Little Tiny or Thumbelina

1872
FAIRYTALESOFHANSCHRISTIANANDERSENLITTLETINYORTHUMBELINAbyHansChristianAndersenTHEREwasonceawomanwhowishedverymuchtohavealittlechild,butshecouldnotobtainherwish.Atlastshewenttoafairy,andsaid,"Ishouldsoverymuchliketohavealittlechild;canyoutellmewhereIcanfindone?"
"Oh,thatcanbeeasilymanaged,"saidthefairy."Hereisabarleycornofadifferentkindtothosewhichgrowinthefarmer’sfields,andwhichthechickenseat;putitintoaflower-pot,andseewhatwillhappen."
"Thankyou,"saidthewoman,andshegavethefairytwelveshillings,whichwasthepriceofthebarleycorn.Thenshewenthomeandplantedit,andimmediatelytheregrewupalargehandsomeflower,somethinglikeatulipinappearance,butwithitsleavestightlyclosedasifitwerestillabud."Itisabeautifulflower,"saidthewoman,andshekissedtheredandgolden-coloredleaves,andwhileshedidsothefloweropened,andshecouldseethatitwasarealtulip.Withintheflower,uponthegreenvelvetstamens,sataverydelicateandgracefullittlemaiden.Shewasscarcelyhalfaslongasathumb,andtheygaveherthenameof"Thumbelina,"orTiny,becauseshewassosmall.Awalnut-shell,elegantlypolished,servedherforacradle;herbedwasformedofblueviolet-leaves,witharose-leafforacounterpane.Hereshesleptatnight,butduringthedaysheamusedherselfonatable,wherethewomanhadplacedaplatefulofwater.Roundthisplatewerewreathsofflowerswiththeirstemsinthewater,anduponitfloatedalargetulip-leaf,whichservedTinyforaboat.Herethelittlemaidensatandrowedherselffromsidetoside,withtwooarsmadeofwhitehorse-hair.Itreallywasaveryprettysight.Tinycould,also,singsosoftlyandsweetlythatnothinglikehersinginghadeverbeforebeenheard.Onenight,whileshelayinherprettybed,alarge,ugly,wettoadcreptthroughabrokenpaneofglassinthewindow,andleapedrightuponthetablewhereTinylaysleepingunderherrose-leafquilt.
"Whataprettylittlewifethiswouldmakeformyson,saidthetoad,andshetookupthewalnut-shellinwhichlittleTinylayasleep,andjumpedthroughthewindowwithitintothegarden.Intheswampymarginofabroadstreaminthegardenlivedthetoad,withherson.Hewasugliereventhanhismother,andwhenhesawtheprettylittlemaideninherelegantbed,hecouldonlycry,"Croak,croak,croak."
"Don’tspeaksoloud,orshewillwake,"saidthetoad,"andthenshemightrunaway,forsheisaslightasswan’sdown.Wewillplaceherononeofthewater-lilyleavesoutinthestream;itwillbelikeanislandtoher,sheissolightandsmall,andthenshecannotescape;and,whilesheisaway,wewillmakehasteandpreparethestate-roomunderthemarsh,inwhichyouaretolivewhenyouaremarried."
Faroutinthestreamgrewanumberofwater-lilies,withbroadgreenleaves,whichseemedtofloatonthetopofthewater.Thelargestoftheseleavesappearedfartheroffthantherest,andtheoldtoadswamouttoitwiththewalnut-shell,inwhichlittleTinylaystillasleep.Thetinylittlecreaturewokeveryearlyinthemorning,andbegantocrybitterlywhenshefoundwhereshewas,forshecouldseenothingbutwateroneverysideofthelargegreenleaf,andnowayofreachingtheland.Meanwhiletheoldtoadwasverybusyunderthemarsh,deckingherroomwithrushesandwildyellowflowers,tomakeitlookprettyforhernewdaughter-in-law.ThensheswamoutwithheruglysontotheleafonwhichshehadplacedpoorlittleTiny.Shewantedtofetchtheprettybed,thatshemightputitinthebridalchambertobereadyforher.Theoldtoadbowedlowtoherinthewater,andsaid,"Hereismyson,hewillbeyourhusband,andyouwilllivehappilyinthemarshbythestream."
