ic wand；whereupon he became less and less； until at last he was not longerthan a little finger。 〃Now you can borrow the dress of the tinsoldier。 I think it will just fit you。 It looks well to wear a uniformwhen you go into pany。〃
〃Yes； certainly；〃 said Hjalmar； and in a moment he was dressedas neatly as the neatest of all tin soldiers。
〃Will you be so good as to seat yourself in your mamma's thimble；〃said the little mouse； 〃that I may have the pleasure of drawing you tothe wedding。〃
〃Will you really take so much trouble； young lady？〃 saidHjalmar。 And so in this way he rode to the mouse's wedding。
First they went under the floor； and then passed through a longpassage； which was scarcely high enough to allow the thimble todrive under； and the whole passage was lit up with thephosphorescent light of rotten wood。
〃Does it not smell delicious？〃 asked the mouse； as she drew himalong。 〃The wall and the floor have been smeared with bacon…rind；nothing can be nicer。〃
Very soon they arrived at the bridal hall。 On the right stoodall the little lady…mice； whispering and giggling； as if they weremaking game of each other。 To the left were the gentlemen…mice；stroking their whiskers with their fore…paws； and in the centre of thehall could be seen the bridal pair； standing side by side； in a hollowcheese…rind； and kissing each other； while all eyes were upon them；for they had already been betrothed； and were soon to be married。 Moreand more friends kept arriving； till the mice were nearly treadingeach other to death； for the bridal pair now stood in the doorway； andnone could pass in or out。
The room had been rubbed over with bacon…rind； like the passage；which was all the refreshment offered to the guests。 But for dessertthey produced a pea； on which a mouse belonging to the bridal pair hadbitten the first letters of their names。 This was something quiteunmon。 All the mice said it was a very beautiful wedding； andthat they had been very agreeably entertained。
After this； Hjalmar returned home。 He had certainly been ingrand society； but he had been obliged to creep under a room； and tomake himself small enough to wear the uniform of a tin soldier。FRIDAY
FRIDAY
〃It is incredible how many old people there are who would beglad to have me at night；〃 said Ole…Luk…Oie； 〃especially those whohave done something wrong。 'Good little Ole；' say they to me； 'wecannot close our eyes； and we lie awake the whole night and see allour evil deeds sitting on our beds like little imps； and sprinkling uswith hot water。 Will you e and drive them away； that we may havea good night's rest？' and then they sigh so deeply and say； 'Wewould gladly pay you for it。 Good…night； Ole…Luk； the money lies onthe window。' But I never do anything for gold。〃 〃What shall we doto…night？〃 asked Hjalmar。 〃I do not know whether you would care togo to another wedding；〃 he replied； 〃although it is quite adifferent affair to the one we saw last night。 Your sister's largedoll； that is dressed like a man； and is called Herman； intends tomarry the doll Bertha。 It is also the dolls' birthday； and they willreceive many presents。〃
〃Yes； I know that already；〃 said Hjalmar； 〃my sister always allowsher dolls to keep their birthdays or to have a wedding when theyrequire new clothes； that has happened already a hundred times； I amquite sure。〃
〃Yes； so it may； but to…night is the hundred and first wedding；and when that has taken place it must be the last； therefore this isto be extremely beautiful。 Only look。〃
Hjalmar looked at the table； and there stood the little card…boarddoll's house； with lights in all the windows； and drawn up before itwere the tin soldiers presenting arms。 The bridal pair were seatedon the floor； leaning against the leg of the table； looking verythoughtful； and with good reason。 Then Ole…Luk…Oie dressed up ingrandmother's black gown married them。
As soon as the ceremony was concluded； all the furniture in theroom joined in singing a beautiful song； which had been posed bythe lead pencil； and which went to the melody of a military tattoo。
〃What merry sounds are on the wind；
As marriage rites together bind
A quiet and a loving pair；
Though formed of kid； yet smooth and fair！
Hurrah！ If they are deaf and blind；
We'll sing； though weather prove unkind。〃
And now came the present； but the bridal pair had nothing toeat； for love was to be their food。
〃Shall we go to a country house； or travel？〃 asked the bridegroom。
Then they consulted the swallow who had travelled so far； andthe old hen in the yard； who had brought up five broods of chickens。
And the swallow talked to them of warm countries； where the grapeshang in large clusters on the vines； and the air is soft and mild； andabout the mountains glowing with colors more beautiful than we canthink of。
〃But they have no red cabbage like we have；〃 said the hen； 〃Iwas once in the country with my chickens for a whole summer； there wasa large sand…pit； in which we could walk about and scratch as weliked。 Then we got into a garden in which grew red cabbage； oh； hownice it was； I cannot think of anything more delicious。〃
〃But one cabbage stalk is exactly like another；〃 said the swallow；〃and here we have often bad weather。〃
〃Yes； but we are accustomed to it；〃 said the hen。
〃But it is so cold here； and freezes sometimes。〃
〃Cold weather is good for cabbages；〃 said the hen； 〃besides wedo have it warm here sometimes。 Four years ago； we had a summer thatlasted more than five weeks； and it was so hot one could scarcelybreathe。 And then in this country we have no poisonous animals； and weare free from robbers。 He must be wicked who does not consider ourcountry the finest of all lands。 He ought not to be allowed to livehere。〃 And then the hen wept very much and said； 〃I have alsotravelled。 I once went twelve miles in a coop； and it was not pleasanttravelling at all。〃
〃The hen is a sensible woman；〃 said the doll Bertha。 〃I don't carefor travelling over mountains； just to go up and e down again。No； let us go to the sand…pit in front of the gate； and then take awalk in the cabbage garden。〃
And so they settled it。SATURDAY
SATURDAY
〃Am I to hear any more stories？〃 asked little Hjalmar； as soonas Ole…Luk…Oie had sent him to sleep。
〃We shall have no time this evening；〃 said he； spreading out hisprettiest umbrella over the child。 〃Look at these Chinese；〃 and thenthe whole umbrella appeared like a large china bowl； with blue treesand pointed bridges； upon which stood little Chinamen nodding theirheads。 〃We must make all the world beautiful for to…morrow morning；〃said Ole…Luk…Oie； 〃for it will be a holiday； it is Sunday。 I mustnow go to the church steeple and see if the little sprites who livethere have polished the bells； so that they may sound sweetly。 ThenI must go into the fields and see if the wind has blown the dustfrom the grass and the leaves； and the most difficult task of allwhich I have to do； is to take down all the stars and brighten themup。 I have to number them first before I put them in my apron； andalso to number the places from which I take them； so that they maygo back into the right holes； or else they would not remain； and weshould