n sent for toopen a vein in her arm； but the poor woman was dead。
〃She has drunk herself to death；〃 said the cruel mayor。 In theletter； containing the news of his brother's death； it was stated thathe had left in his will a legacy of six hundred dollars to theglovemaker's widow； who had been his mother's maid； to be paid withdiscretion； in large or small sums to the widow or her child。
〃There was something between my brother and her； I remember；〃 saidthe mayor； 〃it is a good thing that she is out of the way； for now theboy will have the whole。 I will place him with honest people tobring him up； that he may bee a respectable working man。〃 And theblessing of God rested upon these words。 The mayor sent for the boy toe to him； and promised to take care of him； but most cruellyadded that it was a good thing that his mother was dead； for 〃shewas good for nothing。〃 They carried her to the churchyard； thechurchyard in which the poor were buried。 Martha strewed sand on thegrave and planted a rose…tree upon it； and the boy stood by her side。
〃Oh； my poor mother！〃 he cried； while the tears rolled down hischeeks。 〃Is it true what they say； that she was good for nothing？〃
〃No； indeed； it is not true；〃 replied the old servant； raising hereyes to heaven； 〃she was worth a great deal； I knew it years ago；and since the last night of her life I am more certain of it thanever。 I say she was a good and worthy woman； and God； who is inheaven； knows I am speaking the truth； though the world may say；even now she was good for nothing。〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
SOMETHING
by Hans Christian AndersenSOMETHING
〃I MEAN to be somebody； and do something useful in the world；〃said the eldest of five brothers。 〃I don't care how humble my positionis； so that I can only do some good； which will be something。 I intendto be a brickmaker； bricks are always wanted； and I shall be reallydoing something。〃
〃Your 'something' is not enough for me；〃 said the secondbrother； 〃what you talk of doing is nothing at all； it is journeyman'swork； or might even be done by a machine。 No！ I should prefer to bea builder at once； there is something real in that。 A man gains aposition； he bees a citizen； has his own sign； his own house ofcall for his workmen： so I shall be a builder。 If all goes well； intime I shall bee a master； and have my own journeymen； and mywife will be treated as a master's wife。 This is what I callsomething。〃
〃I call it all nothing；〃 said the third； 〃not in reality anyposition。 There are many in a town far above a master builder inposition。 You may be an upright man； but even as a master you willonly be ranked among mon men。 I know better what to do than that。 Iwill be an architect； which will place me among those who possessriches and intellect； and who speculate in art。 I shall certainly haveto rise by my own endeavors from a bricklayer's laborer； or as acarpenter's apprentice… a lad wearing a paper cap； although I now weara silk hat。 I shall have to fetch beer and spirits for the journeymen；and they will call me 'thou；' which will be an insult。 I shallendure it； however； for I shall look upon it all as a mererepresentation； a masquerade； a mummery； which to…morrow； that is；when I myself as a journeyman； shall have served my time； will vanish；and I shall go my way； and all that has passed will be nothing tome。 Then I shall enter the academy； and get instructed in drawing； andbe called an architect。 I may even attain to rank； and havesomething placed before or after my name； and I shall build asothers have done before me。 By this there will be always 'something'to make me remembered； and is not that worth living for？〃
〃Not in my opinion；〃 said the fourth； 〃I will never follow thelead of others； and only imitate what they have done。 I will be agenius； and bee greater than all of you together。 I will create anew style of building； and introduce a plan for erecting housessuitable to the climate； with material easily obtained in the country；and thus suit national feeling and the developments of the age；besides building a storey for my own genius。〃
〃But supposing the climate and the material are not good formuch；〃 said the fifth brother； 〃that would be very unfortunate foryou； and have an influence over your experiments。 Nationality mayassert itself until it bees affectation； and the developments ofa century may run wild； as youth often does。 I see clearly that noneof you will ever really be anything worth notice； however you maynow fancy it。 But do as you like； I shall not imitate you。 I mean tokeep clear of all these things； and criticize what you do。 In everyaction something imperfect may be discovered； something not right；which I shall make it my business to find out and expose； that will besomething； I fancy。〃 And he kept his word； and became a critic。
People said of this fifth brother； 〃There is something veryprecise about him； he has a good head…piece； but he does nothing。〃 Andon that very account they thought he must be something。
Now； you see； this is a little history which will never end； aslong as the world exists； there will always be men like these fivebrothers。 And what became of them？ Were they each nothing orsomething？ You shall hear； it is quite a history。
The eldest brother； he who fabricated bricks； soon discovered thateach brick； when finished； brought him in a small coin； if only acopper one； and many copper pieces； if placed one upon another； can bechanged into a shining shilling； and at whatever door a person knocks；who has a number of these in his hands； whether it be the baker's； thebutcher's； or the tailor's； the door flies open； and he can get all hewants。 So you see the value of bricks。 Some of the bricks； however；crumbled to pieces； or were broken； but the elder brother found ause for even these。
On the high bank of earth； which formed a dyke on the sea…coast； apoor woman named Margaret wished to build herself a house； so allthe imperfect bricks were given to her； and a few whole ones withthem； for the eldest brother was a kind…hearted man； although he neverachieved anything higher than making bricks。 The poor woman builtherself a little house… it was small and narrow； and the window wasquite crooked； the door too low； and the straw roof might have beenbetter thatched。 But still it was a shelter； and from within you couldlook far over the sea； which dashed wildly against the sea…wall onwhich the little house was built。 The salt waves sprinkled their whitefoam over it； but it stood firm； and remained long after he who hadgiven the bricks to build it was dead and buried。
The second brother of course knew better how to build than poorMargaret； for he served an apprenticeship to learn it。 When his timewas up； he packed up his knapsack； and went on his travels； singingthe journeyman's song；…
〃While young； I can wander without a care；
And build new houses everywhere；
Fair and bright are my dreams of home；
Always thought of wherever I roam。
Hurrah for a workman's life of glee！
There's a loved one at home who thinks of me；
Home and friends I can ne'er forget；
And I mean to be a master yet。〃And that is what he did。 On his retur