安徒生童话-第16章
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！
〃And then the living； mamma；〃 said Kaela。
〃Yes； indeed；〃 she replied； 〃no such a thing as a respectable meatsoup… their cookery is miserable stuff。〃
The journey had also tired Kaela； but she was always fatigued；that was the worst of it。 So they sent for Sophy； and she was takeninto the house to reside with them； and her presence there was a greatadvantage。 Mamma…in…law acknowledged that Sophy was not only aclever housewife； but well…informed and acplished； though thatcould hardly be expected in a person of her limited means。 She wasalso a generous…hearted； faithful girl； she showed that thoroughlywhile Kaela lay sick； fading away。 When the casket is everything；the casket should be strong； or else all is over。 And all was overwith the casket； for Kaela died。
〃She was beautiful；〃 said her mother； 〃she was quite differentfrom the beauties they call 'antiques；' for they are so damaged。 Abeauty ought to be perfect； and Kaela was a perfect beauty。〃
Alfred wept； and mamma wept； and they both wore mourning。 Theblack dress suited mamma very well； and she wore mourning the longest。She had also to experience another grief in seeing Alfred marry again；marry Sophy； who was nothing at all to look at。 〃He's gone to the veryextreme；〃 said mamma…in…law； 〃he has gone from the most beautiful tothe ugliest； and he has forgotten his first wife。 Men have noconstancy。 My husband was a very different man；… but then he diedbefore me。〃
〃'Pygmalion loved his Galatea；' was in the song they sung at myfirst wedding；〃 said Alfred； 〃I once fell in love with a beautifulstatue； which awoke to life in my arms； but the kindred soul； which isa gift from heaven； the angel who can feel and sympathize with andelevate us； I have not found and won till now。 You came； Sophy； not inthe glory of outward beauty； though you are even fairer than isnecessary。 The chief thing still remains。 You came to teach thesculptor that his work is but dust and clay only； an outward form madeof a material that decays； and that what we should seek to obtain isthe ethereal essence of mind and spirit。 Poor Kaela！ our life wasbut as a meeting by the way…side； in yonder world； where we shall knoweach other from a union of mind； we shall be but mere acquaintances。〃
〃That was not a loving speech；〃 said Sophy； 〃nor spoken like aChristian。 In a future state； where there is neither marrying norgiving in marriage； but where； as you say； souls are attracted to eachother by sympathy； there everything beautiful develops itself； andis raised to a higher state of existence： her soul will acquire suchpleteness that it may harmonize with yours； even more than mine；and you will then once more utter your first rapturous exclamationof your love； 'Beautiful； most beautiful！'〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
BY THE ALMSHOUSE WINDOW
by Hans Christian Andersen
NEAR the grass…covered rampart which encircles Copenhagen lies agreat red house。 Balsams and other flowers greet us from the long rowsof windows in the house； whose interior is sufficientlypoverty…stricken； and poor and old are the people who inhabit it。The building is the Warton Almshouse。
Look！ at the window there leans an old maid。 She plucks thewithered leaf from the balsam； and looks at the grass…covered rampart；on which many children are playing。 What is the old maid thinkingof？ A whole life drama is unfolding itself before her inward gaze。
〃The poor little children； how happy they are… how merrily theyplay and romp together！ What red cheeks and what angels' eyes！ butthey have no shoes nor stockings。 They dance on the green rampart；just on the place where； according to the old story； the ground alwayssank in； and where a sportive； frolicsome child had been lured bymeans of flowers； toys and sweetmeats into an open grave ready dug forit； and which was afterwards closed over the child； and from thatmoment； the old story says； the ground gave way no longer； the moundremained firm and fast； and was quickly covered with the green turf。The little people who now play on that spot know nothing of the oldtale； else would they fancy they heard a child crying deep below theearth； and the dewdrops on each blade of grass would be to themtears of woe。 Nor do they know anything of the Danish King who here；in the face of the ing foe； took an oath before all his tremblingcourtiers that he would hold out with the citizens of his capital； anddie here in his nest； they know nothing of the men who have foughthere； or of the women who from here have drenched with boiling waterthe enemy； clad in white； and 'biding in the snow to surprise thecity。
