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ole troop； the youngest in thefather's arms。 They were e to take a last farewell look of theirmother。 The husband kissed her hand； which now lay like a witheredleaf； but which a short time before had been diligently employed indeeds of love for them all。 Tears of sorrow rolled down theircheeks； and fell in heavy drops on the floor； but not a word wasspoken。 The silence which reigned here expressed a world of grief。With silent steps； still sobbing； they left the room。 A burninglight remained in the room； and a long； red wick rose far above theflame； which fluttered in the draught of air。 Strange men came inand placed the lid of the coffin over the dead； and drove the nailsfirmly in； while the blows of the hammer resounded through thehouse； and echoed in the hearts that were bleeding。
〃Whither art thou leading me？〃 asked the guardian angel。 〃Heredwells no fairy whose pearl could be counted amongst the best gifts oflife。〃
〃Yes； she is here； here in this sacred hour；〃 replied the angel；pointing to a corner of the room； and there；… where in herlife…time； the mother had taken her seat amidst flowers andpictures： in that spot； where she； like the blessed fairy of thehouse； had weled husband； children； and friends； and； like asunbeam； had spread joy and cheerfulness around her； the centre andheart of them all；… there； in that very spot； sat a strange woman；clothed in long； flowing garments； and occupying the place of the deadwife and mother。 It was the fairy； and her name was 〃Sorrow。〃 A hottear rolled into her lap； and formed itself into a pearl； glowing withall the colors of the rainbow。 The angel seized it： the； pearlglittered like a star with seven…fold radiance。 The pearl of Sorrow；the last； which must not be wanting； increases the lustre； andexplains the meaning of all the other pearls。
〃Do you see the shimmer of the rainbow； which unites earth toheaven？〃 So has there been a bridge built between this world and thenext。 Through the night of the grave we gaze upwards beyond thestars to the end of all things。 Then we glance at the pearl of Sorrow；in which are concealed the wings which shall carry us away toeternal happiness。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE LITTLE ELDER…TREE MOTHER
by Hans Christian Andersen
THERE was once a little boy who had caught cold； he had gone outand got wet feet。 Nobody had the least idea how it had happened； theweather was quite dry。 His mother undressed him； put him to bed； andordered the teapot to be brought in； that she might make him a goodcup of tea from the elder…tree blossoms； which is so warming。 At thesame time； the kind…hearted old man who lived by himself in theupper storey of the house came in； he led a lonely life； for he had nowife and children； but he loved the children of others very much；and he could tell so many fairy tales and stories； that it was apleasure to hear him。
〃Now； drink your tea；〃 said the mother； 〃perhaps you will hear astory。〃
〃Yes； if I only knew a fresh one；〃 said the old man； and noddedsmilingly。 〃But how did the little fellow get his wet feet？〃 he thenasked。
〃That；〃 replied the mother； 〃nobody can understand。〃
〃Will you tell me a story？〃 asked the boy。
〃Yes； if you can tell me as nearly as possible how deep is thegutter in the little street where you go to school。〃
〃Just half as high as my top…boots；〃 replied the boy； 〃but thenI must stand in the deepest holes。〃
〃There； now we know where you got your wet feet；〃 said the oldman。 〃I ought to tell you a story； but the worst of it is； I do notknow any more。〃
〃You can make one up；〃 said the little boy。 〃Mother says you cantell a fairy tale about anything you look at or touch。〃
〃That is all very well； but such tales or stories are worthnothing！ No； the right ones e by themselves and knock at myforehead saying： 'Here I am。'〃
〃Will not one knock soon？〃 asked the boy； and the mother smiledwhile she put elder…tree blossoms into the teapot and poured boilingwater over them。 〃Pray； tell me a story。〃
〃Yes； if stories came by themselves； they are so proud； theyonly e when they please。… But wait；〃 he said suddenly； 〃there isone。 Look at the teapot； there is a story in it now。〃
And the little boy looked at the teapot； the lid rose upgradually； the elder…tree blossoms sprang forth one by one； freshand white； long boughs came forth； even out of the spout they grewup in all directions； and formed a bush… nay； a large elder tree；which stretched its branches up to the bed and pushed the curtainsaside； and there were so many blossoms and such a sweet fragrance！In the midst of the tree sat a kindly…looking old woman with a strangedress； it was as green as the leaves； and trimmed with large whiteblossoms； so that it was difficult to say whether it was real cloth；or the leaves and blossoms of the elder…tree。
〃What is this woman's name？〃 asked the little boy。
〃Well； the Romans and Greeks used to call her a Dryad；〃 said theold man； 〃but we do not understand that。 Out in the sailors' quarterthey give her a better name； there she is called elder…tree mother。Now； you must attentively listen to her and look at the beautifulelder…tree。
〃Just such a large tree； covered with flowers； stands out there；it grew in the corner of an humble little yard； under this tree sattwo old people one afternoon in the beautiful sunshine。 He was an old；old sailor； and she his old wife； they had alreadygreat…grandchildren； and were soon to celebrate their goldenwedding； but they could not remember the date； and the elder…treemother was sitting in the tree and looked as pleased as this one here。'I know very well when the golden wedding is to take place；' she said；but they did not hear it… they were talking of bygone days。
〃'Well； do you remember？' said the old sailor； 'when we were quitesmall and used to run about and play… it was in the very same yardwhere we now are… we used to put little branches into the ground andmake a garden。'
〃'Yes；' said the old woman； 'I remember it very well； we used towater the branches； and one of them； an elder…tree branch； tookroot； and grew and became the large tree under which we are nowsitting as old people。'
〃'Certainly； you are right；' he said； 'and in yonder cornerstood a large water…tub； there I used to sail my boat； which I had cutout myself… it sailed so well； but soon I had to sail somewhere else。'
〃'But first we went to school to learn something；' she said；'and then we were confirmed； we both wept on that day； but in theafternoon we went out hand in hand； and ascended the high roundtower and looked out into the wide world right over Copenhagen and thesea； then we walked to Fredericksburg； where the king and the queenwere sailing about in their magnificent boat on the canals。'
〃'But soon I had to sail about somewhere else； and for manyyears I was travelling about far away from home。'
〃'And I often cried about you； for I was afraid lest you weredrowned and lying at the bottom of the sea。 Many a time I got up inthe night and looked if the weathercock had turned； it turned often；but you did not return。 I remember one day distinctly： the rain waspouring down in torrents； the dust…man had e to the house where Iwas in service； I went down with the dust…bin and stood for a momentin the doorway； and looked at the dreadful weather。 Then the postmangave me a letter； it was from you。 Heavens！ how that letter hadtravelled about。 I tore it open and read it； I cried and laughed atthe same time； and was so happy！ Therein was written that you werestaying in the hot countries； where the coffee grows。 These must bemarvellous countries。 You said a great deal about them； and I read allwhile the rain was pouring down and I was standing there with thedust…bin。 Then suddenly some one put his arm round my waist…'
〃'Yes； and you gave him a hearty smack on the cheek；' said the oldman。
〃'I did not know that it was you… you had e as quickly asyour letter； and you looked so handsome； and so you do still。 Youhad a large yellow silk handkerchief in your pocket and a shininghat on。 You looked so well； and the weather in the street washorrible！'
〃'Then we married；' he said。 'Do you remember how we got our firstboy； and then Mary； Niels； Peter