use could not be supportedunless she stood on one leg； for she was a great genius； and begged tobe treated as such。 The lady who acted the part of the queenexpected to be treated as a queen off the stage； as well as on it；or else she said she should get out of practice。 The man whose duty itwas to deliver a letter gave himself as many airs as he who took thepart of first lover in the piece； he declared that the inferiorparts were as important as the great ones； and deserving equalconsideration； as parts of an artistic whole。 The hero of the piecewould only play in a part containing points likely to bring down theapplause of the house。 The 'prima donna' would only act when thelights were red； for she declared that a blue light did not suit herplexion。 It was like a pany of flies in a bottle； and I was inthe bottle with them； for I was their director。 My breath was takenaway； my head whirled； and I was as miserable as a man could be。 Itwas quite a novel； strange set of beings among whom I now foundmyself。 I only wished I had them all in my box again； and that I hadnever been their director。 So I told them roundly that； after all；they were nothing but puppets； and then they killed me。 After awhile I found myself lying on my bed in my room； but how I gotthere； or how I got away at all from the Polytechnic professor； he mayperhaps know； I don't。 The moon shone upon the floor； the box layopen； and the dolls were all scattered about in great confusion； but Iwas not idle。 I jumped off the bed； and into the box they all had togo； some on their heads； some on their feet。 Then I shut down the lid；and seated myself upon the box。 'Now you'll have to stay；' said I；'and I shall be cautious how I wish you flesh and blood again。'
〃I felt quite light； my cheerfulness had returned； and I was thehappiest of mortals。 The Polytechnic professor had fully cured me。 Iwas as happy as a king； and went to sleep on the box。 Next morning…correctly speaking； it was noon； for I slept remarkably late that day…I found myself still sitting there； in happy consciousness that myformer wish had been a foolish one。 I inquired for the Polytechnicprofessor； but he had disappeared like the Greek and Roman gods；from that time I have been the happiest man in the world。 I am a happydirector； for none of my pany ever grumble； nor the publiceither； for I always make them merry。 I can arrange my pieces justas I please。 I choose out of every edy what I like best； and no oneis offended。 Plays that are neglected now…a…days by the great publicwere ran after thirty years ago； and listened to till the tears randown the cheeks of the audience。 These are the pieces I bring forward。I place them before the little ones； who cry over them as papa andmamma used to cry thirty years ago。 But I make them shorter； for theyoungsters don't like long speeches； and if they have anythingmournful； they like it to be over quickly。〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE RACES
by Hans Christian Andersen
A PRIZE； or rather two prizes； a great one and a small one； hadbeen awarded for the greatest swiftness in running；… not in a singlerace； but for the whole year。
〃I obtained the first prize；〃 said the hare。 〃Justice must stillbe carried out； even when one has relations and good friends among theprize mittee； but that the snail should have received the secondprize； I consider almost an insult to myself〃
〃No；〃 said the fence…rail； who had been a witness at thedistribution of prizes； 〃there should be some consideration forindustry and perseverance。 I have heard many respectable people sayso； and I can quite understand it。 The snail certainly took half ayear to get over the threshold of the door； but he injured himself；and broke his collar…bone by the haste he made。 He gave himself upentirely to the race； and ran with his house on his back； which wasall； of course； very praiseworthy； and therefore he obtained thesecond prize。〃
〃I think I ought to have had some consideration too；〃 said theswallow。 〃I should imagine no one can be swifter in soaring and flightthan I am； and how far I have been！ far； far away。〃
〃Yes； that is your misfortune；〃 said the fence…rail； 〃you are sofickle； so unsettled； you must always be travelling about into foreignlands when the cold mences here。 You have no love of fatherlandin you。 There can be no consideration for you。〃
〃But now； if I have been lying the whole winter in the moor；〃 saidthe swallow； 〃and suppose I slept the whole time； would that betaken into account？〃
〃Bring a certificate from the old moor…hen；〃 said he； 〃that youhave slept away half your time in fatherland； then you will be treatedwith some consideration。〃
〃I deserved the first prize； and not the second；〃 said thesnail。 〃I know so much； at least； that the hare only ran fromcowardice； and because he thought there was danger in delay。 I； on theother hand； made running the business of my life； and have bee acripple in the service。 If any one had a first prize； it ought to havebeen myself。 But I do not understand chattering and boasting； on thecontrary； I despise it。〃 And the snail spat at them with contempt。
〃I am able to affirm with word of oath； that each prize… at least；those for which I voted… was given with just and properconsideration；〃 said the old boundary post in the wood； who was amember of the mittee of judges。 〃I always act with due order；consideration； and calculation。 Seven times have I already had thehonor to be present at the distribution of the prizes； and to vote；but to…day is the first time I have been able to carry out my will。I always reckon the first prize by going through the alphabet from thebeginning； and the second by going through from the end。 Be so kind asto give me your attention； and I will explain to you how I reckon fromthe beginning。 The eighth letter from A is H； and there we have Hfor hare； therefore I awarded to the hare the first prize。 Theeighth letter from the end of the alphabet is S； and therefore thesnail received the second prize。 Next year； the letter I will have itsturn for the first prize； and the letter R for the second。〃
〃I should really have voted for myself；〃 said the mule； 〃if Ihad not been one of the judges on the mittee。 Not only the rapiditywith which advance is made； but every other quality should have dueconsideration； as； for instance； how much weight a candidate is ableto draw； but I have not brought this quality forward now； nor thesagacity of the hare in his flight； nor the cunning with which hesuddenly springs aside and doubles； to lead people on a false track；thinking he has concealed himself。 No； there is something else onwhich more stress should be laid； and which ought not be leftunnoticed。 I mean that which mankind call the beautiful。 It is onthe beautiful that I particularly fix my eyes。 I observed thewell…grown ears of the hare； it is a pleasure to me to observe howlong they are。 It seemed as if I saw myself again in the days of mychildhood； and so I voted for the hare。〃
〃Buz；〃 said the fly； 〃there； I'm not going to make a longspeech； but I wish to say something about hares。 I have reallyovertaken more than one hare； when I have been seated on the engine infront of a railw