安徒生童话-第31章
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eep。 The tiny little creature woke very early in themorning； and began to cry bitterly when she found where she was； forshe could see nothing but water on every side of the large green leaf；and no way of reaching the land。 Meanwhile the old toad was verybusy under the marsh； decking her room with rushes and wild yellowflowers； to make it look pretty for her new daughter…in…law。 Thenshe swam out with her ugly son to the leaf on which she had placedpoor little Tiny。 She wanted to fetch the pretty bed； that she mightput it in the bridal chamber to be ready for her。 The old toad bowedlow to her in the water； and said； 〃Here is my son； he will be yourhusband； and you will live happily in the marsh by the stream。〃
〃Croak； croak； croak；〃 was all her son could say for himself； sothe toad took up the elegant little bed； and swam away with it；leaving Tiny all alone on the green leaf； where she sat and wept。She could not bear to think of living with the old toad； and havingher ugly son for a husband。 The little fishes； who swam about in thewater beneath； had seen the toad； and heard what she said； so theylifted their heads above the water to look at the little maiden。 Assoon as they caught sight of her； they saw she was very pretty； and itmade them very sorry to think that she must go and live with theugly toads。 〃No； it must never be！〃 so they assembled together inthe water； round the green stalk which held the leaf on which thelittle maiden stood； and gnawed it away at the root with theirteeth。 Then the leaf floated down the stream； carrying Tiny far awayout of reach of land。
Tiny sailed past many towns； and the little birds in the bushessaw her； and sang； 〃What a lovely little creature；〃 so the leaf swamaway with her farther and farther； till it brought her to other lands。A graceful little white butterfly constantly fluttered round her；and at last alighted on the leaf。 Tiny pleased him； and she was gladof it； for now the toad could not possibly reach her； and thecountry through which she sailed was beautiful； and the sun shone uponthe water； till it glittered like liquid gold。 She took off her girdleand tied one end of it round the butterfly； and the other end of theribbon she fastened to the leaf； which now glided on much fasterthan ever； taking little Tiny with it as she stood。 Presently alarge cockchafer flew by； the moment he caught sight of her； he seizedher round her delicate waist with his claws； and flew with her intoa tree。 The green leaf floated away on the brook； and the butterflyflew with it； for he was fastened to it； and could not get away。
Oh； how frightened little Tiny felt when the cockchafer flewwith her to the tree！ But especially was she sorry for the beautifulwhite butterfly which she had fastened to the leaf； for if he couldnot free himself he would die of hunger。 But the cockchafer did nottrouble himself at all about the matter。 He seated himself by her sideon a large green leaf； gave her some honey from the flowers to eat；and told her she was very pretty； though not in the least like acockchafer。 After a time； all the cockchafers turned up their feelers；and said； 〃She has only two legs！ how ugly that looks。〃 〃She has nofeelers；〃 said another。 〃Her waist is quite slim。 Pooh！ she is likea human being。〃
〃Oh！ she is ugly；〃 said all the lady cockchafers； although Tinywas very pretty。 Then the cockchafer who had run away with her；believed all the others when they said she was ugly； and would havenothing more to say to her； and told her she might go where she liked。Then he flew down with her from the tree； and placed her on a daisy；and she wept at the thought that she was so ugly that even thecockchafers would have nothing to say to her。 And all the while shewas really the loveliest creature that one could imagine； and astender and delicate as a beautiful rose…leaf。 During the wholesummer poor little Tiny lived quite alone in the wide forest。 She woveherself a bed with blades of grass； and hung it up under a broad leaf；to protect herself from the rain。 She sucked the honey from theflowers for food； and drank the dew from their leaves every morning。So passed away the summer and the autumn； and then came the winter；…the long； cold winter。 All the birds who had sung to her so sweetlywere flown away； and the trees and the flowers had withered。 The largeclover leaf under the shelter of which she had lived； was now rolledtogether and shrivelled up； nothing remained but a yellow witheredstalk。 She felt dreadfully cold； for her clothes were torn； and shewas herself so frail and delicate； that poor little Tiny was nearlyfrozen to death。 