"Croak,croak,croak,"wasallhersoncouldsayforhimself;sothetoadtookuptheelegantlittlebed,andswamawaywithit,leavingTinyallaloneonthegreenleaf,whereshesatandwept.Shecouldnotbeartothinkoflivingwiththeoldtoad,andhavingheruglysonforahusband.Thelittlefishes,whoswamaboutinthewaterbeneath,hadseenthetoad,andheardwhatshesaid,sotheyliftedtheirheadsabovethewatertolookatthelittlemaiden.Assoonastheycaughtsightofher,theysawshewasverypretty,anditmadethemverysorrytothinkthatshemustgoandlivewiththeuglytoads."No,itmustneverbe!"sotheyassembledtogetherinthewater,roundthegreenstalkwhichheldtheleafonwhichthelittlemaidenstood,andgnaweditawayattherootwiththeirteeth.Thentheleaffloateddownthestream,carryingTinyfarawayoutofreachofland.
Tinysailedpastmanytowns,andthelittlebirdsinthebushessawher,andsang,"Whatalovelylittlecreature;"sotheleafswamawaywithherfartherandfarther,tillitbroughthertootherlands.Agracefullittlewhitebutterflyconstantlyflutteredroundher,andatlastalightedontheleaf.Tinypleasedhim,andshewasgladofit,fornowthetoadcouldnotpossiblyreachher,andthecountrythroughwhichshesailedwasbeautiful,andthesunshoneuponthewater,tillitglitteredlikeliquidgold.Shetookoffhergirdleandtiedoneendofitroundthebutterfly,andtheotherendoftheribbonshefastenedtotheleaf,whichnowglidedonmuchfasterthanever,takinglittleTinywithitasshestood.Presentlyalargecockchaferflewby;themomenthecaughtsightofher,heseizedherroundherdelicatewaistwithhisclaws,andflewwithherintoatree.Thegreenleaffloatedawayonthebrook,andthebutterflyflewwithit,forhewasfastenedtoit,andcouldnotgetaway.Oh,howfrightenedlittleTinyfeltwhenthecockchaferflewwithhertothetree!Butespeciallywasshesorryforthebeautifulwhitebutterflywhichshehadfastenedtotheleaf,forifhecouldnotfreehimselfhewoulddieofhunger.Butthecockchaferdidnottroublehimselfatallaboutthematter.Heseatedhimselfbyhersideonalargegreenleaf,gavehersomehoneyfromtheflowerstoeat,andtoldhershewasverypretty,thoughnotintheleastlikeacockchafer.Afteratime,allthecockchafersturneduptheirfeelers,andsaid,"Shehasonlytwolegs!howuglythatlooks.""Shehasnofeelers,"saidanother."Herwaistisquiteslim.Pooh!sheislikeahumanbeing."
"Oh!sheisugly,"saidalltheladycockchafers,althoughTinywasverypretty.Thenthecockchaferwhohadrunawaywithher,believedalltheotherswhentheysaidshewasugly,andwouldhavenothingmoretosaytoher,andtoldhershemightgowheresheliked.Thenheflewdownwithherfromthetree,andplacedheronadaisy,andsheweptatthethoughtthatshewassouglythateventhecockchaferswouldhavenothingtosaytoher.Andallthewhileshewasreallytheloveliestcreaturethatonecouldimagine,andastenderanddelicateasabeautifulrose-leaf.DuringthewholesummerpoorlittleTinylivedquitealoneinthewideforest.Shewoveherselfabedwithbladesofgrass,andhungitupunderabroadleaf,toprotectherselffromtherain.Shesuckedthehoneyfromtheflowersforfood,anddrankthedewfromtheirleaveseverymorning.
