Evening star., 1928-12-20
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
THE ARIsTOCRATIC MATCHES
BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON

(Hans Christian Anderson, 1so5-1s75. was
q Danish novelist and story-writer, author
Of the famous Fairy Tales which have gone
fanciful tales for children, as this one viii
Once upon time there was a box Of
matches, and they were very proud in
deed Of what they believed to be their
high origin. Their family tree-which
was the great pine tree OF which each
of them was a tiny splinter-had been
In its day the giant of the forest. The
matches now lay on shelf between
tinder box and an old iron pot. They
were telling the story of their glorious
youth to these two lowly companions.
When we were a living tree" they
said pompously, I'VE were certainly a
green branch! Every morning and eve
ming we had diamond-tea." They re-
ferred, of course, to the dew-drops. "By
day we had sunshine and all kinds of
birds to tell us stories. Any one could
see that we were very well OF, because,
while most of the trees were clothed
only in Summer, our family could af-
ford to have green clothes both Summer
and Winter.
But one cay wood-cutters came and
there was q great revolution, and our
family became separated. The head of
our clan was placed on great ship as
mainmast--it could sail around the
world II it chose. other branches were
scattered in different directions Now
at is our obligation noblesSe oblige, you
know!-to shed light to the common
herd. That is how such aristocratic
people as We are happen to be seen in
o kitchen"
MY own lot has been different -
spoke up the iron pot. ever since I
came into existence have been secured
and boiled, over and over again. In
fact, ] am the most important person
in the house. When dinner Is over, it is
my pleasure to lie clean and bright on
the shelf, and to have q quiet chat with
my companions. But, except for the
water-bucket, which goes out to the well
once in while, we lead an indoor life.
We have to depend on the market
basket Tor any bits Of gossip we get!"
You are talking too much" said the
kinder box, striking sparks with its
mint. Why not have merry eve
ning?"
Yes. Let's settle who Is the most
Aristocratic among U.S." said the
matches.
mo, I'd rather not talk about nv
self" said the earthen pipkin. LET us
be entertaining. 7 will tell about the
sort OF things We have all experienced
They are quite easy to understand
which makes every one like them. I'll
begin Ike this: BY the Eastern sea and
Danish beaches"
=, What a nice beginning!" exclaimed
the plates.
ut is where passed my youth in a
qulet family" said the pipkin. 1.-THE
hardwood f7oCrc xr,o,.- ,,yn--oI IT, -
lure was highly polished, and clean cur
tains were put on the windows every
fortnight.
What a good story teller you are. /"
said the broom. "One can tell a
woman is telling the story. too. because
such suggestion of cleanliness runs
al through it,
One can certainly feel that" agreed
kne WATERFALL, giving a little hor
aor JOY, which made a clashing noise
against the floor. >
Inc plpkln finished her story. The
END was much like the beginning. All
the plates clattered with pleasure anC
the broom crowned the pipkin with :
wreath OF parsley. The broom did II, r.
annoy the others, and also because h
Cnougnt TO itself: "If I crown her tn.
night, she will crown us tomorrow
NOW l will give dance" said tn,
longs. She began to dance and sh,
certainly knew how to shake a leo
The old chair cover in the corner ac.
tually burst when she saw the specta.
clel "EeO'0'
II ought to be crowned, too" sait
the tongs, so they crowned her.
But the matches said, "They are only
the rabble, after ALL"
Tne teapot was called upon to Civ,
q song, but it had cold, it said. Il
COULDN'T sing except when it was boil
ing: That was because the teapot we,
reaIIy quite stuck up. 1t would sins
table. 'O0A'
An old quill pen lay on the window
slil. servant used it to write with
There was nothing out of the ordinar,
about it, except that it had been dime;
into the ink too far However. it wa,
rather proud of that than otherwise
II the teapot won't sing" observe,
The quill pen, at doesn't have to. Their
Is a nightingale outside in a cage
can sing. 1t hasn't anything special
perhaps, but we need not be fussy to
night
1T really is hardly suitable" said tn
kettle. which was the kitchen singe
and half-sister to the teapot, "for us b
let a strange bird like that sing to us
A foreigner. too. Is it patriotic? I vii
let the market basket judge. She ha
heard lots about politics"
II am more annoyed than any on
can tell" said the market basket il
righteous alarm. Is tafs proper wa,
70 spend an eVeninga Wouldn't 1t b