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〃This is certainly the wisest plan；〃 said the written paper； 〃Ireally did not think of that。 I shall remain at home； and be held inhonor； like some old grandfather； as I really am to all these newbooks。 They will do some good。 I could not have wandered about as theydo。 Yet he who wrote all this has looked at me； as every word flowedfrom his pen upon my surface。 I am the most honored of all。〃
Then the paper was tied in a bundle with other papers； andthrown into a tub that stood in the washhouse。
〃After work； it is well to rest；〃 said the paper； 〃and a very goodopportunity to collect one's thoughts。 Now I am able； for the firsttime； to think of my real condition； and to know one's self is trueprogress。 What will be done with me now； I wonder？ No doubt I shallstill go forward。 I have always progressed hitherto； as I know quitewell。〃
Now it happened one day that all the paper in the tub was takenout； and laid on the hearth to be burnt。 People said it could not besold at the shop； to wrap up butter and sugar； because it had beenwritten upon。 The children in the house stood round the stove； forthey wanted to see the paper burn； because it flamed up so prettily；and afterwards； among the ashes； so many red sparks could be seenrunning one after the other； here and there； as quick as the wind。They called it seeing the children e out of school； and the lastspark was the schoolmaster。 They often thought the last spark hade； and one would cry； 〃There goes the schoolmaster；〃 but the nextmoment another spark would appear； shining so beautifully。 How theywould like to know where the sparks all went to！ Perhaps we shall findout some day； but we don't know now。
The whole bundle of paper had been placed on the fire； and wassoon alight。 〃Ugh；〃 cried the paper； as it burst into a brightflame； 〃ugh。〃 It was certainly not very pleasant to be burning； butwhen the whole was wrapped in flames； the flames mounted up into theair； higher than the flax had ever been able to raise its littleblue flower； and they glistened as the white linen never could haveglistened。 All the written letters became quite red in a moment； andall the words and thoughts turned to fire。
〃Now I am mounting straight up to the sun；〃 said a voice in theflames； and it was as if a thousand voices echoed the words； and theflames darted up through the chimney； and went out at the top。 Thena number of tiny beings； as many in number as the flowers on theflax had been； and invisible to mortal eyes； floated above them。They were even lighter and more delicate than the flowers from whichthey were born； and as the flames were extinguished； and nothingremained of the paper but black ashes； these little beings danced uponit； and whenever they touched it； bright red sparks appeared。
〃The children are all out of school； and the schoolmaster wasthe last of all；〃 said the children。 It was good fun； and they sangover the dead ashes；…
〃Snip； snap； snurre；
Basse lure：
The song is ended。〃
But the little invisible beings said； 〃The song is never ended；the most beautiful is yet to e。〃
But the children could neither hear nor understand this； norshould they； for children must not know everything。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE FLYING TRUNK
by Hans Christian Andersen
THERE was once a merchant who was so rich that he could have pavedthe whole street with gold； and would even then have had enough fora small alley。 But he did not do so； he knew the value of money betterthan to use it in this way。 So clever was he； that every shilling heput out brought him a crown； and so he continued till he died。 His soninherited his wealth； and he lived a merry life with it； he went toa masquerade every night； made kites out of five pound notes； andthrew pieces of gold into the sea instead of stones； making ducksand drakes of them。 In this manner he soon lost all his money。 At lasthe had nothing left but a pair of slippers； an old dressing…gown；and four shillings。 And now all his friends deserted him； they couldnot walk with him in the streets； but one of them； who was verygood…natured； sent him an old trunk with this message； 〃Pack up！〃〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃it is all very well to say 'pack up；' 〃but he hadnothing left to pack up； therefore he seated himself in the trunk。It was a very wonderful trunk； no sooner did any one press on the lockthan the trunk could fly。 He shut the lid and pressed the lock； whenaway flew the trunk up the chimney with the merchant's son in it；right up into the clouds。 Whenever the bottom of the trunk cracked； hewas in a great fright； for if the trunk fell to pieces he would havemade a tremendous somerset over the trees。 However； he got safely inhis trunk to the land of Turkey。 He hid the trunk in the wood undersome dry leaves； and then went into the town： he could so this verywell； for the Turks always go about dressed in dressing…gowns andslippers； as he was himself。 He happened to meet a nurse with a littlechild。 〃I say； you Turkish nurse；〃 cried he； 〃what castle is that nearthe town； with the windows placed so high？〃
〃The king's daughter lives there；〃 she replied； 〃it has beenprophesied that she will be very unhappy about a lover； andtherefore no one is allowed to visit her； unless the king and queenare present。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said the merchant's son。 So he went back to the wood；seated himself in his trunk； flew up to the roof of the castle； andcrept through the window into the princess's room。 She lay on the sofaasleep； and she was so beautiful that the merchant's son could nothelp kissing her。 Then she awoke； and was very much frightened； but hetold her he was a Turkish angel； who had e down through the airto see her； which pleased her very much。 He sat down by her side andtalked to her： he said her eyes were like beautiful dark lakes； inwhich the thoughts swam about like little mermaids； and he told herthat her forehead was a snowy mountain； which contained splendid hallsfull of pictures。 And then he related to her about the stork whobrings the beautiful children from the rivers。 These were delightfulstories； and when he asked the princess if she would marry him； sheconsented immediately。
〃But you must e on Saturday；〃 she said； 〃for then the kingand queen will take tea with me。 They will be very proud when theyfind that I am going to marry a Turkish angel； but you must think ofsome very pretty stories to tell them； for my parents like to hearstories better than anything。 My mother prefers one that is deep andmoral； but my father likes something funny； to make him laugh。〃
〃Very well；〃 he replied； 〃I shall bring you no other marriageportion than a story；〃 and so they parted。 But the princess gave him asword which was studded with gold coins； and these he could use。
Then he flew away to the town and bought a new dressing…gown；and afterwards returned to the wood； where he posed a story； soas to be ready for Saturday； which was no easy matter。 It was readyhowever by Saturday； when he went to see the princess。 The king； andqueen； and the whole court； were at tea with the princess； and hewas received with great politeness。
〃Will you tell us a story？〃 said the queen；… 〃one that isinstructive and full of deep learning。〃
〃Yes； but with something in it to laugh at；〃 said the king。
〃Certainly；〃 he replied； and menced at once； asking them tolisten attentively。 〃There was once a bundle of matches that wereexceedingly proud of their high descent。 Their genealogical tree； thatis； a large pine…tree from which they had been cut； was at one timea large； old tree in the wood。 The matches now lay between atinder…box and an old iron saucepan； and were talking about theiryouthful days。 'Ah！ then we grew on the green boughs； and were asgreen as they； every morning and evening we were fed with diamonddrops of dew。 Whenever the sun shone； we felt his warm rays； and thelittle birds would relate stories to us as they sung。 We knew thatwe were rich； for the other trees only wore their green dress insummer； but our family were able to array themselves in green；summer and winter。 But the wood…cutter came； like a greatrevolution； and our family fell under the axe。 The head of the houseobtained a situation as mainmast in a ver