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urch。 The gate stood open； lights were burning upon the altar； andthe organ sounded。
What music！ Such notes the Dryad had never yet heard； and yet itseemed to her as if she recognized a number of well…known voices amongthem。 They came deep from the heart of all creation。 She thought sheheard the stories of the old clergyman； of great deeds； and of thecelebrated names； and of the gifts that the creatures of God mustbestow upon posterity； if they would live on in the world。
The tones of the organ swelled； and in their song there soundedthese words：
〃Thy wishing and thy longing have torn thee； with thy roots；from the place which God appointed for thee。 That was thy destruction；thou poor Dryad！〃
The notes became soft and gentle； and seemed to die away in awail。
In the sky the clouds showed themselves with a ruddy gleam。 TheWind sighed：
〃Pass away； ye dead！ now the sun is going to rise！〃
The first ray fell on the Dryad。 Her form was irradiated inchanging colors； like the soap…bubble when it is bursting andbees a drop of water； like a tear that falls and passes away like avapor。
Poor Dryad！ Only a dew…drop； only a tear； poured upon the earth；and vanished away！
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE DUMB BOOK
by Hans Christian Andersen
IN the high…road which led through a wood stood a solitaryfarm…house； the road； in fact； ran right through its yard。 The sun wasshining and all the windows were open； within the house people werevery busy。 In the yard； in an arbour formed by lilac bushes in fullbloom； stood an open coffin； thither they had carried a dead man；who was to be buried that very afternoon。 Nobody shed a tear over him；his face was covered over with a white cloth； under his head theyhad placed a large thick book； the leaves of which consisted of foldedsheets of blotting…paper； and withered flowers lay between them； itwas the herbarium which he had gathered in various places and was tobe buried with him； according to his own wish。 Every one of theflowers in it was connected with some chapter of his life。
〃Who is the dead man？〃 we asked。
〃The old student；〃 was the reply。 〃They say that he was once anenergetic young man； that he studied the dead languages； and sangand even posed many songs； then something had happened to him；and in consequence of this he gave himself up to drink； body and mind。When at last he had ruined his health； they brought him into thecountry； where someone paid for his board and residence。 He was gentleas a child as long as the sullen mood did not e over him； butwhen it came he was fierce； became as strong as a giant； and ran aboutin the wood like a chased deer。 But when we succeeded in bringinghim home； and prevailed upon him to open the book with the dried…upplants in it； he would sometimes sit for a whole day looking at thisor that plant； while frequently the tears rolled over his cheeks。God knows what was in his mind； but he requested us to put the bookinto his coffin； and now he lies there。 In a little while the lid willbe placed upon the coffin； and he will have sweet rest in the grave！〃
The cloth which covered his face was lifted up； the dead man'sface expressed peace… a sunbeam fell upon it。 A swallow flew withthe swiftness of an arrow into the arbour； turning in its flight；and twittered over the dead man's head。
What a strange feeling it is… surely we all know it… to lookthrough old letters of our young days； a different life rises up outof the past； as it were； with all its hopes and sorrows。 How many ofthe people with whom in those days we used to be on intimate termsappear to us as if dead； and yet they are still alive… only we havenot thought of them for such a long time； whom we imagined we shouldretain in our memories for ever； and share every joy and sorrow withthem。
The withered oak leaf in the book here recalled the friend； theschoolfellow； who was to be his friend for life。 He fixed the leafto the student's cap in the green wood； when they vowed eternalfriendship。 Where does he dwell now？ The leaf is kept； but thefriendship does no longer exist。 Here is a foreign hothouse plant； tootender for the gardens of the North。 It is almost as if its leavesstill smelt sweet！ She gave it to him out of her own garden… anobleman's daughter。
Here is a water…lily that he had plucked himself； and watered withsalt tears… a lily of sweet water。 And here is a tle： what mayits leaves tell us？ What might he have thought when he plucked andkept it？ Here is a little snowdrop out of the solitary wood； here isan evergreen from the flower…pot at the tavern； and here is a simpleblade of grass。
The lilac bends its fresh fragrant flowers over the dead man'shead； the swallow passes again… 〃twit； twit；〃 now the men e withhammer and nails； the lid is placed over the dead man； while hishead rests on the dumb book… so long cherished； now closed for ever！
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE ELF OF THE ROSE
by Hans Christian Andersen
IN the midst of a garden grew a rose…tree； in full blossom； and inthe prettiest of all the roses lived an elf。 He was such a littlewee thing； that no human eye could see him。 Behind each leaf of therose he had a sleeping chamber。 He was as well formed and as beautifulas a little child could be； and had wings that reached from hisshoulders to his feet。 Oh； what sweet fragrance there was in hischambers！ and how clean and beautiful were the walls！ for they werethe blushing leaves of the rose。
During the whole day he enjoyed himself in the warm sunshine； flewfrom flower to flower； and danced on the wings of the flyingbutterflies。 Then he took it into his head to measure how many stepshe would have to go through the roads and cross…roads that are onthe leaf of a linden…tree。 What we call the veins on a leaf； he tookfor roads； ay； and very long roads they were for him； for before hehad half finished his task； the sun went down： he had menced hiswork too late。 It became very cold； the dew fell； and the wind blew；so he thought the best thing he could do would be to return home。 Hehurried himself as much as he could； but he found the roses all closedup； and he could not get in； not a single rose stood open。 The poorlittle elf was very much frightened。 He had never before been out atnight； but had always slumbered secretly behind the warmrose…leaves。 Oh； this would certainly be his death。 At the other endof the garden； he knew there was an arbor； overgrown with beautifulhoney…suckles。 The blossoms looked like large painted horns； and hethought to himself； he would go and sleep in one of these till themorning。 He flew thither； but 〃hush！〃 two people were in the arbor；… ahandsome young man and a beautiful lady。 They sat side by side； andwished that they might never be obliged to part。 They loved each othermuch more than the best child can love its father and mother。
〃But we must part；〃 said the young man； 〃your brother does notlike our engagement； and therefore he sends me so far away onbusiness； over mountains and seas。 Farewell； my sweet bride； for soyou are to me。〃
And then they kissed each other； and the girl wept； and gave him arose； but before she did so； she pressed a kiss upon it so ferventlythat the flower opened。 Then the little elf flew in； and leaned hishead on the delicate； fragrant walls。 Here he could plainly hearthem say； 〃Farewell； farewell；〃 and he felt that the rose had beenplaced on the young man's breast。 Oh； how his heart did beat！ Thelittle elf could not go to sleep； it thumped so loudly。 The youngman took it out as he walked through the dark wood alone； and kissedthe flower so often and so violently； that the little elf was almostcrushed。 He could feel through the leaf how hot the lips of theyoung man were； and the rose had opened； as if from the heat of thenoonday sun。
There came another man； who looked gloomy and wicked。 He was thewicked brother of the beautiful maiden。 He drew out a sharp knife； andwhile the other was kissing the rose； the wicked man stabbed him todeath； then he cut off his head； and buried it with the body in thesoft earth under the linden…tree。
〃Now he is gone； and will soon be forgotten；〃 thought the wickedbrother； 〃he wi