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down； tiredand exhausted； exactly on the mane of the emperor's favorite horse；who was standing in his stable； and the beetle found himself at homeagain。 For some time he clung to the mane； that he might recoverhimself。 〃Well；〃 he said； 〃here I am； seated on the emperor's favoritehorse；… sitting upon him as if I were the emperor himself。 But whatwas it the farrier asked me？ Ah； I remember now；… that's a goodthought；… he asked me why the golden shoes were given to the horse。The answer is quite clear to me； now。 They were given to the horseon my account。〃 And this reflection put the beetle into a good temper。The sun's rays also came streaming into the stable； and shone uponhim； and made the place lively and bright。 〃Travelling expands themind very much；〃 said the beetle。 〃The world is not so bad afterall； if you know how to take things as they e。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE BELL
by Hans Christian Andersen
IN the narrow streets of a large town people often heard in theevening； when the sun was setting； and his last rays gave a goldentint to the chimney…pots； a strange noise which resembled the sound ofa church bell； it only lasted an instant； for it was lost in thecontinual roar of traffic and hum of voices which rose from thetown。 〃The evening bell is ringing；〃 people used to say； 〃the sun issetting！〃 Those who walked outside the town； where the houses wereless crowded and interspersed by gardens and little fields； saw theevening sky much better； and heard the sound of the bell much moreclearly。 It seemed as though the sound came from a church； deep in thecalm； fragrant wood； and thither people looked with devout feelings。
A considerable time elapsed： one said to the other； 〃I reallywonder if there is a church out in the wood。 The bell has indeed astrange sweet sound！ Shall we go there and see what the cause of itis？〃 The rich drove； the poor walked； but the way seemed to themextraordinarily long； and when they arrived at a number of willowtrees on the border of the wood they sat down； looked up into thegreat branches and thought they were now really in the wood。 Aconfectioner from the town also came out and put up a stall there；then came another confectioner who hung a bell over his stall； whichwas covered with pitch to protect it from the rain； but the clapperwas wanting。
When people came home they used to say that it had been veryromantic； and that really means something else than merely taking tea。Three persons declared that they had gone as far as the end of thewood； they had always heard the strange sound； but there it seemedto them as if it came from the town。 One of them wrote verses aboutthe bell； and said that it was like the voice of a mother speakingto an intelligent and beloved child； no tune； he said； was sweeterthan the sound of the bell。
The emperor of the country heard of it； and declared that he whowould really find out where the sound came from should receive thetitle of 〃Bellringer to the World；〃 even if there was no bell at all。
Now many went out into the wood for the sake of this splendidberth； but only one of them came back with some sort of explanation。None of them had gone far enough； nor had he； and yet he said that thesound of the bell came from a large owl in a hollow tree。 It was awisdom owl； which continually knocked its head against the tree； buthe was unable to say with certainty whether its head or the hollowtrunk of the tree was the cause of the noise。
He was appointed 〃Bellringer to the World；〃 and wrote every year ashort dissertation on the owl； but by this means people did not beeany wiser than they had been before。
It was just confirmation…day。 The clergyman had delivered abeautiful and touching sermon； the candidates were deeply moved by it；it was indeed a very important day for them； they were all at oncetransformed from mere children to grown…up people； the childish soulwas to fly over； as it were； into a more reasonable being。
The sun shone most brightly； and the sound of the great unknownbell was heard more distinctly than ever。 They had a mind to gothither； all except three。 One of them wished to go home and try onher ball dress； for this very dress and the ball were the cause of herbeing confirmed this time； otherwise she would not have been allowedto go。 The second； a poor boy； had borrowed a coat and a pair of bootsfrom the son of his landlord to be confirmed in； and he had toreturn them at a certain time。 The third said that he never wentinto strange places if his parents were not with him； he had alwaysbeen a good child； and wished to remain so； even after beingconfirmed； and they ought not to tease him for this； they； however；did it all the same。 These three； therefore did not go； the otherswent on。 The sun was shining； the birds were singing； and theconfirmed children sang too； holding each other by the hand； forthey had no position yet； and they were all equal in the eyes ofGod。 Two of the smallest soon became tired and returned to the town；two little girls sat down and made garlands of flowers； they；therefore； did not go on。 When the others arrived at the willow trees；where the confectioner had put up his stall； they said： 〃Now we areout here； the bell does not in reality exist… it is only somethingthat people imagine！〃
Then suddenly the sound of the bell was heard so beautifully andsolemnly from the wood that four or five made up their minds to gostill further on。 The wood was very thickly grown。 It was difficult toadvance： wood lilies and anemones grew almost too high； floweringconvolvuli and brambles were hanging like garlands from tree totree； while the nightingales were singing and the sunbeams played。That was very beautiful！ But the way was unfit for the girls； theywould have torn their dresses。 Large rocks； covered with moss ofvarious hues； were lying about； the fresh spring water rippled forthwith a peculiar sound。 〃I don't think that can be the bell；〃 saidone of the confirmed children； and then he lay down and listened。〃We must try to find out if it is！〃 And there he remained； and let theothers walk on。
They came to a hut built of the bark of trees and branches； alarge crab…apple tree spread its branches over it； as if it intendedto pour all its fruit on the roof； upon which roses were blooming； thelong boughs covered the gable； where a little bell was hanging。 Wasthis the one they had heard？ All agreed that it must be so； except onewho said that the bell was too small and too thin to be heard atsuch a distance； and that it had quite a different sound to that whichhad so touched men's hearts。
He who spoke was a king's son； and therefore the others saidthat such a one always wishes to be cleverer than other people。
Therefore they let him go alone； and as he walked on； the solitudeof the wood produced a feeling of reverence in his breast； but stillhe heard the little bell about which the others rejoiced； andsometimes； when the wind blew in that direction； he could hear thesounds from the confectioner's stall； where the others were singing attea。 But the deep sounds of the bell were much stronger； soon itseemed to him as if an organ played an acpaniment… the sound camefrom the left； from the side where the heart is。 Now something rustledamong the bushes； and a little boy stood before the king's son； inwooden shoes and such a short jacket that the sleeves did not reach tohis wrists。 They knew each other： the boy was the one who had not beenable to go with them because he had to take the coat and boots back tohis landlord's son。 That he had done； and had started again in hiswooden shoes and old clothes； for the sound of the bell was tooenticing… he felt he must go on。
〃We might go together；〃 said the king's son。 But the poor boy withthe wooden shoes was quite ashamed； he pulled at the short sleevesof his jacket； and said that he was afraid he could not walk sofast； besides； he was of opinion that the bell ought to be sought atthe right； for there was all that was grand and magnificent。
〃Then we shall not meet；〃 said the king's son； nodding to the poorboy； who went into the deepest part of the wood； where the thorns torehis shabby clothes and scratched his hands； face； and feet untilthey ble