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                     FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

                                 THE ELFIN HILL

                           by Hans Christian Andersen



    A FEW large lizards were running nimbly about in the clefts of

an old tree; they could understand one another very well; for they

spoke the lizard language。

    〃What a buzzing and a rumbling there is in the elfin hill;〃 said

one of the lizards; 〃I have not been able to close my eyes for two

nights on account of the noise; I might just as well have had the

toothache; for that always keeps me awake。〃

    〃There is something going on within there;〃 said the other lizard;

〃they propped up the top of the hill with four red posts; till

cock…crow this morning; so that it is thoroughly aired; and the

elfin girls have learnt new dances; there is something。〃

    〃I spoke about it to an earth…worm of my acquaintance;〃 said a

third lizard; 〃the earth…worm had just come from the elfin hill; where

he has been groping about in the earth day and night。 He has heard a

great deal; although he cannot see; poor miserable creature; yet he

understands very well how to wriggle and lurk about。 They expect

friends in the elfin hill; grand company; too; but who they are the

earth…worm would not say; or; perhaps; he really did not know。 All the

will…o'…the…wisps are ordered to be there to hold a torch dance; as it

is called。 The silver and gold which is plentiful in the hill will

be polished and placed out in the moonlight。〃

    〃Who can the strangers be?〃 asked the lizards; 〃what can the

matter be? Hark; what a buzzing and humming there is!〃

    Just at this moment the elfin hill opened; and an old elfin

maiden; hollow behind; came tripping out; she was the old elf king's

housekeeper; and a distant relative of the family; therefore she

wore an amber heart on the middle of her forehead。 Her feet moved very

fast; 〃trip; trip;〃 good gracious; how she could trip right down to

the sea to the night…raven。

    〃You are invited to the elf hill for this evening;〃 said she; 〃but

will you do me a great favor and undertake the invitations? you

ought to do something; for you have no housekeeping to attend to as

I have。 We are going to have some very grand people; conjurors; who

have always something to say; and therefore the old elf king wishes to

make a great display。〃

    〃Who is to be invited?〃 asked the raven。

    〃All the world may come to the great ball; even human beings; if

they can only talk in their sleep; or do something after our

fashion。 But for the feast the company must be carefully selected;

we can only admit persons of high rank; I have had a dispute myself

with the elf king; as he thought we could not admit ghosts。 The merman

and his daughter must be invited first; although it may not be

agreeable to them to remain so long on dry land; but they shall have a

wet stone to sit on; or perhaps something better; so I think they will

not refuse this time。 We must have all the old demons of the first

class; with tails; and the hobgoblins and imps; and then I think we

ought not to leave out the death…horse; or the grave…pig; or even

the church dwarf; although they do belong to the clergy; and are not

reckoned among our people; but that is merely their office; they are

nearly related to us; and visit us very frequently。〃

    〃Croak;〃 said the night…raven as he flew away with the

invitations。

    The elfin maidens we're already dancing on the elf hill; and

they danced in shawls woven from moonshine and mist; which look very

pretty to those who like such things。 The large hall within the elf

hill was splendidly decorated; the floor had been washed with

moonshine; and the walls had been rubbed with magic ointment; so

that they glowed like tulip…leaves in the light。 In the kitchen were

frogs roasting on the spit; and dishes preparing of snail skins;

with children's fingers in them; salad of mushroom seed; hemlock;

noses and marrow of mice; beer from the marsh woman's brewery; and

sparkling salt…petre wine from the grave cellars。 These were all

substantial food。 Rusty nails and church…window glass formed the

dessert。 The old elf king had his gold crown polished up with powdered

slate…pencil; it was like that used by the first form; and very

difficult for an elf king to obtain。 In the bedrooms; curtains were

hung up and fastened with the slime of snails; there was; indeed; a

buzzing and humming everywhere。

    〃Now we must fumigate the place with burnt horse…hair and pig's

bristles; and then I think I shall have done my part;〃 said the elf

man…servant。

    〃Father; dear;〃 said the youngest daughter; 〃may I now hear who

our high…born visitors are?〃

    〃Well; I suppose I must tell you now;〃 he replied; 〃two of my

daughters must prepare themselves to be married; for the marriages

certainly will take place。 The old goblin from Norway; who lives in

the ancient Dovre mountains; and who possesses many castles built of

rock and freestone; besides a gold mine; which is better than all;

so it is thought; is coming with his two sons; who are both seeking

a wife。 The old goblin is a true…hearted; honest; old Norwegian

graybeard; cheerful and straightforward。 I knew him formerly; when

we used to drink together to our good fellowship: he came here once to

fetch his wife; she is dead now。 She was the daughter of the king of

the chalk…hills at Moen。 They say he took his wife from chalk; I shall

be delighted to see him again。 It is said that the boys are

ill…bred; forward lads; but perhaps that is not quite correct; and

they will become better as they grow older。 Let me see that you know

how to teach them good manners。〃

    〃And when are they coming?〃 asked the daughter。

    〃That depends upon wind and weather;〃 said the elf king; 〃they

travel economically。 They will come when there is the chance of a

ship。 I wanted them to come over to Sweden; but the old man was not

inclined to take my advice。 He does not go forward with the times; and

that I do not like。〃

    Two will…o'…the…wisps came jumping in; one quicker than the other;

so of course; one arrived first。 〃They are coming! they are coming!〃

he cried。

    〃Give me my crown;〃 said the elf king; 〃and let me stand in the

moonshine。〃

    The daughters drew on their shawls and bowed down to the ground。

There stood the old goblin from the Dovre mountains; with his crown of

hardened ice and polished fir…cones。 Besides this; he wore a

bear…skin; and great; warm boots; while his sons went with their

throats bare and wore no braces; for they were strong men。

    〃Is that a hill?〃 said the youngest of the boys; pointing to the

elf hill; 〃we should call it a hole in Norway。〃

    〃Boys;〃 said the old man; 〃a hole goes in; and a hill stands

out; have you no eyes in your heads?〃

    Another thing they wondered at was; that they were able without

trouble to understand the language。

    〃Take care;〃 said the old man; 〃or people will think you have

not been well brought up。〃

    Then they entered the elfin hill; where the select and grand

company were assembled; and so quickly had they appeared that they

seemed to have been blown together。 But for each guest the neatest and

pleasantest arrangement had been made。 The sea folks sat at table in

great water…tubs; and they said it was just like being at home。 All

behaved themselves properly excepting the two young northern goblins;

they put their legs on the table and thought they were all right。

    〃Feet off the table…cloth!〃 said the old goblin。 They obeyed;

but not immediately。 Then they tickled the ladies who waited at table;

with the fir…cones; which they carried in their pockets。 They took off

their boots; that they might be more at ease; and gave them to the

ladies to hold。 But their father; the old goblin; was very

different; he talked pleasantly about the stately Norwegian rocks; and

told fine tales of the waterfalls which dashed over them with a

clattering noise like thunder or the sound of an organ; spreading

their white foam on every side。 He told of the salmon that leap

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