安徒生童话-第43章

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；　had　e　back　tothe　old　home；　where　the　old　castle　had　stood；　where　the　black　wildbirds　were　screaming；　but　she　sat　among　the　tame　birds；　and　these　knewher　and　were　fond　of　her。　Poultry　Meg　had　nothing　left　to　wish　for；she　looked　forward　with　pleasure　to　her　death；　and　she　was　oldenough　to　die。

〃Grave；　grave！〃　cried　the　crows。

And　Poultry　Meg　has　a　good　grave；　which　nobody　knew　except　the　oldcrow；　if　the　old　crow　is　not　dead　already。

And　now　we　know　the　story　of　the　old　manor　house；　of　its　oldproprietors；　and　of　all　Poultry　Meg's　family。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

SHE　WAS　GOOD　FOR　NOTHING

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THE　mayor　stood　at　the　open　window。　He　looked　smart；　for　hisshirt…frill；　in　which　he　had　stuck　a　breast…pin；　and　his　ruffles；　werevery　fine。　He　had　shaved　his　chin　unmonly　smooth；　although　he　hadcut　himself　slightly；　and　had　stuck　a　piece　of　newspaper　over　theplace。　〃Hark　'ee；　youngster！〃　cried　he。

The　boy　to　whom　he　spoke　was　no　other　than　the　son　of　a　poorwasher…woman；　who　was　just　going　past　the　house。　He　stopped；　andrespectfully　took　off　his　cap。　The　peak　of　this　cap　was　broken　inthe　middle；　so　that　he　could　easily　roll　it　up　and　put　it　in　hispocket。　He　stood　before　the　mayor　in　his　poor　but　clean　andwell…mended　clothes；　with　heavy　wooden　shoes　on　his　feet；　looking　ashumble　as　if　it　had　been　the　king　himself。

〃You　are　a　good　and　civil　boy；〃　said　the　mayor。　〃I　suppose　yourmother　is　busy　washing　the　clothes　down　by　the　river；　and　you　aregoing　to　carry　that　thing　to　her　that　you　have　in　your　pocket。　It　isvery　bad　for　your　mother。　How　much　have　you　got　in　it？〃

〃Only　half　a　quartern；〃　stammered　the　boy　in　a　frightened　voice。

〃And　she　has　had　just　as　much　this　morning　already？〃

〃No；　it　was　yesterday；〃　replied　the　boy。

〃Two　halves　make　a　whole；〃　said　the　mayor。　〃She's　good　fornothing。　What　a　sad　thing　it　is　with　these　people。　Tell　your　mothershe　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　herself。　Don't　you　bee　a　drunkard；　but　Iexpect　you　will　though。　Poor　child！　there；　go　now。〃

The　boy　went　on　his　way　with　his　cap　in　his　hand；　while　the　windfluttered　his　golden　hair　till　the　locks　stood　up　straight。　Heturned　round　the　corner　of　the　street　into　the　little　lane　that　led　tothe　river；　where　his　mother　stood　in　the　water　by　her　washing　bench；beating　the　linen　with　a　heavy　wooden　bar。　The　floodgates　at　themill　had　been　drawn　up；　and　as　the　water　rolled　rapidly　on；　the　sheetswere　dragged　along　by　the　stream；　and　nearly　overturned　the　bench；so　that　the　washer…woman　was　obliged　to　lean　against　it　to　keep　itsteady。　〃I　have　been　very　nearly　carried　away；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　agood　thing　that　you　are　e；　for　I　want　something　to　strengthen　me。It　is　cold　in　the　water；　and　I　have　stood　here　six　hours。　Have　youbrought　anything　for　me？〃

The　boy　drew　the　bottle　from　his　pocket；　and　the　mother　put　itto　her　lips；　and　drank　a　little。