〃No！ the poor little ones are playing with light； childishspirits。 Play on； play on； thou little maiden！ Soon the years wille… yes； those glorious years。 The priestly hands have been laidon the candidates for confirmation； hand in hand they walk on thegreen rampart。 Thou hast a white frock on； it has cost thy mother muchlabor； and yet it is only cut down for thee out of an old largerdress！ You will also wear a red shawl； and what if it hang too fardown？ People will only see how large； how very large it is。 You arethinking of your dress； and of the Giver of all good… so glorious isit to wander on the green rampart！
〃And the years roll by； they have no lack of dark days； but youhave your cheerful young spirit； and you have gained a friend… youknow not how。 You met； oh； how often！ You walk together on the rampartin the fresh spring； on the high days and holidays； when all the worlde out to walk upon the ramparts； and all the bells of the churchsteeples seem to be singing a song of praise for the ing spring。
〃Scarcely have the violets e forth； but there on the rampart；just opposite the beautiful Castle of Rosenberg； there is a treebright with the first green buds。 Every year this tree sends forthfresh green shoots。 Alas！ It is not so with the human heart！ Darkmists； more in number than those that cover the northern skies；cloud the human heart。 Poor child！ thy friend's bridal chamber is ablack coffin； and thou beest an old maid。 From the almshousewindow； behind the balsams； thou shalt look on the merry children atplay； and shalt see thine own history renewed。〃
And that is the life drama that passes before the old maid whileshe looks out upon the rampart； the green； sunny rampart； where thechildren； with their red cheeks and bare shoeless feet； arerejoicing merrily； like the other free little birds。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
CHILDREN'S PRATTLE
by Hans Christian Andersen
AT a rich merchant's house there was a children's party； and thechildren of rich and great people were there。 The merchant was alearned man； for his father had sent him to college； and he had passedhis examination。 His father had been at first only a cattle dealer；but always honest and industrious； so that he had made money； andhis son； the merchant； had managed to increase his store。 Clever as hewas； he had also a heart； but there was less said of his heart than ofhis money。 All descriptions of people visited at the merchant's house；well born； as well as intellectual； and some who possessed neitherof these remendations。
Now it was a children's party； and there was children's prattle；which always is spoken freely from the heart。 Among them was abeautiful little girl； who was terribly proud； but this had beentaught her by the servants； and not by her parents； who were far toosensible people。
Her father was groom of the Chambers； which is a high office atcourt； and she knew it。 〃I am a child of the court；〃 she said； now shemight just as well have been a child of the cellar； for no one canhelp his birth； and then she told the other children that she waswell…born； and said that no one who was not well…born could rise inthe world。 It was no use to read and be industrious； for if a personwas not well…born； he could never achieve anything。 〃And those whosenames end with 'sen；'〃 said she； 〃can never be anything at all。 Wemust put our arms akimbo； and make the elbow quite pointed； so as tokeep these 'sen' people at a great distance。〃 And then she stuck outher pretty little arms； and made the elbows quite pointed； to show howit was to be done； and her little arms were very pretty； for she was asweet…looking child。
But the little daughter of the merchant became very angry atthis speech； for her father's name was Petersen； and she knew that thename ended in 〃sen；〃 and therefore she said as proudly as she could；〃But my papa can buy a hundred dollars' worth of bonbons； and givethem away to children。 Can your papa do that？〃
〃Yes； and my papa；〃 said the little daughter of the editor of apaper； 〃my papa can put your papa and everybody's papa into thenewspaper。 All sorts of people are afraid of him； my mamma says； forhe can do as he likes with the paper。〃 And the little maiden lookedexceedingly proud； as if she had been a real princess； who may beexpected to look proud。
But outside the door； which stood ajar； was a poor boy； peepingthrough the crack of the door。 He was of such a lowly station thathe had not been allowed even to enter the room。 He had been turningthe spit for the cook； and she had given him permission to standbehind the door and peep i
