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！
in which to bury him or her。 Then I bury them； as it were； there
they lie； dead and powerless； till they e back new and better
characters。 Their lives and their deeds； looked at after my own
fashion； I write down in my diary； as every one ought to do。 Then；
if any of our friends act absurdly； no one need to be vexed about
it。 Let them bury the offenders out of sight； and keep their good
temper。 They can also read the Intelligencer； which is a paper written
by the people； with their hands guided。 When the time es for the
history of my life； to be bound by the grave； then they will write
upon it as my epitaph…
〃The man with a cheerful temper。〃
And this is my story。
THE END
。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
A GREAT GRIEF
by Hans Christian Andersen
THIS story really consists of two parts。 The first part might be
left out； but it gives us a few particulars； and these are useful
We were staying in the country at a gentleman's seat； where it
happened that the master was absent for a few days。 In the meantime；
there arrived from the next town a lady； she had a pug dog with her；
and came； she said； to dispose of shares in her tan…yard。 She had
her papers with her； and we advised her to put them in an envelope；
and to write thereon the address of the proprietor of the estate；
〃General War…missary Knight；〃 &c。
She listened to us attentively； seized the pen； paused； and begged
us to repeat the direction slowly。 We plied； and she wrote； but
in the midst of the 〃General War…〃 she struck fast； sighed deeply； and
said； 〃I am only a woman！〃 Her Puggie had seated itself on the
ground while she wrote； and growled； for the dog had e with her for
amusement and for the sake of its health； and then the bare floor
ought not to be offered to a visitor。 His outward appearance was
characterized by a snub nose and a very fat back。
〃He doesn't bite；〃 said the lady； 〃he has no teeth。 He is like one
of the family； faithful and grumpy； but the latter is my
grandchildren's fault； for they have teased him； they play at wedding；
and want to give him the part of the bridesmaid； and that's too much
for him； poor old fellow。〃
And she delivered her papers； and took Puggie upon her arm。 And
this is the first part of the story which might have been left out。
PUGGIE DIED！！ That's the second part。
It was about a week afterwards we arrived in the town； and put
up at the inn。 Our windows looked into the tan…yard； which was divided
into two parts by a partition of planks； in one half were many skins
and hides； raw and tanned。 Here was all the apparatus necessary to
carry on a tannery； and it belonged to the widow。 Puggie had died in
the morning； and was to be buried in this part of the yard； the
grandchildren of the widow （that is； of the tanner's widow； for Puggie
had never been married） filled up the grave； and it was a beautiful
grave… it must have been quite pleasant to lie there。
The grave was bordered with pieces of flower…pots and strewn
over with sand； quite at the top they had stuck up half a beer bottle；
with the neck upwards； and that was not at all allegorical。
The children danced round the grave； and the eldest of the boys
among them； a practical youngster of seven years； made the proposition
that there should be an exhibition of Puggie's burial…place for all
who lived in the lane； the price of admission was to be a trouser
button； for every boy would be sure to have one； and each might also
give one for a little girl。 This proposal was adopted by acclamation。
And all the children out of the lane… yes； even out of the
little lane at the back… flocked to the place； and each gave a button。
Many were noticed to go about on that afternoon with only one
suspender； but then they had seen Puggie's grave； and the sight was
worth much more。
But in front of the tan…yard； close to the entrance； stood a
little girl clothed in rags； very pretty to look at； with curly
hair； and eyes so blue and clear that it was a pleasure to look into
them。 The child said not a word； nor did she cry； but each time the
little door was opened she gave a long； long look into the yard。 She
had not a button… that she knew right well； and therefore she remained
standing sorrowfully outside； till all the others had seen the grave
and had gone away； then she sat down； held her little brown hands
before her eyes； and burst into tears； this girl alone had not seen
Puggie's grave。 It was a grief as great to her as any grown person can
experience。
We saw this from above； and looked at from above； how many a grief
of our own and of others can make us smile！ That is the story； and
whoever does not understand it may go and purchase a share in the
tan…yard from the window。
THE END
。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
A LEAF FROM HEAVEN
by Hans Christian Andersen
HIGH up in the clear； pure air flew an angel； with a flowerplucked from the garden of heaven。 As he was kissing the flower a verylittle leaf fell from it and sunk down into the soft earth in themiddle of a wood。 It immediately took root； sprouted； and sent outshoots among the other plants。
〃What a ridiculous little shoot！〃 said one。 〃No one will recognizeit； not even the thistle nor the stinging…tle。〃
〃It must be a kind of garden plant；〃 said another； and so theysneered and despised the plant as a thing from a garden。
〃Where are you ing？〃 said the tall thistles whose leaves wereall armed with thorns。 〃It is stupid nonsense to allow yourself toshoot out in this way； we are not here to support you。〃
Winter came； and the plant was covered with snow； but the snowglittered over it as if it had sunshine beneath as well as above。
When spring came； the plant appeared in full bloom： a morebeautiful object than any other plant in the forest。 And now theprofessor of botany presented himself； one who could explain hisknowledge in black and white。 He examined and tested the plant； but itdid not belong to his system of botany； nor could he possibly find outto what class it did belong。 〃It must be some degenerate species；〃said he； 〃I do not know it； and it is not mentioned in any system。〃
〃Not known in any system！〃 repeated the thistles and the tles。
The large trees which grew round it saw the plant and heard theremarks； but they said not a word either good or bad； which is thewisest plan for those who are ignorant。
There passed through the forest a poor innocent girl； her heartwas pure； and her understanding increased by her faith。 Her chiefinheritance had been an old Bible； which she read and valued。 From itspages she heard the voice of God speaking to her； and telling her toremember what was said of Joseph's brethren when persons wished toinjure her。 〃They imagined evil in their hearts； but God turned itto good。〃 If we suffer wrongfully； if we are misunderstood ordespised； we must think of Him who was pure and holy； and who prayedfor those who nailed Him to the cross； 〃Father forgive them； forthey know not what they do。〃
The girl stood still before the wonderful plant； for the greenleaves exhaled a sweet and refreshing fragrance； and the flowersglittered and sparkled in the sunshine like colored flames； and theharmony of sweet sounds lingered round them as if each concealedwithin itself a deep fount of melody； which thousands of years couldnot exhaust。 With pious gratitude the girl looked upon this gloriouswork of God； and bent down over one of the branches； that she mightexamine the flower and inhale the sweet perfume。 Then a light broke inon her mind； and her heart expanded。 Gladly would she have plucked aflower； but she could not overe her reluctance to break one off。She knew it would so soon fade； so she took only a single greenleaf； carried it home； and laid it in her Bible； where it remainedever green； fresh； and unfading。 Between the pages of the Bible itstill lay when； a few weeks afterwards； that Bible was laid underthe young girl's head in her coffin。 A holy calm rested on her face；as if the earthly remains bore the impress of the tru