andshecouldnotopenherhearttoanyoneforrelief.

thewindowstoodopenthewholeday,andthelittleelfcouldeasilyhavereachedtheroses,oranyoftheflowers;buthecouldnotfinditinhishearttoleaveonesoafflicted.inthewindowstoodabushbearingmonthlyroses.heseatedhimselfinoneoftheflowers,andgazedonthepoorgirl.herbrotheroftencameintotheroom,andwouldbequitecheerful,inspiteofhisbaseconduct;soshedarenotsayawordtohimofherheart'sgrief.

assoonasnightcameon,sheslippedoutofthehouse,andwentintothewood,tothespotwherethelinden-treestood;andafterremovingtheleavesfromtheearth,sheturneditup,andtherefoundhimwhohadbeenmurdered.oh,howsheweptandprayedthatshealsomightdie!gladlywouldshehavetakenthebodyhomewithher;butthatwasimpossible;soshetookupthepoorheadwiththeclosedeyes,kissedthecoldlips,andshookthemouldoutofthebeautifulhair.

"iwillkeepthis,"saidshe;andassoonasshehadcoveredthebodyagainwiththeearthandleaves,shetooktheheadandalittlesprigofjasminethatbloomedinthewood,nearthespotwherehewasburied,andcarriedthemhomewithher.assoonasshewasinherroom,shetookthelargestflower-potshecouldfind,andinthissheplacedtheheadofthedeadman,covereditupwithearth,andplantedthetwigofjasmineinit.

"farewell,farewell,"whisperedthelittleelf.hecouldnotanylongerenduretowitnessallthisagonyofgrief,hethereforeflewawaytohisownroseinthegarden.buttherosewasfaded;onlyafewdryleavesstillclungtothegreenhedgebehindit.

"alas!howsoonallthatisgoodandbeautifulpassesaway,"sighedtheelf.

afterawhilehefoundanotherrose,whichbecamehishome,foramongitsdelicatefragrantleaveshecoulddwellinsafety.everymorningheflewtothewindowofthepoorgirl,andalwaysfoundherweepingbytheflowerpot.thebittertearsfelluponthejasminetwig,andeachday,asshebecamepalerandpaler,thesprigappearedtogrowgreenerandfresher.oneshootafteranothersproutedforth,andlittlewhitebudsblossomed,whichthepoorgirlfondlykissed.butherwickedbrotherscoldedher,andaskedherifshewasgoingmad.hecouldnotimaginewhyshewasweepingoverthatflower-pot,anditannoyedhim.hedidnotknowwhoseclosedeyeswerethere,norwhatredlipswerefadingbeneaththeearth.andonedayshesatandleanedherheadagainsttheflower-pot,andthelittleelfoftherosefoundherasleep.thenheseatedhimselfbyherear,talkedtoherofthateveninginthearbor,ofthesweetperfumeoftherose,andthelovesoftheelves.sweetlyshedreamed,andwhileshedreamt,herlifepassedawaycalmlyandgently,andherspiritwaswithhimwhomsheloved,inheaven.andthejasmineopeneditslargewhitebells,andspreadforthitssweetfragrance;ithadnootherwayofshowingitsgriefforthedead.butthewickedbrotherconsideredthebeautifulbloomingplantashisownproperty,lefttohimbyhissister,andheplaceditinhissleepingroom,closebyhisbed,foritwasverylovelyinappearance,andthefragrancesweetanddelightful.thelittleelfoftherosefollowedit,andflewfromflowertoflower,tellingeachlittlespiritthatdweltinthemthestoryofthemurderedyoungman,whoseheadnowformedpartoftheearthbeneaththem,andofthewickedbrotherandthepoorsister."weknowit,"saideachlittlespiritintheflowers,"weknowit,forhavewenotsprungfromtheeyesandlipsofthemurderedone.weknowit,weknowit,"andtheflowersnoddedwiththeirheadsinapeculiarmanner.theelfoftherosecouldnotunderstandhowtheycouldrestsoquietlyinthematter,soheflewtothebees,whoweregatheringhoney,andtoldthemofthewickedbrother.andthebeestoldittotheirqueen,whocommandedthatthenextmorningtheyshouldgoandkillthemurderer.butduringthenight,thefirstafterthesister'sdeath,whilethebrotherwassleepinginhisbed,closetowherehehadplacedthefragrantjasmine,everyflowercupopened,andinvisiblythelittlespiritsstoleout,armedwithpoisonousyplacedthemselvesbytheearofthesleeper,toldhimdreadfuldreamsandthenflewacrosshislips,andprickedhistonguewiththeirpoisonedspears."nowhavewerevengedthedead,"saidthey,andflewbackintothewhitebellsofthejasmineflowers.whenthemorningcame,andassoonasthewindowwasopened,theroseelf,withthequeenbee,andthewholeswarmofbees,rushedintokillhim.buthewasalreadydead.peoplewerestandingroundthebed,andsayingthatthescentofthejasminehadkilledhim.thentheelfoftheroseunderstoodtherevengeoftheflowers,andexplainedittothequeenbee,andshe,withthewholeswarm,buzzedabouttheflower-pot.thebeescouldnotbedrivenaway.thenamantookituptoremoveit,andoneofthebeesstunghiminthehand,sothathelettheflower-potfall,anditwasbrokentopieces.theneveryonesawthewhitenedskull,andtheyknewthedeadmaninthebedwasamurderer.andthequeenbeehummedintheair,andsangoftherevengeoftheflowers,andoftheelfoftheroseandsaidthatbehindthesmallestleafdwellsone,whocandiscoverevildeeds,andpunishthemalso.

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

theelfinhill

byhanschristianandersen

afewlargelizardswererunningnimblyaboutinthecleftsofanoldtree;theycouldunderstandoneanotherverywell,fortheyspokethelizardlanguage.

"whatabuzzingandarumblingthereisintheelfinhill,"saidoneofthelizards;"ihavenotbeenabletoclosemyeyesfortwonightsonaccountofthenoise;imightjustaswellhavehadthetoothache,forthatalwayskeepsmeawake."

"thereissomethinggoingonwithinthere,"saidtheotherlizard;"theyproppedupthetopofthehillwithfourredposts,tillcock-crowthismorning,sothatitisthoroughlyaired,andtheelfingirlshavelearntnewdances;thereissomething."

"ispokeaboutittoanearth-wormofmyacquaintance,"saidathirdlizard;"theearth-wormhadjustcomefromtheelfinhill,wherehehasbeengropingaboutintheearthdayandnight.hehasheardagreatdeal;althoughhecannotsee,poormiserablecreature,yetheunderstandsverywellhowtowriggleandlurkabout.theyexpectfriendsintheelfinhill,grandcompany,too;butwhotheyaretheearth-wormwouldnotsay,or,perhaps,hereallydidnotknow.allthewill-o'-the-wispsareorderedtobetheretoholdatorchdance,asitiscalled.thesilverandgoldwhichisplentifulinthehillwillbepolishedandplacedoutinthemoonlight."

"whocanthestrangersbe?"