the story of the year-第1部分

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　STORY　OF　THE　YEAR

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen



　　　　IT　was　near　the　end　of　January；　and　a　terrible　fall　of　snow　was

pelting　down；　and　whirling　through　the　streets　and　lanes；　the

windows　were　plastered　with　snow　on　the　outside；　snow　fell　in　masses

from　the　roofs。　Every　one　seemed　in　a　great　hurry；　they　ran；　they

flew；　fell　into　each　other's　arms；　holding　fast　for　a　moment　as　long

as　they　could　stand　safely。　Coaches　and　horses　looked　as　if　they　had

been　frosted　with　sugar。　The　footmen　stood　with　their　backs　against

the　carriages；　so　as　to　turn　their　faces　from　the　wind。　The　foot

passengers　kept　within　the　shelter　of　the　carriages；　which　could

only　move　slowly　on　in　the　deep　snow。　At　last　the　storm　abated；　and

a　narrow　path　was　swept　clean　in　front　of　the　houses；　when　two　persons

met　in　this　path　they　stood　still；　for　neither　liked　to　take　the　first

step　on　one　side　into　the　deep　snow　to　let　the　other　pass　him。　There

they　stood　silent　and　motionless；　till　at　last；　as　if　by　tacit

consent；　they　each　sacrificed　a　leg　and　buried　it　in　the　deep　snow。

Towards　evening；　the　weather　became　calm。　The　sky；　cleared　from　the

snow；　looked　more　lofty　and　transparent；　while　the　stars　shone　with

new　brightness　and　purity。　The　frozen　snow　crackled　under　foot；　and

was　quite　firm　enough　to　bear　the　sparrows；　who　hopped　upon　it　in

the　morning　dawn。　They　searched　for　food　in　the　path　which　had　been

swept；　but　there　was　very　little　for　them；　and　they　were　terribly

cold。　〃Tweet；　tweet；〃　said　one　to　another；　they　call　this　a　new

year；　but　I　think　it　is　worse　than　the　last。　We　might　just　as　well

have　kept　the　old　year；　I'm　quite　unhappy；　and　I　have　a　right　to　be

so。〃

　　　　〃Yes；　you　have；　and　yet　the　people　ran　about　and　fired　off　guns；

to　usher　in　the　new　year；〃　said　a　little　shivering　sparrow。　〃They

threw　things　against　the　doors；　and　were　quite　beside　themselves

with　joy；　because　the　old　year　had　disappeared。　I　was　glad　too；　for

I　expected　we　should　have　some　warm　days；　but　my　hopes　have　come　to

nothing。　It　freezes　harder　than　ever；　I　think　mankind　have　made　a

mistake　in　reckoning　time。〃

　　　　〃That　they　have；〃　said　a　third；　an　old　sparrow　with　a　white

poll；　〃they　have　something　they　call　a　calendar；　it's　an　invention

of　their　own；　and　everything　must　be　arranged　according　to　it；　but

it　won't　do。　When　spring　comes；　then　the　year　begins。　It　is　the

voice　of　nature；　and　I　reckon　by　that。〃

　　　　〃But　when　will　spring　come？〃　asked　the　others。

　　　　〃It　will　come　when　the　stork　returns；　but　he　is　very　uncertain；

