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The head of the houseobtained a situation as mainmast in a very fine ship； and can sailround the world when he will。 The other branches of the family weretaken to different places； and our office now is to kindle a light formon people。 This is how such high…born people as we came to be in akitchen。'
〃'Mine has been a very different fate；' said the iron pot； whichstood by the matches； 'from my first entrance into the world I havebeen used to cooking and scouring。 I am the first in this house；when anything solid or useful is required。 My only pleasure is to bemade clean and shining after dinner； and to sit in my place and have alittle sensible conversation with my neighbors。 All of us； exceptingthe water…bucket； which is sometimes taken into the courtyard； livehere together within these four walls。 We get our news from themarket…basket； but he sometimes tells us very unpleasant thingsabout the people and the government。 Yes； and one day an old pot wasso alarmed； that he fell down and was broken to pieces。 He was aliberal； I can tell you。'
〃'You are talking too much；' said the tinder…box； and the steelstruck against the flint till some sparks flew out； crying； 'We want amerry evening； don't we？'
〃'Yes； of course；' said the matches； 'let us talk about thosewho are the highest born。'
〃'No； I don't like to be always talking of what we are；'remarked the saucepan； 'let us think of some other amusement； I willbegin。 We will tell something that has happened to ourselves； thatwill be very easy； and interesting as well。 On the Baltic Sea； nearthe Danish shore'… 〃'What a pretty mencement！' said the plates； 'we shall alllike that story； I am sure。'
〃'Yes； well in my youth； I lived in a quiet family； where thefurniture was polished； the floors scoured； and clean curtains putup every fortnight；'
〃'What an interesting way you have of relating a story；' saidthe carpet…broom； 'it is easy to perceive that you have been a greatdeal in women's society； there is something so pure runs throughwhat you say。'
〃'That is quite true；' said the water…bucket； and he made a springwith joy； and splashed some water on the floor。
〃Then the saucepan went on with his story； and the end was as goodas the beginning。
〃The plates rattled with pleasure； and the carpet…broom broughtsome green parsley out of the dust…hole and crowned the saucepan；for he knew it would vex the others； and he thought； 'If I crown himto…day he will crown me to…morrow。'
〃'Now； let us have a dance；' said the fire…tongs； and then howthey danced and stuck up one leg in the air。 The chair…cushion inthe corner burst with laughter when she saw it。
〃'Shall I be crowned now？' asked the fire…tongs； so the broomfound another wreath for the tongs。
〃'They were only mon people after all；' thought the matches。The tea…urn was now asked to sing； but she said she had a cold； andcould not sing without boiling heat。 They all thought this wasaffectation； and because she did not wish to sing excepting in theparlor； when on the table with the grand people。
〃In the window sat an old quill…pen； with which the maid generallywrote。 There was nothing remarkable about the pen； excepting that ithad been dipped too deeply in the ink； but it was proud of that。
〃'If the tea…urn won't sing；' said the pen； 'she can leave italone； there is a nightingale in a cage who can sing； she has not beentaught much； certainly； but we need not say anything this eveningabout that。'
〃'I think it highly improper；' said the tea…kettle； who waskitchen singer； and half…brother to the tea…urn； 'that a richforeign bird should be listened to here。 Is it patriotic？ Let themarket…basket decide what is right。'
〃'I certainly am vexed；' said the basket； 'inwardly vexed； morethan any one can imagine。 Are we spending the evening properly？Would it not be more sensible to put the house in order？ If eachwere in his own place I would lead a game； this would be quite anotherthing。'
〃'Let us act a play；' said they all。 At the same moment the dooropened； and the maid came in。 Then not one stirred； they allremained quite still； yet； at the same time； there was not a singlepot amongst them who had not a high opinion of himself； and of what hecould do if he chose。
〃'Yes； if we had chosen；' they each thought； 'we might havespent a very pleasant evening。'
〃The maid took the matches and lighted them； dear me； how theysputtered and blazed up！
〃'Now then；' they thought； 'every one will see that we are thefirst。 How we shine； what a light we give！' Even while they spoketheir light went out。
〃What a capital story；〃 said the queen； 〃I feel as if I werereally in the kitchen； and could see the matches； yes； you shall marryour daughter。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the king； 〃thou shalt have our daughter。〃 Theking said thou to him because he was going to be one of the family。The wedding…day was fixed； and； on the evening before； the wholecity was illuminated。 Cakes and sweetmeats were thrown among thepeople。 The street boys stood on tiptoe and shouted 〃hurrah；〃 andwhistled between their fingers； altogether it was a very splendidaffair。
〃I will give them another treat；〃 said the merchant's son。 So hewent and bought rockets and crackers； and all sorts of fire…works thatcould be thought of； packed them in his trunk； and flew up with itinto the air。 What a whizzing and popping they made as they wentoff！ The Turks； when they saw such a sight in the air； jumped sohigh that their slippers flew about their ears。 It was easy to believeafter this that the princess was really going to marry a Turkishangel。
As soon as the merchant's son had e down in his flying trunk tothe wood after the fireworks； he thought； 〃I will go back into thetown now； and hear what they think of the entertainment。〃 It wasvery natural that he should wish to know。 And what strange thingspeople did say； to be sure！ every one whom he questioned had adifferent tale to tell； though they all thought it very beautiful。
〃'I saw the Turkish angel myself；〃 said one； 〃he had eyes likeglittering stars； and a head like foaming water。〃
〃He flew in a mantle of fire；〃 cried another； 〃and lovely littlecherubs peeped out from the folds。〃
He heard many more fine things about himself； and that the nextday he was to be married。 After this he went back to the forest torest himself in his trunk。 It had disappeared！ A spark from thefireworks which remained had set it on fire； it was burnt to ashes！ Sothe merchant's son could not fly any more； nor go to meet his bride。She stood all day on the roof waiting for him； and most likely sheis waiting there still； while he wanders through the world tellingfairy tales； but none of them so amusing as the one he related aboutthe matches。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE GARDEN OF PARADISE
by Hans Christian Andersen
THERE was once a king's son who had a larger and more beautifulcollection of books than any one else in the world； and full ofsplendid copper…plate engravings。 He could read and obtain informationrespecting every people of every land； but not a word could he find toexplain the situation of the garden of paradise； and this was justwhat he most wished to know。 His grandmother had told him when hewas quite a little boy； just old enough to go to school； that eachflower in the garden of paradise was a sweet cake； that the pistilswere full of rich wine； that on one flower history was written； onanother geography or tables； so those who wished to learn theirlessons had only to eat some of the cakes； and the more they ate；the more history； geography； or tables they knew。 He believed it allthen； but as he grew older； and learnt more and more； he became wiseenough to understand that the splendor of the garden of paradisemust be very different to all this。 〃Oh； why did Eve pluck the fruitfrom the tree of knowledge？ why did Adam eat the forbidden fruit？〃thought the king's son： 〃if I had been there it would never havehappened； and there would have been no sin in the world。〃 The gardenof paradise occupied all his thoughts till he reached hisseventeenth year。
One day he was walking alone in the wood； which was his greatestpleasure； when evening came on。 The clouds gathered； and the ra