安徒生童话-第167章

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；leaning　on　a　crutch。　She　wore　a　large　hat　to　shade　her　from　the　sun；and　on　it　were　painted　all　sorts　of　pretty　flowers。　〃You　poor　littlechild；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃how　did　you　manage　to　e　all　thisdistance　into　the　wide　world　on　such　a　rapid　rolling　stream？〃　And　thenthe　old　woman　walked　in　the　water；　seized　the　boat　with　her　crutch；drew　it　to　land；　and　lifted　Gerda　out。　And　Gerda　was　glad　to　feelherself　on　dry　ground；　although　she　was　rather　afraid　of　the　strangeold　woman。　〃e　and　tell　me　who　you　are；〃　said　she；　〃and　how　came　youhere。〃

Then　Gerda　told　her　everything；　while　the　old　woman　shook　herhead；　and　said；　〃Hem…hem；〃　and　when　she　had　finished；　Gerda　asked　ifshe　had　not　seen　little　Kay；　and　the　old　woman　told　her　he　had　notpassed　by　that　way；　but　he　very　likely　would　e。　So　she　told　Gerdanot　to　be　sorrowful；　but　to　taste　the　cherries　and　look　at　theflowers；　they　were　better　than　any　picture…book；　for　each　of　themcould　tell　a　story。　Then　she　took　Gerda　by　the　hand　and　led　her　intothe　little　house；　and　the　old　woman　closed　the　door。　The　windowswere　very　high；　and　as　the　panes　were　red；　blue；　and　yellow；　thedaylight　shone　through　them　in　all　sorts　of　singular　colors。　On　thetable　stood　beautiful　cherries；　and　Gerda　had　permission　to　eat　asmany　as　she　would。　While　she　was　eating　them　the　old　woman　bedout　her　long　flaxen　ringlets　with　a　golden　b；　and　the　glossycurls　hung　down　on　each　side　of　the　little　round　pleasant　face；which　looked　fresh　and　blooming　as　a　rose。　〃I　have　long　been　wishingfor　a　dear　little　maiden　like　you；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃and　now　youmust　stay　with　me；　and　see　how　happily　we　shall　live　together。〃　Andwhile　she　went　on　bing　little　Gerda's　hair；　she　thought　less　andless　about　her　adopted　brother　Kay；　for　the　old　woman　could　conjure；although　she　was　not　a　wicked　witch；　she　conjured　only　a　little　forher　own　amusement；　and　now；　because　she　wanted　to　keep　Gerda。Therefore　she　went　into　the　garden；　and　stretched　out　her　crutchtowards　all　the　rose…trees；　beautiful　though　they　were；　and　theyimmediately　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