安徒生童话-第76章

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But　the　children　could　neither　hear　nor　understand　this；　norshould　they；　for　children　must　not　know　everything。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

THE　FLYING　TRUNK

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THERE　was　once　a　merchant　who　was　so　rich　that　he　could　have　pavedthe　whole　street　with　gold；　and　would　even　then　have　had　enough　fora　small　alley。　But　he　did　not　do　so；　he　knew　the　value　of　money　betterthan　to　use　it　in　this　way。　So　clever　was　he；　that　every　shilling　heput　out　brought　him　a　crown；　and　so　he　continued　till　he　died。　His　soninherited　his　wealth；　and　he　lived　a　merry　life　with　it；　he　went　toa　masquerade　every　night；　made　kites　out　of　five　pound　notes；　andthrew　pieces　of　gold　into　the　sea　instead　of　stones；　making　ducksand　drakes　of　them。　In　this　manner　he　soon　lost　all　his　money。　At　lasthe　had　nothing　left　but　a　pair　of　slippers；　an　old　dressing…gown；and　four　shillings。　And　now　all　his　friends　deserted　him；　they　couldnot　walk　with　him　in　the　streets；　but　one　of　them；　who　was　verygood…natured；　sent　him　an　old　trunk　with　this　message；　〃Pack　up！〃〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　all　very　well　to　say　'pack　up；'　〃but　he　hadnothing　left　to　pack　up；　therefore　he　seated　himself　in　the　trunk。It　was　a　very　wonderful　trunk；　no　sooner　did　any　one　press　on　the　lockthan　the　trunk　could　fly。　He　shut　the　lid　and　pressed　the　lock；　whenaway　flew　the　trunk　up　the　chimney　with　the　merchant's　son　in　it；right　up　into　the　clouds。　Whenever　the　bottom　of　the　trunk　cracked；　hewas　in　a　great　fright；　for　if　the　trunk　fell　to　pieces　he　would　havemade　a　tremendous　somerset　over　the　trees。　However；　he　got　safely　inhis　trunk　to　the　land　of　Turkey。　He　hid　the　trunk　in　the　wood　undersome　dry　leaves；　and　then　went　into　the　town：　he　could　so　this　verywell；　for　the　Turks　always　go　about　dressed　in　dressing…gowns　andslippers；　as　he　was　himself。　He　happened　to　meet　a　nurse　with　a　littlechild。　〃I　say；　you　Turkish　nurse；〃　cried　he；　〃what　castle　is　that　nearthe　town；　with　the　windows　placed　so　high？〃

〃The　king's　daughter　lives　there；〃　she　replied；　〃it　has　beenprophesied　that　she　will　be　very　unhappy　about　a　lover；　andtherefore　no　one　is　allowed　to　visit　her；　unless　the　king　and　queenare　present。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　the　merchant's　son。　So　he　went　back　to　the　wood；seated　himself　in　his　trunk；　flew　up　to　the　roof　of　the　castle；　andcrept　through　the　window　into　the　princess's　room。　She　lay　on　the　sofaasleep；　and　she　was　so　beautiful　that　the　merchant's　son　could　nothelp　kissing　her。　Then　she　awoke；　and　was　very　much　frightened；　but　hetold　her　he　was　a　Turkish　angel；　who　had　e　down　through　the　airto　see　her；　which　pleased　her　very　much。　He　sat　down　by　her　side　andtalked　to　her：　he　said　her　eyes　were　like　beautiful　dark　lakes；　inwhich　the　thoughts　swam　about　like　little　mermaids；　and　he　told　herthat　her　forehead　was　a　snowy　mountain；　which　contained　splendid　hallsfull　of　pictures。　And　then　he　related　to　her　about　the　stork　whobrings　the　beautiful　children　from　the　rivers。　These　were　delightfulstories；　and　when　he　asked　the　princess　if　she　would　marry　him；　sheconsented　immediately。

