s todescribe。 Young hunters； and young maidens… men and women who had sunkin the deep chasms of the glaciers… stood before him here inlifelike forms； with eyes open and smiles on their lips； and farbeneath them could be heard the chiming of the church bells ofburied villages； where the villagers knelt beneath the vaultedarches of churches in which ice…blocks formed the organ pipes； and themountain stream the music。
On the clear； transparent ground sat the Ice Maiden。 She raisedherself towards Rudy； and kissed his feet； and instantly a cold；deathly chill； like an electric shock； passed through his limbs。 Iceor fire！ It was impossible to tell； the shock was so instantaneous。
〃Mine！ mine！〃 sounded around him； and within him； 〃I kissed theewhen thou wert a little child。 I once kissed thee on the mouth； andnow I have kissed thee from heel to toe； thou art wholly mine。〃 Andthen he disappeared in the clear； blue water。
All was still。 The church bells were silent； the last tone floatedaway with the last red glimmer on the evening clouds。 〃Thou art mine；〃sounded from the depths below： but from the heights above； from theeternal world； also sounded the words； 〃Thou art mine！〃 Happy was hethus to pass from life to life； from earth to heaven。 A chord wasloosened； and tones of sorrow burst forth。 The icy kiss of death hadovere the perishable body； it was but the prelude before life'sreal drama could begin； the discord which was quickly lost in harmony。Do you think this a sad story？ Poor Babette！ for her it wasunspeakable anguish。
The boat drifted farther and farther away。 No one on theopposite shore knew that the betrothed pair had gone over to thelittle island。 The clouds sunk as the evening drew on； and it becamedark。 Alone； in despair； she waited and trembled。 The weather becamefearful； flash after flash lighted up the mountains of Jura； Savoy；and Switzerland； while peals of thunder； that lasted for many minutes；rolled over her head。 The lightning was so vivid that every singlevine stem could be seen for a moment as distinctly as in thesunlight at noon…day； and then all was veiled in darkness。 Itflashed across the lake in winding； zigzag lines； lighting it up onall sides； while the echoes of the thunder grew louder and stronger。On land； the boats were all carefully drawn up on the beach； everyliving thing sought shelter； and at length the rain poured down intorrents。
〃Where can Rudy and Babette be in this awful weather？〃 said themiller。
Poor Babette sat with her hands clasped； and her head boweddown； dumb with grief； she had ceased to weep and cry for help。
〃In the deep water！〃 she said to herself； 〃far down he lies； as ifbeneath a glacier。〃
Deep in her heart rested the memory of what Rudy had told her ofthe death of his mother； and of his own recovery； even after he hadbeen taken up as dead from the cleft in the glacier。
〃Ah；〃 she thought； 〃the Ice Maiden has him at last。〃
Suddenly there came a flash of lightning； as dazzling as therays of the sun on the white snow。 The lake rose for a moment like ashining glacier； and before Babette stood the pallid； glittering；majestic form of the Ice Maiden； and at her feet lay Rudy's corpse。
〃Mine！〃 she cried； and again all was darkness around the heavingwater。
〃How cruel；〃 murmured Babette； 〃why should he die just as theday of happiness drew near？ Merciful God； enlighten myunderstanding； shed light upon my heart； for I cannot prehend thearrangements of Thy providence； even while I bow to the decree ofThy almighty wisdom and power。〃 And God did enlighten her heart。
A sudden flash of thought； like a ray of mercy； recalled her dreamof the preceding night； all was vividly represented before her。 Sheremembered the words and wishes she had then expressed； that whatwas best for her and for Rudy she might piously submit to。
〃Woe is me；〃 she said； 〃was the germ of sin really in my heart？was my dream a glimpse into the course of my future life； whose threadmust be violently broken to rescue me from sin？ Oh； miserable creaturethat I am！〃
Thus she sat lamenting in the dark night； while through the deepstillness the last words of Rudy seemed to ring in her ears。 〃Thisearth has nothing more to bestow。〃 Words； uttered in the fulness ofjoy； were again heard amid the depths of sorrow。
Years have passed since this sad event happened。 The shores of thepeaceful lake still smile in beauty。 The vines are full of lusciousgrapes。 Steamboats； with waving flags； pass swiftly by。Pleasure…boats； with their swelling sails； skim lightly over thewatery mirror； like white butterflies。 The railway is opened beyondChillon； and goes far into the deep valley of the Rhone。 At everystation strangers alight with red…bound guide…books in their hands； inwhich they read of every place worth seeing。 They visit Chillon； andobserve on the lake the little island with the three acacias； and thenread in their guide…book the story of the bridal pair who； in the year1856； rowed over to it。 They read that the two were missing till thenext morning； when some people on the shore heard the despairing criesof the bride； and went to her assistance； and by her were told ofthe bridegroom's fate。
But the guide…book does not speak of Babette's quiet lifeafterwards with her father； not at the mill… strangers dwell therenow… but in a pretty house in a row near the station。 On many anevening she sits at her window； and looks out over thechestnut…trees to the snow…capped mountains on which Rudy once roamed。She looks at the Alpine glow in the evening sky； which is caused bythe children of the sun retiring to rest on the mountain…tops； andagain they breathe their song of the traveller whom the whirlwindcould deprive of his cloak but not of his life。 There is a rosy tinton the mountain snow； and there are rosy gleams in each heart in whichdwells the thought； 〃God permits nothing to happen； which is not thebest for us。〃 But this is not often revealed to all； as it wasrevealed to Babette in her wonderful dream。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE JEWISH MAIDEN
by Hans Christian Andersen
IN a charity school； among the children； sat a little Jewish girl。She was a good； intelligent child； and very quick at her lessons；but the Scripture…lesson class she was not allowed to join； for thiswas a Christian school。 During the hour of this lesson； the Jewishgirl was allowed to learn her geography； or to work her sum for thenext day； and when her geography lesson was perfect； the book remainedopen before her； but she read not another word； for she sat silentlylistening to the words of the Christian teacher。 He soon becameaware that the little one was paying more attention to what he saidthan most of the other children。 〃Read your book； Sarah；〃 he said toher gently。
But again and again he saw her dark； beaming eyes fixed uponhim； and once； when he asked her a question； she could answer him evenbetter than the other children。 She had not only heard； but understoodhis words； and pondered them in her heart。 Her father； a poor buthonest man； had placed his daughter at the school on the conditionsthat she should not be instructed in the Christian faith。 But it mighthave caused confusion