hecried,whilethetearsrolleddownhischeeks."isittruewhattheysay,thatshewasgoodfornothing?"

"no,indeed,itisnottrue,"repliedtheoldservant,raisinghereyestoheaven;"shewasworthagreatdeal;iknewityearsago,andsincethelastnightofherlifeiammorecertainofitthanever.isayshewasagoodandworthywoman,andgod,whoisinheaven,knowsiamspeakingthetruth,thoughtheworldmaysay,evennowshewasgoodfornothing."

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

something

byhanschristianandersensomething

"imeantobesomebody,anddosomethingusefulintheworld,"saidtheeldestoffivebrothers."idon'tcarehowhumblemypositionis,sothaticanonlydosomegood,whichwillbesomething.iintendtobeabrickmaker;bricksarealwayswanted,andishallbereallydoingsomething."

"your'something'isnotenoughforme,"saidthesecondbrother;"whatyoutalkofdoingisnothingatall,itisjourneyman'swork,ormightevenbedonebyamachine.no!ishouldprefertobeabuilderatonce,thereissomethingrealinthat.amangainsaposition,hebecomesacitizen,hashisownsign,hisownhouseofcallforhisworkmen:soishallbeabuilder.ifallgoeswell,intimeishallbecomeamaster,andhavemyownjourneymen,andmywifewillbetreatedasamaster'swife.thisiswhaticallsomething."

"icallitallnothing,"saidthethird;"notinrealityanyposition.therearemanyinatownfaraboveamasterbuilderinposition.youmaybeanuprightman,butevenasamasteryouwillonlyberankedamongcommonmen.iknowbetterwhattodothanthat.iwillbeanarchitect,whichwillplacemeamongthosewhopossessrichesandintellect,andwhospeculateinart.ishallcertainlyhavetorisebymyownendeavorsfromabricklayer'slaborer,orasacarpenter'sapprentice-aladwearingapapercap,althoughinowwearasilkhat.ishallhavetofetchbeerandspiritsforthejourneymen,andtheywillcallme'thou,'whichwillbeaninsult.ishallendureit,however,forishalllookuponitallasamererepresentation,amasquerade,amummery,whichto-morrow,thatis,whenimyselfasajourneyman,shallhaveservedmytime,willvanish,andishallgomyway,andallthathaspassedwillbenothingtome.thenishallentertheacademy,andgetinstructedindrawing,andbecalledanarchitect.imayevenattaintorank,andhavesomethingplacedbeforeoraftermyname,andishallbuildasothershavedonebeforeme.bythistherewillbealways'something'tomakemeremembered,andisnotthatworthlivingfor?"

"notinmyopinion,"saidthefourth;"iwillneverfollowtheleadofothers,andonlyimitatewhattheyhavedone.iwillbeagenius,andbecomegreaterthanallofyoutogether.iwillcreateanewstyleofbuilding,andintroduceaplanforerectinghousessuitabletotheclimate,withmaterialeasilyobtainedinthecountry,andthussuitnationalfeelingandthedevelopmentsoftheage,besidesbuildingastoreyformyowngenius."

"butsupposingtheclimateandthematerialarenotgoodformuch,"saidthefifthbrother,"thatwouldbeveryunfortunateforyou,andhaveaninfluenceoveryourexperiments.nationalitymayassertitselfuntilitbecomesaffectation,andthedevelopmentsofacenturymayrunwild,asyouthoftendoes.iseeclearlythatnoneofyouwilleverreallybeanythingworthnotice,howeveryoumaynowfancyit.butdoasyoulike,ishallnotimitateyou.imeantokeepclearofallthesethings,andcriticizewhatyoudo.ineveryactionsomethingimperfectmaybediscovered,somethingnotright,whichishallmakeitmybusinesstofindoutandexpose;thatwillbesomething,ifancy."andhekepthisword,andbecameacritic.

peoplesaidofthisfifthbrother,"thereissomethingverypreciseabouthim;hehasagoodhead-piece,buthedoesnothing."andonthatveryaccounttheythoughthemustbesomething.

now,yousee,thisisalittlehistorywhichwillneverend;aslongastheworldexists,therewillalwaysbemenlikethesefivebrothers.andwhatbecameofthem?