安徒生童话-第37章

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her　hand；　in　which　was　a　heart　made　ofsugar；　more　beautiful　than　any　confectioner　ever　sold。　As　Hjalmarsailed　by；　he　caught　hold　of　one　side　of　the　sugar　heart；　and　heldit　fast；　and　the　princess　held　fast　also；　so　that　it　broke　in　twopieces。　Hjalmar　had　one　piece；　and　the　princess　the　other；　butHjalmar's　was　the　largest。　At　each　castle　stood　little　princesacting　as　sentinels。　They　presented　arms；　and　had　golden　swords；　andmade　it　rain　plums　and　tin　soldiers；　so　that　they　must　have　beenreal　princes。

Hjalmar　continued　to　sail；　sometimes　through　woods；　sometimes　asit　were　through　large　halls；　and　then　by　large　cities。　At　last　he　cameto　the　town　where　his　nurse　lived；　who　had　carried　him　in　her　armswhen　he　was　a　very　little　boy；　and　had　always　been　kind　to　him。　Shenodded　and　beckoned　to　him；　and　then　sang　the　little　verses　she　hadherself　posed　and　set　to　him；…

　〃How　oft　my　memory　turns　to　thee；

　　　My　own　Hjalmar；　ever　dear！

　When　I　could　watch　thy　infant　glee；

　　　Or　kiss　away　a　pearly　tear。

　'Twas　in　my　arms　thy　lisping　tongue

　　　First　spoke　the　half…remembered　word；

　While　o'er　thy　tottering　steps　I　hung；

　　　My　fond　protection　to　afford。

　Farewell！　I　pray　the　Heavenly　Power

　To　keep　thee　till　thy　dying　hour。〃And　all　the　birds　sang　the　same　tune；　the　flowers　danced　on　theirstems；　and　the　old　trees　nodded　as　if　Ole…Luk…Oie　had　been　tellingthem　stories　as　well。WEDNESDAY

　WEDNESDAY

How　the　rain　did　pour　down！　Hjalmar　could　hear　it　in　his　sleep；。and　when　Ole…Luk…Oie　opened　the　window；　the　water　flowed　quite　up　tothe　window…sill。　It　had　the　appearance　of　a　large　lake　outside；　anda　beautiful　ship　lay　close　to　the　house。

〃Wilt　thou　sail　with　me　to…night；　little　Hjalmar？〃　saidOle…Luk…Oie；　〃then　we　shall　see　foreign　countries；　and　thou　shaltreturn　here　in　the　morning。〃

All　in　a　moment；　there　stood　Hjalmar；　in　his　best　clothes；　onthe　deck　of　the　noble　ship；　and　immediately　the　weather　became　fine。They　sailed　through　the　streets；　round　by　the　church；　and　on　everyside　rolled　the　wide；　great　sea。　They　sailed　till　the　landdisappeared；　and　then　they　saw　a　flock　of　storks；　who　had　left　theirown　country；　and　were　travelling　to　warmer　climates。　The　storks　flewone　behind　the　other；　and　had　already　been　a　long；　long　time　on　thewing。　One　of　them　seemed　so　tired　that　his　wings　could　scarcelycarry　him。　He　was　the　last　of　the　row；　and　was　soon　left　very　farbehind。　At　length　he　sunk　lower　and　lower；　with　outstretched　wings；flapping　them　in　vain；　till　his　feet　touched　the　rigging　of　theship；　and　he　slided　from　the　sails　to　the　deck；　and　stood　before　them。Then　a　sailor…boy　caught　him；　and　put　him　in　the　hen…house；　with　thefowls；　the　ducks；　and　the　turkeys；　while　the　poor　stork　stood　quitebewildered　amongst　them。

〃Just　look　at　that　fellow；〃　said　the　chickens。

Then　the　turkey…cock　puffed　himself　out　as　large　as　he　could；and　inquired　who　he　was；　and　the　ducks　waddled　backwards；　crying；〃Quack；　quack。〃

Then　the　stork　told　them　all　about　warm　Africa；　of　the　pyramids；and　of　the　ostrich；　which；　like　a　wild　horse；　runs　across　thedesert。　But　the　ducks　did　not　understand　what　he　said；　and　quackedamongst　themselves；　〃We　are　all　of　the　same　opinion；　namely；　that　heis　stupid。〃

