安徒生童话-第203章
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is a long way to the forest。 But whenpersons reside in a place and get used to it； they can always findsomething beautiful in it；… something for which they long； even in themost charming spot in the world which is not home。 It must be ownedthat there are in the outskirts of the town some humble gardens on thebanks of a little stream that runs on towards the sea； and in summerthese gardens look very pretty。 Such indeed was the opinion of twolittle children； whose parents were neighbors； and who played in thesegardens； and forced their way from one garden to the other through thegooseberry…bushes that divided them。 In one of the gardens grew anelder…tree； and in the other an old willow； under which the childrenwere very fond of playing。 They had permission to do so； althoughthe tree stood close by the stream； and they might easily havefallen into the water； but the eye of God watches over the littleones； otherwise they would never be safe。 At the same time； thesechildren were very careful not to go too near the water； indeed； theboy was so afraid of it； that in the summer； while the otherchildren were splashing about in the sea； nothing could entice himto join them。 They jeered and laughed at him； and he was obliged tobear it all as patiently as he could。 Once the neighbor's little girl；Joanna； dreamed that she was sailing in a boat； and the boy… Knudwas his name… waded out in the water to join her； and the water cameup to his neck； and at last closed over his head； and in a moment hehad disappeared。 When little Knud heard this dream； it seemed as if hecould not bear the mocking and jeering again； how could he dare togo into the water now； after Joanna's dream！ He never would do it； forthis dream always satisfied him。 The parents of these children； whowere poor； often sat together while Knud and Joanna played in thegardens or in the road。 Along this road… a row of willow…trees hadbeen planted to separate it from a ditch on one side of it。 Theywere not very handsome trees； for the tops had been cut off；however； they were intended for use； and not for show。 The oldwillow…tree in the garden was much handsomer； and therefore thechildren were very fond of sitting under it。 The town had a largemarket…place； and at the fair…time there would be whole rows； likestreets； of tents and booths containing silks and ribbons； and toysand cakes； and everything that could be wished for。 There werecrowds of people； and sometimes the weather would be rainy； and splashwith moisture the woollen jackets of the peasants； but it did notdestroy the beautiful fragrance of the honey…cakes and gingerbreadwith which one booth was filled； and the best of it was； that theman who sold these cakes always lodged during the fair…time withlittle Knud's parents。 So every now and then he had a present ofgingerbread； and of course Joanna always had a share。 And； moredelightful still； the gingerbread seller knew all sorts of things totell and could even relate stories about his own gingerbread。 So oneevening he told them a story that made such a deep impression on thechildren that they never forgot it； and therefore I think we may aswell hear it too； for it is not very long。
〃Once upon a time；〃 said he； 〃there lay on my counter twogingerbread cakes； one in the shape of a man wearing a hat； theother of a maiden without a bon。 Their faces were on the sidethat was uppermost； for on the other side they looked verydifferent。 Most people have a best side to their characters； whichthey take care to show to the world。 On the left； just where the heartis； the gingerbread man had an almond stuck in to represent it； butthe maiden was honey cake all over。 They were placed on the counter assamples； and after lying there a long time they at last fell in lovewith each other； but neither of them spoke of it to the other； as theyshould have done if they expected anything to follow。 'He is a man； heought to speak the first word；' thought the gingerbread maiden； butshe felt quite happy… she was sure that her love was returned。 But histhoughts were far more ambitious； as the thoughts of a man oftenare。 He dreamed that he was a real street boy； that he possessedfour real pennies； and that he had bought the gingerbread lady； andate her up。 And so they lay on the counter for days and weeks； tillthey grew hard and dry； but the thoughts of the maiden became evermore tender and womanly。 'Ah well； it is enough for me that I havebeen able to live on the same counter with him；' said she one day；when suddenly； 'crack；' and she broke in two。 'Ah；' said thegingerbread man to himself； 'if she had only known of my love； shewould have kept together a little longer。' And here they both are； andthat is their history；〃 said the cake man。 〃You think the history oftheir lives and their silent love； which never came to anything；very remarkable； and there they are for you。〃 So saying； he gaveJoanna the gingerbread man； who was still quite whole… and to Knud thebroken maiden； but the children had been so much impressed by thestory； that they had not the heart to eat the lovers up。
