Ri

antyDivani
Nim: 19253223049
Agri
bisni
s

Thumbel
i
na
ByHansChr
ist
ianAnder
sen

THEREwasonceawomanwhowi shedv erymuchtohavealit

tl
e
chil
d,butshecoul
dnotobt
ainherwi
sh.Atlastshewenttoafair
y,andsai
d,
“Ishoul
dsov er
ymuchli
ketohaveali
tt
lechil
d; cany
outell
mewher eIcan
fi
ndone? ”

“Oh,thatcanbeeasil
ymanaged,
”sai
dthefai
ry.“Hereisabarl
eycor
nofa
dif
ferentki
ndtothosewhi
chgrowinthefar
mer ’
sfiel
ds,andwhichthe
chickenseat;
putiti
ntoaf
lower-
pot,
andseewhatwi ll
happen.”

“Thanky ou, ”sai dt hewoman, andshegav et hef airytwel v eshi l

li
ngs, whi ch
wast hepr iceoft hebar ley corn.Thenshewenthomeandpl ant edit,and
i
mmedi atelyt her egr ewupal ar gehandsomef lower ,somet hi ngl i
keat ulip
i
nappear ance, butwi thitsl eav est ightlycl osedasi fitwer est illabud.“ Itis
abeaut i
ful flower ,”sai dt hewoman, andsheki ssedt her edandgol den-
coloredleav es, andwhi leshedi dsot hef loweropened, andshecoul dsee
thatitwasar eal tulip.Wi thint hef lower , upont hegr eenv elvetst amens, sat
av erydelicat eandgr acef ul l
itt
lemai den.Shewasscar cel yhal fasl ongas
athumb, andt heygav ehert henameof“ Thumbel i
na,”orTi ny ,becauseshe
wassosmal l.Awal nut -
shel l,elegant l
ypol ished, serv edherf oracr adl e; her
bedwasf or medofbl uev iolet -
leav es,wi thar ose- l
eafforacount erpane.
Her eshesl eptatni ght ,
butdur i
ngt hedaysheamusedher sel fonat abl e,
wher ethewomanhadpl acedapl ateful ofwat er.Roundt hispl atewer e
wreathsoff lower swi tht heirst emsi nt hewat er ,anduponi tf loatedal arge
tul
ip-l
eaf,whi chser vedTi nyf oraboat .Her et hel i
ttl
emai densatandr owed
herselffr
om si det osi de, witht wooar smadeofwhi tehor se-hai r
.Itreal ly
wasav erypr ettysi ght.Ti nycoul d,also, singsosof tl
yandsweet lythat
nothingli
kehersi ngi nghadev erbef orebeenhear d.
 Onenight,whil
eshel ayinherpret
tybed,alarge,ugly,wett
oadcrept
t
hroughabr okenpaneofgl assi
nthewindow,andl eapedr i
ghtuponthe
t
ablewhereTi nylaysl
eepingunderherrose-l
eafquilt
.“Whatapr ett
yli
ttl
e
wi
fethiswouldmakef ormyson, ”saidt
hetoad,andshet ookupthewalnut
-
shelli
nwhichl i
ttl
eTinylayasleep,andj
umpedt hrought hewindowwi t
hit
i
ntothegarden.

I
nt heswampymarginofabroadstr
eam i
nthegardenliv
edt hetoad,wi
th
herson.Hewasugli
erevent
hanhismother,andwhenhesawt heprett
y
l
it
tlemaideni
nherel
egantbed,hecoul
donlycry,
“Croak,cr
oak,croak.
”

“
Don’tspeaksol oud,orshewill
wake,”saidthetoad,“
andt henshemight
r
unaway ,
forsheisaslightasswan’sdown.Wewi l
lplaceherononeofthe
water-
li
lyl
eavesoutinthestream;itwil
lbeli
keani sl
andt oher,
sheisso
l
ightandsmal l
,andthenshecannotescape; and,whi
leshei saway,
wewi l
l
makehast eandpreparethestate-
room underthemarsh,inwhichyouare
t
ol i
vewheny ouaremar ri
ed.”

