"What, are there no roses here ? " cried Gerda; and she ran out garden, and examined all the beds, and searched and searched not one found Then she sat down and wept, and her tears fell just place where rose-trees had sunk down The warm tears moistened the earth, rose-tree sprouted up at once, as blooming as when it had sunk; and Gerda embraced it and kissed the roses, and thought beautiful roses at home, and, , of little Kay

"Oh, how detained ! " said the little maiden, " to seek for little Kay where ? " she asked the roses; " dead ? "

roses answered, "No, dead ground where all the dead lie; but Kay there "

" ," said little Gerda, and then she went other flowers, and looked into their little cups, and asked, " where little Kay is ? " But each flower, as it stood sunshine, dreamed only own little fairy tale of history Not one knew anything of Kay Gerda heard many stories flowers, as she asked them one after another about him

And what, said the tiger-lily ? "Hark, hear the drum ? - 'turn, turn,'- only two notes, always, 'turn, turn ' Listen women's song of mourning ! Hear the cry priest ! In her long red robe stands the Hindoo widow funeral pile The flames rise around her as she places herself dead body of her husband; but the Hindoo woman is thinking living one circle; of him, her son, who lighted those flames Those shining eyes trouble her heart more painfully flames which will soon consume her body to ashes Can the fire heart be extinguished flames funeral pile ? "

"I don't understand that at all," said little Gerda

" my story," said the tiger-lily

What, says the convolvulus ? "Near yonder narrow road stands an old knight's castle; thick ivy creeps over the old ruined walls, leaf over leaf, even balcony, stands beautiful maiden She bends over the balustrades, and looks up the road No rose on its stem is fresher than she; no apple-blossom, wafted wind, floats more lightly than she moves Her rich silk rustles as she bends over and exclaims, 'Will he not come ? '

" Kay you mean ? " asked Gerda

" only speaking of story dream," replied the flower

What, said the little snow-drop ? "Between two trees rope is hanging; piece of board upon it; swing Two pretty little girls, in dresses white as snow, and with long green ribbons fluttering from their hats, are sitting upon it swinging Their brother taller than , stands swing; he has one arm round the rope, to steady himself; in one hand he holds little bowl, and other clay pipe; blowing bubbles swing goes on, the bubbles fly upward, reflecting the most beautiful varying colors The last still hangs bowl pipe, and sways wind On goes the swing; and then little black dog comes running up almost as light bubble, and he raises himself hind legs, and wants taken swing; but it stop, dog falls; then he barks and gets angry The children stoop towards him, bubble bursts swinging plank, light sparkling foam picture,- my story "

"It all very pretty what telling me," said little Gerda, "but you speak so mournfully, and mention little Kay at all "

What hyacinths say ? "There were three beautiful sisters, fair and delicate The dress of one was red, second blue, and third pure white Hand in hand they danced bright moonlight, calm lake; but they were human beings, not fairy elves The sweet fragrance attracted them, disappeared wood; here the fragrance became stronger Three coffins, lay the three beautiful maidens, glided thickest part forest across the lake The fire-flies flew lightly over them, like little floating torches dancing maidens sleep, or are they dead ? The scent flower says corpses The evening bell tolls their knell "

"You make me quite sorrowful," said little Gerda; "your perfume is so strong, you make me think dead maidens Ah ! is little Kay really dead then ? The roses earth, say no "

"Cling, clang," tolled the hyacinth bells " tolling for little Kay; know him We sing our song, the "

Then Gerda went buttercups that were glittering amongst the bright green leaves

" little bright suns," said Gerda; "tell me where find my play-fellow "

buttercups sparkled gayly, and looked again at Gerda What song could the buttercups sing ? not about Kay

"The bright warm sun shone on little court, first warm day of spring His bright beams rested white walls neighboring house; and close by bloomed the first yellow flower season, glittering like gold sun's warm ray An old woman sat in her arm chair house door, and her granddaughter, poor and pretty servant-maid came her for short visit When she kissed her grandmother gold everywhere: the gold heart holy kiss; golden morning; gold beaming sunlight, gold leaves lowly flower, and lips maiden There, my story," said the buttercup

"My poor old grandmother ! " sighed Gerda; " longing me, and grieving as she did for little Kay; but soon go home now, and take little Kay with me no use asking the flowers; they know only their own songs, and can no information "

And then she tucked up her little dress, that she might run faster, but the narcissus caught her leg as she was jumping over it; so she stopped and looked tall yellow flower, and said, "Perhaps know something "

Then she stooped down quite close flower, and listened; and what did he say ?

" myself, myself," said the narcissus "Oh, how sweet is my perfume ! Up in little room with bow window, stands little dancing girl, half undressed; she stands sometimes on one leg, and sometimes on both, and looks tread the whole world under her feet nothing but delusion pouring water out of tea-pot on piece of stuff which she holds in her hand; her bodice 'Cleanliness is good thing,' she says Her white dress hangs on peg; it has also been washed tea-pot, and dried roof She puts it on, and ties saffron-colored handkerchief round her neck, which makes the dress look whiter See how she stretches out her legs, she were showing off on stem myself, myself "

"What do I care for all that," said Gerda, " not tell me such stuff " And then she ran other end garden The door was fastened, but she pressed against the rusty latch, and it gave way The door sprang open, and little Gerda ran out with bare feet wide world She looked back three times, but no one seemed following her At last run no longer, so she sat down to rest on great stone, and when she looked round she saw summer was over, and autumn very far advanced She had known nothing beautiful garden, where the sun shone flowers grew all the year round

"Oh, how wasted ? " said little Gerda; " autumn not rest any longer," and she rose up on But her little feet were wounded and sore, and everything around her looked so cold and bleak The long willow-leaves were quite yellow The dew-drops fell like water, leaf after leaf dropped trees, the sloe-thorn alone still bore fruit, but the sloes were sour, and set the teeth on edge Oh, how dark and weary the whole world appeared ! [edit]

Fourth Story: The Prince and Princess

Gerda was obliged to rest again, and just opposite the place where she sat, she saw great crow come hopping across the snow toward her He stood looking at her for , and then he wagged his head and said, "Caw, caw; good-day, good-day " He pronounced the words as plainly as , because he meant kind little girl; and then he asked her where she was going all alone wide world

The word alone Gerda understood , and knew it expressed So then she told the crow the whole story of her life and adventures, and asked him if he had seen little Kay

The crow nodded his head very gravely, and said, "Perhaps - it "

"No ! ? " cried little Gerda, and she kissed the crow, and hugged him almost to death with joy

"Gently, gently," said the crow "I believe it little Kay; but he has certainly forgotten you princess "

"Does he live with princess ? " asked Gerda