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〃They also go in undress；〃 replied the woman。 〃TheWill…o'…the…Wisp can assume all kinds of forms； and appear in everyplace。 He goes into the church； but not for the sake of the service；and perhaps he may enter into one or other of the priests。 He speaksin the Parliament； not for the benefit of the country； but only forhimself。 He's an artist with the color…pot as well as in thetheatre； but when he gets all the power into his own hands； then thepot's empty！ I chatter and chatter； but it must e out； what'ssticking in my throat； to the disadvantage of my own family。 But Imust now be the woman that will save a good many people。 It is notdone with my good will； or for the sake of a medal。 I do the mostinsane things I possibly can； and then I tell a poet about it； andthus the whole town gets to know of it directly。〃
〃The town will not take that to heart；〃 observed the man； 〃thatwill not disturb a single person； for they will all think I'm onlytelling them a story if I say； 'The Will…o'…the…Wisp is in the town；says the Moor…woman。 Take care of yourselves！'〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE WINDMILL
by Hans Christian Andersen
A WINDMILL stood upon the hill； proud to look at； and it was proudtoo。
〃I am not proud at all；〃 it said； 〃but I am very muchenlightened without and within。 I have sun and moon for my outwarduse； and for inward use too； and into the bargain I have stearinecandles； train oil and lamps； and tallow candles。 I may well saythat I'm enlightened。 I'm a thinking being； and so well constructedthat it's quite delightful。 I have a good windpipe in my chest； andI have four wings that are placed outside my head； just beneath myhat。 The birds have only two wings； and are obliged to carry them ontheir backs。 I am a Dutchman by birth； that may be seen by myfigure… a flying Dutchman。 They are considered supernatural beings；I know； and yet I am quite natural。 I have a gallery round my chest；and house…room beneath it； that's where my thoughts dwell。 Mystrongest thought； who rules and reigns； is called by others 'TheMan in the Mill。' He knows what he wants； and is lord over the mealand the bran； but he has his panion； too； and she calls herself'Mother。' She is the very heart of me。 She does not run about stupidlyand awkwardly； for she knows what she wants； she knows what she cando； she's as soft as a zephyr and as strong as a storm； she knowshow to begin a thing carefully； and to have her own way。 She is mysoft temper； and the father is my hard one。 They are two； and yet one；they each call the other 'My half。' These two have some little boys；young thoughts； that can grow。 The little ones keep everything inorder。 When； lately； in my wisdom； I let the father and the boysexamine my throat and the hole in my chest； to see what was going onthere；… for something in me was out of order； and it's well to examineone's self；… the little ones made a tremendous noise。 The youngestjumped up into my hat； and shouted so there that it tickled me。 Thelittle thoughts may grow… I know that very well； and out in theworld thoughts e too； and not only of my kind； for as far as Ican see； I cannot discern anything like myself； but the winglesshouses； whose throats make no noise； have thoughts too； and these eto my thoughts； and make love to them； as it is called。 It's wonderfulenough… yes； there are many wonderful things。 Something has eover me； or into me；… something has changed in the mill…work。 It seemsas if the one half； the father； had altered； and had received a bettertemper and a more affectionate helpmate… so young and good； and yetthe same； only more gentle and good through the course of time。 Whatwas bitter has passed away； and the whole is much more fortable。
〃The days go on； and the days e nearer and nearer toclearness and to joy； and then a day will e when it will be overwith me； but not over altogether。 I must be pulled down that I maybe built up again； I shall cease； but yet shall live on。 To beequite a different being； and yet remain the same！ That's difficult forme to understand； however enlightened I may be with sun； moon；stearine； train oil； and tallow。 My old wood…work and my oldbrick…work will rise again from the dust！
〃I will hope that I may keep my old thoughts； the father in themill； and the mother； great ones and little ones… the family； for Icall them all； great and little； the pany of thoughts； because Imust； and cannot refrain from it。
〃And I must also remain 'myself；' with my throat in my chest； mywings on my head； the gallery round my body； else I should not knowmyself； nor could the others know me； and say； 'There's the mill onthe hill； proud to look at； and yet not proud at all。'〃
That is what the mill said。 Indeed； it said much more； but that isthe most important part。
And the days came； and the days went； and yesterday was the lastday。
Then the mill caught fire。 The flames rose up high； and beat outand in； and bit at the beams and planks； and ate them up。 The millfell； and nothing remained of it but a heap of ashes。 The smokedrove across the scene of the conflagration； and the wind carried itaway。
Whatever had been alive in the mill remained； and what had beengained by it has nothing to do with this story。
The miller's family… one soul； many thoughts； and yet only one…built a new； a splendid mill； which answered its purpose。 It was quitelike the old one； and people said； 〃Why； yonder is the mill on thehill； proud to look at！〃 But this mill was better arranged； moreaccording to the time than the last； so that progress might be made。The old beams had bee worm…eaten and spongy… they lay in dust andashes。 The body of the mill did not rise out of the dust as they hadbelieved it would do。 They had taken it literally； and all thingsare not to be taken literally。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT
by Hans Christian Andersen
THAT was a terrible affair！〃 said a hen； and in a quarter of thetown； too； where it had not taken place。 〃That was a terrible affairin a hen…roost。 I cannot sleep alone to…night。 It is a good thing thatmany of us sit on the roost together。〃 And then she told a storythat made the feathers on the other hens bristle up； and the cock'sb fall。 There was no doubt about it。
But we will begin at the beginning； and that is to be found in ahen…roost in another part of the town。 The sun was setting； and thefowls were flying on to their roost； one hen； with white feathersand short legs； used to lay her eggs according to the regulations； andwas； as a hen； respectable in every way。 As she was flying upon theroost； she plucked herself with her beak； and a little feather cameout。
〃There it goes；〃 she said； 〃the more I pluck； the more beautifuldo I get。〃 She said this merrily； for she was the best of the hens；and； moreover； as had been said； very respectable。 With that shewent to sleep。
It was dark all around； and hen sat close to hen； but the onewho sat nearest to her merry neighbour did not sleep。 She had heardand yet not heard； as we are often obliged to do in this world； inorder to live at peace； but she could not keep it from her neighbouron the other side any longer。 〃Did you hear what was said？ I mentionno names； but there is a hen here who intends to pluck herself inorder to look well。 If I were a cock； I should despise her。〃
Just over the fowls sat the owl； with father owl and the littleowls。 The family has sharp ears； and they all heard every word thattheir neighbour had said。 They rolled their eyes； and mother owl；beating her wings； said： 〃Don't listen to her！ But I suppose you heardwhat was said？ I heard it with my own ears； and one has to hear agreat deal before they fall off。 There is one among the fowls whohas so far forgotten what is being to a hen that she plucks out allher feathers and lets the cock see it。〃
〃Prenez garde aux enfants！〃 said father owl； 〃children shouldnot hear such things。〃
〃But I must tell our neighbour owl about it； she is such anestimable owl to talk to。〃 And with that she flew away。
〃Too…whoo！ Too…whoo！〃 they both hooted into the neighbour'sdove…cot to the doves inside。 〃Have you heard？ Have you heard？Too…whoo！ There is a hen