Farouti nthest ream gr ewanumberofwat er-l

i
lies,withbroadgr een
l
eav es, whichseemedt ofloatont het opoft hewat er.Thel ar
gestoft hese
l
eav esappear edfartherof fthant her est, andt heol dt oadswam outt oit
witht hewal nut-
shel l
,i
nwhi chl i
tt
leTi nyl ayst il
lasleep.Thet i
nyl i
tt
le
creat urewokev er yearlyinthemor ning, andbegant ocr ybitt
erl
ywhenshe
foundwher eshewas, forshecoul dseenot hingbutwat eronev erysi
deof
thel argegr eenl eaf,andnowayofr eachi ngt hel and.Meanwhi l
etheol d
toadwasv er ybusyundert hemar sh, decki ngherr oom wi thrushesand
wildy el l
owf lower s,t
omakei tlookpr ettyf orhernewdaught er-
in-l
aw.Then
sheswam outwi t
hherugl ysont ot hel eafonwhi chshehadpl acedpoor
l
ittl
eTi ny.Shewant edt ofetcht hepr et t
ybed, thatshemi ghtputitinthe
bridal chambert ober eadyf orher.Theol dtoadbowedl owt oherinthe
wat er, andsai d,“Hereismyson, hewi llbey ourhusband, andy ouwi l
lli
ve
happi lyinthemar shbyt hest ream. ”

“Croak,croak,cr
oak,”wasallhersoncoul
dsayforhimself
;sot
hetoad
tookupt heelegantli
tt
lebed,andswam awaywithit
,leav
ingTi
nyal
lal
one
ont hegreenleaf,whereshesatandwept.Shecoul
dnotbeartothi
nkof
l
ivingwi t
htheol dtoad, andhav i
ngherugl ysonf orahusband.Thel it
tl
e
fi
shes, whoswam abouti nthewat erbeneath,hadseent het oad, andheard
whatshesai d,sot heyl i
ft
edt hei
rheadsabov ethewat ertolookatt heli
tt
le
mai den.Assoonast heycaughtsightofher ,theysawshewasv eryprett
y,
andi tmadet hem v erysorrytothi
nkt hatshemustgoandl ivewi ththeugly
toads.“No,itmustnev erbe!”sotheyassembl edt oget
herint hewat er,
roundt hegreenst alkwhichhel dtheleafonwhi chtheli
tt
lemai denstood,
andgnawedi tawayatt herootwitht hei
rteeth.Thent heleaff l
oateddown
thest r
eam,car r
yingTi nyfarawayoutofr eachofl and.

Tinysailedpastmanyt owns, andt helittlebirdsint hebushessawher ,and

sang,“Whatal ov elylit
tlecr eature;
”sot hel eafswam awaywi thherf arther
andfar t
her,ti
llitbr oughthert oot herlands.Agr aceful l
ittl
ewhi tebut t
erfl
y
constantlyfl
utter edr oundher ,andatl astal i
ghtedont hel eaf.Tinypleased
him,andshewasgl adofi t
,fornowt het oadcoul dnotpossi blyreachher ,
andthecount r
yt hr oughwhi chshesai ledwasbeaut i
ful,andt hesunshone
upont hewat er,tilli
tgl i
tteredl i
keliquidgol d.Shet ookof fhergirdleand
ti
edoneendofi tr oundt hebut terfl
y,andt heot herendoft heri
bbonshe
fast
enedt othel eaf, whichnowgl i
dedonmuchf astert hanev er,takinglit
tle
Tinywi t
hitasshest ood.Pr esent l
yal argecockchaf erflewby ;
themoment
hecaughtsi ghtofher ,hesei zedherr oundherdel icatewai stwithhiscl aws,
andflewwi thheri ntoat ree.Thegr eenl eaff l
oatedawayont hebr ook,and
thebut t
erfl
yflewwi thit,forhewasf astenedt oit,andcoul dnotgetaway .

