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r's daughter Ida； the eldest； now about fifteen yearsold； and while he was building the ship for the father； he wasbuilding for himself a castle in the air； in which he and Ida wereto live when they were married。 This might have happened； indeed； ifthere had been a real castle； with stone walls； ramparts； and amoat。 But in spite of his clever head； the builder was still but apoor； inferior bird； and how can a sparrow expect to be admittedinto the society of peacocks？
〃I passed on in my course；〃 said the Wind； 〃and he passed awayalso。 He was not allowed to remain； and little Ida got over it；because she was obliged to do so。 Proud； black horses； worth lookingat； were neighing in the stable。 And they were locked up； for theadmiral； who had been sent by the king to inspect the new ship； andmake arrangements for its purchase； was loud in admiration of thesebeautiful horses。 I heard it all；〃 said the Wind； 〃for I acpaniedthe gentlemen through the open door of the stable； and strewedstalks of straw； like bars of gold； at their feet。 Waldemar Daa wantedgold； and the admiral wished for the proud black horses； thereforehe praised them so much。 But the hint was not taken； andconsequently the ship was not bought。 It remained on the shore coveredwith boards；… a Noah's ark that never got to the water… Whir…r…r…r…and that was a pity。
〃In the winter； when the fields were covered with snow； and thewater filled with large blocks of ice which I had blown up to thecoast；〃 continued the Wind； 〃great flocks of crows and ravens； darkand black as they usually are； came and alighted on the lonely；deserted ship。 Then they croaked in harsh accents of the forest thatnow existed no more； of the many pretty birds' nests destroyed and thelittle ones left without a home； and all for the sake of that greatbit of lumber； that proud ship； that never sailed forth。 I made thesnowflakes whirl till the snow lay like a great lake round the ship；and drifted over it。 I let it hear my voice； that it might know whatthe storm has to say。 Certainly I did my part towards teaching itseamanship。
〃That winter passed away； and another winter and summer bothpassed； as they are still passing away； even as I pass away。 Thesnow drifts onwards； the apple…blossoms are scattered； the leavesfall；… everything passes away； and men are passing away too。 But thegreat man's daughters are still young； and little Ida is a rose asfair to look upon as on the day when the shipbuilder first saw her。I often tumbled her long； brown hair； while she stood in the garden bythe apple…tree； musing； and not heeding how I strewed the blossomson her hair； and dishevelled it； or sometimes； while she stoodgazing at the red sun and the golden sky through the openingbranches of the dark； thick foliage of the garden trees。 Her sisterJoanna was bright and slender as a lily； she had a tall and loftycarriage and figure； though； like her mother； rather stiff in back。She was very fond of walking through the great hall； where hung theportraits of her ancestors。 The women were represented in dresses ofvelvet and silk； with tiny little hats； embroidered with pearls； ontheir braided hair。 They were all handsome women。 The gentlemenappeared clad in steel； or in rich cloaks lined with squirrel's fur；they wore little ruffs； and swords at their sides。 Where wouldJoanna's place be on that wall some day？ and how would he look；… hernoble lord and husband？ This is what she thought of； and often spokeof in a low voice to herself。 I heard it as I swept into the longhall； and turned round to e out again。 Anna Dorothea； the palehyacinth； a child of fourteen； was quiet and thoughtful； her large；deep； blue eyes had a dreamy look； but a childlike smile stillplayed round her mouth。 I was not able to blow it away； neither didI wish to do so。 We have met in the garden； in the hollow lane； in thefield and meadow； where she gathered herbs and flowers which sheknew would be useful to her father in preparing the drugs and mixtureshe was always concocting。 Waldemar Daa was arrogant and proud； buthe was also a learned man； and knew a great deal。 It was no secret；and many opinions were expressed on what he did。 In his fireplacethere was a fire； even in summer time。 He would lock himself in hisroom； and for days the fire would be kept burning； but he did not talkmuch of what he was doing。 The secret powers of nature are generallydiscovered in solitude； and did he not soon expect to find out the artof making the greatest of all good things… the art of making gold？So he fondly hoped； therefore the chimney smoked and the fire crackledso constantly。 Yes； I was there too；〃 said the Wind。 〃'Leave italone；' I sang down the chimney； 'leave it alone； it will all end insmoke； air； coals； and ashes； and you will burn your fingers。' ButWaldemar Daa did not leave it alone； and all he possessed vanishedlike smoke blown by me。 The splendid black horses； where are they？What became of the cows in the field； the old gold and silvervessels in cupboards and chests； and even the house and home itself？It was easy to melt all these away in the gold…making crucible； andyet obtain no gold。 And so it was。 Empty are the barns andstore…rooms； the cellars and cupboards； the servants decreased innumber； and the mice multiplied。 First one window became broken； andthen another； so that I could get in at other places besides the door。'Where the chimney smokes； the meal is being cooked；' says theproverb； but here a chimney smoked that devoured all the meals for thesake of gold。 I blew round the courtyard；〃 said the Wind； 〃like awatchman blowing his home； but no watchman was there。 I twirled theweather…cock round on the summit of the tower； and it creaked like thesnoring of a warder； but no warder was there； nothing but mice andrats。 Poverty laid the table…cloth； poverty sat in the wardrobe and inthe larder。 The door fell off its hinges； cracks and fissures madetheir appearance everywhere； so that I could go in and out atpleasure； and that is how I know all about it。 Amid smoke and ashes；sorrow； and sleepless nights； the hair and beard of the master ofthe house turned gray； and deep furrows showed themselves around histemples； his skin turned pale and yellow； while his eyes stilllooked eagerly for gold； the longed…for gold； and the result of hislabor was debt instead of gain。 I blew the smoke and ashes into hisface and beard； I moaned through the broken window…panes； and theyawning clefts in the walls； I blew into the chests and drawersbelonging to his daughters； wherein lay the clothes that had beefaded and threadbare； from being worn over and over again。 Such a songhad not been sung； at the children's cradle as I sung now。 Thelordly life had changed to a life of penury。 I was the only one whorejoiced aloud in that castle；〃 said the Wind。 〃At last I snowedthem up； and they say snow keeps people warm。 It was good for them；for they had no wood； and the forest； from which they might haveobtained it； had been cut down。 The frost was very bitter； and Irushed through loop…holes and passages； over gables and roofs withkeen and cutting swiftness。 The three high…born daughters were lyingin bed because of the cold； and their father crouching beneath hisleather coverlet。 Nothing to eat； nothing to burn； no fire on thehearth！ Here was a life for high…born people！ 'Give it up； give itup！' But my Lord Daa would not do that。 'After winter； spring wille；' he said； 'after want； good times。 We must not lose patience； wemust learn to wait。 Now my horses and lands are all mortgaged； it isindeed high time； but gold will e at last… at Easter。'
〃I heard him as he thus spoke； he was looking at a spider's web；and he continued； 'Thou cunning little weaver； thou dost teach meperseverance。 Let any one tear thy web； and thou wilt begin againand repair it。 Let it be entirely destroyed； thou wilt resolutelybegin to make another till it is pleted。 So ought we to do； if wewish to succeed at last。'
〃It was the morning of Easter…day。 The bells sounded from theneighboring church； and the sun seemed to rejoice in the sky。 Themaster of the castle had watched through the night； in feverishexcitement； and had been melting and cooling； distilling and mixing。 Iheard him sighing like a soul in despair； I heard him