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！
ndingas in olden times； but the garden had been greatly altered； apathway led through a portion of the ground； and outside the garden；and beyond the path； stood the old apple…tree； which he had not brokendown； although he talked of doing so in his trouble。 The sun stillthrew its rays upon the tree； and the refreshing dew fell upon it asof old； and it was so overloaded with fruit that the branches benttowards the earth with the weight。 〃That flourishes still；〃 said he；as he gazed。 One of the branches of the tree had； however； beenbroken： mischievous hands must have done this in passing； for the treenow stood in a public thoroughfare。 〃The blossoms are oftenplucked；〃 said Anthony； 〃the fruit is stolen and the branches brokenwithout a thankful thought of their profusion and beauty。 It mightbe said of a tree； as it has been said of some men… it was notpredicted at his cradle that he should e to this。 How brightlybegan the history of this tree； and what is it now？ Forsaken andforgotten； in a garden by a hedge in a field； and close to a publicroad。 There it stands； unsheltered； plundered； and broken。 Itcertainly has not yet withered； but in the course of years thenumber of blossoms from time to time will grow less； and at last itwas cease altogether to bear fruit； and then its history will beover。〃
Such were Anthony's thoughts as he stood under the tree； andduring many a long night as he lay in his lonely chamber in the woodenhouse in Hauschen Street； Copenhagen； in the foreign land to which therich merchant of Bremen； his employer； had sent him on conditionthat he should never marry。 〃Marry！ ha； ha！〃 and he laughed bitterlyto himself at the thought。
Winter one year set in early； and it was freezing hard。 Without； asnowstorm made every one remain at home who could do so。 Thus ithappened that Anthony's neighbors； who lived opposite to him； didnot notice that his house remained unopened for two days； and thathe had not showed himself during that time； for who would go out insuch weather unless he were obliged to do so。 They were gray； gloomydays； and in the house whose windows were not glass； twilight and darknights reigned in turns。 During these two days old Anthony had notleft his bed； he had not the strength to do so。 The bitter weather hadfor some time affected his limbs。 There lay the old bachelor； forsakenby all； and unable to help himself。 He could scarcely reach thewater jug that he had placed by his bed； and the last drop was gone。It was not fever； nor sickness； but old age； that had laid him low。 Inthe little corner； where his bed lay； he was over…shadowed as itwere by perpetual night。 A little spider； which he could however notsee； busily and cheerfully spun its web above him； so that thereshould be a kind of little banner waving over the old man； when hiseyes closed。 The time passed slowly and painfully。 He had no tearsto shed； and he felt no pain； no thought of Molly came into hismind。 He felt as if the world was now nothing to him； as if he werelying beyond it； with no one to think of him。 Now and then he feltslight sensations of hunger and thirst； but no one came to him； no oended him。 He thought of all those who had once suffered fromstarvation； of Saint Elizabeth； who once wandered on the earth； thesaint of his home and his childhood； the noble Duchess of Thuringia；that highly esteemed lady who visited the poorest villages； bringinghope and relief to the sick inmates。 The recollection of her piousdeeds was as light to the soul of poor Anthony。 He thought of her asshe went about speaking words of fort； binding up the wounds of theafflicted and feeding the hungry； although often blamed for it byher stern husband。 He remembered a story told of her； that on oneoccasion； when she was carrying a basket full of wine andprovisions； her husband； who had watched her footsteps； steppedforward and asked her angrily what she carried in her basket；whereupon； with fear and trembling； she answered； 〃Roses； which I haveplucked from the garden。〃 Then he tore away the cloth which coveredthe basket； and what could equal the surprise of the pious woman； tofind that by a miracle； everything in her basket… the wine； the bread…had all been changed into roses。
In this way the memory of the kind lady dwelt in the calm mindof Anthony。 She was as a living reality in his little dwelling inthe Danish land。 He uncovered his face that he might look into hergentle eyes； while everything around him changed from its look ofpoverty and want； to a bright rose tint。 The fragrance of roses spreadthrough the room； mingled with the sweet smell of apples。 He saw thebranches of an apple…tree spreading above him。 It was the tree whichhe and Molly had planted together。 The fragrant leaves of the treefell upon him and cooled his burning brow； upon his parched lipsthey seemed like refreshing bread and wine； and as they rested onhis breast； a peaceful calm stole over him； and he felt inclined tosleep。 〃I shall sleep now；〃 he whispered to himself。 〃Sleep will do megood。 In the morning I shall be upon my feet again； strong and well。Glorious！ wonderful！ That apple…tree； planted in love； now appearsbefore me in heavenly beauty。〃 And he slept。
The following day； the third day during which his house had beenclosed； the snow…storm ceased。 Then his opposite neighbor stepped overto the house in which old Anthony lived； for he had not yet showedhimself。 There he lay stretched on his bed； dead； with his oldnightcap tightly clasped in his two hands。 The nightcap； however；was not placed on his head in his coffin； he had a clean white oneon then。 Where now were the tears he had shed？ What had bee ofthose wonderful pearls？ They were in the nightcap still。 Such tears asthese cannot be washed out； even when the nightcap is forgotten。 Theold thoughts and dreams of a bachelor's nightcap still remain。 Neverwish for such a nightcap。 It would make your forehead hot； causeyour pulse to beat with agitation； and conjure up dreams which wouldappear realities。
The first who wore old Anthony's cap felt the truth of this；though it was half a century afterwards。 That man was the mayorhimself； who had already made a fortable home for his wife andeleven children； by his industry。 The moment he put the cap on hedreamed of unfortunate love； of bankruptcy； and of dark days。〃Hallo！ how the nightcap burns！〃 he exclaimed； as he tore it fromhis bead。 Then a pearl rolled out； and then another； and another；and they glittered and sounded as they fell。 〃What can this be？ Isit paralysis； or something dazzling my eyes？〃 They were the tearswhich old Anthony had shed half a century before。
To every one who afterwards put this cap on his head； came visionsand dreams which agitated him not a little。 His own history waschanged into that of Anthony till it became quite a story； and manystories might be made by others； so we will leave them to relate theirown。 We have told the first； and our last word is； don't wish for a〃bachelor's nightcap。〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE OLD CHURCH BELL
（WRITTEN FOR THE SCHILLER ALBUM）
by Hans Christian Andersen
IN the country of Wurtemburg； in Germany； where the acacias growby the public road； where the apple…trees and the pear…trees in autumnbend to the earth with the weight of the precious fruit； lies thelittle town of Marbach。 As is often the case with many of these towns；it is charmingly situated on the banks of the river Neckar； whichrushes rapidly by； passing villages； old knights' castles； and greenvineyards； till its waters mingle with those of the stately Rhine。It was late in the autumn； the vine…leaves still hung upon thebranches of the vines； but they were already tinted with red and gold；heavy showers fell on the surrounding country； and the cold autumnwind blew sharp and strong。 It was not at all pleasant weather for thepoor。 The days grew shorter and more gloomy； and； dark as it was outof doors in the open air； it was still darker within the small；old…fashioned houses of the village。 The gable end of one of thesehouses faced the street； and with its small； narrow windows； presenteda very mean appearance。 The family who dwelt in it were also very poorand humble； but they treasured the fear of God in th