Little idas folwers

LITTLEIDASFLOWERS
1872
FAIRYTALESOFHANSCHRISTIANANDERSENLITTLEIDA’SFLOWERSbyHansChristianAndersen

"Mypoorflowersarequitedead,"saidlittleIda,"theyweresoprettyyesterdayevening,andnowalltheleavesarehangingdownquitewithered.Whatdotheydothatfor,"sheasked,ofthestudentwhosatonthesofa;shelikedhimverymuch,hecouldtellthemostamusingstories,andcutouttheprettiestpictures;hearts,andladiesdancing,castleswithdoorsthatopened,aswellasflowers;hewasadelightfulstudent."Whydotheflowerslooksofadedto-day?"sheaskedagain,andpointedtohernosegay,whichwasquitewithered."Don’tyouknowwhatisthematterwiththem?"saidthestudent."Theflowerswereataballlastnight,andtherefore,itisnowondertheyhangtheirheads.""Butflowerscannotdance?"criedlittleIda."Yesindeed,theycan,"repliedthestudent."Whenitgrowsdark,andeverybodyisasleep,theyjumpaboutquitemerrily.Theyhaveaballalmosteverynight.""Canchildrengototheseballs?""Yes,"saidthestudent,"littledaisiesandliliesofthevalley.""Wheredothebeautifulflowersdance?"askedlittleIda."Haveyounotoftenseenthelargecastleoutsidethegatesofthetown,wherethekinglivesinsummer,andwherethebeautifulgardenisfullofflowers?Andhaveyounotfedtheswanswithbreadwhentheyswamtowardsyou?Well,theflowershavecapitalballsthere,believeme."
"Iwasinthegardenoutthereyesterdaywithmymother,"saidIda,"butalltheleaveswereoffthetrees,andtherewasnotasingleflowerleft.Wherearethey?Iusedtoseesomanyinthesummer."
"Theyareinthecastle,"repliedthestudent."Youmustknowthatassoonasthekingandallthecourtaregoneintothetown,theflowersrunoutofthegardenintothecastle,andyoushouldseehowmerrytheyare.Thetwomostbeautifulrosesseatthemselvesonthethrone,andarecalledthekingandqueen,thenalltheredcockscombsrangethemselvesoneachside,andbow,thesearethelords-in-waiting.Afterthattheprettyflowerscomein,andthereisagrandball.Thebluevioletsrepresentlittlenavalcadets,anddancewithhyacinthsandcrocuseswhichtheycallyoungladies.Thetulipsandtiger-liliesaretheoldladieswhositandwatchthedancing,sothateverythingmaybeconductedwithorderandpropriety."
"But,"saidlittleIda,"istherenoonetheretohurttheflowersfordancingintheking’scastle?"
"Nooneknowsanythingaboutit,"saidthestudent."Theoldstewardofthecastle,whohastowatchthereatnight,sometimescomesin;buthecarriesagreatbunchofkeys,andassoonastheflowershearthekeysrattle,theyrunandhidethemselvesbehindthelongcurtains,andstandquitestill,justpeepingtheirheadsout.Thentheoldstewardsays,’Ismellflowershere,’buthecannotseethem."
"Ohhowcapital,"saidlittleIda,clappingherhands."ShouldIbeabletoseetheseflowers?"
"Yes,"saidthestudent,"mindyouthinkofitthenexttimeyougoout,nodoubtyouwillseethem,ifyoupeepthroughthewindow.Ididsoto-day,andIsawalongyellowlilylyingstretchedoutonthesofa.Shewasacourtlady."
"CantheflowersfromtheBotanicalGardensgototheseballs?"askedIda."Itissuchadistance!"
