foolery!"isthecry."ithashappenedjustashedeserved.putthecrack-brainunderlockandkey!"

thensuddenlyalittlenailbreaks,whichhadstoppedthemachineforafewmoments;andnowthewheelsturnagain,thefloatsbreaktheforceofthewaters,andtheshipcontinuesitscourse;andthebeamofthesteamengineshortensthedistancebetweenfarlandsfromhoursintominutes.

ohumanrace,canstthougraspthehappinessofsuchaminuteofconsciousness,thispenetrationofthesoulbyitsmission,themomentinwhichalldejection,andeverywound-eventhosecausedbyone'sownfault-ischangedintohealthandstrengthandclearness-whendiscordisconvertedtoharmony-theminuteinwhichmenseemtorecognizethemanifestationoftheheavenlygraceinoneman,andfeelhowthisoneimpartsittoall?

thusthethornypathofhonorshowsitselfasaglory,surroundingtheearthwithitsbeams.thricehappyhewhoischosentobeawandererthere,and,withoutmeritofhisown,tobeplacedbetweenthebuilderofthebridgeandtheearth-betweenprovidenceandthehumanrace.

onmightywingsthespiritofhistoryfloatsthroughtheages,andshows-givingcourageandcomfort,andawakeninggentlethoughts-onthedarknightlybackground,butingleamingpictures,thethornypathofhonor,whichdoesnot,likeafairytale,endinbrilliancyandjoyhereonearth,butstretchesoutbeyondalltime,evenintoeternity!

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

thetinder-box

byhanschristianandersen

asoldiercamemarchingalongthehighroad:"left,right-left,right."hehadhisknapsackonhisback,andaswordathisside;hehadbeentothewars,andwasnowreturninghome.

ashewalkedon,hemetaveryfrightful-lookingoldwitchintheroad.herunder-liphungquitedownonherbreast,andshestoppedandsaid,"goodevening,soldier;youhaveaveryfinesword,andalargeknapsack,andyouarearealsoldier;soyoushallhaveasmuchmoneyaseveryoulike."

"thankyou,oldwitch,"saidthesoldier.

"doyouseethatlargetree,"saidthewitch,pointingtoatreewhichstoodbesidethem."well,itisquitehollowinside,andyoumustclimbtothetop,whenyouwillseeahole,throughwhichyoucanletyourselfdownintothetreetoagreatdepth.iwilltiearoperoundyourbody,sothaticanpullyouupagainwhenyoucallouttome."

"butwhatamitodo,downthereinthetree?"askedthesoldier.

"getmoney,"shereplied;"foryoumustknowthatwhenyoureachthegroundunderthetree,youwillfindyourselfinalargehall,lightedupbythreehundredlamps;youwillthenseethreedoors,whichcanbeeasilyopened,forthekeysareinallthelocks.onenteringthefirstofthechambers,towhichthesedoorslead,youwillseealargechest,standinginthemiddleofthefloor,anduponitadogseated,withapairofeyesaslargeasteacups.butyouneednotbeatallafraidofhim;iwillgiveyoumybluecheckedapron,whichyoumustspreaduponthefloor,andthenboldlyseizeholdofthedog,andplacehimuponit.youcanthenopenthechest,andtakefromitasmanypenceasyouplease,theyareonlycopperpence;butifyouwouldratherhavesilvermoney,youmustgointothesecondchamber.hereyouwillfindanotherdog,witheyesasbigasmill-wheels;butdonotletthattroubleyou.placehimuponmyapron,andthentakewhatmoneyyouplease.if,however,youlikegoldbest,enterthethirdchamber,wherethereisanotherchestfullofit.thedogwhositsonthischestisverydreadful;hiseyesareasbigasatower,butdonotmindhim.ifhealsoisplaceduponmyapron,hecannothurtyou,andyoumaytakefromthechestwhatgoldyouwill."

"thisisnotabadstory,"saidthesoldier;"butwhatamitogiveyou,youoldwitch?