Sopassedawaythesummerandtheautumn,andthencamethewinter,-thelong,coldwinter.Allthebirdswhohadsungtohersosweetlywereflownaway,andthetreesandtheflowershadwithered.Thelargecloverleafundertheshelterofwhichshehadlived,wasnowrolledtogetherandshrivelledup,nothingremainedbutayellowwitheredstalk.Shefeltdreadfullycold,forherclothesweretorn,andshewasherselfsofrailanddelicate,thatpoorlittleTinywasnearlyfrozentodeath.Itbegantosnowtoo;andthesnow-flakes,astheyfelluponher,werelikeawholeshovelfulfallingupononeofus,forwearetall,butshewasonlyaninchhigh.Thenshewrappedherselfupinadryleaf,butitcrackedinthemiddleandcouldnotkeepherwarm,andsheshiveredwithcold.Nearthewoodinwhichshehadbeenlivinglayacorn-field,butthecornhadbeencutalongtime;nothingremainedbutthebaredrystubblestandingupoutofthefrozenground.Itwastoherlikestrugglingthroughalargewood.Oh!howsheshiveredwiththecold.Shecameatlasttothedoorofafield-mouse,whohadalittledenunderthecorn-stubble.Theredweltthefield-mouseinwarmthandcomfort,withawholeroomfulofcorn,akitchen,andabeautifuldiningroom.PoorlittleTinystoodbeforethedoorjustlikealittlebeggar-girl,andbeggedforasmallpieceofbarley-corn,forshehadbeenwithoutamorseltoeatfortwodays.
"Youpoorlittlecreature,"saidthefield-mouse,whowasreallyagoodoldfield-mouse,"comeintomywarmroomanddinewithme."ShewasverypleasedwithTiny,soshesaid,"Youarequitewelcometostaywithmeallthewinter,ifyoulike;butyoumustkeepmyroomscleanandneat,andtellmestories,forIshallliketohearthemverymuch."AndTinydidallthefield-mouseaskedher,andfoundherselfverycomfortable.
"Weshallhaveavisitorsoon,"saidthefield-mouseoneday;"myneighborpaysmeavisitonceaweek.HeisbetteroffthanIam;hehaslargerooms,andwearsabeautifulblackvelvetcoat.Ifyoucouldonlyhavehimforahusband,youwouldbewellprovidedforindeed.Butheisblind,soyoumusttellhimsomeofyourprettieststories.
ButTinydidnotfeelatallinterestedaboutthisneighbor,forhewasamole.However,hecameandpaidhisvisitdressedinhisblackvelvetcoat.
"Heisveryrichandlearned,andhishouseistwentytimeslargerthanmine,"saidthefield-mouse.
Hewasrichandlearned,nodoubt,buthealwaysspokeslightinglyofthesunandtheprettyflowers,becausehehadneverseenthem.Tinywasobligedtosingtohim,"Lady-bird,lady-bird,flyawayhome,"andmanyotherprettysongs.Andthemolefellinlovewithherbecauseshehadsuchasweetvoice;buthesaidnothingyet,forhewasverycautious.Ashorttimebefore,themolehaddugalongpassageundertheearth,whichledfromthedwellingofthefield-mousetohisown,andhereshehadpermissiontowalkwithTinywheneversheliked.Buthewarnedthemnottobealarmedatthesightofadeadbirdwhichlayinthepassage.Itwasaperfectbird,withabeakandfeathers,andcouldnothavebeendeadlong,andwaslyingjustwherethemolehadmadehispassage.Themoletookapieceofphosphorescentwoodinhismouth,anditglitteredlikefireinthedark;thenhewentbeforethemtolightthemthroughthelong,darkpassage.Whentheycametothespotwherelaythedeadbird,themolepushedhisbroadnosethroughtheceiling,theearthgaveway,sothattherewasalargehole,andthedaylightshoneintothepassage.Inthemiddleofthefloorlayadeadswallow,hisbeautifulwingspulledclosetohissides,hisfeetandhisheaddrawnupunderhisfeathers;thepoorbirdhadevidentlydiedofthecold.ItmadelittleTinyverysadtoseeit,shedidsolovethelittlebirds;allthesummertheyhadsungandtwitteredforhersobeautifully.Butthemolepusheditasidewithhiscrookedlegs,andsaid,"Hewillsingnomorenow.Howmiserableitmustbetobebornalittlebird!Iamthankfulthatnoneofmychildrenwilleverbebirds,fortheycandonothingbutcry,’Tweet,tweet,’andalwaysdieofhungerinthewinter."
