t may beinjured； the gilding may fall off； and then the purchaser regretshis bargain。
In a large party it is very disagreeable to find a button givingway； with no studs at hand to fall back upon； but it is worse still ina large pany to be conscious that your wife and mother…in…law aretalking nonsense； and that you cannot depend upon yourself toproduce a little ready wit to carry off the stupidity of the wholeaffair。
The young married pair often sat together hand in hand； he wouldtalk； but she could only now and then let fall a word in the samemelodious voice； the same bell…like tones。 It was a mental relief whenSophy； one of her friends； came to pay them a visit。 Sophy was not；pretty。 She was； however； quite free from any physical deformity；although Kaela used to say she was a little crooked； but no eye；save an intimate acquaintance； would have noticed it。 She was a verysensible girl； yet it never occurred to her that she might be adangerous person in such a house。 Her appearance created a newatmosphere in the doll's house； and air was really required； theyall owned that。 They felt the want of a change of air； andconsequently the young couple and their mother travelled to Italy。
〃Thank heaven we are at home again within our own four walls；〃said mamma…in…law and daughter both； on their return after a year'sabsence。
〃There is no real pleasure in travelling；〃 said mamma； 〃to tellthe truth； it's very wearisome； I beg pardon for saying so。 I was soonvery tired of it； although I had my children with me； and； besides；it's very expensive work travelling； very expensive。 And all thosegalleries one is expected to see； and the quantity of things you areobliged to run after！ It must be done； for very shame； you are sure tobe asked when you e back if you have seen everything； and will mostlikely be told that you've omitted to see what was best worth seeingof all。 I got tired at last of those endless Madonnas； I began tothink I was turning into a Madonna myself。〃
〃And then the living； mamma；〃 said Kaela。
〃Yes； indeed；〃 she replied； 〃no such a thing as a respectable meatsoup… their cookery is miserable stuff。〃
The journey had also tired Kaela； but she was always fatigued；that was the worst of it。 So they sent for Sophy； and she was takeninto the house to reside with them； and her presence there was a greatadvantage。 Mamma…in…law acknowledged that Sophy was not only aclever housewife； but well…informed and acplished； though thatcould hardly be expected in a person of her limited means。 She wasalso a generous…hearted； faithful girl； she showed that thoroughlywhile Kaela lay sick； fading away。 When the casket is everything；the casket should be strong； or else all is over。 And all was overwith the casket； for Kaela died。
〃She was beautiful；〃 said her mother； 〃she was quite differentfrom the beauties they call 'antiques；' for they are so damaged。 Abeauty ought to be perfect； and Kaela was a perfect beauty。〃
Alfred wept； and mamma wept； and they both wore mourning。 Theblack dress suited mamma very well； and she wore mourning the longest。She had also to experience another grief in seeing Alfred marry again；marry Sophy； who was nothing at all to look at。 〃He's gone to the veryextreme；〃 said mamma…in…law； 〃he has gone from the most beautiful tothe ugliest； and he has forgotten his first wife。 Men have noconstancy。 My husband was a very different man；… but then he diedbefore me。〃
〃'Pygmalion loved his Galatea；' was in the song they sung at myfirst wedding；〃 said Alfred； 〃I once fell in love with a beautifulstatue； which awoke to life in my arms； but the kindred soul； which isa gift from heaven； the angel who can feel and sympathize with andelevate us； I have not found and won till now。 You came； Sophy； not inthe glory of outward beauty； though you are even fairer than isnecessary。 The chief thing still remains。 You came to teach thesculptor that his work is but dust and clay only； an outward form madeof a material that decays； and that what we should seek to obtain isthe ethereal essence of mind and spirit。 Poor Kaela！ our life wasbut as a meeting by the way…side； in yonder world； where we shall knoweach other from a union of mind； we shall be but mere acquaintances。〃
〃That was not a loving speech；〃 said Sophy； 〃nor spoken like aChristian。 In a future state； where there is neither marrying norgiving in marriage； but where； as you say； souls are attracted to eachother by sympathy； there everything beautiful develops itself； andis raised to a higher state of existence： her soul will acquire suchpleteness that it may harmonize with yours； even more than mine；and you will then once more utter your first rapturous exclamationof your love； 'Beautiful； most beautiful！'〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
BY THE ALMSHOUSE WINDOW
by Hans Christian Andersen
NEAR the grass…covered rampart which encircles Copenhagen lies agreat red house。 Balsams and other flowers greet us from the long rowsof windows in the house； whose interior is sufficientlypoverty…stricken； and poor and old are the people who inhabit it。The building is the Warton Almshouse。
Look！ at the window there leans an old maid。 She plucks thewithered leaf from the balsam； and looks at the grass…covered rampart；on which many children are playing。 What is the old maid thinkingof？ A whole life drama is unfolding itself before her inward gaze。
〃The poor little children； how happy they are… how merrily theyplay and romp together！ What red cheeks and what angels' eyes！ butthey have no shoes nor stockings。 They dance on the green rampart；just on the place where； according to the old story； the ground alwayssank in； and where a sportive； frolicsome child had been lured bymeans of flowers； toys and sweetmeats into an open grave ready dug forit； and which was afterwards closed over the child； and from thatmoment； the old story says； the ground gave way no longer； the moundremained firm and fast； and was quickly covered with the green turf。The little people who now play on that spot know nothing of the oldtale； else would they fancy they heard a child crying deep below theearth； and the dewdrops on each blade of grass would be to themtears of woe。 Nor do they know anything of the Danish King who here；in the face of the ing foe； took an oath before all his tremblingcourtiers that he would hold out with the citizens of his capital； anddie here in his nest； they know nothing of the men who have foughthere； or of the women who from here have drenched with boiling waterthe enemy； clad in white； and 'biding in the snow to surprise thecity。
〃No！ the poor little ones are playing with light； childishspirits。 Play on； play on； thou little maiden！ Soon the years wille… yes； those glorious years。 The priestly hands have been laidon the candidates for confirmation； hand in hand they walk on thegreen rampart。 Thou hast a white frock on； it has cost thy mother muchlabor； and yet it is only cut down for thee out of an old largerdress！ You will also wear a red shawl； and what if it hang too fardown？ People will only see how large； how very large it is。 You arethinking of your dress； and of the Giver of all good… so glorious isit to wander on the gree