TheLittleMatchGirl

　　Onceuponatimealittlegirltriedtomakealivingbysellingmatchesinthestreet.

　　Thesnow-cladstreetsweredeserted.Frombrightlylitwindowscamethetinkleoflaughterandthesoundofsinging.Butthepoorlittlematchsellersatsadlybesidethefountain.Herraggeddressandwornshawldidnotkeepoutthecold.Shehadn'tsoldoneboxofmatchesalldayandshewasfrightenedtogohome,forherfatherwouldcertainlybeangry.

　　Thelittlegirl'sfingerswerestiffwithcold.Ifonlyshecouldlightamatch!Butwhatwouldherfathersayatsuchawaste!Falteringlyshetookoutamatchandlitit.Whatanicewarmflame!Thelittlematchsellercuppedherhandoverit,andasshedidso,shemagicallysawinitslightabigbrightlyburningstove.

　　Sheheldoutherhandstotheheat,butjustthenthematchwentoutandthevisionfaded.Thenightseemeddarkerthanbeforeanditwasgettingcolder.

　　Afterhesitatingforalongtime,shestruckanothermatchonthewall,andthistimetheglimmerturnedthewallintoagreatsheetofcrystal.Beyondthatstoodafinetableladenwithfoodandlitbyacandlestick.Holdingoutherarmstowardstheplates,thelittlematchsellerseemedtopassthroughtheglass,butthenthematchwentoutandthemagicfaded.

　　Shelitthethirdmatchandanevenmorewonderfulthinghappened.TherestoodaChristmastreehungwithhundredsofcandles,glitteringwithtinselandcoloredballs."Oh,howlovely!"exclaimedthelittlematchseller,holdingupthematch.Then,thematchburnedherfingerandflickeredout.

　　Scarcelyawareofwhatshewasdoing,thelittlematchsellerlitanothermatch.Thistime,shesawhergrandmother."Granny,staywithme!"shepleaded,asshelitonematchaftertheother,sothathergrandmotherwouldnotdisappearlikealltheothervisions.

　　However,Grannydidnotvanish,butgazedsmilinglyather.Thensheopenedherarmsandthelittlegirlhuggedhercrying:"Granny,takemeawaywithyou!"

　　Acolddaydawnedandapalesunshoneonthefountainandtheicyroad.Closebylaythelifelessbodyofalittlegirlsurroundedbyspentmatches."Poorlittlething!"exclaimedthepassersby."Shewastryingtokeepwarm!"

　　Butbythattime,thelittlematchsellerwasfaraway,wherethereisneithercold,norhunger,norpain.