by Hans Christian Andersen

translation by H P Paull (1872)

"I MEAN somebody, and do something useful ," said the eldest of five brothers "I don't care how humble my position is, only do some good, which something I intend brickmaker; bricks are always wanted, and really doing something "

"Your 'something' enough ," said the second brother; "what you talk of doing is nothing at all, journeyman's work, or might even by machine No ! prefer builder at once, something real man gains position, he becomes citizen, has his own sign, his own house of call workmen: so builder If all goes well, become master, my own journeymen, and my wife treated as master's wife what I call something "

"I call it all nothing," said the third; "not in reality any position many in town far above master builder in position an upright man, but even as master only be ranked among common men better what than that an architect, which will place me among those who possess riches and intellect, and who speculate in art certainly have to rise by my own endeavors from bricklayer's laborer, or as carpenter's apprentice- lad wearing paper cap, although I now wear silk hat to fetch beer and spirits journeymen, and call me 'thou,' which an insult endure it, however, for look upon it all as mere representation, masquerade, mummery, which to-morrow, , when I myself as journeyman, served , will vanish, and go my way, and all that has passed nothing Then enter the academy, and get instructed in drawing, and be called an architect even attain to rank, something placed before or after my name, and build as others before me always 'something' me remembered, and that worth living for ? "

"Not in my opinion," said the fourth; " never follow the lead of others, and only imitate what they genius, and become greater than all of you together create new style of building, and introduce plan for erecting houses suitable climate, with material easily obtained country, and thus suit national feeling developments age, besides building storey own genius "

"But supposing the climate material good for much," said the fifth brother, " very unfortunate , an influence over your experiments Nationality may assert itself until it becomes affectation, developments of century may run wild, as youth often does clearly that none of ever really be anything worth notice, however now fancy it But do like, imitate you I mean clear of all these things, and criticize what In every action something imperfect discovered, something not right, which it my business out and expose; something, I fancy " And he kept his word, and became critic

People said fifth brother, " something very precise about him; he has good head-piece, but nothing " And very account they thought something

Now, , little history which will never end; as long world exists, always be men like these five brothers And what became ? Were they each nothing or something ? You shall hear; quite history

The eldest brother, he who fabricated bricks, soon discovered that each brick, when finished, brought him in small coin, if only copper one; and many copper pieces, if placed one upon another, changed into shining shilling; and at whatever door person knocks, who has number hands, whether it be the baker's, the butcher's, or the tailor's, the door flies open, and get all So the value of bricks bricks, however, crumbled to pieces, or were broken, but the elder brother found use for even these

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

The second brother knew better how to build than poor Margaret, for he served an apprenticeship to learn it When his time was up, he packed up his knapsack, and went travels, singing the journeyman's song,-

"While young, wander without care,
And build new houses everywhere;
Fair and bright are my dreams of home,
Always thought of wherever I roam

Hurrah for workman's life of glee !
There's loved one at home who thinks of me;
Home and friends ne'er forget,
And I mean master yet "

is what return home, he became master builder,- built one house after another town, till they formed quite street, which, when finished, became really an ornament town These houses built house for him in return, his own But how can houses build house ? houses were asked, answer; but the people would understand, and say, "Certainly the street built his house for him " not very large, floor was of lime; but when he danced bride lime-covered floor, to him white and shining, and from every stone wall flowers seemed to spring forth and decorate the room as richest tapestry really pretty house, and were happy pair The flag corporation fluttered before it, journeymen and apprentices shouted "Hurrah " He had gained his position, he had made himself something, and at last he died, "something" too

Now we come architect, the third brother, who first carpenter's apprentice, had worn cap, and served as an errand boy, but afterwards went academy, and risen an architect, high and noble gentleman Ah yes, the houses new street, which the brother who was master builder erected, built his house for him, but the street received its name architect, handsomest house street became his property That was something, and "something," for he had list of titles before and after his name His children were called "wellborn," and when he died, his widow was treated as lady of position, was "something " His name remained always written corner street, and lived in 's mouth as its name Yes, this also was something "

And what genius family- the fourth brother- who wanted to invent something new and original ? He tried to build lofty storey himself, but it fell to pieces, and he fell with it and broke his neck However, he had splendid funeral, city flags and music procession; flowers were strewn pavement, and three orations were spoken over his grave, longer other liked this during his life, poems about him papers, for he liked nothing be talked of monument was also erected over his grave only another storey over him, but that was "something," Now dead, like the three other brothers