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which followed in consequence。
This is the story told me by the sparrows one evening when Ibegged them to relate some tale to me。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE BUTTERFLY
by Hans Christian Andersen
THERE was once a butterfly who wished for a bride； and； as maybe supposed； he wanted to choose a very pretty one from among theflowers。 He glanced； with a very critical eye； at all the flower…beds；and found that the flowers were seated quietly and demurely on theirstalks； just as maidens should sit before they are engaged； butthere was a great number of them； and it appeared as if his searchwould bee very wearisome。 The butterfly did not like to take toomuch trouble； so he flew off on a visit to the daisies。 The Frenchcall this flower 〃Marguerite；〃 and they say that the little daisycan prophesy。 Lovers pluck off the leaves； and as they pluck eachleaf； they ask a question about their lovers； thus： 〃Does he or shelove me？… Ardently？ Distractedly？ Very much？ A little？ Not at all？〃and so on。 Every one speaks these words in his own language。 Thebutterfly came also to Marguerite to inquire； but he did not pluck offher leaves； he pressed a kiss on each of them； for he thought therewas always more to be done by kindness。
〃Darling Marguerite daisy；〃 he said to her； 〃you are the wisestwoman of all the flowers。 Pray tell me which of the flowers I shallchoose for my wife。 Which will be my bride？ When I know； I will flydirectly to her； and propose。〃
But Marguerite did not answer him； she was offended that he shouldcall her a woman when she was only a girl； and there is a greatdifference。 He asked her a second time； and then a third； but sheremained dumb； and answered not a word。 Then he would wait nolonger； but flew away； to mence his wooing at once。 It was in theearly spring； when the crocus and the snowdrop were in full bloom。
〃They are very pretty；〃 thought the butterfly； 〃charming littlelasses； but they are rather formal。〃
Then； as the young lads often do； he looked out for the eldergirls。 He next flew to the anemones； these were rather sour to histaste。 The violet； a little too sentimental。 The lime…blossoms； toosmall； and besides； there was such a large family of them。 Theapple…blossoms； though they looked like roses； bloomed to…day； butmight fall off to…morrow； with the first wind that blew； and hethought that a marriage with one of them might last too short atime。 The pea…blossom pleased him most of all； she was white andred； graceful and slender； and belonged to those domestic maidenswho have a pretty appearance； and can yet be useful in the kitchen。 Hewas just about to make her an offer； when； close by the maiden； he sawa pod； with a withered flower hanging at the end。
〃Who is that？〃 he asked。
〃That is my sister；〃 replied the pea…blossom。
〃Oh； indeed； and you will be like her some day；〃 said he； and heflew away directly； for he felt quite shocked。
A honeysuckle hung forth from the hedge； in full bloom； butthere were so many girls like her； with long faces and sallowplexions。 No； he did not like her。 But which one did he like？
Spring went by； and summer drew towards its close； autumn came；but he had not decided。 The flowers now appeared in their mostgorgeous robes； but all in vain； they had not the fresh； fragrantair of youth。 For the heart asks for fragrance； even when it is nolonger young； and there is very little of that to be found in thedahlias or the dry chrysanthemums； therefore the butterfly turned tothe mint on the ground。 You know； this plant has no blossom； but it issweetness all over；… full of fragrance from head to foot； with thescent of a flower in every leaf。
〃I will take her；〃 said the butterfly； and he made her an offer。But the mint stood silent and stiff； as she listened to him。 At lastshe said；…
〃Friendship； if you please； nothing more。 I am old； and you areold； but we may live for each other just the same； as to marrying… no；don't let us appear ridiculous at our age。〃
And so it happened that the butterfly got no wife at all。 He hadbeen too long choosing； which is always a bad plan。 And thebutterfly became what is called an old bachelor。
It was late in the autumn； with rainy and cloudy weather。 The coldwind blew over the bowed backs of the willows； so that they creakedagain。 It was not the weather for flying about in summer clothes；but fortunately the butterfly was not out in it。 He had got ashelter by chance。 It was in a room heated by a stove； and as warmas summer。 He could exist here； he said； well enough。
〃But it is not enough merely to exist；〃 said he； 〃I needfreedom； sunshine； and a little flower for a panion。〃
Then he flew against the window…pane； and was seen and admiredby those in the room； who caught him； and stuck him on a pin； in a boxof curiosities。 They could not do more for him。
〃Now I am perched on a stalk； like the flowers；〃 said thebutterfly。 〃It is not very pleasant； certainly； I should imagine it issomething like being married； for here I am stuck fast。〃 And with thisthought he consoled himself a little。
〃That seems very poor consolation；〃 said one of the plants inthe room； that grew in a pot。
〃Ah；〃 thought the butterfly； 〃one can't very well trust theseplants in pots； they have too much to do with mankind。〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE CHILD IN THE GRAVE
by Hans Christian Andersen
IT was a very sad day； and every heart in the house felt thedeepest grief； for the youngest child； a boy of four years old； thejoy and hope of his parents； was dead。 Two daughters； the elder ofwhom was going to be confirmed； still remained： they were both good；charming girls； but the lost child always seems the dearest； andwhen it is youngest； and a son； it makes the trial still more heavy。The sisters mourned as young hearts can mourn； and were especiallygrieved at the sight of their parents' sorrow。 The father's heartwas bowed down； but the mother sunk pletely under the deep grief。Day and night she had attended to the sick child； nursing and carryingit in her bosom； as a part of herself。 She could not realize thefact that the child was dead； and must be laid in a coffin to restin the ground。 She thought God could not take her darling little onefrom her； and when it did happen notwithstanding her hopes and herbelief； and there could be no more doubt on the subject； she said inher feverish agony； 〃God does not know it。 He has hard…heartedministering spirits on earth； who do according to their own will；and heed not a mother's prayers。〃 Thus in her great grief she fellaway from her faith in God； and dark thoughts arose in her mindrespecting death and a future state。 She tried to believe that man wasbut dust； and that with his life all existence ended。 But these doubtswere no support to her； nothing on which she could rest； and shesunk into the fathomless depths of despair。 In her darkest hours sheceased to weep； and thought not of the young daughters who werestill left to her。 The tears of her husband fell on her forehead；but she took no notice of him； her thoughts were with her deadchild； her whole existence seemed wrapped up in the remembrances ofthe little one and of every innocent word it had uttered。
The day of the little child's funeral came。 For nightspreviously the mother had not slept； but in the morning twilight ofthis day she sunk from weariness into a deep sleep； in the mean timethe coffin was carried into a distant room； and there nailed down；that she might not hear the blows of the hammer。 When she awoke； andwanted to see her child； the husband； with tears； said； 〃We haveclosed the coffin； it was necessary to do so。〃
〃When God is so hard to me； how can I expect men to be better？〃she said with groans and tears。
The coffin was carried to the grave； and the disconsolate mothersat with her young daughters。 She looked at them； but she saw themnot； for her thoughts were far away from the domestic hearth。 She gaveherself up to her grief； and it tossed her to and fro； as the seatosses a ship without pass or rudder。 So the day of the funeralpassed away； and similar days followed； of dark； wearisome pain。With tearful eyes and mournful glances； the sorrowing dau