Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-08-08
Farm and Fzyeszde.
H.s.vS CHRISYI.s.s' .s.vDBRSB.v.


Children are reading stories which their
grand parents read before them, and the
writer of the story still lives and tells new
ones every year. For, 6S years ago, on the
second of the month of April, was born
Hans Christian Andersen; and no doubt
in Copenhagen on April 2, 1873, the great
story teller took child on his knee and
told him one of the famous stories which
have been translated into AL languages and
read in all countries. And il he were
minded he could have told the most won
derful story of all, that of his own life, from
the day when he was born in poverty TO
this, when he lives with decorations from
his sovereign on his breast, and the love of
many children worn in his heart.
The beginning of this living fairy-tae
was the birth in poor shoemakers house
in Odense, Il town of Denmark. He was
born in the one room which his father and
mother occupied, which served alike for
house and shop; his father, young man
of poetic mind always hungering after
richer life than that spent in making shoes ;
his mother, a simple, superstitious and af-
fectionate woman. In this room began his
life; and his earlier recollections furnished
him with scenes which afterwards he wuye
into his stories.
"Our little roOn,' he says, (Which was
almost filed with the shoemaker's bench,
the bed, and my crib, was the abode of my
childhood; the walls. however, were COW
cred with pictures, and over the work
bench was a cupboard containing books
and songs; the. little kitchen was full OF
shining plates and metal pans, and by
means of ladder it was possible to go out
on the roof, where, in the cutters between
ii and the neighbors house, there stood a
great chest filled with soil, my mothers
sole garden, and where she grew her veg
etables. In my story of the Snow Queen,
that garden still blooms"
He grew into tall, ungainly lad, as shy
as a girl, and yet so simple hearted that he
was ready to confide to the utmost in any
one who smiled on him. At charity
school he learL ed just little, but that little
so carelessly that long ailerward he suffered
for the lack of such common knowledge as
even how to spell. When was IA years
old he was seized with desire to go Ia
Copenhagen, having vague feeling that
there he should sec the wide world and be-
come famous. 1t was restless, ignorant
sort Of expectation; all he could say was,
that 'people have an immense sight of adj
versity to go through, and then they will
be famous" His mother, when impor-
tuned by him, sent for so-called wise wo-
man who professed to be able to tell for
tunes.
"Your son will become a great man.
said the old woman, "and in honor of him
Odense will one day be Illuminated
1t was safe thing TO say to a mother
yet sure enough, years afterward, it came
true; for great celebration was held at
Odense not long since, when the freedom
of the city was presented to the famous
Andersen, who had left it poor, laughed
at, awkward lad, and literally the old town
was illuminated in his honor. So off he
set to Copenhagen. He was so utterly ig
norant of the; ways of the world, and sc
simple in his confidence, that he astonisheC
every one to whom he made himself known
and was laughed at for a little simpleton
He had such an innocent way of gonl
right up to people and asking for what h,
wanted. At that time it seemed to hin
that the theatre was the most beautiful
place in the world, and he was ready to d.
anything that would be in place there
dance, sing or act. So he went TO the man
ager and asked for an engagement. Tn
manager looked at him and said, mo, yol
are too thin for the theater."
"Oh p replied Andersen, "only engag
me with one hundred and six dollars banc
salary, and / shall soon get fat" But h
was given no chance. He lived for while
one scarcely knows how, until his innocen
queer ways brought him TO the knowledg
and affection of good man, Counselo
Collin, who took him as his own son an,
began TO educate him. All his odd iaDcie
and quaint max e-beliefs, which had, ever
when a grown lad, kept him busy witt
puppets and dolls, began to find expression
in writing, and before he had finished hi
schooling he was writing stories and dra
mas and just before he passed his last ex
animation, when he was "a years old, h
brought out a collection of poems, and on
of his plays was acted at the theater. B.
degrees he commanded attention and re
spect; people began to see that he ha
gifts of an unusual character; and just tn
thing for which he was first blamed-hi
naiyette and childness-are now what III