Oh, howf ri
ghtenedl i
ttl
eTi nyfeltwhent hecockchaferfl
ewwi thhertot he
tree!Butespeci allywasshesor ryfort hebeauti
fulwhit
ebut t
erfl
ywhi chshe
hadf ast enedtot heleaf, f
orifhecoul dnotfreehimselfhewoul ddieof
hunger .Butt hecockchaf erdidnott roublehimselfatallaboutthemat t
er.
Heseat edhi mselfbyhersi deonal argegreenleaf,gavehersomehoney
from thef lowerst oeat, andtoldhershewasv eryprett
y, t
houghnoti nthe
l
eastl ikeacockchaf er.Af t
erat i
me, allt
hecockchafersturnedupt heir
feelers,andsai d,“Shehasonl ytwol egs!howugl yt
hatlooks.”“Shehasno
feelers,”saidanot her.“Herwai stisqui tesl
im.Pooh!shei sli
keahuman
being.”

“
Oh!shei
sugl
y,
”sai
dal
lthel
adycockchaf
ers,
alt
houghTi
nywasv
ery
pret ty.Thent hecockchaf erwhohadr unawaywi thher ,bel i
ev edal l the
other swhent heysai dshewasugl y,andwoul dhav enot hi ngmor et osayt o
her ,andt oldhershemi ghtgowher eshel iked.Thenhef lewdownwi thher
from t het ree, andpl acedheronadai sy ,andsheweptatt het houghtt hat
shewassougl yt hatev ent hecockchaf er swoul dhav enot hingt osayt oher.
Andal l thewhi leshewasr eal lythel ov el iestcr eat uret hatonecoul d
i
magi ne, andast enderanddel icat easabeaut iful rose-leaf .Dur ingt he
whol esummerpoorl it
tl
eTi nyl i
vedqui teal onei nt hewi def or est.Shewov e
her selfabedwi thbl adesofgr ass, andhungi tupunderabr oadl eaf, t
o
prot ecther sel ff rom t her ai n.Shesuckedt hehoneyf rom t hef lower sfor
food, anddr ankt hedewf rom t hei rleav esev erymor ning.Sopassedaway
thesummerandt heaut umn, andt hencamet hewi nter,
—t hel ong, cold
wi nter .Al lthebi rdswhohadsungt ohersosweet lywer ef lownaway ,and
thet reesandt hef lower shadwi thered.Thel argecl ov erleafundert he
shel terofwhi chshehadl i
v ed, wasnowr olledt oget herandshr i
velledup,
not hingr emai nedbutay ellowwi theredst al k.Shef eltdreadf ullycol d,for
hercl ot heswer et orn, andshewasher sel fsof rail anddel icat e,thatpoor
l
ittleTi nywasnear lyf r
ozent odeat h.I tbegant osnowt oo; andt hesnow-
fl
akes, ast heyf ell uponher , wer el i
keawhol eshov elfulfallingupononeof
us, forwear et all,butshewasonl yani nchhi gh.Thenshewr appedher sel
f
upi nadr yl eaf , buti tcr ackedi nt hemi ddl eandcoul dnotkeepherwar m,
andsheshi ver edwi thcol d.Neart hewoodi nwhi chshehadbeenl ivinglay
acor n- field, butt hecor nhadbeencutal ongt i
me; not hingr emai nedbut
thebar edr yst ubbl est andi ngupoutoft hef rozengr ound.I twast oherl i
ke
struggl ingt hr oughal argewood.Oh!howsheshi ver edwi tht hecol d.She
cameatl astt ot hedoorofaf ield-mouse, whohadal i
tt
ledenundert he
cor n-st ubbl e.Ther edwel tthef ield-mousei nwar mt handcomf ort,wi tha
whol er oomf ul ofcor n,aki tchen, andabeaut i
ful dini ngr oom.Poorl itt
le
Tinyst oodbef or et hedoorj ustl i
keal ittlebeggar -gir l
,andbeggedf ora
smal lpi eceofbar ley-corn, f orshehadbeenwi thoutamor sel toeatf ortwo
day s.

