The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-12-02
The Children's Friend.

In the October st. Nicholas, Rosa
Schmaltz tells of visit to Hans Chris
tian Andersen. She writes:
Near by, Countess Sorr sat, beside
the tall, kind faced gentleman with
whom she had been talking at our en-
trance. Once, as L watched them, it
was evident that they were talking
about me, and, catching my eye and
seeing my embarrassment, he nodded
pleasantly; and when the usual toast to
the "Blooming Wreath of Young La
dies " was proposed, he leaned toward
me and said, " And to the Little Buds
also, my Fraulein." Deeply pleased
and fattered, l asked my neglectful
professor the name of my friendly us
q. UiS.
"That is Professor Andersen" he
answered, the celebrated poet"
Really" said 1. ~ have heard his
name so often. l am sure Helen and
Nelly would be delighted to have his
autograph. So that is Professor Ander-
sen!" My neighbor was convinced
that appre ciated Andersen's celebrity,
and, as the countess then rose, l heard
no more about him at that time.
In the next room the company divi-
ded into various groups. Some young
ladies gathered around Andersen and
begged him for his autograph for their
albums. He was very amiable, and told
them to send their books to him, as
he would be three or four weeks at
Sorran; and then, probably seeing from
my eyes the deep interest took in the
scene, he came across the room and
said, "Now, little one, do you not want
me to write something in your album"
l shook my head sadly, and said tim
idly and slowly, "No, l thank you"
He appeared greatly astonished, but
also a little amused, and said, "No?
Why not, then?"
Because have no album; if you
only could have asked me day before
yesterday, 1 could have wished for one,
for that was my birthday"
"Indeed! Then day before yesterday
was your birthday? You must allow
me to congratulate you now. Would
you like me to write you congratula-
ton? Then on your next birthday (for
you seem to be certain your wish will
be accomplished) you can put it in your
album, and keep it in memory of a
friend" He held out his hand to me,
and as | laid my trembling finger-tips
in it, he continued, do you know that
l have the happiness to be the especial
friend of children? Have 1 been yours
tooY' This puzzled me; l did not know
what he meant by " have l BEEN" but
l nodded my head, and said, " 1t is very
good of you to be my friend, for it is
really quite lonely here among so many
strange people" and went on, " Helen
and Nelly admire you so much, and
now 1 will, too"
"Now, only?" said Andersen, much
amused. "Then you did not like the
fairy tales?"
This remark puzzled me again, but |
concluded that he wished me to give
him my opinion on the subject of fairy
tales so | replied decidedly, Goa, l
cannot bear them! l want to know
how it really looks in the world, and
then" Here l paused, and burst out
laughing, hearty, merry laugh, at the
remembrance of certain sad afternoon
when l was little girl. l was shocked
at myself Immediately, and fancying
that Professor Anderson would con-
slider me only foolish school girl,
fastened to add in justification, 81 will
tell you why hate fairy tales. Many,
many years ago"
There lived queen" interrupted
Anderson.
No, no, professor, | was it myself.
Many years ago | was read my pretty
story about little princess who had a
wicked stepmother, and the story grew
sadder and sadder, and at last / cried
so hard that / had to stop reading. Ny
brother was at home, then, on leave
from the cadet school, and he came
straight into the room, and said quite
ruiely, Rosa, stop that bowling! What
Is the matter with you?' | showed him
my book, and sobbed out, 'Oh, that
will come all right; let me see,' and
he sat down and read little, and then
laughed and showed me- that the prin-
cess was turned into a swan; so of
course the story was not true, and all
my crying had been for nothing. Then
l laughed, too, and l never read any
more fairy tales. What was the use?
Ulrlch said they were none of them
true, and since l have grown up, l am
astonished that ever believed such
nonsense.
The good professor listened to my
story with great attention; then he
stroked my head kindly with his long,
slender hand, and said, "You are a
little hereto. We must try to convert
you. Come up into the library in half
an hour, and will read you one of nly
fairy tales, and perhaps you will pro-
nounce milder judgment"
80