tLeir Prayer-Books. !or tLe
cLurcL itsell Lao come to tLe poor girl in Ler narrov cLamler,
or else sLe Lao come into tLe cLurcL. SLe sat in tLe pev vitL
tLe clergymans lamily, ano vLen tLey Lao enoeo tLe psalm
ano lookeo up, tLey noooeo ano saio, t is rigLt tLat tLou art
come!
t vas tLrougL mercy! sLe saio.
Ano tLe organ pealeo, ano tLe cLilorens voices in tLe cLoir
sounoeo so sveet ano solt! 1Le clear sunsLine streameo so
varmly tLrougL tLe vinoov into tLe pev vLere Iaren sat!
Her Leart vas so lull ol sunsLine, peace, ano joy, tLat it lroke.
Her soul ev on tLe sunsLine to Goo, ano tLere no one askeo
alter tLe red shoes.
,8
Contents
The Emperors New Clothes
The Snow Queen
!irst Story
Which Treats of a Mirror and of the Splinters 1o
Secono Story
A Little Boy and a Little Girl . . . . . . . . 1:
1Liro Story
Of the Flower-Garden At the Old
Womans Who Understood Witchcraft . . . 1
!ourtL Story
The Prince and Princess . . . . . . . . . . . :8
!iltL Story
The Little Robber Maiden . . . . . . . . .
SixtL Story
The Lapland Woman and the Finland
Woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
,
1ixii 1~iis
SeventL Story
What Took Place in the Palace of the Snow
Queen, and what Happened Afterward . . ,
The Red Shoes
Contents
o
Composeo lor cx ,:1 N~xx~1Ivi 1iicxv ~No vci1Ics
using Stempel Garamono 1 Pro in 11 points.

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi