Page:Hans Andersen's fairy tales (Robinson).djvu/301

HANS ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES into a thousand pieces! That turf-basket is a Liberal, that's the fact.'

'Now, you talk too much,' interrupted the tinder-box, and the steel struck the flint, so that the sparks flew out. 'Why should we not spend a pleasant evening?'

Yes, let us settle who is of highest rank among us!' proposed the matches.

'Oh no; for my part I would rather not speak of myself,' objected the earthen-ware pitcher. 'Suppose we have an intellectual entertainment? I will begin; I will relate something of everyday life, such as we have all experienced; one can easily transport oneself into it, and that is so interesting! Near the Baltic, among the Danish beech-groves—'

'That is a capital beginning!' cried all the plates at once; 'it will certainly be just the sort of story for me!'

'Yes, there I spent my youth in a very quiet family; the furniture was rubbed, the floors were washed, clean curtains were hung up every fortnight.'

'How very interesting! what a charming way you have of describing things!' said the hair-broom. 'Any one might guess immediately that it is a lady who is speaking; the tale breathes such a spirit of cleanliness!'

'Very true; so it does!' exclaimed the water-pail, and in the excess of his delight he gave a little jump, so that some of the water splashed upon the floor. 252