noneofthesethoughtswereutteredaloud,however;forhewasagood,honorableoldlamp,whowouldnotwillinglydoharmtoanyone,especiallytothoseinauthority.asmanythingswererecalledtohismind,thelightwouldflashupwithsuddenbrightness;hehad,atsuchmoments,aconvictionthathewouldberemembered."therewasahandsomeyoungmanonce,"thoughthe;"itiscertainlyalongwhileago,butirememberhehadalittlenote,writtenonpinkpaperwithagoldedge;thewritingwaselegant,evidentlyalady'shand:twicehereaditthrough,andkissedit,andthenlookedupatme,witheyesthatsaidquiteplainly,'iamthehappiestofmen!'onlyheandiknowwhatwaswrittenonthishisfirstletterfromhislady-love.ah,yes,andtherewasanotherpairofeyesthatiremember,-itisreallywonderfulhowthethoughtsjumpfromonethingtoanother!afuneralpassedthroughthestreet;ayoungandbeautifulwomanlayonabier,deckedwithgarlandsofflowers,andattendedbytorches,whichquiteoverpoweredmylight.allalongthestreetstoodthepeoplefromthehouses,incrowds,readytojointheprocession.butwhenthetorcheshadpassedfrombeforeme,andicouldlookround,isawonepersonalone,standing,leaningagainstmypost,andweeping.nevershalliforgetthesorrowfuleyesthatlookedupatme."theseandsimilarreflectionsoccupiedtheoldstreetlamp,onthisthelasttimethathislightwouldshine.thesentry,whenheisrelievedfromhispost,knowsatleastwhowillsucceedhim,andmaywhisperafewwordstohim,butthelampdidnotknowhissuccessor,orhecouldhavegivenhimafewhintsrespectingrain,ormist,andcouldhaveinformedhimhowfarthemoon'srayswouldrestonthepavement,andfromwhichsidethewindgenerallyblew,andsoon.

onthebridgeoverthecanalstoodthreepersons,whowishedtorecommendthemselvestothelamp,fortheythoughthecouldgivetheofficetowhomsoeverhechose.thefirstwasaherring'shead,whichcouldemitlightinthedarkness.heremarkedthatitwouldbeagreatsavingofoiliftheyplacedhimonthelamp-post.numbertwowasapieceofrottenwood,whichalsoshinesinthedark.heconsideredhimselfdescendedfromanoldstem,oncetheprideofthethirdwasaglow-worm,andhowhefoundhiswaytherethelampcouldnotimagine,yettherehewas,andcouldreallygivelightaswellastheothers.buttherottenwoodandtheherring'sheaddeclaredmostsolemnly,byalltheyheldsacred,thattheglow-wormonlygavelightatcertaintimes,andmustnotbeallowedtocompetewiththemselves.theoldlampassuredthemthatnotoneofthemcouldgivesufficientlighttofillthepositionofastreetlamp;buttheywouldbelievenothinghesaid.andwhentheydiscoveredthathehadnotthepowerofnaminghissuccessor,theysaidtheywereverygladtohearit,forthelampwastoooldandworn-outtomakeaproperchoice.

atthismomentthewindcamerushingroundthecornerofthestreet,andthroughtheair-holesoftheoldlamp."whatisthisihear?"saidhe;"thatyouaregoingawayto-morrow?isthiseveningthelasttimeweshallmeet?thenimustpresentyouwithafarewellgift.iwillblowintoyourbrain,sothatinfutureyoushallnotonlybeabletorememberallthatyouhaveseenorheardinthepast,butyourlightwithinshallbesobright,thatyoushallbeabletounderstandallthatissaidordoneinyourpresence."

"oh,thatisreallyavery,verygreatgift,"saidtheoldlamp;"ithankyoumostheartily.ionlyhopeishallnotbemelteddown."

"thatisnotlikelytohappenyet,"saidthewind;"andiwillalsoblowamemoryintoyou,sothatshouldyoureceiveothersimilarpresentsyouroldagewillpassverypleasantly."

"thatisifiamnotmelteddown,"saidthelamp."butshouldiinthatcasestillretainmymemory?"