安徒生童话-第138章

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ut　presents；　even　thehead　cook　at　the　great　house　was　honored　with　a　mark　of　distinction；most　likely　for　the　soup。〃

〃And　what　did　you　receive？〃　said　the　stork…mamma。　〃Theycertainly　ought　not　to　forget　the　most　important　person　in　the　affair；as　you　really　are。　The　learned　men　have　done　nothing　at　all　but　usetheir　tongues。　Surely　they　will　not　overlook　you。〃

Late　in　the　night；　while　the　gentle　sleep　of　peace　rested　on　thenow　happy　house；　there　was　still　one　watcher。　It　was　not　stork…papa；who；　although　he　stood　on　guard　on　one　leg；　could　sleep　soundly。　Helgaalone　was　awake。　She　leaned　over　the　balcony；　gazing　at　thesparkling　stars　that　shone　clearer　and　brighter　in　the　pure　air　thanthey　had　done　in　the　north；　and　yet　they　were　the　same　stars。　Shethought　of　the　Viking's　wife　in　the　wild　moorland；　of　the　gentleeyes　of　her　foster…mother；　and　of　the　tears　she　had　shed　over　the　poorfrog…child　that　now　lived　in　splendor　and　starry　beauty　by　thewaters　of　the　Nile；　with　air　balmy　and　sweet　as　spring。　She　thought　ofthe　love　that　dwelt　in　the　breast　of　the　heathen　woman；　love　thathad　been　shown　to　a　wretched　creature；　hateful　as　a　human　being；　andhideous　when　in　the　form　of　an　animal。　She　looked　at　the　glitteringstars；　and　thought　of　the　radiance　that　had　shone　forth　on　theforehead　of　the　dead　man；　as　she　had　fled　with　him　over　the　woodlandand　moor。　Tones　were　awakened　in　her　memory；　words　which　she　had　heardhim　speak　as　they　rode　onward；　when　she　was　carried；　wondering　andtrembling；　through　the　air；　words　from　the　great　Fountain　of　love；　thehighest　love　that　embraces　all　the　human　race。　What　had　not　been　wonand　achieved　by　this　love？

Day　and　night　beautiful　Helga　was　absorbed　in　the　contemplation　ofthe　great　amount　of　her　happiness；　and　lost　herself　in　thecontemplation；　like　a　child　who　turns　hurriedly　from　the　giver　toexamine　the　beautiful　gifts。　She　was　over…powered　with　her　goodfortune；　which　seemed　always　increasing；　and　therefore　what　might　itbee　in　the　future？　Had　she　not　been　brought　by　a　wonderfulmiracle　to　all　this　joy　and　happiness？　And　in　these　thoughts　sheindulged；　until　at　last　she　thought　no　more　of　the　Giver。　It　was　theover…abundance　of　youthful　spirits　unfolding　its　wings　for　a　daringflight。　Her　eyes　sparkled　with　energy；　when　suddenly　arose　a　loudnoise　in　the　court　below；　and　the　daring　thought　vanished。　Shelooked　down；　and　saw　two　large　ostriches　running　round　quickly　innarrow　circles；　she　had　never　seen　these　creatures　before；…　great；coarse；　clumsy…looking　birds　with　curious　wings　that　looked　as　if　theyhad　been　clipped；　and　the　birds　themselves　had　the　appearance　ofhaving　been　roughly　used。　She　inquired　about　them；　and　for　the　firsttime　heard　the　legend　which　the　Egyptians　relate　respecting　theostrich。

Once；　say　they；　the　ostriches　were　a　beautiful　and　glorious　raceof　birds；　with　large；　strong　wings。　One　evening　the　other　largebirds　of　the　forest　said　to　the　ostrich；　〃Brother；　shall　we　fly　to　theriver　to…morrow　morning　to　drink；　God　willing？〃　and　the　ostrichanswered；　〃I　will。〃

With　the　break　of　day；　therefore；　they　menced　their　flight；first　rising　high　in　the　air；　towards　the　sun；　which　is　the　eye　ofGod；　still　higher　and　higher　the　ostrich　flew；　far　above　the　otherbirds；　proudly　approaching　the　light；　trusting　in　its　own　strength；and　thinking　not　of　the　Giver；　or　saying；　〃if　God　will。〃　When　suddenlythe　avenging　angel　drew　back　the　veil　from　the　flaming　ocean　ofsunlight；　and　in　a　moment　the　wings　of　the　proud　bird　were　scorchedand　shrivelled；　and　they　sunk　miserably　to　the　earth。　Since　thattime　the　ostrich　and　his　race　have　never　been　able　to　rise　in　the　air；they　can　only　fly　terror…stricken　along　the　ground；　or　run　round　andround　in　narrow　circles。　It　is　a　warning　to　mankind；　that　in　all　ourthoughts　and　schemes；　and　in　every　action　we　undertake；　we　should　say；〃if　God　will。〃

Then　Helga　bowed　her　head　thoughtfully　and　seriously；　and　lookedat　the　circling　ostrich；　as　with　timid　fear　and　simple　pleasure　itglanced　at　its　own　great　shadow　on　the　sunlit　walls。　And　the　storyof　the　ostrich　sunk　deeply　into　the　heart　and　mind　of　Helga：　a　life　ofhappiness；　both　in　the　present　and　in　the　future；　seemed　secure　forher；　and　what　was　yet　to　e　might　be　the　best　of　all；　God　willing。

