Page:The fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen (c1899).djvu/168

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ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES

sent in her last thoughts, she saw her — saw where she had been dragged deep down — and nf that sight the gentle lady burst into tears; in the kingdom of heaven she stood like a child and wept for poor Inger. The tears and the prayers sounded like an echo down in the hollow, empty form that enclosed the imprisoned, tortured soul which was overwhelmed by all that un- thought-of kindness from above. An angel of God wept over her ! Wherefore was this granted to^ her? It seemed as if her tortured soul recalled every deed of her earthly life, and Inger trembled as she wept such tears as she had never before been able to weep. Sorrow for her own condition filled her ; she thought that for her the gate of mercy could never be opened : and when, in her contrition, she acknowledged her unworthiness, a ray of light shone down into the depths oi

the abyss. The ray came with a power stronger than that of sunshine which thaws a snow man that the boys have set up in the yard, and then — much more quickly than a snowflake,. falling on a child's warm mouth, melts away into a drop — Inger's petrified form evaporated ; a little bird soared like a flash of light- ning up to the world of men. But it was fearful and afraid of all about it; it was ashamed of itself in the presence of all liv- ing creatures, and hastily sought shelter in a dark hole which it discovered in a ruined wall. Mere it sat and crouched, its whole body quivering ; it could not utter a sound, for it had nv voice. It sat for a long time before it was sufficiently at rest to see and notice all the splen- dour around it. Everything was indeed splendid ! The air was so fresh and mild, the moon shone so clear, trees and bushes exhaled their fragrance, and it was so comfortable where it sat, and its plumage was so clean and delicate. No, every created thing seemed still to be pre- served in love and splendour. All the thoughts that arose within the bird's breast wished to break forth into song, but the bird could not sing ; fain would he have sung as the cuckoo and nightingale do in the spring. Heaven, that hears the silent adoration of the worm, here also took note of the hymn which arose in harmonious thoughts, even as the psalm sounded in David's breast before he gave it words and melody.

For some weeks these silent songs grew and increased in its thoughts; they must break out at last, at the first stroke of the wings in a kind action, if such might be done.

Now came the holy festival of Christmas. A peasant set up a pole close to the wall, and tied a sheaf of oats which had not been threshed to the top, so that the birds of the air might have a merry Christmas and a joyful meal at that holy time.

And the sun rose on Christmas morning, and shone on the sheaf of oats, and all the twittering birds flew about the pole where their dinner was ; then the little bird from the wall also chirped "pee, peel" then the swelling thoughts burst forth into sound, then the weak piping became a complete hymn of joy, the thought of a kind action was aroused, and the bird flew out from its shelter. It was well known in the kingdom of heaven what it had been before it was a bird.

THERE IS A SEA-SWALLOW FLYING AWAY OVER THE SEA !

SAID THE CHILDREN.