end of that time； one day the boatman came over to see Ib； witha kind greeting from Christina。 He had something else to say； whichmade him hesitate in a strange manner。 At last it came out thatChristina； who had grown a very pretty girl； was more lucky than ever。She was courted and admired by every one； but her master's son； whohad been home on a visit； was so much pleased with Christina that hewished to marry her。 He had a very good situation in an office atCopenhagen； and as she had also taken a liking for him； his parentswere not unwilling to consent。 But Christina； in her heart； oftenthought of Ib； and knew how much he thought of her； so she feltinclined to refuse this good fortune； added the boatman。 At first Ibsaid not a word； but he became as white as the wall； and shook hishead gently； and then he spoke；… 〃Christina must not refuse thisgood fortune。〃
〃Then will you write a few words to her？〃 said the boatman。
Ib sat down to write； but he could not get on at all。 The wordswere not what he wished to say； so he tore up the page。 Thefollowing morning； however； a letter lay ready to be sent toChristina； and the following is what he wrote：…
〃The letter written by you to your father I have read； and seefrom it that you are prosperous in everything； and that still betterfortune is in store for you。 Ask your own heart； Christina； andthink over carefully what awaits you if you take me for yourhusband； for I possess very little in the world。 Do not think of me orof my position； think only of your own welfare。 You are bound to me byno promises； and if in your heart you have given me one； I release youfrom it。 May every blessing and happiness be poured out upon you；Christina。 Heaven will give me the heart's consolation。
Ever your sincere friend； IB。〃
This letter was sent； and Christina received it in due time。 Inthe course of the following November； her banns were published inthe church on the heath； and also in Copenhagen； where thebridegroom lived。 She was taken to Copenhagen under the protectionof her future mother…in…law； because the bridegroom could not sparetime from his numerous occupations for a journey so far intoJutland。 On the journey； Christina met her father at one of thevillages through which they passed； and here he took leave of her。Very little was said about the matter to Ib； and he did not refer toit； his mother； however； noticed that he had grown very silent andpensive。 Thinking as he did of old times； no wonder the three nutscame into his mind which the gypsy woman had given him when a child；and of the two which he had given to Christina。 These wishing nuts；after all； had proved true fortune…tellers。 One had contained a gildedcarriage and noble horses； and the other beautiful clothes； all ofthese Christina would now have in her new home at Copenhagen。 Her parthad e true。 And for him the nut had contained only black earth。 Thegypsy woman had said it was the best for him。 Perhaps it was； and thisalso would be fulfilled。 He understood the gypsy woman's meaningnow。 The black earth… the dark grave… was the best thing for him now。
Again years passed away； not many； but they seemed long years toIb。 The old innkeeper and his wife died one after the other； and thewhole of their property； many thousand dollars； was inherited by theirson。 Christina could have the golden carriage now； and plenty offine clothes。 During the two long years which followed； no letter camefrom Christina to her father； and when at last her father received onefrom her； it did not speak of prosperity or happiness。 Poor Christina！Neither she nor her husband understood how to economize or save； andthe riches brought no blessing with them； because they had not askedfor it。
Years passed； and for many summers the heath was covered withbloom； in winter the snow rested upon it； and the rough winds blewacross the ridge under which stood Ib's sheltered home。 One spring daythe sun shone brightly； and he was guiding the plough across hisfield。 The ploughshare struck against something which he fancied was afirestone； and then he saw glittering in the earth a splinter ofshining metal which the plough had cut from something which gleamedbrightly in the furrow。 He searched； and found a large golden armletof superior workmanship； and it was evident that the plough haddisturbed a Hun's grave。 He searched further； and found morevaluable treasures； which Ib showed to the clergyman； who explainedtheir value to him。 Then he went to the magistrate； who informed thepresident of the museum of the discovery； and advised Ib to take thetreasures himself to the president。
〃You have found in the earth the best thing you could find；〃said the magistrate。
〃The best thing；〃 thought Ib； 〃the very best thing for me；… andfound in the earth！ Well； if it really is so； then the gypsy woman wasright in her prophecy。〃
So Ib went in the ferry…boat from Aarhus to Copenhagen。 To him whohad only sailed once or twice on the river near his own home； thisseemed like a voyage on the ocean； and at length he arrived atCopenhagen。 The value of the gold he had found was paid to him； it wasa large sum… six hundred dollars。 Then Ib of the heath went out； andwandered about in the great city。
On the evening before the day he had settled to return with thecaptain of the passage…boat； Ib lost himself in the streets； andtook quite a different turning to the one he wished to follow。 Hewandered on till he found himself in a poor street of the suburbcalled Christian's Haven。 Not a creature could be seen。 At last a verylittle girl came out of one of the wretched…looking houses； and Ibasked her to tell him the way to the street he wanted； she looked uptimidly at him； and began to cry bitterly。 He asked her what was thematter； but what she said he could not understand。 So he went alongthe street with her； and as they passed under a lamp； the light fellon the little girl's face。 A strange sensation came over Ib； as hecaught sight of it。 The living； breathing embodiment of LittleChristina stood before him； just as he remembered her in the days ofher childhood。 He followed the child to the wretched house； andascended the narrow； crazy staircase which led to a little garret inthe roof。 The air in the room was heavy and stifling； no light wasburning； and from one corner came sounds of moaning and sighing。 Itwas the mother of the child who lay there on a miserable bed。 With thehelp of a match； Ib struck a light； and approached her。
〃Can I be of any service to you？〃 he asked。 〃This little girlbrought me up here； but I am a stranger in this city。 Are there noneighbors or any one whom I can call？〃
Then he raised the head of the sick woman； and smoothed herpillow。 He started as he did so。 It was Christina of the heath！ No onehad mentioned her name to Ib for years； it would have disturbed hispeace of mind； especially as the reports respecting her were not good。The wealth which her husband had inherited from his parents had madehim proud and arrogant。 He had given up his certain appointment； andtravelled for six months in foreign lands； and； on his return； hadlived in great style； and got into terrible debt。 For a time he hadtrembled on the high pedestal on which he had placed himself； t