neithershenorherhusbandunderstoodhowtoeconomizeorsave,andtherichesbroughtnoblessingwiththem,becausetheyhadnotaskedforit.

yearspassed;andformanysummerstheheathwascoveredwithbloom;inwinterthesnowresteduponit,andtheroughwindsblewacrosstheridgeunderwhichstoodib'sshelteredhome.onespringdaythesunshonebrightly,andhewasguidingtheploughacrosshisfield.theploughsharestruckagainstsomethingwhichhefanciedwasafirestone,andthenhesawglitteringintheearthasplinterofshiningmetalwhichtheploughhadcutfromsomethingwhichgleamedbrightlyinthefurrow.hesearched,andfoundalargegoldenarmletofsuperiorworkmanship,anditwasevidentthattheploughhaddisturbedahun'sgrave.hesearchedfurther,andfoundmorevaluabletreasures,whichibshowedtotheclergyman,whoexplainedtheirvaluetohim.thenhewenttothemagistrate,whoinformedthepresidentofthemuseumofthediscovery,andadvisedibtotakethetreasureshimselftothepresident.

"youhavefoundintheearththebestthingyoucouldfind,"saidthemagistrate.

"thebestthing,"thoughtib;"theverybestthingforme,-andfoundintheearth!well,ifitreallyisso,thenthegypsywomanwasrightinherprophecy."

soibwentintheferry-boatfromaarhustocopenhagen.tohimwhohadonlysailedonceortwiceontherivernearhisownhome,thisseemedlikeavoyageontheocean;andatlengthhearrivedatcopenhagen.thevalueofthegoldhehadfoundwaspaidtohim;itwasalargesum-sixhundreddollars.theniboftheheathwentout,andwanderedaboutinthegreatcity.

ontheeveningbeforethedayhehadsettledtoreturnwiththecaptainofthepassage-boat,iblosthimselfinthestreets,andtookquiteadifferentturningtotheonehewishedtofollow.hewanderedontillhefoundhimselfinapoorstreetofthesuburbcalledchristian'shaven.notacreaturecouldbeseen.atlastaverylittlegirlcameoutofoneofthewretched-lookinghouses,andibaskedhertotellhimthewaytothestreethewanted;shelookeduptimidlyathim,andbegantocrybitterly.heaskedherwhatwasthematter;butwhatshesaidhecouldnotunderstand.sohewentalongthestreetwithher;andastheypassedunderalamp,thelightfellonthelittlegirl'sface.astrangesensationcameoverib,ashecaughtsightofit.theliving,breathingembodimentoflittlechristinastoodbeforehim,justasherememberedherinthedaysofherchildhood.hefollowedthechildtothewretchedhouse,andascendedthenarrow,crazystaircasewhichledtoalittlegarretintheroof.theairintheroomwasheavyandstifling,nolightwasburning,andfromonecornercamesoundsofmoaningandsighing.itwasthemotherofthechildwholaythereonamiserablebed.withthehelpofamatch,ibstruckalight,andapproachedher.

"canibeofanyservicetoyou?"heasked."thislittlegirlbroughtmeuphere;butiamastrangerinthiscity.aretherenoneighborsoranyonewhomicancall?"

thenheraisedtheheadofthesickwoman,andsmoothedherpillow.hestartedashedidso.itwaschristinaoftheheath!noonehadmentionedhernametoibforyears;itwouldhavedisturbedhispeaceofmind,especiallyasthereportsrespectingherwerenotwealthwhichherhusbandhadinheritedfromhisparentshadmadehimproudandarrogant.hehadgivenuphiscertainappointment,andtravelledforsixmonthsinforeignlands,and,onhisreturn,hadlivedingreatstyle,andgotintoterribledebt.foratimehehadtrembledonthehighpedestalonwhichhehadplacedhimself,tillatlasthetoppledover,andruincame.hisnumerousmerrycompanions,andthevisitorsathistable,saiditservedhimright,forhehadkepthouselikeamadman.onemorninghiscorpsewasfoundinthecanal.thecoldhandofdeathhadalreadytouchedtheheartofchristina.heryoungestchild,lookedforinthemidstofprosperity,hadsunkintothegravewhenonlyafewweeksold;andatlastchristinaherselfbecamesickuntodeath,andlay,forsakenanddying,inamiserableroom,amidpovertyshemighthaveborneinheryoungerdays,butwhichwasnowmorepainfultoherfromtheluxuriestowhichshehadlatelybeenaccustomed.itwashereldestchild,alsoalittlechristina,whomibhadfollowedtoherhome,whereshesufferedhungerandpovertywithhermother.

itmakesmeunhappytothinkthatishalldie,andleavethispoorchild,"sighedshe."oh,whatwillbecomeofher?"