Something by Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen

translation H P Paull (1872)

"I mean to_be somebody , and something useful in_the_world ," said the eldest five brothers "I don't care how humble position , so_that I_can only some good , which will_be I intend to_be brickmaker; bricks are always wanted , and I_shall_be really doing "

" your ' something ' is_not enough for_me ," said the second brother ; " what you talk doing nothing all , it_is journeyman 's work , might even be_done machine ! i_should prefer to_be builder once , there_is real in_that man gains position , becomes citizen , has his own sign , his own house call for_his workmen : I_shall_be builder all goes well , in_time I_shall become master , and_have own journeymen, and wife will_be treated master 's wife this_is what I call something "

"I call all nothing ," said the third ; " not reality any position there_are many town far above master builder you_may_be upright man , but even master you_will only ranked among common men I_know better what to_do than that i_will_be architect , which will place among those who possess riches and intellect , and who speculate art I_shall certainly have rise own endeavors from bricklayer 's laborer , carpenter 's apprentice - lad wearing paper cap, although I now wear silk hat I_shall_have fetch beer and spirits for_the journeymen, and they_will call ' thou ,' which will_be insult I_shall endure , however , for I_shall look upon all mere representation , masquerade , mummery , which - morrow , that_is , when I myself journeyman , shall_have served my_time , will vanish , and I_shall way , and all that has passed will_be nothing to_me then I_shall enter the academy , and get instructed drawing, and called architect I_may even attain rank , and_have something placed before after name , and I_shall build others have_done before by_this there_will_be always ' ' to_make remembered , and is_not that worth living for ? "

" not opinion ," said the fourth ; " i_will never follow the lead others, and only imitate what they_have done i_will_be genius , and become greater than all you together i_will create new style building , and introduce plan for erecting houses suitable to_the climate , with material easily obtained in_the country , and thus suit national feeling and_the developments of_the age , besides storey for_my own genius "

" but supposing the climate and_the material are_not good for much ," said the fifth brother , " that_would_be very unfortunate for_you , and_have influence over your experiments nationality may assert itself until becomes affectation , and_the developments century may run wild , youth often does I_see clearly that none you_will ever really anything worth notice , however you_may now fancy but as_you like , I_shall_not imitate you I mean to_keep clear all these things , and criticize what you_do every action something imperfect may_be discovered , not right , which I_shall_make business to_find out and expose ; that_will_be , I fancy " and kept his word , and became critic

people said of_this fifth brother , " there_is something very precise about him ; has good head - piece , but he_does nothing " and on_that very account they thought he_must_be

now , you_see , this_is little history which will never end ; long as_the world exists, there_will always men like these five brothers and what became of_them ? were they each nothing something ? you shall hear ; it_is quite history

the eldest brother , who fabricated bricks, soon discovered that each brick , when finished , brought him small coin , only copper one ; and many copper pieces, placed one upon another , can_be changed into shining shilling; and whatever door person knocks, who has number of_these in_his hands, whether the baker 's, the butcher 's, the tailor 's, the door flies open , and he_can get all he_wants you_see the value bricks some_of_the bricks, however , crumbled pieces, were broken , but the elder brother found use for even these

on_the high bank earth , which formed dyke on_the sea - coast , poor woman named Margaret wished build herself house , all the imperfect bricks were given her , and few whole ones with_them ; for_the eldest brother was kind -hearted man , although never achieved anything higher than making bricks the poor woman built herself little house - it_was small and narrow , and_the window was quite crooked , the door too low , and_the straw roof might_have_been better thatched but still it_was shelter , and from within you_could look far over the sea , which dashed wildly against the sea - wall on_which the little house was built the salt waves sprinkled their white foam over , but stood firm , and remained long after who had given the bricks build it_was dead and buried

the second brother of_course knew better how build than poor Margaret , for served apprenticeship learn when his time was , packed his knapsack , and went on_his travels, singing the journeyman 's song ,-

" while young , I_can wander without care ,
and build new houses everywhere ;
fair and bright are dreams home ,
always thought wherever I roam

Hurrah for workman 's life glee !
there 's loved one home who thinks ;
home and friends I_can ne'er forget ,
and I mean to_be master yet "

and_that what he_did on_his return home , became master builder ,- built one house after another in_the town , till they formed quite street , which , when finished , became really ornament to_the town these houses built house for him return , which_was to_be his own but how can houses build house ? if_the houses were asked , they_could_not answer ; but the people would understand , and say , " certainly the street built his house for him " it_was not very large , and_the floor was lime ; but when danced with_his bride on_the lime - covered floor , it_was him white and shining, and from every stone in_the wall flowers seemed spring forth and decorate the room with_the richest tapestry it_was really pretty house , and in_it were happy pair the of_the corporation fluttered before , and_the journeymen and apprentices shouted "Hurrah " had gained his position , had made himself something , and last died , which_was " " too

now come to_the architect , the third brother , who had_been first carpenter 's apprentice , had worn cap, and served errand boy , but afterwards went to_the academy , and risen to_be , high and noble gentleman Ah yes , the houses of_the new street , which the brother who was master builder erected , may_have built his house for him , but the street received its name from_the architect , and_the handsomest house in_the street became his property that was something , and he_was " ," for had list titles before and after his name his children were called " wellborn ," and when died , his widow was treated lady position , and_that was " " his name remained always written at_the corner of_the street , and lived every_one 's mouth its name yes , this also was something "

