indeed,thatwasverydifficultforsuchasmallflowertofindout.itentirelyforgothowbeautifuleverythingarounditwas,howwarmlythesunwasshining,andhowsplendidlywhiteitsownpetalswere.itcouldonlythinkofthepoorcaptivebird,forwhichitcoulddonothing.thentwolittleboyscameoutofthegarden;oneofthemhadalargesharpknife,likethatwithwhichthegirlhadcutthetulips.theycamestraighttowardsthelittledaisy,whichcouldnotunderstandwhattheywanted.

"hereisafinepieceofturfforthelark,"saidoneoftheboys,andbegantocutoutasquareroundthedaisy,sothatitremainedinthecentreofthegrass.

"pluckthefloweroff"saidtheotherboy,andthedaisytrembledforfear,fortobepulledoffmeantdeathtoit;anditwishedsomuchtolive,asitwastogowiththesquareofturfintothepoorcaptivelark'scage.

"noletitstay,"saidtheotherboy,"itlookssopretty".

andsoitstayed,andwasbroughtintothelark'scage.thepoorbirdwaslamentingitslostliberty,andbeatingitswingsagainstthewires;andthelittledaisycouldnotspeakorutteraconsolingword,muchasitwouldhavelikedtodoso.sotheforenoonpassed.

"ihavenowater,"saidthecaptivelark,"theyhaveallgoneout,andforgottentogivemeanythingtodrink.mythroatisdryandburning.ifeelasifihadfireandicewithinme,andtheairissooppressive.alas!imustdie,andpartwiththewarmsunshine,thefreshgreenmeadows,andallthebeautythatgodhascreated."anditthrustitsbeakintothepieceofgrass,torefreshitselfalittle.thenitnoticedthelittledaisy,andnoddedtoit,andkisseditwithitsbeakandsaid:"youmustalsofadeinhere,poorlittleflower.youandthepieceofgrassarealltheyhavegivenmeinexchangeforthewholeworld,whichienjoyedoutside.eachlittlebladeofgrassshallbeagreentreeforme,eachofyourwhitepetalsafragrantflower.alas!youonlyremindmeofwhatihavelost."

"iwishicouldconsolethepoorlark,"thoughtthedaisy.itcouldnotmoveoneofitsleaves,butthefragranceofitsdelicatepetalsstreamedforth,andwasmuchstrongerthansuchflowersusuallyhave:thebirdnoticedit,althoughitwasdyingwiththirst,andinitspaintoreupthegreenbladesofgrass,butdidnottouchtheflower.

theeveningcame,andnobodyappearedtobringthepoorbirdadropofwater;itopeneditsbeautifulwings,andflutteredaboutinitsanguish;afaintandmournful"tweet,tweet,"wasallitcouldutter,thenitbentitslittleheadtowardstheflower,anditsheartbrokeforwantandlonging.theflowercouldnot,asonthepreviousevening,foldupitspetalsandsleep;itdroppedsorrowfully.theboysonlycamethenextmorning;whentheysawthedeadbird,theybegantocrybitterly,duganicegraveforit,andadorneditwithflowers.thebird'sbodywasplacedinaprettyredbox;theywishedtoburyitwithroyalhonours.whileitwasaliveandsangtheyforgotit,andletitsufferwantinthecage;now,theycriedoveritandcovereditwithflowers.thepieceofturf,withthelittledaisyinit,wasthrownoutonthedustyhighway.nobodythoughtoftheflowerwhichhadfeltsomuchforthebirdandhadsogreatlydesiredtocomfortit.

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

thedarning-needle

byhanschristianandersen

therewasonceadarning-needlewhothoughtherselfsofinethatshefanciedshemustbefitforembroidery."holdmetight,"shewouldsaytothefingers,whentheytookherup,"don'tletmefall;ifyoudoishallneverbefoundagain,iamsoveryfine."

"thatisyouropinion,isit?"