安徒生童话-第87章
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But now we will descend to East Street； and see what happened tothe watchman's body。 He sat lifeless on the steps。 His staff hadfallen out of his hand； and his eyes stared at the moon； about whichhis honest soul was wandering。
〃What is it o'clock； watchman？〃 inquired a passenger。 But therewas no answer from the watchman。
The man then pulled his nose gently； which caused him to losehis balance。 The body fell forward； and lay at full length on theground as one dead。
All his rades were very much frightened； for he seemed quitedead； still they allowed him to remain after they had given noticeof what had happened； and at dawn the body was carried to thehospital。 We might imagine it to be no jesting matter if the soul ofthe man should chance to return to him； for most probably it wouldseek for the body in East Street without being able to find it。 Wemight fancy the soul inquiring of the police； or at the addressoffice； or among the missing parcels； and then at length finding it atthe hospital。 But we may fort ourselves by the certainty that thesoul； when acting upon its own impulses； is wiser than we are； it isthe body that makes it stupid。
As we have said； the watchman's body had been taken to thehospital； and here it was placed in a room to be washed。 Naturally；the first thing done here was to take off the goloshes； upon which thesoul was instantly obliged to return； and it took the direct road tothe body at once； and in a few seconds the man's life returned to him。He declared； when he quite recovered himself； that this had been themost dreadful night he had ever passed； not for a hundred pounds wouldhe go through such feelings again。 However； it was all over now。
The same day he was allowed to leave； but the goloshes remained atthe hospital。
THE EVENTFUL MOMENT … A MOST UNUSUAL JOURNEY
Every inhabitant of Copenhagen knows what the entrance toFrederick's Hospital is like； but as most probably a few of thosewho read this little tale may not reside in Copenhagen； we will give ashort description of it。
The hospital is separated from the street by an iron railing； inwhich the bars stand so wide apart that； it is said； some very slimpatients have squeezed through； and gone to pay little visits in thetown。 The most difficult part of the body to get through was the head；and in this case； as it often happens in the world； the small headswere the most fortunate。 This will serve as sufficient introduction toour tale。 One of the young volunteers； of whom； physically speaking；it might be said that he had a great head； was on guard that eveningat the hospital。 The rain was pouring down； yet； in spite of these twoobstacles； he wanted to go out just for a quarter of an hour； it wasnot worth while； he thought； to make a confidant of the porter； ashe could easily slip through the iron railings。 There lay thegoloshes； which the watchman had forgotten。 It never occurred to himthat these could be goloshes of Fortune。 They would be veryserviceable to him in this rainy weather； so he drew them on。 Now camethe question whether he could squeeze through the palings； hecertainly had never tried； so he stood looking at them。 〃I wish togoodness my head was through；〃 said he； and instantly； though it wasso thick and large； it slipped through quite easily。 The goloshesanswered that purpose very well； but his body had to follow； andthis was impossible。 〃I am too fat；〃 he said； 〃I thought my head wouldbe the worst； but I cannot get my body through； that is certain。〃 Thenhe tried to pull his head back again； but without success； he couldmove his neck about easily enough； and that was all。 His first feelingwas one of anger； and then his spirits sank below zero。 The goloshesof Fortune had placed him in this terrible position； and unfortunatelyit never occurred to him to wish himself free。 No； instead ofwishing he kept twisting about； yet did not stir from the spot。 Therain poured； and not a creature could be seen in the street。 Theporter's bell he was unable to reach； and however was he to get loose！He foresaw that he should have to stay there till morning； and thenthey must send for a smith to file away the iron bars； and thatwould be a work of time。 All the charity children would just begoing to school： and all the sailors who inhabited that quarter of thetown would be there to see him standing in the pillory。 What a crowdthere would be。 〃Ha；〃 he cried； 〃the blood is rushing to my head；and I shall go mad。 I believe I am crazy already； oh； I wish I werefree； then all these sensations would pass off。〃 This is just whathe ought to have said at first。 