安徒生童话-第105章

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nches　pierced　the　clouds；　whichfloated　beneath　them　like　troops　of　birds　of　passage；　or　large　whiteswans；　every　leaf　seemed　gifted　with　sight；　as　if　it　possessed　eyes　tosee。　The　stars　became　visible　in　broad　daylight；　large　andsparkling；　like　clear　and　gentle　eyes。　They　recalled　to　the　memory　thewell…known　look　in　the　eyes　of　a　child；　or　in　the　eyes　of　lovers　whohad　once　met　beneath　the　branches　of　the　old　oak。　These　were　wonderfuland　happy　moments　for　the　old　tree；　full　of　peace　and　joy；　and　yet；amidst　all　this　happiness；　the　tree　felt　a　yearning；　longing　desirethat　all　the　other　trees；　bushes；　herbs；　and　flowers　beneath　him；might　be　able　also　to　rise　higher；　as　he　had　done；　and　to　see　all　thissplendor；　and　experience　the　same　happiness。　The　grand；　majestic　oakcould　not　be　quite　happy　in　the　midst　of　his　enjoyment；　while　allthe　rest；　both　great　and　small；　were　not　with　him。　And　this　feeling　ofyearning　trembled　through　every　branch；　through　every　leaf；　aswarmly　and　fervently　as　if　they　had　been　the　fibres　of　a　humanheart。　The　summit　of　the　tree　waved　to　and　fro；　and　bent　downwardsas　if　in　his　silent　longing　he　sought　for　something。　Then　there　cameto　him　the　fragrance　of　thyme；　followed　by　the　more　powerful　scentof　honeysuckle　and　violets；　and　he　fancied　he　heard　the　note　of　thecuckoo。　At　length　his　longing　was　satisfied。　Up　through　the　cloudscame　the　green　summits　of　the　forest　trees；　and　beneath　him；　the　oaksaw　them　rising；　and　growing　higher　and　higher。　Bush　and　herb　shotupward；　and　some　even　tore　themselves　up　by　the　roots　to　rise　morequickly。　The　birch…tree　was　the　quickest　of　all。　Like　a　lightningflash　the　slender　stem　shot　upwards　in　a　zigzag　line；　the　branchesspreading　around　it　like　green　gauze　and　banners。　Every　native　ofthe　wood；　even　to　the　brown　and　feathery　rushes；　grew　with　the　rest；while　the　birds　ascended　with　the　melody　of　song。　On　a　blade　of　grass；that　fluttered　in　the　air　like　a　long；　green　ribbon；　sat　agrasshopper；　cleaning　his　wings　with　his　legs。　May　beetles　hummed；　thebees　murmured；　the　birds　sang；　each　in　his　own　way；　the　air　was　filledwith　the　sounds　of　song　and　gladness。〃

〃But　where　is　the　little　blue　flower　that　grows　by　the　water？〃asked　the　oak；　〃and　the　purple　bell…flower；　and　the　daisy？〃　You　seethe　oak　wanted　to　have　them　all　with　him。

〃Here　we　are；　we　are　here；〃　sounded　in　voice　and　song。

〃But　the　beautiful　thyme　of　last　summer；　where　is　that？　and　thelilies…of…the…valley；　which　last　year　covered　the　earth　with　theirbloom？　and　the　wild　apple…tree　with　its　lovely　blossoms；　and　all　theglory　of　the　wood；　which　has　flourished　year　after　year？　even　what　mayhave　but　now　sprouted　forth　could　be　with　us　here。〃

〃We　are　here；　we　are　here；〃　sounded　voices　higher　in　the　air；　asif　they　had　flown　there　beforehand。

〃Why　this　is　beautiful；　too　beautiful　to　be　believed；〃　said　theoak　in　a　joyful　tone。　〃I　have　them　all　here；　both　great　and　small；　notone　has　been　forgotten。　Can　such　happiness　be　imagined？〃　It　seemedalmost　impossible。

〃In　heaven　with　the　Eternal　God；　it　can　be　imagined；　and　it　ispossible；〃　sounded　the　reply　through　the　air。