“Youpoorlit
tl
ecreat
ure,
”sai
dthefiel
d-mouse,whowasreall
yagoodol
d
fi
eld-mouse,“
comeintomywarmr oom anddinewit
hme. ”Shewasver
y
pleasedwithTi
ny,soshesai
d,“Youarequit
ewelcometostaywit
hmeal l
t
hewint
er,
ifyoulike;butyoumustkeepmyr oomscleanandneat
,andtel
l
mest
ori
es,forIshalll
iketohearthem v
erymuch.”AndTi
nydidal
lthef
iel
d
-
mouseaskedher, andfoundhersel
fverycomfor
tabl
e.

“Weshallhaveav i
sitorsoon,
”sai dthefi
eld-mouseoneday;“myneighbor
paysmeav i
sitonceaweek.Hei sbetteroffthanIam;hehaslargerooms,
andwearsabeaut ifulbl
ackvelvetcoat.I
fy oucouldonl
yhavehimf ora
husband,youwoul dbewel l
providedforindeed.Butheisbl
ind,soyou
musttell
him someofy ourpret
tieststor
ies.”

ButTi
nydidnotf
eel
atal
li
nter
est
edaboutthi
sneighbor,
forhewasamol
e.
However
,hecameandpai
dhisvi
sitdr
essedi
nhisblackvel
vetcoat
.

“Heisv
eryrichandlear
ned,
andhi
shousei
stwent
yti
mesl
argert
hanmi
ne,
”
sai
dthefi
eld-mouse.

Hewasr ichandl earned, nodoubt ,butheal way sspokesl ightingl yoft he

sunandt hepr ettyflowers, becausehehadnev erseent hem.Ti nywas
obligedtosingt ohi m, “
Lady -bird,lady -
bir
d,flyawayhome, ”andmanyot her
prettysongs.Andt hemol ef ell i
nl ovewi t
hherbecauseshehadsucha
sweetv oice;buthesai dnot hingy et ,f
orhewasv erycaut ious.Ashor tt i
me
before,themol ehaddugal ongpassageundert heear th,whi chl edf rom
thedwel li
ngoft hef i
eld-mouset ohi sown, andher eshehadper missiont o
walkwi thTinywhenev ershel iked.Buthewar nedt hem nott obeal ar med
atthesightofadeadbi rdwhi chl ayint hepassage.I twasaper fectbi rd,
withabeakandf eathers, andcoul dnothav ebeendeadl ong, andwasl yi
ng
j
ustwher ethemol ehadmadehi spassage.Themol et ookapi eceof
phosphor escentwoodi nhi smout h,anditgl i
t teredli
kef i
reint hedar k; t
hen
hewentbef oret hem tol ightt hem t hrought hel ong,dar kpassage.When
theycamet ot hespotwher el ayt hedeadbi rd, themol epushedhi sbr oad
noset hrought hecei li
ng, theear t
hgav eway , sot hatt herewasal argehol e,
andt heday l
ightshonei nt ot hepassage.I nthemi ddleoft hef loorlaya
deadswal l
ow, hisbeaut i
ful wi ngspul l
edcloset ohissi des, hisf eetandhi s
headdr awnupunderhi sf eat her s;thepoorbi rdhadev i
dent lydi edoft he
cold.Itmadel i
ttleTinyv er ysadt oseei t,
shedi dsol ovet hel i
t tl
ebi rds; all
thesummert heyhadsungandt witteredforhersobeaut ifull
y .Butt hemol e
pusheditasidewithhiscr
ookedlegs,andsai
d,“Hewillsi
ngnomor enow.
Howmi serableitmustbetobebor nalit
tl
ebi
rd!Iam thankf
ulthatnoneof
mychildrenwillev
erbebirds,f
ortheycandonothingbutcry,
‘Tweet,t
weet,
’
andalway sdieofhungeri
nt hewi
nter.
”

