按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
nches pierced the clouds； whichfloated beneath them like troops of birds of passage； or large whiteswans； every leaf seemed gifted with sight； as if it possessed eyes tosee。 The stars became visible in broad daylight； large andsparkling； like clear and gentle eyes。 They recalled to the memory thewell…known look in the eyes of a child； or in the eyes of lovers whohad once met beneath the branches of the old oak。 These were wonderfuland happy moments for the old tree； full of peace and joy； and yet；amidst all this happiness； the tree felt a yearning； longing desirethat all the other trees； bushes； herbs； and flowers beneath him；might be able also to rise higher； as he had done； and to see all thissplendor； and experience the same happiness。 The grand； majestic oakcould not be quite happy in the midst of his enjoyment； while allthe rest； both great and small； were not with him。 And this feeling ofyearning trembled through every branch； through every leaf； aswarmly and fervently as if they had been the fibres of a humanheart。 The summit of the tree waved to and fro； and bent downwardsas if in his silent longing he sought for something。 Then there cameto him the fragrance of thyme； followed by the more powerful scentof honeysuckle and violets； and he fancied he heard the note of thecuckoo。 At length his longing was satisfied。 Up through the cloudscame the green summits of the forest trees； and beneath him； the oaksaw them rising； and growing higher and higher。 Bush and herb shotupward； and some even tore themselves up by the roots to rise morequickly。 The birch…tree was the quickest of all。 Like a lightningflash the slender stem shot upwards in a zigzag line； the branchesspreading around it like green gauze and banners。 Every native ofthe wood； even to the brown and feathery rushes； grew with the rest；while the birds ascended with the melody of song。 On a blade of grass；that fluttered in the air like a long； green ribbon； sat agrasshopper； cleaning his wings with his legs。 May beetles hummed； thebees murmured； the birds sang； each in his own way； the air was filledwith the sounds of song and gladness。〃
〃But where is the little blue flower that grows by the water？〃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 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！〃 cried the guardian angel； 〃nothing must be wantinghere； and if it is so； let us fetch it； let us seek the powerfulfairy； let us go to her。〃
〃She will e； she will e some day unsought！〃
〃Her pearl must not be missing； it must be there； that thecrown； when worn； may be plete。 Where is she to be found？ Wheredoes she dwell？〃 said the guardian angel。 〃Tell me； and I will procurethe pearl。〃
〃Will you do that？〃 replied the good angel of the child。 〃Then Iwill lead you to her directly； wherever she may be。 She has no abidingplace； she rules in the palace of the emperor； sometimes she entersthe peasant's humble cot； she passes no one without leaving a trace ofher presence。 She brings her gift with her； whether it is a world or abauble。 To this child she must e。 You think that to wait for thistime would be long and useless。 Well； then； let us go for thispearl… the only one lacking amidst all this wealth。〃
Then hand…in…hand they floated away to the spot where the fairywas now lingering。 It was in a large house with dark windows and emptyrooms； in which a peculiar stillness reigned。 A whole row of windowsstood open； so that the rude wind could enter at its pleasure； and thelong white curtains waved to and fro in the current of air。 In thecentre of one of the rooms stood an open coffin； in which lay the bodyof a woman； still in the bloom of youth and very beautiful。 Freshroses were scattered over her。 The delicate folded hands and the nobleface glorified in death by the solemn； earnest look； which spoke of anentrance into a better world； were alone visible。 Around the coffinstood the husband and children； a whole troop； the youngest in thefather's arms。 They were e to take a last farewell look of theirmother