英语版童话故事 (75)

1872

FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

THE MONEY-BOX

by Hans Christian Andersen

IN a nursery where a number of toys lay scattered about, a

money-box stood on the top of a very high wardrobe. It was made of

clay in the shape of a pig, and had been bought of the potter. In

the back of the pig was a slit, and this slit had been enlarged with a

knife, so that dollars, or crown pieces, might slip through; and,

indeed there were two in the box, besides a number of pence. The

money-pig was stuffed so full that it could no longer rattle, which is

the highest state of perfection to which a money-pig can attain. There

he stood upon the cupboard, high and lofty, looking down upon

everything else in the room. He knew very well that he had enough

inside him to buy up all the other toys, and this gave him a very good

opinion of his own value. The rest thought of this fact also, although

they did not express it, for there were so many other things to talk

about. A large doll, still handsome, though rather old, for her neck

had been mended, lay inside one of the drawers which was partly

open. She called out to the others, "Let us have a game at being men

and women, that is something worth playing at."

Upon this there was a great uproar; even the engravings, which

hung in frames on the wall, turned round in their excitement, and

showed that they had a wrong side to them, although they had not the

least intention to expose themselves in this way, or to object to

the game. It was late at night, but as the moon shone through the

windows, they had light at a cheap rate. And as the game was now to

begin, all were invited to take part in it, even the children's wagon,

which certainly belonged to the coarser playthings. "Each has its

own value," said the wagon; "we cannot all be noblemen; there must

be some to do the work."

The money-pig was the only one who received a written

invitation. He stood so high that they were afraid he would not accept

a verbal message. But in his reply, he said, if he had to take a part,

he must enjoy the sport from his own home; they were to arrange for

him to do so; and so they did. The little toy theatre was therefore

put up in such a way that the money-pig could look directly into it.

Some wanted to begin with a comedy, and afterwards to have a tea party and a discussion for mental improvement, but they commenced with the latter first. The rocking-horse spoke of training and races; the wagon of railways and steam power, for these subjects belonged to each of their professions, and it was right they should talk of them.

The clock talked politics- "tick, tick;" he professed to know what was the time of day, but there was a whisper that he did not go correctly. The bamboo cane stood by, looking stiff and proud: he was vain of his brass ferrule and silver top, and on the sofa lay two worked cushions, pretty but stupid. When the play at the little theatre began, the rest sat and

looked on; they were requested to applaud and stamp, or crack, when they felt gratified with what they saw. But the riding-whip said he never cracked for old people, only for the young who were not yet married. "I crack for everybody," said the cracker.

"Yes, and a fine noise you make," thought the audience, as the

play went on.

It was not worth much, but it was very well played, and all the

characters turned their painted sides to the audience, for they were

made only to be seen on one side. The acting was wonderful,

excepting that sometimes they came out beyond the lamps, because the wires were a little too long. The doll, whose neck had been darned, was so excited that the place in her neck burst, and the money-pig declared he must do something for one of the players, as they had all pleased him so much. So he made up his mind to remember one of them in his will, as the one to be buried with him in the family vault, whenever that event should happen. They all enjoyed the comedy so much, that they gave up all thoughts of the tea party, and only carried out their idea of intellectual amusement, which they

called playing at men and women; and there was nothing wrong about it, for it was only play. All the while, each one thought most of himself, or of what the money-pig could be thinking. His thoughts were on, as he supposed, a very distant time- of making his will, and of his burial, and of when it might all come to pass. Certainly sooner than he expected- for all at once down he came from the top of the press, fell on the ground, and was broken to pieces. Then the pennies

hopped and danced about in the most amusing manner. The little ones twirled round like tops, and the large ones rolled away as far as they could, especially the one great silver crown piece who had often to go out into the world, and now he had his wish as well as all the rest of the money. The pieces of the money-pig were thrown into the

dust-bin, and the next day there stood a new money-pig on the

cupboard, but it had not a farthing in its inside yet, and

therefore, like the old one, it could not rattle. This was the

beginning with him, and we will make it the end of our story.

THE END

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Written By Anderson