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So he went in； and seated himself； then he folded his hands； andoffered up his evening prayer； and was soon fast asleep anddreaming； while the thunder rolled and the lightning flashedwithout。 When he awoke； it was still night； but the storm hadceased； and the moon shone in upon him through the windows。 Then hesaw an open coffin standing in the centre of the church； whichcontained a dead man； waiting for burial。 John was not at all timid；he had a good conscience； and he knew also that the dead can neverinjure any one。 It is living wicked men who do harm to others。 Twosuch wicked persons stood now by the dead man； who had been brought tothe church to be buried。 Their evil intentions were to throw thepoor dead body outside the church door； and not leave him to rest inhis coffin。
〃Why do you do this？〃 asked John； when he saw what they were goingto do； 〃it is very wicked。 Leave him to rest in peace； in Christ'sname。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 replied the two dreadful men。 〃He has cheated us； heowed us money which he could not pay； and now he is dead we shallnot get a penny； so we mean to have our revenge； and let him lielike a dog outside the church door。〃
〃I have only fifty dollars；〃 said John； 〃it is all I possess inthe world； but I will give it to you if you will promise me faithfullyto leave the dead man in peace。 I shall be able to get on withoutthe money； I have strong and healthy limbs； and God will always helpme。〃
〃Why； of course；〃 said the horrid men； 〃if you will pay his debtwe will both promise not to touch him。 You may depend upon that；〃and then they took the money he offered them； laughed at him for hisgood nature； and went their way。
Then he laid the dead body back in the coffin； folded the hands；and took leave of it； and went away contentedly through the greatforest。 All around him he could see the prettiest little elves dancingin the moonlight； which shone through the trees。 They were notdisturbed by his appearance； for they knew he was good and harmlessamong men。 They are wicked people only who can never obtain aglimpse of fairies。 Some of them were not taller than the breadth of afinger； and they wore golden bs in their long； yellow hair。 Theywere rocking themselves two together on the large dew…drops with whichthe leaves and the high grass were sprinkled。 Sometimes thedew…drops would roll away； and then they fell down between the stemsof the long grass； and caused a great deal of laughing and noise amongthe other little people。 It was quite charming to watch them atplay。 Then they sang songs； and John remembered that he had learntthose pretty songs when he was a little boy。 Large speckled spiders；with silver crowns on their heads； were employed to spin suspensionbridges and palaces from one hedge to another； and when the tiny dropsfell upon them； they glittered in the moonlight like shining glass。This continued till sunrise。 Then the little elves crept into theflower…buds； and the wind seized the bridges and palaces； andfluttered them in the air like cobwebs。
As John left the wood； a strong man's voice called after him；〃Hallo； rade； where are you travelling？〃
〃Into the wide world；〃 he replied； 〃I am only a poor lad； I haveneither father nor mother； but God will help me。〃
〃I am going into the wide world also；〃 replied the stranger；〃shall we keep each other pany？〃
〃With all my heart；〃 he said； and so they went on together。 Soonthey began to like each other very much； for they were both good；but John found out that the stranger was much more clever thanhimself。 He had travelled all over the world； and could describealmost everything。 The sun was high in the heavens when they seatedthemselves under a large tree to eat their breakfast； and at thesame moment an old woman came towards them。 She was very old andalmost bent double。 She leaned upon a stick and carried on her backa bundle of firewood； which she had collected in the forest； her apronwas tied round it； and John saw three great stems of fern and somewillow twigs peeping out。 just as she came close up to them； herfoot slipped and she fell to the ground screaming loudly； poor oldwoman； she had broken her leg！ John proposed directly that they shouldcarry the old woman home to her cottage； but the stranger opened hisknapsack and took out a box； in which he said he had a salve thatwould quickly make her leg well and strong again； so that she would beable to walk home herself； as if her leg had never been broken。 Andall that he would ask in return was the three fern stems which shecarried in her apron。
〃That is rather too high a price；〃 said the old woman； nodding herhead quite strangely。 She did not seem at all inclined to part withthe fern stems。 However； it was not very agreeable to lie there with abroken leg； so she gave them to him； and such was the power of theointment； that no sooner had he rubbed her leg with it than the oldmother rose up and walked even better than she had done before。 Butthen this wonderful ointment could not be bought at a chemist's。
〃What can you want with those three fern rods？〃 asked John ofhis fellow…traveller。
〃Oh； they will make capital brooms；〃 said he； 〃and I like thembecause I have strange whims sometimes。〃 Then they walked ontogether for a long distance。
〃How dark the sky is being；〃 said John； 〃and look at thosethick； heavy clouds。〃
〃Those are not clouds；〃 replied his fellow…traveller； 〃they aremountains… large lofty mountains… on the tops of which we should beabove the clouds； in the pure； free air。 Believe me； it isdelightful to ascend so high； tomorrow we shall be there。〃 But themountains were not so near as they appeared； they had to travel awhole day before they reached them； and pass through black forests andpiles of rock as large as a town。 The journey had been so fatiguingthat John and his fellow…traveller stopped to rest at a roadsideinn； so that they might gain strength for their journey on the morrow。In the large public room of the inn a great many persons wereassembled to see a edy performed by dolls。 The showman had justerected his little theatre； and the people were sitting round the roomto witness the performance。 Right in front； in the very best place；sat a stout butcher； with a great bull…dog by his side who seemed verymuch inclined to bite。 He sat staring with all his eyes； and so indeeddid every one else in the room。 And then the play began。 It was apretty piece； with a king and a queen in it； who sat on a beautifulthrone； and had gold crowns on their heads。 The trains to theirdresses were very long； according to the fashion； while theprettiest of wooden dolls； with glass eyes and large mustaches；stood at the doors； and opened and shut them； that the fresh air mighte into the room。 It was a very pleasant play； not at allmournful； but just as the queen stood up and walked across thestage； the great bull…dog； who should have been held back by hismaster； made a spring forward； and caught the queen in the teeth bythe slender wrist； so that it snapped in two。 This was a very dreadfuldisaster。 The poor man； who was exhibiting the dolls； was muchannoyed； and quite sad about his queen； she was the prettiest dollhe had； and the bull…dog had broken her head and shoulders off。 Butafter all the people were gone away； the stranger； who came with John；said that he could soon set her to rights。 And then he brought out hisbox and rubbed the doll with some of the salve with which he had curedthe old woman when she broke her leg。 As soon as this was done thedoll's back became quite right again； her head and shoulders werefixed on； and she could even move her limbs herself： there was nowno occasion to pull the wires； for the doll acted just like a livingcreature； excepting that she could not speak。 The man to whom the showbelonged was quite delighted at having a doll who could dance ofherself without being pulled by the wires； none of the other dollscould do this。
During the night； when all the people at the inn were gone to bed；some one was heard to sigh so deeply and painfully； and the sighingcontinued for so long a time； that every one got up to see whatcould be the matter。 The showman went at once to his little theatreand found that it proceeded from the dolls； who all lay on the floorsighing piteous