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安徒生童話：母親的故事 THE STORY OF A MOTHER 上

來源：育路教育網(wǎng)發(fā)布時間：2011-08-03

THE STORY OF A MOTHER

A mother sat there with her little child. She was so downcast， so afraid thatit should die！ It was so pale， the small eyes had closed themselves， and itdrew its breath so softly， now and then， with a deep respiration， as if itsighed； and the mother looked still more sorrowfully on the little creature.

Then a knocking was heard at the door， and in came a poor old man wrapped upas in a large horse-cloth， for it warms one， and he needed it， as it was thecold winter season！ Everything out-of-doors was covered with ice and snow， andthe wind blew so that it cut the face.

As the old man trembled with cold， and the little child slept a moment， themother went and poured some ale into a pot and set it on the stove， that itmight be warm for him； the old man sat and rocked the cradle， and the mothersat down on a chair close by him， and looked at her little sick child thatdrew its breath so deep， and raised its little hand.

"Do you not think that I shall save him？" said she. "Our Lord will not takehim from me！"And the old man——it was Death himself——he nodded so strangely， it could justas well signify yes as no. And the mother looked down in her lap， and thetears ran down over her cheeks； her head became so heavy——she had not closedher eyes for three days and nights； and now she slept， but only for a minute，when she started up and trembled with cold.

"What is that？" said she， and looked on all sides； but the old man was gone，and her little child was gone——he had taken it with him； and the old clock inthe corner burred， and burred， the great leaden weight ran down to the floor，bump！ and then the clock also stood still.

But the poor mother ran out of the house and cried aloud for her child.

Out there， in the midst of the snow， there sat a woman in long， black clothes；and she said， "Death has been in thy chamber， and I saw him hasten away withthy little child； he goes faster than the wind， and he never brings back whathe takes！""Oh， only tell me which way he went！" said the mother. "Tell me the way， and Ishall find him！""I know it！" said the woman in the black clothes. "But before I tell it， thoumust first sing for me all the songs thou hast sung for thy child！ I am fondof them. I have heard them before； I am Night； I saw thy tears whilst thousang'st them！""I will sing them all， all！" said the mother. "But do not stop me now——I mayovertake him——I may find my child！"But Night stood still and mute. Then the mother wrung her hands， sang andwept， and there were many songs， but yet many more tears； and then Night said，"Go to the right， into the dark pine forest； thither I saw Death take his waywith thy little child！"The roads crossed each other in the depths of the forest， and she no longerknew whither she should go！ then there stood a thorn-bush； there was neitherleaf nor flower on it， it was also in the cold winter season， and ice-flakeshung on the branches.

"Hast thou not seen Death go past with my little child？" said the mother.

"Yes，" said the thorn-bush； "but I will not tell thee which way he took，unless thou wilt first warm me up at thy heart. I am freezing to death； Ishall become a lump of ice！"And she pressed the thorn-bush to her breast， so firmly， that it might bethoroughly warmed， and the thorns went right into her flesh， and her bloodflowed in large drops， but the thornbush shot forth fresh green leaves， andthere came flowers on it in the cold winter night， the heart of the afflictedmother was so warm； and the thorn-bush told her the way she should go.

She then came to a large lake， where there was neither ship nor boat. The lakewas not frozen sufficiently to bear her； neither was it open， nor low enoughthat she could wade through it； and across it she must go if she would findher child！ Then she lay down to drink up the lake， and that was animpossibility for a human being， but the afflicted mother thought that amiracle might happen nevertheless.

"Oh， what would I not give to come to my child！" said the weeping mother； andshe wept still more， and her eyes sunk down in the depths of the waters， andbecame two precious pearls； but the water bore her up， as if she sat in aswing， and she flew in the rocking waves to the shore on the opposite side，where there stood a mile-broad， strange house， one knew not if it were amountain with forests and caverns， or if it were built up； but the poor mothercould not see it； she had wept her eyes out.

"Where shall I find Death， who took away my little child？" said she.

"He has not come here yet！" said the old grave woman， who was appointed tolook after Death's great greenhouse！ "How have you been able to find the wayhither？ And who has helped you？""OUR LORD has helped me，" said she. "He is merciful， and you will also be so！

Where shall I find my little child？""Nay， I know not，" said the woman， "and you cannot see！ Many flowers and treeshave withered this night； Death will soon come and plant them over again！

You certainly know that every person has his or her life's tree or flower，just as everyone happens to be settled； they look like other plants， but theyhave pulsations of the heart. Children's hearts can also beat； go after yours，perhaps you may know your child's； but what will you give me if I tell youwhat you shall do more？""I have nothing to give，" said the afflicted mother， "but I will go to theworld's end for you！""Nay， I have nothing to do there！" said the woman. "But you can give me yourlong black hair； you know yourself that it is fine， and that I like！ You shallhave my white hair instead， and that's always something！""Do you demand nothing else？" said she. "That I will gladly give you！" And shegave her her fine black hair， and got the old woman's snow-white hair instead.

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