安徒生童话-第62章
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。Very cautiously the large leaves were removed； and there appearedthe feathery seed…crown of the despised dandelion。 This was what thelady had so carefully plucked； and carried home so safely covered；so that not one of the delicate feathery arrows of which its mist…likeshape was so lightly formed； should flutter away。 She now drew itforth quite uninjured； and wondered at its beautiful form； and airylightness； and singular construction； so soon to be blown away bythe wind。
〃See；〃 she exclaimed； 〃how wonderfully God has made this littleflower。 I will paint it with the apple…branch together。 Every oneadmires the beauty of the apple…bough； but this humble flower has beenendowed by Heaven with another kind of loveliness； and although theydiffer in appearance； both are the children of the realms of beauty。〃
Then the sunbeam kissed the lowly flower； and he kissed theblooming apple…branch； upon whose leaves appeared a rosy blush。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE DAISY
by Hans Christian Andersen
Now listen！ In the country； close by the high road； stood afarmhouse； perhaps you have passed by and seen it yourself。 Therewas a little flower garden with painted wooden palings in front of it；close by was a ditch； on its fresh green bank grew a little daisy； thesun shone as warmly and brightly upon it as on the magnificentgarden flowers； and therefore it thrived well。 One morning it hadquite opened； and its little snow…white petals stood round theyellow centre； like the rays of the sun。 It did not mind that nobodysaw it in the grass； and that it was a poor despised flower； on thecontrary； it was quite happy； and turned towards the sun； lookingupward and listening to the song of the lark high up in the air。
The little daisy was as happy as if the day had been a greatholiday； but it was only Monday。 All the children were at school；and while they were sitting on the forms and learning their lessons；it sat on its thin green stalk and learnt from the sun and from itssurroundings how kind God is； and it rejoiced that the song of thelittle lark expressed so sweetly and distinctly its own feelings。 Witha sort of reverence the daisy looked up to the bird that could fly andsing； but it did not feel envious。 〃I can see and hear；〃 it thought；〃the sun shines upon me； and the forest kisses me。 How rich I am！〃
In the garden close by grew many large and magnificent flowers；and； strange to say； the less fragrance they had the haughtier andprouder they were。 The peonies puffed themselves up in order to belarger than the roses； but size is not everything！ The tulips hadthe finest colours； and they knew it well； too； for they were standingbolt upright like candles； that one might see them the better。 Intheir pride they did not see the little daisy； which looked over tothem and thought； 〃How rich and beautiful they are！ I am sure thepretty bird will fly down and call upon them。 Thank God； that Istand so near and can at least see all the splendour。〃 And while thedaisy was still thinking； the lark came flying down； crying 〃Tweet；〃but not to the peonies and tulips… no； into the grass to the poordaisy。 Its joy was so great that it did not know what to think。 Thelittle bird hopped round it and sang； 〃How beautifully soft thegrass is； and what a lovely little flower with its golden heart andsilver dress is growing here。〃 The yellow centre in the daisy didindeed look like gold； while the little petals shone as brightly assilver。
How happy the daisy was！ No one has the least idea。 The birdkissed it with its beak； sang to it； and then rose again up to theblue sky。 It was certainly more than a quarter of an hour before thedaisy recovered its senses。 Half ashamed； yet glad at heart； it lookedover to the other flowers in the garden； surely they had witnessed itspleasure and the honour that had been done to it； they understoodits joy。 But the tulips stood more stiffly than ever； their faces werepointed and red； because they were vexed。 The peonies were sulky； itwas well that they could not speak； otherwise they would have giventhe daisy a good lecture。 The little flower could very well see thatthey were ill at ease； and pitied them sincerely。
Shortly after this a girl came into the garden； with a large sharpknife。 She went to the tulips and began cutting them off； one afteranother。 〃Ugh！〃 sighed the daisy； 〃that is terrible； now they are donefor。〃
The girl carried the tulips away。 The daisy was glad that it wasoutside； and only a small flower… it felt very grateful。 At sunsetit folded its petals； and fell asleep； and dreamt all night of the sunand the little bird。
