安徒生童话-第17章
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him permission to standbehind the door and peep in at the well…dressed children； who werehaving such a merry time within； and for him that was a great deal。〃Oh； if I could be one of them；〃 thought he； and then he heard whatwas said about names； which was quite enough to make him more unhappy。His parents at home had not even a penny to spare to buy anewspaper； much less could they write in one； and worse than all；his father's name； and of course his own； ended in 〃sen；〃 andtherefore he could never turn out well； which was a very sadthought。 But after all； he had been born into the world； and thestation of life had been chosen for him； therefore he must be content。
And this is what happened on that evening。
Many years passed； and most of the children became grown…uppersons。
There stood a splendid house in the town； filled with all kinds ofbeautiful and valuable objects。 Everybody wished to see it； and peopleeven came in from the country round to be permitted to view thetreasures it contained。
Which of the children whose prattle we have described； couldcall this house his own？ One would suppose it very easy to guess。No； no； it is not so very easy。 The house belonged to the poorlittle boy who had stood on that night behind the door。 He hadreally bee something great； although his name ended in 〃sen；〃…for it was Thorwaldsen。
And the three other children… the children of good birth； ofmoney； and of intellectual pride；… well； they were respected andhonored in the world； for they had been well provided for by birth andposition； and they had no cause to reproach themselves with whatthey had thought and spoken on that evening long ago； for； afterall； it was mere 〃children's prattle。〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
DELAYING IS NOT FORGETTING
by Hans Christian Andersen
THERE was an old mansion surrounded by a marshy ditch with adrawbridge which was but seldom let down：… not all guests are goodpeople。 Under the roof were loopholes to shoot through； and to pourdown boiling water or even molten lead on the enemy； should heapproach。 Inside the house the rooms were very high and had ceilingsof beams； and that was very useful considering the great deal of smokewhich rose up from the chimney fire where the large； damp logs of woodsmouldered。 On the walls hung pictures of knights in armour andproud ladies in gorgeous dresses； the most stately of all walked aboutalive。 She was called Meta Mogen； she was the mistress of the house；to her belonged the castle。
Towards the evening robbers came； they killed three of herpeople and also the yard…dog； and attached Mrs。 Meta to the kennelby the chain； while they themselves made good cheer in the hall anddrank the wine and the good ale out of her cellar。 Mrs。 Meta was nowon the chain； she could not even bark。
But lo！ the servant of one of the robbers secretly approached her；they must not see it； otherwise they would have killed him。
〃Mrs。 Meta Mogen；〃 said the fellow； 〃do you still remember howmy father； when your husband was still alive； had to ride on thewooden horse？ You prayed for him； but it was no good； he was to rideuntil his limbs were paralysed； but you stole down to him； as Isteal now to you； you yourself put little stones under each of hisfeet that he might have support； nobody saw it； or they pretendednot to see it； for you were then the young gracious mistress。 Myfather has told me this； and I have not forgotten it！ Now I willfree you； Mrs。 Meta Mogen！〃
Then they pulled the horses out of the stable and rode off in rainand wind to obtain the assistance of friends。
〃Thus the small service done to the old man was richlyrewarded！〃 said Meta Mogen。
〃Delaying is not forgetting；〃 said the fellow。
The robbers were hanged。
There was an old mansion； it is still there； it did not belongto Mrs。 Meta Mogen； it belonged to another old noble family。
We are now in the present time。 The sun is shining on the giltknob of the tower； little wooded islands lie like bouquets on thewater； and wild swans are swimming round them。 In the garden growroses； the mistress of the house is herself the finest rose petal； shebeams with joy； the joy of good deeds： however； not done in the wideworld； but in her heart； and what is preserved there is not forgotten。Delaying is not forgetting！
Now she goes from the mansion to a little peasant hut in thefield。 Therein lives a poor paralysed girl； the window of her littleroom looks northward； the sun does not enter here。 The girl can onlysee a small piece of field which is surrounded by a high fence。 Butto…day the sun shines here… the warm； beautiful sun of God is withinthe little room； it es from the south through the new window； whereformerly the wall was。
