the last pearl-第1节

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　LAST　PEARL

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen



　　　　WE　are　in　a　rich；　happy　house；　where　the　master；　the　servants；　the

friends　of　the　family　are　full　of　joy　and　felicity。　For　on　this　day

a　son　and　heir　has　been　born；　and　mother　and　child　are　doing　well。　The

lamp　in　the　bed…chamber　had　been　partly　shaded；　and　the　windows　were

covered　with　heavy　curtains　of　some　costly　silken　material。　The　carpet

was　thick　and　soft；　like　a　covering　of　moss。　Everything　invited　to

slumber；　everything　had　a　charming　look　of　repose；　and　so　the　nurse

had　discovered；　for　she　slept；　and　well　she　might　sleep；　while

everything　around　her　told　of　happiness　and　blessing。　The　guardian

angel　of　the　house　leaned　against　the　head　of　the　bed；　while　over

the　child　was　spread；　as　it　were；　a　net　of　shining　stars；　and　each

star　was　a　pearl　of　happiness。　All　the　good　stars　of　life　had

brought　their　gifts　to　the　newly　born；　here　sparkled　health；　wealth；

fortune；　and　love；　in　short；　there　seemed　to　be　everything　for　which

man　could　wish　on　earth。

　　　　〃Everything　has　been　bestowed　here；〃　said　the　guardian　angel。

　　　　〃No；　not　everything；〃　said　a　voice　near　him…　the　voice　of　the　good

angel　of　the　child；　〃one　fairy　has　not　yet　brought　her　gift；　but　she

will；　even　if　years　should　elapse；　she　will　bring　her　gift；　it　is

the　last　pearl　that　is　wanting。〃

　　　　〃Wanting！〃　cried　the　guardian　angel；　〃nothing　must　be　wanting

here；　and　if　it　is　so；　let　us　fetch　it；　let　us　seek　the　powerful

fairy；　let　us　go　to　her。〃

　　　　〃She　will　come；　she　will　come　some　day　unsought！〃

　　　　〃Her　pearl　must　not　be　missing；　it　must　be　there；　that　the

crown；　when　worn；　may　be　complete。　Where　is　she　to　be　found？　Where

does　she　dwell？〃　said　the　guardian　angel。　〃Tell　me；　and　I　will　procure

the　pearl。〃

　　　　〃Will　you　do　that？〃　replied　the　good　angel　of　the　child。　〃Then　I

will　lead　you　to　her　directly；　wherever　she　may　be。　She　has　no　abiding

place；　she　rules　in　the　palace　of　the　emperor；　sometimes　she　enters

the　peasant's　humble　cot；　she　passes　no　one　without　leaving　a　trace　of

her　presence。　She　brings　her　gift　with　her；　whether　it　is　a　world　or　a

bauble。　To　this　child　she　must　come。　You　think　that　to　wait　for　this

time　would　be　long　and　useless。　Well；　then；　let　us　go　for　this

pearl…　the　only　one　lacking　amidst　all　this　wealth。〃

　　　　Then　hand…in…hand　they　floated　away　to　the　spot　where　the　fairy

was　now　lingering。　It　was　in　a　large　house　with　dark　windows　and　empty

rooms；　in　which　a　peculiar　stillness　reigned。　A　whole　row　of　windows

stood　open；　so　that　the　rude　wind　could　enter　at　its　pleasure；　and　the

long　white　curtains　waved　to　and　fro　in　the　current　of　air。　In　the

centre　of　one　of　the　rooms　stood　an　open　coffin；　in　which　lay　the　body

of　a　woman；　still　in　the　bloom　of　youth　and　very　beautiful。　Fresh

roses　were　scattered　over　her。　The　delicate　folded　hands　and　the　noble

face　glorified　in　death　by　the　solemn；　earnest　look；　which　spoke　of　an

entrance　into　a　better　world；　were　alone　visible。　Around　the　coffin

stood　the　husband　and　children；　a　whole　troop；　the　youngest　in　the

father's　arms。　They　were　come　to　take　a　last　farewell　look　of　their

mother。　The　husband　kissed　her　hand；　which　now　lay　like　a　withered

leaf；　but　which　a　short　time　before　had　been　diligently　employed　in

deeds　of　love　for　them　all。　Tears　of　sorrow　rolled　down　their

cheeks；　and　fell　in　heavy　drops　on　the　floor；　but　not　a　word　was

spoken。　The　silence　which　reigned　here　expressed　a　world　of　grief。

With　silent　steps；　still　sobbing；　they　left　the　room。　A　burning

light　remained　in　the　room；　and　a　long；　red　wick　rose　far　above　the

flame；　which　fluttered　in　the　draught　of　air。　Strange　men　came　in

and　placed　the　lid　of　the　coffin　over　the　dead；　and　drove　the　nails

firmly　in；　while　the　blows　of　the　hammer　resounded　through　the

house；　and　echoed　in　the　hearts　that　were　bleeding。

　　　　〃Whither　art　thou　leading　me？〃　asked　the　guardian　angel。　〃Here

dwells　no　fairy　whose　pearl　could　be　counted　amongst　the　best　gifts　of

life。〃

　　　　〃Yes；　she　is　here；　here　in　this　sacred　hour；〃　replied　the　angel；

pointing　to　a　corner　of　the　room；　and　there；…　where　in　her

life…time；　the　mother　had　taken　her　seat　amidst　flowers　and

pictures：　in　that　spot；　where　she；　like　the　blessed　fairy　of　the

house；　had　welcomed　husband；　children；　and　friends；　and；　like　a

sunbeam；　had　spread　joy　and　cheerfulness　around　her；　the　centre　and

heart　of　them　all；…　there；　in　that　very　spot；　sat　a　strange　woman；

clothed　in　long；　flowing　garments；　and　occupying　the　place　of　the　dead

wife　and　mother。　It　was　the　fairy；　and　her　name　was　〃Sorrow。〃　A　hot

tear　rolled　into　her　lap；　and　formed　itself　into　a　pearl；　glowing　with

all　the　colors　of　the　rainbow。　The　angel　seized　it：　the；　pearl

glittered　like　a　star　with　seven…fold　radiance。　The　pearl　of　Sorrow；

the　last；　which　must　not　be　wanting；　increases　the　lustre；　and

explains　the　meaning　of　all　the　other　pearls。

　　　　〃Do　you　see　the　shimmer　of　the　rainbow；　which　unites　earth　to

heaven？〃　So　has　there　been　a　bridge　built　between　this　world　and　the

next。　Through　the　night　of　the　grave　we　gaze　upwards　beyond　the

stars　to　the　end　of　all　things。　Then　we　glance　at　the　pearl　of　Sorrow；

in　which　are　concealed　the　wings　which　shall　carry　us　away　to

eternal　happiness。





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

。