“Yes,y
oumaywellsayt
hat,asacleverman!”exclai
medthef
iel
d-mouse,
“Whatist
heuseofhist
wit
teri
ng,forwhenwintercomeshemusteither
star
veorbef
rozentodeat
h.Sti
ll
birdsareveryhighbred.
”

Tinysaidnot hi
ng;butwhenthetwoot hershadturnedthei
rbacksont he
bird,shestoopeddownandst rokedasidethesoftfeat
herswhichcovered
thehead, andkissedthecl
osedey el
i
ds.“Perhapsthiswastheonewho
sangt omesosweet lyi
nthesummer ,”shesaid;“
andhowmuchpl easurei
t
gav eme,y oudear,pr
ett
ybir
d.”

Themol enowst oppedupt hehol ethroughwhi cht heday l

i
ghtshone, and
thenaccompani edt hel adyhome.Butdur i
ngt heni ghtTi nycoul dnotsl eep;
soshegotoutofbedandwov eal ar
ge, beaut ifulcarpetofhay ;thenshe
carriedi tt othedeadbi rd,andspr eadi tov erhi m; wi thsomedownf rom t he
fl
ower swhi chshehadf oundi nt hefield-mouse’ sroom.I twasassof tas
wool , andshespr eadsomeofi toneachsi deoft hebi rd, sot hathemi ght
l
iewar mlyi nt hecol dear th.“ Farewel l
,y oupr et tylit
tlebi rd,”saidshe,
“farewel l;thanky ouf ory ourdel i
ght f
ul singingdur i
ngt hesummer ,whenal l
thet reeswer egr een, andt hewar m sunshoneuponus. ”Thenshel aidher
headont hebi rd’sbr east,butshewasal armedi mmedi at ely
,foritseemed
asi fsomet hingi nsidet hebi rdwent“ thump, thump. ”Itwast hebi rd’
shear t;
hewasnotr eallydead, onlybenumbedwi tht hecol d,andt hewar mthhad
restor edhi mt olife.Inaut umn, all t
heswal lowsf l
yawayi ntowar m
count ri
es, buti fonehappenst ol inger,thecol dsei zesi t, i
tbecomesf rozen,
andf all
sdownasi fdead; itremai nswher ei tfel l
,andt hecol dsnowcov ers
i
t.Ti nyt rembl edv erymuch; shewasqui tefright ened, fort hebi rdwasl arge,
agr eatdeal largert hanher sel f,
—shewasonl yani nchhi gh.Butshet ook
cour age, laidt hewool mor et hicklyov ert hepoorswal low, andt hent ooka
l
eafwhi chshehadusedf orherowncount erpane, andl aiditov erthehead
ofthepoorbi rd.Thenextmor ningsheagai nst oleoutt oseehi m.Hewas
aliv
ebutv eryweak; hecoul donl yopenhi sey esf oramomentt olookat
Tiny,
whost oodbyholdingapieceofdecayedwoodinherhand,forshe
hadnoot herl
ant
ern.“Thankyou,pret
tyli
ttl
emaiden,
”sai
dthesickswall
ow;
“Ihavebeensonicel
ywar med,thatIshal
lsoonregai
nmystrength,andbe
abletofl
yaboutagaininthewarm sunshine.”

