Thumbelina by Hans Christian Andersen
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. still birds are very high bred ."

tiny said nothing; but when_the two others had turned their backs on_the bird, she stooped down and stroked aside the soft feathers which covered the head, and kissed the closed eyelids ." perhaps this_was the one who sang to_me so sweetly in_the summer," she said; " and how_much pleasure it gave_me, you dear, pretty bird ."

the mole now stopped up the hole through which the daylight shone, and then accompanied the lady home . but during the night tiny could_not sleep; so she got out of bed and wove a large, beautiful carpet of hay; then she carried it to_the dead bird, and spread it over him; with some down from_the flowers which she had found in_the field- mouse's room . it_was as soft as wool, and she spread some of it on each side of_the bird, so_that he might lie warmly in_the cold earth ." farewell, you pretty little bird," said she, " farewell; thank_you_for_your delightful singing during the summer, when all the trees were green, and_the warm sun shone upon us . then she laid her head on_the bird's breast, but she was alarmed immediately, for_it seemed as_if something inside the bird went " thump, thump ." it was_the bird's heart; he_was not really dead, only benumbed with_the cold, and_the warmth had restored him to life . in autumn, all the swallows fly away into warm countries, but if one happens to linger, the cold seizes it, it becomes frozen, and falls down as_if dead; it remains where it fell, and_the cold snow covers it . tiny trembled very_much; she was quite frightened, for_the bird was large, a great deal larger than herself,- she was only an inch high . but she took courage, laid the wool more thickly over the poor swallow, and then took a leaf which she had used for her own counterpane, and laid it over the head of_the poor bird . the next morning she again stole out to_see him . he_was alive but very weak; he_could only open his eyes for a moment to look at tiny, who stood by holding a piece of decayed wood in her hand, for she had no other lantern ." thank_you, pretty little maiden," said the sick swallow; " I_have_been so nicely warmed, that I_shall soon regain my strength, and be_able to fly about again in_the warm sunshine ."

"Oh," said she, " it_is cold out of doors now; it snows and freezes . stay in your warm bed; i_will take care of you ."

then she brought the swallow some water in a flower- leaf, and after he had drank, he_told her that he had wounded one of_his wings in a thorn- bush, and could_not fly as fast as_the others, who were soon far away on their journey to warm countries . then at last he had fallen to_the earth, and could remember no more, nor how he_came to_be where she had found him . the whole winter the swallow remained underground, and tiny nursed him with care and love . neither the mole nor the field- mouse knew anything about_it, for they_did_not like swallows . very_soon the spring time came, and_the sun warmed the earth . then the swallow bade farewell to tiny, and she opened the hole in_the ceiling which the mole had made . the sun shone in upon them so beautifully, that_the swallow asked her if she_would go with_him; she_could sit on_his back, he_said, and he_would fly away with her into_the green woods . but tiny knew it would make_the field- mouse very grieved if she left her in_that manner, so she said, " no, I_cannot ."

" farewell, then, farewell, you good, pretty little maiden," said the swallow; and he flew out into_the sunshine .

tiny looked after him, and_the tears rose in her eyes . she was very fond of_the poor swallow .

"Tweet, tweet," sang the bird, as he flew out into_the green woods, and tiny felt very sad . she was not allowed to_go out into_the warm sunshine . the corn which had_been sown in_the field over the house of_the field- mouse had grown up high into_the air, and formed a thick wood to tiny, who was only an inch in height .

" you_are going to_be married, tiny," said the field- mouse ." my neighbor has asked for_you . what good fortune for a poor child like you . now we_will prepare your wedding clothes . they_must_be both woollen and linen . nothing must_be wanting when_you_are the mole's wife ."

tiny had to_turn the spindle, and_the field- mouse hired four spiders, who were to weave day and night . every evening the mole visited her, and was continually speaking of_the time when_the summer would_be over . then he_would keep his wedding- day with tiny; but now the heat of_the sun was so great that_it burned the earth, and made it quite hard, like a stone . as soon, as_the summer was over, the wedding should take place . but tiny was not at all pleased; for she did_not like the tiresome mole . every morning when_the sun rose, and every evening when it went down, she_would creep out at_the door, and as_the wind blew aside the ears of corn, so_that she_could see the blue sky, she thought how beautiful and bright it seemed out there, and wished so_much to_see her dear swallow again . but he never returned; for by_this_time he had flown far away into_the lovely green forest .

when autumn arrived, tiny had her outfit quite ready; and_the field- mouse said to her, " in four weeks the wedding must take place ."

then tiny wept, and said she_would not marry the disagreeable mole .

