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！
She was buried； two large tears rolled over the cheeks of theearnest man； and in the parsonage it was empty and still； for itssun had set for ever。 She had gone home。
It was night。 A cold wind swept over the pastor's head； heopened his eyes； and it seemed to him as if the moon was shininginto his room。 It was not so； however； there was a being standingbefore his bed； and looking like the ghost of his deceased wife。 Shefixed her eyes upon him with such a kind and sad expression； just asif she wished to say something to him。 The pastor raised himself inbed and stretched his arms towards her； saying； 〃Not even you can findeternal rest！ You suffer； you best and most pious woman？〃
The dead woman nodded her head as if to say 〃Yes；〃 and put herhand on her breast。
〃And can I not obtain rest in the grave for you？〃
〃Yes；〃 was the answer。
〃And how？〃
〃Give me one hair… only one single hair… from the head of thesinner for whom the fire shall never be extinguished； of the sinnerwhom God will condemn to eternal punishment in hell。〃
〃Yes； one ought to be able to redeem you so easily； you pure；pious woman；〃 he said。
〃Follow me；〃 said the dead woman。 〃It is thus granted to us。 By myside you will be able to fly wherever your thoughts wish to go。Invisible to men； we shall perate into their most secretchambers； but with sure hand you must find out him who is destinedto eternal torture； and before the cock crows he must be found！〃 Asquickly as if carried by the winged thoughts they were in the greatcity； and from the walls the names of the deadly sins shone in flamingletters： pride； avarice； drunkenness； wantonness… in short； thewhole seven…coloured bow of sin。
〃Yes； therein； as I believed； as I knew it；〃 said the pastor； 〃areliving those who are abandoned to the eternal fire。〃 And they werestanding before the magnificently illuminated gate； the broad stepswere adorned with carpets and flowers； and dance music was soundingthrough the festive halls。 A footman dressed in silk and velvetstood with a large silver…mounted rod near the entrance。
〃Our ball can pare favourably with the king's；〃 he said； andturned with contempt towards the gazing crowd in the street。 What hethought was sufficiently expressed in his features and movements：〃Miserable beggars； who are looking in； you are nothing inparison to me。〃
〃Pride；〃 said the dead woman； 〃do you see him？〃
〃The footman？〃 asked the pastor。 〃He is but a poor fool； and notdoomed to be tortured eternally by fire！〃
〃Only a fool！〃 It sounded through the whole house of pride： theywere all fools there。
Then they flew within the four naked walls of the miser。 Lean as askeleton； trembling with cold； and hunger； the old man was clingingwith all his thoughts to his money。 They saw him jump up feverishlyfrom his miserable couch and take a loose stone out of the wall； therelay gold coins in an old stocking。 They saw him anxiously feeling overan old ragged coat in which pieces of gold were sewn； and his clammyfingers trembled。
〃He is ill！ That is madness… a joyless madness… besieged by fearand dreadful dreams！〃
They quickly went away and came before the beds of thecriminals； these unfortunate people slept side by side； in longrows。 Like a ferocious animal； one of them rose out of his sleep anduttered a horrible cry； and gave his rade a violent dig in the ribswith his pointed elbow； and this one turned round in his sleep：
〃Be quiet； monster… sleep！ This happens every night！〃
〃Every night！〃 repeated the other。 〃Yes； every night he esand tortures me！ In my violence I have done this and that。 I wasborn with an evil mind； which has brought me hither for the secondtime； but if I have done wrong I suffer punishment for it。 Ohing； however； I have not yet confessed。 When I came out a littlewhile ago； and passed by the yard of my former master； evil thoughtsrose within me when I remembered this and that。 I struck a match alittle bit on the wall； probably it came a little too close to thethatched roof。 All burnt down… a great heat rose； such as sometimesoveres me。 I myself helped to rescue cattle and things； nothingalive burnt； except a flight of pigeons； which flew into the fire； andthe yard dog； of which I had not thought； one could hear him howlout of the fire； and this howling I still hear when I wish to sleep；and when I have fallen asleep； the great rough dog es and placeshimself upon me； and howls； presses； and tortures me。 Now listen towhat I tell you！ You can snore； you are snoring the whole night； and Ihardly a quarter of an hour！〃 And the blood rose to the head of theexcited criminal； he threw himself upon his rade； and beat him withhis clenced fist in the face。
〃Wicked Matz has bee mad again！〃 they said amongstthemselves。 The other criminals seized him； wrestled with him； andbent him double； so that his head rested between his knees； and theytied him； so that the blood almost came out of his eyes and out of allhis pores。
〃You are killing the unfortunate man；〃 said the pastor； and ashe stretched out his hand to protect him who already suffered toomuch； the scene changed。 They flew through rich halls and wretchedhovels； wantonness and envy； all the deadly sins； passed beforethem。 An angel of justice read their crimes and their defence； thelatter was not a brilliant one； but it was read before God； Whoreads the heart； Who knows everything； the wickedness that esfrom within and from without； Who is mercy and love personified。 Thepastor's hand trembled； he dared not stretch it out； he did notventure to pull a hair out of the sinner's head。 And tears gushed fromhis eyes like a stream of mercy and love； the cooling waters ofwhich extinguished the eternal fire of hell。
Just then the cock crowed。
〃Father of all mercy； grant Thou to her the peace that I wasunable to procure for her！〃
〃I have it now！〃 said the dead woman。 〃It was your hard words；your despair of mankind； your gloomy belief in God and His creation；which drove me to you。 Learn to know mankind！ Even in the wicked onelives a part of God… and this extinguishes and conquers the flame ofhell！〃
The pastor felt a kiss on his lips； a gleam of light surroundedhim… God's bright sun shone into the room； and his wife； alive；sweet and full of love； awoke him from a dream which God had sent him！
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
A STORY FROM THE SAND…HILLS
by Hans Christian Andersen
THIS story is from the sand…dunes or sand…hills of Jutland； but itdoes not begin there in the North； but far away in the South； inSpain。 The wide sea is the highroad from nation to nation； journeyin thought； then； to sunny Spain。 It is warm and beautiful there；the fiery pomegranate flowers peep from among dark laurels； a coolrefreshing breeze from the mountains blows over the orange gardens；over the Moorish halls with their golden cupolas and coloured walls。Children go through the streets in procession with candles andwaving banners； and the sky； lofty and clear with its glitteringstars； rises above them。 Sounds of singing and castas can be heard；and youths and maidens dance upon the flowering acacia trees； whileeven the beggar sits upon a block of marble； refreshing himself with ajuicy melon； and dreamily enjoying life。 It all seems like a beautifuldream。
Here dwelt a newly married couple who pletely gave themselvesup to the charm of life； indeed they possessed every good thing theycould desire… health and happiness； riches and honour。
We are as happy as human beings can be；〃 said the young couplefrom the depths of their hearts。 They had indeed only one stephigher to mount on the ladder of happiness… they hoped that Godwould give them a child； a son like them in form and spirit。 The happylittle one was to be weled with rejoicing； to be cared for withlove and tenderness； and enjoy every advantage of wealth and luxurythat a rich and influential family can give。 So the days went bylike a joyous festival。
〃Life is a gracious gift from God； almost too great a gift forus to appreciate！〃 said the young wife。 〃Yet they say that fulnessof joy for ever and ever can only be found in the future life。 Icannot realise it！〃
〃The thought arises； perhaps； from the arrogance of men；〃 said thehusband