[*] From “Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales,” adapted by J. H. Stickney.  By permission of the publishers—­Ginn and Company.

THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL[*]

Hans Andersen

It was dreadfully cold; it was snowing fast, and was almost dark, as evening came on—­the last evening of the year.  In the cold and the darkness, there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded and with naked feet.  When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but they were much too large for her feet,—­slippers that her mother had used until then, and the poor little girl lost them in running across the street when two carriages were passing terribly fast.  When she looked for them, one was not to be found, and a boy seized the other and ran away with it, saying he would use it for a cradle some day, when he had children of his own.

So on the little girl went with her bare feet, that were red and blue with cold.  In an old apron that she wore were bundles of matches, and she carried a bundle also in her hand.  No one had bought so much as a bunch all the long day, and no one had given her even a penny.

Poor little girl!  Shivering with cold and hunger she crept along, a perfect picture of misery!

The snowflakes fell on her long flaxen hair, which hung in pretty curls about her throat; but she thought not of her beauty nor of the cold.  Lights gleamed in every window, and there came to her the savory smell of roast goose, for it was New Year’s Eve.  And it was of this which she thought.

In a corner formed by two houses, one of which projected beyond the other, she sat cowering down.  She had drawn under her little feet, but still she grew colder and colder; yet she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not bring a penny of money.  Her father would certainly beat her; and, besides, it was cold enough at home, for they had only the houseroof above them; and, though the largest holes had been stopped with straw and rags, there were left many through which the cold wind whistled.

And now her little hands were nearly frozen with cold.  Alas! a single match might do her good if she might only draw it from the bundle, rub it against the wall, and warm her fingers by it.  So at last she drew one out.  Whischt!  How it blazed and burned!  It gave out a warm, bright flame like a little candle, as she held her hands over it.  A wonderful little light it was.  It really seemed to the little girl as if she sat before a great iron stove, with polished brass feet and brass shovel and tongs.  So blessedly it burned that the little maiden stretched out her feet to warm them also.  How comfortable she was!  But lo! the flame went out, the stove vanished, and nothing remained but the little burned match in her hand.

She rubbed another match against the wall.  It burned brightly, and where the light fell upon the wall it became transparent like a veil, so that she could see through it into the room.  A snow-white cloth was spread upon the table, on which was a beautiful china dinner service, while a roast goose, stuffed with apples and prunes, steamed famously, and sent forth a most savory smell.  And what was more delightful still, and wonderful, the goose jumped from the dish, with knife and fork still in its breast, and waddled along the floor straight to the little girl.