And　the　old　tree；　as　it　still　grew　upwards　and　onwards；　feltthat　his　roots　were　loosening　themselves　from　the　earth。

〃It　is　right　so；　it　is　best；〃　said　the　tree；　〃no　fetters　hold　menow。　I　can　fly　up　to　the　very　highest　point　in　light　and　glory。　Andall　I　love　are　with　me；　both　small　and　great。　All…　all　are　here。〃

Such　was　the　dream　of　the　old　oak：　and　while　he　dreamed；　amighty　storm　came　rushing　over　land　and　sea；　at　the　holy　Christmastime。　The　sea　rolled　in　great　billows　towards　the　shore。　There　was　acracking　and　crushing　heard　in　the　tree。　The　root　was　torn　from　theground　just　at　the　moment　when　in　his　dream　he　fancied　it　was　beingloosened　from　the　earth。　He　fell…　his　three　hundred　and　sixty…fiveyears　were　passed　as　the　single　day　of　the　Ephemera。　On　the　morning　ofChristmas…day；　when　the　sun　rose；　the　storm　had　ceased。　From　all　thechurches　sounded　the　festive　bells；　and　from　every　hearth；　even　of　thesmallest　hut；　rose　the　smoke　into　the　blue　sky；　like　the　smoke　fromthe　festive　thank…offerings　on　the　Druids'　altars。　The　sea　graduallybecame　calm；　and　on　board　a　great　ship　that　had　withstood　thetempest　during　the　night；　all　the　flags　were　displayed；　as　a　tokenof　joy　and　festivity。　〃The　tree　is　down！　The　old　oak；…　our　landmark　onthe　coast！〃　exclaimed　the　sailors。　〃It　must　have　fallen　in　the　stormof　last　night。　Who　can　replace　it？　Alas！　no　one。〃　This　was　a　funeraloration　over　the　old　tree；　short；　but　well…meant。　There　it　laystretched　on　the　snow…covered　shore；　and　over　it　sounded　the　notesof　a　song　from　the　ship…　a　song　of　Christmas　joy；　and　of　theredemption　of　the　soul　of　man；　and　of　eternal　life　through　Christ'satoning　blood。

　　〃Sing　aloud　on　the　happy　morn；

　　All　is　fulfilled；　for　Christ　is　born；

　　With　songs　of　joy　let　us　loudly　sing；

　　'Hallelujahs　to　Christ　our　King。'〃Thus　sounded　the　old　Christmas　carol；　and　every　one　on　board　theship　felt　his　thoughts　elevated；　through　the　song　and　the　prayer；　evenas　the　old　tree　had　felt　lifted　up　in　its　last；　its　beautiful　dream　onthat　Christmas　morn。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　THE　LAST　PEARL

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

WE　are　in　a　rich；　happy　house；　where　the　master；　the　servants；　thefriends　of　the　family　are　full　of　joy　and　felicity。　For　on　this　daya　son　and　heir　has　been　born；　and　mother　and　child　are　doing　well。　Thelamp　in　the　bed…chamber　had　been　partly　shaded；　and　the　windows　werecovered　with　heavy　curtains　of　some　costly　silken　material。　The　carpetwas　thick　and　soft；　like　a　covering　of　moss。　Everything　invited　toslumber；　everything　had　a　charming　look　of　repose；　and　so　the　nursehad　discovered；　for　she　slept；　and　well　she　might　sleep；　whileeverything　around　her　told　of　happiness　and　blessing。　The　guardianangel　of　the　house　leaned　against　the　head　of　the　bed；　while　overthe　child　was　spread；　as　it　were；　a　　of　shining　stars；　and　eachstar　was　a　pearl　of　happiness。　All　the　good　stars　of　life　hadbrought　their　gifts　to　the　newly　born；　here　sparkled　health；　wealth；fortune；　and　love；　in　short；　there　seemed　to　be　everything　for　whichman　could　wish　on　earth。

