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himself； though I am very sure that he had been mostfortably asleep half the last stage。 The door of the servants' roomstood open； and the bed looked as if it had been turned over and over；the candle stood on the floor； and had burnt deep down into thesocket。 The wind blew cold through the shed： it was nearer to the dawnthan to midnight。 In the wooden frame on the ground slept a wanderingfamily of musicians。 The father and mother seemed to be dreaming ofthe burning liquor that remained in the bottle。 The little paledaughter was dreaming too； for her eyes were wet with tears。 The harpstood at their heads； and the dog lay stretched at their feet。〃
THIRTIETH EVENING
〃It was in a little provincial town；〃 the Moon said； 〃it certainlyhappened last year； but that has nothing to do with the matter。 Isaw it quite plainly。 To…day I read about it in the papers； butthere it was not half so clearly expressed。 In the taproom of thelittle inn sat the bear leader； eating his supper； the bear was tiedup outside； behind the wood pile… poor Bruin； who did nobody any harm；though he looked grim enough。 Up in the garret three little childrenwere playing by the light of my beams； the eldest was perhaps sixyears old； the youngest certainly not more than two。 'Tramp； tramp'…somebody was ing upstairs： who might it be？ The door was thrustopen… it was Bruin； the great； shaggy Bruin！ He had got tired ofwaiting down in the courtyard； and had found his way to the stairs。I saw it all；〃 said the Moon。 〃The children were very muchfrightened at first at the great shaggy animal； each of them creptinto a corner； but he found them all out； and smelt at them； but didthem no harm。 'This must be a great dog；' they said； and began tostroke him。 He lay down upon the ground； the youngest boy clambered onhis back； and bending down a little head of golden curls； played athiding in the beast's shaggy skin。 Presently the eldest boy took hisdrum； and beat upon it till it rattled again； the bear rose upon hishind legs； and began to dance。 It was a charming sight to behold。 Eachboy now took his gun； and the bear was obliged to have one too； and heheld it up quite properly。 Here was a capital playmate they had found；and they began marching… one； two； one； two。
〃Suddenly some one came to the door； which opened； and themother of the children appeared。 You should have seen her in herdumb terror； with her face as white as chalk； her mouth half open； andher eyes fixed in a horrified stare。 But the youngest boy nodded toher in great glee； and called out in his infantile prattle； 'We'replaying at soldiers。' And then the bear leader came running up。〃
THIRTY…FIRST EVENING
The wind blew stormy and cold； the clouds flew hurriedly past；only for a moment now and then did the Moon bee visible。 He said；〃I looked down from the silent sky upon the driving clouds； and sawthe great shadows chasing each other across the earth。 I looked upon aprison。 A closed carriage stood before it； a prisoner was to becarried away。 My rays pierced through the grated window towards thewall； the prisoner was scratching a few lines upon it； as a partingtoken； but he did not write words； but a melody； the outpouring of hisheart。 The door was opened； and he was led forth； and fixed his eyesupon my round disc。 Clouds passed between us； as if he were not to seehis face； nor I his。 He stepped into the carriage； the door wasclosed； the whip cracked； and the horses gallopped off into thethick forest； whither my rays were not able to follow him； but as Iglanced through the grated window； my rays glided over the notes；his last farewell engraved on the prison wall… where words fail；sounds can often speak。 My rays could only light up isolated notes； sothe greater part of what was written there will ever remain dark tome。 Was it the death…hymn he wrote there？ Were these the glad notes ofjoy？ Did he drive away to meet death； or hasten to the embraces of hisbeloved？ The rays of the Moon do not read all that is written bymortals。〃
THIRTY…SECOND EVENING
〃I love the children；〃 said the Moon； 〃especially the quite littleones… they are so droll。 Sometimes I peep into the room； between thecurtain and the window frame； when they are not thinking of me。 Itgives me pleasure to see them dressing and undressing。 First； thelittle round naked shoulder es creeping out of the frock； thenthe arm； or I see how the stocking is drawn off； and a plump littlewhite leg makes its appearance； and a white little foot that is fit tobe kissed； and I kiss it too。
〃But about what I was going to tell you。 This evening I lookedthrough a window； before which no curtain was drawn； for nobodylives opposite。 I saw a whole troop of little ones； all of one family；and among them was a little sister。 She is only four years old； butcan say her prayers as well as any of the rest。 The mother sits by herbed every evening； and hears her say her prayers； and then she has akiss； and the mother sits by the bed till the little one has gone tosleep； which generally happens as soon as ever she can close her eyes。
〃This evening the two elder children were a little boisterous。 Oneof them hopped about on one leg in his long white nightgown； and theother stood on a chair surrounded by the clothes of all thechildren； and declared he was acting Grecian statues。 The third andfourth laid the clean linen carefully in the box； for that is athing that has to be done； and the mother sat by the bed of theyoungest； and announced to all the rest that they were to be quiet；for little sister was going to say her prayers。
〃I looked in； over the lamp； into the little maiden's bed； whereshe lay under the neat white coverlet； her hands folded demurely andher little face quite grave and serious。 She was praying the Lord'sprayer aloud。 But her mother interrupted her in the middle of herprayer。 'How is it；' she asked； 'that when you have prayed for dailybread； you always add something I cannot understand？ You must tellme what that is。' The little one lay silent； and looked at hermother in embarrassment。 'What is it you say after our daily bread？''Dear mother； don't be angry： I only said； and plenty of butter onit。'〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
WHAT THE OLD MAN DOES IS ALWAYS RIGHT
by Hans Christian Andersen
I WILL tell you a story that was told me when I was a littleboy。 Every time I thought of this story； it seemed to me more and morecharming； for it is with stories as it is with many people… theybee better as they grow older。
I have no doubt that you have been in the country； and seen a veryold farmhouse； with a thatched roof； and mosses and small plantsgrowing wild upon it。 There is a stork's nest on the ridge of thegable； for we cannot do without the stork。 The walls of the houseare sloping； and the windows are low； and only one of the latter ismade to open。 The baking…oven sticks out of the wall like a greatknob。 An elder…tree hangs over the palings； and beneath itsbranches； at the foot of the paling； is a pool of water； in which afew ducks are disporting themselves。 There is a yard…dog too； whobarks at all corners。 Just such a farmhouse as this stood in a countrylane； and in it dwelt an old couple； a peasant and his wife。 Smallas their possessions were； they had one article they could not dowithout； and that was a horse； which contrived to live upon thegrass which it found by the side of the high road。 The old peasantrode into the town upon this horse； and his neighbors often borrowedit of him； and paid for the loan of it by rendering some service tothe old couple。 After a time they thought it would be as well tosell the horse； or exchange it for something which might be moreuseful to them。 But what might this something be？
〃You'll know best； old man；〃 said the wife。 〃It is fair…dayto…day； so ride into town； and get rid of the horse for money； or makea good exchange； whichever you do will be right to me； so ride to thefair。〃
And she fastened his neckerchief for him； for she could do thatbetter than he could； and she could also tie it very prettily in adouble bow。 She also smoothed his hat round and round with the palm ofher hand； and gave him a kiss。 Then he rode away upon the horse thatwas to be sold or barte