"Yes,youmaywellsaythat,asacleverman!"exclaimedthefield-mouse,"Whatistheuseofhistwittering,forwhenwintercomeshemusteitherstarveorbefrozentodeath.Stillbirdsareveryhighbred."
Tinysaidnothing;butwhenthetwoothershadturnedtheirbacksonthebird,shestoopeddownandstrokedasidethesoftfeatherswhichcoveredthehead,andkissedtheclosedeyelids.
"Perhapsthiswastheonewhosangtomesosweetlyinthesummer,"shesaid;"andhowmuchpleasureitgaveme,youdear,prettybird."Themolenowstoppeduptheholethroughwhichthedaylightshone,andthenaccompaniedtheladyhome.ButduringthenightTinycouldnotsleep;soshegotoutofbedandwovealarge,beautifulcarpetofhay;thenshecarriedittothedeadbird,andspreaditoverhim;withsomedownfromtheflowerswhichshehadfoundinthefield-mouse’sroom.Itwasassoftaswool,andshespreadsomeofitoneachsideofthebird,sothathemightliewarmlyinthecoldearth."Farewell,youprettylittlebird,"saidshe,"farewell;thankyouforyourdelightfulsingingduringthesummer,whenallthetreesweregreen,andthewarmsunshoneuponus.Thenshelaidherheadonthebird’sbreast,butshewasalarmedimmediately,foritseemedasifsomethinginsidethebirdwent"thump,thump."Itwasthebird’sheart;hewasnotreallydead,onlybenumbedwiththecold,andthewarmthhadrestoredhimtolife.Inautumn,alltheswallowsflyawayintowarmcountries,butifonehappenstolinger,thecoldseizesit,itbecomesfrozen,andfallsdownasifdead;itremainswhereitfell,andthecoldsnowcoversit.Tinytrembledverymuch;shewasquitefrightened,forthebirdwaslarge,agreatdeallargerthanherself,-shewasonlyaninchhigh.Butshetookcourage,laidthewoolmorethicklyoverthepoorswallow,andthentookaleafwhichshehadusedforherowncounterpane,andlaiditovertheheadofthepoorbird.Thenextmorningsheagainstoleouttoseehim.Hewasalivebutveryweak;hecouldonlyopenhiseyesforamomenttolookatTiny,whostoodbyholdingapieceofdecayedwoodinherhand,forshehadnootherlantern."Thankyou,prettylittlemaiden,"saidthesickswallow;"Ihavebeensonicelywarmed,thatIshallsoonregainmystrength,andbeabletoflyaboutagaininthewarmsunshine."
"Oh,"saidshe,"itiscoldoutofdoorsnow;itsnowsandfreezes.Stayinyourwarmbed;Iwilltakecareofyou."
Thenshebroughttheswallowsomewaterinaflower-leaf,andafterhehaddrank,hetoldherthathehadwoundedoneofhiswingsinathorn-bush,andcouldnotflyasfastastheothers,whoweresoonfarawayontheirjourneytowarmcountries.Thenatlasthehadfallentotheearth,andcouldremembernomore,norhowhecametobewhereshehadfoundhim.Thewholewintertheswallowremainedunderground,andTinynursedhimwithcareandlove.
Neitherthemolenorthefield-mouseknewanythingaboutit,fortheydidnotlikeswallows.Verysoonthespringtimecame,andthesunwarmedtheearth.ThentheswallowbadefarewelltoTiny,andsheopenedtheholeintheceilingwhichthemolehadmade.Thesunshoneinuponthemsobeautifully,thattheswallowaskedherifshewouldgowithhim;shecouldsitonhisback,hesaid,andhewouldflyawaywithherintothegreenwoods.ButTinyknewitwouldmakethefield-mouseverygrievedifsheleftherinthatmanner,soshesaid,"No,Icannot.""Farewell,then,farewell,yougood,prettylittlemaiden,"saidtheswallow;andheflewoutintothesunshine.
