安徒生童话-第68章

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lar　days　followed；　of　dark；　wearisome　pain。With　tearful　eyes　and　mournful　glances；　the　sorrowing　daughters　andthe　afflicted　husband　looked　upon　her　who　would　not　hear　their　wordsof　fort；　and；　indeed；　what　forting　words　could　they　speak；when　they　were　themselves　so　full　of　grief？　It　seemed　as　if　shewould　never　again　know　sleep；　and　yet　it　would　have　been　her　bestfriend；　one　who　would　have　strengthened　her　body　and　poured　peace　intoher　soul。　They　at　last　persuaded　her　to　lie　down；　and　then　she　wouldlie　as　still　as　if　she　slept。

One　night；　when　her　husband　listened；　as　he　often　did；　to　herbreathing；　he　quite　believed　that　she　had　at　length　found　rest　andrelief　in　sleep。　He　folded　his　arms　and　prayed；　and　soon　sunkhimself　into　healthful　sleep；　therefore　he　did　not　notice　that　hiswife　arose；　threw　on　her　clothes；　and　glided　silently　from　thehouse；　to　go　where　her　thoughts　constantly　lingered…　to　the　grave　ofher　child。　She　passed　through　the　garden；　to　a　path　across　a　fieldthat　led　to　the　churchyard。　No　one　saw　her　as　she　walked；　nor　didshe　see　any　one；　for　her　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　one　object　of　herwanderings。　It　was　a　lovely　starlight　night　in　the　beginning　ofSeptember；　and　the　air　was　mild　and　still。　She　entered　thechurchyard；　and　stood　by　the　little　grave；　which　looked　like　a　largenosegay　of　fragrant　flowers。　She　sat　down；　and　bent　her　head　low　overthe　grave；　as　if　she　could　see　her　child　through　the　earth　thatcovered　him…　her　little　boy；　whose　smile　was　so　vividly　before　her；and　the　gentle　expression　of　whose　eyes；　even　on　his　sick…bed；　shecould　not　forget。　How　full　of　meaning　that　glance　had　been；　as　sheleaned　over　him；　holding　in　hers　the　pale　hand　which　he　had　no　longerstrength　to　raise！　As　she　had　sat　by　his　little　cot；　so　now　she　satby　his　grave；　and　here　she　could　weep　freely；　and　her　tears　fell　uponit。

〃Thou　wouldst　gladly　go　down　and　be　with　thy　child；〃　said　avoice　quite　close　to　her；…　a　voice　that　sounded　so　deep　and　clear；that　it　went　to　her　heart。

She　looked　up；　and　by　her　side　stood　a　man　wrapped　in　a　blackcloak；　with　a　hood　closely　drawn　over　his　face；　but　her　keen　glancecould　distinguish　the　face　under　the　hood。　It　was　stern；　yetawakened　confidence；　and　the　eyes　beamed　with　youthful　radiance。

〃Down　to　my　child；〃　she　repeated；　and　tones　of　despair　andentreaty　sounded　in　the　words。

〃Darest　thou　to　follow　me？〃　asked　the　form。　〃I　am　Death。〃

She　bowed　her　head　in　token　of　assent。　Then　suddenly　it　appearedas　if　all　the　stars　were　shining　with　the　radiance　of　the　full　moon　onthe　many…colored　flowers　that　decked　the　grave。　The　earth　that　coveredit　was　drawn　back　like　a　floating　drapery。　She　sunk　down；　and　thespectre　covered　her　with　a　black　cloak；　night　closed　around　her；　thenight　of　death。　She　sank　deeper　than　the　spade　of　the　sexton　couldperate；　till　the　churchyard　became　a　roof　above　her。　Then　the　cloakwas　removed；　and　she　found　herself　in　a　large　hall；　ofwide…spreading　dimensions；　in　which　there　was　a　subdued　light；　liketwilight；　reigning；　and　in　a　moment　her　child　appeared　before　her；smiling；　and　more　beautiful　than　ever；　with　a　silent　cry　she　pressedhim　to　her　heart。　A　glorious　strain　of　music　sounded…　now　distant；　nownear。　Never　had　she　listened　to　such　tones　as　these；　they　came　frombeyond　a　large　dark　curtain　which　separated　the　regions　of　deathfrom　the　land　of　eternity。

〃My　sweet；　darling　mother；〃　she　heard　the　child　say。　It　was　thewell…known；　beloved　voice；　and　kiss　followed　kiss；　in　boundlessdelight。　Then　the　child　pointed　to　the　dark　curtain。　〃There　is　nothingso　beautiful　on　earth　as　it　is　here。　Mother；　do　you　not　see　themall？　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　e　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　forting　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　wele　sound；　〃Spring　ise。〃　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