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。 Often the flies were quite full of goodpany； it was said that generals' wives and privy councillors' wiveshad been up there。 It was quite interesting to look down behind thescenes； and to see how the people walked to and fro on the stagewhen the curtain was down。
Our aunt had been there several times； as well when there was atragedy as when there was a ballet； for the pieces in which there werethe greatest number of characters on the stage were the mostinteresting to see from the flies。 One sat pretty much in the darkup there； and most people took their supper up with them。 Once threeapples and a great piece of bread and butter and sausage fell downright into the dungeon of Ugolino； where that unhappy man was to bestarved to death； and there was great laughter among the audience。 Thesausage was one of the weightiest reasons why the worthy managementrefused in future to have any spectators up in the flies。
〃But I was there seven…and…thirty times；〃 said our aunt； 〃and Ishall always remember Mr。 Sivertsen for that。〃
On the very last evening when the flies were still open to thepublic； the 〃Judgment of Solomon〃 was performed； as our auntremembered very well。 She had； through the influence of herbenefactor； Herr Sivertsen； procured a free admission for the AgentFabs； although he did not deserve it in the least； for he was alwayscutting his jokes about the theatre and teasing our aunt； but shehad procured him a free admission to the flies； for all that。 Hewanted to look at this player…stuff from the other side。
〃Those were his own words； and they were just like him；〃 saidour aunt。
He looked down from above on the 'Judgment of Solomon；〃 and fellasleep over it。 One would have thought that he had e from adinner where many toasts had been given。 He went to sleep； and waslocked in。 And there he sat through the dark night in the flies； andwhen he woke； he told a story； but our aunt would not believe it。
〃The 'Judgment of Solomon' was over；〃 he said； 〃and all the peoplehad gone away； up stairs and down stairs； but now the real play began；the after…piece； which was the best of all；〃 said the agent。 〃Thenlife came into the affair。 It was not the 'Judgment of Solomon' thatwas performed； no； a real court of judgment was held upon thestage。〃 And Agent Fabs had the impudence to try and make our auntbelieve all this。 That was the thanks she got for having got him aplace in the flies。
What did the agent say？ Why； it was curious enough to hear； butthere was malice and satire in it。
〃It looked dark enough up there；〃 said the agent； 〃but then themagic business began… a great performance； 'The Judgment in theTheatre。' The box…keepers were at their posts； and every spectator hadto show his ghostly pass…book； that it might be decided if he was tobe admitted with hands loose or bound； and with or without a muzzle。Grand people who came too late； when the performance had begun； andyoung people； who could not always watch the time； were tied upoutside； and had list slippers put on their feet； with which they wereallowed to go in before the beginning of the next act； and they hadmuzzles too。 And then the 'Judgment on the Stage' began。〃
〃All malice； and not a bit of truth in it；〃 said our aunt。
The painter； who wanted to get to Paradise； had to go up astaircase which he had himself painted； but which no man couldmount。 That was to expiate his sins against perspective。 All theplants and buildings； which the property…man had placed； with infinitepains； in countries to which they did not belong； the poor fellowwas obliged to put in their right places before cockcrow； if he wantedto get into Paradise。 Let Herr Fabs see how he would get in himself；but what he said of the performers； tragedians and edians；singers and dancers； that was the most rascally of all。 Mr。 Fabs；indeed！… Flabs！ He did not deserve to be admitted at all； and our auntwould not soil her lips with what he said。 And he said； did Flabs；that the whole was written down； and it should be printed when hewas dead and buried； but not before； for he would not risk havinghis arms and legs broken。
Once our aunt had been in fear and trembling in her temple ofhappiness； the theatre。 It was on a winter day； one of those days inwhich one has a couple of hours of daylight； with a gray sky。 It wasterribly cold and snowy； but aunt must go to the theatre。 A littleopera and a great ballet were performed； and a prologue and anepilogue into the bargain； and that would last till late at night。 Ouraunt must needs go； so she borrowed a pair of fur boots of her lodger…boots with fur inside and out； and which reached far up her legs。
She got to the theatre； and to her box； the boots were warm； andshe kept them on。 Suddenly there was a cry of 〃Fire！〃 Smoke was ingfrom one of the side scenes； and streamed down from the flies； andthere was a terrible panic。 The people came rushing out； and ouraunt was the last in the box； 〃on the second tier； left…hand side； forfrom there the scenery looks best；〃 she used to say。 〃The scenes arealways arranged that they look best from the King's side。〃 Aunt wantedto e out； but the people before her； in their fright andheedlessness； slammed the door of the box； and there sat our aunt； andcouldn't get out； and couldn't get in； that is to say； she couldn'tget into the next box； for the partition was too high for her。 Shecalled out； and no one heard her； she looked down into the tier ofboxes below her； and it was empty； and low； and looked quite near； andaunt in her terror felt quite young and light。 She thought ofjumping down； and had got one leg over the partition； the otherresting on the bench。 There she sat astride； as if on horseback；well wrapped up in her flowered cloak with one leg hanging out… aleg in a tremendous fur boot。 That was a sight to behold； and whenit was beheld； our aunt was heard too； and was saved from burning； forthe theatre was not burned down。
That was the most memorable evening of her life； and she wasglad that she could not see herself； for she would have died withconfusion。
Her benefactor in the machinery department； Herr Sivertsen；visited her every Sunday； but it was a long time from Sunday toSunday。 In the latter time； therefore； she used to have in a littlechild 〃for the scraps；〃 that is to say； to eat up the remains of thedinner。 It was a child employed in the ballet； one that certainlywanted feeding。 The little one used to appear； sometimes as an elf；sometimes as a page； the most difficult part she had to play was thelion's hind leg in the 〃Magic Flute；〃 but as she grew larger she couldrepresent the fore…feet of the lion。 She certainly only got half aguilder for that； whereas the hind legs were paid for with a wholeguilder； but then she had to walk bent； and to do without fresh air。〃That was all very interesting to hear；〃 said our aunt。
She deserved to live as long as the theatre stood； but she couldnot last so long； and she did not die in the theatre； butrespectably in her bed。 Her last words were； moreover； not withoutmeaning。 She asked；
〃What will the play be to…morrow？〃
At her death she left about five hundred dollars。 We presumethis from the interest； which came to twenty dollars。 This our aunthad destined as a legacy for a worthy old spinster who had no friends；it was to be devoted to a yearly subscription for a place in thesecond tier； on the left side； for the Saturday evening； 〃for onthat evening two pieces were always given；〃 it said in the will； andthe only condition laid upon the person who enjoyed the legacy was；that she should think； every Saturday evening； of our aunt； who waslying in her grave。
This was our aunt's religion。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
POULTRY MEG'S FAMILY
by Hans Christian Andersen
POULTRY MEG was the only person who lived in the new statelydwelling that had been built for the fowls and ducks belonging tothe manor house。 It stood there where once the old knightly buildinghad stood with its tower； its pointed gables； its moat； and itsdrawbridge。 Close by it was a wilderness of trees and thicket； herethe garden had been； and had stretched out to a great lake； whichwas now moorland。 Crows and choughs flew screaming over the old trees；and