Page:Fairy tales and stories (Andersen, Tegner).djvu/451

Rh "Now the coach may drive away," said the sentry. "Now we have all twelve. Let the next coach drive up."

"First let the twelve get in all right," said the captain, who was on duty. "One at a time! I shall keep the passport; it holds good for a month for each of you. When the month is over I will write on the back of it and say how you have behaved yourselves. Mr. January, will you please step in?"

And so in he went.

When a year has passed I will tell you what the twelve have brought to you, to me, and to all of us. I don't know now, nor do they know themselves, I think—for they are wonderful times we live in.