t flowers in the garden； and then lookedat itself； and wished it had remained in the dark corner of thegarret。 It thought of its fresh youth in the forest； of the merryChristmas evening； and of the little mice who had listened to thestory of 〃Humpty Dumpty。〃 〃Past！ past！〃 said the old tree； 〃Oh； hadI but enjoyed myself while I could have done so！ but now it is toolate。〃 Then a lad came and chopped the tree into small pieces； tilla large bundle lay in a heap on the ground。 The pieces were placedin a fire under the copper； and they quickly blazed up brightly； whilethe tree sighed so deeply that each sigh was like a pistol…shot。Then the children； who were at play； came and seated themselves infront of the fire； and looked at it and cried； 〃Pop； pop。〃 But at each〃pop；〃 which was a deep sigh； the tree was thinking of a summer day inthe forest； and of Christmas evening； and of 〃Humpty Dumpty；〃 the onlystory it had ever heard or knew how to relate； till at last it wasconsumed。 The boys still played in the garden； and the youngest worethe golden star on his breast； with which the tree had been adornedduring the happiest evening of its existence。 Now all was past； thetree's life was past； and the story also；… for all stories must eto an end at last。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE FLAX
by Hans Christian Andersen
THE flax was in full bloom； it had pretty little blue flowers asdelicate as the wings of a moth； or even more so。 The sun shone； andthe showers watered it； and this was just as good for the flax as itis for little children to be washed and then kissed by their mother。They look much prettier for it； and so did the flax。
〃People say that I look exceedingly well；〃 said the flax； 〃andthat I am so fine and long that I shall make a beautiful piece oflinen。 How fortunate I am； it makes me so happy； it is such a pleasantthing to know that something can be made of me。 How the sunshinecheers me； and how sweet and refreshing is the rain； my happinessoverpowers me； no one in the world can feel happier than I am。〃
〃Ah； yes； no doubt；〃 said the fern； 〃but you do not know the worldyet as well as I do； for my sticks are knotty；〃 and then it sung quitemournfully…
〃Snip； snap； snurre；
Basse lurre：
The song is ended。〃
〃No； it is not ended；〃 said the flax。 〃To…morrow the sun willshine； or the rain descend。 I feel that I am growing。 I feel that I amin full blossom。 I am the happiest of all creatures。〃
Well； one day some people came； who took hold of the flax； andpulled it up by the roots； this was painful； then it was laid in wateras if they intended to drown it； and； after that； placed near a fireas if it were to be roasted； all this was very shocking。 〃We cannotexpect to be happy always；〃 said the flax； 〃by experiencing evil aswell as good； we bee wise。〃 And certainly there was plenty ofevil in store for the flax。 It was steeped； and roasted； and broken；and bed； indeed； it scarcely knew what was done to it。 At last itwas put on the spinning wheel。 〃Whirr； whirr；〃 went the wheel soquickly that the flax could not collect its thoughts。 〃Well； I havebeen very happy；〃 he thought in the midst of his pain； 〃and must becontented with the past；〃 and contented he remained till he was put onthe loom； and became a beautiful piece of white linen。 All the flax；even to the last stalk； was used in making this one piece。 〃Well； thisis quite wonderful； I could not have believed that I should be sofavored by fortune。 The fern was not wrong with its song of
'Snip； snap； snurre；
Basse lurre。'But the song is not ended yet； I am sure； it is only just beginning。How wonderful it is； that after all I have suffered； I am madesomething of at last； I am the luckiest person in the world… so strongand fine； and how white； and what a length！ This is somethingdifferent to being a mere plant and bearing flowers。 Then I had noattention； nor any water unless it rained； now； I am watched and takencare of。 Every morning the maid turns me over； and I have ashower…bath from the watering…pot every evening。 Yes； and theclergyman's wife noticed me； and said I was the best piece of linen inthe whole parish。 I cannot be happier than I am now。〃
After some time； the linen was taken into the house； placedunder the scissors； and cut and torn into pieces； and then prickedwith needles。 This certainly was not pleasant； but at last it was madeinto twelve garments of that kind which people do not like to name；and yet everybody should wear one。 〃See； now； then；〃 said the flax； 〃Ihave bee something of importance。 This was my destiny； it isquite a blessing。 Now I shall be of some use in the world； as everyoneought to be； it is the only way to be happy。 I am now divided intotwelve pieces； and yet we are all one and the same in the whole dozen。It is most extraordinary good fortune。〃
Years passed away； and at last the linen was so worn it couldscarcely hold together。 〃It must end very soon；〃 said the pieces toeach other； 〃we would gladly have held together a little longer； butit is useless to expect impossibilities。〃 And at length they fell intorags and tatters； and thought it was all over with them； for they weretorn to shreds； and steeped in water； and made into a pulp； and dried；and they knew not what besides； till all at once they found themselvesbeautiful white paper。 〃Well； now； this is a surprise； a glorioussurprise too；〃 said the paper。 〃I am now finer than ever； and Ishall be written upon； and who can tell what fine things I may havewritten upon me。 This is wonderful luck！〃 And sure enough the mostbeautiful stories and poetry were written upon it； and only once wasthere a blot； which was very fortunate。 Then people heard thestories and poetry read； and it made them wiser and better； for allthat was written had a good and sensible meaning； and a great blessingwas contained in the words on this paper。
〃I never imagined anything like this；〃 said the paper； 〃when I wasonly a little blue flower； growing in the fields。 How could I fancythat I should ever be the means of bringing knowledge and joy toman？ I cannot understand it myself； and yet it is really so。 Heavenknows that I have done nothing myself； but what I was obliged to dowith my weak powers for my own preservation； and yet I have beenpromoted from one joy and honor to another。 Each time I think that thesong is ended； and then something higher and better begins for me。 Isuppose now I shall be sent on my travels about the world； so thatpeople may read me。 It cannot be otherwise； indeed； it is more thanprobable； for I have more splendid thoughts written upon me； than Ihad pretty flowers in olden times。 I am happier than ever。〃
But the paper did not go on its travels； it was sent to theprinter； and all the words written upon it were set up in type； tomake a book； or rather； many hundreds of books； for so many morepersons could derive pleasure and profit from a printed book； thanfrom the written paper； and if the paper had been sent around theworld； it would have been worn out before it had got half throughits journey。
〃This is certainly the wisest plan；〃 said the written paper； 〃Ireally did not think of that。 I shall remain at home； and be held inhono