" nonsense," replied the field- mouse ." now don't be obstinate, or I_shall bite you with my white teeth . he_is a very handsome mole; the queen herself does_not wear more beautiful velvets and furs . his kitchen and cellars are quite full . you ought_to_be very thankful for such good fortune ."

so the wedding- day was fixed, on_which the mole was to fetch tiny away to live with_him, deep under the earth, and never again to_see the warm sun, because he_did_not like it . the poor child was very unhappy at_the thought of saying farewell to_the beautiful sun, and as_the field- mouse had given her permission to stand at_the door, she went to look at it once more .

" farewell bright sun," she cried, stretching out her arm towards it; and then she walked a short distance from_the house; for_the corn had_been cut, and only the dry stubble remained in_the fields ." farewell, farewell," she repeated, twining her arm round a little red flower that grew just by her side ." greet the little swallow from me, if you_should see him again ."

"Tweet, tweet," sounded over her head suddenly . she looked up, and there_was the swallow himself flying close by . as_soon_as he spied tiny, he_was delighted; and then she told him how unwilling she felt to marry the ugly mole, and to live always beneath the earth, and never to_see the bright sun any more . and as she told him she wept .

" cold winter is coming," said the swallow, " and I_am going to fly away into warmer countries . will_you go with me ? you_can sit on my back, and fasten yourself on with your sash . then we_can fly away from_the ugly mole and_his gloomy rooms,- far away, over the mountains, into warmer countries, where the sun shines more brightly- than here; where it_is always summer, and_the flowers bloom in greater beauty . fly now with me, dear little tiny; you saved my life when I lay frozen in_that dark passage ."

" yes, i_will go with_you," said tiny; and she seated herself on_the bird's back, with her feet on_his outstretched wings, and tied her girdle to one of_his strongest feathers .

then the swallow rose in_the air, and flew over forest and over sea, high above the highest mountains, covered with eternal snow . tiny would_have_been frozen in_the cold air, but she crept under the bird's warm feathers, keeping her little head uncovered, so_that she might admire the beautiful lands over which they passed . at_length they reached the warm countries, where the sun shines brightly, and_the sky seems so_much higher above the earth . here, on_the hedges, and by_the wayside, grew purple, green, and white grapes; lemons and oranges hung from trees in_the woods; and_the air was fragrant with myrtles and orange blossoms . beautiful children ran along the country lanes, playing with large gay butterflies; and as_the swallow flew farther and farther, every place appeared still more lovely .

at last they came to a blue lake, and by_the side of it, shaded by trees of_the deepest green, stood a palace of dazzling white marble, built in_the olden times .Vines clustered round its lofty pillars, and at_the top were many swallows' nests, and one_of_these was_the home of_the swallow who carried tiny .

" this_is my house," said the swallow; " but it would_not do for_you to live there- you_would_not_be comfortable . you_must choose for_yourself one of_those lovely flowers, and_I_will put you down upon it, and then you_shall_have everything that you_can wish to_make you happy ."

" that_will_be delightful," she said, and clapped her little hands for joy .

a large marble pillar lay on_the ground, which, in falling, had_been broken into three pieces . between_these pieces grew the most beautiful large white flowers; so the swallow flew down with tiny, and placed her on one_of_the broad leaves . but how surprised she was to_see in_the middle of_the flower, a tiny little man, as white and transparent as_if he had_been made of crystal ! he had a gold crown on_his head, and delicate wings at his shoulders, and was not much larger than tiny herself . he was_the angel of_the flower; for a tiny man and a tiny woman dwell in every flower; and this_was the king of_them all .

"Oh, how beautiful he_is ! " whispered tiny to_the swallow .

the little prince was at first quite frightened at_the bird, who was like a giant, compared to such a delicate little creature as himself; but when he_saw tiny, he_was delighted, and thought her the prettiest little maiden he had ever seen . he_took the gold crown from_his head, and placed it on hers, and asked her name, and if she_would be his wife, and queen over all the flowers .

this certainly was a very different sort of husband to_the son of a toad, or the mole, with my black velvet and fur; so she said, " yes," to_the handsome prince . then all the flowers opened, and out of each came a little lady or a tiny lord, all so pretty it_was quite a pleasure to look at them . each of_them brought tiny a present; but the best gift was a pair of beautiful wings, which had belonged to a large white fly and_they fastened them to tiny's shoulders, so_that she might fly from flower to flower . then there_was much rejoicing, and_the little swallow who sat above them, in_his nest, was asked to sing awedding song, which he_did as_well as he_could; but in_his heart he_felt sad for he_was very fond of tiny, and would_have liked never to part from her again .

" you_must not be called tiny any more," said the spirit of_the flowers to her ." it_is an ugly name, and you_are so very pretty . we_will call you Maia ."

" farewell, farewell," said the swallow, with a heavy heart as he left the warm countries to fly back into Denmark . there he had a nest over the window of a house in_which dwelt the writer of fairy tales . the swallow sang, "Tweet, tweet," and from_his song came the whole story .

the end

Section [1 | 2]