istence, and the
'Tinder-Box' drew all the others onward in its
train. Happy is he who has found his
'tinder-box.'" The translation is by H. W.
Dulcken.

THE TINDER-BOX

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

There came a soldier marching along the high road--_one, two! one, two!_
He had his knapsack on his back and a saber by his side, for he had been
in the wars, and now he wanted to go home. And on the way he met with an
old witch; she was very hideous, and her under lip hung down upon her
breast. She said, "Good evening, soldier. What a fine sword you have,
and what a big knapsack! You're a proper soldier! Now you shall have as
much money as you like to have."

"I thank you, you old witch!" said the soldier.

"Do you see that great tree?" quoth the witch; and she pointed to a tree
which stood beside them. "It's quite hollow inside. You must climb to
the top, and then you'll see a hole, through which you can let yourself
down and get deep into the tree. I'll tie a rope round your body, so
that I can pull you up again when you call me."

"What am I to do down in the tree?" asked the soldier.

"Get money," replied the witch. "Listen to me. When you come down to the
earth under the tree, you will find yourself in a great hall: it is
quite light, for above three hundred lamps are burning there. Then you
will see three doors; those you can open, for the keys are hanging
there. If you go into the first chamber, you'll see a great chest in the
middle of the floor; on this chest sits a dog, and he's got a pair of
eyes as big as two tea-cups. But you need not care for that. I'll give
you my blue-checked apron, and you can spread it out upon the floor;
then go up quickly and take the dog, and set him on my apron; then open
the chest, and take as many shillings as you like. They are of copper:
if you prefer silver, you must go into the second chamber. But there
sits a dog with a pair of eyes as big as mill-wheels. But do not you
care for that. Set him upon my apron, and take some of the money. And if
you want gold, you can have that too--in fact, as much as you can
carry--if you go into the third chamber. But the dog that sits on the
money-chest there has two eyes as big as round towers. He is a fierce
dog, you may be sure; but you needn't be afraid, for all that. Only set
him on my apron, and he won't hurt you; and take out of the chest as
much gold as you like."

"That's not so bad," said the sold