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thou livest。 The hour of thy freedom will e when Springappears。〃
〃And when will Spring e？〃 asked Winter。
〃It will e when the stork returns。〃
And with white locks and snowy beard； cold； bent； and hoary； butstrong as the wintry storm； and firm as the ice； old Winter sat on thesnowdrift…covered hill； looking towards the south； where Winter hadsat before； and gazed。 The ice glittered； the snow crackled； theskaters skimmed over the polished surface of the lakes； ravens andcrows formed a pleasing contrast to the white ground； and not a breathof wind stirred； and in the still air old Winter clenched his fists；and the ice lay fathoms deep between the lands。 Then came the sparrowsagain out of the town； and asked； 〃Who is that old man？〃 The raven satthere still； or it might be his son； which is the same thing； and hesaid to them；…
〃It is Winter； the old man of the former year； he is not dead；as the calendar says； but he is guardian to the spring； which ising。〃
〃When will Spring e？〃 asked the sparrows； 〃for we shall havebetter times then； and a better rule。 The old times are worthnothing。〃
And in quiet thought old Winter looked at the leafless forest；where the graceful form and bends of each tree and branch could beseen； and while Winter slept； icy mists came from the clouds； andthe ruler dreamt of his youthful days and of his manhood； and in themorning dawn the whole forest glittered with hoar frost； which the sunshook from the branches；… and this was the summer dream of Winter。
〃When will Spring e？〃 asked the sparrows。 〃Spring！〃 Again theecho sounded from the hills on which the snow lay。 The sunshine becamewarmer； the snow melted； and the birds twittered； 〃Spring ising！〃 And high in the air flew the first stork； and the secondfollowed； a lovely child sat on the back of each； and they sank downon the open field； kissed the earth； and kissed the quiet old man；and； as the mist from the mountain top； he vanished away anddisappeared。 And the story of the year was finished。
〃This is all very fine； no doubt；〃 said the sparrows； 〃and it isvery beautiful； but it is not according to the calendar； therefore； itmust be all wrong。〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE SUNBEAM AND THE CAPTIVE
by Hans Christian Andersen
IT is autumn。 We stand on the ramparts； and look out over the sea。We look at the numerous ships； and at the Swedish coast on theopposite side of the sound； rising far above the surface of the waterswhich mirror the glow of the evening sky。 Behind us the wood issharply defined； mighty trees surround us； and the yellow leavesflutter down from the branches。 Below； at the foot of the wall； standsa gloomy looking building enclosed in palisades。 The space betweenis dark and narrow； but still more dismal must it be behind the irongratings in the wall which cover the narrow loopholes or windows；for in these dungeons the most depraved of the criminals are confined。A ray of the setting sun shoots into the bare cells of one of thecaptives； for God's sun shines upon the evil and the good。 Thehardened criminal casts an impatient look at the bright ray。 Then alittle bird flies towards the grating； for birds twitter to the justas well as to the unjust。 He only cries； 〃Tweet； tweet；〃 and thenperches himself near the grating； flutters his wings； pecks afeather from one of them； puffs himself out； and sets his featherson end round his breast and throat。 The bad； chained man looks at him；and a more gentle expression es into his hard face。 In his breastthere rises a thought which he himself cannot rightly analyze； but thethought has some connection with the sunbeam； with the bird； andwith the scent of violets； which grow luxuriantly in spring at thefoot of the wall。 Then there es the sound of the hunter's horn；merry and full。 The little bird starts； and flies away； the sunbeamgradually vanishes； and again there is darkness in the room and in theheart of that bad man。 Still the sun has shone into that heart； andthe twittering of the bird has touched it。
Sound on； ye glorious strains of the hunter's horn； continueyour stirring tones； for the evening is mild； and the surface of thesea； heaving slowly and calmly； is smooth as a mirror。
THE END。
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1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE SWAN'S NEST
by Hans Christian Andersen
BETWEEN the Baltic and the North Sea there lies an old swan'snest； wherein swans are born and have been born that shall never die。
In olden times a flock of swans flew over the Alps to the greenplains around Milan； where it was delightful to dwell。 This flightof swans men called the Lombards。
Another flock； with shining plumage and honest eyes； soaredsouthward to Byzantium； the swans established themselves there closeby the Emperor's throne； and spread their wings over him as shields toprotect him。 They received the name of Varangians。
On the coast of France there sounded a cry of fear； for theblood…stained swans that came from the North with fire under theirwings； and the people prayed； 〃Heaven deliver us from the wildNorthmen。〃
On the fresh sward of England stood the Danish swan by the openseashore； with the crown of three kingdoms on his head； and hestretched out his golden sceptre over the land。 The heathens on thePomerian coast bent the knee； and the Danish swans came with thebanner of the Cross and with the drawn sword。
〃That was in the very old times；〃 you say。
In later days two mighty swans have been seen to fly from thenest。 A light shone far through the air； far over the lands of theearth； the swan； with the strong beating of his wings； scattered thetwilight mists； and the starry sky was seen； and it was as if itcame nearer to the earth。 That was the swan Tycho Brahe。
〃Yes； then；〃 you say； 〃but in our own days？〃
We have seen swan after swan soar by in glorious flight。 One lethis pinions glide over the strings of the golden harp； and itresounded through the North。 Norway's mountains seemed to risehigher in the sunlight of former days； there was a rustling amongthe pine trees and the birches； the gods of the North； the heroes； andthe noble women； showed themselves in the dark forest depths。
We have seen a swan beat with his wings upon the marble crag； sothat it burst； and the forms of beauty imprisoned in the stone steppedout to the sunny day； and men in the lands round about lifted up theirheads to behold these mighty forms。
We have seen a third swan spinning the thread of thought that isfastened from country to country round the world； so that the word mayfly with lightning speed from land to land。
And our Lord loves the old swan's nest between the Baltic andthe North Sea。 And when the mighty birds e soaring through theair to destroy it； even the callow young stand round in a circle onthe margin of the nest； and though their breasts may be struck so thattheir blood flows； they bear it； and strike with their wings and theirclaws。
Centuries will pass by； swans will fly forth from the nest； menwill see them and hear them in the world； before it shall be said inspirit and in truth； 〃This is the last swan… the last song from theswan's nest。〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE SWINEHERD
by Hans Christian Andersen
ONCE upon a time lived a poor prince； his kingdom was verysmall； but it was large enough to enable him to marry； and marry hewould。 It was rather bold of him that he went and asked theemperor's daughter： 〃Will you marry me？〃 but he ventured to do so； forhis name was known far and wide； and there were hundreds of princesseswho would have gladly accepted him； but would she do so？ Now weshall see。
On the grave of the prince's father grew a rose…tree； the mostbeautiful of its kind。 It bloomed only once in five years； and then ithad only one single rose upon it； but what a rose！ It had such a sweetscent that one instantly forgot all sorrow and grief when one smeltit。 He had also a nightingale； which could sing as if every sweetmelody was in its throat。 This rose and the nightingale he wished togive to the princess； and therefore both were put into big silvercases and sent to her。