Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-09-13

Ey HAND CHR IsTIAN ANDERSEN

BY HAND CHR ISTIAN ANDERSEN.
1t was very cold, the snow fell, and
was almost dark for it was almost even
ing-ycs, the last evening OF the year
Amid the cold and darkness, poor littl
girl. with bare head and naked feet, wa
roaming through the streets. 1t Is tru,
she had pair of slippers when she lei
home, bat they were not of much use
They were very large slippers so large
indeed, that they had hitherto been used by
her mother besides, the little crcatur,
lost them as she hurried across the steect tt
avoid two carriages that were driving very
quickly past One Of the slippers was not
| to be found, and the other was bounced
upon by boy WHO ran away with it, say
| ing that it would serve for a cradle when he
| should have children Of his own. So the
| little girl went along, with her little bare
icet that were red and blue with cold. She
carried n number of matches in an old apron,
and she held bunch of them in her hand
Nobody had bought anything from her the
whole livelong day 4; nobody had even given
her a penny.
Shiycring with cold and hunger, she crept
along. perfect picture of misery poor
little thing The snOw-hakeS covered her
hixcn hair, which hing in pretty curlS
round her throat ; but she needed them not
now. Lights were streaming from all the
windows, and there was sayory smell Of
roast goose for it was New Years Eve.
And this She lid heed.
She now sat down, covering in corner
formed by two houses, one Of which pro-
iectcd beyond the other. She had drawn
- r. L. l,,, ko -,
than ever vet she dared not return home.
for she had not sold a match, and could not
bring home penny She would certainly
be beaten by her father; and it was cold
enough at home. besides, for they had only
the roof above them, and the wind came
bowling through it, though the largest holes
had been stopped with straw and rags. Her
little hands wer nearly frozen with cold.
Alas single match might do her some
good, if she might only draw enc out of the
bundle. and rub it against the wall, and
warm her fingers.
So at last she drew one out. All how it
burns 1t gave out warm, bright lllmc,
like a little candle, as she held her hands
over it,-truly it was a wonderful little
light Ii really seemed to the little girl as
il She was sitting before large iron stove,
with polished brass feet, and brass shovel
and tongs. The fire burned 50 brightly and
warmed 50 nicely, that the little creature
stretched out her feet to warm them likewise.
when 10 the fame cxpned, the stove van
ished. and left nothing but the little half
burned match in her hand.
She rubbed another match against the
wall. 1t gave light, and where it shonc
upon the wall, the latter became transparent
as veil, and she could see into the room
\ snow white tablc-coth was spread upon
the table, on which stood splendid china
dinner service, while roast goose. stuffed
with apples and pruncs, sent forth the most
,ayory iun.ts And. what was more delight
lul stIll 10 sec, the goose jumped down from
the dish and waddled along the ground,
with knife and fork in its breast, up to
the poor sirl. The match then went out.
and nothing remained hut the thick, damp
wall.
She lit yet another match. She row sat
under the most magnificent Christmas tree,
that WAS larger, and more supcrbly decked,
than even the one she had seen through the
. lass door at the rich merchants. 4 thous-
aud tapers burned on its green branches.
and CAV pictures, such as one sees on shields,
ecmed to be looking down upon her. She
irctched out her hands, hut the match
then went out. The Christmas lights kept
rising higher and higher. They now looked
ike -tars in the sky. One of them fell
down. and l,Iia irrs streak Of fire. Some
body is now DYING" thought the little girl.
for her old grandmother, the only person
who had ever loved her, said that, when n
star falls, it is sign that soul i, going up
10 heaven.
She again rubbed a match upon the wall,
md it was again light all round ard in the
Brightness stood her old grandmother. clear
md shining like a spirit, yet looking so mil
md loving. Grandmother. - cried the lit
lie one. " oh, take me with you know
you will 90 away when the match goes cut.
you will vanish like the warm stove, and
he delicious roast goose, and the fine, large
christmas tree :" And she made haste to |
,ub the whole bundle OF matches, for she |
wished to mold her grandmother fast. And |
c matches gave light that was brighter |
han MONDAY. Her grandmother had never |
ppcared so beautiful nor 50 large. She |
ook the little girl in her arms, and both
lew upwards, and radiant and joyful, far, |
ar above mortal ken, whc.c there was
lcither cold nor hunger nor care to lie
ound where there was no rain, no snow,
II stormy wind. hut calm sunny days the
whole year around
Bat. in the cold dawn, the poor girl might
'e seen leaning against the wall, with rcd
hecks and smiling mouth; she had lcon
rozen on the day OF the old year The
cw years sun shone upon the little
cad girl. She sat, still holding the matches,