the child in the grave-第1部分

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　CHILD　IN　THE　GRAVE

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen



　　　　IT　was　a　very　sad　day；　and　every　heart　in　the　house　felt　the

deepest　grief；　for　the　youngest　child；　a　boy　of　four　years　old；　the

joy　and　hope　of　his　parents；　was　dead。　Two　daughters；　the　elder　of

whom　was　going　to　be　confirmed；　still　remained：　they　were　both　good；

charming　girls；　but　the　lost　child　always　seems　the　dearest；　and

when　it　is　youngest；　and　a　son；　it　makes　the　trial　still　more　heavy。

The　sisters　mourned　as　young　hearts　can　mourn；　and　were　especially

grieved　at　the　sight　of　their　parents'　sorrow。　The　father's　heart

was　bowed　down；　but　the　mother　sunk　completely　under　the　deep　grief。

Day　and　night　she　had　attended　to　the　sick　child；　nursing　and　carrying

it　in　her　bosom；　as　a　part　of　herself。　She　could　not　realize　the

fact　that　the　child　was　dead；　and　must　be　laid　in　a　coffin　to　rest

in　the　ground。　She　thought　God　could　not　take　her　darling　little　one

from　her；　and　when　it　did　happen　notwithstanding　her　hopes　and　her

belief；　and　there　could　be　no　more　doubt　on　the　subject；　she　said　in

her　feverish　agony；　〃God　does　not　know　it。　He　has　hard…hearted

ministering　spirits　on　earth；　who　do　according　to　their　own　will；

and　heed　not　a　mother's　prayers。〃　Thus　in　her　great　grief　she　fell

away　from　her　faith　in　God；　and　dark　thoughts　arose　in　her　mind

respecting　death　and　a　future　state。　She　tried　to　believe　that　man　was

but　dust；　and　that　with　his　life　all　existence　ended。　But　these　doubts

were　no　support　to　her；　nothing　on　which　she　could　rest；　and　she

sunk　into　the　fathomless　depths　of　despair。　In　her　darkest　hours　she

ceased　to　weep；　and　thought　not　of　the　young　daughters　who　were

still　left　to　her。　The　tears　of　her　husband　fell　on　her　forehead；

but　she　took　no　notice　of　him；　her　thoughts　were　with　her　dead

child；　her　whole　existence　seemed　wrapped　up　in　the　remembrances　of

the　little　one　and　of　every　innocent　word　it　had　uttered。

　　　　The　day　of　the　little　child's　funeral　came。　For　nights

previously　the　mother　had　not　slept；　but　in　the　morning　twilight　of

this　day　she　sunk　from　weariness　into　a　deep　sleep；　in　the　mean　time

the　coffin　was　carried　into　a　distant　room；　and　there　nailed　down；

that　she　might　not　hear　the　blows　of　the　hammer。　When　she　awoke；　and

wanted　to　see　her　child；　the　husband；　with　tears；　said；　〃We　have

closed　the　coffin；　it　was　necessary　to　do　so。〃

　　　　〃When　God　is　so　hard　to　me；　how　can　I　expect　men　to　be　better？〃

she　said　with　groans　and　tears。

　　　　The　coffin　was　carried　to　the　grave；　and　the　disconsolate　mother

sat　with　her　young　daughters。　She　looked　at　them；　but　she　saw　them

not；　for　her　thoughts　were　far　away　from　the　domestic　hearth。　She　gave

herself　up　to　her　grief；　and　it　tossed　her　to　and　fro；　as　the　sea

tosses　a　ship　without　compass　or　rudder。　So　the　day　of　the　funeral

passed　away；　and　similar　days　followed；　of　dark；　wearisome　pain。

With　tearful　eyes　and　mournful　glances；　the　sorrowing　daughters　and

the　afflicted　husband　looked　upon　her　who　would　not　hear　their　words

of　comfort；　and；　indeed；　what　comforting　words　could　they　speak；

when　they　were　themselves　so　full　of　grief？　It　seemed　as　if　she

would　never　again　know　sleep；　and　yet　it　would　have　been　her　best

friend；　one　who　would　have　strengthened　her　body　and　poured　peace　into

her　soul。　They　at　last　persuaded　her　to　lie　down；　and　then　she　would

lie　as　still　as　if　she　slept。

　　　　One　night；　when　her　husband　listened；　as　he　often　did；　to　her

breathing；　he　quite　believed　that　she　had　at　length　found　rest　and

relief　in　sleep。　He　folded　his　arms　and　prayed；　and　soon　sunk

himself　into　healthful　sleep；　therefore　he　did　not　notice　that　his

wife　arose；　threw　on　her　clothes；　and　glided　silently　from　the

house；　to　go　where　her　thoughts　constantly　lingered…　to　the　grave　of

her　child。　She　passed　through　the　garden；　to　a　path　across　a　field

that　led　to　the　churchyard。　No　one　saw　her　as　she　walked；　nor　did

she　see　any　one；　for　her　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　one　object　of　her

