The Metal Pig by Hans Christian Andersen
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did Giuseppe bring back ? at first the boy could_not hear, for he talked a great deal to_his wife, and she nodded and stroked the boy's cheek .

then she said, " he_is a good lad, he shall stay with_us, he_may become a clever glovemaker, like you . look what delicate fingers he has got; madonna intended him for aglovemaker ." so the boy stayed with_them, and_the woman herself taught him to sew; and he ate well, and slept well, and became very merry . but at last he began to tease Bellissima, as_the little dog was called . this made the woman angry, and she scolded him and threatened him, which made him very unhappy, and he went and sat in_his own room full of sad thoughts . this chamber looked upon_the street, in_which hung skins to dry, and there were thick iron bars across his window . that night he lay awake, thinking of_the metal Pig; indeed, it_was always in_his thoughts . suddenly he fancied he heard feet outside going pit-a- pat . he sprung out of bed and went to_the window . could it be the metal Pig ? but there_was nothing to_be seen; whatever he had heard had passed already . next morning, their neighbor, the artist, passed by, carrying a paint- box and a large roll of canvas .

" help the gentleman to carry his box of colors," said the woman to_the boy; and he obeyed instantly, took the box, and followed the painter . they walked on till they reached the picture gallery, and mounted the same staircase up which he had ridden that night on_the metal Pig . he remembered all the statues and pictures, the beautiful marble Venus, and again he looked at_the madonna with_the Saviour and St .John . they stopped before_the picture by Bronzino, in_which Christ is represented as standing in_the lower world, with_the children smiling before him, in_the sweet expectation of entering heaven; and_the poor boy smiled, too, for here was his heaven .

" you_may go home now," said the painter, while the boy stood watching him, till he had set up his easel .

" may I_see you paint ? " asked the boy; " may I_see you put the picture on_this white canvas ? "

" I_am not going to paint yet," replied the artist; then he brought out a piece of chalk . his hand moved quickly, and_his eye measured the great picture; and though nothing appeared but a faint line, the figure of_the Saviour was as clearly visible as in_the colored picture .

" why don't you go ? " said the painter . then the boy wandered home silently, and seated himself on_the table, and learned to sew gloves . but all day long his thoughts were in_the picture gallery; and so he pricked his fingers and was awkward . but he_did_not tease Bellissima . when evening came, and_the house door stood open, he slipped out . it_was a bright, beautiful, starlight evening, but rather cold . away he went through_the already- deserted streets, and soon came to_the metal Pig; he stooped down and kissed its shining nose, and then seated himself on its back .

" you happy creature," he_said; " how I_have longed for_you ! we_must take a ride to- night ."

but the metal Pig lay motionless, while the fresh stream gushed forth from its mouth . the little boy still sat astride on its back, when he_felt something pulling at his clothes . he looked down, and there_was Bellissima, little smooth-shaven Bellissima, barking as_if she would_have said, " here I_am too; why are_you sitting there ? "

a fiery dragon could_not have frightened the little boy so_much as did the little dog in_this place ."Bellissima in_the street, and not dressed ! " as_the old lady called it; " what would_be the end of_this ? "

the dog never went out in winter, unless she was attired in a little lambskin coat which had_been made for her; it_was fastened round the little dog's neck and body with red ribbons, and was decorated with rosettes and little bells . the dog looked almost like a little kid when she was allowed to_go out in winter, and trot after her mistress . and now here she was in_the cold, and not dressed .Oh, how would it end ? all his fancies were quickly put to flight; yet he kissed the metal Pig once more, and then took Bellissima in_his arms . the poor little thing trembled so with cold, that_the boy ran homeward as fast as he_could .

" what_are you running away with there ? " asked two of_the police whom he met, and at whom the dog barked ." where have_you stolen that pretty dog ? " they asked; and_they took it away from_him .

"Oh, I_have_not stolen it; do give it to_me back again," cried the boy, despairingly .

" if you_have_not stolen it, you_may say at home that_they can send to_the watch- house for_the dog ." then they told him where the watch- house was, and went away with Bellissima .

here was a dreadful trouble . the boy did_not know whether he had better jump into_the Arno, or go home and confess everything . they_would certainly kill him, he thought .

" well, i_would gladly be killed," he reasoned; " for then I_shall die, and go to heaven:" and so he went home, almost hoping for death .

the door was locked, and he_could_not reach the knocker . no one was in_the street; so he_took up a stone, and with it made a tremendous noise at_the door .