“
Oh,
”sai
dshe,“
iti
scoldoutofdoorsnow;
itsnowsandf
reezes.St
ayi
n
y
ourwar
m bed;
Iwill
takecar
eofy ou.
”

Thenshebr oughtt heswal l

owsomewat erinaf lower -l
eaf,andaf terhehad
drank,het ol
dhert hathehadwoundedoneofhi swi ngsinat horn-bush,
andcoul dnotf lyasf astast heot hers,whower esoonf arawayont hei
r
j
our neytowar m count ries.Thenatl asthehadf allentot heear th,andcould
remembernomor e,norhowhecamet obewher eshehadf oundhi m.The
whol ewintertheswal l
owr emai nedunder ground, andTi nynur sedhi m wit
h
careandl ove.Nei therthemol enort hefi
eld-mouseknewany thingaboutit,
fortheydidnotl ikeswal lows.Ver ysoont hespr ingt i
mecame, andt hesun
warmedt heear th.Thent heswal l
owbadef arewell t
oTi ny,andsheopened
theholeint hecei l
ingwhi cht hemol ehadmade.Thesunshonei nupon
them sobeaut ifull
y,thattheswal lowaskedheri fshewoul dgowi thhim;
shecoul dsitonhi sback, hesai d,andhewoul dflyawaywi thheri ntothe
greenwoods.ButTi nyknewi twoul dmaket hefield-
mousev erygrievedif
shel ef
theri nthatmanner , soshesai d,“
No, Icannot .”

“Far
ewel
l
,then,
far
ewel
l,
yougood,pr
ett
yli
tt
lemai
den,
”sai
dtheswal
l
ow;
andhefl
ewoutint
othesunshi
ne.

Tinyl
ookedaf
terhi
m,andt
het
ear
srosei
nherey
es.Shewasv
eryf
ondof
thepoorswal
l
ow.

“Tweet,t
weet,”sangthebir
d,asheflewoutintothegr
eenwoods, andTiny
fel
tverysad.Shewasnotal l
owedtogoouti ntothewarm sunshine.The
cornwhichhadbeensowni nthefi
eldovert
hehouseoft hefiel
d-mouse
hadgrownuphi ghintotheair
,andformedat hi
ckwoodtoTi ny,whowas
onlyaninchinheight
.

“Youar
egoingtobemarri
ed,Ti
ny,
”sai
dthef
iel
d-mouse.“Mynei
ghborhas
askedf
oryou.Whatgoodfor
tunef
orapoorchi
ldli
keyou.Nowwewi l
l
pr
eparey
ourweddi
ngclot
hes.Theymustbebothwool
lenandl
i
nen.
Nothi
ngmustbewant
ingwheny ouar
ethemole’
swif
e.”

Tinyhadt oturnthespi ndle,andt hefield-mousehi redfourspider s,who

weret oweav edayandni ght.Ev eryeveni ngthemol ev i
si
tedher ,andwas
conti
nual l
yspeakingoft het i
mewhent hesummerwoul dbeov er .Thenhe
wouldkeephi swedding-daywi thTiny;butnowt heheatoft hesunwasso
greatthatitburnedtheear t
h, andmadei tquit
ehard, l
i
keast one.Assoon,
asthesummerwasov er ,
theweddi ngshoul dtakeplace.ButTinywasnot
atallpleased;forshedi dnotl ikethetiresomemol e.Everymor ningwhen
thesunr ose,andev eryev eningwheni twentdown, shewoul dcr eepoutat
thedoor ,andast hewindbl ewasi detheear sofcor n,sothatshecoul dsee
thebluesky ,shethoughthowbeaut i
fulandbr ighti
tseemedoutt here,and
wishedsomucht oseeherdearswal l
owagai n.Buthenev erreturned;for
bythist i
mehehadf lownf arawayi ntot helovelygreenforest
.

Whenautumnarri
ved,
Tinyhadheroutf
itqui
ter
eady;
andthef
iel
d-mouse
sai
dtoher,
“Inf
ourweekstheweddingmusttakepl
ace.
”

ThenTi
nywept
,andsai
dshewoul
dnotmar
ryt
hedi
sagr
eeabl
emol
e.

