was quite excited because he knew that he was to be taken up；and let down again in a parachute。 The bottle； however； knew nothingof the 〃up；〃 or the 〃down；〃 he saw only that the balloon wasswelling larger and larger till it could swell no more； and began torise and be restless。 Then the ropes which held it were cut through；and the aerial ship rose in the air with the aeronaut and the basketcontaining the bottle and the rabbit； while the music sounded andall the people shouted 〃Hurrah。〃
〃This is a wonderful journey up into the air；〃 thought the bottle；〃it is a new way of sailing； and here； at least； there is no fear ofstriking against anything。〃
Thousands of people gazed at the balloon； and the old maid who wasin the garden saw it also； for she stood at the open window of thegarret； by which hung the cage containing the lin； who then hadno water…glass； but was obliged to be contented with an old cup。 Inthe window…sill stood a myrtle in a pot； and this had been pushed alittle on one side； that it might not fall out； for the old maid wasleaning out of the window； that she might see。 And she did seedistinctly the aeronaut in the balloon； and how he let down the rabbitin the parachute； and then drank to the health of all the spectatorsin the wine from the bottle。 After doing this； he hurled it highinto the air。 How little she thought that this was the very samebottle which her friend had thrown aloft in her honor； on that happyday of rejoicing； in the green wood； in her youthful days。 Thebottle had no time to think； when raised so suddenly； and before itwas aware； it reached the highest point it had ever attained in itslife。 Steeples and roofs lay far； far beneath it； and the peoplelooked as tiny as possible。 Then it began to descend much more rapidlythan the rabbit had done； made somersaults in the air； and felt itselfquite young and unfettered； although it was half full of wine。 Butthis did not last long。 What a journey it was！ All the people couldsee the bottle； for the sun shone upon it。 The balloon was already faraway； and very soon the bottle was far away also； for it fell upon aroof； and broke in pieces。 But the pieces had got such an impetus inthem； that they could not stop themselves。 They went jumping androlling about； till at last they fell into the court…yard； and werebroken into still smaller pieces； only the neck of the bottlemanaged to keep whole； and it was broken off as clean as if it hadbeen cut with a diamond。
〃That would make a capital bird's glass；〃 said one of thecellar…men； but none of them had either a bird or a cage； and it wasnot to be expected they would provide one just because they hadfound a bottle neck that could be used as a glass。 But the old maidwho lived in the garret had a bird； and it really might be useful toher； so the bottle neck was provided with a cork； and taken up to her；and； as it often happens in life； the part that had been uppermost wasnow turned downwards； and it was filled with fresh water。 Then theyhung it in the cage of the little bird； who sang and twittered moremerrily than ever。
〃Ah； you have good reason to sing；〃 said the bottle neck； whichwas looked upon as something very remarkable； because it had been in aballoon； nothing further was known of its history。 As it hung there inthe bird's…cage； it could hear the noise and murmur of the people inthe street below； as well as the conversation of the old maid in theroom within。 An old friend had just e to visit her； and theytalked； not about the bottle neck； but of the myrtle in the window。
〃No； you must not spend a dollar for your daughter's bridalbouquet；〃 said the old maid； 〃you shall have a beautiful littlebunch for a nosegay； full of blossoms。 Do you see how splendidly thetree has grown？ It has been raised from only a little sprig ofmyrtle that you gave me on the day after my betrothal； and fromwhich I was to make my own bridal bouquet when a year had passed：but that day never came； the eyes were closed which were to havebeen my light and joy through life。 In the depths of the sea mybeloved sleeps sweetly； the myrtle has bee an old tree； and I ama still older woman。 Before the sprig you gave me faded； I took aspray； and planted it in the earth； and now； as you see； it has beea large tree； and a bunch of the blossoms shall at last appear at awedding festival； in the bouquet of your daughter。〃
There were tears in the eyes of the old maid； as she spoke ofthe beloved of her youth； and of their betrothal in the wood。 Manythoughts came into her mind； but the thought never came； that quiteclose to her； in that very window； was a remembrance of those oldentimes；… the neck of the bottle which had； as it were shouted for joywhen the cork flew out with a bang on the betrothal day。 But thebottle neck did not recognize the old maid； he had not beenlistening to what she had related； perhaps because he was thinkingso much about her。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE BRAVE TIN SOLDIER
by Hans Christian Andersen
THERE were once five…and…twenty tin soldiers； who were allbrothers； for they had been made out of the same old tin spoon。 Theyshouldered arms and looked straight before them； and wore a splendiduniform； red and blue。 The first thing in the world they ever heardwere the words； 〃Tin soldiers！〃 uttered by a little boy； who clappedhis hands with delight when the lid of the box； in which they lay； wastaken off。 They were given him for a birthday present； and he stood atthe table to set them up。 The soldiers were all exactly alike；excepting one； who had only one leg； he had been left to the last； andthen there was not enough of the melted tin to finish him； so theymade him to stand firmly on one leg； and this caused him to be veryremarkable。
The table on which the tin soldiers stood； was covered withother playthings； but the most attractive to the eye was a prettylittle paper castle。 Through the small windows the rooms could beseen。 In front of the castle a number of little trees surrounded apiece of looking…glass； which was intended to represent atransparent lake。 Swans； made of wax； swam on the lake； and werereflected in it。 All this was very pretty； but the prettiest of allwas a tiny little lady； who stood at the open door of the castle； she；also； was made of paper； and she wore a dress of clear muslin； witha narrow blue ribbon over her shoulders just like a scarf。 In front ofthese was fixed a glittering tinsel rose； as large as her wholeface。 The little lady was a dancer； and she stretched out both herarms； and raised one of her legs so high； that the tin soldier couldnot see it at all； and he thought that she； like himself； had only oneleg。 〃That is the wife for me；〃 he thought； 〃but she is too grand； andlives in a castle； while I have only a box to live in； five…and…twentyof us altogether； that is no place for her。 Still I must try andmake her acquaintance。〃 Then he laid himself at full length on thetable behind a snuff…box that stood upon it； so that he could peepat the little delicate lady； who continued to stand on one leg withoutlosing her balance。 When evening came； the other tin soldiers were allplaced in the box； and the people of the house went to bed。 Then thepl