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tten down； for he did not know； that a number of great blackbirds circled over the ferry…house； when Mother Soren； as she wascalled； was lying there a corpse。 They did not scream； as if they knewthat at a burial silence should be observed。 So soon as she lay in theearth； the birds disappeared； but on the same evening in Jutland； atthe old manor house； an enormous number of crows and choughs wereseen； they all cried as loud as they could； as if they had someannouncement to make。 Perhaps they talked of him who； as a little boy；had taken away their eggs and their young； of the peasant's son； whohad to wear an iron garter； and of the noble young lady； who endedby being a ferryman's wife。
〃Brave！ brave！〃 they cried。
And the whole family cried； 〃Brave！ brave！〃 when the old house waspulled down。
〃They are still crying； and yet there's nothing to cry about；〃said the clerk； when he told the story。 〃The family is extinct； thehouse has been pulled down； and where it stood is now the statelypoultry…house； with gilded weathercocks； and the old Poultry Meg。She rejoices greatly in her beautiful dwelling。 If she had not ehere；〃 the old clerk added； 〃she would have had to go into thework…house。〃
The pigeons cooed over her； the turkey…cocks gobbled； and theducks quacked。
〃Nobody knew her；〃 they said； 〃she belongs to no family。 It's purecharity that she is here at all。 She has neither a drake father nora hen mother； and has no descendants。〃
She came of a great family； for all that； but she did not know it；and the old clerk did not know it； though he had so much written down；but one of the old crows knew about it； and told about it。 She hadheard from her own mother and grandmother about Poultry Meg's motherand grandmother。 And we know the grandmother too。 We saw her ride；as child； over the bridge； looking proudly around her； as if the wholeworld belonged to her； and all the birds' nests in it； and we sawher on the heath； by the sand…dunes； and； last of all； in theferry…house。 The granddaughter； the last of her race； had e back tothe old home； where the old castle had stood； where the black wildbirds were screaming； but she sat among the tame birds； and these knewher and were fond of her。 Poultry Meg had nothing left to wish for；she looked forward with pleasure to her death； and she was oldenough to die。
〃Grave； grave！〃 cried the crows。
And Poultry Meg has a good grave； which nobody knew except the oldcrow； if the old crow is not dead already。
And now we know the story of the old manor house； of its oldproprietors； and of all Poultry Meg's family。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
SHE WAS GOOD FOR NOTHING
by Hans Christian Andersen
THE mayor stood at the open window。 He looked smart； for hisshirt…frill； in which he had stuck a breast…pin； and his ruffles； werevery fine。 He had shaved his chin unmonly smooth； although he hadcut himself slightly； and had stuck a piece of newspaper over theplace。 〃Hark 'ee； youngster！〃 cried he。
The boy to whom he spoke was no other than the son of a poorwasher…woman； who was just going past the house。 He stopped； andrespectfully took off his cap。 The peak of this cap was broken inthe middle； so that he could easily roll it up and put it in hispocket。 He stood before the mayor in his poor but clean andwell…mended clothes； with heavy wooden shoes on his feet； looking ashumble as if it had been the king himself。
〃You are a good and civil boy；〃 said the mayor。 〃I suppose yourmother is busy washing the clothes down by the river； and you aregoing to carry that thing to her that you have in your pocket。 It isvery bad for your mother。 How much have you got in it？〃
〃Only half a quartern；〃 stammered the boy in a frightened voice。
〃And she has had just as much this morning already？〃
〃No； it was yesterday；〃 replied the boy。
〃Two halves make a whole；〃 said the mayor。 〃She's good fornothing。 What a sad thing it is with these people。 Tell your mothershe ought to be ashamed of herself。 Don't you bee a drunkard； but Iexpect you will though。 Poor child！ there； go now。〃
The boy went on his way with his cap in his hand； while the windfluttered his golden hair till the locks stood up straight。 Heturned round the corner of the street into the little lane that led tothe river； where his mother stood in the water by her washing bench；beating the linen with a heavy wooden bar。 The floodgates at themill had been drawn up； and as the water rolled rapidly on； the sheetswere dragged along by the stream； and nearly overturned the bench；so that the washer…woman was obliged to lean against it to keep itsteady。 〃I have been very nearly carried away；〃 she said； 〃it is agood thing that you are e； for I want something to strengthen me。It is cold in the water； and I have stood here six hours。 Have youbrought anything for me？〃
The boy drew the bottle from his pocket； and the mother put itto her lips； and drank a little。
〃Ah； how much good that does； and how it warms me；〃 she said；〃it is as good as a hot meal； and not so dear。 Drink a little； my boy；you look quite pale； you are shivering in your thin clothes； andautumn has really e。 Oh； how cold the water is！ I hope I shallnot be ill。 But no； I must not be afraid of that。 Give me a littlemore； and you may have a sip too； but only a sip； you must not getused to it； my poor； dear child。〃 She stepped up to the bridge onwhich the boy stood as she spoke； and came on shore。 The water drippedfrom the straw mat which she had bound round her body； and from hergown。 〃I work hard and suffer pain with my poor hands；〃 said she； 〃butI do it willingly； that I may be able to bring you up honestly andtruthfully； my dear boy。〃
At the same moment； a woman； rather older than herself； cametowards them。 She was a miserable…looking object； lame of one leg； andwith a large false curl hanging down over one of her eyes； which wasblind。 This curl was intended to conceal the blind eye； but it madethe defect only more visible。 She was a friend of the laundress； andwas called； among the neighbors； 〃Lame Martha； with the curl。〃 〃Oh；you poor thing； how you do work； standing there in the water！〃 sheexclaimed。 〃You really do need something to give you a littlewarmth； and yet spiteful people cry out about the few drops you take。〃And then Martha repeated to the laundress； in a very few minutes；all that the mayor had said to her boy； which she had overheard； andshe felt very angry that any man could speak； as he had done； of amother to her own child； about the few drops she had taken； and shewas still more angry because； on that very day； the mayor was going tohave a dinner…party； at which there would be wine； strong； richwine； drunk by the bottle。 〃Many will take more than they ought； butthey don't call that drinking！ They are all right； you are good fornothing indeed！〃 cried Martha indignantly。
〃And so he spoke to you in that way； did he； my child？〃 said thewasher…woman； and her lips trembled as she spoke。 〃He says you havea mother who is good for nothing。 Well； perhaps he is right； but heshould not have said it to my child。 How much has happened to mefrom that house！〃
〃Yes；〃 said Martha； 〃I remember you were in service there； andlived in the house when the mayor's parents were alive； how many yearsago that is。 Bushels of salt have been eaten since then； and peoplemay well be thirsty；〃 and Martha smiled。 〃The mayor's greatdinner…party to…day ought to have been put off； but the news cametoo late。 The footman told me the dinner was already cooked； when aletter came to say that the mayor's younger brother in Copenhagen isdead。〃
〃Dead！〃 cried the laundress； turning pale as death。
〃Yes； certainly；〃 replied Martha； 〃but why do you take it somuch to heart？ I suppose you knew him years ago； when you were inservice there？〃
〃Is he dead？〃 she exclaimed。 〃Oh； he was such a kind； good…heartedman； there are not many like him；〃 and the tears rolled down hercheeks as she spoke。 Then she cried； 〃Oh； dear me； I feel quite ill：everything is going round me； I cannot bear it。 Is the bottleempty？〃 and she leaned against the plank。
〃Dear me； you are ill indeed；〃 said the other woman。 〃e；cheer up； perhaps it will pass off。 No； indeed； I see you are reall