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sunk into the dark earth； so that no one could tellwhere they had once stood。 The old woman was afraid that if littleGerda saw roses she would think of those at home； and then rememberlittle Kay； and run away。 Then she took Gerda into theflower…garden。 How fragrant and beautiful it was！ Every flower thatcould be thought of for every season of the year was here in fullbloom； no picture…book could have more beautiful colors。 Gerdajumped for joy； and played till the sun went down behind the tallcherry…trees； then she slept in an elegant bed with red silkpillows； embroidered with colored violets； and then she dreamed aspleasantly as a queen on her wedding day。 The next day； and for manydays after； Gerda played with the flowers in the warm sunshine。 Sheknew every flower； and yet； although there were so many of them； itseemed as if one were missing； but which it was she could not tell。One day； however； as she sat looking at the old woman's hat with thepainted flowers on it； she saw that the prettiest of them all was arose。 The old woman had forgotten to take it from her hat when shemade all the roses sink into the earth。 But it is difficult to keepthe thoughts together in everything； one little mistake upsets all ourarrangements。
〃What； are there no roses here？〃 cried Gerda； and she ran out intothe garden； and examined all the beds； and searched and searched。There was not one to be found。 Then she sat down and wept； and hertears fell just on the place where one of the rose…trees had sunkdown。 The warm tears moistened the earth； and the rose…tree sproutedup at once； as blooming as when it had sunk； and Gerda embraced it andkissed the roses； and thought of the beautiful roses at home； and；with them； of little Kay。
〃Oh； how I have been detained！〃 said the little maiden； 〃Iwanted to seek for little Kay。 Do you know where he is？〃 she asked theroses； 〃do you think he is dead？〃
And the roses answered； 〃No； he is not dead。 We have been in theground where all the dead lie； but Kay is not there。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said little Gerda； and then she went to the otherflowers； and looked into their little cups； and asked； 〃Do you knowwhere little Kay is？〃 But each flower； as it stood in the sunshine；dreamed only of its own little fairy tale of history。 Not one knewanything of Kay。 Gerda heard many stories from the flowers； as sheasked them one after another about him。
And what； said the tiger…lily？ 〃Hark； do you hear the drum？ …'turn； turn；'… there are only two notes； always； 'turn； turn。'Listen to the women's song of mourning！ Hear the cry of the priest！ Inher long red robe stands the Hindoo widow by the funeral pile。 Theflames rise around her as she places herself on the dead body of herhusband； but the Hindoo woman is thinking of the living one in thatcircle； of him； her son； who lighted those flames。 Those shiningeyes trouble her heart more painfully than the flames which willsoon consume her body to ashes。 Can the fire of the heart beextinguished in the flames of the funeral pile？〃
〃I don't understand that at all；〃 said little Gerda。
〃That is my story；〃 said the tiger…lily。
What； says the convolvulus？ 〃Near yonder narrow road stands an oldknight's castle； thick ivy creeps over the old ruined walls； leaf overleaf； even to the balcony； in which stands a beautiful maiden。 Shebends over the balustrades； and looks up the road。 No rose on its stemis fresher than she； no apple…blossom； wafted by the wind； floats morelightly than she moves。 Her rich silk rustles as she bends over andexclaims； 'Will he not e？'
〃Is it Kay you mean？〃 asked Gerda。
〃I am only speaking of a story of my dream；〃 replied the flower。
What； said the little snow…drop？ 〃Between two trees a rope ishanging； there is a piece of board upon it； it is a swing。 Twopretty little girls； in dresses white as snow； and with long greenribbons fluttering from their hats； are sitting upon it swinging。Their brother who is taller than they are； stands in the swing； he hasone arm round the rope； to steady himself； in one hand he holds alittle bowl； and in the other a clay pipe； he is blowing bubbles。 Asthe swing goes on； the bubbles fly upward； reflecting the mostbeautiful varying colors。 The last still hangs from the bowl of thepipe； and sways in the wind。 On goes the swing； and then a littleblack dog es running up。 He is almost as light as the bubble； andhe raises himself on his hind legs； and wants to be taken into theswing； but it does not stop； and the dog falls； then he barks and getsangry。 The children stoop towards him； and the bubble bursts。 Aswinging plank； a light sparkling foam picture；… that is my story。〃
〃It may be all very pretty what you are telling me；〃 said littleGerda； 〃but you speak so mournfully； and you do not mention little Kayat all。〃
What do the hyacinths say？ 〃There were three beautiful sisters；fair and delicate。 The dress of one was red； of the second blue； andof the third pure white。 Hand in hand they danced in the brightmoonlight； by the calm lake； but they were human beings； not fairyelves。 The sweet fragrance attracted them； and they disappeared in thewood； here the fragrance became stronger。 Three coffins； in whichlay the three beautiful maidens； glided from the thickest part ofthe forest across the lake。 The fire…flies flew lightly over them；like little floating torches。 Do the dancing maidens sleep； or arethey dead？ The scent of the flower says that they are corpses。 Theevening bell tolls their knell。〃
〃You make me quite sorrowful；〃 said little Gerda； 〃your perfume isso strong； you make me think of the dead maidens。 Ah！ is little Kayreally dead then？ The roses have been in the earth； and they say no。〃
〃Cling； clang；〃 tolled the hyacinth bells。 〃We are not tolling forlittle Kay； we do not know him。 We sing our song； the only one weknow。〃
Then Gerda went to the buttercups that were glittering amongst thebright green leaves。
〃You are little bright suns；〃 said Gerda； 〃tell me if you knowwhere I can find my play…fellow。〃
And the buttercups sparkled gayly； and looked again at Gerda。 Whatsong could the buttercups sing？ It was not about Kay。
〃The bright warm sun shone on a little court； on the first warmday of spring。 His bright beams rested on the white walls of theneighboring house； and close by bloomed the first yellow flower of theseason； glittering like gold in the sun's warm ray。 An old woman satin her arm chair at the house door； and her granddaughter； a poorand pretty servant…maid came to see her for a short visit。 When shekissed her grandmother there was gold everywhere： the gold of theheart in that holy kiss； it was a golden morning； there was gold inthe beaming sunlight； gold in the leaves of the lowly flower； and onthe lips of the maiden。 There； that is my story；〃 said the buttercup。
〃My poor old grandmother！〃 sighed Gerda； 〃she is longing to seeme； and grieving for me as she did for little Kay； but I shall soon gohome now； and take little Kay with me。 It is no use asking theflowers； they know only their own songs； and can give me noinformation。〃
And then she tucked up her little dress； that she might runfaster； but the narcissus caught her by the leg as she was jumpingover it； so she stopped and looked at the tall yellow flower； andsaid； 〃Perhaps you may know something。〃
Then she stooped down quite close to the flower； and listened； andwhat did he say？
〃I can see myself； I can see myself；〃 said the narcissus。 〃Oh； howsweet is my perfume！ Up in a little room with a bow window； stands alittle dancing girl； half undressed； she stands sometimes on oneleg； and sometimes on both； and looks as if she would tread thewhole world under her feet。 She is nothing but a delusion。 She ispouring water out of a tea…pot on a piece of stuff which she holdsin her hand； it is her bodice。 'Cleanliness is a good thing；' shesays。 Her white dress hangs on a peg； it has also been washed in thetea…pot； and dried on the roof。 She puts it on； and ties asaffron…colored handkerchief round her neck； which makes the dresslook whiter。 See how she stretches out her legs； as if she wereshowing off on a stem。 I can see myself； I can see myself。〃
〃What do I care for all that；〃 said Gerda； 〃you need not tell mesuch stuff。〃 And then she ran