h arms grew more and more red； whilethe lions； with gold crowns on their heads； were leaping up。 〃Thatis the most beautiful coat of arms in the world；〃 said the old man。〃The lions represent strength； and the hearts； gentleness and love。〃And as he gazed on the uppermost lion； he thought of King Canute；who chained great England to Denmark's throne； and he looked at thesecond lion； and thought of Waldemar； who untied Denmark and conqueredthe Vandals。 The third lion reminded him of Margaret； who unitedDenmark； Sweden； and Norway。 But when he gazed at the red hearts；their colors glowed more deeply； even as flames； and his memoryfollowed each in turn。 The first led him to a dark； narrow prison；in which sat a prisoner； a beautiful woman； daughter of Christianthe Fourth； Eleanor Ulfeld； and the flame became a rose on herbosom； and its blossoms were not more pure than the heart of thisnoblest and best of all Danish women。 〃Ah； yes； that is indeed a nobleheart in the Danish arms；〃 said the grandfather。 and his spiritfollowed the second flame； which carried him out to sea； where cannonsroared and the ships lay shrouded in smoke； and the flaming heartattached itself to the breast of Hvitfeldt in the form of the ribbonof an order； as he blew himself and his ship into the air in orderto save the fleet。 And the third flame led him to Greenland's wretchedhuts； where the preacher； Hans Egede； ruled with love in every wordand action。 The flame was as a star on his breast； and added anotherheart to the Danish arms。 And as the old grandfather's spirit followedthe next hovering flame； he knew whither it would lead him。 In apeasant woman's humble room stood Frederick the Sixth； writing hisname with chalk on the beam。 The flame trembled on his breast and inhis heart； and it was in the peasant's room that his heart becameone for the Danish arms。 The old grandfather wiped his eyes； for hehad known King Frederick； with his silvery locks and his honest blueeyes； and had lived for him； and he folded his hands and remainedfor some time silent。 Then his daughter came to him and said it wasgetting late； that he ought to rest for a while； and that the supperwas on the table。
〃What you have been carving is very beautiful； grandfather；〃said she。 〃Holger Danske and the old coat of arms； it seems to me asif I have seen the face somewhere。〃
〃No； that is impossible；〃 replied the old grandfather； 〃but I haveseen it； and I have tried to carve it in wood； as I have retained itin my memory。 It was a long time ago； while the English fleet lay inthe roads； on the second of April； when we showed that we were true；ancient Danes。 I was on board the Denmark； in Steene Bille's squadron；I had a man by my side whom even the cannon balls seemed to fear。 Hesung old songs in a merry voice； and fired and fought as if he weresomething more than a man。 I still remember his face； but fromwhence he came； or whither he went； I know not； no one knows。 I haveoften thought it might have been Holger Danske himself； who had swamdown to us from Kronenburg to help us in the hour of danger。 Thatwas my idea； and there stands his likeness。〃
The wooden figure threw a gigantic shadow on the wall； and even onpart of the ceiling； it seemed as if the real Holger Danske stoodbehind it； for the shadow moved； but this was no doubt caused by theflame of the lamp not burning steadily。 Then the daughter…in…lawkissed the old grandfather； and led him to a large arm…chair by thetable； and she； and her husband； who was the son of the old man andthe father of the little boy who lay in bed； sat down to supper withhim。 And the old grandfather talked of the Danish lions and the Danishhearts； emblems of strength and gentleness； and explained quiteclearly that there is another strength than that which lies in asword； and he pointed to a shelf where lay a number of old books；and amongst them a collection of Holberg's plays； which are muchread and are so clever and amusing that it is easy to fancy we haveknown the people of those days； who are described in them。
〃He knew how to fight also；〃 said the old man； 〃for he lashedthe follies and prejudices of people during his whole life。〃
Then the grandfather nodded to a place above the looking…glass；where hung an almanac； with a representation of the Round Tower uponit； and said 〃Tycho Brahe was another of those who used a sword； butnot one to cut into the flesh and bone； but to make the way of thestars of heaven clear； and plain to be understood。 And then he whosefather belonged to my calling；… yes； he； the son of the oldimage…carver； he whom we ourselves have seen； with his silvery locksand his broad shoulders； whose name is known in all lands；… yes； hewas a sculptor； while I am only a carver。 Holger Danske can appearin marble； so that people in all countries of the world may hear ofthe strength of Denmark。 Now let us drink the health of Bertel。〃
But the little boy in bed saw plainly the old castle ofKronenburg； and the Sound of Elsinore； and Holger Danske； far downin the cellar； with his beard rooted to the table； and dreaming ofeverything that was passing above him。
And Holger Danske did dream of the little humble room in which theimage…carver sat； he heard all that had been said； and he nodded inhis dream； saying； 〃Ah； yes； remember me； you Danish people； keep mein your memory； I will e to you in the hour of need。〃
The bright morning light shone over Kronenburg； and the windbrought the sound of the hunting…horn across from the neighboringshores。 The ships sailed by and saluted the castle with the boom ofthe cannon； and Kronenburg returned the salute； 〃Boom； boom。〃 Butthe roaring cannons did not awake Holger Danske； for they meant only〃Good morning；〃 and 〃Thank you。〃 They must fire in another fashionbefore he awakes； but wake he will； for there is energy yet inHolger Danske。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
IB AND LITTLE CHRISTINA
by Hans Christian Andersen
IN the forest that extends from the banks of the Gudenau； in NorthJutland； a long way into the country； and not far from the clearstream； rises a great ridge of land； which stretches through thewood like a wall。 Westward of this ridge； and not far from theriver； stands a farmhouse； surrounded by such poor land that the sandysoil shows itself between the scanty ears of rye and wheat whichgrow in it。 Some years have passed since the people who lived herecultivated these fields； they kept three sheep； a pig； and two oxen；in fact they maintained themselves very well； they had quite enough tolive upon； as people generally have who are content with their lot。They even could have afforded to keep two horses； but it was asaying among the farmers in those parts； 〃The horse eats himselfup；〃 that is to say； he eats as much as he earns。 Jeppe Janscultivated his fields in summer； and in the winter he made woodenshoes。 He also had an assistant； a lad who understood as well as hehimself did how to make wooden shoes strong； but light； and in thefashion。 They carved shoes and spoons； which paid well； therefore noone could justly call Jeppe Jans and his family poor people。 LittleIb； a boy of seven years old and the only child； would sit by；watching the workmen； or cutting