安徒生童话-第138章

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　council；　who　were　to　decide　if　he　were　fit　for　further　serviceor　not；…　whether　the　lamp　was　good　enough　to　be　used　to　light　theinhabitants　of　one　of　the　suburbs；　or　in　the　country；　at　some　factory；and　if　not；　it　would　be　sent　at　once　to　an　iron　foundry；　to　bemelted　down。　In　this　latter　case　it　might　be　turned　into　anything；　andhe　wondered　very　much　whether　he　would　then　be　able　to　remember　thathe　had　once　been　a　street　lamp；　and　it　troubled　him　exceedingly。Whatever　might　happen；　one　thing　seemed　certain；　that　he　would　beseparated　from　the　watchman　and　his　wife；　whose　family　he　lookedupon　as　his　own。　The　lamp　had　first　been　hung　up　on　that　veryevening　that　the　watchman；　then　a　robust　young　man；　had　entered　uponthe　duties　of　his　office。　Ah；　well；　it　was　a　very　long　time　sinceone　became　a　lamp　and　the　other　a　watchman。　His　wife　had　a　littlepride　in　those　days；　she　seldom　condescended　to　glance　at　the　lamp；excepting　when　she　passed　by　in　the　evening；　never　in　the　daytime。　Butin　later　years；　when　all　these；…　the　watchman；　the　wife；　and　the　lamp…had　grown　old；　she　had　attended　to　it；　cleaned　it；　and　supplied　itwith　oil。　The　old　people　were　thoroughly　honest；　they　had　nevercheated　the　lamp　of　a　single　drop　of　the　oil　provided　for　it。

This　was　the　lamp's　last　night　in　the　street；　and　to…morrow　hemust　go　to　the　town…hall；…　two　very　dark　things　to　think　of。　No　wonderhe　did　not　burn　brightly。　Many　other　thoughts　also　passed　throughhis　mind。　How　many　persons　he　had　lighted　on　their　way；　and　how　muchhe　had　seen；　as　much；　very　likely；　as　the　mayor　and　corporationthemselves！　None　of　these　thoughts　were　uttered　aloud；　however；　for　hewas　a　good；　honorable　old　lamp；　who　would　not　willingly　do　harm　to　anyone；　especially　to　those　in　authority。　As　many　things　were　recalled　tohis　mind；　the　light　would　flash　up　with　sudden　brightness；　he　had；at　such　moments；　a　conviction　that　he　would　be　remembered。　〃Therewas　a　handsome　young　man　once；〃　thought　he；　〃it　is　certainly　a　longwhile　ago；　but　I　remember　he　had　a　little　note；　written　on　pinkpaper　with　a　gold　edge；　the　writing　was　elegant；　evidently　a　lady'shand：　twice　he　read　it　through；　and　kissed　it；　and　then　looked　up　atme；　with　eyes　that　said　quite　plainly；　'I　am　the　happiest　of　men！'Only　he　and　I　know　what　was　written　on　this　his　first　letter　fromhis　lady…love。　Ah；　yes；　and　there　was　another　pair　of　eyes　that　Iremember；…　it　is　really　wonderful　how　the　thoughts　jump　from　one　thingto　another！　A　funeral　passed　through　the　street；　a　young　and　beautifulwoman　lay　on　a　bier；　decked　with　garlands　of　flowers；　and　attendedby　torches；　which　quite　overpowered　my　light。　All　along　the　streetstood　the　people　from　the　houses；　in　crowds；　ready　to　join　theprocession。　But　when　the　torches　had　passed　from　before　me；　and　Icould　look　round；　I　saw　one　person　alone；　standing；　leaning　against　mypost；　and　weeping。　Never　shall　I　forget　the　sorrowful　eyes　that　lookedup　at　me。〃　These　and　similar　reflections　occupied　the　old　street　lamp；on　this　the　last　time　that　his　light　would　shine。　The　sentry；　whenhe　is　relieved　from　his　post；　knows　at　least　who　will　succeed　him；　andmay　whisper　a　few　words　to　him；　but　the　lamp　did　not　know　hissuccessor；　or　he　could　have　given　him　a　few　hints　respecting　rain；or　mist；　and　could　have　informed　him　how　far　the　moon's　rays　wouldrest　on　the　pavement；　and　from　which　side　the　wind　generally　blew；　andso　on。