It began to snow too； and the snow…flakes； as theyfell upon her； were like a whole shovelful falling upon one of us； forwe are tall； but she was only an inch high。 Then she wrapped herselfup in a dry leaf； but it cracked in the middle and could not keepher warm； and she shivered with cold。 Near the wood in which she hadbeen living lay a corn…field； but the corn had been cut a long time；nothing remained but the bare dry stubble standing up out of thefrozen ground。 It was to her like struggling through a large wood。 Oh！how she shivered with the cold。 She came at last to the door of afield…mouse； who had a little den under the corn…stubble。 Theredwelt the field…mouse in warmth and fort； with a whole roomful ofcorn； a kitchen； and a beautiful dining room。 Poor little Tiny stoodbefore the door just like a little beggar…girl； and begged for a smallpiece of barley…corn； for she had been without a morsel to eat for twodays。
〃You poor little creature；〃 said the field…mouse； who was really agood old field…mouse； 〃e into my warm room and dine with me。〃 Shewas very pleased with Tiny； so she said； 〃You are quite wele tostay with me all the winter； if you like； but you must keep my roomsclean and neat； and tell me stories； for I shall like to hear themvery much。〃 And Tiny did all the field…mouse asked her； and foundherself very fortable。
〃We shall have a visitor soon；〃 said the field…mouse one day；〃my neighbor pays me a visit once a week。 He is better off than Iam； he has large rooms； and wears a beautiful black velvet coat。 Ifyou could only have him for a husband； you would be well providedfor indeed。 But he is blind； so you must tell him some of yourprettiest stories。
But Tiny did not feel at all interested about this neighbor； forhe was a mole。 However； he came and paid his visit dressed in hisblack velvet coat。
〃He is very rich and learned； and his house is twenty times largerthan mine；〃 said the field…mouse。
He was rich and learned； no doubt； but he always spoke slightinglyof the sun and the pretty flowers； because he had never seen them。Tiny was obliged to sing to him； 〃Lady…bird； lady…bird； fly awayhome；〃 and many other pretty songs。 And the mole fell in love with herbecause she had such a sweet voice； but he said nothing yet； for hewas very cautious。 A short time before； the mole had dug a longpassage under the earth； which led from the dwelling of thefield…mouse to his own； and here she had permission to walk withTiny whenever she liked。 But he warned them not to be alarmed at thesight of a dead bird which lay in the passage。 It was a perfectbird； with a beak and feathers； and could not have been dead long； andwas lying just where the mole had made his passage。 The mole took apiece of phosphorescent wood in his mouth； and it glittered likefire in the dark； then he went before them to light them through thelong； dark passage。 When they came to the spot where lay the deadbird； the mole pushed his broad nose through the ceiling； the earthgave way； so that there was a large hole； and the daylight shoneinto the passage。 In the middle of the floor lay a dead swallow； hisbeautiful wings pulled close to his sides； his feet and his head drawnup under his feathers； the poor bird had evidently died of the cold。It made little Tiny very sad to see it； she did so love the littlebirds； all the summer they had sung and twittered for her sobeautifully。 But the mole pushed it aside with his crooked legs； andsaid； 〃He will sing no more now。 How miserable it must be to be born alittle bird！ I am thankful that none of my children will ever bebirds； for they can do nothing but cry； 'Tweet； tweet；' and always dieof hunger in the winter。〃
〃Yes； you may well say that； as a clever man！〃 exclaimed thefield…mouse； 〃What is the use of his twittering； for when winter eshe must either starve or be frozen to death。 Still birds are very highbred。〃
Tiny said nothing； but when the two others had turned theirbacks on the bird； she stooped down and stroked aside the softfeathers which covered the head； and kissed the closed eyelids。〃Perhaps this was the one who sang to me so sweetly in the summer；〃she said； 〃and how much pleasure it gave me； you dear； pretty bird。〃
The mole now stopped up the hole through which the daylight shone；and then acpanied the lady home。 But during the night Tiny couldnot sleep； so she got out of bed and wove a large； beautiful carpet ofhay； then she carried it to the dead bird； and spread it over him；with some down from the flowers which she had found in thefield…mouse's room。 It was as soft as wool； and she spread some ofit on each side of the bird； so that he might lie warmly in the c