and　here　in　the　town　no　one　knows　anything　about　it。　In　the　country

they　have　more　knowledge；　shall　we　fly　away　there　and　wait？　we　shall

be　nearer　to　spring　then；　certainly。〃

　　　　〃That　may　be　all　very　well；〃　said　another　sparrow；　who　had　been

hopping　about　for　a　long　time；　chirping；　but　not　saying　anything　of

consequence；　〃but　I　have　found　a　few　comforts　here　in　town　which；

I'm　afraid；　I　should　miss　out　in　the　country。　Here　in　this

neighborhood；　there　lives　a　family　of　people　who　have　been　so　sensible

as　to　place　three　or　four　flower…pots　against　the　wall　in　the

court…yard；　so　that　the　openings　are　all　turned　inward；　and　the　bottom

of　each　points　outward。　In　the　latter　a　hole　has　been　cut　large　enough

for　me　to　fly　in　and　out。　I　and　my　husband　have　built　a　nest　in　one　of

these　pots；　and　all　our　young　ones；　who　have　now　flown　away；　were

brought　up　there。　The　people　who　live　there　of　course　made　the　whole

arrangement　that　they　might　have　the　pleasure　of　seeing　us；　or　they

would　not　have　done　it。　It　pleased　them　also　to　strew　bread…crumbs　for

us；　and　so　we　have　food；　and　may　consider　ourselves　provided　for。　So　I

think　my　husband　and　I　will　stay　where　we　are；　although　we　are　not

very　happy；　but　we　shall　stay。〃

　　　　〃And　we　will　fly　into　the　country；〃　said　the　others；　〃to　see　if

spring　is　coming。〃　And　away　they　flew。

　　　　In　the　country　it　was　really　winter；　a　few　degrees　colder　than

in　the　town。　The　sharp　winds　blew　over　the　snow…covered　fields。　The

farmer；　wrapped　in　warm　clothing；　sat　in　his　sleigh；　and　beat　his　arms

across　his　chest　to　keep　off　the　cold。　The　whip　lay　on　his　lap。　The

horses　ran　till　they　smoked。　The　snow　crackled；　the　sparrows　hopped

about　in　the　wheel…ruts；　and　shivered；　crying；　〃Tweet；　tweet；　when

will　spring　come？　It　is　very　long　in　coming。〃

　　　　〃Very　long　indeed；〃　sounded　over　the　field；　from　the　nearest

snow…covered　hill。　It　might　have　been　the　echo　which　people　heard；

or　perhaps　the　words　of　that　wonderful　old　man；　who　sat　high　on　a　heap

of　snow；　regardless　of　wind　or　weather。　He　was　all　in　white；　he　had　on

a　peasant's　coarse　white　coat　of　frieze。　He　had　long　white　hair；　a

pale　face；　and　large　clear　blue　eyes。　〃Who　is　that　old　man？〃　asked　the

sparrows。

　　　　〃I　know　who　he　is；〃　said　an　old　raven；　who　sat　on　the　fence；　and

was　condescending　enough　to　acknowledge　that　we　are　all　equal　in　the

sight　of　Heaven；　even　as　little　birds；　and　therefore　he　talked　with

the　sparrows；　and　gave　them　the　information　they　wanted。　〃I　know　who

the　old　man　is；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　Winter；　the　old　man　of　last　year；

