the cows andthe sheep。〃
〃I expect a great deal from you；〃 said the rose…tree。 〃May I askwhen it will appear？〃
〃I take my time；〃 said the snail。 〃You're always in such ahurry。 That does not excite expectation。〃
The following year the snail lay in almost the same spot； in thesunshine under the rose…tree； which was again budding and bearingroses as fresh and beautiful as ever。 The snail crept half out ofhis shell； stretched out his horns； and drew them in again。
〃Everything is just as it was last year！ No progress at all； therose…tree sticks to its roses and gets no farther。〃
The summer and the autumn passed； the rose…tree bore roses andbuds till the snow fell and the weather became raw and wet； then itbent down its head； and the snail crept into the ground。
A new year began； the roses made their appearance； and the snailmade his too。
〃You are an old rose…tree now；〃 said the snail。 〃You must makehaste and die。 You have given the world all that you had in you；whether it was of much importance is a question that I have not hadtime to think about。 But this much is clear and plain； that you havenot done the least for your inner development； or you would haveproduced something else。 Have you anything to say in defence？ You willnow soon be nothing but a stick。 Do you understand what I say？〃
〃You frighten me；〃 said the rose… tree。 〃I have never thought ofthat。〃
〃No； you have never taken the trouble to think at all。 Have youever given yourself an account why you bloomed； and how yourblooming es about… why just in that way and in no other？〃
〃No；〃 said the rose…tree。 〃I bloom in gladness； because I cannotdo otherwise。 The sun shone and warmed me； and the air refreshed me； Idrank the clear dew and the invigorating rain。 I breathed and I lived！Out of the earth there arose a power within me； whilst from above Ialso received strength； I felt an ever…renewed and ever…increasinghappiness； and therefore I was obliged to go on blooming。 That wasmy life； I could not do otherwise。〃
〃You have led a very easy life；〃 remarked the snail。
〃Certainly。 Everything was given me；〃 said the rose…tree。 〃Butstill more was given to you。 Yours is one of those deep…thinkingnatures； one of those highly gifted minds that astonishes the world。〃
〃I have not the slightest intention of doing so；〃 said thesnail。 〃The world is nothing to me。 What have I to do with theworld？ I have enough to do with myself； and enough in myself〃
〃But must we not all here on earth give up our best parts toothers； and offer as much as lies in our power？ It is true； I haveonly given roses。 But you… you who are so richly endowed… what haveyou given to the world？ What will you give it？〃
〃What have I given？ What am I going to give？ I spit at it； it'sgood for nothing； and does not concern me。 For my part； you may goon bearing roses； you cannot do anything else。 Let the hazel bush bearnuts； and the cows and sheep give milk； they have each their public。 Ihave mine in myself。 I retire within myself and there I stop。 Theworld is nothing to me。〃
With this the snail withdrew into his house and blocked up theentrance。
〃That's very sad；〃 said the rose tree。 〃I cannot creep intomyself； however much I might wish to do so； I have to go on bearingroses。 Then they drop their leaves； which are blown away by thewind。 But I once saw how a rose was laid in the mistress'shymn…book； and how one of my roses found a place in the bosom of ayoung beautiful girl； and how another was kissed by the lips of achild in the glad joy of life。 That did me good； it was a realblessing。 Those are my recollections； my life。〃
And the rose tree went on blooming in innocence； while the snaillay idling in his house… the world was nothing to him。
Years passed by。
The snail had turned to earth in the earth； and the rose tree too。Even the souvenir rose in the hymn…book was faded； but in the gardenthere were other rose trees and other snails。 The latter crept intotheir houses and spat at the world； for it did not concern them。
Shall we read the story all over again？ It will be just the same。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE SNOW MAN
by Hans Christian Andersen
〃IT is so delightfully cold；〃 said the Snow Man； 〃that it makes mywhole body crackle。 This is just the kind of wind to blow life intoone。 How that great red thing up there is staring at me！〃 He meant thesun； who was just setting。 〃It shall not make me wink。 I shallmanage to keep the pieces。〃
He had two triangular pieces of tile in his head； instead of eyes；his mouth was made of an old broken rake； and was； of course；furnished with teeth。 He had been brought into existence amidst thejoyous shouts of boys； the jingling of sleigh…bells； and theslashing of whips。 The sun went down； and the full moon rose； large；round； and clear； shining in the deep blue。
〃There it es again； from the other side；〃 said the Snow Man；who supposed the sun was showing himself once more。 〃Ah； I havecured him of staring； though； now he may hang up there； and shine；that I may see myself。 If I only knew how to manage to move awayfrom this place；… I should so like to move。 If I could； I wouldslide along yonder on the ice； as I have seen the boys do； but I don'tunderstand how； I don't even know how to run。〃
〃Away； away；〃 barked the old yard…dog。 He was quite hoarse； andcould not pronounce 〃Bow wow〃 properly。 He had once been an indoordog； and lay by the fire； and he had been hoarse ever since。 〃Thesun will make you run some day。 I saw him； last winter； make yourpredecessor run； and his predecessor before him。 Away； away； theyall have to go。〃
〃I don't understand you； rade；〃 said the Snow Man。 〃Is thatthing up yonder to teach me to run？ I saw it running itself a littlewhile ago； and now it has e creeping up from the other side。
〃You know nothing at all；〃 replied the yard…dog； 〃but then； you'veonly lately been patched up。 What you see yonder is the moon； andthe one before it was the sun。 It will e again to…morrow； andmost likely teach you to run down into the ditch by the well； for Ithink the weather is going to change。 I can feel such pricks and stabsin my left leg； I am sure there is going to be a change。〃
〃I don't understand him；〃 said the Snow Man to himself； 〃but Ihave a feeling that he is talking of something very disagreeable。The one who stared so just now； and whom he calls the sun； is not myfriend； I can feel that too。〃
〃Away； away；〃 barked the yard…dog； and then he turned roundthree times； and crept into his kennel to sleep。
There was really a change in the weather。 Towards morning； a thickfog covered the whole country round； and a keen wind arose； so thatthe cold seemed to freeze one's bones； but when the sun rose； thesight was splendid。 Trees and bushes were covered with hoar frost； andlooked like a forest of white coral； while on every twig glitteredfrozen dew…drops。 The many delicate forms concealed in summer byluxuriant foliage； were now clearly defined； and looked likeglittering lace…work。 From every twig glistened a white radiance。The birch； waving in the wind； looked full of life； like trees insummer； and its appearance was wondrously beautiful。 And where the sunshone； ho