"Ohyes,"saidthestudent’whenevertheylike,fortheycanfly.Haveyounotseenthosebeautifulred,white.andyellowbutterflies,thatlooklikeflowers?Theywereflowersonce.Theyhaveflownofftheirstalksintotheair,andflaptheirleavesasiftheywerelittlewingstomakethemfly.Then,iftheybehavewell,theyobtainpermissiontoflyaboutduringtheday,insteadofbeingobligedtositstillontheirstemsathome,andsointimetheirleavesbecomerealwings.Itmaybe,however,thattheflowersintheBotanicalGardenshaveneverbeentotheking’spalace,and,therefore,theyknownothingofthemerrydoingsatnight,whichtakeplacethere.Iwilltellyouwhattodo,andthebotanicalprofessor,wholivesclosebyhere,willbesosurprised.Youknowhimverywell,doyounot?Well,nexttimeyougointohisgarden,youmusttelloneoftheflowersthatthereisgoingtobeagrandballatthecastle,thenthatflowerwilltellalltheothers,andtheywillflyawaytothecastleassoonaspossible.Andwhentheprofessorwalksintohisgarden,therewillnotbeasingleflowerleft.Howhewillwonderwhathasbecomeofthem!"
"Buthowcanoneflowertellanother?Flowerscannotspeak?"
"No,certainlynot,"repliedthestudent;"buttheycanmakesigns.Haveyounotoftenseenthatwhenthewindblowstheynodatoneanother,andrustlealltheirgreenleaves?"
"Cantheprofessorunderstandthesigns?"askedIda.
"Yes,tobesurehecan.Hewentonemorningintohisgarden,andsawastingingnettlemakingsignswithitsleavestoabeautifulredcarnation.Itwassaying,’Youaresopretty,Ilikeyouverymuch.’Buttheprofessordidnotapproveofsuchnonsense,soheclappedhishandsonthenettletostopit.Thentheleaves,whichareitsfingers,stunghimsosharplythathehasneverventuredtotouchanettlesince."
"Ohhowfunny!"saidIda,andshelaughed.
"Howcananyoneputsuchnotionsintoachild’shead?"saidatiresomelawyer,whohadcometopayavisit,andsatonthesofa.Hedidnotlikethestudent,andwouldgrumblewhenhesawhimcuttingoutdrolloramusingpictures.Sometimesitwouldbeamanhangingonagibbetandholdingaheartinhishandasifhehadbeenstealinghearts.Sometimesitwasanoldwitchridingthroughtheaironabroomandcarryingherhusbandonhernose.Butthelawyerdidnotlikesuchjokes,andhewouldsayashehadjustsaid,"Howcananyoneputsuchnonsenseintoachild’shead!whatabsurdfanciesthereare!"
ButtolittleIda,allthesestorieswhichthestudenttoldherabouttheflowers,seemedverydroll,andshethoughtoverthemagreatdeal.Theflowersdidhangtheirheads,becausetheyhadbeendancingallnight,andwereverytired,andmostlikelytheywereill.Thenshetookthemintotheroomwhereanumberoftoyslayonaprettylittletable,andthewholeofthetabledrawerbesideswasfullofbeautifulthings.HerdollSophylayinthedoll’sbedasleep,andlittleIdasaidtoher,"YoumustreallygetupSophy,andbecontenttolieinthedrawerto-night;thepoorflowersareill,andtheymustlieinyourbed,thenperhapstheywillgetwellagain."Soshetookthedollout,wholookedquitecross,andsaidnotasingleword,forshewasangryatbeingturnedoutofherbed.Idaplacedtheflowersinthedoll’sbed,anddrewthequiltoverthem.Thenshetoldthemtoliequitestillandbegood,whileshemadesometeaforthem,sothattheymightbequitewellandabletogetupthenextmorning.Andshedrewthecurtainscloseroundthelittlebed,sothatthesunmightnotshineintheireyes.Duringthewholeeveningshecouldnothelpthinkingofwhatthestudenthadtoldher.Andbeforeshewenttobedherself,shewasobligedtopeepbehindthecurtainsintothegardenwhereallhermother’sbeautifulflowersgrew,hyacinthsandtulips,andmanyothers.Thenshewhisperedtothemquitesoftly,"Iknowyouaregoingtoaballto-night."Buttheflowersappearedasiftheydidnotunderstand,andnotaleafmoved;stillIdafeltquitesuresheknewallaboutit.Shep;layawakealongtimeaftershewasinbed,thinkinghowprettyitmustbetoseeallthebeautifulflowersdancingintheking’sgarden.
