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ofWinkelreid。 The blood which flows from the breast of a hero who diesfor his country is sacred； and his memory is sweet； and no rose can beredder than the blood which flows from his veins。 Neither is it themagic flower of Science； to obtain which wondrous flower a man devotesmany an hour of his fresh young life in sleepless nights； in alonely chamber。〃
〃I know where it blooms；〃 said a happy mother； who came with herlovely child to the bedside of the queen。 〃I know where theloveliest rose in the world is。 It is seen on the blooming cheeks ofmy sweet child； when it expresses the pure and holy love of infancy；when refreshed by sleep it opens its eyes； and smiles upon me withchildlike affection。〃
〃This is a lovely rose；〃 said the wise man； 〃but there is onestill more lovely。〃
〃Yes； one far more lovely；〃 said one of the women。 〃I have seenit； and a loftier and purer rose does not bloom。 But it was white；like the leaves of a blush…rose。 I saw it on the cheeks of thequeen。 She had taken off her golden crown； and through the long；dreary night； she carried her sick child in her arms。 She wept overit； kissed it； and prayed for it as only a mother can pray in thathour of her anguish。〃
〃Holy and wonderful in its might is the white rose of grief； butit is not the one we seek。〃
〃No； the loveliest rose in the world I saw at the Lord's table；〃said the good old bishop。 〃I saw it shine as if an angel's face hadappeared。 A young maiden knelt at the altar； and renewed the vows madeat her baptism； and there were white roses and red roses on theblushing cheeks of that young girl。 She looked up to heaven with allthe purity and love of her young spirit； in all the expression ofthe highest and purest love。〃
〃May she be blessed！〃 said the wise man： 〃but no one has yet namedthe loveliest rose in the world。〃
Then there came into the room a child… the queen's little son。Tears stood in his eyes； and glistened on his cheeks； he carried agreat book and the binding was of velvet； with silver clasps。〃Mother；〃 cried the little boy； 〃only hear what I have read。〃 Andthe child seated himself by the bedside； and read from the book of Himwho suffered death on the cross to save all men； even who are yetunborn。 He read； 〃Greater love hath no man than this；〃 and as heread a roseate hue spread over the cheeks of the queen； and her eyesbecame so enlightened and clear； that she saw from the leaves of thebook a lovely rose spring forth； a type of Him who shed His blood onthe cross。
〃I see it；〃 she said。 〃He who beholds this； the loveliest roseon earth； shall never die。〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE MAIL…COACH PASSENGERS
by Hans Christian Andersen
IT was bitterly cold； the sky glittered with stars； and not abreeze stirred。 〃Bump〃… an old pot was thrown at a neighbor's door；and 〃bang； bang；〃 went the guns； for they were greeting the NewYear。 It was New Year's Eve； and the church clock was striking twelve。〃Tan…ta…ra…ra； tan…ta…ra…ra；〃 sounded the horn； and the mail…coachcame lumbering up。 The clumsy vehicle stopped at the gate of the town；all the places had been taken； for there were twelve passengers in thecoach。
〃Hurrah！ hurrah！〃 cried the people in the town； for in every housethe New Year was being weled； and as the clock struck； they stoodup； the full glasses in their hands； to drink success to the newer。 〃A happy New Year；〃 was the cry； 〃a pretty wife； plenty ofmoney； and no sorrow or care。〃
The wish passed round； and the glasses clashed together tillthey rang again； while before the town…gate the mail coach stoppedwith the twelve strange passengers。 And who were these strangers？ Eachof them had his passport and his luggage with him； they even broughtpresents for me； and for you； and for all the people in the town。 〃Whowere they？ what did they want？ and what did they bring with them？〃
〃Good…morning；〃 they cried to the sentry at the town…gate。
〃Good…morning；〃 replied the sentry； for the clock had strucktwelve。 〃Your name and profession？〃 asked the sentry of the one whoalighted first from the carriage。
