g broken；' said a voice within him。 His daughterswept； all the people in the mansion wiped their eyes； but Lady Daa haddriven away； and I drove away too；〃 said the Wind。 〃Whir…r…r；whir…r…r…！
〃I returned again； I often returned and passed over the islandof Funen and the shores of the Belt。 Then I rested by Borreby； nearthe glorious wood； where the heron made his nest； the haunt of thewood…pigeons； the blue…birds； and the black stork。 It was yetspring； some were sitting on their eggs； others had already hatchedtheir young broods； but how they fluttered about and cried out whenthe axe sounded through the forest； blow upon blow！ The trees of theforest were doomed。 Waldemar Daa wanted to build a noble ship； aman…of…war； a three…decker； which the king would be sure to buy； andthese； the trees of the wood； the landmark of the seamen； the refugeof the birds； must be felled。 The hawk started up and flew away； forits nest was destroyed； the heron and all the birds of the forestbecame homeless； and flew about in fear and anger。 I could wellunderstand how they felt。 Crows and ravens croaked； as if in scorn；while the trees were cracking and falling around them。 Far in theinterior of the wood； where a noisy swarm of laborers were working；stood Waldemar Daa and his three daughters； and all were laughing atthe wild cries of the birds； excepting one； the youngest； AnnaDorothea； who felt grieved to the heart； and when they madepreparations to fell a tree that was almost dead； and on whose nakedbranches the black stork had built her nest； she saw the poor littlethings stretching out their necks； and she begged for mercy forthem； with the tears in her eyes。 So the tree with the black stork'snest was left standing； the tree itself； however； was not worth muchto speak of。 Then there was a great deal of hewing and sawing； andat last the three…decker was built。 The builder was a man of loworigin； but possessing great pride； his eyes and forehead spoke oflarge intellect； and Waldemar Daa was fond of listening to him； and sowas Waldemar's daughter Ida； the eldest； now about fifteen yearsold； and while he was building the ship for the father； he wasbuilding for himself a castle in the air； in which he and Ida wereto live when they were married。 This might have happened； indeed； ifthere had been a real castle； with stone walls； ramparts； and amoat。 But in spite of his clever head； the builder was still but apoor； inferior bird； and how can a sparrow expect to be admittedinto the society of peacocks？
〃I passed on in my course；〃 said the Wind； 〃and he passed awayalso。 He was not allowed to remain； and little Ida got over it；because she was obliged to do so。 Proud； black horses； worth lookingat； were neighing in the stable。 And they were locked up； for theadmiral； who had been sent by the king to inspect the new ship； andmake arrangements for its purchase； was loud in admiration of thesebeautiful horses。 I heard it all；〃 said the Wind； 〃for I acpaniedthe gentlemen through the open door of the stable； and strewedstalks of straw； like bars of gold； at their feet。 Waldemar Daa wantedgold； and the admiral wished for the proud black horses； thereforehe praised them so much。 But the hint was not taken； andconsequently the ship was not bought。 It remained on the shore coveredwith boards；… a Noah's ark that never got to the water… Whir…r…r…r…and that was a pity。
〃In the winter； when the fields were covered with snow； and thewater filled with large blocks of ice which I had blown up to thecoast；〃 continued the Wind； 〃great flocks of crows and ravens； darkand black as they usually are； came and alighted on the lonely；deserted ship。 Then they croaked in harsh accents of the forest thatnow existed no more； of the many pretty birds' nests destroyed and thelittle ones left without a home； and all for the sake of that greatbit of lumber； that proud ship； that never sailed forth。 I made thesnowflakes whirl till the snow lay like a great lake round the ship；and drifted over it。 I let it hear my voice； that it might know whatthe storm has to say。 Certainly I did my part towards teaching itseamanship。
〃That winter passed away； and another winter and summer bothpassed； as they are still passing away； even as I pass away。 Thesnow drifts onwards； the apple…blossoms are scattered； the leavesfall；… everything passes away； and men are passing away too。 But thegreat man's daughters are still young； and little Ida is a rose asfair to look upon as on the day when the shipbuilder first saw her。I often tumbled her long； brown hair； while she stood in the garden bythe apple…tree； musing； and not heeding how I strewed the blossomson her hair； and dishevelled it； or sometimes； while she stoodgazing at the red sun and the golden sky through the openingbranches of the dark； thick foliage of the garden trees。 Her sisterJoanna was bright and slender as a lily； she had a tall and loftycarriage and figure； though； like her mother； rather stiff in back。She was very fond of walking through the great hall； where hung theportraits of her ancestors。 The women were represented in dresses ofvelvet and silk； with tiny little hats； embroidered with pearls； ontheir braided hair。 They were all handsome women。 The gentlemenappeared clad in steel； or in rich cloaks lined with squirrel's fur；they wore little ruffs； and swords at their sides。 Where wouldJoanna's place be on that wall some day？ and how would he look；… hernoble lord and husband？ This is what she thought of； and often spokeof in a low voice to herself。 I heard it as I swept into the longhall； and turned round to e out again。 Anna Dorothea； the palehyacinth； a child of fourteen； was quiet and thoughtful； her large；deep； blue eyes had a dreamy look； but a childlike smile stillplayed round her mouth。 I was not able to blow it away； neither didI wish to do so。 We have met in the garden； in the hollow lane； in thefield and meadow； where she gathered herbs and flowers which sheknew would be useful to her father in preparing the drugs and mixtureshe was always concocting。 Waldemar Daa was arrogant and proud； buthe was also a learned man； and knew a great deal。 It was no secret；and many opinions were expressed on what he did。 In his fireplacethere was a fire； even in summer time。 He would lock himself in hisroom； and for days the fire would be kept burning； but he did not talkmuch of what he was doing。 The secret powers of nature are generallydiscovered in solitude； and did he not soon expect to find out the artof making the greatest of all good things… the art of making gold？So he fondly hoped； therefore the chimney smoked and the fire crackledso constantly。 Yes； I was there too；〃 said the Wind。 〃'Leave italone；' I sang down the chimney； 'leave it alone； it will all end insmoke； air； coals； and ashes； and you will burn your fingers。' ButWaldemar Daa did not leave it alone； and all he possessed vanishedlike smoke blown by me。 The splendid black horses； where are they？What became of the cows in the field； the old gold and silvervessels in cupboards and chests； and even the house and home itself？It was easy to melt all these away in the gold…making crucible； andyet obtain no gold。 And so it was。 Empty are the barns andstore…rooms； the cellars and c