The next day they went into the churchyard； and took the twocake figures with them； and sat down under the church wall； whichwas covered with luxuriant ivy in summer and winter； and looked asif hung with rich tapestry。 They stuck up the two gingerbreadfigures in the sunshine among the green leaves； and then told thestory； and all about the silent love which came to nothing； to a groupof children。 They called it； 〃love；〃 because the story was solovely； and the other children had the same opinion。 But when theyturned to look at the gingerbread pair； the broken maiden was gone！A great boy； out of wickedness； had eaten her up。 At first thechildren cried about it； but afterwards； thinking very probably thatthe poor lover ought not to be left alone in the world； they ate himup too： but they never forgot the story。
The two children still continued to play together by theelder…tree； and under the willow； and the little maiden sang beautifulsongs； with a voice that was as clear as a bell。 Knud； on thecontrary； had not a note of music in him； but knew the words of thesongs； and that of course is something。 The people of Kjoge； andeven the rich wife of the man who kept the fancy shop； would stand andlisten while Joanna was singing； and say； 〃She has really a very sweetvoice。〃
Those were happy days； but they could not last forever。 Theneighbors were separated； the mother of the little girl was dead；and her father had thoughts of marrying again and of residing in thecapital； where he had been promised a very lucrative appointment asmessenger。 The neighbors parted with tears； the children wept sadly；but their parents promised that they should write to each other atleast once a year。
After this； Knud was bound apprentice to a shoemaker； he wasgrowing a great boy； and could not be allowed to run wild anylonger。 Besides； he was going to be confirmed。 Ah； how happy hewould have been on that festal day in Copenhagen with little Joanna；but he still remained at Kjoge； and had never seen the great city；though the town is not five miles from it。 But far across the bay；when the sky was clear； the towers of Copenhagen could be seen； and onthe day of his confirmation he saw distinctly the golden cross onthe principal church glittering in the sun。 How often his thoughtswere with Joanna！ but did she think of him？ Yes。 About Christmascame a letter from her father to Knud's parents； which stated thatthey were going on very well in Copenhagen； and mentioningparticularly that Joanna's beautiful voice was likely to bring her abrilliant fortune in the future。 She was engaged to sing at a concert；and she had already earned money by singing； out of which she sent herdear neighbors at Kjoge a whole dollar； for them to make merry onChristmas eve； and they were to drink her health。 She had herselfadded this in a postscript； and in the same postscript she wrote；〃Kind regards to Knud。〃
The good neighbors wept； although the news was so pleasant； butthey wept tears of joy。 Knud's thoughts had been daily with Joanna；and now he knew that she also had thought of him； and the nearer thetime came for his apprenticeship to end； the clearer did it appearto him that he loved Joanna； and that she must be his wife； and asmile came on his lips at the thought； and at one time he drew thethread so fast as he worked； and pressed his foot so hard againstthe knee strap； that he ran the awl into his finger； but what did hecare for that？ He was determined not to play the dumb lover as boththe gingerbread cakes had done； the story was a good lesson to him。
At length he bee a journeyman； and then； for the first time； heprepared for a journey to Copenhagen； with his knapsack packed andready。 A master was expecting him there； and he thought of Joanna； andhow glad she would be to see him。 She was now seventeen； and henieen years old。 He wanted to buy a gold ring for her in Kjoge； butthen he recollected how far more beautiful such things would be inCopenhagen。 So he took leave of his parents； and on a rainy day；late in the autumn； wandered forth on foot from the town of his birth。The leaves were falling from the trees； and； by the time he arrived athis new master's in the great metropolis； h
