FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN
  THE　OLD　HOUSE
  by　Hans　Christian　Andersen
  A　VERY　old　house　stood　once　in　a　street　with　several　that　were
  quite　new　and　clean。　The　date　of　its　erection　had　been　carved　on　one
  of　the　beams；　and　surrounded　by　scrolls　formed　of　tulips　and
  hop…tendrils；　by　this　date　it　could　be　seen　that　the　old　house　was
  nearly　three　hundred　years　old。　Verses　too　were　written　over　the
  windows　in　old…fashioned　letters；　and　grotesque　faces；　curiously
  carved；　grinned　at　you　from　under　the　cornices。　One　story　projected
  a　long　way　over　the　other；　and　under　the　roof　ran　a　leaden　gutter；
  with　a　dragon's　head　at　the　end。　The　rain　was　intended　to　pour　out
  at　the　dragon's　mouth；　but　it　ran　out　of　his　body　instead；　for　there
  was　a　hole　in　the　gutter。　The　other　houses　in　the　street　were　new
  and　well　built；　with　large　window　panes　and　smooth　walls。　Any　one
  could　see　they　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　old　house。　Perhaps　they
  thought；　〃How　long　will　that　heap　of　rubbish　remain　here　to　be　a
  disgrace　to　the　whole　street。　The　parapet　projects　so　far　forward　that
  no　one　can　see　out　of　our　windows　what　is　going　on　in　that
  direction。　The　stairs　are　as　broad　as　the　staircase　of　a　castle；　and
  as　steep　as　if　they　led　to　a　church…tower。　The　iron　railing　looks　like
  the　gate　of　a　cemetery；　and　there　are　brass　knobs　upon　it。　It　is
  really　too　ridiculous。〃
  Opposite　to　the　old　house　were　more　nice　new　houses；　which　had
  just　the　same　opinion　as　their　neighbors。
  At　the　window　of　one　of　them　sat　a　little　boy　with　fresh　rosy
  cheeks；　and　clear　sparkling　eyes；　who　was　very　fond　of　the　old
  house；　in　sunshine　or　in　moonlight。　He　would　sit　and　look　at　the
  wall　from　which　the　plaster　had　in　some　places　fallen　off；　and　fancy
  all　sorts　of　scenes　which　had　been　in　former　times。　How　the　street
  must　have　looked　when　the　houses　had　all　gable　roofs；　open　staircases；
  and　gutters　with　dragons　at　the　spout。　He　could　even　see　soldiers
  walking　about　with　halberds。　Certainly　it　was　a　very　good　house　to
  look　at　for　amusement。
  An　old　man　lived　in　it；　who　wore　knee…breeches；　a　coat　with
  large　brass　buttons；　and　a　wig；　which　any　one　could　see　was　a　real
  wig。　Every　morning　an　old　man　came　to　clean　the　rooms；　and　to　wait
  upon　him；　otherwise　the　old　man　in　the　knee…breeches　would　have　been
  quite　alone　in　the　house。　Sometimes　he　came　to　one　of　the　windows
  and　looked　out；　then　the　little　boy　nodded　to　him；　and　the　old　man
  nodded　back　again；　till　they　became　acquainted；　and　were　friends；
  although　they　had　never　spoken　to　each　other；　but　that　was　of　no
  consequence。
  The　little　boy　one　day　heard　his　parents　say；　〃The　old　man
  opposite　is　very　well　off；　but　is　terribly　lonely。〃　The　next　Sunday
  morning　the　little　boy　wrapped　something　in　a　piece　of　paper　and
  took　it　to　the　door　of　the　old　house；　and　said　to　the　attendant　who
  waited　upon　the　old　man；　〃Will　you　please　give　this　from　me　to　the
