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sack containing the old drover into the water；believing it to be Little Claus。 〃There you may lie！〃 he exclaimed；〃you will play me no more tricks now。〃 Then he turned to go home；but when he came to a place where two roads crossed； there wasLittle Claus driving the cattle。 〃How is this？〃 said Great Claus。 〃DidI not drown you just now？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Little Claus； 〃you threw me into the river abouthalf an hour ago。〃
〃But wherever did you get all these fine beasts？〃 asked GreatClaus。
〃These beasts are sea…cattle；〃 replied Little Claus。 〃I'll tellyou the whole story； and thank you for drowning me； I am above younow； I am really very rich。 I was frightened； to be sure； while Ilay tied up in the sack； and the wind whistled in my ears when youthrew me into the river from the bridge； and I sank to the bottomimmediately； but I did not hurt myself； for I fell upon beautifullysoft grass which grows down there； and in a moment； the sack opened；and the sweetest little maiden came towards me。 She had snow…whiterobes； and a wreath of green leaves on her wet hair。 She took me bythe hand； and said； 'So you are e； Little Claus； and here aresome cattle for you to begin with。 About a mile farther on the road；there is another herd for you。' Then I saw that the river formed agreat highway for the people who live in the sea。 They were walkingand driving here and there from the sea to the land at the； spot wherethe river terminates。 The bed of the river was covered with theloveliest flowers and sweet fresh grass。 The fish swam past me asrapidly as the birds do here in the air。 How handsome all the peoplewere； and what fine cattle were grazing on the hills and in thevalleys！〃
〃But why did you e up again；〃 said Great Claus； 〃if it wasall so beautiful down there？ I should not have done so？〃
〃Well；〃 said Little Claus； 〃it was good policy on my part； youheard me say just now that I was told by the sea…maiden to go a milefarther on the road； and I should find a whole herd of cattle。 Bythe road she meant the river； for she could not travel any otherway； but I knew the winding of the river； and how it bends；sometimes to the right and sometimes to the left； and it seemed a longway； so I chose a shorter one； and； by ing up to the land； and thendriving across the fields back again to the river； I shall save half amile； and get all my cattle more quickly。〃
〃What a lucky fellow you are！〃 exclaimed Great Claus。 〃Do youthink I should get any sea…cattle if I went down to the bottom ofthe river？〃
〃Yes； I think so；〃 said Little Claus； 〃but I cannot carry youthere in a sack； you are too heavy。 However if you will go therefirst； and then creep into a sack； I will throw you in with thegreatest pleasure。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Great Claus； 〃but remember； if I do not getany sea…cattle down there I shall e up again and give you a goodthrashing。〃
〃No； now； don't be too fierce about it！〃 said Little Claus； asthey walked on towards the river。 When they approached it； the cattle；who were very thirsty； saw the stream； and ran down to drink。
〃See what a hurry they are in；〃 said Little Claus； 〃they arelonging to get down again；〃
〃e； help me； make haste；〃 said Great Claus； 〃or you'll getbeaten。〃 So he crept into a large sack； which had been lying acrossthe back of one of the oxen。
〃Put in a stone；〃 said Great Claus； 〃or I may not sink。〃
〃Oh； there's not much fear of that；〃 he replied； still he put alarge stone into the bag； and then tied it tightly； and gave it apush。
〃Plump！〃 In went Great Claus； and immediately sank to the bottomof the river。
〃I'm afraid he will not find any cattle；〃 said Little Claus； andthen he drove his own beasts homewards。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
LITTLE IDA'S FLOWERS
by Hans Christian Andersen
〃My poor flowers are quite dead；〃 said little Ida； 〃they were sopretty yesterday evening； and now all the leaves are hanging downquite withered。 What do they do that for；〃 she asked； of the studentwho sat on the sofa； she liked him very much； he could tell the mostamusing stories； and cut out the prettiest pictures； hearts； andladies dancing； castles with doors that opened； as well as flowers； hewas a delightful student。 〃Why do the flowers look so faded to…day？〃she asked again； and pointed to her nosegay； which was quite withered。
〃Don't you know what is the matter with them？〃 said the student。〃The flowers were at a ball last night； and therefore； it is no wonderthey hang their heads。〃
〃But flowers cannot dance？〃 cried little Ida。
〃Yes indeed； they can；〃 replied the student。 〃When it growsdark； and everybody is asleep； they jump about quite merrily。 Theyhave a ball almost every night。〃
〃Can children go to these balls？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the student； 〃little daisies and lilies of thevalley。〃
〃Where do the beautiful flowers dance？〃 asked little Ida。
〃Have you not often seen the large castle outside the gates of thetown； where the king lives in summer； and where the beautiful gardenis full of flowers？ And have you not fed the swans with bread whenthey swam towards you？ Well； the flowers have capital balls there；believe me。〃
〃I was in the garden out there yesterday with my mother；〃 saidIda； 〃but all the leaves were off the trees； and there was not asingle flower left。 Where are they？ I used to see so many in thesummer。〃
〃They are in the castle；〃 replied the student。 〃You must know thatas soon as the king and all the court are gone into the town； theflowers run out of the garden into the castle； and you should seehow merry they are。 The two most beautiful roses seat themselves onthe throne； and are called the king and queen； then all the redcocksbs range themselves on each side； and bow； these are thelords…in…waiting。 After that the pretty flowers e in； and thereis a grand ball。 The blue violets represent little naval cadets； anddance with hyacinths and crocuses which they call young ladies。 Thetulips and tiger…lilies are the old ladies who sit and watch thedancing； so that everything may be conducted with order andpropriety。〃
〃But；〃 said little Ida； 〃is there no one there to hurt the flowersfor dancing in the king's castle？〃
〃No one knows anything about it；〃 said the student。 〃The oldsteward of the castle； who has to watch there at night； sometimeses in； but he carries a great bunch of keys； and as soon as theflowers hear the keys rattle； they run and hide themselves behindthe long curtains； and stand quite still； just peeping their headsout。 Then the old steward says； 'I smell flowers here；' but hecannot see them。〃
〃Oh how capital；〃 said little Ida； clapping her hands。 〃Should Ibe able to see these flowers？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the student； 〃mind you think of it the next time yougo out； no doubt you will see them； if you peep through the window。I did so to…day； and I saw a long yellow lily lying stretched out onthe sofa。 She was a court lady。〃
〃Can the flowers from the Botanical Gardens go to these balls？〃asked Ida。 〃It is such a distance！〃
〃Oh yes；〃 said the student 'whenever they like； for they canfly。 Have you not seen those beautiful red； white。 and yellowbutterflies； that look like flowers？ They were flowers once。 They haveflown off their stalks into the air； and flap their leaves as ifthey were little wings to make them fly。 Then； if they behave well；they obtain permission to fly about during the day； instead of beingobliged to sit still on their stems at home； and so in time theirleaves bee real wings。 It may be； however； that the flowers inthe Botanical Gardens have never been to the king's palace； and；therefore； they know nothing of the merry doings at night； whichtake place there。 I will tell you what to do； and the botanicalprofessor； who lives close by here； will be so surprised。 You know himvery well； do you not？ Well； next time you go into his garden； youmust tell one of the flowers that there is going to be a grand ball atthe castle； then that flower will tell all the others； and they willfly away to the castle as soon as possible。 And when the professorwalks into his garden； there will not be a single flower left。 Howhe will wonder what has bee of them！〃
〃But how can one flower tell another？ Flowers cannot speak？〃
〃No； certainly not；〃