按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The son of the village pastor was tutor at the mansion。 One day hewent for a walk across the fields with his young pupils and theirelder sister； who had lately been confirmed。 They walked along theroad which passed by the old willow tree； and while they were on theroad she picked a bunch of field…flowers。 〃Everything in the rightplace；〃 and indeed the bunch looked very beautiful。 At the same timeshe listened to all that was said； and she very much liked to hear thepastor's son speak about the elements and of the great men and womenin history。 She had a healthy mind； noble in thought and deed； andwith a heart full of love for everything that God had created。 Theystopped at the old willow tree； as the youngest of the baron's sonswished very much to have a flute from it； such as had been cut for himfrom other willow trees； the pastor's son broke a branch off。 〃Oh；pray do not do it！〃 said the young lady； but it was already done。〃That is our famous old tree。 I love it very much。 They often laugh atme at home about it； but that does not matter。 There is a storyattached to this tree。〃 And now she told him all that we alreadyknow about the tree… the old mansion； the pedlar and the goose…girlwho had met there for the first time； and had bee the ancestorsof the noble family to which the young lady belonged。
〃They did not like to be knighted； the good old people；〃 she said；〃their motto was 'everything in the right place；' and it would notbe right； they thought； to purchase a title for money。 My grandfather；the first baron； was their son。 They say he was a very learned man；a great favourite with the princes and princesses； and was invitedto all court festivities。 The others at home love him best； but； Ido not know why； there seemed to me to be something about the oldcouple that attracts my heart！ How homely； how patriarchal； it musthave been in the old mansion； where the mistress sat at thespinning…wheel with her maids； while her husband read aloud out of theBible！〃
〃They must have been excellent； sensible people；〃 said thepastor's son。 And with this the conversation turned naturally tonoblemen and moners； from the manner in which the tutor spoke aboutthe significance of being noble； it seemed almost as if he did notbelong to a moner's family。
〃It is good fortune to be of a family who have distinguishedthemselves； and to possess as it were a spur in oneself to advanceto all that is good。 It is a splendid thing to belong to a noblefamily； whose name serves as a card of admission to the highestcircles。 Nobility is a distinction； it is a gold coin that bears thestamp of its own value。 It is the fallacy of the time； and manypoets express it； to say that all that is noble is bad and stupid； andthat； on the contrary； the lower one goes among the poor； the morebrilliant virtues one finds。 I do not share this opinion； for it iswrong。 In the upper classes one sees many touchingly beautiful traits；my own mother has told me of such； and I could mention several。 Oneday she was visiting a nobleman's house in town； my grandmother； Ibelieve； had been the lady's nurse when she was a child。 My mother andthe nobleman were alone in the room； when he suddenly noticed an oldwoman on crutches e limping into the courtyard； she came everySunday to carry a gift away with her。
〃'There is the poor old woman；' said the nobleman； 'it is sodifficult for her to walk。'
〃My mother had hardly understood what he said before hedisappeared from the room； and went downstairs； in order to save herthe troublesome walk for the gift she came to fetch。 Of course this isonly a little incident； but it has its good sound like the poorwidow's two mites in the Bible； the sound which echoes in the depth ofevery human heart； and this is what the poet ought to show and pointout… more especially in our own time he ought to sing of this； it doesgood； it mitigates and reconciles！ But when a man； simply because heis of noble birth and possesses a genealogy； stands on his hind legsand neighs in the street like an Arabian horse； and says when amoner has been in a room： 'Some people from the street have beenhere；' there nobility is decaying； it has bee a mask of the kindthat Thespis created； and it is amusing when such a person isexposed in satire。〃
Such was the tutor's speech； it was a little long； but while hedelivered it he had finished cutting the flute。
There was a large party at the mansion； many guests from theneighbourhood and from the capital had arrived。 There were ladies withtasteful and with tasteless dresses； the big hall was quite crowdedwith people。 The clergymen stood humbly together in a corner； andlooked as if they were preparing for a funeral； but it was a festival…only the amusement had not yet begun。 A great concert was to takeplace； and that is why the baron's young son had brought his willowflute with him； but he could not make it sound； nor could hisfather； and therefore the flute was good for nothing。
There was music and songs of the kind which delight most thosethat perform them； otherwise quite charming！
〃Are you an artist？〃 said a cavalier； the son of his father；〃you play on the flute； you have made it yourself； it is genius thatrules… the place of honour is due to you。〃
〃Certainly not！ I only advance with the time； and that of courseone can't help。〃
〃I hope you will delight us all with the little instrument… willyou not？〃 Thus saying he handed to the tutor the flute which hadbeen cut from the willow tree by the pool； and then announced in aloud voice that the tutor wished to perform a solo on the flute。They wished to tease him… that was evident； and therefore the tutordeclined to play； although he could do so very well。 They urged andrequested him； however； so long； that at last he took up the flute andplaced it to his lips。
That was a marvellous flute！ Its sound was as thrilling as thewhistle of a steam engine； in fact it was much stronger； for itsounded and was heard in the yard； in the garden； in the wood； andmany miles round in the country； at the same time a storm rose androared； 〃Everything in the right place。〃 And with this the baron； asif carried by the wind； flew out of the hall straight into theshepherd's cottage； and the shepherd flew… not into the hall；thither he could not e… but into the servants' hall； among thesmart footmen who were striding about in silk stockings； these haughtymenials looked horror…struck that such a person ventured to sit attable with them。 But in the hall the baron's daughter flew to theplace of honour at the end of the table… she was worthy to sitthere； the pastor's son had the seat next to her； the two sat there asif they were a bridal pair。 An old Count； belonging to one of theoldest families of the country； remained untouched in his place ofhonour； the flute was just； and it is one's duty to be so。 Thesharp…tongued cavalier who had caused the flute to be played； andwho was the child of his parents； flew headlong into the fowl…house；but not he alone。
The flute was heard at the distance of a mile； and strangeevents took place。 A rich banker's family； who were driving in a coachand four； were blown out of it； and could not even find room behind itwith their footmen。 Two rich farmers who had in our days shot uphigher than their own corn…fields； were flung into the ditch； it was adangerous flute。 Fortunately it burst at the first sound； and that wasa good thing； for then it was put back into its owner's pocket… 〃itsright place。〃
The next day； nobody spoke a word about what had taken place； thusoriginated the phrase； 〃to pocket the flute。〃 Everything was againin its usual order； except that the two old pictures of the peddlarand the goose…girl were hanging in the banqueting…hall。 There theywere on the wall as if blown up there； and as a real expert saidthat they were painted by a master's hand； they remained there andwere restored。 〃Everything in the right place；〃 and to this it wille。 Eternity is long； much longer indeed than this story。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
GRANDMOTHER
by Hans Christian AndersenGRANDMOTHER
GRANDMOTHER is very old； her face is wrinkled； and her hair isquite white； but her eyes are like two stars； and they have a mild；gentle