The Metal Pig by Hans Christian Andersen
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and_the dog .These good people gave the child food and drink, and said he_should stay with_them all night, and that_the next_day the old man, who was called Giuseppe, would go and speak to_his mother .alittle homely bed was prepared for him, but to him who had so often slept on_the hard stones it_was aroyal couch, and he slept sweetly and dreamed of_the splendid pictures and of_the Metal Pig .Giuseppe went out the next morning, and_the poor child was not glad_to_see him go, for he_knew that_the old man was gone to_his mother, and_that, perhaps, he_would_have to_go back .He wept at_the thought, and then he played with_the little, lively dog, and kissed it, while the old woman looked kindly at him to encourage him .And what news did Giuseppe bring back ? At first the boy could_not hear, for he talked agreat deal to_his wife, and she nodded and stroked the boy's cheek .

Then she said, " he_is agood lad, he shall stay with_us, he_may become aclever 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 apaint-box and alarge 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 apiece of chalk .His hand moved quickly, and_his eye measured the great picture; and though nothing appeared but afaint 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 abright, 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 aride 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 ? "

afiery 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 alittle 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 alittle 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 adreadful 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 astone, and with it made atremendous 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 agreat 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 anumber 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 afew 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 apencil, 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 .asecond pig was drawn by_the side of_the first, and this looked ahundred 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 apicture-book in itself for any_one who chooses to_turn over its pages . on_the Piazza dell Trinita stands aslender 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 amost 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 alarge number of spectators .The smaller of_the two represented alittle boy sitting at atable, drawing; before him was alittle white poodle, curiously shaven; but as_the animal would_not stand still, it had_been fastened with astring 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 ayoung Florentine, who had_been found in_the streets, when achild, by an old glovemaker, who had brought him up .The boy had taught himself to draw: it_was also said that ayoung 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 amodel .The glovemaker's boy had also become agreat painter, as_the picture proved; but the larger picture by its side was astill greater proof of_his talent .It represented ahandsome 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 adeep sleep .The lamp before_the picture of_the Madonna threw astrong, effective light on_the pale, delicate face of_the child . it_was abeautiful picture .alarge gilt frame surrounded it, and on one corner of_the frame alaurel wreath had_been hung; but ablack band, twined unseen among_the green leaves, and astreamer of crape, hung down from_it; for within_the last few_days the young artist had- died .

THE END

Section [1 | 2]