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ows it。
〃New times now； all is changed。 The old high…road is lost amidcultivated fields； the new one now winds along over covered graves；and soon the railway will e； with its train of carriages； andrush over graves where lie those whose very names are forgoten。 Allpassed away； passed away！
〃This is the story of Waldemar Daa and his daughters。 Tell itbetter； any of you； if you know how；〃 said the Wind； and he rushedaway； and was gone。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE STORY OF THE YEAR
by Hans Christian Andersen
IT was near the end of January； and a terrible fall of snow waspelting down； and whirling through the streets and lanes； thewindows were plastered with snow on the outside； snow fell in massesfrom the roofs。 Every one seemed in a great hurry； they ran； theyflew； fell into each other's arms； holding fast for a moment as longas they could stand safely。 Coaches and horses looked as if they hadbeen frosted with sugar。 The footmen stood with their backs againstthe carriages； so as to turn their faces from the wind。 The footpassengers kept within the shelter of the carriages； which couldonly move slowly on in the deep snow。 At last the storm abated； anda narrow path was swept clean in front of the houses； when two personsmet in this path they stood still； for neither liked to take the firststep on one side into the deep snow to let the other pass him。 Therethey stood silent and motionless； till at last； as if by tacitconsent； they each sacrificed a leg and buried it in the deep snow。Towards evening； the weather became calm。 The sky； cleared from thesnow； looked more lofty and transparent； while the stars shone withnew brightness and purity。 The frozen snow crackled under foot； andwas quite firm enough to bear the sparrows； who hopped upon it inthe morning dawn。 They searched for food in the path which had beenswept； but there was very little for them； and they were terriblycold。 〃Tweet； tweet；〃 said one to another； they call this a newyear； but I think it is worse than the last。 We might just as wellhave kept the old year； I'm quite unhappy； and I have a right to beso。〃
〃Yes； you have； and yet the people ran about and fired off guns；to usher in the new year；〃 said a little shivering sparrow。 〃Theythrew things against the doors； and were quite beside themselveswith joy； because the old year had disappeared。 I was glad too； forI expected we should have some warm days； but my hopes have e tonothing。 It freezes harder than ever； I think mankind have made amistake in reckoning time。〃
〃That they have；〃 said a third； an old sparrow with a whitepoll； 〃they have something they call a calendar； it's an inventionof their own； and everything must be arranged according to it； butit won't do。 When spring es； then the year begins。 It is thevoice of nature； and I reckon by that。〃
〃But when will spring e？〃 asked the others。
〃It will e when the stork returns； but he is very uncertain；and here in the town no one knows anything about it。 In the countrythey have more knowledge； shall we fly away there and wait？ we shallbe nearer to spring then； certainly。〃
〃That may be all very well；〃 said another sparrow； who had beenhopping about for a long time； chirping； but not saying anything ofconsequence； 〃but I have found a few forts here in town which；I'm afraid； I should miss out in the country。 Here in thisneighborhood； there lives a family of people who have been so sensibleas to place three or four flower…pots against the wall in thecourt…yard； so that the openings are all turned inward； and the bottomof each points outward。 In the latter a hole has been cut large enoughfor me to fly in and out。 I and my husband have built a nest in one ofthese pots； and all our young ones； who have now flown away； werebrought up there。 The people who live there of course made the wholearrangement that they might have the pleasure of seeing us； or theywould not have done it。 It pleased them also to strew bread…crumbs forus； and so we have food； and may consider ourselves provided for。 So Ithink my husband and I will stay where we are； although we are notvery happy； but we shall stay。〃
〃And we will fly into the country；〃 said the others； 〃to see ifspring is ing。〃 And away they flew。
In the country it was really winter； a few degrees colder thanin the town。 The sharp winds blew over the snow…covered fields。 Thefarmer； wrapped in warm clothing； sat in his sleigh； and beat his armsacross his chest to keep off the cold。 The whip lay on his lap。 Thehorses ran till they smoked。 The snow crackled； the sparrows hoppedabout in the wheel…ruts； and shivered； crying； 〃Tweet； tweet； whenwill spring e？ It is very long in ing。〃
〃Very long indeed；〃 sounded over the field； from the nearestsnow…covered hill。 It might have been the echo which people heard；or perhaps the words of that wonderful old man； who sat high on a heapof snow； regardless of wind or weather。 He was all in white； he had ona peasant's coarse white coat of frieze。 He had long white hair； apale face； and large clear blue eyes。 〃Who is that old man？〃 asked thesparrows。
〃I know who he is；〃 said an old raven； who sat on the fence； andwas condescending enough to acknowledge that we are all equal in thesight of Heaven； even as little birds； and therefore he talked withthe sparrows； and gave them the information they wanted。 〃I know whothe old man is；〃 he said。 〃It is Winter； the old man of last year；he is not dead yet； as the calendar says； but acts as guardian tolittle Prince Spring who is ing。 Winter rules here still。 Ugh！the cold makes you shiver； little ones； does it not？〃
〃There！ Did I not tell you so？〃 said the smallest of the sparrows。〃The calendar is only an invention of man； and is not arrangedaccording to nature。 They should leave these things to us； we arecreated so much more clever than they are。〃
One week passed； and then another。 The forest looked dark； thehard…frozen lake lay like a sheet of lead。 The mountains haddisappeared； for over the land hung damp； icy mists。 Large black crowsflew about in silence； it was as if nature slept。 At length asunbeam glided over the lake； and it shone like burnished silver。But the snow on the fields and the hills did not glitter as before。The white form of Winter sat there still； with his un…wandering gazefixed on the south。 He did not perceive that the snowy carpet seemedto sink as it were into the earth； that here and there a littlegreen patch of grass appeared； and that these patches were coveredwith sparrows。
〃Tee…wit； tee…wit； is spring ing at last？〃
Spring！ How the cry resounded over field and meadow； and throughthe dark…brown woods； where the fresh green moss still gleamed onthe trunks of the trees； and from the south came the two firststorks flying through the air； and on the back of each sat a lovelylittle child； a boy and a girl。 They greeted the earth with a kiss；and wherever they placed their feet white flowers sprung up frombeneath the snow。 Hand in hand they approached the old ice…man；Winter； embraced him and clung to his breast； and as they did so； in amoment all three were enveloped in a thick； damp mist； dark and heavy；that closed over them like a veil。 The wind arose with mighty rustlingtone； and cleared away the mist。 Then the sun shone out warmly。 Winterhad vanished away； and the beautiful children of Spring sat on thethrone of the year。
〃This is really a new year；〃 cried all the sparrows； 〃now we shallget our rights； and have some return for what we suffered in winter。〃
Wherever the two children wandered； green buds burst forth on bushand tree； the grass grew higher； and the corn…fields became lovelyin delicate green。
The little maiden strewed flowers in her path。 She held herapron before her： it was full of flowers； it was as if they sprunginto life there； for the more she scattered around her； the moreflowers did her apron contain。 Eagerly she showered snowy blossomsover apple and peach…trees； so that they stood in full beauty beforeeven their green leaves had burst from the bud。 Then the boy and thegirl clapped their hands； and troops of birds came flying by； no oneknew from whence； and they all twittered and chirped； singing〃Spring has e！〃 How beautiful ever