a true light it is but as stones and witheredleaves。〃
〃Ah！〃 he sighed mournfully； as he gazed at the birds singingmerrily； or hopping from branch to branch； 〃they are much better offthan I。 Flying is a glorious power。 Happy is he who is born withwings。 Yes； if I could change myself into anything I would be a littlelark。〃 At the same moment his coat…tails and sleeves grew together andformed wings； his clothes changed to feathers； and his goloshes toclaws。 He felt what was taking place； and laughed to himself。 〃Well；now it is evident I must be dreaming； but I never had such a wilddream as this。〃 And then he flew up into the green boughs and sang；but there was no poetry in the song； for his poetic nature had lefthim。 The goloshes； like all persons who wish to do a thing thoroughly；could only attend to one thing at a time。 He wished to be a poet；and he became one。 Then he wanted to be a little bird； and in thischange he lost the characteristics of the former one。 〃Well；〃thought he； 〃this is charming； by day I sit in a police…office；amongst the dryest law papers； and at night I can dream that I am alark； flying about in the gardens of Fredericksburg。 Really a pleteedy could be written about it。〃 Then he flew down into the grass；turned his head about in every direction； and tapped his beak on thebending blades of grass； which； in proportion to his size； seemed tohim as long as the palm…leaves in northern Africa。
In another moment all was darkness around him。 It seemed as ifsomething immense had been thrown over him。 A sailor boy had flung hislarge cap over the bird； and a hand came underneath and caught theclerk by the back and wings so roughly； that he squeaked； and thencried out in his alarm； 〃You impudent rascal； I am a clerk in thepolice…office！〃 but it only sounded to the boy like 〃tweet； tweet；〃 sohe tapped the bird on the beak； and walked away with him。 In theavenue he met two school…boys； who appeared to belong to a betterclass of society； but whose inferior abilities kept them in the lowestclass at school。 These boys bought the bird for eightpence； and so theclerk returned to Copenhagen。 〃It is well for me that I amdreaming；〃 he thought； 〃otherwise I should bee really angry。First I was a poet； and now I am a lark。 It must have been thepoetic nature that changed me into this little creature。 It is amiserable story indeed； especially now I have fallen into the hands ofboys。 I wonder what will be the end of it。〃 The boys carried himinto a very elegant room； where a stout； pleasant…looking ladyreceived them； but she was not at all gratified to find that theyhad brought a lark… a mon field…bird as she called it。 However； sheallowed them for one day to place the bird in an empty cage thathung near the window。 〃It will please Polly perhaps；〃 she said；laughing at a large gray parrot； who was swinging himself proudly on aring in a handsome brass cage。 〃It is Polly's birthday；〃 she addedin a simpering tone； 〃and the little field…bird has e to offerhis congratulations。〃
Polly did not answer a single word； he continued to swingproudly to and fro； but a beautiful canary； who had been broughtfrom his own warm； fragrant fatherland； the summer previous； beganto sing as loud as he could。
〃You screamer！〃 said the lady； throwing a white handkerchiefover the cage。
〃Tweet； tweet；〃 sighed he； 〃what a dreadful snowstorm！〃 and thenhe became silent。
The clerk； or as the lady called him the field…bird； was placed ina little cage close to the canary； and not far from the parrot。 Theonly human speech which Polly could utter； and which she sometimeschattered forth most ically； was 〃Now let us be men。〃 All besideswas a scream； quite as unintelligible as the warbling of thecanary…bird； excepting to the clerk； who being now a bird； couldunderstand his rades very well。
〃I flew beneath green palm…trees； and amidst the bloomingalmond…trees；〃 sang the canary。 〃I flew with my brothers and sistersover beautiful flowers； and across the clear； bright sea； whichreflected the waving foliage in its glittering depths； and I have seenmany gay parrots； who could relate long and delightful stories。
〃They were wild birds；〃 answered the parrot； 〃and totallyuneducated。 Now let us be men。 Why do you not laugh？ If the lady andher visitors can laugh at this； surely you can。 It is a greatfailing not to be able to appreciate what is amusing。 Now let us bemen。〃
〃Do you remember；〃 said the canary； 〃the pretty maidens who usedto dance in the tents that were spread out beneath the sweet blossoms？Do you remember the delicious fruit and the cooling juice from thewild herbs？〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 said the parrot； 〃but here I am much better off。 I amwell fed； and treated politely。 I know that I have a clever head；and what more do I want？ Let us be men now。 You have a soul forpoetry。 I have deep knowledge and wit。 You have genius； but nodiscretion。 You raise your naturally high notes so much； that youget covered over。 They never serve me so。 Oh； no； I cost themsomething more than you。 I keep them in order with my beak； andfling my wit about me。 Now let us be men。
〃O my warm； blooming fatherland；〃 sang the canary bird； 〃I willsing of thy dark…green trees and thy quiet streams； where thebending branches kiss the clear； smooth water。 I will sing of thejoy of my brothers and sisters； as their shining plumage flits amongthe dark leaves of the plants which grow wild by the springs。〃
〃Do leave off those dismal strains；〃 said the parrot； 〃singsomething to make us laugh； laughter is the sign of the highestorder of intellect。 Can a dog or a horse laugh？ No； they can cry；but to man alone is the power of laughter given。 Ha！ ha！ ha！〃laughed Polly； and repeated his witty saying； 〃Now let us be men。〃
〃You little gray Danish bird；〃 said the canary； 〃you also havebee a prisoner。 It is certainly cold in your forests； but stillthere is liberty there。 Fly out！ they have forgotten to close thecage； and the window is open at the top。 Fly； fly！〃
Instinctively； the clerk obeyed； and left the cage； at the samemoment the half…opened door leading into the next room creaked onits hinges； and； stealthily； with green fiery eyes； the cat crept inand chased the lark round the room。 The canary…bird fluttered in hiscage； and the parrot flapped his wings and cried； 〃Let us be men；〃 thepoor clerk； in the most deadly terror； flew through the window； overthe houses； and through the streets； till at length he was obligedto seek a resting…place。 A house opposite to him had a look of home。 Awindow stood open； he flew in； and perched upon the table。 It washis own room。 〃Let us be men now；〃 said he； involuntarily imitatingthe parrot； and at the same moment he became a clerk again； onlythat he was sitting on the table。 〃Heaven preserve us！〃 said he；〃How did I get up here and fall asleep in this way？ It was an uneasydream too that I had。 The whole affair appears most absurd。
THE BEST THING THE GOLOSHES DID
Early on the following morning； while the clerk was still inbed； his neighbor； a young divinity student； who lodged on the samestorey； knocked at his door； and then walked in。 〃Lend me yourgoloshes；〃 said he； 〃it is so wet in the garden； but the sun isshining brightly。 I should like to go out