he　is　not　dead　yet；　as　the　calendar　says；　but　acts　as　guardian　to

little　Prince　Spring　who　is　coming。　Winter　rules　here　still。　Ugh！

the　cold　makes　you　shiver；　little　ones；　does　it　not？〃

　　　　〃There！　Did　I　not　tell　you　so？〃　said　the　smallest　of　the　sparrows。

〃The　calendar　is　only　an　invention　of　man；　and　is　not　arranged

according　to　nature。　They　should　leave　these　things　to　us；　we　are

created　so　much　more　clever　than　they　are。〃

　　　　One　week　passed；　and　then　another。　The　forest　looked　dark；　the

hard…frozen　lake　lay　like　a　sheet　of　lead。　The　mountains　had

disappeared；　for　over　the　land　hung　damp；　icy　mists。　Large　black　crows

flew　about　in　silence；　it　was　as　if　nature　slept。　At　length　a

sunbeam　glided　over　the　lake；　and　it　shone　like　burnished　silver。

But　the　snow　on　the　fields　and　the　hills　did　not　glitter　as　before。

The　white　form　of　Winter　sat　there　still；　with　his　un…wandering　gaze

fixed　on　the　south。　He　did　not　perceive　that　the　snowy　carpet　seemed

to　sink　as　it　were　into　the　earth；　that　here　and　there　a　little

green　patch　of　grass　appeared；　and　that　these　patches　were　covered

with　sparrows。

　　　　〃Tee…wit；　tee…wit；　is　spring　coming　at　last？〃

　　　　Spring！　How　the　cry　resounded　over　field　and　meadow；　and　through

the　dark…brown　woods；　where　the　fresh　green　moss　still　gleamed　on

the　trunks　of　the　trees；　and　from　the　south　came　the　two　first

storks　flying　through　the　air；　and　on　the　back　of　each　sat　a　lovely

little　child；　a　boy　and　a　girl。　They　greeted　the　earth　with　a　kiss；

and　wherever　they　placed　their　feet　white　flowers　sprung　up　from

beneath　the　snow。　Hand　in　hand　they　approached　the　old　ice…man；

Winter；　embraced　him　and　clung　to　his　breast；　and　as　they　did　so；　in　a

moment　all　three　were　enveloped　in　a　thick；　damp　mist；　dark　and　heavy；

that　closed　over　them　like　a　veil。　The　wind　arose　with　mighty　rustling

tone；　and　cleared　away　the　mist。　Then　the　sun　shone　out　warmly。　Winter

had　vanished　away；　and　the　beautiful　children　of　Spring　sat　on　the

throne　of　the　year。

　　　　〃This　is　really　a　new　year；〃　cried　all　the　sparrows；　〃now　we　shall

get　our　rights；　and　have　some　return　for　what　we　suffered　in　winter。〃

　　　　Wherever　the　two　children　wandered；　green　buds　burst　forth　on　bush

and　tree；　the　grass　grew　higher；　and　the　corn…fields　became　lovely

in　delicate　green。

　　　　The　little　maiden　strewed　flowers　in　her　path。　She　held　her

apron　before　her：　it　was　full　of　flowers；　it　was　as　if　they　sprung

into　life　there；　for　the　more　she　scattered　around　her；　the　more

flowers　did　her　apron　contain。　Eagerly　she　showered　snowy　blossoms

over　apple　and　peach…trees；　so　that　they　stood　in　full　beauty　before

even　their　green　leaves　had　burst　from　the　bud。　Then　the　boy　and　the

girl　clapped　their　hands；　and　troops　of　birds　came　flying　by；　no　one

knew　from　whence；　and　they　all　twittered　and　chirped；　singing

〃Spring　has　come！〃　How　beautiful　everything　was！　Many　an　old　dame　came

forth　from　her　door　into　the　sunshine；　and　shuffled　about　with　great

delight；　glancing　at　the　golden　flowers　which　glittered　everywhere

in　the　fields；　as　they　used　to　do　in　her　young　days。　The　world　grew

young　again　to　her；　as　she　said；　〃It　is　a　blessed　time　out　here

to…day。〃　The　forest　already　wore　its　dress　of　dark…green　buds。　The

thyme　blossomed　in　fresh　fragrance。　Primroses　and　anemones　sprung

forth；　and　violets　bloomed　in　the　shade；　while　every　blade　of　grass

was　full　of　strength　and　sap。　Who　could　resist　sitting　down　on　such

a　beautiful　carpet？　and　then　the　young　children　of　Spring　seated

themselves；　holding　each　other's　hands；　and　sang；　and　laughed；　and

grew。　A　gentle　rain　fell　upon　them　from　the　sky；　but　they　did　not

notice　it；　for　the　rain…drops　were　their　own　tears　of　joy。　They　kissed

each　other；　and　were　betrothed；　and　in　the　same　moment　the　buds　of　the

trees　unfolded；　and　when　the　sun　rose；　the　forest　was　green。　Hand　in

hand　the　two　wandered　beneath　the　fresh　pendant　canopy　of　foliage；

while　the　sun's　rays　gleamed　through　the　opening　of　the　shade；　in

changing　and　varied　colors。　The　delicate　young　leaves　filled　the　air

with　refreshing　odor。　Merrily　rippled　the　clear　brooks　and　rivulets

between　the　green；　velvety　rushes；　and　over　the　many…colored　pebbles

beneath。　All　nature　spoke　of　abundance　and　plenty。　The　cuckoo　sang；

and　the　lark　carolled；　for　it　was　now　beautiful　spring。　The　careful

willows　had；　however；　covered　their　blossoms　with　woolly　gloves；　and

this　carefulness　is　rather　tedious。　Days　and　weeks　went　by；　and　the

heat　increased。　Warm　air　waved　the　corn　as　it　grew　golden　in　the

sun。　The　white　northern　lily　spread　its　large　green　leaves　over　the

glossy　mirror　of　the　woodland　lake；　and　the　fishes　sought　the

shadows　beneath　them。　In　a　sheltered　part　of　the　wood；　the　sun　shone

upon　the　walls　of　a　farm…house；　brightening　the　blooming　roses；　and

ripening　the　black　juicy　berries；　which　hung　on　the　lo