The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-02-03
The Little Match-GirI-A New Year Story.
lBy the Danish Poet Andersen


1t was terribly cOld-it showed and the even
ing began TO be dark II was also, the last evening
IN the year-New Year Eve On this cold, dar k
evening, poor little girl went into the street with
bare head and naked feet 1t is true she had shoes
on when she went from home but of what use
| were they! They were very large shoes: her
mother had worn them last they were too large,
and the little one lost them ip hurrying over the
street as two carriages passed quickly by. One
shoe was not to be found, and the other boy ran
away WIN, saying ne could use it for cradle
when he had children himself The little girl now
went on her small naked feet, which were red and
blue with cold. She carried a number of matches
IN an Old apron, and held one bundle in her hand
NO one had bought of her the whole day, no one
mad gwen her farthing. Poor thing She was
hungry and benumbed with cold, and looked so
downcast The snow-flakes fell on her yellow
hair which cnrled prettily around her neck, but
she did not heed that.
The light shone out from all the windows, and
There was such delicious smell of roast beef in the
street-lt was New Year Eve, and she thought
OF that She sat down in a corner between two
houses, the one stood little more forward in the
street than the other and drew up her legs under
her to warm herself; but she was still colder and
She burst not GO home she had not sold any
matches, nor got a single arthing Her father
Wouo beat her, and 1t was also cold at home they
had only the roof directly over ihem and there the
wind whisted in, although straw and rags were
stuffed in the largest crevices.
Her little hands We're almost benumbed with
cold. All little match might do some good
burst she only draw one out of the bundle strike
1t on the wall, and warm her fingers She drew
one out-rch how it burnt Ii was warm,
clear flame, like that Of little candle when she
held her hand around it; 1t a strange lght!
The little girl thought she sat by large iron stove
with brass balls on the top, the fire burned so
nicely and warmed SO well. Nay, what was that
The little girl stretched her feet to warm Them
hpn no fla ynptn t,ou t,,rnr- eb.,l
and she sat with stump Of the burnt match in her
hand. Another was struck it burnt, it shone
and where the light fell on the wall, it became as
transparent as Grape. She looked directly into the
room where the roasted goose, stuffed with apples
and prunes, steamed so charmingly on the table
which was laid out and covered with shining
white cloth, and fine porcelain service What was
still more splendid the goose sprung off the dish
and waddled along the floor with knife and fork in
Its back it came directly up to the poor girl Here
the match went out, and there was only the thick
cold wall to be seen.
She struck another match. Then she sat under
the most charming Christmas tree-it was still
larger and more ornamental than that she had seen
through the glass door at the rich merchants the
last Christmas thousand candles burned on the
green branches, and motley pictures, like those
which ornament the shop windows looked down
at her: The little girl lifted up both her hands
then the match was extinguished-the many Christ |
mas candles rose higher and higher; she saw that
they were bright stars-one of them fell, and made
fiery stripe in the sky. 'Now one dies said the
poor girl; for old grandmother, who alone had been
kind to her, but who was now dead had told her |
that when a star falls, a soul goes up to God
She again struck a match against the wall it |
shone all around, and her old grandmother stood in
the lusire, so shining, SO mild and blissu Grand |
mother" exclaimed the little girl, "oh take me |
with you! know you will be gone away when |
The matches go out-like the warm stove. the de-
licous roast goose, and the delightful Christmas |
tree and she struck in haste the whole remain
der of matches that was in the hundle-she would |
not lose sight Of grandmother, and the matches
shone with such brliancy, that it was clearer
han in broad daylight. Grandmother had never
before looked so pretty, great; she lifted the poor
little girl up in her arms, and they flew so high, in
spendor and JOY; there no cold, no hunger,
no anxety-they mere Nth God
But the little girl sat in the corner, by the house.
IN the cold morning hour, with red cheeks, and |
with "a smile round her mouth-dead- frozen to
ieath, the last evening of the old year
New Year morning rose over the little corpse,
Us ii sat with the matches, of which bundle was
ourn =" She had been trying to warm hersef,''
'ad they. But no one knew what beautiful things
she had seen-n VIVA spendor and gladnesg she
rad entered with her old grandmother into New