early and distinctly,
what you have seen and heard, but when anything is told or read in
your presence, you shall be so clear-headed that you will also see
it."

"That is certainly much!" said the old street-lamp; "I thank you much;
if I be only not re-cast."

"It will not happen yet awhile," said the wind; "and now I will blow
up your memory; if you get more presents than that you may have quite
a pleasant old age."

"If I be only not re-cast," said the lamp; "or can you then assure me
my memory?"

"Old lamp, be reasonable!" said the wind, and then it blew. The moon
came forth at the same time. "What do you give?" asked the wind.

"I give nothing!" said the moon; "I am waning, and the lamps have
never shone for me, but I have shone for the lamps."* So the moon went
behind the clouds again, for it would not be plagued. A drop of rain
then fell straight down on the lamp's cowl, it was like a drop of
water from the eaves, but the drop said that it came from the grey
clouds, and was also a present,---and perhaps the best of all. "I
penetrate into you, so that you have the power, if you wish it, in one
night to pass over to rust, so that you may fall in pieces and become
dust." But the lamp thought this was a poor present, and the wind
thought the same. "Is there no better--is there no better?" it
whistled, as loud as it could. A shooting-star then fell, it shone in
a long stripe.

------

* It is the custom in Denmark, and one deserving the severest censure,
that, on those nights in which the moon shines; or, according to
almanac authority, ought to shine, the street lamps are not lighted;
so that, as it too frequently happens, when the moon is overclouded,
or on rainy evenings when she is totally obscured, the streets are for
the most part in perfect darkness. This petty economy is called "the
magistrates' light," they having the direction of the lighting,
paving, and cleansing of towns.

The same management may be met with in some other countries besides
Denmark.

------

"What was that?" exclaimed the herring's head; "did not a star fall
right down? I think it went into the lamp! Well, if persons who stand
so high seek the office, we may as well take ourselves off."

And it did so, and the others did so too; but the old lamp shone all
at once so singularly bright.

"That was a fine present!" it said; "the bright stars which I have
always pleased myself so much about, and which shine so
beautifully,--a