the buckwheat

by Hans Christian Andersen

translation by H .P .Paull (1872)

very often, after a violent thunder- storm, a field of buckwheat appears blackened and singed, as_if a flame of fire had passed over it . the country people say that_this appearance is caused by lightning; but i_will tell you what the sparrow says, and_the sparrow heard it from an old willow- tree which grew near a field of buckwheat, and is_there still . it_is a large venerable tree, though a little crippled by age . the trunk has_been split, and out_of_the crevice grass and brambles grow . the tree bends for- ward slightly, and_the branches hang quite down to_the ground just like green hair . corn grows in_the surrounding fields, not_only rye and barley, but oats,- pretty oats that, when ripe, look like a number of little golden canary-birds sitting on a bough . the corn has asmiling look and_the heaviest and richest ears bend their heads low as_if in pious humility . once there_was also a field of buckwheat, and this field was exactly opposite to old willow- tree . the buckwheat did_not bend like the other grain, but erected its head proudly and stiffly on_the stem ." I_am as valuable as any_other corn," said he, " and I_am much handsomer; my flowers are as beautiful as_the bloom of_the apple blossom, and it_is a pleasure to look at us . do_you_know of anything prettier than we_are, you old willow- tree ? "

and_the willow- tree nodded his head, as_if he_would say, " indeed I_do ."

but the buckwheat spread itself out with pride, and said, " stupid tree; he_is so old that grass grows out of_his body ."

there arose a very terrible storm . all the field-flowers folded their leaves together, or bowed their little heads, while the storm passed over them, but the buckwheat stood erect in its pride ." bend your head as we_do," said the flowers .

" I_have no occasion to_do_so," replied the buckwheat .

" bend your head as we_do," cried the ears of corn; " the angel of_the storm is coming; his wings spread from_the sky above to_the earth beneath . he_will strike you down before_you_can cry for mercy ."

" but i_will_not bend my head," said the buckwheat .

" close your flowers and bend your leaves," said the old willow- tree ." do_not look at_the lightning when_the cloud bursts; even men cannot do_that . in a flash of lightning heaven opens, and we_can look in; but the sight will strike even human beings blind . what then must happen to_us, who only grow out_of_the earth, and_are so inferior to_them, if_we venture to_do_so ? "

" inferior, indeed ! " said the buckwheat ." now I intend to_have a peep into heaven ." proudly and boldly he looked up, while the lightning flashed across the sky as if_the whole world were in flames .

when_the dreadful storm had passed, the flowers and_the corn raised their drooping heads in_the pure still air, refreshed by_the rain, but the buckwheat lay like a weed in_the field, burnt to blackness by_the lightning . the branches of_the old willow- tree rustled in_the wind, and large water-drops fell from_his green leaves as if_the old willow were weeping . then the sparrows asked why he_was weeping, when all around him seemed so cheerful ." see," they said, how the sun shines, and_the clouds float in_the blue sky . do_you not smell the sweet perfume from flower and bush ? wherefore do_you weep, old willow- tree ? " then the willow told them of_the haughty pride of_the buckwheat, and of_the punishment which followed in consequence .

this_is_the story told me by_the sparrows one evening when I begged them to relate some tale to_me .

the end