On　the　bridge　over　the　canal　stood　three　persons；　who　wished　toremend　themselves　to　the　lamp；　for　they　thought　he　could　give　theoffice　to　whomsoever　he　chose。　The　first　was　a　herring's　head；　whichcould　emit　light　in　the　darkness。　He　remarked　that　it　would　be　a　greatsaving　of　oil　if　they　placed　him　on　the　lamp…post。　Number　two　was　apiece　of　rotten　wood；　which　also　shines　in　the　dark。　He　consideredhimself　descended　from　an　old　stem；　once　the　pride　of　the　forest。The　third　was　a　glow…worm；　and　how　he　found　his　way　there　the　lampcould　not　imagine；　yet　there　he　was；　and　could　really　give　light　aswell　as　the　others。　But　the　rotten　wood　and　the　herring's　headdeclared　most　solemnly；　by　all　they　held　sacred；　that　the　glow…wormonly　gave　light　at　certain　times；　and　must　not　be　allowed　to　petewith　themselves。　The　old　lamp　assured　them　that　not　one　of　themcould　give　sufficient　light　to　fill　the　position　of　a　street　lamp；　butthey　would　believe　nothing　he　said。　And　when　they　discovered　that　hehad　not　the　power　of　naming　his　successor；　they　said　they　were　veryglad　to　hear　it；　for　the　lamp　was　too　old　and　worn…out　to　make　aproper　choice。

At　this　moment　the　wind　came　rushing　round　the　corner　of　thestreet；　and　through　the　air…holes　of　the　old　lamp。　〃What　is　this　Ihear？〃　said　he；　〃that　you　are　going　away　to…morrow？　Is　this　eveningthe　last　time　we　shall　meet？　Then　I　must　present　you　with　a　farewellgift。　I　will　blow　into　your　brain；　so　that　in　future　you　shall　notonly　be　able　to　remember　all　that　you　have　seen　or　heard　in　thepast；　but　your　light　within　shall　be　so　bright；　that　you　shall　be　ableto　understand　all　that　is　said　or　done　in　your　presence。〃

〃Oh；　that　is　really　a　very；　very　great　gift；〃　said　the　old　lamp；〃I　thank　you　most　heartily。　I　only　hope　I　shall　not　be　melted　down。〃

〃That　is　not　likely　to　happen　yet；〃　said　the　wind；　〃and　I　willalso　blow　a　memory　into　you；　so　that　should　you　receive　othersimilar　presents　your　old　age　will　pass　very　pleasantly。〃

〃That　is　if　I　am　not　melted　down；〃　said　the　lamp。　〃But　should　I　inthat　case　still　retain　my　memory？〃

〃Do　be　reasonable；　old　lamp；〃　said　the　wind；　puffing　away。

At　this　moment　the　moon　burst　forth　from　the　clouds。　〃What　willyou　give　the　old　lamp？〃　asked　the　wind。

〃I　can　give　nothing；〃　she　replied；　〃I　am　on　the　wane；　and　no　lampshave　ever　given　me　light　while　I　have　frequently　shone　upon　them。〃　Andwith　these　words　the　moon　hid　herself　again　behind　the　clouds；　thatshe　might　be　saved　from　further　importunities。　Just　then　a　drop　fellupon　the　lamp；　from　the　roof　of　the　house；　but　the　drop　explained　thathe　was　a　gift　from　those　gray　clouds；　and　perhaps　the　best　of　allgifts。　〃I　shall　perate　you　so　thoroughly；〃　he　said；　〃that　youwill　have　the　power　of　being　rusty；　and；　if　you　wish　it；　to　crumbleinto　dust　in　one　night。〃

