THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE SHEEP

                                  1872

                 FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

                     THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE SHEEP

                       by Hans Christian Andersen



HAVE you ever seen an old wooden cupboard quite black with age,

and ornamented with carved foliage and curious figures? Well, just

such a cupboard stood in a parlor, and had been left to the family

as a legacy by the great-grandmother. It was covered from top to

bottom with carved roses and tulips; the most curious scrolls were

drawn upon it, and out of them peeped little stags' heads, with

antlers. In the middle of the cupboard door was the carved figure of a

man most ridiculous to look at. He grinned at you, for no one could

call it laughing. He had goat's legs, little horns on his head, and

a long beard; the children in the room always called him, "Major

general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat's-legs." It was

certainly a very difficult name to pronounce, and there are very few

who ever receive such a title, but then it seemed wonderful how he

came to be carved at all; yet there he was, always looking at the

table under the looking-glass, where stood a very pretty little

shepherdess made of china. Her shoes were gilt, and her dress had a

red rose or an ornament. She wore a hat, and carried a crook, that

were both gilded, and looked very bright and pretty. Close by her side

stood a little chimney-sweep, as black as coal, and also made of

china. He was, however, quite as clean and neat as any other china

figure; he only represented a black chimney-sweep, and the china

workers might just as well have made him a prince, had they felt

inclined to do so. He stood holding his ladder quite handily, and

his face was as fair and rosy as a girl's; indeed, that was rather a

mistake, it should have had some black marks on it. He and the

shepherdess had been placed close together, side by side; and, being

so placed, they became engaged to each other, for they were very

well suited, being both made of the same sort of china, and being

equally fragile. Close to them stood another figure, three times as

large as they were, and also made of china. He was an old Chinaman,

who could nod his head, and used to pretend that he was the

grandfather of the shepherdess, although he could not prove it. He

however assumed authority over her, and therefore when

"Major-general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat's-legs" asked for

the little shepherdess to be his wife, he nodded his head to show that

he consented. "You will have a husband," said the old Chinaman to her,

"who I really believe is made of mahogany. He will make you a lady

of Major-general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat's-legs. He has

the whole cupboard full of silver plate, which he keeps locked up in

secret drawers."

"I won't go into the dark cupboard," said the little

shepherdess. "I have heard that he has eleven china wives there

already."

"Then you shall be the twelfth," said the old Chinaman.

"To-night as soon as you hear a rattling in the old cupboard, you

shall be married, as true as I am a Chinaman;" and then he nodded

his head and fell asleep.

Then the little shepherdess cried, and looked at her sweetheart,

the china chimney-sweep. "I must entreat you," said she, "to go out

with me into the wide world, for we cannot stay here."

"I will do whatever you wish," said the little chimney-sweep; "let

us go immediately: I think I shall be able to maintain you with my

profession."

"If we were but safely down from the table!" said she; "I shall

not be happy till we are really out in the world."

Then he comforted her, and showed her how to place her little foot

on the carved edge and gilt-leaf ornaments of the table. He brought

his little ladder to help her, and so they contrived to reach the

floor. But when they looked at the old cupboard, they saw it was all

in an uproar. The carved stags pushed out their heads, raised their

antlers, and twisted their necks. The major-general sprung up in the

air; and cried out to the old Chinaman, "They are running away! they

are running away!" The two were rather frightened at this, so they

jumped into the drawer of the window-seat. Here were three or four

packs of cards not quite complete, and a doll's theatre, which had

been built up very neatly. A comedy was being performed in it, and all

the queens of diamonds, clubs, and hearts,, and spades, sat in the

first row fanning themselves with tulips, and behind them stood all

the knaves, showing that they had heads above and below as playing

cards generally have. The play was about two lovers, who were not

allowed to marry, and the shepherdess wept because it was so like

her own story. "I cannot bear it," said she, "I must get out of the

drawer;" but when they reached the floor, and cast their eyes on the

table, there was the old Chinaman awake and shaking his whole body,

till all at once down he came on the floor, "plump." "The old Chinaman

is coming," cried the little shepherdess in a fright, and down she

fell on one knee.

