The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5]
still he_was young and pretty . then the princess peeped out of her white- lily bed, and asked what_was the matter . then little Gerda wept and told her story, and all that_the crows had done to help her .

" you poor child," said the prince and princess; then they praised the crows, and said they were_not angry for what they had done, but that_it must not happen again, and this_time they should_be rewarded .

" would you like to_have your freedom ? " asked the princess, " or would you prefer to_be raised to_the position of court crows, with all that_is left in_the kitchen for yourselves ? "

then both the crows bowed, and begged to_have a fixed appointment, for they thought of_their old age, and said it would_be so comfortable to_feel that_they had provision for their old days, as_they called it . and then the prince got out of_his bed, and gave it up_to Gerda,- he_could do no more; and she lay down . she folded her little hands, and thought, " how good everyone is to_me, men and animals too;" then she closed her eyes and fell into a sweet sleep . all the dreams came flying back again to her, and_they looked like angels, and one_of_them drew a little sledge, on_which sat Kay, and nodded to her . but all this_was only a dream, and vanished as_soon_as she awoke .

the following day she was dressed from head to foot in silk and velvet, and_they invited her to stay at_the palace for_a_few_days, and enjoy herself, but she only begged for a pair of boots, and a little carriage, and a horse to draw it, so_that she might go into_the wide world to seek for Kay . and she obtained, not_only boots, but also a muff, and she was neatly dressed; and when she was ready to_go, there, at_the door, she found a coach made of pure gold, with_the coat- of-arms of_the prince and princess shining upon it like a star, and_the coachman, footman, and outriders all wearing golden crowns on their heads . the prince and princess themselves helped her into_the coach, and wished her success . the forest crow, who was now married, accompanied her for_the first three miles; he sat by Gerda's side, as he_could_not bear riding backwards . the tame crow stood in_the door- way flapping her wings . she_could_not go with_them, because she had_been suffering from headache ever_since the new appointment, no_doubt from eating too_much . the coach was well stored with sweet cakes, and under the seat were fruit and gingerbread nuts ." farewell, farewell," cried the prince and princess, and little Gerda wept, and_the crow wept; and then, after a few miles, the crow also said " farewell," and this_was the saddest parting . however, he flew to a tree, and stood flapping his black wings as long as he could_see the coach, which glittered in_the bright sunshine .

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Fifth story: little robber- girl

the coach drove on through a thick forest, where it lighted up the way like a torch, and dazzled the eyes of some robbers, who_could_not bear to let it pass them unmolested .

" it_is gold ! it_is gold ! " cried they, rushing forward, and seizing the horses . then they struck the little jockeys, the coachman, and_the footman dead, and pulled little Gerda out_of_the carriage .

" she_is fat and pretty, and she has_been fed with_the kernels of nuts," said the old robber- woman, who had a long beard and eyebrows that hung over her eyes ." she_is as good as a little lamb; how nice she will taste ! " and as she said this, she drew forth ashining knife, that glittered horribly ."Oh ! " screamed the old woman the same moment; for her own daughter, who held her back, had bitten her in_the ear . she was a wild and naughty girl, and_the mother called her an ugly thing, and had_not time to kill Gerda .

" she shall play with me," said the little robber- girl; " she shall give_me her muff and her pretty dress, and sleep with me in my bed ." and then she bit her mother again, and made her spring in_the air, and jump about; and all the robbers laughed, and said, " see how she_is dancing with her young cub ."

" i_will_have a ride in_the coach," said the little robber- girl; and she would_have her own way; for she was so self- willed and obstinate .

she and Gerda seated themselves in_the coach, and drove away, over stumps and stones, into_the depths of_the forest . the little robber- girl was about_the same size as Gerda, but stronger; she had broader shoulders and a darker skin; her eyes were quite black, and she had a mournful look . she clasped little Gerda round the waist, and said,-

" they shall_not kill you as long as_you don't make us vexed with_you .I suppose you_are a princess ."

" no," said Gerda; and then she told her all her history, and how fond she was of little Kay .

the robber- girl looked earnestly at her, nodded her head slightly, and said, " they sha'nt kill you, even if I_do get angry with_you; for i_will do_it myself ." and then she wiped Gerda's eyes, and stuck her own hands in_the beautiful muff which_was so soft and warm .

the coach stopped in_the courtyard of a robber's castle, the walls of_which were cracked from top to bottom .Ravens and crows flew in and out_of_the holes and crevices, while great bulldogs, either of_which looked as_if it could swallow a man, were jumping about; but they were_not allowed to bark . in_the large and smoky hall a bright fire was burning on_the stone floor . there_was no chimney; so the smoke went up_to_the ceiling, and found a way out for itself . soup was boiling in a large cauldron, and hares and rabbits were roasting on_the spit .

" you shall sleep with me and all my little animals to- night," said the robber- girl, after they had had something to eat and drink . so she took Gerda to a corner of_the hall, where some straw and carpets were laid down . above them, on laths and perches, were more than a hundred pigeons, who all seemed to_be asleep, although they moved slightly when_the two little girls came near them ." these all belong to_me," said the robber- girl; and she seized the nearest to her, held it by_the feet, and shook it till it flapped its wings ." kiss it," cried she, flapping it in Gerda's face ." there sit the wood-pigeons," continued she, pointing to a number of laths and a cage which had_been fixed into_the walls, near one_of_the openings ." both rascals would fly away directly, if_they were_not closely locked up . and here_is my old sweetheart ' BA;' and she dragged out a reindeer by_the horn; he wore a bright copper ring round his neck, and was tied up ." we_are obliged to hold him tight too, or else he_would run away from_us also .I tickle his neck every evening with my sharp knife, which frightens him very_much ." and then the robber- girl drew a long knife from a chink in_the wall, and let it slide gently over the reindeer's neck . the poor animal began to kick, and_the little robber- girl laughed, and pulled down Gerda into bed with her .

