按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ribbons fluttering from their hats； are sitting upon it swinging。
Their brother who is taller than they are； stands in the swing； he has
one arm round the rope； to steady himself； in one hand he holds a
little bowl； and in the other a clay pipe； he is blowing bubbles。 As
the swing goes on； the bubbles fly upward； reflecting the most
beautiful varying colors。 The last still hangs from the bowl of the
pipe； and sways in the wind。 On goes the swing； and then a little
black dog comes running up。 He is almost as light as the bubble； and
he raises himself on his hind legs； and wants to be taken into the
swing； but it does not stop； and the dog falls； then he barks and gets
angry。 The children stoop towards him； and the bubble bursts。 A
swinging plank； a light sparkling foam picture；… that is my story。〃
〃It may be all very pretty what you are telling me；〃 said little
Gerda； 〃but you speak so mournfully； and you do not mention little Kay
at all。〃
What do the hyacinths say？ 〃There were three beautiful sisters；
fair and delicate。 The dress of one was red； of the second blue； and
of the third pure white。 Hand in hand they danced in the bright
moonlight； by the calm lake； but they were human beings； not fairy
elves。 The sweet fragrance attracted them； and they disappeared in the
wood； here the fragrance became stronger。 Three coffins； in which
lay the three beautiful maidens； glided from the thickest part of
the forest across the lake。 The fire…flies flew lightly over them；
like little floating torches。 Do the dancing maidens sleep； or are
they dead？ The scent of the flower says that they are corpses。 The
evening bell tolls their knell。〃
〃You make me quite sorrowful；〃 said little Gerda； 〃your perfume is
so strong； you make me think of the dead maidens。 Ah！ is little Kay
really dead then？ The roses have been in the earth； and they say no。〃
〃Cling； clang；〃 tolled the hyacinth bells。 〃We are not tolling for
little Kay； we do not know him。 We sing our song； the only one we
know。〃
Then Gerda went to the buttercups that were glittering amongst the
bright green leaves。
〃You are little bright suns；〃 said Gerda； 〃tell me if you know
where I can find my play…fellow。〃
And the buttercups sparkled gayly； and looked again at Gerda。 What
song could the buttercups sing？ It was not about Kay。
〃The bright warm sun shone on a little court； on the first warm
day of spring。 His bright beams rested on the white walls of the
neighboring house； and close by bloomed the first yellow flower of the
season； glittering like gold in the sun's warm ray。 An old woman sat
in her arm chair at the house door； and her granddaughter； a poor
and pretty servant…maid came to see her for a short visit。 When she
kissed her grandmother there was gold everywhere： the gold of the
heart in that holy kiss； it was a golden morning； there was gold in
the beaming sunlight； gold in the leaves of the lowly flower； and on
the lips of the maiden。 There； that is my story；〃 said the buttercup。
〃My poor old grandmother！〃 sighed Gerda； 〃she is longing to see
me； and grieving for me as she did for little Kay； but I shall soon go
home now； and take little Kay with me。 It is no use asking the
flowers； they know only their own songs； and can give me no
information。〃
And then she tucked up her little dress； that she might run
faster； but the narcissus caught her by the leg as she was jumping
over it； so she stopped and looked at the tall yellow flower； and
said； 〃Perhaps you may know something。〃
Then she stooped down quite close to the flower； and listened； and
what did he say？
〃I can see myself； I can see myself；〃 said the narcissus。 〃Oh； how
sweet is my perfume！ Up in a little room with a bow window； stands a
little dancing girl； half undressed； she stands sometimes on one
leg； and sometimes on both； and looks as if she would tread the
whole world under her feet。 She is nothing but a delusion。 She is
pouring water out of a tea…pot on a piece of stuff which she holds
in her hand； it is her bodice。 'Cleanliness is a good thing；' she
says。 Her white dress hangs on a peg； it has also been washed in the
tea…pot； and dried on the roof。 She puts it on； and ties a
saffron…colored handkerchief round her neck； which makes the dress
look whiter。 See how she stretches out her legs； as if she were
showing off on a stem。 I can see myself； I can see myself。〃
〃What do I care for all that；〃 said Gerda； 〃you need not tell me
such stuff。〃 And then she ran to the other end of the garden。 The door
was fastened； but she pressed against the rusty latch； and it gave
way。 The door sprang open； and little Gerda ran out with bare feet
into the wide world。 She looked back three times； but no one seemed to
be following her。 At last she could run no longer； so she sat down
to rest on a great stone； and when she looked round she saw that the
summer was over； and autumn very far advanced。 She had known nothing
of this in the beautiful garden； where the sun shone and the flowers
grew all the year round。
〃Oh； how I have wasted my time？〃 said little Gerda； 〃it is autumn。
I must not rest any longer；〃 and she rose up to go on。 But her
little feet were wounded and sore； and everything around her looked so
cold and bleak。 The long willow…leaves were quite yellow。 The
dew…drops fell like water； leaf after leaf dropped from the trees； the
sloe…thorn alone still bore fruit； but the sloes were sour； and set
the teeth on edge。 Oh； how dark and weary the whole world appeared！
FOURTH STORY
THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS
Gerda was obliged to rest again； and just opposite the place where
she sat； she saw a great crow come hopping across the snow toward her。
He stood looking at her for some time； and then he wagged his head and
said； 〃Caw； caw； good…day； good…day。〃 He pronounced the words as
plainly as he could； because he meant to be kind to the little girl；
and then he asked her where she was going all alone in the wide world。
The word alone Gerda understood very well； and knew how much it
expressed。 So then she told the crow the whole story of her life and
adventures； and asked him if he had seen little Kay。
The crow nodded his head very gravely； and said； 〃Perhaps I
have… it may be。〃
〃No！ Do you think you have？〃 cried little Gerda； and she kissed
the crow； and hugged him almost to death with joy。
〃Gently； gently；〃 said the crow。 〃I believe I know。 I think it may
be little Kay； but he has certainly forgotten you by this time for the
princess。〃
〃Does he live with a princess？〃 asked Gerda。
〃Yes； listen；〃 replied the crow； 〃but it is so difficult to
speak your language。 If you understand the crows' language then I
can explain it better。 Do you？〃
〃No； I have never learnt it；〃 said Gerda； but my grandmother
understands it； and used to speak it to me。 I wish I had learnt it。〃
〃It does not matter；〃 answered the crow； 〃I will explain as well
as I can； although it will be very badly done；〃 and he told her what
he had heard。 〃In this kingdom where we now are；〃 said he； 〃there
lives a princess； who is so wonderfully clever that she has read all
the newspapers in the world； and forgotten them too； although she is
so clever。 A short time ago； as she was sitting on her throne； which
people say is not such an agreeable seat as is often supposed； she
began to sing a song which commences in these words：
'Why should I not be married？'
'Why not indeed？' said she； and so she determined to marry if she
could find a husband who knew what to say when he was spoken to； and
not one who could only look grand； for that was so tiresome。 Then
she assembled all her court ladies together at the beat of the drum；
and when they heard of her intentions they were very much pleased。 'We
are so glad to hear it；' said they； we were talking about it ourselves
the other day。' You may believe that every word I tell you is true；〃
said the crow； 〃for I have a tame sweetheart who goes fre