Page:Fairy tales and stories (Andersen, Tegner).djvu/157



HERE was once a little boy who had caught a cold through getting his feet wet. No one could make out how he had managed to get them wet, for the weather was quite fine. His mother undressed him and put him to bed, and had the tea-urn brought in to make a nice cup of elder-tea for him, for that warms the body so well! Just then the amusing old gentleman, who lived at the top of the house, came in through the door; he lived by himself, for he had neither wife nor children, but he was so very fond of children and could tell so many fairy tales and stories that it was a pleasure to listen to him.

"You must drink your tea, now," said the mother to the little boy, "and then perhaps you shall hear a fairy tale!"

"If one could only think of something new!" said the old man with a friendly nod. "But how did the little fellow get his feet wet?" he asked.

"Yes, where did he get them wet?" said the mother. "No one can make it out."

"Will you tell me a story?" asked the boy.

"Yes, if you can tell me exactly how deep the gutter is in the little street where your school is. I must know that first." Rh