inwentgreatclaus,andimmediatelysanktothebottomoftheriver.

"i'mafraidhewillnotfindanycattle,"saidlittleclaus,andthenhedrovehisownbeastshomewards.

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

littleida'sflowers

byhanschristianandersen

"mypoorflowersarequitedead,"saidlittleida,"theyweresoprettyyesterdayevening,andnowalltheleavesarehangingdownquitewithered.whatdotheydothatfor,"sheasked,ofthestudentwhosatonthesofa;shelikedhimverymuch,hecouldtellthemostamusingstories,andcutouttheprettiestpictures;hearts,andladiesdancing,castleswithdoorsthatopened,aswellasflowers;hewasadelightfulstudent."whydotheflowerslooksofadedto-day?"sheaskedagain,andpointedtohernosegay,whichwasquitewithered.

"don'tyouknowwhatisthematterwiththem?"saidthestudent."theflowerswereataballlastnight,andtherefore,itisnowondertheyhangtheirheads."

"butflowerscannotdance?"criedlittleida.

"yesindeed,theycan,"repliedthestudent."whenitgrowsdark,andeverybodyisasleep,theyjumpaboutquitemerrily.theyhaveaballalmosteverynight."

"canchildrengototheseballs?"

"yes,"saidthestudent,"littledaisiesandliliesofthevalley."

"wheredothebeautifulflowersdance?"askedlittleida.

"haveyounotoftenseenthelargecastleoutsidethegatesofthetown,wherethekinglivesinsummer,andwherethebeautifulgardenisfullofflowers?andhaveyounotfedtheswanswithbreadwhentheyswamtowardsyou?well,theflowershavecapitalballsthere,believeme."

"iwasinthegardenoutthereyesterdaywithmymother,"saidida,"butalltheleaveswereoffthetrees,andtherewasnotasingleflowerleft.wherearethey?iusedtoseesomanyinthesummer."

"theyareinthecastle,"repliedthestudent."youmustknowthatassoonasthekingandallthecourtaregoneintothetown,theflowersrunoutofthegardenintothecastle,andyoushouldseehowmerrytheyare.thetwomostbeautifulrosesseatthemselvesonthethrone,andarecalledthekingandqueen,thenalltheredcockscombsrangethemselvesoneachside,andbow,thesearethelords-in-waiting.afterthattheprettyflowerscomein,andthereisagrandball.thebluevioletsrepresentlittlenavalcadets,anddancewithhyacinthsandcrocuseswhichtheycallyoungladies.thetulipsandtiger-liliesaretheoldladieswhositandwatchthedancing,sothateverythingmaybeconductedwithorderandpropriety."

"but,"saidlittleida,"istherenoonetheretohurttheflowersfordancingintheking'scastle?"

"nooneknowsanythingaboutit,"saidthestudent."theoldstewardofthecastle,whohastowatchthereatnight,sometimescomesin;buthecarriesagreatbunchofkeys,andassoonastheflowershearthekeysrattle,theyrunandhidethemselvesbehindthelongcurtains,andstandquitestill,justpeepingtheirheadsout.thentheoldstewardsays,'ismellflowershere,'buthecannotseethem."

"ohhowcapital,"saidlittleida,clappingherhands."shouldibeabletoseetheseflowers?"

"yes,"saidthestudent,"mindyouthinkofitthenexttimeyougoout,nodoubtyouwillseethem,ifyoupeepthroughthedidsoto-day,andisawalongyellowlilylyingstretchedoutonthesofa.shewasacourtlady."

"cantheflowersfromthebotanicalgardensgototheseballs?"