'andtheladsandlassessinging,andeverythingfullofmerrimentandjoy.buttherewasthewhitecloudwiththeblackspothangingoverthem.icriedoutasloudlyasicould,butnooneheardme;iwastoofarofffromthepeople.soonwouldthestormburst,theicebreak,andallwhowereonitbeirretrievablylost.theycouldnothearme,andtogotothemwasquiteoutofmypower.oh,ificouldonlygetthemsafeonland!thencamethethought,asiffromheaven,thatiwouldrathersetfiretomybed,andletthehousebeburntdown,thanthatsomanypeopleshouldperishmiserably.igotalight,andinafewmomentstheredflamesleapedupasabeacontothem.iescapedfortunatelyasfarasthethresholdofthedoor;butthereifelldownandremained:icouldgonofarther.theflamesrushedouttowardsme,flickeredonthewindow,androsehighabovetheroof.thepeopleontheicebecameawareofthefire,andranasfastaspossibletohelpapoorsickwoman,who,astheythought,wasbeingburnttodeath.therewasnotonewhodidnotrun.iheardthemcoming,andialsoatthesametimewasconsciousofarushofairandasoundliketheroarofheavyartillery.thespringfloodwasliftingtheicecovering,whichbrakeintoathousandpieces.butthepeoplehadreachedthesea-wall,wherethesparkswereflyinground.ihadsavedthemall;butisupposeicouldnotsurvivethecoldandfright;soicameupheretothegatesofparadise.iamtoldtheyareopentopoorcreaturessuchasiam,andihavenownohouseleftonearth;butidonotthinkthatwillgivemeaclaimtobeadmittedhere."

thenthegateswereopened,andanangelledtheoldwomanin.shehaddroppedonelittlestrawoutofherstrawbed,whenshesetitonfiretosavethelivesofsomany.ithadbeenchangedintothepurestgold-intogoldthatconstantlygrewandexpandedintoflowersandfruitofimmortalbeauty.

"see,"saidtheangel,pointingtothewonderfulstraw,"thisiswhatthepoorwomanhasbrought.whatdostthoubring?iknowthouhastaccomplishednothing,notevenmadeasinglebrick.evenifthoucouldstreturn,andatleastproducesomuch,verylikely,whenmade,thebrickwouldbeuseless,unlessdonewithagoodwill,whichisalwayssomething.butthoucanstnotreturntoearth,andicandonothingforthee."

thenthepoorsoul,theoldmotherwhohadlivedinthehouseonthedyke,pleadedforhim.shesaid,"hisbrothermadeallthestoneandbricks,andsentthemtometobuildmypoorlittledwelling,whichwasagreatdealtodoforapoorwomanlikeme.couldnotallthesebricksandpiecesbeasawallofstonetoprevailforhim?itisanactofmercy;heiswantingitnow;andhereistheveryfountainofmercy."

"then,"saidtheangel,"thybrother,hewhohasbeenlookeduponasthemeanestofyouall,hewhosehonestdeedstotheeappearedsohumble,-itishewhohassentyouthisheavenlygift.thoushaltnotbeturnedaway.thoushalthavepermissiontostandwithoutthegateandreflect,andrepentofthylifeonearth;butthoushaltnotbeadmittedhereuntilthouhastperformedonegooddeedofrepentance,whichwillindeedfortheebesomething."

"icouldhaveexpressedthatbetter,"thoughtthecritic;buthedidnotsayitaloud,whichforhimwassomething,afterall.

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

soupfromasausageskewer

byhanschristianandersen

"wehadsuchanexcellentdinneryesterday,"saidanoldmouseofthefemalesextoanotherwhohadnotbeenpresentatthefeast."isatnumbertwenty-onebelowthemouse-king,whichwasnotabadplace.shallitellyouwhatwehad?