Tinylookedafterhim,andthetearsroseinhereyes.Shewasveryfondofthepoorswallow."Tweet,tweet,"sangthebird,asheflewoutintothegreenwoods,andTinyfeltverysad.Shewasnotallowedtogooutintothewarmsunshine.Thecornwhichhadbeensowninthefieldoverthehouseofthefield-mousehadgrownuphighintotheair,andformedathickwoodtoTiny,whowasonlyaninchinheight.
"Youaregoingtobemarried,Tiny,"saidthefield-mouse."Myneighborhasaskedforyou.Whatgoodfortuneforapoorchildlikeyou.Nowwewillprepareyourweddingclothes.Theymustbebothwoollenandlinen.Nothingmustbewantingwhenyouarethemole’swife."
Tinyhadtoturnthespindle,andthefield-mousehiredfourspiders,whoweretoweavedayandnight.Everyeveningthemolevisitedher,andwascontinuallyspeakingofthetimewhenthesummerwouldbeover.Thenhewouldkeephiswedding-daywithTiny;butnowtheheatofthesunwassogreatthatitburnedtheearth,andmadeitquitehard,likeastone.Assoon,asthesummerwasover,theweddingshouldtakeplace.ButTinywasnotatallpleased;forshedidnotlikethetiresomemole.Everymorningwhenthesunrose,andeveryeveningwhenitwentdown,shewouldcreepoutatthedoor,andasthewindblewasidetheearsofcorn,sothatshecouldseethebluesky,shethoughthowbeautifulandbrightitseemedoutthere,andwishedsomuchtoseeherdearswallowagain.Butheneverreturned;forbythistimehehadflownfarawayintothelovelygreenforest.
Whenautumnarrived,Tinyhadheroutfitquiteready;andthefield-mousesaidtoher,"Infourweekstheweddingmusttakeplace."
ThenTinywept,andsaidshewouldnotmarrythedisagreeablemole.
"Nonsense,"repliedthefield-mouse."Nowdon’tbeobstinate,orIshallbiteyouwithmywhiteteeth.Heisaveryhandsomemole;thequeenherselfdoesnotwearmorebeautifulvelvetsandfurs.Hiskitchenandcellarsarequitefull.Yououghttobeverythankfulforsuchgoodfortune."
Sothewedding-daywasfixed,onwhichthemolewastofetchTinyawaytolivewithhim,deepundertheearth,andneveragaintoseethewarmsun,becausehedidnotlikeit.Thepoorchildwasveryunhappyatthethoughtofsayingfarewelltothebeautifulsun,andasthefield-mousehadgivenherpermissiontostandatthedoor,shewenttolookatitoncemore.
"Farewellbrightsun,"shecried,stretchingoutherarmtowardsit;andthenshewalkedashortdistancefromthehouse;forthecornhadbeencut,andonlythedrystubbleremainedinthefields.
"Farewell,farewell,"sherepeated,twiningherarmroundalittleredflowerthatgrewjustbyherside."Greetthelittleswallowfromme,ifyoushouldseehimagain."
"Tweet,tweet,"soundedoverherheadsuddenly.Shelookedup,andtherewastheswallowhimselfflyingcloseby.AssoonashespiedTiny,hewasdelighted;andthenshetoldhimhowunwillingshefelttomarrytheuglymole,andtolivealwaysbeneaththeearth,andnevertoseethebrightsunanymore.Andasshetoldhimshewept.
"Coldwinteriscoming,"saidtheswallow,"andIamgoingtoflyawayintowarmercountries.Willyougowithme?Youcansitonmyback,andfastenyourselfonwithyoursash.Thenwecanflyawayfromtheuglymoleandhisgloomyrooms,-faraway,overthemountains,intowarmercountries,wherethesunshinesmorebrightly-thanhere;whereitisalwayssummer,andtheflowersbloomingreaterbeauty.Flynowwithme,dearlittleTiny;yousavedmylifewhenIlayfrozeninthatdarkpassage."