〃Ah；　how　much　good　that　does；　and　how　it　warms　me；〃　she　said；〃it　is　as　good　as　a　hot　meal；　and　not　so　dear。　Drink　a　little；　my　boy；you　look　quite　pale；　you　are　shivering　in　your　thin　clothes；　andautumn　has　really　e。　Oh；　how　cold　the　water　is！　I　hope　I　shallnot　be　ill。　But　no；　I　must　not　be　afraid　of　that。　Give　me　a　littlemore；　and　you　may　have　a　sip　too；　but　only　a　sip；　you　must　not　getused　to　it；　my　poor；　dear　child。〃　She　stepped　up　to　the　bridge　onwhich　the　boy　stood　as　she　spoke；　and　came　on　shore。　The　water　drippedfrom　the　straw　mat　which　she　had　bound　round　her　body；　and　from　hergown。　〃I　work　hard　and　suffer　pain　with　my　poor　hands；〃　said　she；　〃butI　do　it　willingly；　that　I　may　be　able　to　bring　you　up　honestly　andtruthfully；　my　dear　boy。〃

At　the　same　moment；　a　woman；　rather　older　than　herself；　cametowards　them。　She　was　a　miserable…looking　object；　lame　of　one　leg；　andwith　a　large　false　curl　hanging　down　over　one　of　her　eyes；　which　wasblind。　This　curl　was　intended　to　conceal　the　blind　eye；　but　it　madethe　defect　only　more　visible。　She　was　a　friend　of　the　laundress；　andwas　called；　among　the　neighbors；　〃Lame　Martha；　with　the　curl。〃　〃Oh；you　poor　thing；　how　you　do　work；　standing　there　in　the　water！〃　sheexclaimed。　〃You　really　do　need　something　to　give　you　a　littlewarmth；　and　yet　spiteful　people　cry　out　about　the　few　drops　you　take。〃And　then　Martha　repeated　to　the　laundress；　in　a　very　few　minutes；all　that　the　mayor　had　said　to　her　boy；　which　she　had　overheard；　andshe　felt　very　angry　that　any　man　could　speak；　as　he　had　done；　of　amother　to　her　own　child；　about　the　few　drops　she　had　taken；　and　shewas　still　more　angry　because；　on　that　very　day；　the　mayor　was　going　tohave　a　dinner…party；　at　which　there　would　be　wine；　strong；　richwine；　drunk　by　the　bottle。　〃Many　will　take　more　than　they　ought；　butthey　don't　call　that　drinking！　They　are　all　right；　you　are　good　fornothing　indeed！〃　cried　Martha　indignantly。

〃And　so　he　spoke　to　you　in　that　way；　did　he；　my　child？〃　said　thewasher…woman；　and　her　lips　trembled　as　she　spoke。　〃He　says　you　havea　mother　who　is　good　for　nothing。　Well；　perhaps　he　is　right；　but　heshould　not　have　said　it　to　my　child。　How　much　has　happened　to　mefrom　that　house！〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Martha；　〃I　remember　you　were　in　service　there；　andlived　in　the　house　when　the　mayor's　parents　were　alive；　how　many　yearsago　that　is。　Bushels　of　salt　have　been　eaten　since　then；　and　peoplemay　well　be　thirsty；〃　and　Martha　smiled。　〃The　mayor's　greatdinner…party　to…day　ought　to　have　been　put　off；　but　the　news　cametoo　late。　The　footman　told　me　the　dinner　was　already　cooked；　when　aletter　came　to　say　that　the　mayor's　younger　brother　in　Copenhagen　isdead。〃

〃Dead！〃　cried　the　laundress；　turning　pale　as　death。

〃Yes；　certainly；〃　replied　Martha；　〃but　why　do　you　take　it　somuch　to　heart？　I　suppose　you　knew　him　years　ago；　when　you　were　inservice　there？〃

〃Is　he　dead？〃　she　exclaimed。　〃Oh；　he　was　such　a　kind；　good…heartedman；　there　are　not　many　like　him；〃　and　the　tears　rolled　down　hercheeks　as　she　spoke。　Then　she　cried；　〃Oh；　dear　me；　I　feel　quite　ill：everything　is　going　round　me；　I　cannot　bear　it。　Is　the　bottleempty？〃　and　she　leaned　against　the　plank。

〃Dear　me；　you　are　ill　indeed；〃　said　the　other　woman。　〃e；cheer　up；　perhaps　it　will　pass　off。　No；　indeed；　I　see　you　are　reallyill；　the　best　thing　for　me　to　do　is　to　lead　you　home。〃

