"ihaveitnow!"saidthedeadwoman."itwasyourhardwords,yourdespairofmankind,yourgloomybeliefingodandhiscreation,whichdrovemetoyou.learntoknowmankind!eveninthewickedonelivesapartofgod-andthisextinguishesandconquerstheflameofhell!"

thepastorfeltakissonhislips;agleamoflightsurroundedhim-god'sbrightsunshoneintotheroom,andhiswife,alive,sweetandfulloflove,awokehimfromadreamwhichgodhadsenthim!

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

astoryfromthesand-hills

byhanschristianandersen

thisstoryisfromthesand-dunesorsand-hillsofjutland,butitdoesnotbeginthereinthenorth,butfarawayinthesouth,inspain.thewideseaisthehighroadfromnationtonation;journeyinthought;then,tosunnyspain.itiswarmandbeautifulthere;thefierypomegranateflowerspeepfromamongdarklaurels;acoolrefreshingbreezefromthemountainsblowsovertheorangegardens,overthemoorishhallswiththeirgoldencupolasandcoloureddrengothroughthestreetsinprocessionwithcandlesandwavingbanners,andthesky,loftyandclearwithitsglitteringstars,risesabovethem.soundsofsingingandcastanetscanbeheard,andyouthsandmaidensdanceuponthefloweringacaciatrees,whileeventhebeggarsitsuponablockofmarble,refreshinghimselfwithajuicymelon,anddreamilyenjoyinglife.itallseemslikeabeautifuldream.

heredweltanewlymarriedcouplewhocompletelygavethemselvesuptothecharmoflife;indeedtheypossessedeverygoodthingtheycoulddesire-healthandhappiness,richesandhonour.

weareashappyashumanbeingscanbe,"saidtheyoungcouplefromthedepthsoftheirhearts.theyhadindeedonlyonestephighertomountontheladderofhappiness-theyhopedthatgodwouldgivethemachild,asonliketheminformandspirit.thehappylittleonewastobewelcomedwithrejoicing,tobecaredforwithloveandtenderness,andenjoyeveryadvantageofwealthandluxurythatarichandinfluentialfamilycangive.sothedayswentbylikeajoyousfestival.

"lifeisagraciousgiftfromgod,almosttoogreatagiftforustoappreciate!"saidtheyoungwife."yettheysaythatfulnessofjoyforeverandevercanonlybefoundinthefuturelife.icannotrealiseit!"

"thethoughtarises,perhaps,fromthearroganceofmen,"saidthehusband."itseemsagreatpridetobelievethatweshallliveforever,thatweshallbeasgods!werenotthesethewordsoftheserpent,thefatheroflies?"

"surelyyoudonotdoubttheexistenceofafuturelife?"exclaimedtheyoungwife.itseemedasifoneofthefirstshadowspassedoverhersunnythoughts.

"faithrealisesit,andtheprieststellusso,"repliedherhusband;"butamidallmyhappinessifeelthatitisarroganttodemandacontinuationofit-anotherlifeafterthis.hasnotsomuchbeengivenusinthisworldthatweoughttobe,wemustbe,contentedwithit?"

"yes,ithasbeengiventous,"saidtheyoungwife,"butthislifeisnothingmorethanonelongsceneoftrialandhardshiptomanythousands.howmanyhavebeencastintothisworldonlytoendurepoverty,shame,illness,andmisfortune?iftherewerenofuturelife,everythingherewouldbetoounequallydivided,andgodwouldnotbethepersonificationofjustice."

"thebeggarthere,"saidherhusband,"hasjoysofhisownwhichseemtohimgreat,andcausehimasmuchpleasureasakingwouldfindinthemagnificenceofhispalace.andthendoyounotthinkthatthebeastofburden,whichsuffersblowsandhunger,andworksitselftodeath,suffersjustasmuchfromitsmiserablefate?