"Iwonderifmyflowershavereallybeenthere,"shesaidtoherself,andthenshefellasleep.Inthenightsheawoke;shehadbeendreamingoftheflowersandofthestudent,aswellasofthetiresomelawyerwhofoundfaultwithhim.ItwasquitestillinIda’sbedroom;thenight-lampburntonthetable,andherfatherandmotherwereasleep."IwonderifmyflowersarestilllyinginSophy’sbed,"shethoughttoherself;"howmuchIshouldliketoknow."Sheraisedherselfalittle,andglancedatthedooroftheroomwhereallherflowersandplaythingslay;itwaspartlyopen,andasshelistened,itseemedasifsomeoneintheroomwasplayingthepiano,butsoftlyandmoreprettilythanshehadeverbeforeheardit.
"Nowalltheflowersarecertainlydancinginthere,"shethought,"ohhowmuchIshouldliketoseethem,"butshedidnotdaremoveforfearofdisturbingherfatherandmother."Iftheywouldonlycomeinhere,"shethought;buttheydidnotcome,andthemusiccontinuedtoplaysobeautifully,andwassopretty,thatshecouldresistnolonger.Shecreptoutofherlittlebed,wentsoftlytothedoorandlookedintotheroom.Ohwhatasplendidsighttherewastobesure!Therewasnonight-lampburning,buttheroomappearedquitelight,forthemoonshonethroughthewindowuponthefloor,andmadeitalmostlikeday.Allthehyacinthsandtulipsstoodintwolongrowsdowntheroom,notasingleflowerremainedinthewindow,andtheflower-potswereallempty.Theflowersweredancinggracefullyonthefloor,makingturnsandholdingeachotherbytheirlonggreenleavesastheyswunground.AtthepianosatalargeyellowlilywhichlittleIdawassureshehadseeninthesummer,forsherememberedthestudentsayingshewasverymuchlikeMissLina,oneofIda’sfriends.Theyalllaughedathimthen,butnowitseemedtolittleIdaasifthetall,yellowflowerwasreallyliketheyounglady.Shehadjustthesamemannerswhileplaying,bendingherlongyellowfacefromsidetoside,andnoddingintimetothebeautifulmusic.Thenshesawalargepurplecrocusjumpintothemiddleofthetablewheretheplaythingsstood,gouptothedoll’sbedsteadanddrawbackthecurtains;therelaythesickflowers,buttheygotupdirectly,andnoddedtotheothersasasignthattheywishedtodancewiththem.Theoldroughdoll,withthebrokenmouth,stoodupandbowedtotheprettyflowers.Theydidnotlookillatallnow,butjumpedaboutandwereverymerry,yetnoneofthemnoticedlittleIda.Presentlyitseemedasifsomethingfellfromthetable.Idalookedthatway,andsawaslightcarnivalrodjumpingdownamongtheflowersasifitbelongedtothem;itwas,however,verysmoothandneat,andalittlewaxdollwithabroadbrimmedhatonherhead,liketheonewornbythelawyer,satuponit.
Thecarnivalrodhoppedaboutamongtheflowersonitsthreeredstiltedfeet,andstampedquiteloudwhenitdancedtheMazurka;theflowerscouldnotperformthisdance,theyweretoolighttostampinthatmanner.Allatoncethewaxdollwhichrodeonthecarnivalrodseemedtogrowlargerandtaller,anditturnedroundandsaidtothepaperflowers,"Howcanyouputsuchthingsinachild’shead?theyareallfoolishfancies;"andthenthedollwasexactlylikethelawyerwiththebroadbrimmedhat,andlookedasyellowandascrossashedid;butthepaperdollsstruckhimonhisthinlegs,andheshrunkupagainandbecamequitealittlewaxdoll.Thiswasveryamusing,andIdacouldnothelplaughing.Thecarnivalrodwentondancing,andthelawyerwasobligedtodancealso.Itwasnouse,hemightmakehimselfgreatandtall,orremainalittlewaxdollwithalargeblackhat;stillhemustdance.Thenatlasttheotherflowersintercededforhim,especiallythosewhohadlaininthedoll’sbed,andthecarnivalrodgaveuphisdancing.Atthesamemomentaloudknockingwasheardinthedrawer,whereIda’sdollSophylaywithmanyothertoys.Thentheroughdollrantotheendofthetable,laidhimselfflatdownuponit,andbegantopullthedraweroutalittleway.