  gentleman　who　lives　here；　I　have　two　tin　soldiers；　and　this　is　one
  of　them；　and　he　shall　have　it；　because　I　know　he　is　terribly　lonely。〃
  And　the　old　attendant　nodded　and　looked　very　pleased；　and　then
  he　carried　the　tin　soldier　into　the　house。
  Afterwards　he　was　sent　over　to　ask　the　little　boy　if　he　would
  not　like　to　pay　a　visit　himself。　His　parents　gave　him　permission；
  and　so　it　was　that　he　gained　admission　to　the　old　house。
  The　brassy　knobs　on　the　railings　shone　more　brightly　than　ever；　as
  if　they　had　been　polished　on　account　of　his　visit；　and　on　the　door
  were　carved　trumpeters　standing　in　tulips；　and　it　seemed　as　if　they
  were　blowing　with　all　their　might；　their　cheeks　were　so　puffed　out。
  〃Tanta…ra…ra；　the　little　boy　is　coming；　Tanta…ra…ra；　the　little　boy　is
  coming。〃
  Then　the　door　opened。　All　round　the　hall　hung　old　portraits　of
  knights　in　armor；　and　ladies　in　silk　gowns；　and　the　armor　rattled；　and
  the　silk　dresses　rustled。　Then　came　a　staircase　which　went　up　a　long
  way；　and　then　came　down　a　little　way　and　led　to　a　balcony；　which　was
  in　a　very　ruinous　state。　There　were　large　holes　and　long　cracks；　out
  of　which　grew　grass　and　leaves；　indeed　the　whole　balcony；　the
  courtyard；　and　the　walls　were　so　overgrown　with　green　that　they　looked
  like　a　garden。　In　the　balcony　stood　flower…pots；　on　which　were　heads
  having　asses'　ears；　but　the　flowers　in　them　grew　just　as　they　pleased。
  In　one　pot　pinks　were　growing　all　over　the　sides；　at　least　the　green
  leaves　were　shooting　forth　stalk　and　stem；　and　saying　as　plainly　as
  they　could　speak；　〃The　air　has　fanned　me；　the　sun　has　kissed　me；　and　I
  am　promised　a　little　flower　for　next　Sunday…　really　for　next　Sunday。〃
  Then　they　entered　a　room　in　which　the　walls　were　covered　with
  leather；　and　the　leather　had　golden　flowers　stamped　upon　it。
  〃Gilding　will　fade　in　damp　weather；
  To　endure；　there　is　nothing　like　leather；〃
  said　the　walls。　Chairs　handsomely　carved；　with　elbows　on　each　side；
  and　with　very　high　backs；　stood　in　the　room；　and　as　they　creaked
  they　seemed　to　say；　〃Sit　down。　Oh　dear；　how　I　am　creaking。　I　shall
  certainly　have　the　gout　like　the　old　cupboard。　Gout　in　my　back；　ugh。〃
  And　then　the　little　boy　entered　the　room　where　the　old　man　sat。
  〃Thank　you　for　the　tin　soldier　my　little　friend；〃　said　the　old
  man；　〃and　thank　you　also　for　coming　to　see　me。〃
  〃Thanks；　thanks；〃　or　〃Creak；　creak；〃　said　all　the　furniture。
  There　was　so　much　that　the　pieces　of　furniture　stood　in　each
  other's　way　to　get　a　sight　of　the　little　boy。
  On　the　wall　near　the　centre　of　the　room　hung　the　picture　of　a
  beautiful　lady；　young　and　gay；　dressed　in　the　fashion　of　the　olden
  times；　with　powdered　hair；　and　a　full；　stiff　skirt。　She　said　neither
  〃thanks〃　nor　〃creak；〃　but　she　looked　down　upon　the　little　boy　with　her
  mild　eyes；　and　then　he　said　to　the　old　man；
  〃Where　did　you　get　that　picture？〃
  〃From　the　shop　opposite；〃　he　replied。　〃Many　portraits　hang　there
  that　none　seem　to　trouble　themselves　about。　The　persons　they　represent