The moment he had expressed thethought his head was free。 He started back； quite bewildered withthe fright which the goloshes of Fortune had caused him。 But we mustnot suppose it was all over； no； indeed； there was worse to eyet。 The night passed； and the whole of the following day； but noone sent for the goloshes。 In the evening a declamatory performancewas to take place at the amateur theatre in a distant street。 Thehouse was crowded； among the audience was the young volunteer from thehospital； who seemed to have quite forgotten his adventures of theprevious evening。 He had on the goloshes； they had not been sentfor； and as the streets were still very dirty； they were of greatservice to him。 A new poem； entitled 〃My Aunt's Spectacles；〃 was beingrecited。 It described these spectacles as possessing a wonderfulpower； if any one put them on in a large assembly the peopleappeared like cards； and the future events of ensuing years could beeasily foretold by them。 The idea struck him that he should verymuch like to have such a pair of spectacles； for； if used rightly；they would perhaps enable him to see into the hearts of people；which he thought would be more interesting than to know what was goingto happen next year； for future events would be sure to showthemselves； but the hearts of people never。 〃I can fancy what I shouldsee in the whole row of ladies and gentlemen on the first seat； if Icould only look into their hearts； that lady； I imagine； keeps a storefor things of all descriptions； how my eyes would wander about in thatcollection； with many ladies I should no doubt find a largemillinery establishment。 There is another that is perhaps empty； andwould be all the better for cleaning out。 There may be some wellstored with good articles。 Ah； yes；〃 he sighed； 〃I know one； inwhich everything is solid； but a servant is there already； and that isthe only thing against it。 I dare say from many I should hear thewords； 'Please to walk in。' I only wish I could slip into the heartslike a little tiny thought。〃 This was the word of mand for thegoloshes。 The volunteer shrunk up together； and menced a mostunusual journey through the hearts of the spectators in the first row。The first heart he entered was that of a lady； but he thought hemust have got into one of the rooms of an orthopedic institution whereplaster casts of deformed limbs were hanging on the walls； with thisdifference； that the casts in the institution are formed when thepatient enters； but here they were formed and preserved after the goodpeople had left。 These were casts of the bodily and mental deformitiesof the lady's female friends carefully preserved。 Quickly he passedinto another heart； which had the appearance of a spacious； holychurch； with the white dove of innocence fluttering over the altar。Gladly would he have fallen on his knees in such a sacred place； buthe was carried on to another heart； still； however； listening to thetones of the organ； and feeling himself that he had bee another anda better man。 The next heart was also a sanctuary； which he feltalmost unworthy to enter； it represented a mean garret； in which lay asick mother； but the warm sunshine streamed through the window； lovelyroses bloomed in a little flowerbox on the roof； two blue birds sangof childlike joys； and the sick mother prayed for a blessing on herdaughter。 Next he crept on his hands and knees through an overfilledbutcher's shop； there was meat； nothing but meat； wherever he stepped；this was the heart of a rich； respectable man； whose name is doubtlessin the directory。 Then he entered the heart of this man's wife； it wasan old； tumble…down pigeon…house； the husband's portrait served as aweather…cock； it was connected with all the doors； which opened andshut just as the husband's decision turned。 The next heart was aplete cabi of mirrors； such as can be seen in the Castle ofRosenberg。 But these mirrors magnified in an astonishing degree； inthe middle of the floor sat； like the Grand Lama； the insignificantI of the owner； astonished at the contemplation of his own features。At his next visit he fancied he must have got into a narrowneedlecase； full of sharp needles： 〃Oh；〃 thought he； 〃this must be theheart of an old maid；〃 but such was not the fact； it belonged to ayoung officer； who wore several orders； and was said to be a man ofintellect and heart。
The poor volunteer came out of the last heart in the row quitebewildered。 He could not collect his thoughts； and imagined hisfoolish fancies had carried him away。 〃Good gracious！〃 he sighed； 〃Imust have a tendency to softening of the brain； and here it is soexceedingly hot that the blood is rushing to my head。〃 And thens