wanderings。　It　was　a　lovely　starlight　night　in　the　beginning　of

September；　and　the　air　was　mild　and　still。　She　entered　the

churchyard；　and　stood　by　the　little　grave；　which　looked　like　a　large

nosegay　of　fragrant　flowers。　She　sat　down；　and　bent　her　head　low　over

the　grave；　as　if　she　could　see　her　child　through　the　earth　that

covered　him…　her　little　boy；　whose　smile　was　so　vividly　before　her；

and　the　gentle　expression　of　whose　eyes；　even　on　his　sick…bed；　she

could　not　forget。　How　full　of　meaning　that　glance　had　been；　as　she

leaned　over　him；　holding　in　hers　the　pale　hand　which　he　had　no　longer

strength　to　raise！　As　she　had　sat　by　his　little　cot；　so　now　she　sat

by　his　grave；　and　here　she　could　weep　freely；　and　her　tears　fell　upon

it。

　　　　〃Thou　wouldst　gladly　go　down　and　be　with　thy　child；〃　said　a

voice　quite　close　to　her；…　a　voice　that　sounded　so　deep　and　clear；

that　it　went　to　her　heart。

　　　　She　looked　up；　and　by　her　side　stood　a　man　wrapped　in　a　black

cloak；　with　a　hood　closely　drawn　over　his　face；　but　her　keen　glance

could　distinguish　the　face　under　the　hood。　It　was　stern；　yet

awakened　confidence；　and　the　eyes　beamed　with　youthful　radiance。

　　　　〃Down　to　my　child；〃　she　repeated；　and　tones　of　despair　and

entreaty　sounded　in　the　words。

　　　　〃Darest　thou　to　follow　me？〃　asked　the　form。　〃I　am　Death。〃

　　　　She　bowed　her　head　in　token　of　assent。　Then　suddenly　it　appeared

as　if　all　the　stars　were　shining　with　the　radiance　of　the　full　moon　on

the　many…colored　flowers　that　decked　the　grave。　The　earth　that　covered

it　was　drawn　back　like　a　floating　drapery。　She　sunk　down；　and　the

spectre　covered　her　with　a　black　cloak；　night　closed　around　her；　the

night　of　death。　She　sank　deeper　than　the　spade　of　the　sexton　could

penetrate；　till　the　churchyard　became　a　roof　above　her。　Then　the　cloak

was　removed；　and　she　found　herself　in　a　large　hall；　of

wide…spreading　dimensions；　in　which　there　was　a　subdued　light；　like

twilight；　reigning；　and　in　a　moment　her　child　appeared　before　her；

smiling；　and　more　beautiful　than　ever；　with　a　silent　cry　she　pressed

him　to　her　heart。　A　glorious　strain　of　music　sounded…　now　distant；　now

near。　Never　had　she　listened　to　such　tones　as　these；　they　came　from

beyond　a　large　dark　curtain　which　separated　the　regions　of　death

from　the　land　of　eternity。

　　　　〃My　sweet；　darling　mother；〃　she　heard　the　child　say。　It　was　the

well…known；　beloved　voice；　and　kiss　followed　kiss；　in　boundless

delight。　Then　the　child　pointed　to　the　dark　curtain。　〃There　is　nothing

so　beautiful　on　earth　as　it　is　here。　Mother；　do　you　not　see　them

all？　Oh；　it　is　happiness　indeed。〃

　　　　But　the　mother　saw　nothing　of　what　the　child　pointed　out；　only　the

dark　curtain。　She　looked　with　earthly　eyes；　and　could　not　see　as　the

child　saw；…　he　whom　God　has　called　to　be　with　Himself。　She　could

hear　the　sounds　of　music；　but　she　heard　not　the　words；　the　Word　in

