s I really have never been able to shine, although it
was my whole aim and endeavor,--have noticed me, a poor old-lamp, and
sent one down with a present to me, which consists of that quality,
that everything I myself remember and see quite distinctly, shall also
be seen by those I am fond of; and that is, above all, a true
pleasure, for what one cannot share with others is but a half
delight."

"It is a very estimable thought," said the wind; "but you certainly
don't know that there must be wax-candles; for unless a wax-candle be
lighted in you there are none of the others that will be able to see
anything particular about you. The stars have not thought of that;
they think that everything which shines has, at least, a wax-candle in
it. But now I am tired," said the wind, "I will now lie down;" and so
it lay down to rest.

The next day--yes, the next day we will spring over: the next evening
the lamp lay in the arm chair,--and where? At the old watchman's. He
had, for his long and faithful services, begged of the authorities
that he might be allowed to keep the old lamp; they laughed at him
when he begged for it, and then gave him it; and now the lamp lay in
the arm-chair, close by the warm stove, and it was really just as if
it had become larger on that account,--it almost filled the whole
chair. The old folks now sat at their supper, and cast mild looks at
the old lamp, which they would willingly have given a place at the
table with them. It is true they lived in a cellar, a yard or so below
ground: one had to go through a paved front-room to come into the room
they lived in; but it was warm here, for there was list round the door
to keep it so. It looked clean and neat, with curtains round the bed
and over the small windows, where two strange-looking flowerpots stood
on the sill. Christian, the sailor, had brought them from the East or
West Indies; they were of clay in the form of two elephants, the backs
of which were wanting: but in their place there came flourishing
plants out of the earth that was in them; in the one was the finest
chive,--It was the old folks' kitchen-garden,--and in the other was a
large flowering geranium--this was their flower-garden. On the wall
hung a large colored print of "The Congress of Vienna;" there they had
all the kings and emperors at once. A Bornholm* clock, with heavy
leaden weights went "tic-tac!" and always too fast; but the old folks
said it was better than if it went too sl