  have　been　dead　and　buried　long　since。　But　I　knew　this　lady　many
  years　ago；　and　she　has　been　dead　nearly　half　a　century。〃
  Under　a　glass　beneath　the　picture　hung　a　nosegay　of　withered
  flowers；　which　were　no　doubt　half　a　century　old　too；　at　least　they
  appeared　so。
  And　the　pendulum　of　the　old　clock　went　to　and　fro；　and　the　hands
  turned　round；　and　as　time　passed　on；　everything　in　the　room　grew
  older；　but　no　one　seemed　to　notice　it。
  〃They　say　at　home；〃　said　the　little　boy；　〃that　you　are　very
  lonely。〃
  〃Oh；〃　replied　the　old　man；　〃I　have　pleasant　thoughts　of　all　that
  has　passed；　recalled　by　memory；　and　now　you　are　come　to　visit　me；
  and　that　is　very　pleasant。〃
  Then　he　took　from　the　book…case；　a　book　full　of　pictures
  representing　long　processions　of　wonderful　coaches；　such　as　are
  never　seen　at　the　present　time。　Soldiers　like　the　knave　of　clubs；
  and　citizens　with　waving　banners。　The　tailors　had　a　flag　with　a　pair
  of　scissors　supported　by　two　lions；　and　on　the　shoemakers'　flag
  there　were　not　boots；　but　an　eagle　with　two　heads；　for　the
  shoemakers　must　have　everything　arranged　so　that　they　can　say；　〃This
  is　a　pair。〃　What　a　picture…book　it　was；　and　then　the　old　man　went　into
  another　room　to　fetch　apples　and　nuts。　It　was　very　pleasant；
  certainly；　to　be　in　that　old　house。
  〃I　cannot　endure　it；〃　said　the　tin　soldier；　who　stood　on　a
  shelf；　〃it　is　so　lonely　and　dull　here。　I　have　been　accustomed　to
  live　in　a　family；　and　I　cannot　get　used　to　this　life。　I　cannot　bear
  it。　The　whole　day　is　long　enough；　but　the　evening　is　longer。　It　is　not
  here　like　it　was　in　your　house　opposite；　when　your　father　and　mother
  talked　so　cheerfully　together；　while　you　and　all　the　dear　children
  made　such　a　delightful　noise。　No；　it　is　all　lonely　in　the　old　man's
  house。　Do　you　think　he　gets　any　kisses？　Do　you　think　he　ever　has
  friendly　looks；　or　a　Christmas　tree？　He　will　have　nothing　now　but
  the　grave。　Oh；　I　cannot　bear　it。〃
  〃You　must　not　look　only　on　the　sorrowful　side；〃　said　the　little
  boy；　〃I　think　everything　in　this　house　is　beautiful；　and　all　the　old
  pleasant　thoughts　come　back　here　to　pay　visits。〃
  〃Ah；　but　I　never　see　any；　and　I　don't　know　them；〃　said　the　tin
  soldier；　〃and　I　cannot　bear　it。〃
  〃You　must　bear　it；〃　said　the　little　boy。　Then　the　old　man　came
  back　with　a　pleasant　face；　and　brought　with　him　beautiful　preserved
  fruits；　as　well　as　apples　and　nuts；　and　the　little　boy　thought　no　more
  of　the　tin　soldier。　How　happy　and　delighted　the　little　boy　was；　and
  after　he　returned　home；　and　while　days　and　weeks　passed；　a　great
  deal　of　nodding　took　place　from　one　house　to　the　other；　and　then　the
  little　boy　went　to　pay　another　visit。　The　carved　trumpeters　blew
  〃Tanta…ra…ra。　There　is　the　little　boy。　Tanta…ra…ra。〃　The　swords　and
  armor　on　the　old　knight's　pictures　rattled。　The　silk　dresses
  rustled；　the　leather　repeated　its　rhyme；　and　the　old　chairs　had　the
  gout　in　their　backs；　and　cried；　〃Creak；〃　it　was　all　exactly　like　the
  first　time；　for　in　that