Early　in　the　spring；　when　the　storks　were　again　about　to　journeynorthward；　beautiful　Helga　took　off　her　golden　bracelets；　scratchedher　name　on　them；　and　beckoned　to　the　stork…father。　He　came　to　her；and　she　placed　the　golden　circlet　round　his　neck；　and　begged　him　todeliver　it　safely　to　the　Viking's　wife；　so　that　she　might　know　thather　foster…daughter　still　lived；　was　happy；　and　had　not　forgotten　her。

〃It　is　rather　heavy　to　carry；〃　thought　stork…papa；　when　he　hadit　on　his　neck；　〃but　gold　and　honor　are　not　to　be　flung　into　thestreet。　The　stork　brings　good　fortune…　they'll　be　obliged　toacknowledge　that　at　last。〃

〃You　lay　gold；　and　I　lay　eggs；〃　said　stork…mamma；　〃with　you　itis　only　once　in　a　way；　I　lay　eggs　every　year　But　no　one　appreciateswhat　we　do；　I　call　it　very　mortifying。〃

〃But　then　we　have　a　consciousness　of　our　own　worth；　mother；〃replied　stork…papa。

〃What　good　will　that　do　you？〃　retorted　stork…mamma；　〃it　willneither　bring　you　a　fair　wind；　nor　a　good　meal。〃

〃The　little　nightingale；　who　is　singing　yonder　in　the　tamarindgrove；　will　soon　be　going　north；　too。〃　Helga　said　she　had　oftenheard　her　singing　on　the　wild　moor；　so　she　determined　to　send　amessage　by　her。　While　flying　in　the　swan's　plumage　she　had　learntthe　bird　language；　she　had　often　conversed　with　the　stork　and　theswallow；　and　she　knew　that　the　nightingale　would　understand。　So　shebegged　the　nightingale　to　fly　to　the　beechwood；　on　the　peninsula　ofJutland；　where　a　mound　of　stone　and　twigs　had　been　raised　to　formthe　grave；　and　she　begged　the　nightingale　to　persuade　all　the　otherlittle　birds　to　build　their　nests　round　the　place；　so　that　evermoreshould　resound　over　that　grave　music　and　song。　And　the　nightingaleflew　away；　and　time　flew　away　also。

In　the　autumn；　an　eagle；　standing　upon　a　pyramid；　saw　a　statelytrain　of　richly　laden　camels；　and　men　attired　in　armor　on　foamingArabian　steeds；　whose　glossy　skins　shone　like　silver；　their　nostrilswere　pink；　and　their　thick；　flowing　manes　hung　almost　to　their　slenderlegs。　A　royal　prince　of　Arabia；　handsome　as　a　prince　should　be；　andacpanied　by　distinguished　guests；　was　on　his　way　to　the　statelyhouse；　on　the　roof　of　which　the　storks'　empty　nests　might　be　seen。They　were　away　now　in　the　far　north；　but　expected　to　return　very　soon。And；　indeed；　they　returned　on　a　day　that　was　rich　in　joy　and　gladness。

A　marriage　was　being　celebrated；　in　which　the　beautiful　Helga；glittering　in　silk　and　jewels；　was　the　bride；　and　the　bridegroom　theyoung　Arab　prince。　Bride　and　bridegroom　sat　at　the　upper　end　of　thetable；　between　the　bride's　mother　and　grandfather。　But　her　gaze　wasnot　on　the　bridegroom；　with　his　manly；　sunburnt　face；　round　whichcurled　a　black　beard；　and　whose　dark　fiery　eyes　were　fixed　upon　her；but　away　from　him；　at　a　twinkling　star；　that　shone　down　upon　herfrom　the　sky。　Then　was　heard　the　sound　of　rushing　wings　beating　theair。　The　storks　were　ing　home；　and　the　old　stork　pair；　althoughtired　with　the　journey　and　requiring　rest；　did　not　fail　to　fly　down　atonce　to　the　balustrades　of　the　verandah；　for　they　knew　already　whatfeast　was　being　celebrated。　They　had　heard　of　it　on　the　borders　of　theland；　and　also　that　Helga　had　caused　their　figures　to　be　representedon　the　walls；　for　they　belonged　to　her　history。

〃I　call　that　very　sensible　and　pretty；〃　said　stork…papa。

〃Yes；　but　it　is　very　little；〃　said　mamma　stork；　〃they　could　notpossibly　have　done　less。〃

But；　when　Helga　saw　them；　she　rose　and　went　out　into　theverandah　to　stroke　the　backs　of　the　storks。　The　old　stork　pair　bowedtheir　heads；　and　curved　their　necks；　and　even　the　youngest　among　theyoung　ones　felt　honored　by　this　reception。

Helga　continued　to　gaze　upon　the　glittering　star；　which　seemedto　glow　brighter　and　purer　in　its　light；　then　between　herself　andthe　star　floated　a　form；　purer　than　the　air；　and　visible　through　it。It　floated　quite　near　to　her；　and　she　saw　that　it　was　the　deadChristian　priest；　who　also　was　ing　to　her　wedding　feast…　ingfrom　the　heavenly　kingdom。

〃The　glory　and