everything in the right place-第1部分

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　EVERYTHING　IN　THE　RIGHT　PLACE

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen



　　　　IT　is　more　than　a　hundred　years　ago！　At　the　border　of　the　wood；

near　a　large　lake；　stood　the　old　mansion：　deep　ditches　surrounded　it

on　every　side；　in　which　reeds　and　bulrushes　grew。　Close　by　the

drawbridge；　near　the　gate；　there　was　an　old　willow　tree；　which　bent

over　the　reeds。

　　　　From　the　narrow　pass　came　the　sound　of　bugles　and　the　trampling　of

horses'　feet；　therefore　a　little　girl　who　was　watching　the　geese

hastened　to　drive　them　away　from　the　bridge；　before　the　whole

hunting　party　came　galloping　up；　they　came；　however；　so　quickly；

that　the　girl；　in　order　to　avoid　being　run　over；　placed　herself　on　one

of　the　high　corner…stones　of　the　bridge。　She　was　still　half　a　child

and　very　delicately　built；　she　had　bright　blue　eyes；　and　a　gentle；

sweet　expression。　But　such　things　the　baron　did　not　notice；　while　he

was　riding　past　the　little　goose…girl；　he　reversed　his　hunting　crop；

and　in　rough　play　gave　her　such　a　push　with　it　that　she　fell

backward　into　the　ditch。

　　　　〃Everything　in　the　right　place！〃　he　cried。　〃Into　the　ditch　with

you。〃

　　　　Then　he　burst　out　laughing；　for　that　he　called　fun；　the　others

joined　in…　the　whole　party　shouted　and　cried；　while　the　hounds　barked。

　　　　While　the　poor　girl　was　falling　she　happily　caught　one　of　the

branches　of　the　willow　tree；　by　the　help　of　which　she　held　herself

over　the　water；　and　as　soon　as　the　baron　with　his　company　and　the　dogs

had　disappeared　through　the　gate；　the　girl　endeavoured　to　scramble　up；

but　the　branch　broke　off；　and　she　would　have　fallen　backward　among　the

rushes；　had　not　a　strong　hand　from　above　seized　her　at　this　moment。　It

was　the　hand　of　a　pedlar；　he　had　witnessed　what　had　happened　from　a

short　distance；　and　now　hastened　to　assist　her。

　　　　〃Everything　in　the　right　place；〃　he　said；　imitating　the　noble

baron；　and　pulling　the　little　maid　up　to　the　dry　ground。　He　wished

to　put　the　branch　back　in　the　place　it　had　been　broken　off；　but　it

is　not　possible　to　put　everything　in　the　right　place；〃　therefore　he

stuck　the　branch　into　the　soft　ground。

　　　　〃Grow　and　thrive　if　you　can；　and　produce　a　good　flute　for　them

yonder　at　the　mansion；〃　he　said；　it　would　have　given　him　great

pleasure　to　see　the　noble　baron　and　his　companions　well　thrashed。　Then

he　entered　the　castle…　but　not　the　banqueting　hall；　he　was　too

humble　for　that。　No；　he　went　to　the　servants'　hall。　The　men…servants

and　maids　looked　over　his　stock　of　articles　and　bargained　with　him；

loud　crying　and　screaming　were　heard　from　the　master's　table　above：

they　called　it　singing…　indeed；　they　did　their　best。　Laughter　and

the　howls　of　dogs　were　heard　through　the　open　windows：　there　they　were

feasting　and　revelling；　wine　and　strong　old　ale　were　foaming　in　the

glasses　and　jugs；　the　favourite　dogs　ate　with　their　masters；　now　and

then　the　squires　kissed　one　of　these　animals；　after　having　wiped　its

mouth　first　with　the　tablecloth。　They　ordered　the　pedlar　to　come　up；

but　only　to　make　fun　of　him。　The　wine　had　got　into　their　heads；　and

reason　had　left　them。　They　poured　beer　into　a　stocking　that　he　could

drink　with　them；　but　quick。　That's　what　they　called　fun；　and　it　made

them　laugh。　Then　meadows；　peasants；　and　farmyards　were　staked　on　one

