English
ButwhatbecameoflittleGerdawhenKaydidnotreturn?Wherecouldhebe?
Nobodyknew;nobodycouldgiveanyintelligence.
Alltheboysknewwas,thattheyhadseenhimtiehissledgetoanotherlargeandsplendidone,whichdrovedownthestreetandoutofthetown.
Nobodyknewwherehewas;manysadtearswereshed,andlittleGerdaweptlongandbitterly;atlastshesaidhemustbedead;thathehadbeendrownedintheriverwhichflowedclosetothetown.Oh!
thosewereverylonganddismalwinterevenings!
Atlastspringcame,withitswarmsunshine.
"Kayisdeadandgone!"saidlittleGerda.
"ThatIdon'tbelieve,"saidtheSunshine.
"Kayisdeadandgone!"saidshetotheSwallows.
"ThatIdon'tbelieve,"saidthey:andatlastlittleGerdadidnotthinksoanylongereither.
"I'llputonmyredshoes,"saidshe,onemorning;"Kayhasneverseenthem,andthenI'llgodowntotheriverandaskthere."
Itwasquiteearly;shekissedheroldgrandmother,whowasstillasleep,putonherredshoes,andwentalonetotheriver.
"Isittruethatyouhavetakenmylittleplayfellow?Iwillmakeyouapresentofmyredshoes,ifyouwillgivehimbacktome."
And,asitseemedtoher,thebluewavesnoddedinastrangemanner;thenshetookoffherredshoes,themostpreciousthingsshepossessed,andthrewthembothintotheriver.
Buttheyfellclosetothebank,andthelittlewavesborethemimmediatelytoland;itwasasifthestreamwouldnottakewhatwasdearesttoher;forinrealityithadnotgotlittle,Kay;butGerdathoughtthatshehadnotthrowntheshoesoutfarenough,sosheclamberedintoaboatwhichlayamongtherushes,wenttothefarthestend,andthrewouttheshoes.
Buttheboatwasnotfastened,andthemotionwhichsheoccasioned,madeitdriftfromtheshore.
Sheobservedthis,andhastenedtogetback;butbeforeshecoulddoso,theboatwasmorethanayardfromtheland,andwasglidingquicklyonward.
LittleGerdawasveryfrightened,andbegantocry;butnooneheardherexceptthesparrows,andtheycouldnotcarryhertoland;buttheyflewalongthebank,andsangasiftocomforther,"Hereweare!Hereweare!"
Theboatdriftedwiththestream,littleGerdasatquitestillwithoutshoes,fortheywereswimmingbehindtheboat,butshecouldnotreachthem,becausetheboatwentmuchfasterthantheydid.
Thebanksonbothsideswerebeautiful;lovelyflowers,venerabletrees,andslopeswithsheepandcows,butnotahumanbeingwastobeseen.
"PerhapstheriverwillcarrymetolittleKay,"saidshe;andthenshegrewlesssad.
Sherose,andlookedformanyhoursatthebeautifulgreenbanks.
Presentlyshesailedbyalargecherry–orchard,wherewasalittlecottagewithcuriousredandbluewindows;itwasthatched,andbeforeittwowoodensoldiersstoodsentry,andpresentedarmswhenanyonewentpast.
Gerdacalledtothem,forshethoughttheywerealive;butthey,ofcourse,didnotanswer.Shecameclosetothem,forthestreamdriftedtheboatquiteneartheland.
Gerdacalledstilllouder,andanoldwomanthencameoutofthecottage,leaninguponacrookedstick.Shehadalargebroad–brimmedhaton,paintedwiththemostsplendidflowers.
"Poorlittlechild!"saidtheoldwoman.
"Howdidyougetuponthelargerapidriver,tobedrivenaboutsointhewideworld!"
Andthentheoldwomanwentintothewater,caughtholdoftheboatwithhercrookedstick,drewittothebank,andliftedlittleGerdaout.
AndGerdawassogladtobeondrylandagain;butshewasratherafraidofthestrangeoldwoman.
"Butcomeandtellmewhoyouare,andhowyoucamehere,"saidshe.
AndGerdatoldherall;andtheoldwomanshookherheadandsaid,"A–hem!a–hem!"
andwhenGerdahadtoldhereverything,andaskedherifshehadnotseenlittleKay,thewomanansweredthathehadnotpassedthere,buthenodoubtwouldcome;andshetoldhernottobecastdown,buttastehercherries,andlookatherflowers,whichwerefinerthananyinapicture–book,eachofwhichcouldtellawholestory.
ShethentookGerdabythehand,ledherintothelittlecottage,andlockedthedoor.
Thewindowswereveryhighup;theglasswasred,blue,andgreen,andthesunlightshonethroughquitewondrouslyinallsortsofcolors.
Onthetablestoodthemostexquisitecherries,andGerdaateasmanyasshechose,forshehadpermissiontodoso.
Whileshewaseating,theoldwomancombedherhairwithagoldencomb,andherhaircurledandshonewithalovelygoldencoloraroundthatsweetlittleface,whichwassoroundandsolikearose.
