d ofmand… 〃March！ halt！ front！〃
The old church bell had long been quite forgotten； and no oneimagined it would ever again be sent to the melting furnace to make itas it was before。 No one could possibly have foretold this。 Equallyimpossible would it have been to believe that the tones of the oldbell still echoed in the heart of the boy from Marbach； or that oneday they would ring out loud enough and strong enough to be heardall over the world。 They had already been heard in the narrow spacebehind the school…wall； even above the deafening sounds of 〃March！halt！ front！〃 They had chimed so loudly in the heart of the youngster；that he had sung them to his panions； and their tones resoundedto the very borders of the country。 He was not a free scholar in themilitary school； neither was he provided with clothes or food。 Buthe had his number； and his own peg； for everything here was orderedlike clockwork； which we all know is of the greatest utility… peopleget on so much better together when their position and duties areunderstood。 It is by pressure that a jewel is stamped。 The pressure ofregularity and discipline here stamped the jewel； which in thefuture the world so well knew。
In the chief town of the province a great festival was beingcelebrated。 The light streamed forth from thousands of lamps； andthe rockets shot upwards towards the sky； filling the air with showersof colored fiery sparks。 A record of this bright display will livein the memory of man； for through it the pupil in the militaryschool was in tears and sorrow。 He had dared to attempt to reachforeign territories unnoticed； and must therefore give upfatherland； mother； his dearest friends； all； or sink down into thestream of mon life。 The old church bell had still some fort；it stood in the shelter of the church wall in Marbach； once soelevated； now quite forgotten。 The wind roared around it； and couldhave readily related the story of its origin and of its sweetchimes； and the wind could also tell of him to whom he had broughtfresh air when； in the woods of a neighboring country； he had sunkdown exhausted with fatigue； with no other worldly possessions thanhope for the future； and a written leaf from 〃Fiesco。〃 The windcould have told that his only protector was an artist； who； by readingeach leaf to him； made it plain； and that they amused themselves byplaying at nine…pins together。 The wind could also describe the palefugitive； who； for weeks and months； lay in a wretched littleroad…side inn； where the landlord got drunk and raved； and where themerry…makers had it all their own way。 And he； the pale fugitive； sangof the ideal。
For many heavy days and dark nights the heart must suffer toenable it to endure trial and temptation； yet； amidst it all； wouldthe minstrel sing。 Dark days and cold nights also passed over theold bell； and it noticed them not； but the bell in the man's heartfelt it to be a gloomy time。 What would bee of this young man；and what would bee of the old bell？
The old bell was； after a time； carried away to a greater distancethan any one； even the warder in the bell tower； ever imagined； andthe bell in the breast of the young man was heard in countries wherehis feet had never wandered。 The tones went forth over the wideocean to every part of the round world。
We will now follow the career of the old bell。 It was； as wehave said； carried far away from Marbach and sold as old copper；then sent to Bavaria to be melted down in a furnace。 And then whathappened？
In the royal city of Bavaria； many years after the bell had beenremoved from the tower and melted down； some metal was required fora monument in honor of one of the most celebrated characters which aGerman people or a German land could produce。 And now we see howwonderfully things are ordered。 Strange things sometimes happen inthis world。
In Denmark； in one of those green islands where the foliage of thebeech…woods rustles in the wind； and where many Huns' graves may beseen； was another poor boy born。 He wore wooden shoes； and when hisfather worked in a ship…yard； the boy； wrapped up in an old worn…outshawl； carried his dinner to him every day。 This poor child was nowthe pride of his country； for the sculptured marble； the work of hishands； had astonished the world。* To him was offered the honor offorming from the clay； a model of the figure of him whose name；〃John Christopher Frederick；〃 had been written by his father in theBible。 The bust was cast in bronze； and part of the metal used forthis purpose was the old church bell； whose tones had died away fromthe memory of those at home and elsewhere。 The metal； glowing withheat； flowed into the mould； and formed the head and bust of thestatue which was unveiled in the square in front of the old castle。The statue represented in living； breathing reality； the form of himwho was born in poverty； the boy from Marbach； the pupil of themilitary school； the fugitive who struggled against poverty andoppression； from the outer world； Germany's great and immortal poet；who sung of Switzerland's deliverer； William Tell； and of theheaven…inspired Maid of Orleans。
* The Danish sculptor Thorwaldsen。
It was a beautiful sunny day； flags were waving from tower androof in royal Stuttgart； and the church bells were ringing a joyouspeal。 One bell was silent； but it was illuminated by the brightsunshine which streamed from the head and bust of the renowned figure；of which it formed a part。 On this day； just one hundred years hadpassed since the day on which the chiming of the old church bell atMarbach had filled the mother's heart with trust and joy… the day onwhich her child was born in poverty； and in a humble home； the samewho； in after…years； became rich； became the noble woman…hearted poet；a blessing to the world… the glorious； the sublime； the immortal bard；John Christoper Frederick Schiller！
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE OLD GRAVE…STONE
by Hans Christian Andersen
IN a house； with a large courtyard； in a provincial town； atthat time of the year in which people say the evenings are growinglonger； a family circle were gathered together at their old home。 Alamp burned on the table； although the weather was mild and warm；and the long curtains hung down before the open windows； and withoutthe moon shone brightly in the dark…blue sky。
But they were not talking of the moon； but of a large； old stohat lay below in the courtyard not very far from the kitchen door。The maids often laid the clean copper saucepans and kitchen vessels onthis stone； that they might dry in the sun； and the children were fondof playing on it。 It was； in fact； an old grave…stone。
〃Yes；〃 said the master of the house； 〃I believe the stone camefrom the graveyard of the old church of the convent which was pulleddown； and the pulpit； the monuments； and the grave…stones sold。 Myfather bought the latter； most of them were cut in two and used forpaving…stones； but that one stone was preserved whole； and laid in thecourtyard。〃
〃Any one can see that it is a grave…stone；〃 said the eldest of thechildren； 〃the representation of an hour…glass and part of thefigure of an angel can still be traced； but the inscription beneath isquite wor