TWO MAIDENS

                                  1872

                 FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

                              TWO MAIDENS

                       by Hans Christian Andersen



HAVE you ever seen a maiden? I mean what our pavers call a maiden,

a thing with which they ram down the paving-stones in the roads. A

maiden of this kind is made altogether of wood, broad below, and

girt round with iron rings. At the top she is narrow, and has a

stick passed across through her waist, and this stick forms the arms

of the maiden.

In the shed stood two Maidens of this kind. They had their place

among shovels, hand-carts, wheelbarrows, and measuring-tapes; and to

all this company the news had come that the Maidens were no longer

to be called "maidens," but "hand-rammers," which word was the

newest and the only correct designation among the pavers for the thing

we all know from the old times by the name of "the maiden."

Now, there are among us human creatures certain individuals who

are known as "emancipated women," as, for instance, principals of

institutions, dancers who stand professionally on one leg,

milliners, and sick-nurses; and with this class of emancipated women

the two Maidens in the shed associated themselves. They were "maidens"

among the paver folk, and determined not to give up this honorable

appellation, and let themselves be miscalled "rammers.

"Maiden is a human name, but hand-rammer is a thing, and we

won't be called things- that's insulting us."

"My lover would be ready to give up his engagement," said the

youngest, who was betrothed to a paver's hammer; and the hammer is the

thing which drives great piles into the earth, like a machine, and

therefore does on a large scale what ten maidens effect in a similar

way. "He wants to marry me as a maiden, but whether he would have me

were I a hand-rammer is a question, so I won't have my name changed."

"And I," said the elder one, "would rather have both my arms

broken off."

But the Wheelbarrow was of a different opinion; and the

Wheelbarrow was looked upon as of some consequence, for he

considered himself a quarter of a coach, because he went about upon

one wheel.

"I must submit to your notice," he said, "that the name 'maiden'

is common enough, and not nearly so refined as 'hand-rammer,' or

'stamper,' which latter has also been proposed, and through which

you would be introduced into the category of seals; and only think

of the great stamp of state, which impresses the royal seal that gives

effect to the laws! No, in your case I would surrender my maiden

name."

"No, certainly not!" exclaimed the elder. "I am too old for that."

"I presume you have never heard of what is called 'European

necessity?'" observed the honest Measuring Tape. "One must be able

to adapt one's self to time and circumstances, and if there is a law

that the 'maiden' is to be called 'hand-rammer,' why, she must be

called 'hand-rammer,' and no pouting will avail, for everything has

its measure."

"No; if there must be a change," said the younger, "I should

prefer to be called 'Missy,' for that reminds one a little of

maidens."

"But I would rather be chopped to chips," said the elder.

At last they all went to work. The Maidens rode- that is, they

were put in a wheelbarrow, and that was a distinction; but still

they were called "hand-rammers."

"Mai-!" they said, as they were bumped upon the pavement.

"Mai-!" and they were very nearly pronouncing the whole word "maiden;"

but they broke off short, and swallowed the last syllable; for after

mature deliberation they considered it beneath their dignity to

protest. But they always called each other "maiden," and praised the

good old days in which everything had been called by its right name,

and those who were maidens were called maidens. And they remained as

they were; for the hammer really broke off his engagement with the

younger one, for nothing would suit him but he must have a maiden

for his bride.

                        THE END

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