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days afterwards she became my wife。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE SHIRT…COLLAR
by Hans Christian Andersen
THERE was once a fine gentleman who possessed among other things aboot…jack and a hair…brush； but he had also the finest shirt…collar inthe world； and of this collar we are about to hear a story。 The collarhad bee so old that he began to think about getting married； andone day he happened to find himself in the same washing…tub as agarter。 〃Upon my word；〃 said the shirt…collar； 〃I have never seenanything so slim and delicate； so neat and soft before。 May Iventure to ask your name？〃
〃I shall not tell you；〃 replied the garter。
〃Where do you reside when you are at home？〃 asked theshirt…collar。 But the garter was naturally shy； and did not know howto answer such a question。
〃I presume you are a girdle；〃 said the shirt…collar； 〃a sort ofunder girdle。 I see that you are useful； as well as ornamental； mylittle lady。〃
〃You must not speak to me；〃 said the garter； 〃I do not think Ihave given you any encouragement to do so。〃
〃Oh； when any one is as beautiful as you are；〃 said theshirt…collar； 〃is not that encouragement enough？〃
〃Get away； don't e so near me；〃 said the garter； 〃you appear tome quite like a man。〃
〃I am a fine gentleman certainly；〃 said the shirt…collar； 〃Ipossess a boot…jack and a hair…brush。〃 This was not true； for thesethings belonged to his master； but he was a boaster。
〃Don't e so near me；〃 said the garter； 〃I am not accustomedto it。〃
〃Affectation！〃 said the shirt…collar。
Then they were taken out of the wash…tub； starched； and hungover a chair in the sunshine； and then laid on the ironing…board。And now came the glowing iron。 〃Mistress widow；〃 said theshirt…collar； 〃little mistress widow； I feel quite warm。 I amchanging； I am losing all my creases。 You are burning a hole in me。Ugh！ I propose to you。〃
〃You old rag；〃 said the flat…iron； driving proudly over thecollar； for she fancied herself a steam…engine； which rolls over therailway and draws carriages。 〃You old rag！〃 said she。
The edges of the shirt…collar were a little frayed； so thescissors were brought to cut them smooth。 〃Oh！〃 exclaimed theshirt…collar； 〃what a first…rate dancer you would make； you canstretch out your leg so well。 I never saw anything so charming； I amsure no human being could do the same。〃
〃I should think not；〃 replied the scissors。
〃You ought to be a countess；〃 said the shirt collar； 〃but all Ipossess consists of a fine gentleman； a boot…jack； and a b。 Iwish I had an estate for your sake。〃
〃What！ is he going to propose to me？〃 said the scissors； and shebecame so angry that she cut too sharply into the shirt collar； and itwas obliged to be thrown by as useless。
〃I shall be obliged to propose to the hair…brush；〃 thought theshirt collar； so he remarked one day； 〃It is wonderful whatbeautiful hair you have； my little lady。 Have you never thought ofbeing engaged？〃
〃You might know I should think of it；〃 answered the hair brush； 〃Iam engaged to the boot…jack。〃
〃Engaged！〃 cried the shirt collar； 〃now there is no one left topropose to；〃 and then he pretended to despise all love…making。
A long time passed； and the shirt collar was taken in a bag to thepaper…mill。 Here was a large pany of rags； the fine ones lying bythemselves； separated from the coarser； as it ought to be。 They hadall many things to relate； especially the shirt collar； who was aterrible boaster。 〃I have had an immense number of love affairs；〃 saidthe shirt collar； 〃no one left me any peace。 It is true I was a veryfine gentleman； quite stuck up。 I had a boot…jack and a brush that Inever used。 You should have seen me then； when I was turned down。 Ishall never forget my first love； she was a girdle； so charming； andfine； and soft； and she threw herself into a washing tub for mysake。 There was a widow too； who was warmly in love with me； but Ileft her alone； and she became quite black。 The next was afirst…rate dancer； she gave me the wound from which I still suffer；she was so passionate。 Even my own hair…brush was in love with me； andlost all her hair through neglected love。 Yes； I have had greatexperience of this kind； but my greatest grief was for the garter… thegirdle I meant to say… that jumped into the wash…tub。 I have a greatdeal on my conscience； and it is really time I should be turned intowhite paper。〃
And the shirt collar came to this at last。 All the rags weremade into white paper； and the shirt collar became the veryidentical piece of paper which we now see； and on which this storyis printed。 It happened as a punishment to him； for having boastedso shockingly of things which were not true。 And this is a warningto us； to be careful how we act； for we may some day find ourselves inthe rag…bag； to be turned into white paper； on which our whole historymay be written； even its most secret actions。 And it would not bepleasant to have to run about the world in the form of a piece ofpaper； telling everything we have done； like the boasting shirtcollar。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE SILVER SHILLING
by Hans Christian Andersen
THERE was once a shilling； which came forth from the mintspringing and shouting； 〃Hurrah！ now I am going out into the wideworld。〃 And truly it did go out into the wide world。 The children heldit with warm hands； the miser with a cold and convulsive grasp； andthe old people turned it about； goodness knows how many times； whilethe young people soon allowed it to roll away from them。 Theshilling was made of silver； it contained very little copper； andconsidered itself quite out in the world when it had been circulatedfor a year in the country in which it had been coined。 One day； itreally did go out into the world； for it belonged to a gentleman whowas about to travel in foreign lands。 This gentleman was not awarethat the shilling lay at the bottom of his purse when he started； tillhe one day found it between his fingers。 〃Why；〃 cried he； 〃here is ashilling from home； well； it must go on its travels with me now！〃and the shilling jumped and rattled for joy； when it was put backagain into the purse。
Here it lay among a number of foreign panions； who werealways ing and going； one taking the place of another； but theshilling from home was always put back； and had to remain in thepurse； which was certainly a mark of distinction。 Many weeks passed；during which the shilling had travelled a long distance in thepurse； without in the least knowing where he was。 He had found outthat the other coins were French and Italian； and one coin said theywere in this town； and another said they were in that； but theshilling was unable to make out or imagine what they meant。 A mancertainly cannot see much of the world if he is tied up in a bag；and this was really the shilling's fate。 But one day； as he waslying in the purse； he noticed that it was not quite closed； and so heslipped near to the opening to have a little peep into society。 Hecertainly had not the least idea of what would follow； but he wascurious； and curiosity often brings its own punishment。 In hiseagerness； he came so near the edge of the purse that he slipped outinto the pocket of the trousers； and when； in the evening； the pursewas taken out； the shilling was left behind in the corner to whichit had fallen。 As the clothes were being carried into the hall； theshilling fell out on the floor； unheard and unnoticed by any one。The next morning the clothes were taken back to the room； thegentleman put them on； and started on his journey again； but theshilling remained behind on the floor。 After a time it was found；and being considered a good coin； was placed with three other coins。〃Ah；〃 thought the shilling； 〃this is pleasant； I shall now see theworld； bee acquainted with other people； and learn other customs。〃
〃Do you call that a shilling？〃 said some one the next moment。〃That is not a genuine coin of the country；… it is false； it is goodfor nothing。〃
Now begins the story as it was afterwards related by theshilling himself。
〃'False！ good for nothing！' said he。 That remark went throughand through me like a dagger。 I knew that I had a true ring； andthat mine was a