card　and　lost。

　　　　〃Everything　in　the　right　place！〃　the　pedlar　said　when　he　had　at

last　safely　got　out　of　Sodom　and　Gomorrah；　as　he　called　it。　〃The

open　high　road　is　my　right　place；　up　there　I　did　not　feel　at　ease。〃

　　　　The　little　maid；　who　was　still　watching　the　geese；　nodded　kindly

to　him　as　he　passed　through　the　gate。

　　　　Days　and　weeks　passed；　and　it　was　seen　that　the　broken

willow…branch　which　the　peddlar　had　stuck　into　the　ground　near　the

ditch　remained　fresh　and　green…　nay；　it　even　put　forth　fresh　twigs；

the　little　goose…girl　saw　that　the　branch　had　taken　root；　and　was　very

pleased；　the　tree；　so　she　said；　was　now　her　tree。　While　the　tree　was

advancing；　everything　else　at　the　castle　was　going　backward；　through

feasting　and　gambling；　for　these　are　two　rollers　upon　which　nobody

stands　safely。　Less　than　six　years　afterwards　the　baron　passed　out

of　his　castle…gate　a　poor　beggar；　while　the　baronial　seat　had　been

bought　by　a　rich　tradesman。　He　was　the　very　pedlar　they　had　made　fun

of　and　poured　beer　into　a　stocking　for　him　to　drink；　but　honesty　and

industry　bring　one　forward；　and　now　the　pedlar　was　the　possessor　of

the　baronial　estate。　From　that　time　forward　no　card…playing　was

permitted　there。

　　　　〃That's　a　bad　pastime；〃　he　said；　〃when　the　devil　saw　the　Bible　for

the　first　time　he　wanted　to　produce　a　caricature　in　opposition　to

it；　and　invented　card…playing。〃

　　　　The　new　proprietor　of　the　estate　took　a　wife；　and　whom　did　he

take？…　The　little　goose…girl；　who　had　always　remained　good　and　kind；

and　who　looked　as　beautiful　in　her　new　clothes　as　if　she　had　been　a

lady　of　high　birth。　And　how　did　all　this　come　about？　That　would　be　too

long　a　tale　to　tell　in　our　busy　time；　but　it　really　happened；　and

the　most　important　events　have　yet　to　be　told。

　　　　It　was　pleasant　and　cheerful　to　live　in　the　old　place　now：　the

mother　superintended　the　household；　and　the　father　looked　after　things

out…of…doors；　and　they　were　indeed　very　prosperous。

　　　　Where　honesty　leads　the　way；　prosperity　is　sure　to　follow。　The　old

mansion　was　repaired　and　painted；　the　ditches　were　cleaned　and

fruit…trees　planted；　all　was　homely　and　pleasant；　and　the　floors

were　as　white　and　shining　as　a　pasteboard。　In　the　long　winter　evenings

the　mistress　and　her　maids　sat　at　the　spinning…wheel　in　the　large

hall；　every　Sunday　the　counsellor…　this　title　the　pedlar　had　obtained；

although　only　in　his　old　days…　read　aloud　a　portion　from　the　Bible。

The　children　（for　they　had　children）　all　received　the　best

education；　but　they　were　not　all　equally　clever；　as　is　the　case　in　all

families。

　　　　In　the　meantime　the　willow　tree　near　the　drawbridge　had　grown　up

into　a　splendid　tree；　and　stood　there；　free；　and　was　never　clipped。

〃It　is　our　genealogical　tree；〃　said　the　old　people　to　their

children；　〃and　therefore　it　must　be　honoured。〃

　　　　A　hundred　years　had　elapsed。　It　was　in　our　own　days；　the　lake

had　been　transformed　into　marsh　land；　the　whole　baronial　seat　had；

as　it　were；　disappeared。　A　pool　of　water　near　some　ruined　walls　was

the　only　remainder　of　the　deep　ditches；　and　here　stood　a　magnificent

old　tree　with　overhanging　branches…　that　was　the　genealogical　tree。

Here　it　stood；　and　showed　how　beautiful　a　willow　can　look　if　one

does　not　interfere　with　it。　The　trunk；　it　is　true；　was　cleft　in　the

