and the ice which was on the rivers, melt away when she breathes upon them. 2. The young lambs frisk about her, and the birds warble to welcome her coming: when they see her, they begin to choose their mates, and to build their nests. Youths and maidens, have ye seen this beautiful virgin? If ye have, tell me who she is, and what is her name. 3. Who is this that cometh from the south, thinly clad in a light, transparent garment? Her breath is hot and sultry; she seeks the refreshment of the cool shade; she seeks the clear streams, the crystal' brooks, to bathe her languid limbs. The brooks and rivulets fly from her, and are dried up at her approach. She cools her parched lips with berries and the grateful acid of fruits. The tanned haymakers welcome her coming, and the sheep-shearer, who clips the fleeces off his flock with his sounding shears. 4. When she cometh, let me lie under the thick shade of a spreading beech-tree; let me walk with her in the early morning, when the dew is yet upon the grass; let me wander with her in the soft twilight, when the shepherd shuts his fold, and the star of the evening appears. Who is she that cometh from the south? Youths and maidens, tell me, if ye know, who she is, and what is her name. 5. Who is he that cometh with sober pace, stealing upon us unawares? His garments are red with the blood of the grape, and his temples are bound with a sheaf of ripe wheat. His hair is thin, and begins to fall, and the auburn is mixed with mournful gray. 6. He shakes the brown nuts from the tree. He winds the horn, and calls the hunters to their sport. The gun sounds: the trembling partridge and the beautiful' pheasant' flutter, bleeding, in the air, and fall dead at the sportsman's feet. Youths and maidens, tell me, if ye know, who he is, and what is his name. 7. Who is he that cometh from the north, in furs and warm wool? He wraps his cloak close about him. His head is bald; his beard is made of sharp icicles.3 He loves the blazing fire high piled upon the hearth.' 8. He binds skates to his feet, and skims over the frozen lakes. His breath is piercing1o and cold, and no little flower dares to peep above the surface of the ground when he is by. Whatever he touches turns to ice. Youths and maidens, do you see him? He is coming upon us, and soon will be here. Tell me, if ye know, who he is, and what is his name. 1 AP-PROACH'EŞ. Comes near. 3 RE-FRESH'MENT. That which gives 4 CRYSTAL. Clear, transparent. 6 PARTRIDGE., Well-known birds 8 I'CI-CLE (i'sik-kl). A hanging shoot 9 HEARTH (härth). Place on which a fire is made, under a chimney. 10 PIERCING. That pierces, sharp, keen, penetrating, cutting. II. THE SNAIL AND THE ROSE-TREE. HANS ANDERSEN. 1. A HEDGE of hazel-nut bushes enclosed' the garden; without were field and meadow, with cows and sheep. In the centre of the garden stood a Rose Tree, and under it sat a Snail; she had much within her she had herself. 2. "Wait until my time comes," said she; "I shall accomplish something more than putting forth roses, bearing nuts, or giving milk like the cows and sheep." 3. “I expect something fearfully grand," said the Rose Tree; "may I ask when it will take place?” 4. "I shall take my time," said the Snail; "you are in too great a hurry; and when this is the case, how can one's expectations be fulfilled?" 5. The next year the Snail lay in about the same spot under the Rose Tree, which put forth buds and developed roses, ever fresh, ever new. The Snail crept forth half her length, stretched out her feelers, and drew herself in again. 66 6. " Every thing looks as it did a year ago," said she; no progress has been made; the Rose Tree still bears roses; it does not get along any farther.” 7. The summer faded away, the autumn passed, the Rose Tree constantly bore flowers and buds, until the snow fell and the weather was raw and damp. The Rose Tree bent itself towards the earth, the Snail crept into the earth. 8. A new year commenced; the roses came out, and the Snail came out. 66 66 9. Now you are an old Rose Tree," said the Snail; you will soon die away. You have given the world every thing that you had in you; whether that be much or little is a question upon which I have not time to reflect. But it is quite evident that you have not done the slightest thing towards your inward development; otherwise I suppose that something different would have sprung from you. Can you answer this? You will Can you understand soon be nothing but a stick! Can what I say?" 10. "You startle me," said the Rose Tree; "I have never thought upon that." 11. 66 No, I suppose that you have never meddled much with thinking. Can you tell me why you blossom, and how it comes to pass? How? Why?" 12. "No," said the Rose Tree, "I blossom with pleasure because I could not do otherwise. The sun was so warm, the air so refreshing; I drank the clear dew and the fortifying rain; I breathed, I lived! A strength came to me from the earth; a strength came from above; I felt a happiness, ever new, ever great, and therefore I must blossom ever; that was my life; I could not do otherwise." 13. “You have led an easy life!" said the Snail. 14. That is true," said the Rose Tree. "Certainly, much has been given to me, but still more has been given to you. You are one of those meditative," pensive,' profound natures, one of the highly gifted, that astound the whole world." 15. "I have assuredly no such thoughts in my mind,” said the Snail; "the world is nothing to me. What have I to do with the world? I have enough with myself, and enough in myself." 16. But should we not all, here on earth, give the best part of ourselves to others? Should we not offer what we can? It is true, that I have only given roses -but you? You who have have you given to the world? 17. What have I given? upon her! She is good for received so much, what What do you give her?" What do I give? I spit nothing! I have nought to do with her. Put forth roses, you can do no more. Let the hazel-bushes bear nuts. Let the cows and sheep give milk; they have their public, I have mine within myself. I retire within myself, and there I remain. The world is nothing to me." 18. And thereupon the Snail withdrew into her house and closed it. 19. Mine is not a sad life," said the Rose Tree; true, I cannot creep in; I must ever spring out, spring forth in roses. The leaves drop off and are blown away by the wind. Yet, I saw one of the roses laid in the hymn-book of the mother of the family; one of my roses was placed upon the breast of a charming young girl, and one was kissed with joy by a child's mouth. This did me so much good, it was a real blessing! That is my recollection,' my life." 20. And the Rose Tree flowered in innocence,1o and the Snail sat, mindful only of self, in her house. The world was nothing to her. 21. And years passed away. The Snail became earth to earth, and the Rose Tree became earth to earth; the remembrances" in the hymn-book were blown away; but new rose-trees bloomed in the garden; new snails grew in the garden, and they crept into their houses, and spat. The world was nothing to them. 1 EN-CLOSED'. Surrounded, shut in. 3 DE VĚL'OPED. Unfolded, brought 4 PROG'RESS. an advance. 5 FÖR/TI-FY-ING. That strengthens. 6 MED'ITA-TIVE. That thinks much. 7 PĚN'SIVE. Seriously thoughtful. 8 AS-TÖUND'. Astonish. 9 REC-OL-LEC'TION. A calling to mind something once known. 10 IN'NO-CENCE. Freedom from guilt, purity. 11 RE-MEM'Brance. A keeping in mind; here, a token by which any thing is kept in the mind. |