"I have thought of something," said the chimney-sweep; "let us get

into the great pot-pourri jar which stands in the corner; there we can

lie on rose-leaves and lavender, and throw salt in his eyes if he

comes near us."

"No, that will never do," said she, "because I know that the

Chinaman and the pot-pourri jar were lovers once, and there always

remains behind a feeling of good-will between those who have been so

intimate as that. No, there is nothing left for us but to go out

into the wide world."

"Have you really courage enough to go out into the wide world with

me?" said the chimney-sweep; "have you thought how large it is, and

that we can never come back here again?"

"Yes, I have," she replied.

When the chimney-sweep saw that she was quite firm, he said, "My

way is through the stove and up the chimney. Have you courage to creep

with me through the fire-box, and the iron pipe? When we get to the

chimney I shall know how to manage very well. We shall soon climb

too high for any one to reach us, and we shall come through a hole

in the top out into the wide world." So he led her to the door of

the stove.

"It looks very dark," said she; still she went in with him through

the stove and through the pipe, where it was as dark as pitch.

"Now we are in the chimney," said he; "and look, there is a

beautiful star shining above it." It was a real star shining down upon

them as if it would show them the way. So they clambered, and crept

on, and a frightful steep place it was; but the chimney-sweep helped

her and supported her, till they got higher and higher. He showed

her the best places on which to set her little china foot, so at

last they reached the top of the chimney, and sat themselves down, for

they were very tired, as may be supposed. The sky, with all its stars,

was over their heads, and below were the roofs of the town. They could

see for a very long distance out into the wide world, and the poor

little shepherdess leaned her head on her chimney-sweep's shoulder,

and wept till she washed the gilt off her sash; the world was so

different to what she expected. "This is too much," she said; "I

cannot bear it, the world is too large. Oh, I wish I were safe back on

the table. again, under the looking glass; I shall never be happy till

I am safe back again. Now I have followed you out into the wide world,

you will take me back, if you love me."

Then the chimney-sweep tried to reason with her, and spoke of

the old Chinaman, and of the Major-general-field-sergeant-commander

Billy-goat's legs; but she sobbed so bitterly, and kissed her little

chimney-sweep till he was obliged to do all she asked, foolish as it

was. And so, with a great deal of trouble, they climbed down the

chimney, and then crept through the pipe and stove, which were

certainly not very pleasant places. Then they stood in the dark

fire-box, and listened behind the door, to hear what was going on in

the room. As it was all quiet, they peeped out. Alas! there lay the

old Chinaman on the floor; he had fallen down from the table as he

attempted to run after them, and was broken into three pieces; his

back had separated entirely, and his head had rolled into a corner

of the room. The major-general stood in his old place, and appeared

lost in thought.

"This is terrible," said the little shepherdess. "My poor old

grandfather is broken to pieces, and it is our fault. I shall never

live after this;" and she wrung her little hands.

"He can be riveted," said the chimney-sweep; "he can be riveted.

Do not be so hasty. If they cement his back, and put a good rivet in

it, he will be as good as new, and be able to say as many disagreeable

things to us as ever."

"Do you think so?" said she; and then they climbed up to the

table, and stood in their old places.

"As we have done no good," said the chimney-sweep, "we might as

well have remained here, instead of taking so much trouble."

"I wish grandfather was riveted," said the shepherdess. "Will it

cost much, I wonder?"

And she had her wish. The family had the Chinaman's back mended,

and a strong rivet put through his neck; he looked as good as new, but

he could no longer nod his head.

"You have become proud since your fall broke you to pieces,"

said Major-general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat's-legs. "You

have no reason to give yourself such airs. Am I to have her or not?"

The chimney-sweep and the little shepherdess looked piteously at

the old Chinaman, for they were afraid he might nod; but he was not

able: besides, it was so tiresome to be always telling strangers he

had a rivet in the back of his neck.

And so the little china people remained together, and were glad of

the grandfather's rivet, and continued to love each other till they

were broken to pieces.

                        THE END

.