〃But　you　must　e　on　Saturday；〃　she　said；　〃for　then　the　kingand　queen　will　take　tea　with　me。　They　will　be　very　proud　when　theyfind　that　I　am　going　to　marry　a　Turkish　angel；　but　you　must　think　ofsome　very　pretty　stories　to　tell　them；　for　my　parents　like　to　hearstories　better　than　anything。　My　mother　prefers　one　that　is　deep　andmoral；　but　my　father　likes　something　funny；　to　make　him　laugh。〃

〃Very　well；〃　he　replied；　〃I　shall　bring　you　no　other　marriageportion　than　a　story；〃　and　so　they　parted。　But　the　princess　gave　him　asword　which　was　studded　with　gold　coins；　and　these　he　could　use。

Then　he　flew　away　to　the　town　and　bought　a　new　dressing…gown；and　afterwards　returned　to　the　wood；　where　he　posed　a　story；　soas　to　be　ready　for　Saturday；　which　was　no　easy　matter。　It　was　readyhowever　by　Saturday；　when　he　went　to　see　the　princess。　The　king；　andqueen；　and　the　whole　court；　were　at　tea　with　the　princess；　and　hewas　received　with　great　politeness。

〃Will　you　tell　us　a　story？〃　said　the　queen；…　〃one　that　isinstructive　and　full　of　deep　learning。〃

〃Yes；　but　with　something　in　it　to　laugh　at；〃　said　the　king。

〃Certainly；〃　he　replied；　and　menced　at　once；　asking　them　tolisten　attentively。　〃There　was　once　a　bundle　of　matches　that　wereexceedingly　proud　of　their　high　descent。　Their　genealogical　tree；　thatis；　a　large　pine…tree　from　which　they　had　been　cut；　was　at　one　timea　large；　old　tree　in　the　wood。　The　matches　now　lay　between　atinder…box　and　an　old　iron　saucepan；　and　were　talking　about　theiryouthful　days。　'Ah！　then　we　grew　on　the　green　boughs；　and　were　asgreen　as　they；　every　morning　and　evening　we　were　fed　with　diamonddrops　of　dew。　Whenever　the　sun　shone；　we　felt　his　warm　rays；　and　thelittle　birds　would　relate　stories　to　us　as　they　sung。　We　knew　thatwe　were　rich；　for　the　other　trees　only　wore　their　green　dress　insummer；　but　our　family　were　able　to　array　themselves　in　green；summer　and　winter。　But　the　wood…cutter　came；　like　a　greatrevolution；　and　our　family　fell　under　the　axe。　The　head　of　the　houseobtained　a　situation　as　mainmast　in　a　very　fine　ship；　and　can　sailround　the　world　when　he　will。　The　other　branches　of　the　family　weretaken　to　different　places；　and　our　office　now　is　to　kindle　a　light　formon　people。　This　is　how　such　high…born　people　as　we　came　to　be　in　akitchen。'

〃'Mine　has　been　a　very　different　fate；'　said　the　iron　pot；　whichstood　by　the　matches；　'from　my　first　entrance　into　the　world　I　havebeen　used　to　cooking　and　scouring。　I　am　the　first　in　this　house；when　anything　solid　or　useful　is　required。　My　only　pleasure　is　to　bemade　clean　and　shining　after　dinner；　and　to　sit　in　my　place　and　have　alittle　sensible　conversation　with　my　neighbors。　All　of　us；　exceptingthe　water…bucket；　which　is　sometimes　taken　into　the　courtyard；　livehere　together　within　these　four　walls。　We　get　our　news　from　themarket…basket；　but　he　sometimes　tells　us　very　unpleasant　thingsabout　the　people　and　the　government。　Yes；　and　one　day　an　old　pot　wasso　alarmed；　that　he　fell　down　and　was　broken　to　pieces。　He　was　aliberal；　I　can　tell　you。'

〃'You　are　talking　too　much；'　said　the　tinder…box；　and　the　steelstruck　against　the　flint　till　some　sparks　flew　out；　crying；　'We　want　amerry　evening；　don't　we？'