“Nonsense,
”repl
i
edthef i
eld-mouse.“Nowdon’tbeobstinate,
orIshall
bite
youwithmywhi t
eteeth.Hei saveryhandsomemol e;t
hequeenher sel
f
doesnotwearmor ebeauti
f ulv
elvet
sandf ur
s.Hiski
tchenandcellar
sar e
quit
efull
.Yououghttobev erythankful
forsuchgoodfor t
une.”

Sotheweddi ng-
daywasf i
xed,
onwhi chthemolewastofet
chTinyawayto
l
ivewithhim,deepundert heeart
h,andneveragai
ntoseethewarm sun,
becausehedi dnotli
keit.Thepoorchil
dwasv er
yunhappyatt
hethought
ofsayingfar
ewelltothebeauti
fulsun,andasthefi
eld-
mousehadgivenher
permissi
ontostandatt hedoor,shewenttolookati
toncemore.

“Farewellbri
ghtsun,”shecr i
ed,st
retchi
ngoutherarmt owar
dsit;
andthen
shewal kedashor tdistancefrom t
hehouse; f
orthecornhadbeencut
,and
onlythedr ystubbleremainedinthefiel
ds.“
Farewell
,far
ewell
,
”she
repeated,twiningherarmr oundalit
tler
edflowerthatgrewj
ustbyhersi
de.
“Greetthelit
tleswall
owf rom me,ifyoushouldseehim agai
n.”
“Tweet ,tweet
,”soundedov erherheadsuddenly.Shel
ookedup, andthere
wast heswal l
owhi mselffl
yingcloseby.Assoonashespi edTiny,hewas
deli
ght ed;andthenshet ol
dhim howunwi l
lingshefel
ttomarrytheugly
mole, andt ol
ivealwaysbeneatht heear
th,andnevertoseethebrightsun
anymor e.Andasshet oldhim shewept.

“Col
dwi nteriscomi ng,
”saidtheswal l
ow, “
andIam goingtofl
yawayi nto
warmercount ries.Willy
ougowi t
hme?Youcansi tonmyback, andfasten
yourselfonwi thy oursash.Thenwecanf lyawayfrom t
heuglymoleand
hisgloomyr ooms, —faraway,overthemount ai
ns,i
ntowarmercountries,
wheret hesunshi nesmor ebri
ghtly—thanhere;wherei
tisal
wayssummer ,
andt hef l
ower sbloom ingreaterbeauty.Fl
ynowwi thme,dearl
itt
leTiny;
yousav edmyl ifewhenIl ayfr
ozeni nthatdar
kpassage.”

“Yes,Iwi
l
lgowi t
hy ou,
”sai
dTiny;andsheseatedherselfonthebi
rd’
sback,
withherf
eetonhi sout
str
etchedwings,
andtiedhergirdlet
ooneofhis
str
ongestfeat
hers.

Thent heswal lowr oseintheai r

,andf lewov erforestandov ersea, high
abov ethehighestmount ains, coveredwi theternalsnow.Tinywoul dhav e
beenf rozenint hecoldair,butshecr eptundert hebi r
d’swarmf eathers,
keepingherl it
tleheaduncov ered,sot hatshemi ghtadmi r
ethebeaut if
ul
l
andsov erwhicht heypassed.Atl engt htheyreachedt hewar m count ri
es,
wher ethesunshi nesbri
ght ly,andtheskyseemssomuchhi gherabov ethe
earth.Her e,
ont hehedges, andbyt heway side,grewpur pl
e,gr een,and
whitegr apes;lemonsandor angeshungf r
om treesinthewoods; andthe
airwasf ragrantwi thmyrtl
esandor angebl ossoms.Beaut if
ul chil
drenr an
alongthecount rylanes,
play ingwi t
hl argegaybut terf
li
es;andast he
swal l
owf lewfar t
herandf arther,everypl aceappear edstil
lmor elov el
y.