The paralysed girl sits in the warm sunshine and can see thewood and the lake； the world had bee so large； so beautiful； andonly through a single word from the kind mistress of the mansion。
〃The word was so easy； the deed so small；〃 she said； 〃the joy itafforded me was infinitely great and sweet！〃
And therefore she does many a good deed； thinks of all in thehumble cottages and in the rich mansions； where there are alsoafflicted ones。 It is concealed and hidden； but God does not forgetit。 Delayed is not forgotten！
An old house stood there； it was in the large town with its busytraffic。 There are rooms and halls in it； but we do not enter them； weremain in the kitchen； where it is warm and light； clean and tidy； thecopper utensils are shining； the table as if polished with beeswax；the sink looks like a freshly scoured meatboard。 All this a singleservant has done； and yet she has time to spare as if she wished to goto church； she wears a bow on her cap； a black bow； that signifiesmourning。 But she has no one to mourn； neither father nor mother；neither relations nor sweetheart。 She is a poor girl。 One day shewas engaged to a poor fellow； they loved each other dearly。
One day he came to her and said：
〃We both have nothing！ The rich widow over the way in the basementhas made advances to me； she will make me rich； but you are in myheart； what do you advise me to do？〃
〃I advise you to do what you think will turn out to yourhappiness；〃 said the girl。 〃Be kind and good to her； but rememberthis； from the hour we part we shall never see each other again。〃
Years passed； then one day she met the old friend and sweetheartin the street； he looked ill and miserable； and she could not helpasking him； 〃How are you？〃
〃Rich and prospering in every respect；〃 he said； 〃the woman isbrave and good； but you are in my heart。 I have fought the battle；it will soon be ended； we shall not see each other again now untilwe meet before God！〃
A week has passed； this morning his death was in the newspaper；that is the reason of the girl's mourning！ Her old sweetheart isdead and has left a wife and three step…children； as the paper says；it sounds as if there is a crack； but the metal is pure。
The black bow signifies mourning； the girl's face points to thesame in a still higher degree； it is preserved in the heart and willnever be forgotten。 Delaying is not forgetting！
These are three stories you see； three leaves on the same stalk。Do you wish for some more trefoil leaves？ In the little heartbookare many more of them。 Delaying is not forgetting！
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
EVERYTHING IN THE RIGHT PLACE
by Hans Christian Andersen
IT is more than a hundred years ago！ At the border of the wood；near a large lake； stood the old mansion： deep ditches surrounded iton every side； in which reeds and bulrushes grew。 Close by thedrawbridge； near the gate； there was an old willow tree； which bentover the reeds。
From the narrow pass came the sound of bugles and the trampling ofhorses' feet； therefore a little girl who was watching the geesehastened to drive them away from the bridge； before the wholehunting party came galloping up； they came； however； so quickly；that the girl； in order to avoid being run over； placed herself on oneof the high corner…stones of the bridge。 She was still half a childand very delicately built； she had bright blue eyes； and a gentle；sweet expression。 But such things the baron did not notice； while hewas riding past the little goose…girl； he reversed his hunting crop；and in rough play gave her such a push with it that she fellbackward into the ditch。
〃Everything in the right place！〃 he cried。 〃Into the ditch withyou。〃
Then he burst out laughing； for that he called fun； the othersjoined in… the whole party shouted and cried； while the hounds barked。
While the poor girl was falling she happily caught one of thebranches of the willow tree； by the help of which she held herselfover the water； and as soon as the baron with his pany and the dogshad disappeared through the gate； the girl endeavoured to scramble up；but the branch broke off； and she would have fallen backward among therushes； had not a strong hand from above seized her at this moment。 Itwas the hand of a pedlar； he had witnessed what had happened from ashort distance； and now hastened to assist her。
〃Everything in the right place；〃 he said； imitating the noblebaron； and pulling the little maid up to the dry ground。 He w