"Ihaveoftenlongedforsuchadearlittlegirl,"saidtheoldwoman.
"Nowyoushallseehowwellweagreetogether";andwhileshecombedlittleGerda'shair,thechildforgotherfoster–brotherKaymoreandmore,fortheoldwomanunderstoodmagic;butshewasnoevilbeing,sheonlypractisedwitchcraftalittleforherownprivateamusement,andnowshewantedverymuchtokeeplittleGerda.
Shethereforewentoutinthegarden,stretchedout.hercrookedsticktowardstherose–bushes,which,beautifullyastheywereblowing,allsankintotheearthandnoonecouldtellwheretheyhadstood.
TheoldwomanfearedthatifGerdashouldseetheroses,shewouldthenthinkofherown,wouldrememberlittleKay,andrunawayfromher.
ShenowledGerdaintotheflower–garden.
Oh,whatodourandwhatlovelinesswasthere!
Everyflowerthatonecouldthinkof,andofeveryseason,stoodthereinfullestbloom;nopicture–bookcouldbegayerormorebeautiful.
Gerdajumpedforjoy,andplayedtillthesunsetbehindthetallcherry–tree;shethenhadaprettybed,witharedsilkencoverletfilledwithblueviolets.
Shefellasleep,andhadaspleasantdreamsaseveraqueenonherwedding–day.
Thenextmorningshewenttoplaywiththeflowersinthewarmsunshine,andthuspassedawayaday.
Gerdakneweveryflower;and,numerousastheywere,itstillseemedtoGerdathatonewaswanting,thoughshedidnotknowwhich.
Onedaywhileshewaslookingatthehatoftheoldwomanpaintedwithflowers,themostbeautifulofthemallseemedtohertobearose.
Theoldwomanhadforgottentotakeitfromherhatwhenshemadetheothersvanishintheearth.
Butsoitiswhenone'sthoughtsarenotcollected."What!"saidGerda."Aretherenoroseshere?"
andsheranaboutamongsttheflowerbeds,andlooked,andlooked,buttherewasnotonetobefound.
Shethensatdownandwept;butherhottearsfelljustwherearose–bushhadsunk;andwhenherwarmtearswateredtheground,thetreeshotupsuddenlyasfreshandbloomingaswhenithadbeenswallowedup.
Gerdakissedtheroses,thoughtofherowndearrosesathome,andwiththemoflittleKay.
"Oh,howlongIhavestayed!"saidthelittlegirl."IintendedtolookforKay!Don'tyouknowwhereheis?"sheaskedoftheroses."Doyouthinkheisdeadandgone?"
"Deadhecertainlyisnot,"saidtheRoses."Wehavebeenintheearthwhereallthedeadare,butKaywasnotthere."
"Manythanks!"saidlittleGerda;andshewenttotheotherflowers,lookedintotheircups,andasked,"Don'tyouknowwherelittleKayis?"
Buteveryflowerstoodinthesunshine,anddreameditsownfairytaleoritsownstory:andtheyalltoldherverymanythings,butnotoneknewanythingofKay.
Well,whatdidtheTiger–Lilysay?
"Hearestthounotthedrum?Bum!Bum!Thosearetheonlytwotones.Alwaysbum!Bum!
Harktotheplaintivesongoftheoldwoman,tothecallofthepriests!
TheHindoowomaninherlongrobestandsuponthefuneralpile;theflamesrisearoundherandherdeadhusband,buttheHindoowomanthinksonthelivingoneinthesurroundingcircle;onhimwhoseeyesburnhotterthantheflames—onhim,thefireofwhoseeyespiercesherheartmorethantheflameswhichsoonwillburnherbodytoashes.
Cantheheart'sflamedieintheflameofthefuneralpile?"
"Idon'tunderstandthatatall,"saidlittleGerda.
"Thatismystory,"saidtheLily.
WhatdidtheConvolvulussay?
"Projectingoveranarrowmountain–paththerehangsanoldfeudalcastle.
Thickevergreensgrowonthedilapidatedwalls,andaroundthealtar,wherealovelymaidenisstanding:shebendsovertherailingandlooksoutupontherose.
Nofresherrosehangsonthebranchesthanshe;noappleblossomcarriedawaybythewindismorebuoyant!Howhersilkenrobeisrustling!
"'Ishenotyetcome?'"
"IsitKaythatyoumean?"askedlittleGerda.
"Iamspeakingaboutmystory—aboutmydream,"answeredtheConvolvulus.
WhatdidtheSnowdropssay?
"Betweenthetreesalongboardishanging—itisaswing.
Twolittlegirlsaresittinginit,andswingthemselvesbackwardsandforwards;theirfrocksareaswhiteassnow,andlonggreensilkribandsflutterfromtheirbonnets.
Theirbrother,whoisolderthantheyare,standsupintheswing;hetwineshisarmsroundthecordstoholdhimselffast,forinonehandhehasalittlecup,andintheotheraclay–pipe.Heisblowingsoap–bubbles.