On the following morning； when the flower once more stretchedforth its tender petals； like little arms； towards the air andlight； the daisy recognised the bird's voice； but what it sang soundedso sad。 Indeed the poor bird had good reason to be sad； for it hadbeen caught and put into a cage close by the open window。 It sang ofthe happy days when it could merrily fly about； of fresh green corn inthe fields； and of the time when it could soar almost up to theclouds。 The poor lark was most unhappy as a prisoner in a cage。 Thelittle daisy would have liked so much to help it； but what could bedone？ Indeed； that was very difficult for such a small flower tofind out。 It entirely forgot how beautiful everything around it was；how warmly the sun was shining； and how splendidly white its ownpetals were。 It could only think of the poor captive bird； for whichit could do nothing。 Then two little boys came out of the garden；one of them had a large sharp knife； like that with which the girl hadcut the tulips。 They came straight towards the little daisy； whichcould not understand what they wanted。
〃Here is a fine piece of turf for the lark；〃 said one of the boys；and began to cut out a square round the daisy； so that it remainedin the centre of the grass。
〃Pluck the flower off〃 said the other boy； and the daisytrembled for fear； for to be pulled off meant death to it； and itwished so much to live； as it was to go with the square of turf intothe poor captive lark's cage。
〃No let it stay；〃 said the other boy； 〃it looks so pretty〃。
And so it stayed； and was brought into the lark's cage。 The poorbird was lamenting its lost liberty； and beating its wings against thewires； and the little daisy could not speak or utter a consoling word；much as it would have liked to do so。 So the forenoon passed。
〃I have no water；〃 said the captive lark； 〃they have all gone out；and forgotten to give me anything to drink。 My throat is dry andburning。 I feel as if I had fire and ice within me； and the air isso oppressive。 Alas！ I must die； and part with the warm sunshine；the fresh green meadows； and all the beauty that God has created。〃 Andit thrust its beak into the piece of grass； to refresh itself alittle。 Then it noticed the little daisy； and nodded to it； and kissedit with its beak and said： 〃You must also fade in here； poor littleflower。 You and the piece of grass are all they have given me inexchange for the whole world； which I enjoyed outside。 Each littleblade of grass shall be a green tree for me； each of your white petalsa fragrant flower。 Alas！ you only remind me of what I have lost。〃
〃I wish I could console the poor lark；〃 thought the daisy。 Itcould not move one of its leaves； but the fragrance of its delicatepetals streamed forth； and was much stronger than such flowers usuallyhave： the bird noticed it； although it was dying with thirst； and inits pain tore up the green blades of grass； but did not touch theflower。
The evening came； and nobody appeared to bring the poor bird adrop of water； it opened its beautiful wings； and fluttered about inits anguish； a faint and mournful 〃Tweet； tweet；〃 was all it couldutter； then it bent its little head towards the flower； and itsheart broke for want and longing。 The flower could not； as on theprevious evening； fold up its petals and sleep； it droppedsorrowfully。 The boys only came the next morning； when they saw thedead bird； they began to cry bitterly； dug a nice grave for it； andadorned it with flowers。 The bird's body was placed in a pretty redbox； they wished to bury it with royal honours。 While it was alive andsang they forgot it； and let it suffer want in the cage； now； theycried over it and covered it with flowers。 The piece of turf； with thelittle daisy in it； was thrown out on the dusty highway。 Nobodythought of the flower which had felt so much for the bird and had sogreatly desired to fort it。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE DARNING…NEEDLE
by Hans Christian Andersen
THERE was once a darning…needle who thought herself so fine thatshe fancied she must be fit for embroidery。 〃Hold me tight；〃 she wouldsay to the fingers； when they took her up； 〃don't let me fall； ifyou do I shall never be found again； I am so very fine。〃
〃That is your opinion； is it？〃 said the fingers； as they seizedher round the body。
〃See； I am ing with a train；〃 said the darning…needle；drawing a long thread after her； but there was no knot in the thread。
The fingers then placed the point of the needle against the cook'sslipper。 There was a crack in the upper leather； which had to besewn