〃Everything　has　been　bestowed　here；〃　said　the　guardian　angel。

〃No；　not　everything；〃　said　a　voice　near　him…　the　voice　of　the　goodangel　of　the　child；　〃one　fairy　has　not　yet　brought　her　gift；　but　shewill；　even　if　years　should　elapse；　she　will　bring　her　gift；　it　isthe　last　pearl　that　is　wanting。〃

〃Wanting！〃　cried　the　guardian　angel；　〃nothing　must　be　wantinghere；　and　if　it　is　so；　let　us　fetch　it；　let　us　seek　the　powerfulfairy；　let　us　go　to　her。〃

〃She　will　e；　she　will　e　some　day　unsought！〃

〃Her　pearl　must　not　be　missing；　it　must　be　there；　that　thecrown；　when　worn；　may　be　plete。　Where　is　she　to　be　found？　Wheredoes　she　dwell？〃　said　the　guardian　angel。　〃Tell　me；　and　I　will　procurethe　pearl。〃

〃Will　you　do　that？〃　replied　the　good　angel　of　the　child。　〃Then　Iwill　lead　you　to　her　directly；　wherever　she　may　be。　She　has　no　abidingplace；　she　rules　in　the　palace　of　the　emperor；　sometimes　she　entersthe　peasant's　humble　cot；　she　passes　no　one　without　leaving　a　trace　ofher　presence。　She　brings　her　gift　with　her；　whether　it　is　a　world　or　abauble。　To　this　child　she　must　e。　You　think　that　to　wait　for　thistime　would　be　long　and　useless。　Well；　then；　let　us　go　for　thispearl…　the　only　one　lacking　amidst　all　this　wealth。〃

Then　hand…in…hand　they　floated　away　to　the　spot　where　the　fairywas　now　lingering。　It　was　in　a　large　house　with　dark　windows　and　emptyrooms；　in　which　a　peculiar　stillness　reigned。　A　whole　row　of　windowsstood　open；　so　that　the　rude　wind　could　enter　at　its　pleasure；　and　thelong　white　curtains　waved　to　and　fro　in　the　current　of　air。　In　thecentre　of　one　of　the　rooms　stood　an　open　coffin；　in　which　lay　the　bodyof　a　woman；　still　in　the　bloom　of　youth　and　very　beautiful。　Freshroses　were　scattered　over　her。　The　delicate　folded　hands　and　the　nobleface　glorified　in　death　by　the　solemn；　earnest　look；　which　spoke　of　anentrance　into　a　better　world；　were　alone　visible。　Around　the　coffinstood　the　husband　and　children；　a　whole　troop；　the　youngest　in　thefather's　arms。　They　were　e　to　take　a　last　farewell　look　of　theirmother。　The　husband　kissed　her　hand；　which　now　lay　like　a　witheredleaf；　but　which　a　short　time　before　had　been　diligently　employed　indeeds　of　love　for　them　all。　Tears　of　sorrow　rolled　down　theircheeks；　and　fell　in　heavy　drops　on　the　floor；　but　not　a　word　wasspoken。　The　silence　which　reigned　here　expressed　a　world　of　grief。With　silent　steps；　still　sobbing；　they　left　the　room。　A　burninglight　remained　in　the　room；　and　a　long；　red　wick　rose　far　above　theflame；　which　fluttered　in　the　draught　of　air。　Strange　men　came　inand　placed　the　lid　of　the　coffin　over　the　dead；　and　drove　the　nailsfirmly　in；　while　the　blows　of　the　hammer　resounded　through　thehouse；　and　echoed　in　the　hearts　that　were　bleeding。

〃Whither　art　thou　leading　me？〃　asked　the　guardian　angel。　〃Heredwells　no　fairy　whose　pearl　could　be　counted　amongst　the　best　gifts　oflife。〃

〃Yes；　she　is　here；　here　in　this　sacred　hour；〃　replied　the　angel；pointing　to　a　corner　of　the　room；　and　there；…　where　in　herlife…time；　the　mother　had　taken　her　seat　amidst　flowers　andpict