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an astork could imagine； and in that country； there is a river thatoverflows its banks； and then goes back； leaving nothing but mire；there we can walk about； and eat frogs in abundance。〃
〃Oh； o… h！〃 cried the young storks。
〃Yes； it is a delightful place； there is nothing to do all daylong but eat； and while we are so well off out there； in thiscountry there will not be a single green leaf on the trees； and theweather will be so cold that the clouds will freeze； and fall on theearth in little white rags。〃 The stork meant snow； but she could notexplain it in any other way。
〃Will the naughty boys freeze and fall in pieces？〃 asked the youngstorks。
〃No； they will not freeze and fall into pieces；〃 said themother； 〃but they will be very cold； and be obliged to sit all dayin a dark； gloomy room； while we shall be flying about in foreignlands； where there are blooming flowers and warm sunshine。〃
Time passed on； and the young storks grew so large that they couldstand upright in the nest and look about them。 The father broughtthem； every day； beautiful frogs； little snakes； and all kinds ofstork…dainties that he could find。 And then； how funny it was to seethe tricks he would perform to amuse them。 He would lay his head quiteround over his tail； and clatter with his beak； as if it had been arattle； and then he would tell them stories all about the marshesand fens。
〃e；〃 said the mother one day； 〃Now you must learn to fly。〃And all the four young ones were obliged to e out on the top of theroof。 Oh； how they tottered at first； and were obliged to balancethemselves with their wings； or they would have fallen to the groundbelow。
〃Look at me；〃 said the mother； 〃you must hold your heads in thisway； and place your feet so。 Once； twice； once； twice… that is it。 Nowyou will be able to take care of yourselves in the world。〃
Then she flew a little distance from them； and the young ones madea spring to follow her； but down they fell plump； for their bodieswere still too heavy。
〃I don't want to fly；〃 said one of the young storks； creeping backinto the nest。 〃I don't care about going to warm countries。〃
〃Would you like to stay here and freeze when the winter es？〃said the mother； 〃or till the boys es to hang you； or to roastyou？… Well then； I'll call them。〃
〃Oh no； no；〃 said the young stork； jumping out on the roof withthe others； and now they were all attentive； and by the third daycould fly a little。 Then they began to fancy they could soar； sothey tried to do so； resting on their wings； but they soon foundthemselves falling； and had to flap their wings as quickly aspossible。 The boys came again in the street singing their song：…
〃Stork； stork； fly away。〃
〃Shall we fly down； and pick their eyes out？〃 asked the youngstorks。
〃No； leave them alone；〃 said the mother。 〃Listen to me； that ismuch more important。 Now then。 One…two…three。 Now to the right。One…two…three。 Now to the left； round the chimney。 There now； that wasvery good。 That last flap of the wings was so easy and graceful；that I shall give you permission to fly with me to…morrow to themarshes。 There will be a number of very superior storks there withtheir families； and I expect you to show them that my children are thebest brought up of any who may be present。 You must strut aboutproudly… it will look well and make you respected。〃
〃But may we not punish those naughty boys？〃 asked the youngstorks。
〃No； let them scream away as much as they like。 You can fly fromthem now up high amid the clouds； and will be in the land of thepyramids when they are freezing； and have not a green leaf on thetrees or an apple to eat。〃
〃We will revenge ourselves；〃 whispered the young storks to eachother； as they again joined the exercising。
Of all the boys in the street who sang the mocking song aboutthe storks； not one was so determined to go on with it as he who firstbegan it。 Yet he was a little fellow not more than six years old。 Tothe young storks he appeared at least a hundred； for he was so muchbigger than their father and mother。 To be sure； storks cannot beexpected to know how old children and grown…up people are。 So theydetermined to have their revenge on this boy； because he began thesong first and would keep on with it。 The young storks were veryangry； and grew worse as they grew older； so at last their motherwas obliged to promise that they should be revenged； but not until theday of their departure。
〃We must see first； how you acquit yourselves at the grandreview；〃 said she。 〃If you get on badly there； the general will thrusthis beak through you； and you will be killed； as the boys said； thoughnot exactly in the same manner。 So we must wait and see。〃
〃You shall see；〃 said the young birds； and then they took suchpains and practised so well every day； that at last it was quite apleasure to see them fly so lightly and prettily。 As soon as theautumn arrived； all the storks began to assemble together beforetaking their departure for warm countries during the winter。 Thenthe review menced。 They flew over forests and villages to show whatthey could do； for they had a long journey before them。 The youngstorks performed their part so well that they received a mark ofhonor； with frogs and snakes as a present。 These presents were thebest part of the affair； for they could eat the frogs and snakes；which they very quickly did。
〃Now let us have our revenge；〃 they cried。
〃Yes； certainly；〃 cried the mother stork。 〃I have thought upon thebest way to be revenged。 I know the pond in which all the littlechildren lie； waiting till the storks e to take them to theirparents。 The prettiest little babies lie there dreaming more sweetlythan they will ever dream in the time to e。 All parents are glad tohave a little child； and children are so pleased with a little brotheror sister。 Now we will fly to the pond and fetch a little baby foreach of the children who did not sing that naughty song to make gameof the storks。〃
〃But the naughty boy； who began the song first； what shall we doto him？〃 cried the young storks。
〃There lies in the pond a little dead baby who has dreameditself to death；〃 said the mother。 〃We will take it to the naughtyboy； and he will cry because we have brought him a little deadbrother。 But you have not forgotten the good boy who said it was ashame to laugh at animals： we will take him a little brother andsister too； because he was good。 He is called Peter； and you shall allbe called Peter in future。〃
So they all did what their mother had arranged； and from that day；even till now； all the storks have been called Peter。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE STORM SHAKES THE SHIELD
by Hans Christian Andersen
IN the old days； when grandpapa was quite a little boy； and ranabout in little red breeches and a red coat； and a feather in his cap…for that's the costume the little boys wore in his time when they weredressed in their best… many things were very different from whatthey are now。 There was often a good deal of show in the streets… showthat we don't see nowadays； because it has been abolished as tooold…fashioned。 Still； it is very interesting to hear grandfathertell about it。
It must really have been a gorgeous sight to behold； in thosedays； when the shoemaker brought over the shield； when the court…housewas changed。 The silken flag waved to and fro； on the shield itselfa double eagle was displayed； and a big boot； the youngest ladscarried the 〃wele；〃 and the chest of the workmen's guild； and theirshirt…sleeves were adorned with red and white ribbons； the elderones carried drawn swords； each with a lemon stuck on its point。 Therewas a full band of music； and the most splendid of all the instrumentswas the 〃bird；〃 as grandfather called the big stick with thecrescent on the top； and all manner of dingle…dangles hanging to it… aperfect Turkish clatter of music。 The stick was lifted high in theair； and swung up and down till it jingled again； and quite dazzledone's eyes when the sun shone on all its glory of gold； and silver；and brass。
In front of the procession ran the Harlequin； dressed in clothesmade of all kinds of colored patches artfully sewn together； with ablack face； and bells on his head lik