〃Yes；　to　be　sure；　he　is　stupid；〃　said　the　turkey…cock；　andgobbled。

Then　the　stork　remained　quite　silent；　and　thought　of　his　home　inAfrica。

〃Those　are　handsome　thin　legs　of　yours；〃　said　the　turkey…cock。〃What　do　they　cost　a　yard？〃

〃Quack；　quack；　quack；〃　grinned　the　ducks；　but；　the　stork　pretendednot　to　hear。

〃You　may　as　well　laugh；〃　said　the　turkey；　〃for　that　remark　wasrather　witty；　or　perhaps　it　was　above　you。　Ah；　ah；　is　he　not　clever？He　will　be　a　great　amusement　to　us　while　he　remains　here。〃　And　then　hegobbled；　and　the　ducks　quacked；　〃Gobble；　gobble；　Quack；　quack。〃

What　a　terrible　uproar　they　made；　while　they　were　having　suchfun　among　themselves！

Then　Hjalmar　went　to　the　hen…house；　and；　opening　the　door；called　to　the　stork。　Then　he　hopped　out　on　the　deck。　He　had　restedhimself　now；　and　he　looked　happy；　and　seemed　as　if　he　nodded　toHjalmar；　as　if　to　thank　him。　Then　he　spread　his　wings；　and　flew　awayto　warmer　countries；　while　the　hens　clucked；　the　ducks　quacked；　andthe　turkey…cock　turned　quite　scarlet　in　the　head。

〃To…morrow　you　shall　be　made　into　soup；〃　said　Hjalmar　to　thefowls；　and　then　he　awoke；　and　found　himself　lying　in　his　little　bed。

It　was　a　wonderful　journey　which　Ole…Luk…Oie　had　made　him　takethis　night。THURSDAY

　THURSDAY

〃What　do　you　think　I　have　got　here？〃　said　Ole…Luk…Oie；　〃Do　notbe　frightened；　and　you　shall　see　a　little　mouse。〃　And　then　he　held　outhis　hand　to　him；　in　which　lay　a　lovely　little　creature。　〃It　has　eto　invite　you　to　a　wedding。　Two　little　mice　are　going　to　enter　intothe　marriage　state　tonight。　They　reside　under　the　floor　of　yourmother's　store…room；　and　that　must　be　a　fine　dwelling…place。〃

〃But　how　can　I　get　through　the　little　mouse…hole　in　the　floor？〃asked　Hjalmar。

〃Leave　me　to　manage　that；〃　said　Ole…Luk…Oie。　〃I　will　soon　make　yousmall　enough。〃　And　then　he　touched　Hjalmar　with　his　magic　wand；whereupon　he　became　less　and　less；　until　at　last　he　was　not　longerthan　a　little　finger。　〃Now　you　can　borrow　the　dress　of　the　tinsoldier。　I　think　it　will　just　fit　you。　It　looks　well　to　wear　a　uniformwhen　you　go　into　pany。〃

〃Yes；　certainly；〃　said　Hjalmar；　and　in　a　moment　he　was　dressedas　neatly　as　the　neatest　of　all　tin　soldiers。

〃Will　you　be　so　good　as　to　seat　yourself　in　your　mamma's　thimble；〃said　the　little　mouse；　〃that　I　may　have　the　pleasure　of　drawing　you　tothe　wedding。〃

〃Will　you　really　take　so　much　trouble；　young　lady？〃　saidHjalmar。　And　so　in　this　way　he　rode　to　the　mouse's　wedding。

First　they　went　under　the　floor；　and　then　passed　through　a　longpassage；　which　was　scarcely　high　enough　to　allow　the　thimble　todrive　under；　and　the　whole　passage　was　lit　up　with　thephosphorescent　light　of　rotten　wood。

〃Does　it　not　smell　delicious？〃　asked　the　mouse；　as　she　drew　himalong。　〃The　wall　and　the　floor　have　been　smeared　with　bacon…rind；nothing　can　be　nicer。〃