〃But　my　washing　yonder？〃

〃I　will　take　care　of　that。　e；　give　me　your　arm。　The　boy　canstay　here　and　take　care　of　the　linen；　and　I'll　e　back　and　finishthe　washing；　it　is　but　a　trifle。〃

The　limbs　of　the　laundress　shook　under　her；　and　she　said；　〃Ihave　stood　too　long　in　the　cold　water；　and　I　have　had　nothing　to　eatthe　whole　day　since　the　morning。　O　kind　Heaven；　help　me　to　get　home；　Iam　in　a　burning　fever。　Oh；　my　poor　child；〃　and　she　burst　into　tears。And　he；　poor　boy；　wept　also；　as　he　sat　alone　by　the　river；　near　to　andwatching　the　damp　linen。

The　two　women　walked　very　slowly。　The　laundress　slipped　andtottered　through　the　lane；　and　round　the　corner；　into　the　street　wherethe　mayor　lived；　and　just　as　she　reached　the　front　of　his　house；　shesank　down　upon　the　pavement。　Many　persons　came　round　her；　and　LameMartha　ran　into　the　house　for　help。　The　mayor　and　his　guests　came　tothe　window。

〃Oh；　it　is　the　laundress；〃　said　he；　〃she　has　had　a　little　drop　toomuch。　She　is　good　for　nothing。　It　is　a　sad　thing　for　her　pretty　littleson。　I　like　the　boy　very　well；　but　the　mother　is　good　for　nothing。〃

After　a　while　the　laundress　recovered　herself；　and　they　led　her　toher　poor　dwelling；　and　put　her　to　bed。　Kind　Martha　warmed　a　mug　ofbeer　for　her；　with　butter　and　sugar…　she　considered　this　the　bestmedicine…　and　then　hastened　to　the　river；　washed　and　rinsed；　badlyenough；　to　be　sure；　but　she　did　her　best。　Then　she　drew　the　linenashore；　wet　as　it　was；　and　laid　it　in　a　basket。　Before　evening；　shewas　sitting　in　the　poor　little　room　with　the　laundress。　The　mayor'scook　had　given　her　some　roasted　potatoes　and　a　beautiful　piece　offat　for　the　sick　woman。　Martha　and　the　boy　enjoyed　these　good　thingsvery　much；　but　the　sick　woman　could　only　say　that　the　smell　was　verynourishing；　she　thought。　By…and…by　the　boy　was　put　to　bed；　in　the　samebed　as　the　one　in　which　his　mother　lay；　but　he　slept　at　her　feet；covered　with　an　old　quilt　made　of　blue　and　white　patchwork。　Thelaundress　felt　a　little　better　by　this　time。　The　warm　beer　hadstrengthened　her；　and　the　smell　of　the　good　food　had　been　pleasantto　her。

〃Many　thanks；　you　good　soul；〃　she　said　to　Martha。　〃Now　the　boyis　asleep；　I　will　tell　you　all。　He　is　soon　asleep。　How　gentle　andsweet　he　looks　as　he　lies　there　with　his　eyes　closed！　He　does　not　knowhow　his　mother　has　suffered；　and　Heaven　grant　he　never　may　know　it。I　was　in　service　at　the　counsellor's；　the　father　of　the　mayor；　andit　happened　that　the　youngest　of　his　sons；　the　student；　came　home。　Iwas　a　young　wild　girl　then；　but　honest；　that　I　can　declare　in　thesight　of　Heaven。　The　student　was　merry　and　gay；　brave　andaffectionate；　every　drop　of　blood　in　him　was　good　and　honorable；　abetter　man　never　lived　on　earth。　He　was　the　son　of　the　house；　and　Iwas　only　a　maid；　but　he　loved　me　truly　and　honorably；　and　he　toldhis　mother　of　it。　She　was　to　him　as　an　angel　upon　earth；　she　was　sowise　and　loving。　He　went　to　travel；　and　before　he　started　he　placeda　gold　ring　on　my　finger；　and　as　soon　as　he　was　out　of　t