The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-02

he made friends, and finally succeed
el in "ainin" tie education he SO
much desired. During his school days
he wrote several poems which attract
ed attention. So when he entered the
University Of Copenhagen people
were ready to notice him, and with
the publishing Of his first book, in
the year 1929, his success and hap
piness began.
Sweetly has he told Of his early
struggle in the story of ''The Ugly
Duckling.' The poor duckling who
was so ugly that the other fowls
chased it out Of the barn yard, was a
picture Of Hans himself, and we are
glad he finishes the tale with these
words: "And in his heart he said !:
'Such happiness dreamed I not of,
when I was an ugly duckling. y
Thus showing how pleasant was his
later life. AS he grew older he ira
yelled much and became famous and
beloved by all. People did not think
of his homely face, because Of his fine
mind and the beautiful books he
could write; noblest and even the
King Of Denmark, were proud to do
honor to the poorshoemaker's son, and
his seventieth birthday was made the
occasion for a great celebration IN
Copenhagen. He died at the age OF
seventy.
The country in which the lived IS
almost as interesting as story it.
self. Let US imagine we are walking
together in Denmark, down one Of
the long lanes between narrow dit
dhes. Very often we will pass such
queer little cottages. They are very
low. and built Of stone or brick white
washed, with slanting matched roofs,
on which the green moss grows pref
tily. Out Of every cottage a dog IS
sure to run, barking loudly. No mat
ter how poor a family may be here,
they are sure to own dog like those
which started at the little girl in the
story Of what the moon saw.
On either side Of the road stand
pollard willow trees, looking like ov-
ergrown bushes, the branches having
been cut down till they grow in a
clump from the thick trunks. In the
spring theses branches are cut off and
used for weaving the waffle fences,
and fresh shoots spring out. Possibly
beside some ditch in the fields we
shall see standing a tall black and
white stork, with bright red beak and
yellow legs. The storks come here
every year in the spring and remain
during the summer, although there
are not as many as in former years,
for. the great marshes where they US
ed to find their food are being drain
ed ani turned into farm land. The
people always welcome the storks
gladly, and no Danish child would
dream of hurting or frighting them,
for it is always believed they bring
good luck and if you seejone flying,
people will tell you, you are sure to
take a journey before the years end.
On our way we should probably
meet little, solemn-looking children
hurrying home with school bags on
their arms and troeskos on their feet.
Troeskos are wooden shoes with a
knob under the heel and front part
Of the foot, which lift the wearer
hieh above the mud, and are most
useful, for Danish roads are often
very muddy. All the little girls cur
tesy and say: "Good day, and all
the little boys pull off their caps and
say "Good day." also, very politely,
when they see us. -:
Shall we stop and ask this tiny lit
tie girl, who does not look more than
five or six years old, what she is learn
inc in school? She will make us a fun
nv little curtsey, blush very much,
and answer, almost in whisper: 81
We been to sewing-sckool." "
"Surely you cannot sew very
much" we suggest trying to
laugh. Indignation almost conquers
her shyness: "I'm making a shirt
for my baby brother,' she says, and
off she walks.
The next girl we meet IS Older
perhaps eight. We stop her and