English
Thousandsoflightswereburningonthegreenbranches,andgaily-coloredpictures,suchasshehadseenintheshop-windows,lookeddownuponher.
Thelittlemaidenstretchedoutherhandstowardsthemwhen--thematchwentout.
ThelightsoftheChristmastreerosehigherandhigher,shesawthemnowasstarsinheaven;onefelldownandformedalongtrailoffire.
"Someoneisjustdead!"saidthelittlegirl;forheroldgrandmother,theonlypersonwhohadlovedher,andwhowasnownomore,hadtoldher,thatwhenastarfalls,asoulascendstoGod.
Shedrewanothermatchagainstthewall:itwasagainlight,andinthelustretherestoodtheoldgrandmother,sobrightandradiant,somild,andwithsuchanexpressionoflove.
"Grandmother!"criedthelittleone.
"Oh,takemewithyou!Yougoawaywhenthematchburnsout;youvanishlikethewarmstove,likethedeliciousroastgoose,andlikethemagnificentChristmastree!"
Andsherubbedthewholebundleofmatchesquicklyagainstthewall,forshewantedtobequitesureofkeepinghergrandmothernearher.
Andthematchesgavesuchabrilliantlightthatitwasbrighterthanatnoon-day:neverformerlyhadthegrandmotherbeensobeautifulandsotall.
Shetookthelittlemaiden,onherarm,andbothflewinbrightnessandinjoysohigh,soveryhigh,andthenabovewasneithercold,norhunger,noranxiety--theywerewithGod.
Butinthecorner,atthecoldhourofdawn,satthepoorgirl,withrosycheeksandwithasmilingmouth,leaningagainstthewall--frozentodeathonthelasteveningoftheoldyear.
Stiffandstarksatthechildtherewithhermatches,ofwhichonebundlehadbeenburnt.
"Shewantedtowarmherself,"peoplesaid.
Noonehadtheslightestsuspicionofwhatbeautifulthingsshehadseen;
nooneevendreamedofthesplendorinwhich,withhergrandmothershehadenteredonthejoysofanewyear.
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