"Yes,Iwillgowithyou,"saidTiny;andsheseatedherselfonthebird’sback,withherfeetonhisoutstretchedwings,andtiedhergirdletooneofhisstrongestfeathers.
Thentheswallowroseintheair,andflewoverforestandoversea,highabovethehighestmountains,coveredwitheternalsnow.Tinywouldhavebeenfrozeninthecoldair,butshecreptunderthebird’swarmfeathers,keepingherlittleheaduncovered,sothatshemightadmirethebeautifullandsoverwhichtheypassed.Atlengththeyreachedthewarmcountries,wherethesunshinesbrightly,andtheskyseemssomuchhigherabovetheearth.Here,onthehedges,andbythewayside,grewpurple,green,andwhitegrapes;lemonsandorangeshungfromtreesinthewoods;andtheairwasfragrantwithmyrtlesandorangeblossoms.Beautifulchildrenranalongthecountrylanes,playingwithlargegaybutterflies;andastheswallowflewfartherandfarther,everyplaceappearedstillmorelovely.
Atlasttheycametoabluelake,andbythesideofit,shadedbytreesofthedeepestgreen,stoodapalaceofdazzlingwhitemarble,builtintheoldentimes.Vinesclusteredrounditsloftypillars,andatthetopweremanyswallows’nests,andoneofthesewasthehomeoftheswallowwhocarriedTiny."Thisismyhouse,"saidtheswallow;"butitwouldnotdoforyoutolivethere-youwouldnotbecomfortable.Youmustchooseforyourselfoneofthoselovelyflowers,andIwillputyoudownuponit,andthenyoushallhaveeverythingthatyoucanwishtomakeyouhappy."
"Thatwillbedelightful,"shesaid,andclappedherlittlehandsforjoy.
Alargemarblepillarlayontheground,which,infalling,hadbeenbrokenintothreepieces.Betweenthesepiecesgrewthemostbeautifullargewhiteflowers;sotheswallowflewdownwithTiny,andplacedherononeofthebroadleaves.Buthowsurprisedshewastoseeinthemiddleoftheflower,atinylittleman,aswhiteandtransparentasifhehadbeenmadeofcrystal!Hehadagoldcrownonhishead,anddelicatewingsathisshoulders,andwasnotmuchlargerthanTinyherself.Hewastheangeloftheflower;foratinymanandatinywomandwellineveryflower;andthiswasthekingofthemall.
"Oh,howbeautifulheis!"whisperedTinytotheswallow.Thelittleprincewasatfirstquitefrightenedatthebird,whowaslikeagiant,comparedtosuchadelicatelittlecreatureashimself;butwhenhesawTiny,hewasdelighted,andthoughthertheprettiestlittlemaidenhehadeverseen.Hetookthegoldcrownfromhishead,andplaceditonhers,andaskedhername,andifshewouldbehiswife,andqueenoveralltheflowers.
Thiscertainlywasaverydifferentsortofhusbandtothesonofatoad,orthemole,withmyblackvelvetandfur;soshesaid,"Yes,"tothehandsomeprince.Thenalltheflowersopened,andoutofeachcamealittleladyoratinylord,allsoprettyitwasquiteapleasuretolookatthem.EachofthembroughtTinyapresent;butthebestgiftwasapairofbeautifulwings,whichhadbelongedtoalargewhiteflyandtheyfastenedthemtoTiny’sshoulders,sothatshemightflyfromflowertoflower.Thentherewasmuchrejoicing,andthelittleswallowwhosatabovethem,inhisnest,wasaskedtosingaweddingsong,whichhedidaswellashecould;butinhishearthefeltsadforhewasveryfondofTiny,andwouldhavelikednevertopartfromheragain.
"YoumustnotbecalledTinyanymore,"saidthespiritoftheflowerstoher."Itisanuglyname,andyouaresoverypretty.WewillcallyouMaia."
"Farewell,farewell,"saidtheswallow,withaheavyheartasheleftthewarmcountriestoflybackintoDenmark.Therehehadanestoverthewindowofahouseinwhichdweltthewriteroffairytales.Theswallowsang,"Tweet,tweet,"andfromhissongcamethewholestory.

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