Very　soon　they　arrived　at　the　bridal　hall。　On　the　right　stoodall　the　little　lady…mice；　whispering　and　giggling；　as　if　they　weremaking　game　of　each　other。　To　the　left　were　the　gentlemen…mice；stroking　their　whiskers　with　their　fore…paws；　and　in　the　centre　of　thehall　could　be　seen　the　bridal　pair；　standing　side　by　side；　in　a　hollowcheese…rind；　and　kissing　each　other；　while　all　eyes　were　upon　them；for　they　had　already　been　betrothed；　and　were　soon　to　be　married。　Moreand　more　friends　kept　arriving；　till　the　mice　were　nearly　treadingeach　other　to　death；　for　the　bridal　pair　now　stood　in　the　doorway；　andnone　could　pass　in　or　out。

The　room　had　been　rubbed　over　with　bacon…rind；　like　the　passage；which　was　all　the　refreshment　offered　to　the　guests。　But　for　dessertthey　produced　a　pea；　on　which　a　mouse　belonging　to　the　bridal　pair　hadbitten　the　first　letters　of　their　names。　This　was　something　quiteunmon。　All　the　mice　said　it　was　a　very　beautiful　wedding；　andthat　they　had　been　very　agreeably　entertained。

After　this；　Hjalmar　returned　home。　He　had　certainly　been　ingrand　society；　but　he　had　been　obliged　to　creep　under　a　room；　and　tomake　himself　small　enough　to　wear　the　uniform　of　a　tin　soldier。FRIDAY

　FRIDAY

〃It　is　incredible　how　many　old　people　there　are　who　would　beglad　to　have　me　at　night；〃　said　Ole…Luk…Oie；　〃especially　those　whohave　done　something　wrong。　'Good　little　Ole；'　say　they　to　me；　'wecannot　close　our　eyes；　and　we　lie　awake　the　whole　night　and　see　allour　evil　deeds　sitting　on　our　beds　like　little　imps；　and　sprinkling　uswith　hot　water。　Will　you　e　and　drive　them　away；　that　we　may　havea　good　night's　rest？'　and　then　they　sigh　so　deeply　and　say；　'Wewould　gladly　pay　you　for　it。　Good…night；　Ole…Luk；　the　money　lies　onthe　window。'　But　I　never　do　anything　for　gold。〃　〃What　shall　we　doto…night？〃　asked　Hjalmar。　〃I　do　not　know　whether　you　would　care　togo　to　another　wedding；〃　he　replied；　〃although　it　is　quite　adifferent　affair　to　the　one　we　saw　last　night。　Your　sister's　largedoll；　that　is　dressed　like　a　man；　and　is　called　Herman；　intends　tomarry　the　doll　Bertha。　It　is　also　the　dolls'　birthday；　and　they　willreceive　many　presents。〃

〃Yes；　I　know　that　already；〃　said　Hjalmar；　〃my　sister　always　allowsher　dolls　to　keep　their　birthdays　or　to　have　a　wedding　when　theyrequire　new　clothes；　that　has　happened　already　a　hundred　times；　I　amquite　sure。〃

〃Yes；　so　it　may；　but　to…night　is　the　hundred　and　first　wedding；and　when　that　has　taken　place　it　must　be　the　last；　therefore　this　isto　be　extremely　beautiful。　Only　look。〃

Hjalmar　looked　at　the　table；　and　there　stood　the　little　card…boarddoll's　house；　with　lights　in　all　the　windows；　and　drawn　up　before　itwere　the　tin　soldiers　presenting　arms。　The　bridal　pair　were　seatedon　the　floor；　leaning　against　the　leg　of　the　table；　looking　verythoughtful；　and　with　good　reason。　Then　Ole…Luk…Oie　dressed　up　ingrandmother's　black　gown　married　them。

As　soon　as　the　ceremony　was　concluded；　all　the　furniture　in　theroom　joined　in　singing　a　beautiful　song；　which　had　been　posed　bythe　lead　pencil；　and　which　went　to　the　melody　of　a　military　tattoo。

　〃What　merry　sounds　are　on　the　wind；

　　As　marriage　rites　together　bind

　　A　quiet　and