ThenSophyraisedhimself,andlookedroundquiteastonished,"Theremustbeaballhereto-night,"saidSophy."Whydidnotsomebodytellme?"
"Willyoudancewithme?"saidtheroughdoll."Youaretherightsorttodancewith,certainly,"saidshe,turningherbackuponhim.Thensheseatedherselfontheedgeofthedrawer,andthoughtthatperhapsoneoftheflowerswouldaskhertodance;butnoneofthemcame.Thenshecoughed,"Hem,hem,a-hem;"butforallthatnotonecame.Theshabbydollnowdancedquitealone,andnotverybadly,afterall.AsnoneoftheflowersseemedtonoticeSophy,sheletherselfdownfromthedrawertothefloor,soastomakeaverygreatnoise.Alltheflowerscameroundherdirectly,andaskedifshehadhurtherself,especiallythosewhohadlaininherbed.Butshewasnothurtatall,andIda’sflowersthankedherfortheuseofthenicebed,andwereverykindtoher.Theyledherintothemiddleoftheroom,wherethemoonshone,anddancedwithher,whilealltheotherflowersformedacircleroundthem.ThenSophywasveryhappy,andsaidtheymightkeepherbed;shedidnotmindlyinginthedraweratall.Buttheflowersthankedherverymuch,andsaid,-"Wecannotlivelong.To-morrowmorningweshallbequitedead;andyoumusttelllittleIdatoburyusinthegarden,neartothegraveofthecanary;then,inthesummerweshallwakeupandbemorebeautifulthanever."
"No,youmustnotdie,"saidSophy,asshekissedtheflowers.Thenthedooroftheroomopened,andanumberofbeautifulflowersdancedin.Idacouldnotimaginewheretheycouldcomefrom,unlesstheyweretheflowersfromtheking’sgarden.Firstcametwolovelyroses,withlittlegoldencrownsontheirheads;thesewerethekingandqueen.Beautifulstocksandcarnationsfollowed,bowingtoeveryonepresent.Theyhadalsomusicwiththem.Largepoppiesandpeonieshadpea-shellsforinstruments,andblewintothemtilltheywerequiteredintheface.Thebunchesofbluehyacinthsandthelittlewhitesnowdropsjingledtheirbell-likeflowers,asiftheywererealbells.Thencamemanymoreflowers:blueviolets,purpleheart’s-ease,daisies,andliliesofthevalley,andtheyalldancedtogether,andkissedeachother.Itwasverybeautifultobehold.
Atlasttheflowerswishedeachothergood-night.ThenlittleIdacreptbackintoherbedagain,anddreamtofallshehadseen.Whenshearosethenextmorning,shewentquicklytothelittletable,toseeiftheflowerswerestillthere.Shedrewasidethecurtainsofthelittlebed.Theretheyalllay,butquitefaded;muchmoresothanthedaybefore.SophywaslyinginthedrawerwhereIdahadplacedher;butshelookedverysleepy.
"Doyourememberwhattheflowerstoldyoutosaytome?"saidlittleIda.ButSophylookedquitestupid,andsaidnotasingleword."Youarenotkindatall,"saidIda;"andyettheyalldancedwithyou."Thenshetookalittlepaperbox,onwhichwerepaintedbeautifulbirds,andlaidthedeadflowersinit.
"Thisshallbeyourprettycoffin,"shesaid;"andbyandby,whenmycousinscometovisitme,theyshallhelpmetoburyyououtinthegarden;sothatnextsummeryoumaygrowupagainmorebeautifulthanever."
Hercousinsweretwogood-temperedboys,whosenameswereJamesandAdolphus.Theirfatherhadgiventhemeachabowandarrow,andtheyhadbroughtthemtoshowIda.Shetoldthemaboutthepoorflowerswhichweredead;andassoonastheyobtainedpermission,theywentwithhertoburythem.Thetwoboyswalkedfirst,withtheircrossbowsontheirshoulders,andlittleIdafollowed,carryingtheprettyboxcontainingthedeadflowers.Theydugalittlegraveinthegarden.Idakissedherflowersandthenlaidthem,withthebox,intheearth.JamesandAdolphusthenfiredtheircrossbowsoverthegrave,astheyhadneithergunsnorcannons.

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