into terrible debt。 For a time he hadtrembled on the high pedestal on which he had placed himself； tillat last he toppled over； and ruin came。 His numerous merry panions；and the visitors at his table； said it served him right； for he hadkept house like a madman。 One morning his corpse was found in thecanal。 The cold hand of death had already touched the heart ofChristina。 Her youngest child； looked for in the midst ofprosperity； had sunk into the grave when only a few weeks old； andat last Christina herself became sick unto death； and lay； forsakenand dying； in a miserable room； amid poverty she might have borne inher younger days； but which was now more painful to her from theluxuries to which she had lately been accustomed。 It was her eldestchild； also a Little Christina； whom Ib had followed to her home；where she suffered hunger and poverty with her mother。
It makes me unhappy to think that I shall die； and leave this poorchild；〃 sighed she。 〃Oh； what will bee of her？〃 She could say nomore。
Then Ib brought out another match； and lighted a piece of candlewhich he found in the room； and it threw a glimmering light over thewretched dwelling。 Ib looked at the little girl； and thought ofChristina in her young days。 For her sake； could he not love thischild； who was a stranger to him？ As he thus reflected； the dyingwoman opened her eyes； and gazed at him。 Did she recognize him？ Henever knew； for not another word escaped her lips。
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In the forest by the river Gudenau； not far from the heath； andbeneath the ridge of land； stood the little farm； newly painted andwhitewashed。 The air was heavy and dark； there were no blossoms on theheath； the autumn winds whirled the yellow leaves towards theboatman's hut； in which strangers dwelt； but the little farm stoodsafely sheltered beneath the tall trees and the high ridge。 The turfblazed brightly on the hearth； and within was sunlight； thesparkling light from the sunny eyes of a child； the birdlike tonesfrom the rosy lips ringing like the song of a lark in spring。 Allwas life and joy。 Little Christina sat on Ib's knee。 Ib was to herboth father and mother； her own parents had vanished from hermemory； as a dream…picture vanishes alike from childhood and age。 Ib'shouse was well and prettily furnished； for he was a prosperous mannow； while the mother of the little girl rested in the churchyard atCopenhagen； where she had died in poverty。 Ib had money now… moneywhich had e to him out of the black earth； and he had Christina forhis own； after all。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
IN A THOUSAND YEARS
by Hans Christian Andersen
YES； in a thousand years people will fly on the wings of steamthrough the air； over the ocean！ The young inhabitants of America willbee visitors of old Europe。 They will e over to see themonuments and the great cities； which will then be in ruins； just aswe in our time make pilgrimages to the tottering splendors of SouthernAsia。 In a thousand years they will e！
The Thames； the Danube； and the Rhine still roll their course；Mont Blanc stands firm with its snow…capped summit； and the NorthernLights gleam over the land of the North； but generation aftergeneration has bee dust； whole rows of the mighty of the moment areforgotten； like those who already slumber under the hill on whichthe rich trader； whose ground it is； has built a bench； on which hecan sit and look out across his waving corn fields。
〃To Europe！〃 cry the young sons of America； 〃to the land of ourancestors； the glorious land of monuments and fancy… to Europe！〃
The ship of the air es。 It is crowded with passengers； forthe transit is quicker than by sea。 The electro…magic wire underthe ocean has already telegraphed the number of the aerial caravan。Europe is in sight。 It is the coast of Ireland that they see； butthe passengers are still asleep； they will not be called till they areexactly over England。 There they will first step on European shore； inthe land of Shakespeare； as the educated call it； in the land ofpolitics； the land of machines； as it is called by others。
Here they stay a whole day。 That is all the time the busy race candevote to the whole of England and Scotland。 Then the journey iscontinued through the tunnel under the English Channel； to France； theland of Charlemagne and Napoleon。 Moliere is named； the learned mentalk of the classic school of remote antiquity。 There is rejoicing andshouting for the names of heroes； poets； and men of science； whomour time does not know； but who will be born after our time inParis； the centre of Europe； and elsewhere。
The air steamboat flies over the country whence Columbus wentforth； where Cortez was born； and where Calderon sang dramas insounding verse。 Beautiful black…eyed women live still in theblooming valleys； and the oldest songs speak of the Cid and theAlhambra。
Then through the air； over the sea； to Italy； where once layold； everlasting Rome。 It has vanished！ The Campagna lies desert。 Asingle ruined wall is shown as the remains of St。 Peter's； but thereis a doubt if this ruin be genuine。
Next to Greece； to sleep a night in the grand hotel at the topof Mount Olympus； to say that they have been there； and the journey iscontinued to the Bosphorus； to rest there a few hours； and see theplace where Byzantium lay； and where the legend tells that the haremstood in the time of the Turks； poor fishermen are now spreading theirs。
Over the remains of mighty cities on the broad Danube； citieswhich we in our time know not； the travellers pass； but here andthere； on the rich sites of those that time shall bring forth； thecaravan sometimes descends； and departs thence again。
Down below lies Germany； that was once covered with a close ofrailway and canals； the region where Luther spoke； where Goethesang； and Mozart once held the sceptre of harmony。 Great names shihere； in science and in art； names that are unknown to us。 One daydevoted to seeing Germany； and one for the North； the country ofOersted and Linnaeus； and for Norway； the land of the old heroes andthe young Normans。 Iceland is visited on the journey home。 The geysersburn no more； Hecla is an extinct volcano； but the rocky island isstill fixed in the midst of the foaming sea； a continual monument oflegend and poetry。
〃There is really a great deal to be seen in Europe；〃 says theyoung American； 〃and we have seen it in a week； according to thedirections of the great traveller〃 （and here he mentions the name ofone of his contemporaries） 〃in his celebrated work； 'How to See AllEurope in a Week。'〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
IN THE NURSERY
by Hans Christian Andersen
FATHER； and mother； and brothers； and sisters； were gone to theplay； only little Anna and her grandpapa were left at home。
〃We'll have a play too；〃 he said； 〃and it may begin immediately。〃
〃But we have no theatre；〃 cried little Anna； 〃and we have no oo act for us； my old doll cannot； for she is a fright； and my new onecannot； for she must not rumple her new clothes。〃
〃One can always get actors if one makes use of what one has；〃observed grandpapa。
〃Now we'll go into the theatre。 Here we w