《安徒生童话英文版》第204章

　　asked the oak, "and the purple bell-flower, and the daisy?" You seethe oak wanted to have them all with him.

　　"Here we are, we are here," sounded in voice and song.

　　"But the beautiful thyme of last summer, where is that? and thelilies-of-the-valley, which last year covered the earth with theirbloom? and the wild apple-tree with its lovely blossoms, and all theglory of the wood, which has flourished year after year? even what mayhave but now sprouted forth could be with us here."

　　"We are here, we are here," sounded voices higher in the air, asif they had flown there beforehand.

　　"Why this is beautiful, too beautiful to be believed," said theoak in a joyful tone. "I have them all here, both great and small; notone has been forgotten. Can such happiness be imagined?" It seemedalmost impossible.

　　"In heaven with the Eternal God, it can be imagined, and it ispossible," sounded the reply through the air.

　　And the old tree, as it still grew upwards and onwards, feltthat his roots were loosening themselves from the earth.

　　"It is right so, it is best," said the tree, "no fetters hold menow. I can fly up to the very highest point in light and glory. Andall I love are with me, both small and great. All- all are here."

　　Such was the dream of the old oak: and while he dreamed, amighty storm came rushing over land and sea, at the holy Christmastime. The sea rolled in great billows towards the shore. There was acracking and crushing heard in the tree. The root was torn from theground just at the moment when in his dream he fancied it was beingloosened from the earth. He fell- his three hundred and sixty-fiveyears were passed as the single day of the Ephemera. On the morning ofChristmas-day, when the sun rose, the storm had ceased. From all thechurches sounded the festive bells, and from every hearth, even of thesmallest hut, rose the smoke into the blue sky, like the smoke fromthe festive thank-offerings on the Druids' altars. The sea graduallybecame calm, and on board a great ship that had withstood thetempest during the night, all the flags were displayed, as a tokenof joy and festivity. "The tree is down! The old oak,- our landmark onthe coast!" exclaimed the sailors. "It must have fallen in the stormof last night. Who can replace it? Alas! no one." This was a funeraloration over the old tree; short, but well-meant. There it laystretched on the snow-covered shore, and over it sounded the notesof a song from the ship- a song of Christmas joy, and of theredemption of the soul of man, and of eternal life through Christ'satoning blood.

　　"Sing aloud on the happy morn,

　　All is fulfilled, for Christ is born;

　　With songs of joy let us loudly sing,

　　'Hallelujahs to Christ our King.'"Thus sounded the old Christmas carol, and every one on board theship felt his thoughts elevated, through the song and the prayer, evenas the old tree had felt lifted up in its last, its beautiful dream onthat Christmas morn.

　　THE END.

　　1872

　　FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

　　THE LAST PEARL

　　by Hans Christian Andersen

　　WE are in a rich, happy house, where the master, the servants, thefriends of the family are full of joy and felicity. For on this daya son and heir has been born, and mother and child are doing well. Thelamp in the bed-chamber had been partly shaded, and the windows werecovered with heavy curtains of some costly silken material. The carpetwas thick and soft, like a covering of moss. Everything invited toslumber, everything had a charming look of repose; and so the nursehad discovered, for she slept; and well she might sleep, whileeverything around her told of happiness and blessing. The guardianangel of the house leaned against the head of the bed; while overthe child was spread, as it were, a net of shining stars, and eachstar was a pearl of happiness. All the good stars of life hadbrought their gifts to the newly born; here sparkled health, wealth,fortune, and love; in short, there seemed to be everything for whichman could wish on earth.

　　"Everything has been bestowed here," said the guardian angel.

　　"No, not everything," said a voice near him- the voice of the goodangel of the child; "one fairy has not yet brought her gift, but shewill, even if years should elapse, she will bring her gift; it isthe last pearl that is wanting."

　　"Wanting!"