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                     FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

                                THE FLYING TRUNK

                           by Hans Christian Andersen



    THERE was once a merchant who was so rich that he could have paved

the whole street with gold; and would even then have had enough for

a small alley。 But he did not do so; he knew the value of money better

than to use it in this way。 So clever was he; that every shilling he

put out brought him a crown; and so he continued till he died。 His son

inherited his wealth; and he lived a merry life with it; he went to

a masquerade every night; made kites out of five pound notes; and

threw pieces of gold into the sea instead of stones; making ducks

and drakes of them。 In this manner he soon lost all his money。 At last

he had nothing left but a pair of slippers; an old dressing…gown;

and four shillings。 And now all his friends deserted him; they could

not walk with him in the streets; but one of them; who was very

good…natured; sent him an old trunk with this message; 〃Pack up!〃

〃Yes;〃 he said; 〃it is all very well to say 'pack up;' 〃but he had

nothing left to pack up; therefore he seated himself in the trunk。

It was a very wonderful trunk; no sooner did any one press on the lock

than the trunk could fly。 He shut the lid and pressed the lock; when

away flew the trunk up the chimney with the merchant's son in it;

right up into the clouds。 Whenever the bottom of the trunk cracked; he

was in a great fright; for if the trunk fell to pieces he would have

made a tremendous somerset over the trees。 However; he got safely in

his trunk to the land of Turkey。 He hid the trunk in the wood under

some dry leaves; and then went into the town: he could so this very

well; for the Turks always go about dressed in dressing…gowns and

slippers; as he was himself。 He happened to meet a nurse with a little

child。 〃I say; you Turkish nurse;〃 cried he; 〃what castle is that near

the town; with the windows placed so high?〃

    〃The king's daughter lives there;〃 she replied; 〃it has been

prophesied that she will be very unhappy about a lover; and

therefore no one is allowed to visit her; unless the king and queen

are present。〃

    〃Thank you;〃 said the merchant's son。 So he went back to the wood;

seated himself in his trunk; flew up to the roof of the castle; and

crept through the window into the princess's room。 She lay on the sofa

asleep; and she was so beautiful that the merchant's son could not

help kissing her。 Then she awoke; and was very much frightened; but he

told her he was a Turkish angel; who had come down through the air

to see her; which pleased her very much。 He sat down by her side and

talked to her: he said her eyes were like beautiful dark lakes; in

which the thoughts swam about like little mermaids; and he told her

that her forehead was a snowy mountain; which contained splendid halls

full of pictures。 And then he related to her about the stork who

brings the beautiful children from the rivers。 These were delightful

stories; and when he asked the princess if she would marry him; she

consented immediately。

    〃But you must come on Saturday;〃 she said; 〃for then the king

and queen will take tea with me。 They will be very proud when they

find that I am going to marry a Turkish angel; but you must think of

some very pretty stories to tell them; for my parents like to hear

stories better than anything。 My mother prefers one that is deep and

moral; but my father likes something funny; to make him laugh。〃

    〃Very well;〃 he replied; 〃I shall bring you no other marriage

portion than a story;〃 and so they parted。 But the princess gave him a

sword which was studded with gold coins; and these he could use。

    Then he flew away to the town and bought a new dressing…gown;

and afterwards returned to the wood; where he composed a story; so

as to be ready for Saturday; which was no easy matter。 It was ready

however by Saturday; when he went to see the princess。 The king; and

queen; and the whole court; were at tea with the princess; and he

was received with great politeness。

    〃Will you tell us a story?〃 said the queen;… 〃one that is

instructive and full of deep learning。〃

    〃Yes; but with something in it to laugh at;〃 said the king。

    〃Certainly;〃 he replied; and commenced at once; asking them to

listen attentively。 〃There was once a bundle of matches that were

exceedingly proud of their high descent。 Their genealogical tree; that

is; a large pine…tree from which they had been cut; was at one time

a large; old tree in the wood。 The matches now lay between a

tinder…box and an old iron saucepan; and were talking about their

youthful days。 'Ah! then we grew on the green boughs; and were as

green as they; every morning and evening we were fed with diamond

drops of dew。 Whenever the sun shone; we felt his warm rays; and the

little birds would relate stories to us as they sung。 We knew that

we were rich; for the other trees only wore their green dress in

summer; but our family were able to array themselves in green;

