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SECOND STORY
A LITTLE BOY AND A LITTLE GIRL
In a large town； full of houses and people； there is not roomfor everybody to have even a little garden； therefore they are obligedto be satisfied with a few flowers in flower…pots。 In one of theselarge towns lived two poor children who had a garden somethinglarger and better than a few flower…pots。 They were not brother andsister； but they loved each other almost as much as if they hadbeen。 Their parents lived opposite to each other in two garrets； wherethe roofs of neighboring houses projected out towards each other andthe water…pipe ran between them。 In each house was a little window； sothat any one could step across the gutter from one window to theother。 The parents of these children had each a large wooden box inwhich they cultivated kitchen herbs for their own use； and a littlerose…bush in each box； which grew splendidly。 Now after a while theparents decided to place these two boxes across the water…pipe； sothat they reached from one window to the other and looked like twobanks of flowers。 Sweet…peas drooped over the boxes； and therose…bushes shot forth long branches； which were trained round thewindows and clustered together almost like a triumphal arch ofleaves and flowers。 The boxes were very high； and the children knewthey must not climb upon them； without permission； but they wereoften； however； allowed to step out together and sit upon their littlestools under the rose…bushes； or play quietly。 In winter all thispleasure came to an end； for the windows were sometimes quite frozenover。 But then they would warm copper pennies on the stove； and holdthe warm pennies against the frozen pane； there would be very soon alittle round hole through which they could peep； and the soft brighteyes of the little boy and girl would beam through the hole at eachwindow as they looked at each other。 Their names were Kay and Gerda。In summer they could be together with one jump from the window； but inwinter they had to go up and down the long staircase； and outthrough the snow before they could meet。
〃See there are the white bees swarming；〃 said Kay's oldgrandmother one day when it was snowing。
〃Have they a queen bee？〃 asked the little boy； for he knew thatthe real bees had a queen。
〃To be sure they have；〃 said the grandmother。 〃She is flying therewhere the swarm is thickest。 She is the largest of them all； and neverremains on the earth； but flies up to the dark clouds。 Often atmidnight she flies through the streets of the town； and looks in atthe windows； then the ice freezes on the panes into wonderfulshapes； that look like flowers and castles。〃
〃Yes； I have seen them；〃 said both the children； and they knewit must be true。
〃Can the Snow Queen e in here？〃 asked the little girl。
〃Only let her e；〃 said the boy； 〃I'll set her on the stoveand then she'll melt。〃
Then the grandmother smoothed his hair and told him some moretales。 One evening； when little Kay was at home； half undressed； heclimbed on a chair by the window and peeped out through the littlehole。 A few flakes of snow were falling； and one of them； ratherlarger than the rest； alighted on the edge of one of the flower boxes。This snow…flake grew larger and larger； till at last it became thefigure of a woman； dressed in garments of white gauze； which lookedlike millions of starry snow…flakes linked together。 She was fairand beautiful； but made of ice… shining and glittering ice。 Stillshe was alive and her eyes sparkled like bright stars； but there wasneither peace nor rest in their glance。 She nodded towards thewindow and waved her hand。 The little boy was frightened and sprangfrom the chair； at the same moment it seemed as if a large bird flewby the window。 On the following day there was a clear frost； andvery soon came the spring。 The sun shone； the young green leaves burstforth； the swallows built their nests； windows were opened； and thechildren sat once more in the garden on the roof； high above all theother rooms。 How beautiful the roses blossomed this summer。 The littlegirl had learnt a hymn in which roses were spoken of； and then shethought of their own roses； and she sang the hymn to the little boy；and he sang too：…
〃Roses bloom and cease to be；
But we shall the Christ…child see。〃Then the little ones held each other by the hand； and kissed theroses； and looked at the bright sunshine； and spoke to it as if theChrist…child were there。 Those were splendid summer days。 Howbeautiful and fresh it was out among the rose…bushes； which seemedas if they would never leave off blooming。 One day Kay and Gerda satlooking at a book full of pictures of animals and birds； and then justas the clock in the church tower struck twelve； Kay said； 〃Oh；something has struck my heart！〃 and soon after； 〃There is something inmy eye。〃
The little girl put her arm round his neck； and looked into hiseye； but she could see nothing。
〃I think it is gone；〃 he said。 But it was not gone； it was oneof those bits of the looking…glass… that magic mirror； of which wehave spoken… the ugly glass which made everything great and goodappear small and ugly； while all that was wicked and bad became morevisible； and every little fault could be plainly seen。 Poor little Kayhad also received a small grain in his heart； which very quicklyturned to a lump of ice。 He felt no more pain； but the glass was therestill。 〃Why do you cry？〃 said he at last； 〃it makes you look ugly。There is nothing the matter with me now。 Oh； see！〃 he criedsuddenly； 〃that rose is worm…eaten； and this one is quite crooked。After all they are ugly roses； just like the box in which they stand；〃and then he kicked the boxes with his foot； and pulled off the tworoses。
〃Kay； what are you doing？〃 cried the little girl； and then； whenhe saw how frightened she was； he tore off another rose； and jumpedthrough his own window away from little Gerda。
When she afterwards brought out the picture book； he said； 〃It wasonly fit for babies in long clothes；〃 and when grandmother told anystories； he would interrupt her with 〃but；〃 or； when he could manageit； he would get behind her chair； put on a pair of spectacles； andimitate her very cleverly； to make people laugh。 By…and…by he began tomimic the speech and gait of persons in the street。 All that waspeculiar or disagreeable in a person he would imitate directly； andpeople said； 〃That boy will be very clever； he has a remarkablegenius。〃 But it was the piece of glass in his eye； and the coldness inhis heart； that made him act like this。 He would even tease littleGerda； who loved him with all her heart。 His games； too； were quitedifferent； they were not so childish。 One winter's day； when itsnowed； he brought out a burning…glass； then he held out the tail ofhis blue coat； and let the snow…flakes fall upon it。 〃Look in thisglass； Gerda；〃 said he； and she saw how every flake of snow wasmagnified； and looked like a beautiful flower or a glittering star。〃Is it not clever？〃 said Kay； 〃and much more interesting thanlooking at real flowers。 There is not a single fault in it； and thesnow…flakes are quite perfect till they begin to melt。〃
Soon after Kay made his appearance in large thick gloves； and withhis sledge at his back。 He called up stairs to Gerda； 〃I've got toleave to go into the great square； where the other boys play andride。〃 And away he went。
In the great square； the boldest among the boys would often tietheir sledges to the country people's carts； and go with them a goodway。 This was capital。 But while they were all amusing themselves； andKay with them； a great sledge came by； it was painted white； and in itsat some one wrapped in a rough white fur； and wearing a white cap。The sledge drove twice round the square； and Kay fastened his ownlittle sledge to it； so that when it went away； he followed with it。It went faster and faster right through the next street； and thenthe person who drove turned round and nodded pleasantly to Kay； justas if they were acquainted with each other； but whenever Kay wished toloosen his little sledge the driver nodded again； so Kay sat still；and they drove out through the town gate。 Then the snow began tofall so heavily that the little boy could not see a hand's breadthbefore him； but still they drov