nowthesunissetting,andthenight,thedarknight,isapproaching.yetimayperhapsseetheroundsunoncemorebeforehedisappearsbeneaththehorizon.iwillclimbuptheserocks,theyareashighasthehighesttrees!"andthen,takingholdofthecreepersandroots,heclimbeduponthewetstones,wherewater-snakeswerewrigglingandthetoads,asitwere,barkedathim:hereachedthetopbeforethesun,seenfromsuchaheight,hadquiteset."oh,whatasplendour!"thesea,thegreatmajesticsea,whichwasrollingitslongwavesagainsttheshore,stretchedoutbeforehim,andthesunwasstandinglikealargebrightaltarandtherewhereseaandheavenmet-allmeltedtogetherinthemostglowingcolours;thewoodwassinging,andhishearttoo.thewholeofnaturewasonelargeholychurch,inwhichthetreesandhoveringcloudsformedthepillars,theflowersandgrassthewovenvelvetcarpet,andheavenitselfwasthegreatcupola;uptheretheflamecolourvanishedassoonasthesundisappeared,butmillionsofstarswerelighted;diamondlampswereshining,andtheking'ssonstretchedhisarmsouttowardsheaven,towardsthesea,andtowardsthewood.thensuddenlythepoorboywiththeshort-sleevedjacketandthewoodenshoesappeared;hehadarrivedjustasquicklyontheroadhehadchosen.andtheyrantowardseachotherandtookoneanother'shand,inthegreatcathedralofnatureandpoesy,andabovethemsoundedtheinvisibleholybell;happyspiritssurroundedthem,singinghallelujahsandrejoicing.

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

thebell-deep

byhanschristianandersen

"ding-dong!ding-dong!"itsoundsupfromthe"bell-deep"intheodense-au.everychildintheoldtownofodense,ontheislandoffunen,knowstheau,whichwashesthegardensroundaboutthetown,andflowsonunderthewoodenbridgesfromthedamtothewater-mill.intheaugrowtheyellowwater-liliesandbrownfeatheryreeds;thedarkvelvetyflaggrowsthere,highandthick;oldanddecayedwillows,slantingandtottering,hangfaroutoverthestreambesidethemonk'smeadowandbythebleachingground;butoppositetherearegardensupongardens,eachdifferentfromtherest,somewithprettyflowersandbowerslikelittledolls'pleasuregrounds,oftendisplayingcabbageandotherkitchenplants;andhereandtherethegardenscannotbeseenatall,forthegreateldertreesthatspreadthemselvesoutbythebank,andhangfaroutoverthestreamingwaters,whicharedeeperhereandtherethananoarcanfathom.oppositetheoldnunneryisthedeepestplace,whichiscalledthe"bell-deep,"andtheredwellstheoldwaterspirit,the"au-mann."thisspiritsleepsthroughthedaywhilethesunshinesdownuponthewater;butinstarryandmoonlitnightsheshowshimself.heisveryold.grandmothersaysthatshehasheardherowngrandmothertellofhim;heissaidtoleadasolitarylife,andtohavenobodywithwhomhecanconversesavethegreatoldchurchbell.oncethebellhunginthechurchtower;butnowthereisnotraceleftofthetowerorofthechurch,whichwascalledst.alban's.

"ding-dong!ding-dong!"soundedthebell,whenthetowerstillstoodthere;andoneevening,whilethesunwassetting,andthebellwasswingingawaybravely,itbrokelooseandcameflyingdownthroughtheair,thebrilliantmetalshiningintheruddybeam.

"ding-dong!ding-dong!nowi'llretiretorest!"sangthebell,andflewdownintotheodense-au,whereitisdeepest;andthatiswhytheplaceiscalledthe"bell-deep."

butthebellgotneitherrestnorsleep.downintheau-mann'shauntitsoundsandrings,sothatthetonessometimespierceupwardthroughthewaters;andmanypeoplemaintainthatitsstrainsforebodethedeathofsomeone;butthatisnottrue,forthebellisonlytalkingwiththeau-mann,whoisnownolongeralone.

andwhatisthebelltelling?