the angel (Hans Christian Andersen)

by Hans Christian Andersen

translation by H .P .Paull (1872)

" whenever a good child dies, an angel of god comes down from heaven, takes the dead child in_his arms, spreads out his great white wings, and flies with_him over all the places which the child had loved during his life . then he gathers a large handful of flowers, which he carries up_to_the almighty, that_they may bloom more brightly in heaven than they_do on earth . and_the almighty presses the flowers to_his heart, but he kisses the flower that pleases him best, and it receives a voice, and_is able to join the song of_the chorus of bliss ."

these words were spoken by an angel of god, as he carried a dead child up_to heaven, and_the child listened as_if in a dream . then they passed over well- known spots, where the little one had often played, and through beautiful gardens full of lovely flowers .

" which of_these shall we take with_us to heaven to_be transplanted there ? " asked the angel .

close by grew a slender, beautiful, rose- bush, but some wicked hand had broken the stem, and_the half- opened rosebuds hung faded and withered on_the trailing branches .

" poor rose- bush ! " said the child, " let_us take it with_us to heaven, that_it may bloom above in god's garden ."

the angel took up the rose- bush; then he kissed the child, and_the little one half opened his eyes . the angel gathered also some beautiful flowers, as_well as a few humble buttercups and heart's- ease .

" now we_have flowers enough," said the child; but the angel only nodded, he_did_not fly upward to heaven .

it_was night, and quite still in_the great town . here they remained, and_the angel hovered over a small, narrow street, in_which lay a large heap of straw, ashes, and sweepings from_the houses of people who had removed . there lay fragments of plates, pieces of plaster, rags, old hats, and other rubbish not pleasant to_see . amidst all this confusion, the angel pointed to_the pieces of a broken flower- pot, and to a lump of earth which had fallen out of it . the earth had_been kept from falling to pieces by_the roots of a withered field- flower, which had_been thrown amongst the rubbish .

" we_will take this with_us," said the angel, " i_will tell you why as_we fly along ."

and as_they flew the angel related the history .

" down in_that narrow lane, in a low cellar, lived a poor sick boy; he had_been afflicted from_his childhood, and even in_his best days he_could just manage to walk up and down the room on crutches once_or_twice, but no more . during some days in summer, the sunbeams would lie on_the floor of_the cellar for about half an hour . in_this spot the poor sick boy would sit warming himself in_the sunshine, and watching the red blood through his delicate fingers as he held them before his face . then he_would say he had_been out, yet he_knew nothing of_the green forest in its spring verdure, till a neighbor's son brought him a green bough from a beech- tree . this he_would place over his head, and fancy that he_was in_the beech- wood while the sun shone, and_the birds carolled gayly . one spring day the neighbor's boy brought him some field-flowers, and among them was one to_which_the root still adhered . this he carefully planted in a flower- pot, and placed in a window- seat near his bed . and_the flower had_been planted by a fortunate hand, for_it grew, put forth fresh shoots, and blossomed every year . it became a splendid flower- garden to_the sick boy, and_his little treasure upon earth . he watered it, and cherished it, and took care it should_have the benefit of every sunbeam that found its way into_the cellar, from_the earliest morning ray to_the evening sunset . the flower entwined itself even in_his dreams- for him it bloomed, for him spread its perfume . and it gladdened his eyes, and to_the flower he turned, even in death, when_the lord called him . he has_been one year with god . during that_time the flower has stood in_the window, withered and forgotten, till at_length cast out among_the sweepings into_the street, on_the day of_the lodgers' removal . and this poor flower, withered and faded as_it_is, we_have added to our nosegay, because it gave more real joy than_the most beautiful flower in_the garden of a queen ."

" but how do_you_know all this ? " asked the child whom the angel was carrying to heaven .

" I_know it," said the angel, " because I myself was_the poor sick boy who walked upon crutches, and I_know my own flower well ."

then the child opened his eyes and looked into_the glorious happy face of_the angel, and at_the same moment they found themselves in_that heavenly home where all is happiness and joy . and god pressed the dead child to_his heart, and wings were given him so_that he_could fly with_the angel, hand in hand . then the almighty pressed all the flowers to_his heart; but he kissed the withered field- flower, and it received a voice . then it joined in_the song of_the angels, who surrounded the throne, some near, and others in a distant circle, but all equally happy . they all joined in_the chorus of praise, both great and small,- the good, happy child, and_the poor field- flower, that once lay withered and cast away on a heap of rubbish in a narrow, dark street .

the end