But　this　seemed　to　the　lamp　a　very　shabby　present；　and　the　windthought　so　too。　〃Does　no　one　give　any　more？　Will　no　one　give　anymore？〃　shouted　the　breath　of　the　wind；　as　loud　as　it　could。　Then　abright　falling　star　came　down；　leaving　a　broad；　luminous　streak　behindit。

〃What　was　that？〃　cried　the　herring's　head。　〃Did　not　a　star　fall？　Ireally　believe　it　went　into　the　lamp。　Certainly；　when　such　high…bornpersonages　try　for　the　office；　we　may　as　well　say　'Good…night；'　and　gohome。〃

And　so　they　did；　all　three；　while　the　old　lamp　threw　a　wonderfullystrong　light　all　around　him。

〃This　is　a　glorious　gift；〃　said　he；　〃the　bright　stars　havealways　been　a　joy　to　me；　and　have　always　shone　more　brilliantly　than　Iever　could　shine；　though　I　have　tried　with　my　whole　might；　and　nowthey　have　noticed　me；　a　poor　old　lamp；　and　have　sent　me　a　gift　thatwill　enable　me　to　see　clearly　everything　that　I　remember；　as　if　itstill　stood　before　me；　and　to　be　seen　by　all　those　who　love　me。　Andherein　lies　the　truest　pleasure；　for　joy　which　we　cannot　share　withothers　is　only　half　enjoyed。〃

〃That　sentiment　does　you　honor；〃　said　the　wind；　〃but　for　thispurpose　wax　lights　will　be　necessary。　If　these　are　not　lighted　in　you；your　particular　faculties　will　not　benefit　others　in　the　least。　Thestars　have　not　thought　of　this；　they　suppose　that　you　and　everyother　light　must　be　a　wax　taper：　but　I　must　go　down　now。〃　So　he　laidhimself　to　rest。

〃Wax　tapers；　indeed！〃　said　the　lamp；　〃I　have　never　yet　hadthese；　nor　is　it　likely　I　ever　shall。　If　I　could　only　be　sure　of　notbeing　melted　down！〃

The　next　day。　Well；　perhaps　we　had　better　pass　over　the　nextday。　The　evening　had　e；　and　the　lamp　was　resting　in　a　grandfather'schair；　and　guess　where！　Why；　at　the　old　watchman's　house。　He　hadbegged；　as　a　favor；　that　the　mayor　and　corporation　would　allow　himto　keep　the　street　lamp；　in　consideration　of　his　long　and　faithfulservice；　as　he　had　himself　hung　it　up　and　lit　it　on　the　day　he　firstmenced　his　duties；　four…and…twenty　years　ago。　He　looked　upon　italmost　as　his　own　child；　he　had　no　children；　so　the　lamp　was　givento　him。　There　it　lay　in　the　great　arm…chair　near　to　the　warm　stove。　Itseemed　almost　as　if　it　had　grown　larger；　for　it　appeared　quite　to　fillthe　chair。　The　old　people　sat　at　their　supper；　casting　friendlyglances　at　the　old　lamp；　whom　they　would　willingly　have　admitted　toa　place　at　the　table。　It　is　quite　true　that　they　dwelt　in　a　cellar；two　yards　deep　in　the　earth；　and　they　had　to　cross　a　stone　passageto　get　to　their　room；　but　within　it　was　warm　and　fortable　andstrips　of　list　had　been　nailed　round　the　door。　The　bed　and　thelittle　window　had　curtains；　and　everything　looked　clean　and　neat。　Onthe　window　seat　stood　two　curious　flower…pots　which　a　sailor；　namedChristian；　had　brought　over　from　the　East　or　West　Indies。　They　were　ofclay；　and　in　the　form　of　two　elephants；　with　open　backs；　they　werehollow　and　filled　with　earth；　and　through　the　open　space　flowersbloomed。　In　one　grew　some　very　fine　chives　or　leeks；　this　was　thekitchen　garden。　The　other　elephant；　which　contained　a　beautifulgeranium；　they　cal