〃See for yourself in the passport；〃 he replied。 〃I am myself；〃 anda famous fellow he looked； arrayed in bear…skin and fur boots。 〃I amthe man on whom many persons fix their hopes。 e to me to…morrow；and I'll give you a New Year's present。 I throw shillings and penceamong the people； I give balls； no less than thirty…one； indeed；that is the highest number I can spare for balls。 My ships are oftenfrozen in； but in my offices it is warm and fortable。 My name isJANUARY。 I'm a merchant； and I generally bring my accounts with me。〃
Then the second alighted。 He seemed a merry fellow。 He was adirector of a theatre； a manager of masked balls； and a leader ofall the amusements we can imagine。 His luggage consisted of a greatcask。
〃We'll dance the bung out of the cask at carnival time；〃 saidhe； 〃I'll prepare a merry tune for you and for myself too。Unfortunately I have not long to live… the shortest time； in fact；of my whole family… only twenty…eight days。 Sometimes they pop me in aday extra； but I trouble myself very little about that。 Hurrah！〃
〃You must not shout so；〃 said the sentry。
〃Certainly I may shout；〃 retorted the man； 〃I'm Prince Carnival；travelling under the name of FEBRUARY。〃
The third now got out。 He looked a personification of fasting； buthe carried his nose very high； for he was related to the 〃forty（k）nights；〃 and was a weather prophet。 But that is not a verylucrative office； and therefore he praised fasting。 In his button…holehe carried a little bunch of violets； but they were very small。
〃MARCH； March；〃 the fourth called after him； slapping him on theshoulder； 〃don't you smell something？ Make haste into the guardroom； they're drinking punch there； that's your favorite drink。 Ican smell it out here already。 Forward； Master March。〃 But it wasnot true； the speaker only wanted to remind him of his name； and tomake an APRIL fool of him； for with that fun the fourth generallybegan his career。 He looked very jovial； did little work； and hadthe more holidays。 〃If the world were only a little more settled；〃said he： 〃but sometimes I'm obliged to be in a good humor； andsometimes a bad one； according to circumstances； now rain； nowsunshine。 I'm kind of a house agent； also a manager of funerals。 I canlaugh or cry； according to circumstances。 I have my summer wardrobe inthis box here； but it would be very foolish to put it on now。 Here Iam。 On Sundays I go out walking in shoes and white silk stockings； anda muff。〃
After him； a lady stepped out of the coach。 She called herselfMiss MAY。 She wore a summer dress and overshoes； her dress was a lightgreen； and she wore anemones in her hair。 She was so scented withwild…thyme； that it made the sentry sneeze。
〃Your health； and God bless you；〃 was her salutation to him。
How pretty she was！ and such a singer！ not a theatre singer； nor aballad singer； no； but a singer of the woods； for she wandered throughthe gay green forest； and had a concert there for her own amusement。
〃Now es the young lady；〃 said those in the carriage； and outstepped a young dame； delicate； proud； and pretty。 It was MistressJUNE； in whose service people bee lazy and fond of sleeping forhours。 She gives a feast on the longest day of the year； that theremay be time for her guests to partake of the numerous dishes at hertable。 Indeed； she keeps her own carriage； but still she travelledby the mail； with the rest； because she wished to show that she wasnot high…minded。 But she was not without a protector； her youngerbrother； JULY； was with her。 He was a plump young fellow； clad insummer garments and wearing a straw hat。 He had but very littleluggage with him； because it was so cumbersome in the great heat； hehad； however； swimming…trousers with him； which are nothing tocarry。 Then came the mother herself； in crinoline； Madame AUGUST； awholesale dealer in fruit； proprietress of a large number of fishponds and a land cultivator。 She was fat and heated； yet she could useher hands well； and would herself carry out beer to the laborers inthe field。 〃In the sweat of the face shalt thou eat bread；〃 saidshe； 〃it is written in the Bible。〃 After work； came the recreations