按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ut it； would give them the least information； for none of theirrelations had ever been cooked or served on a silver dish。 The oldwhite snails were the most aristocratic race in the world；… theyknew that。 The forest had been planted for them； and the nobleman'scastle had been built entirely that they might be cooked and laid onsilver dishes。
They lived quite retired and very happily； and as they had nochildren of their own； they had adopted a little mon snail； whichthey brought up as their own child。 The little one would not grow； forhe was only a mon snail； but the old people； particularly themother…snail； declared that she could easily see how he grew； and whenthe father said he could not perceive it； she begged him to feel thelittle snail's shell； and he did so； and found that the mother wasright。
One day it rained very fast。 〃Listen； what a drumming there ison the burdock…leaves； turn； turn； turn； turn； turn； turn；〃 said thefather…snail。
〃There e the drops；〃 said the mother； 〃they are tricklingdown the stalks。 We shall have it very wet here presently。 I am veryglad we have such good houses； and that the little one has one ofhis own。 There has been really more done for us than for any othercreature； it is quite plain that we are the most noble people in theworld。 We have houses from our birth； and the burdock forest hasbeen planted for us。 I should very much like to know how far itextends； and what lies beyond it。〃
〃There can be nothing better than we have here；〃 said thefather…snail； 〃I wish for nothing more。〃
〃Yes； but I do；〃 said the mother； 〃I should like to be taken tothe palace； and boiled； and laid upon a silver dish； as was done toall our ancestors； and you may be sure it must be something veryunmon。〃
〃The nobleman's castle； perhaps； has fallen to decay；〃 said thesnail…father； or the burdock wood may have grown out。 You need notbe in a hurry； you are always so impatient； and the youngster isgetting just the same。 He has been three days creeping to the top ofthat stalk。 I feel quite giddy when I look at him。〃
〃You must not scold him；〃 said the mother…snail； 〃he creeps sovery carefully。 He will be the joy of our home； and we old folkshave nothing else to live for。 But have you ever thought where weare to get a wife for him？ Do you think that farther out in the woodthere may be others of our race？〃
〃There may be black snails； no doubt；〃 said the old snail；〃black snails without houses； but they are so vulgar and conceitedtoo。 But we can give the ants a mission； they run here and there；as if they all had so much business to get through。 They； most likely；will know of a wife for our youngster。〃
〃I certainly know a most beautiful bride；〃 said one of the ants；〃but I fear it would not do； for she is a queen。〃
〃That does not matter；〃 said the old snail； 〃has she a house？〃
〃She has a palace；〃 replied the ant；… 〃a most beautiful ant…palacewith seven hundred passages。〃
〃Thank…you；〃 said the mother…snail； 〃but our boy shall not go tolive in an ant…hill。 If you know of nothing better； we will give themission to the white gnats； they fly about in rain and sunshine；they know the burdock wood from one end to the other。〃
〃We have a wife for him；〃 said the gnats； 〃a hundred man…stepsfrom here there is a little snail with a house； sitting on agooseberry…bush； she is quite alone； and old enough to be married。It is only a hundred man…steps from here。〃
〃Then let her e to him；〃 said the old people。 〃He has the wholeburdock forest； she has only a bush。〃
So they brought the little lady…snail。 She took eight days toperform the journey； but that was just as it ought to be； for itshowed her to be one of the right breeding。 And then they had awedding。 Six glow…worms gave as much light as they could； but in otherrespects it was all very quiet； for the old snails could not bearfestivities or a crowd。 But a beautiful speech was made by themother…snail。 The father could not speak； he was too much overe。Then they gave the whole burdock forest to the young snails as aninheritance； and repeated what they had so often said； that it was thefinest place in the world； and that if they led upright andhonorable lives； and their family increased； they and their childrenmight some day be taken to the nobleman's palace； to be boiledblack； and laid on a silver dish。 And when they had finished speaking；the old couple crept into their houses； and came out no more； for theyslept。
The young snail pair now ruled in the forest； and had a numerousprogeny。 But as the young ones were never boiled or laid in silverdishes； they concluded that the castle had fallen into decay； and thatall the people in the world were dead； and as nobody contradictedthem； they thought they must be right。 And the rain fell upon theburdock…leaves； to play the drum for them； and the sun shone topaint colors on the burdock forest for them； and they were very happy；the whole family were entirely and perfectly happy。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE ICE MAIDEN
by Hans Christian Andersen
I。 LITTLE RUDY
WE will pay a visit to Switzerland； and wander through thatcountry of mountains； whose steep and rocky sides are overgrown withforest trees。 Let us climb to the dazzling snow…fields at theirsummits； and descend again to the green meadows beneath； through whichrivers and brooks rush along as if they could not quickly enough reachthe sea and vanish。 Fiercely shines the sun over those deep valleys；as well as upon the heavy masses of snow which lie on the mountains。
During the year these accumulations thaw or fall in the rollingavalance； or are piled up in shining glaciers。 Two of these glacierslie in the broad； rocky cliffs； between the Schreckhorn and theWetterhorn； near the little town of Grindelwald。 They are wonderful tobehold； and therefore in the summer time strangers e here fromall parts of the world to see them。 They cross snow…covered mountains；and travel through the deep valleys； or ascend for hours； higher andstill higher； the valleys appearing to sink lower and lower as theyproceed； and bee as small as if seen from an air balloon。 Overthe lofty summits of these mountains the clouds often hang like a darkveil； while beneath in the valley； where many brown； wooden houses arescattered about； the bright rays of the sun may be shining upon alittle brilliant patch of green； making it appear almosttransparent。 The waters foam and dash along in the valleys beneath；the streams from above trickle and murmur as they fall down therocky mountain's side； looking like glittering silver bands。
On both sides of the mountain…path stand these little woodenhouses； and； as within； there are many children and many mouths tofeed； each house has its own little potato garden。 These children rushout in swarms； and surround travellers； whether on foot or incarriages。 They are all clever at making a bargain。 They offer forsale the sweetest little toy…houses； models of the mountain cottagesin Switzerland。 Whether it be rain or sunshine； these crowds ofchildren are always to be seen with their wares。
About twenty years ago； there might be seen occasionally； standingat a short distance from the other children； a little boy； who wasalso anxious to sell his curious wares。 He had an earnest；expressive countenance； and held the box containing his carved toystightly with both hands； as if unwilling to part with it。 Hisearnest look； and being also a very little boy； made him noticed bythe strangers； so that he often sold the most； without knowing why。 Anhour's walk farther up the ascent lived his grandfather； who cut andcarved the pretty little toy…houses； and in the old man's room stood alarge press； full of all sorts of carved things… nut…crackers；knives and forks； boxes with beautifully carved foliage； leapingchamois。 It contained everything that could delight the eyes of achild。 But the boy； who was named Rudy； looked with still greaterpleasure and longing at some old fire…arms which hung upon therafters； under the ceiling of the room。 His grandfather promised himthat he should have them some day； but that he must first grow big andstrong； and learn how to use them。 Small as he was； the goats wereplaced in his care； and a go