spade wasplied with a more careful hand； and presently a female head wasseen； and butterflies' wings。 Out of the grave in which the youngnun was to be laid they lifted； in the rosy morning； a wonderfulstatue of a Psyche carved in white marble。
〃How beautiful； how perfect it is！〃 cried the spectators。 〃A relicof the best period of art。〃
And who could the sculptor have been？ No one knew； no oneremembered him； except the bright star that had gleamed forthousands of years。 The star had seen the course of that life onearth； and knew of the man's trials； of his weakness… in fact； that hehad been but human。 The man's life had passed away； his dust hadbeen scattered abroad as dust is destined to be； but the result of hisnoblest striving； the glorious work that gave token of the divineelement within him… the Psyche that never dies； that lives beyondposterity… the brightness even of this earthly Psyche remained hereafter him； and was seen and acknowledged and appreciated。
The bright Morning Star in the roseate air threw its glancingray downward upon the Psyche； and upon the radiant countenances of theadmiring spectators； who here beheld the image of the soul portrayedin marble。
What is earthly will pass away and be forgotten； and the Star inthe vast firmament knows it。 What is heavenly will shine brightlythrough posterity； and when the ages of posterity are past； thePsyche… the soul… will still live on！
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE PUPPET…SHOW MAN
by Hans Christian Andersen
ON board a steamer I once met an elderly man； with such a merryface that； if it was really an index of his mind； he must have beenthe happiest fellow in creation； and indeed he considered himselfso； for I heard it from his own mouth。 He was a Dane； the owner of atravelling theatre。 He had all his pany with him in a large box；for he was the proprietor of a puppet…show。 His inborn cheerfulness；he said； had been tested by a member of the Polytechnic Institution；and the experiment had made him pletely happy。 I did not at firstunderstand all this； but afterwards he explained the whole story tome； and here it is：…
〃I was giving a representation；〃 he said； 〃in the hall of theposting…house in the little town of Slagelse； there was a splendidaudience； entirely juvenile excepting two respectable matrons。 Allat once； a person in black； of student…like appearance； entered theroom； and sat down； he laughed aloud at the telling points； andapplauded quite at the proper time。 This was a very unusualspectator for me； and I felt anxious to know who he was。 I heardthat he was a member of the Polytechnic Institution in Copenhagen； whohad been sent out to lecture to the people in the provinces。Punctually at eight o'clock my performance closed； for children mustgo early to bed； and a manager must also consult the convenience ofthe public。
〃At nine o'clock the lecturer menced his lecture and hisexperiments； and then I formed a part of his audience。 It waswonderful both to hear and to see。 The greater part of it was beyondmy prehension； but it led me to think that if we men can acquire somuch； we must surely be intended to last longer than the little spanwhich extends only to the time when we are hidden away under theearth。 His experiments were quite miracles on a small scale； and yetthe explanations flowed as naturally as water from his lips。 At thetime of Moses and the prophets； such a man would have been placedamong the sages of the land； in the middle ages they would haveburnt him at the stake。
〃All night long I could not sleep； and the next evening when Igave another performance and the lecturer was present； I was in one ofmy best moods。
〃I once heard of an actor； who； when he had to act the part of alover； always thought of one particular lady in the audience； heonly played for her； and forgot all the rest of the house； and now thePolytechnic lecturer was my she； my only auditor； for whom alone Iplayed。
〃When the performance was over； and the puppets removed behind thecurtain； the Polytechnic lecturer invited me into his room to take aglass of wine。 He talked of my edies； and I of his science； and Ibelieve we were both equally pleased。 But I had the best of it； forthere was much in what he did that he could not always explain tome。 For instance； why a piece of iron which is rubbed on a cylinder；should bee magic。 How does this happen？ The magic sparks eto it；… but how？ It is the same with people in the world； they arerubbed about on this spherical globe till the electric spark esupon them； and then we have a Napoleon； or a Luther； or some one ofthe kind。
〃'The whole world is but a series of miracles；' said the lecturer；'but we are so accustomed to them that we call them everyday matters。'And he went on explaining things to me till my skull seemed liftedfrom my brain； and I declared that were I not such an old fellow； Iwould at once bee a member of the Polytechnic Institution； that Imight learn to look at the bright side of everything； although I wasone of the happiest of men。
〃'One of the happiest！' said the lecturer； as if the ideapleased him； 'are you really happy？'
〃'Yes；' I replied； 'for I am weled in every town； when I arrivewith my pany； but I certainly have one wish which sometimesweighs upon my cheerful temper like a mountain of lead。 I shouldlike to bee the manager of a real theatre； and the director of areal troupe of men and women。'
〃'I understand；' he said； 'you would like to have life breathedinto your puppets； so that they might be living actors； and youtheir director。 And would you then be quite happy？'
〃I said I believed so。 But he did not； and we talked it over inall manner of ways； yet could not agree on the subject。 However； thewine was excellent； and we clanked our glasses together as we drank。There must have been magic in it； or I should most certainly beetipsy； but that did not happen； for my mind seemed quite clear； and；indeed； a kind of sunshine filled the room； and beamed from the eyesof the Polytechnic lecturer。 It made me think of the old storieswhen the gods； in their immortal youth； wandered upon this earth；and paid visits to mankind。 I said so to him； and he smiled； and Icould have sworn that he was one of these ancient deities in disguise；or； at all events； that he belonged to the race of the gods。 Theresult seemed to prove I was right in my suspicions； for it wasarranged that my highest wish should be granted； that my puppetswere to be gifted with life； and that I was to be the manager of areal pany。 We drank to my success； and clanked our glasses。 Then hepacked all my dolls into the box； and fastened it on my back； and Ifelt as if I were spinning round in a circle； and presently foundmyself lying on the floor。 I remember that quite well。 And then thewhole pany sprang from the box。 The spirit had e upon us all；the puppets had bee distinguished actors… at least； so they saidthemselves… and I was their director。
〃When all was ready for the first representation； the wholepany requested permission to speak to me before appearing inpublic。 The dancing lady said the house could not be supportedunless she stood on one leg； for she was a great genius； and begged tobe t