" will_you have that knife with_you while you_are asleep ? " asked Gerda, looking at it in great fright .

"I always sleep with_the knife by me," said the robber- girl ." no one knows what may happen . but now tell me again all about little Kay, and why you went out into_the world ."

then Gerda repeated her story over again, while the wood-pigeons in_the cage over her cooed, and_the other pigeons slept . the little robber- girl put one arm across Gerda's neck, and held the knife in_the other, and was soon fast asleep and snoring . but Gerda could_not close her eyes at all; she knew not whether she was to live or die . the robbers sat round the fire, singing and drinking, and_the old woman stumbled about . it_was a terrible sight for a little girl to witness .

then the wood-pigeons said, "Coo, coo; we_have seen little Kay .a white fowl carried his sledge, and he sat in_the carriage of_the snow queen, which drove through_the wood while we were lying in_our nest . she blew upon us, and all the young ones died excepting us two .Coo, coo ."

" what_are you saying up there ? " cried Gerda ." where was_the snow queen going ? do_you_know anything about_it ? "

" she was most likely travelling to Lapland, where there_is always snow and ice . ask_the reindeer that_is fastened up there with a rope ."

" yes, there_is always snow and ice," said the reindeer; " and it_is a glorious place; you_can leap and run about freely on_the sparkling ice plains . the snow queen has her summer tent there, but her strong castle is at_the north pole, on an island called Spitzbergen ."

"Oh, Kay, little Kay ! " sighed Gerda .

" lie still," said the robber- girl, " or I_shall run my knife into your body ."

in_the morning Gerda told her all that_the wood-pigeons had said; and_the little robber- girl looked quite serious, and nodded her head, and said, " that_is all talk, that_is all talk . do_you_know where Lapland is ? " she asked the reindeer .

" who_should know better than I_do ? " said the animal, while his eyes sparkled ." i_was born and brought up there, and used to run about_the snow- covered plains ."

" now listen," said the robber- girl; " all our men are gone away,- only mother is here, and here she will stay; but at noon she always drinks out of a great bottle, and afterwards sleeps for a little while; and then, I'll do something for_you ." then she jumped out of bed, clasped her mother round the neck, and pulled her by_the beard, crying, " my own little nanny goat, good morning ." then her mother filliped her nose till it_was quite red; yet she did it all for love .

when_the mother had drunk out_of_the bottle, and was gone to sleep, the little robber- maiden went to_the reindeer, and said, " i_should like very_much to tickle your neck a few_times more with my knife, for_it makes you look so funny; but never mind,- i_will untie your cord, and set you free, so_that you_may run away to Lapland; but you_must make good use of your legs, and carry this little maiden to_the castle of_the snow queen, where her play- fellow is . you_have heard what she told me, for she spoke loud enough, and you were listening ."

then the reindeer jumped for joy; and_the little robber- girl lifted Gerda on_his back, and had the forethought to tie her on, and even to_give her her own little cushion to sit on .

" here are your fur boots for_you," said she; " for it_will_be very cold; but I_must keep the muff; it_is so pretty . however, you shall_not_be frozen for_the want of it; here are my mother's large warm mittens; they_will reach up_to your elbows . let me put them on . there, now your hands look just like my mother's ."

but Gerda wept for joy .

"I don't like to_see you fret," said the little robber- girl; " you ought to look quite happy now; and here are two loaves and a ham, so_that you_need not starve ." these were fastened on_the reindeer, and then the little robber- maiden opened the door, coaxed in all the great dogs, and then cut the string with_which the reindeer was fastened, with her sharp knife, and said, " now run, but mind you take good care of_the little girl ." and then Gerda stretched out her hand, with_the great mitten on_it, towards the little robber- girl, and said, " farewell," and away flew the reindeer, over stumps and stones, through_the great forest, over marshes and plains, as quickly as he_could . the wolves howled, and_the ravens screamed; while up in_the sky quivered red lights like flames of fire ." there_are my old northern lights," said the reindeer; " see how they flash ." and he ran on day and night still faster and faster, but the loaves and_the ham were all eaten by_the_time they reached Lapland .[ edit]

sixth story: the Lapland woman and_the Finland woman

they stopped at a little hut; it_was very mean looking; the roof sloped nearly down to_the ground, and_the door was so low that_the family had to creep in on their hands and knees, when_they went in and out . there_was no one at home but an old Lapland woman, who was cooking fish by_the light of a train- oil lamp . the reindeer told her all about Gerda's story, after having first told his own, which seemed to him the most important, but Gerda was so pinched with_the cold that she_could_not speak ."Oh, you poor things," said the Lapland woman, " you_have a long way to_go yet . you_must travel more than a hundred miles farther, to Finland . the snow queen lives there now, and she Burns Bengal lights every evening . i_will write a few words on a dried stock- fish, for I_have no paper, and you_can take it from me to_the Finland woman who lives there; she_can give_you better information than I_can ." so when Gerda was warmed, and had taken something to eat and drink, the woman wrote a few words on_the dried fish, and told Gerda to_take great care of it . then she tied her again on_the reindeer, and he set off at full speed . flash, flash, went the beautiful blue northern lights in_the air the whole night long . and at_length they reached Finland, and knocked at_the chimney of_the Finland woman's hut, for_it had no door above the ground . they crept in, but it_was so terribly hot inside that that woman wore scarcely any clothes; she was small and very dirty looking

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5]