and what about_the genius of_the family - the fourth brother - who wanted invent something new and original ? tried build lofty storey himself , but fell pieces, and fell with and broke his neck however , had splendid funeral , with_the city flags and music in_the procession ; flowers were strewn on_the pavement , and three orations were spoken over his grave , each_one longer than_the other he_would_have liked this very_much during his life , as_well as_the poems about him in_the papers, for liked nothing so_well to_be talked monument was also erected over his grave it_was only another storey over him , but that was " something ," now he_was dead , like the three other brothers

the youngest - the critic - outlived them all , which_was quite right for him gave him the opportunity having the last word , which him was great importance people always said had good head - piece last his hour came , and died , and arrived at_the gates heaven Souls always enter these gates pairs; he_found himself standing and waiting for admission with another ; and who_should but old dame Margaret , from_the house on_the dyke ! " it_is evidently for_the sake contrast that I and this wretched soul should arrive here exactly at_the same time ," said the critic " pray who_are you , good woman ? " said ; " do_you_want to_get here too ? "

and_the old woman curtsied as_well she_could ; she thought must_be St Peter himself who spoke her " I_am poor old woman ," she said , " without family I_am old Margaret , that lived in_the house on_the dyke "

" well , and what have_you done - what great deed performed down below ? "

" I_have_done nothing all in_the_world that could give_me claim to_have these doors open for_me ," she said " would_be only through mercy that I_can_be allowed slip through_the gate "

" what manner did you leave the world ? " asked , just for_the sake saying something ; for_it made him feel very weary stand there and wait

" how I left the world ? " she replied ; " why , I_can scarcely tell you during_the_last years of_my life i_was sick and miserable , and i_was unable bear creeping out bed suddenly into_the frost and cold last winter was hard winter , but I_have got over all now there were few mild days, as_your honor , no_doubt , knows the ice lay thickly on_the lake , far one could_see the people came from_the town , and walked upon , and_they say there were dancing and skating upon , I believe , and great feasting the sound beautiful music came into poor little room where I lay towards evening , when_the moon rose beautifully , though not yet her full splendor , I glanced from bed over the wide sea ; and there , just where the sea and sky met, rose curious white cloud I lay looking at_the cloud till I observed little black spot in_the middle , which gradually grew larger and larger , and then I_knew what meant- I_am old and experienced ; and although this token is_not often seen , I_knew , and shuddering seized twice life had I seen this same thing , and I_knew that there would_be awful storm , with spring tide , which would overwhelm the poor people who were now out on_the ice , drinking, dancing, and making merry young and old , the whole city , were there ; who was warn them , one noticed the sign , knew what meant I_did ? i_was alarmed , that I_felt more strength and life than I had done for some_time I got out bed , and reached the window ; I_could_not crawl any farther from weakness and exhaustion ; but I managed open the window I_saw the people outside running and jumping about on_the ice ; I_saw the beautiful flags waving in_the wind ; I heard the boys shouting, 'Hurrah ! ' and_the lads and lasses singing, and everything full merriment and joy but there_was the white cloud with_the black spot hanging over them I cried out loudly I_could , but one heard ; i_was too far off from_the people soon would the storm burst , the ice break , and all who were on_it irretrievably lost they_could_not hear , and to_go to_them was quite out of_my power Oh, I_could only get them safe land ! then came the thought , as_if from heaven , that i_would rather set fire bed , and let the house burnt down , than that so_many people should perish miserably I got light , and few_moments the red flames leaped to_them I escaped fortunately far as_the threshold of_the door ; but there I fell down and remained : I_could farther the flames rushed out towards , flickered on_the window , and rose high above the roof the people on_the ice became aware of_the fire , and ran fast possible help poor sick woman , who , as_they thought , was being burnt death there_was not one who did_not run I heard them coming, and I also at_the same time was conscious rush air and sound like the roar heavy artillery the spring flood was lifting the ice covering, which brake into thousand pieces but the people had reached the sea - wall , where the Sparks were flying round I had saved them all ; but I suppose I_could_not survive the cold and fright ; I_came here to_the gates paradise I_am told they_are open poor creatures such I_am , and I_have now house left earth ; but I_do_not_think that_will give_me claim to_be admitted here "

then the gates were opened , and angel led the old woman she had dropped one little straw out her straw bed , when she set fire save the lives so_many had_been changed into_the purest gold - into gold that constantly grew and expanded into flowers and fruit immortal beauty

" see ," said the angel , pointing to_the wonderful straw , " this_is what the poor woman has brought what dost thou bring ? I_know thou hast accomplished nothing , not even made single brick even thou couldst return , and at_least produce so_much , very likely , when made , the brick would_be useless , unless done with good will , which_is always something but thou canst not return earth , and I_can nothing for thee "

then the poor soul , the old mother who had lived in_the house on_the dyke, pleaded for him she said , " his brother made all the stone and bricks, and sent them to_me build poor little dwelling, which_was great deal to_do for poor woman like could_not all these bricks and pieces wall stone prevail for him ? it_is act mercy ; he_is wanting now ; and here_is_the very fountain mercy "

" then ," said the angel , " thy brother , who has_been looked upon as_the meanest you all , whose honest deeds thee appeared humble ,- it_is who has sent you this heavenly gift thou shalt not turned away thou shalt have permission stand without the gate and reflect, and repent thy life earth ; but thou shalt not admitted here until thou hast performed one good deed repentance , which will indeed for thee something "

" I_could_have expressed that better ," thought the critic ; but he_did_not_say aloud , which for him was something , after all

the end