〃'Yes；　of　course；'　said　the　matches；　'let　us　talk　about　thosewho　are　the　highest　born。'

〃'No；　I　don't　like　to　be　always　talking　of　what　we　are；'remarked　the　saucepan；　'let　us　think　of　some　other　amusement；　I　willbegin。　We　will　tell　something　that　has　happened　to　ourselves；　thatwill　be　very　easy；　and　interesting　as　well。　On　the　Baltic　Sea；　nearthe　Danish　shore'…　　　〃'What　a　pretty　mencement！'　said　the　plates；　'we　shall　alllike　that　story；　I　am　sure。'

〃'Yes；　well　in　my　youth；　I　lived　in　a　quiet　family；　where　thefurniture　was　polished；　the　floors　scoured；　and　clean　curtains　putup　every　fortnight；'

〃'What　an　interesting　way　you　have　of　relating　a　story；'　saidthe　carpet…broom；　'it　is　easy　to　perceive　that　you　have　been　a　greatdeal　in　women's　society；　there　is　something　so　pure　runs　throughwhat　you　say。'

〃'That　is　quite　true；'　said　the　water…bucket；　and　he　made　a　springwith　joy；　and　splashed　some　water　on　the　floor。

〃Then　the　saucepan　went　on　with　his　story；　and　the　end　was　as　goodas　the　beginning。

〃The　plates　rattled　with　pleasure；　and　the　carpet…broom　broughtsome　green　parsley　out　of　the　dust…hole　and　crowned　the　saucepan；for　he　knew　it　would　vex　the　others；　and　he　thought；　'If　I　crown　himto…day　he　will　crown　me　to…morrow。'

〃'Now；　let　us　have　a　dance；'　said　the　fire…tongs；　and　then　howthey　danced　and　stuck　up　one　leg　in　the　air。　The　chair…cushion　inthe　corner　burst　with　laughter　when　she　saw　it。

〃'Shall　I　be　crowned　now？'　asked　the　fire…tongs；　so　the　broomfound　another　wreath　for　the　tongs。

〃'They　were　only　mon　people　after　all；'　thought　the　matches。The　tea…urn　was　now　asked　to　sing；　but　she　said　she　had　a　cold；　andcould　not　sing　without　boiling　heat。　They　all　thought　this　wasaffectation；　and　because　she　did　not　wish　to　sing　excepting　in　theparlor；　when　on　the　table　with　the　grand　people。

〃In　the　window　sat　an　old　quill…pen；　with　which　the　maid　generallywrote。　There　was　nothing　remarkable　about　the　pen；　excepting　that　ithad　been　dipped　too　deeply　in　the　ink；　but　it　was　proud　of　that。

〃'If　the　tea…urn　won't　sing；'　said　the　pen；　'she　can　leave　italone；　there　is　a　nightingale　in　a　cage　who　can　sing；　she　has　not　beentaught　much；　certainly；　but　we　need　not　say　anything　this　eveningabout　that。'

〃'I　think　it　highly　improper；'　said　the　tea…kettle；　who　waskitchen　singer；　and　half…brother　to　the　tea…urn；　'that　a　richforeign　bird　should　be　listened　to　here。　Is　it　patriotic？　Let　themarket…basket　decide　what　is　right。'

〃'I　certainly　am　vexed；'　said　the　basket；　'inwardly　vexed；　morethan　any　one　can　imagine。　Are　we　spending　the　evening　properly？Would　it　not　be　more　sensible　to　put　the　house　in　order？　If　eachwere　in　his　own　place　I　would　lead　a　game；　this　would　be　quite　anotherthing。'

〃'Let　us　act　a　play；'　said　they　all。　At　the　same　moment　the　dooropened；　and　the　maid　came　in。　Then　not　one　stirred；　they　allremained　quite　still；　yet；　at　the　same　time；　there　was　not　a　singlepot　amongst　them　wh