《安徒生童话英文版》第117章

　　Oh, it is happiness indeed."

　　But the mother saw nothing of what the child pointed out, only thedark curtain. She looked with earthly eyes, and could not see as thechild saw,- he whom God has called to be with Himself. She couldhear the sounds of music, but she heard not the words, the Word inwhich she was to trust.

　　"I can fly now, mother," said the child; "I can fly with otherhappy children into the presence of the Almighty. I would fain flyaway now; but if you weep for me as you are weeping now, you may neversee me again. And yet I would go so gladly. May I not fly away? Andyou will come to me soon, will you not, dear mother?"

　　"Oh, stay, stay!" implored the mother; "only one moment more; onlyonce more, that I may look upon thee, and kiss thee, and press thee tomy heart."

　　Then she kissed and fondled her child. Suddenly her name wascalled from above; what could it mean? her name uttered in a plaintivevoice.

　　"Hearest thou?" said the child. "It is my father who callsthee." And in a few moments deep sighs were heard, as of childrenweeping. "They are my sisters," said the child. "Mother, surely youhave not forgotten them."

　　And then she remembered those she left behind, and a greatterror came over her. She looked around her at the dark night. Dimforms flitted by. She seemed to recognize some of them, as theyfloated through the regions of death towards the dark curtain, wherethey vanished. Would her husband and her daughters flit past? No;their sighs and lamentations still sounded from above; and she hadnearly forgotten them, for the sake of him who was dead.

　　"Mother, now the bells of heaven are ringing," said the child;"mother, the sun is going to rise."

　　An overpowering light streamed in upon her, the child hadvanished, and she was being borne upwards. All around her became cold;she lifted her head, and saw that she was lying in the churchyard,on the grave of her child. The Lord, in a dream, had been a guide toher feet and a light to her spirit. She bowed her knees, and prayedfor forgiveness. She had wished to keep back a soul from itsimmortal flight; she had forgotten her duties towards the living whowere left her. And when she had offered this prayer, her heart feltlighter. The sun burst forth, over her head a little bird carolled hissong, and the church-bells sounded for the early service. Everythingaround her seemed holy, and her heart was chastened. Sheacknowledged the goodness of God, she acknowledged the duties shehad to perform, and eagerly she returned home. She bent over herhusband, who still slept; her warm, devoted kiss awakened him, andwords of heartfelt love fell from the lips of both. Now she was gentleand strong as a wife can be; and from her lips came the words offaith: "Whatever He doeth is right and best."

　　Then her husband asked, "From whence hast thou all at once derivedsuch strength and comforting faith?"

　　And as she kissed him and her children, she said, "It came fromGod, through my child in the grave."

　　THE END.

　　1872

　　FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

　　THE CONCEITED APPLE-BRANCH

　　by Hans Christian Andersen

　　IT was the month of May. The wind still blew cold; but from bushand tree, field and flower, came the welcome sound, "Spring iscome." Wild-flowers in profusion covered the hedges. Under thelittle apple-tree, Spring seemed busy, and told his tale from one ofthe branches which hung fresh and blooming, and covered withdelicate pink blossoms that were just ready to open. The branch wellknew how beautiful it was; this knowledge exists as much in the leafas in the blood; I was therefore not surprised when a nobleman'scarriage, in which sat the young countess, stopped in the road justby. She said that an apple-branch was a most lovely object, and anemblem of spring in its most charming aspect. Then the branch wasbroken off for her, and she held it in her delicate hand, andsheltered it with her silk parasol. Then they drove to the castle,in which were lofty halls and splendid drawing-rooms. Pure whitecurtains fluttered before the open windows, and beautiful flowersstood in shining, transparent vases; and in one of them, whichlooked as if it had been cut out of newly fallen snow, theapple-branch was placed, among some fresh, light twigs of beech. Itwas a charming sight. Then the branch became proud, which was verymuch like human nature.

　　People of every description entered the room, and, according totheir position in society, so dared they to express theiradmiration. Some few said nothing, others expressed too much, andthe apple-branch very soon got to understand that there was as muchdifference in the characters of human beings as in those of plants andflowers. Some are all for pomp and parade, others have a great deal todo to maintain their own importance, while the rest might be sparedwithout much loss to society. So thought the apple-branch, as he stoodbefore the open window, from which he could see out over gardens andfields, where there were flowers and plants enough for him to thinkand reflect upon; some rich and beautiful, some poor and humbleindeed.

　　"Poor, despised herbs," said the apple-branch; "there is reallya difference between them and such as I am. How unhappy they mustbe, if they can feel as those in my position do!