p。 'Soup from a sausage skewer；'said she； 'is only a proverb amongst mankind； and may be understood inmany ways。 Each believes his own way the best； and after all； theproverb signifies nothing。' 'Nothing！' I exclaimed。 I was quitestruck。 Truth is not always agreeable； but truth is above everythingelse； as the old owl said。 I thought over all this； and saw quiteplainly that if truth was really so far above everything else； it mustbe much more valuable than soup from a sausage skewer。 So I hastenedto get away； that I might be home in time； and bring what washighest and best； and above everything… namely； the truth。 The miceare an enlightened people； and the mouse…king is above them all。 He istherefore capable of making me queen for the sake of truth。〃
〃Your truth is a falsehood；〃 said the mouse who had not yetspoken； 〃I can prepare the soup； and I mean to do so。〃
HOW IT WAS PREPARED
〃I did not travel；〃 said the third mouse； 〃I stayed in thiscountry： that was the right way。 One gains nothing by travelling…everything can be acquired here quite as easily； so I stayed athome。 I have not obtained what I know from supernatural beings。 I haveneither swallowed it； nor learnt it from conversing with owls。 Ihave got it all from my reflections and thoughts。 Will you now set thekettle on the fire… so？ Now pour the water in… quite full… up to thebrim； place it on the fire； make up a good blaze； keep it burning；that the water may boil； it must boil over and over。 There； now Ithrow in the skewer。 Will the mouse…king be pleased now to dip histail into the boiling water； and stir it round with the tail。 Thelonger the king stirs it； the stronger the soup will bee。 Nothingmore is necessary； only to stir it。〃
〃Can no one else do this？〃 asked the king。
〃No；〃 said the mouse； 〃only in the tail of the mouse…king isthis power contained。〃
And the water boiled and bubbled； as the mouse…king stood closebeside the kettle。 It seemed rather a dangerous performance； but heturned round； and put out his tail； as mice do in a dairy； when theywish to skim the cream from a pan of milk with their tails andafterwards lick it off。 But the mous
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE ANGEL
by Hans Christian Andersen
〃WHENEVER a good child dies； an angel of God es down fromheaven； takes the dead child in his arms； spreads out his greatwhite wings； and flies with him over all the places which the childhad loved during his life。 Then he gathers a large handful of flowers；which he carries up to the Almighty； that they may bloom more brightlyin heaven than they do on earth。 And the Almighty presses theflowers to His heart； but He kisses the flower that pleases Himbest； and it receives a voice； and is able to join the song of thechorus of bliss。〃
These words were spoken by an angel of God； as he carried a deadchild up to heaven； and the child listened as if in a dream。 Then theypassed over well…known spots； where the little one had often played；and through beautiful gardens full of lovely flowers。
〃Which of these shall we take with us to heaven to be transplantedthere？〃 asked the angel。
Close by grew a slender； beautiful； rose…bush； but some wickedhand had broken the stem； and the half…opened rosebuds hung fadedand withered on the trailing branches。
〃Poor rose…bush！〃 said the child； 〃let us take it with us toheaven； that it may bloom above in God's garden。〃
The angel took up the rose…bush； then he kissed the child； and thelittle one half opened his eyes。 The angel gathered also somebeautiful flowers； as well as a few humble buttercups andheart's…ease。
〃Now we have flowers enough；〃 said the child； but the angel onlynodded； he did not fly upward to heaven。
It was night； and quite still in the great town。 Here theyremained； and the angel hovered over a small； narrow street； inwhich lay a large heap of straw； ashes； and sweepings from thehouses of people who had removed。 There lay fragments of plates；pieces of plaster； rags； old hats； and other rubbish not pleasant tosee。 Amidst all this confusion； the angel pointed to the pieces of abroken flower…pot； and to a lump of earth which had fallen out ofit。 The earth had been kept from falling to pieces by the roots of awithered field…flower； which had been thrown amongst the rubbish。
〃We will take this with us；〃 said the angel； 〃I will tell youwhy as we fly along。〃
And as they flew the angel related the history。
〃Down in that narrow lane； in a low cellar； lived a poor sick boy；he had been afflicted from his childhood； and even in his best days hecould just manage to walk up and down the room on crutches once ortwice； but no more。 During some days in summer； the sunbeams would lieon the floor of the cellar for about half an hour。 In this spot thepoor sick boy would sit warming himself in the sunshine； andwatching the red blood through his delicate fingers as he held thembefore his face。 Then he would say he had been out； yet he knewnothing of the green forest in its spring verdure； till a neighbor'sson brought him a green bough from a beech…tree。 This he would placeover his head； and fancy that he was in the beech…wood while the sunshone； and the birds carolled gayly。 One spring day the neighbor's boybrought him some field…flowers； and among them was one to which theroot still adhered。 This he carefully planted in a flower…pot； andplaced in a window…seat near his bed。 And the flower had beenplanted by a fortunate hand； for it grew； put forth fresh shoots；and blossomed every year。 It became a splendid flower…garden to thesick boy； and his little treasure upon earth。 He watered it； andcherished it； and took care it should have the benefit of everysunbeam that found its way into the cellar； from the earliestmorning ray to the evening sunset。 The flower entwined itself evenin his dreams… for him it bloomed； for him spread its perfume。 Andit gladdened his eyes； and to the flower he turned； even in death；when the Lord called him。 He has been one year with God。 During thattime the flower has stood in the window； withered and forgotten；till at length cast out among the sweepings into the street； on theday of the lodgers' removal。 And this poor flower； withered andfaded as it is； we have added to our nosegay； because it gave morereal joy than the most beautiful flower in the garden of a queen。〃
〃But how do you know all this？〃 asked the child whom the angel wascarrying to heaven。
〃I know it；〃 said the angel； 〃because I myself was the poor sickboy who walked upon crutches； and I know my own flower well。〃
Then the child opened his eyes and looked into the glorioushappy face of the angel； and at the same moment they foundthemselves in that heavenly home where all is happiness and joy。 AndGod pressed the dead child to His heart； and wings were given him sothat he could fly with the angel； hand in hand。 Then the Almightypressed all the flowers to His heart； but He kissed the witheredfield…flower； and it received a voice。 Then it joined in the song ofthe angels； who surrounded the throne； some near； and others in adistant circle； but all equally happy。 They all joined in the chorusof praise； both great and small；… the good； happy child； and thepoor field…flower； tha