andthenheglancedatacuriousroundthinglikeanoldapple,whichlaynearalong,leaflesscabbage-stalk.itwas,however,notanapple,butanoldball,whichhadlainforyearsinthegutter,andwassoakedthroughwithwater.

"thankgoodness,herecomesoneofmyownclass,withwhomicantalk,"saidtheball,examiningthegildedtop."iammadeofmorocco,"shesaid."iwassewntogetherbyayounglady,andihaveaspanishcorkinmybody;butnoonewouldthinkit,tolookatmewasonceengagedtoaswallow;butifellinherefromthegutterundertheroof,andihavelainheremorethanfiveyears,andhavebeenthoroughlydrenched.believeme,itisalongtimeforayoungmaiden."

thetopsaidnothing,buthethoughtofhisoldlove;andthemoreshesaid,themoreclearitbecametohimthatthiswasthesameball.

theservantthencametocleanoutthedust-bin.

"ah,"sheexclaimed,"hereisagilttop."sothetopwasbroughtagaintonoticeandhonor,butnothingmorewasheardofthelittleball.hespokenotawordabouthisoldlove;forthatsoondiedaway.whenthebelovedobjecthaslainforfiveyearsinagutter,andhasbeendrenchedthrough,noonecarestoknowheragainonmeetingherinadust-bin.

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

thetravellingcompanion

byhanschristianandersen

poorjohnwasverysad;forhisfatherwassoill,hehadnohopeofhisrecovery.johnsatalonewiththesickmaninthelittleroom,andthelamphadnearlyburntout;foritwaslateinthenight.

"youhavebeenagoodson,john,"saidthesickfather,"andgodwillhelpyouonintheworld."helookedathim,ashespoke,withmild,earnesteyes,drewadeepsigh,anddied;yetitappearedasifhestillslept.

johnweptbitterly.hehadnooneinthewideworldnow;neitherfather,mother,brother,norsister.poorjohn!hekneltdownbythebed,kissedhisdeadfather'shand,andweptmany,manybittertears.butatlasthiseyesclosed,andhefellasleepwithhisheadrestingagainstthehardbedpost.thenhedreamedastrangedream;hethoughthesawthesunshininguponhim,andhisfatheraliveandwell,andevenheardhimlaughingasheusedtodowhenhewasveryhappy.abeautifulgirl,withagoldencrownonherhead,andlong,shininghair,gavehimherhand;andhisfathersaid,"seewhatabrideyouhavewon.sheistheloveliestmaidenonthewholeearth."thenheawoke,andallthebeautifulthingsvanishedbeforehiseyes,hisfatherlaydeadonthebed,andhewasallalone.poorjohn!

duringthefollowingweekthedeadmanwasburied.thesonwalkedbehindthecoffinwhichcontainedhisfather,whomhesodearlyloved,andwouldneveragainbehold.heheardtheearthfallonthecoffin-lid,andwatchedittillonlyacornerremainedinsight,andatlastthatalsodisappeared.hefeltasifhisheartwouldbreakwithitsweightofsorrow,tillthosewhostoodroundthegravesangapsalm,andthesweet,holytonesbroughttearsintohiseyes,whichrelievedhim.thesunshonebrightlydownonthegreentrees,asifitwouldsay,"youmustnotbesosorrowful,john.doyouseethebeautifulblueskyaboveyou?yourfatherisupthere,andhepraystothelovingfatherofall,thatyoumaydowellinthefuture."

"iwillalwaysbegood,"saidjohn,"andthenishallgotobewithmyfatherinheaven.whatjoyitwillbewhenweseeeachotheragain!howmuchishallhavetorelatetohim,andhowmanythingshewillbeabletoexplaintomeofthedelightsofheaven,andteachmeasheoncedidonearth.oh,whatjoyitwillbe!"