" who is_there ? " asked somebody from within .

" it_is I," said he ."Bellissima is gone . open the door, and then kill me ."

then indeed there_was a great panic .Madame was so very fond of Bellissima . she immediately looked at_the wall where the dog's dress usually hung; and there_was the little lambskin .

"Bellissima in_the watch- house ! " she cried ." you bad boy ! how did you entice her out ? poor little delicate thing, with those rough policemen ! and she'll be frozen with cold ."

Giuseppe went off at once, while his wife lamented, and_the boy wept . several of_the neighbors came in, and amongst them the painter . he_took the boy between his knees, and questioned him; and, in broken sentences, he soon heard the whole story, and also about_the metal Pig, and_the wonderful ride to_the picture- gallery, which_was certainly rather incomprehensible . the painter, however, consoled the little fellow, and tried to soften the lady's anger; but she would_not_be pacified till her husband returned with Bellissima, who had_been with_the police . then there_was great rejoicing, and_the painter caressed the boy, and gave him a number of pictures .Oh, what beautiful pictures these were ! - figures with funny heads; and, above all, the metal Pig was there too .Oh, nothing could_be more delightful . by_means of a few strokes, it was_made to appear on_the paper; and even the house that stood behind it had_been sketched in .Oh, if he_could only draw and paint ! he who_could do_this could conjure all the world before him . the first leisure moment during the next_day, the boy got a pencil, and on_the back of one_of_the other drawings he attempted to copy the drawing of_the metal Pig, and he succeeded . certainly it_was rather crooked, rather up and down, one leg thick, and another thin; still it_was like the copy, and he_was overjoyed at what he had done . the pencil would_not go quite as it ought,- he had found that out; but the next_day he tried again .a second Pig was drawn by_the side of_the first, and this looked a hundred times better; and_the third attempt was so good, that everybody might know what it_was meant to represent .

and now the glovemaking went on but slowly . the orders given by_the shops in_the town were_not finished quickly; for_the metal Pig had taught the boy that all objects may_be drawn upon paper; and Florence is a picture- book in itself for any_one who chooses to_turn over its pages . on_the piazza dell Trinita stands a slender pillar, and upon it_is_the goddess of justice, blindfolded, with her scales in her hand . she was soon represented on paper, and it was_the glovemaker's boy who placed her there . his collection of pictures increased; but as_yet they were only copies of lifeless objects, when one day Bellissima came gambolling before him: " stand still," cried he, " and_I_will draw you beautifully, to_put amongst my collection ."

but Bellissima would_not stand still, so she_must be bound fast in one position . he tied her head and tail; but she barked and jumped, and so pulled and tightened the string, that she was nearly strangled; and just then her mistress walked in .

" you wicked boy ! the poor little creature ! " was all she_could utter .

she pushed the boy from her, thrust him away with her foot, called him a most ungrateful, good- for- nothing, wicked boy, and forbade him to enter the house again . then she wept, and kissed her little half- strangled Bellissima . at_this moment the painter entered the room .

in_the year 1834 there_was an exhibition in_the academy of Arts at Florence . two pictures, placed side by side, attracted a large number of spectators . the smaller of_the two represented a little boy sitting at a table, drawing; before him was a little white poodle, curiously shaven; but as_the animal would_not stand still, it had_been fastened with a string to its head and tail, to_keep it in one position . the truthfulness and life in_this picture interested every_one . the painter was said to_be a young Florentine, who had_been found in_the streets, when a child, by an old glovemaker, who had brought him up . the boy had taught himself to draw: it_was also said that a young artist, now famous, had discovered talent in_the child just as he_was about to_be sent away for having tied up madame's favorite little dog, and using it as a model . the glovemaker's boy had also become a great painter, as_the picture proved; but the larger picture by its side was a still greater proof of_his talent . it represented a handsome boy, clothed in rags, lying asleep, and leaning against the metal Pig in_the street of_the Porta Rosa . all the spectators knew the spot well . the child's arms were round the neck of_the Pig, and he_was in a deep sleep . the lamp before_the picture of_the madonna threw a strong, effective light on_the pale, delicate face of_the child . it_was a beautiful picture .a large gilt frame surrounded it, and on one corner of_the frame a laurel wreath had_been hung; but a black band, twined unseen among_the green leaves, and a streamer of crape, hung down from_it; for within_the last few_days the young artist had- died .

the end

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