Theswingmoves,andthebubblesfloatincharmingchangingcolors:thelastisstillhangingtotheendofthepipe,androcksinthebreeze.Theswingmoves.
Thelittleblackdog,aslightasasoap–bubble,jumpsuponhishindlegstotrytogetintotheswing.
Itmoves,thedogfallsdown,barks,andisangry.Theyteasehim;thebubblebursts!
Aswing,aburstingbubble—suchismysong!"
"Whatyourelatemaybeverypretty,butyoutellitinsomelancholyamanner,anddonotmentionKay."
WhatdotheHyacinthssay?
"Therewereonceuponatimethreesisters,quitetransparent,andverybeautiful.
Therobeoftheonewasred,thatofthesecondblue,andthatofthethirdwhite.
Theydancedhandinhandbesidethecalmlakeintheclearmoonshine.
Theywerenotelfinmaidens,butmortalchildren.
Asweetfragrancewassmelt,andthemaidensvanishedinthewood;thefragrancegrewstronger—threecoffins,andinthemthreelovelymaidens,glidedoutoftheforestandacrossthelake:theshiningglow–wormsflewaroundlikelittlefloatinglights.
Dothedancingmaidenssleep,oraretheydead?
Theodouroftheflowerssaystheyarecorpses;theeveningbelltollsforthedead!"
"Youmakemequitesad,"saidlittleGerda."Icannothelpthinkingofthedeadmaidens.Oh!islittleKayreallydead?TheRoseshavebeenintheearth,andtheysayno."
"Ding,dong!"soundedtheHyacinthbells."WedonottollforlittleKay;wedonotknowhim.Thatisourwayofsinging,theonlyonewehave."
AndGerdawenttotheRanunculuses,thatlookedforthfromamongtheshininggreenleaves.
"Youarealittlebrightsun!"saidGerda."TellmeifyouknowwhereIcanfindmyplayfellow."
AndtheRanunculusshonebrightly,andlookedagainatGerda.WhatsongcouldtheRanunculussing?ItwasonethatsaidnothingaboutKayeither.
"Inasmallcourtthebrightsunwasshininginthefirstdaysofspring.
Thebeamsglideddownthewhitewallsofaneighbor'shouse,andclosebythefreshyellowflowersweregrowing,shininglikegoldinthewarmsun–rays.
Anoldgrandmotherwassittingintheair;hergrand–daughter,thepoorandlovelyservantjustcomeforashortvisit.Sheknowshergrandmother.
Therewasgold,purevirgingoldinthatblessedkiss.
There,thatismylittlestory,"saidtheRanunculus.
"Mypooroldgrandmother!"sighedGerda.
"Yes,sheislongingforme,nodoubt:sheissorrowingforme,asshedidforlittleKay.
ButIwillsooncomehome,andthenIwillbringKaywithme.
Itisofnouseaskingtheflowers;theyonlyknowtheirownoldrhymes,andcantellmenothing."
Andshetuckedupherfrock,toenablehertorunquicker;buttheNarcissusgaveheraknockontheleg,justasshewasgoingtojumpoverit.
Soshestoodstill,lookedatthelongyellowflower,andasked,"Youperhapsknowsomething?"andshebentdowntotheNarcissus.Andwhatdiditsay?
"Icanseemyself—IcanseemyselfIOh,howodorousIam!
Upinthelittlegarrettherestands,half–dressed,alittleDancer.
Shestandsnowononeleg,nowonboth;shedespisesthewholeworld;yetshelivesonlyinimagination.
Shepourswateroutoftheteapotoverapieceofstuffwhichsheholdsinherhand;itisthebodice;cleanlinessisafinething.
Thewhitedressishangingonthehook;itwaswashedintheteapot,anddriedontheroof.
Sheputsiton,tiesasaffron–coloredkerchiefroundherneck,andthenthegownlookswhiter.Icanseemyself—Icanseemyself!"
"That'snothingtome,"saidlittleGerda."Thatdoesnotconcernme."Andthenoffsherantothefurtherendofthegarden.
Thegatewaslocked,butsheshooktherustedbolttillitwasloosened,andthegateopened;andlittleGerdaranoffbarefootedintothewideworld.
Shelookedroundherthrice,butnoonefollowedher.
Atlastshecouldrunnolonger;shesatdownonalargestone,andwhenshelookedabouther,shesawthatthesummerhadpassed;itwaslateintheautumn,butthatonecouldnotremarkinthebeautifulgarden,wheretherewasalwayssunshine,andwheretherewereflowersthewholeyearround.
"Dearme,howlongIhavestaid!"saidGerda."Autumniscome.Imustnotrestanylonger."Andshegotuptogofurther.
Oh,howtenderandweariedherlittlefeetwere!
Allarounditlookedsocoldandraw:thelongwillow–leaveswerequiteyellow,andthefogdrippedfromthemlikewater;oneleaffellaftertheother:thesloesonlystoodfulloffruit,whichsetone'steethonedge.
Oh,howdarkandcomfortlessitwasinthedrearyworld!
Share this article to
FINISH