which　she　was　to　trust。

　　　　〃I　can　fly　now；　mother；〃　said　the　child；　〃I　can　fly　with　other

happy　children　into　the　presence　of　the　Almighty。　I　would　fain　fly

away　now；　but　if　you　weep　for　me　as　you　are　weeping　now；　you　may　never

see　me　again。　And　yet　I　would　go　so　gladly。　May　I　not　fly　away？　And

you　will　come　to　me　soon；　will　you　not；　dear　mother？〃

　　　　〃Oh；　stay；　stay！〃　implored　the　mother；　〃only　one　moment　more；　only

once　more；　that　I　may　look　upon　thee；　and　kiss　thee；　and　press　thee　to

my　heart。〃

　　　　Then　she　kissed　and　fondled　her　child。　Suddenly　her　name　was

called　from　above；　what　could　it　mean？　her　name　uttered　in　a　plaintive

voice。

　　　　〃Hearest　thou？〃　said　the　child。　〃It　is　my　father　who　calls

thee。〃　And　in　a　few　moments　deep　sighs　were　heard；　as　of　children

weeping。　〃They　are　my　sisters；〃　said　the　child。　〃Mother；　surely　you

have　not　forgotten　them。〃

　　　　And　then　she　remembered　those　she　left　behind；　and　a　great

terror　came　over　her。　She　looked　around　her　at　the　dark　night。　Dim

forms　flitted　by。　She　seemed　to　recognize　some　of　them；　as　they

floated　through　the　regions　of　death　towards　the　dark　curtain；　where

they　vanished。　Would　her　husband　and　her　daughters　flit　past？　No；

their　sighs　and　lamentations　still　sounded　from　above；　and　she　had

nearly　forgotten　them；　for　the　sake　of　him　who　was　dead。

　　　　〃Mother；　now　the　bells　of　heaven　are　ringing；〃　said　the　child；

〃mother；　the　sun　is　going　to　rise。〃

　　　　An　overpowering　light　streamed　in　upon　her；　the　child　had

vanished；　and　she　was　being　borne　upwards。　All　around　her　became　cold；

she　lifted　her　head；　and　saw　that　she　was　lying　in　the　churchyard；

on　the　grave　of　her　child。　The　Lord；　in　a　dream；　had　been　a　guide　to

her　feet　and　a　light　to　her　spirit。　She　bowed　her　knees；　and　prayed

for　forgiveness。　She　had　wished　to　keep　back　a　soul　from　its

immortal　flight；　she　had　forgotten　her　duties　towards　the　living　who

were　left　her。　And　when　she　had　offered　this　prayer；　her　heart　felt

lighter。　The　sun　burst　forth；　over　her　head　a　little　bird　carolled　his

song；　and　the　church…bells　sounded　for　the　early　service。　Everything

around　her　seemed　holy；　and　her　heart　was　chastened。　She

acknowledged　the　goodness　of　God；　she　acknowledged　the　duties　she

had　to　perform；　and　eagerly　she　returned　home。　She　bent　over　her

husband；　who　still　slept；　her　warm；　devoted　kiss　awakened　him；　and

words　of　heartfelt　love　fell　from　the　lips　of　both。　Now　she　was　gentle

and　strong　as　a　wife　can　be；　and　from　her　lips　came　the　words　of

faith：　〃Whatever　He　doeth　is　right　and　best。〃

　　　　Then　her　husband　asked；　〃From　whence　hast　thou　all　at　once　derived

such　strength　and　comforting　faith？〃

　　　　And　as　she　kissed　him　and　her　children；　she　said；　〃It　came　from

God；　through　my　child　in　the　grave。〃





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

。