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ew on like abird； for it bore within it a loving letter from a loving heart。 Andas the sun rose and set； the bottle felt as at the time of its firstexistence； when in the heated glowing stove it had a longing to flyaway。 It outlived the storms and the calm； it struck against no rocks；was not devoured by sharks； but drifted on for more than a year；sometimes towards the north； sometimes towards the south； just asthe current carried it。 It was in all other ways its own master； buteven of that one may get tired。 The written leaf； the last farewell ofthe bridegroom to his bride； would only bring sorrow when once itreached her hands； but where were those hands； so soft and delicate；which had once spread the table…cloth on the fresh grass in thegreen wood； on the day of her betrothal？ Ah； yes！ where was thefurrier's daughter？ and where was the land which might lie nearestto her home？
The bottle knew not； it travelled onward and onward； and at lastall this wandering about became wearisome； at all events it was notits usual occupation。 But it had to travel； till at length itreached land… a foreign country。 Not a word spoken in this countrycould the bottle understand； it was a language it had never beforeheard； and it is a great loss not to be able to understand a language。The bottle was fished out of the water； and examined on all sides。 Thelittle letter contained within it was discovered； taken out； andturned and twisted in every direction； but the people could notunderstand what was written upon it。 They could be quite sure that thebottle had been thrown overboard from a vessel； and that somethingabout it was written on this paper： but what was written？ that was thequestion；… so the paper was put back into the bottle； and then bothwere put away in a large cupboard of one of the great houses of thetown。 Whenever any strangers arrived； the paper was taken out andturned over and over； so that the address； which was only written inpencil； became almost illegible； and at last no one coulddistinguish any letters on it at all。 For a whole year the bottleremained standing in the cupboard； and then it was taken up to theloft； where it soon became covered with dust and cobwebs。 Ah！ howoften then it thought of those better days… of the times when in thefresh； green wood； it had poured forth rich wine； or； while rockedby the swelling waves； it had carried in its bosom a secret； a letter；a last parting sigh。 For full twenty years it stood in the loft； andit might have stayed there longer but that the house was going to berebuilt。 The bottle was discovered when the roof was taken off； theytalked about it； but the bottle did not understand what they said… alanguage is not to be learnt by living in a loft； even for twentyyears。 〃If I had been down stairs in the room；〃 thought the bottle； 〃Imight have learnt it。〃 It was now washed and rinsed； which process wasreally quite necessary； and afterwards it looked clean andtransparent； and felt young again in its old age； but the paperwhich it had carried so faithfully was destroyed in the washing。They filled the bottle with seeds； though it scarcely knew what hadbeen placed in it。 Then they corked it down tightly； and carefullywrapped it up。 There not even the light of a torch or lantern couldreach it； much less the brightness of the sun or moon。 〃And yet；〃thought the bottle； 〃men go on a journey that they may see as muchas possible； and I can see nothing。〃 However； it did something quiteas important； it travelled to the place of its destination； and wasunpacked。
〃What trouble they have taken with that bottle over yonder！〃said one； and very likely it is broken after all。〃 But the bottlewas not broken； and； better still； it understood every word that wassaid： this language it had heard at the furnaces and at the winemerchant's； in the forest and on the ship；… it was the only good oldlanguage it could understand。 It had returned home； and the languagewas as a wele greeting。 For very joy； it felt ready to jump outof people's hands； and scarcely noticed that its cork had beendrawn； and its contents emptied out； till it found itself carried to acellar； to be left there and forgotten。 〃There's no place like home；even if it's a cellar。〃 It never occurred to him to think that hemight lie there for years； he felt so fortable。 For many long yearshe remained in the cellar； till at last some people came to carry awaythe bottles； and ours amongst the number。
Out in the garden there was a great festival。 Brilliant lamps hungin festoons from tree to tree； and paper lanterns； through which thelight shone till they looked like transparent tulips。 It was abeautiful evening； and the weather mild and clear。 The stars twinkled；and the new moon； in the form of a crescent； was surrounded by theshadowy disc of the whole moon； and looked like a gray globe with agolden rim： it was a beautiful sight for those who had good eyes。The illumination extended even to the most retired of the gardenwalks； at least not so retired that any one need lose himself there。In the borders were placed bottles； each containing a light； and amongthem the bottle with which we are acquainted； and whose fate it was；one day； to be only a bottle neck； and to serve as a water…glass toa bird's…cage。 Everything here appeared lovely to our bottle； for itwas again in the green wood； amid joy and feasting； again it heardmusic and song； and the noise and murmur of a crowd； especially inthat part of the garden where the lamps blazed； and the paper lanternsdisplayed their brilliant colors。 It stood in a distant walkcertainly； but a place pleasant for contemplation； and it carried alight； and was at once useful and ornamental。 In such an hour it iseasy to forget that one has spent twenty years in a loft； and a goodthing it is to be able to do so。 Close before the bottle passed asingle pair； like the bridal pair… the mate and the furrier'sdaughter… who had so long ago wandered in the wood。 It seemed to thebottle as if he were living that time over again。 Not only theguests but other people were walking in the garden； who were allowedto witness the splendor and the festivities。 Among the latter camean old maid； who seemed to be quite alone in the world。 She wasthinking； like the bottle； of the green wood； and of a young betrothedpair； who were closely connected with herself； she was thinking ofthat hour； the happiest of her life； in which she had taken part； whenshe had herself been one of that betrothed pair； such hours arenever to be forgotten； let a maiden be as old as she may。 But shedid not recognize the bottle； neither did the bottle notice the oldmaid。 And so we often pass each other in the world when we meet； asdid these two； even while together in the same town。
The bottle was taken from the garden； and again sent to a winemerchant； where it was once more filled with wine； and sold to anaeronaut； who was to make an ascent in his balloon on the followingSunday。 A great crowd assembled to witness the sight； military musichad been engaged； and many other preparations made。 The bottle sawit all from the basket in which he lay close to a live rabbit。 Therabbit was quite excited because he knew that he was to be taken up；and let down again in a parachute。 The bottle； however； knew nothingof the 〃up；〃 or the 〃down；〃 he saw only that the balloon wasswelling larger and larger till it could swell no more； and began torise and be restless。 Then the ropes which held it were cut through；and the aerial ship rose in the air with the aeronaut and the basketcontaining the bottle and the rabbit； while the music sounded andall the people shouted 〃Hurrah。〃
〃This is a wonderful journey up into the air；〃 thought the bottle；〃it is a new way of sailing； and here； at least； there is no fear ofstriking against anything。〃
Thousands of people gazed at the balloon； and the old maid who wasin the garden saw it also； for she stood at the open window of thegarret； by which hung the cage containing the lin； who then hadno water…glass； but was obliged to be contented with an old cup。 Inthe window…sill stood a myrtle in a pot； and this had been pushed alittle on one side； that it might not fall out； for the old maid wasleaning out of the window； that she might see。 And she did seedisti