summer and winter。 But the wood…cutter came; like a great

revolution; and our family fell under the axe。 The head of the house

obtained a situation as mainmast in a very fine ship; and can sail

round the world when he will。 The other branches of the family were

taken to different places; and our office now is to kindle a light for

common people。 This is how such high…born people as we came to be in a

kitchen。'

    〃'Mine has been a very different fate;' said the iron pot; which

stood by the matches; 'from my first entrance into the world I have

been used to cooking and scouring。 I am the first in this house;

when anything solid or useful is required。 My only pleasure is to be

made clean and shining after dinner; and to sit in my place and have a

little sensible conversation with my neighbors。 All of us; excepting

the water…bucket; which is sometimes taken into the courtyard; live

here together within these four walls。 We get our news from the

market…basket; but he sometimes tells us very unpleasant things

about the people and the government。 Yes; and one day an old pot was

so alarmed; that he fell down and was broken to pieces。 He was a

liberal; I can tell you。'

    〃'You are talking too much;' said the tinder…box; and the steel

struck against the flint till some sparks flew out; crying; 'We want a

merry evening; don't we?'

    〃'Yes; of course;' said the matches; 'let us talk about those

who are the highest born。'

    〃'No; I don't like to be always talking of what we are;'

remarked the saucepan; 'let us think of some other amusement; I will

begin。 We will tell something that has happened to ourselves; that

will be very easy; and interesting as well。 On the Baltic Sea; near

the Danish shore'…

   〃'What a pretty commencement!' said the plates; 'we shall all

like that story; I am sure。'

    〃'Yes; well in my youth; I lived in a quiet family; where the

furniture was polished; the floors scoured; and clean curtains put

up every fortnight;'

    〃'What an interesting way you have of relating a story;' said

the carpet…broom; 'it is easy to perceive that you have been a great

deal in women's society; there is something so pure runs through

what you say。'

    〃'That is quite true;' said the water…bucket; and he made a spring

with joy; and splashed some water on the floor。

    〃Then the saucepan went on with his story; and the end was as good

as the beginning。

    〃The plates rattled with pleasure; and the carpet…broom brought

some green parsley out of the dust…hole and crowned the saucepan;

for he knew it would vex the others; and he thought; 'If I crown him

to…day he will crown me to…morrow。'

    〃'Now; let us have a dance;' said the fire…tongs; and then how

they danced and stuck up one leg in the air。 The chair…cushion in

the corner burst with laughter when she saw it。

    〃'Shall I be crowned now?' asked the fire…tongs; so the broom

found another wreath for the tongs。

    〃'They were only common people after all;' thought the matches。

The tea…urn was now asked to sing; but she said she had a cold; and

could not sing without boiling heat。 They all thought this was

affectation; and because she did not wish to sing excepting in the

parlor; when on the table with the grand people。

    〃In the window sat an old quill…pen; with which the maid generally

wrote。 There was nothing remarkable about the pen; excepting that it

had been dipped too deeply in the ink; but it was proud of that。

    〃'If the tea…urn won't sing;' said the pen; 'she can leave it

alone; there is a nightingale in a cage who can sing; she has not been

taught much; certainly; but we need not say anything this evening

about that。'

    〃'I think it highly improper;' said the tea…kettle; who was

kitchen singer; and half…brother to the tea…urn; 'that a rich

foreign bird should be listened to here。 Is it patriotic? Let the

market…basket decide what is right。'

    〃'I certainly am vexed;' said the basket; 'inwardly vexed; more

than any one can imagine。 A

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