middle　from　the　root　to　the　crown；　the　storms　had　bent　it　a　little；

but　it　still　stood　there；　and　out　of　every　crevice　and　cleft；　in　which

wind　and　weather　had　carried　mould；　blades　of　grass　and　flowers　sprang

forth。　Especially　above；　where　the　large　boughs　parted；　there　was

quite　a　hanging　garden；　in　which　wild　raspberries　and　hart's…tongue

ferns　throve；　and　even　a　little　mistletoe　had　taken　root；　and　grew

gracefully　in　the　old　willow　branches；　which　were　reflected　in　the

dark　water　beneath　when　the　wind　blew　the　chickweed　into　the　corner　of

the　pool。　A　footpath　which　led　across　the　fields　passed　close　by　the

old　tree。　High　up；　on　the　woody　hillside；　stood　the　new　mansion。　It

had　a　splendid　view；　and　was　large　and　magnificent；　its　window　panes

were　so　clear　that　one　might　have　thought　there　were　none　there　at

all。　The　large　flight　of　steps　which　led　to　the　entrance　looked　like　a

bower　covered　with　roses　and　broad…leaved　plants。　The　lawn　was　as

green　as　if　each　blade　of　grass　was　cleaned　separately　morning　and

evening。　Inside；　in　the　hall；　valuable　oil　paintings　were　hanging　on

the　walls。　Here　stood　chairs　and　sofas　covered　with　silk　and　velvet；

which　could　be　easily　rolled　about　on　castors；　there　were　tables

with　polished　marble　tops；　and　books　bound　in　morocco　with　gilt　edges。

Indeed；　well…to…do　and　distinguished　people　lived　here；　it　was　the

dwelling　of　the　baron　and　his　family。　Each　article　was　in　keeping　with

its　surroundings。　〃Everything　in　the　right　place〃　was　the　motto

according　to　which　they　also　acted　here；　and　therefore　all　the

paintings　which　had　once　been　the　honour　and　glory　of　the　old

mansion　were　now　hung　up　in　the　passage　which　led　to　the　servants'

rooms。　It　was　all　old　lumber；　especially　two　portraits…　one

representing　a　man　in　a　scarlet　coat　with　a　wig；　and　the　other　a

lady　with　powdered　and　curled　hair　holding　a　rose　in　her　hand；　each　of

them　being　surrounded　by　a　large　wreath　of　willow　branches。　Both

portraits　had　many　holes　in　them；　because　the　baron's　sons　used　the

two　old　people　as　targets　for　their　crossbows。　They　represented　the

counsellor　and　his　wife；　from　whom　the　whole　family　descended。　〃But

they　did　not　properly　belong　to　our　family；〃　said　one　of　the　boys；　〃he

was　a　pedlar　and　she　kept　the　geese。　They　were　not　like　papa　and

mamma。〃　The　portraits　were　old　lumber；　and　〃everything　in　its　right

place。〃　That　was　why　the　great…grandparents　had　been　hung　up　in　the

passage　leading　to　the　servants'　rooms。

　　　　The　son　of　the　village　pastor　was　tutor　at　the　mansion。　One　day　he

went　for　a　walk　across　the　fields　with　his　young　pupils　and　their

elder　sister；　who　had　lately　been　confirmed。　They　walked　along　the

road　which　passed　by　the　old　willow　tree；　and　while　they　were　on　the

road　she　picked　a　bunch　of　field…flowers。　〃Everything　in　the　right

place；〃　and　indeed　the　bunch　looked　very　beautiful。　At　the　same　time

she　listened　to　all　that　was　said；　and　she　very　much　liked　to　hear　the

pastor's　son　speak　about　the　elements　and　of　the　great　men　and　women

in　history。　She　had　a　healthy　mind；　noble　in　thought　and　deed；　and

with　a　heart　full　of　love　for　everything　that　God　had　created。　They

stopped　at　the　old　willow　tree；　as　the　youngest　of　the　baron's　sons

wished　very　much　to　have　a　flute　from　it；　such　as　had　been　cut　for　him

from　other　willow　trees；　the　pastor's　son　broke　a　branch　off。　〃Oh；

pray　do　not　do　it！〃