Atlasttheycamet oabluelake,andbythesideofi
t,shadedbytreesofthe
deepestgr een,st
oodapal aceofdazzl
ingwhi t
emarble,bui
l
tintheolden
ti
mes.Vi nesclusteredr
oundi t
sloft
ypil
lar
s,andatthetopwer emany
swallows’nests,andoneoft hesewasthehomeoft heswal l
owwho
carri
edTiny .

“
Thi
sismyhouse,
”sai
dtheswal
l
ow;
“buti
twoul
dnotdof
ory
out
oli
ve
there—youwouldnotbecomfortabl
e.Youmustchoosefory
oursel
foneof
thoselovel
yflower
s,andIwil
lputyoudownuponit,
andthenyoushal
l
haveev er
ythi
ngthatyoucanwishtomakeyouhappy.”

“
Thatwi
l
lbedel
i
ght
ful
,
”shesai
d,andcl
appedherl
i
ttl
ehandsf
orj
oy.

Alargemar blepill
arlayontheground, which,infall
ing,hadbeenbr oken
i
ntot hr
eepi eces.Bet weenthesepiecesgr ewt hemostbeaut i
fullar
ge
whiteflower s;sot heswall
owflewdownwi thTiny,andpl acedheronone
ofthebr oadl eaves.Buthowsur pr
isedshewast oseei nt hemi ddleofthe
fl
ower ,atinylitt
leman, aswhit
eandt ranspar entasi fhehadbeenmadeof
cryst
al!Hehadagol dcr
ownonhi shead, anddel i
cat ewingsathi s
shoulders,andwasnotmuchl argerthanTi nyherself.Hewast heangel of
thefl
ower ; f
orat inymanandat i
nywomandwel l
inev eryf l
ower ;
andt hi
s
wast hekingoft hem all
.

“
Oh,
howbeaut
if
ulhei
s!”whi
sper
edTi
nyt
otheswal
l
ow.

Thelit
tlepri
ncewasatf i
rstquit
ef r
ightenedatthebir
d, whowaslikea
giant
,compar edt
osuchadel i
catelit
tl
ecr eat
ureashimself;
butwhenhe
sawTi ny,hewasdeli
ghted,andthoughthert heprett
iestl
it
tl
emai denhe
hadev erseen.Hetookthegoldcrownf r
om hishead,andplaceditonhers,
andaskedhername, andifshewoul dbehi swif
e,andqueenov erall
the
fl
owers.

Thiscer t
ainlywasav er
ydi f
ferentsortofhusbandt ot hesonofat oad,or
themol e,wi thmybl ackv elvetandfur ;soshesai d,“Yes,”t
ot hehandsome
pri
nce.Thenal ltheflower sopened, andoutofeachcameal it
tl
eladyora
ti
nylord,all sopr ettyitwasqui teapl easuretolookatt hem.Eachoft hem
broughtTi nyapr esent ;
butt hebestgi ftwasapai rofbeautif
ul wings,
whichhadbel ongedt oal argewhi teflyandtheyf astenedt hem toTi ny’
s
shoulders, sot hatshemi ghtf l
yfr
om f lowert
of lower .Thent herewas
muchr ej
oicing, andt helit
tleswallowwhosatabov ethem, i
nhi snest ,
was
askedt osingaweddi ngsong, whichhedi daswel l
ashecoul d;butinhis
hearthef eltsadf orhewasv eryf
ondofTi ny,andwoul dhavel i
kednev ert
o
partfrom heragai n.
“
Youmustnotbecal
ledTi
nyanymore,
”sai
dt hespi
ri
tofthefl
owerstoher
.
“
Iti
sanugl
yname,andyouaresov
erypret
ty.Wewillcal
lyouMaia.
”

“Far
ewell
,far
ewell,
”sai
dtheswal
low,wi
thaheav yheartashelef
tthe
warm countr
iestofl
ybackint
oDenmark.Therehehadanestov erthe
windowofahousei nwhichdwel
tthewri
teroffai
rytal
es.Theswall
ow
sang,“
Tweet, t
weet,
”andfr
om hi
ssongcamet hewholestory.