in the uttermost parts of the sea-第1章

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　IN　THE　UTTERMOST　PARTS　OF　THE　SEA

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen



　　　　SOME　years　ago；　large　ships　were　sent　towards　the　north　pole；　to

explore　the　distant　coasts；　and　to　try　how　far　men　could　penetrate

into　those　unknown　regions。　For　more　than　a　year　one　of　these　ships

had　been　pushing　its　way　northward；　amid　snow　and　ice；　and　the　sailors

had　endured　many　hardships；　till　at　length　winter　set　in；　and　the

sun　entirely　disappeared；　for　many　weeks　there　would　be　constant

night。　All　around；　as　far　as　the　eye　could　reach；　nothing　could　be

seen　but　fields　of　ice；　in　which　the　ship　remained　stuck　fast。　The

snow　lay　piled　up　in　great　heaps；　and　of　these　the　sailors　made

huts；　in　the　form　of　bee…hives；　some　of　them　as　large　and　spacious

as　one　of　the　〃Huns'　graves；〃　and　others　only　containing　room　enough

to　hold　three　or　four　men。　It　was　not　quite　dark；　the　northern

lights　shot　forth　red　and　blue　flames；　like　continuous　fireworks；

and　the　snow　glittered；　and　reflected　back　the　light；　so　that　the

night　here　was　one　long　twilight。　When　the　moon　was　brightest；　the

natives　came　in　crowds　to　see　the　sailors。　They　had　a　very　singular

appearance　in　their　rough；　hairy　dresses　of　fur；　and　riding　in　sledges

over　the　ice。　They　brought　with　them　furs　and　skins　in　great

abundance；　so　that　the　snow…houses　were　soon　provided　with　warm

carpets；　and　the　furs　also　served　for　the　sailors　to　wrap　themselves

in；　when　they　slept　under　the　roofs　of　snow；　while　outside　it　was

freezing　with　a　cold　far　more　severe　than　in　the　winter　with　us。　In

our　country　it　was　still　autumn；　though　late　in　the　season；　and　they

thought　of　that　in　their　distant　exile；　and　often　pictured　to

themselves　the　yellow　leaves　on　the　trees　at　home。　Their　watches

pointed　to　the　hours　of　evening；　and　time　to　go　to　sleep；　although

in　these　regions　it　was　now　always　night。

　　　　In　one　of　the　huts；　two　of　the　men　laid　themselves　down　to　rest。

The　younger　of　these　men　had　brought　with　him　from　home　his　best；

his　dearest　treasure…　a　Bible；　which　his　grandmother　had　given　him

on　his　departure。　Every　night　the　sacred　volume　rested　under　his　head；

and　he　had　known　from　his　childhood　what　was　written　in　it。　Every

day　he　read　in　the　book；　and　while　stretched　on　his　cold　couch；　the

holy　words　he　had　learnt　would　come　into　his　mind：　〃If　I　take　the

wings　of　the　morning；　and　fly　to　the　uttermost　parts　of　the　sea；

even　there　Thou　art　with　me；　and　Thy　right　hand　shall　uphold　me；〃

and　under　the　influence　of　that　faith　which　these　holy　words　inspired；

sleep　came　upon　him；　and　dreams；　which　are　the　manifestations　of　God

to　the　spirit。　The　soul　lives　and　acts；　while　the　body　is　at　rest。

He　felt　this　life　in　him；　and　it　was　as　if　he　heard　the　sound　of　dear；

well…known　melodies；　as　if　the　breezes　of　summer　floated　around　him；

and　over　his　couch　shone　a　ray　of　brightness；　as　if　it　were　shining

through　the　covering　of　his　snow…roof。　He　lifted　his　head；　and　saw

that　the　bright　gleaming　was　not　the　reflection　of　the　glittering

snow；　but　the　dazzling　brightness　of　the　pinions　of　a　mighty　angel；

into　whose　beaming　face　he　was　gazing。　As　from　the　cup　of　a　lily；

the　angel　rose　from　amidst　the　leaves　of　the　Bible；　and；　stretching

out　his　arm；　the　walls　of　the　hut　sunk　down；　as　though　they　had　been

formed　of　a　light；　airy　veil　of　mist；　and　the　green　hills　and

meadows　of　home；　with　its　ruddy　woods；　lay　spread　around　him　in　the

quiet　sunshine　of　a　lovely　autumn　day。　The　nest　of　the　stork　was

empty；　but　ripe　fruit　still　hung　on　the　wild　apple…tree；　although

the　leaves　had　fallen。　The　red　hips　gleamed　on　the　hedges；　and　the

starling　which　hung　in　the　green　cage　outside　the　window　of　the

peasant's　hut；　which　was　his　home；　whistled　the　tune　which　he　had

taught　him。　His　grandmother　hung　green　birds'…food　around　the　cage；　as

he；　her　grandson；　had　been　accustomed　to　do。　The　daughter　of　the

village　blacksmith；　who　was　young　and　fair；　stood　at　the　well；　drawing

water。　She　nodded　to　the　grandmother；　and　the　old　woman　nodded　to　her；

and　pointed　to　a　letter　which　had　come　from　a　long　way　off。　That

very　morning　the　letter　had　arrived　from　the　cold　regions　of　the

north；　there；　where　the　absent　one　was　sweetly　sleeping　under　the

protecting　hand　of　God。　They　laughed　and　wept　over　the　letter；　and　he；

far　away；　amid　ice　and　snow；　under　the　shadow　of　the　angel's　wings；

wept　and　smiled　with　them　in　spirit；　for　he　saw　and　heard　it　all　in

his　dream。　From　the　letter　they　read　aloud　the　words　of　Holy　Writ：　〃In

the　uttermost　parts　of　the　sea；　Thy　right　hand　shall　uphold　me。〃　And

as　the　angel　spread　his　wings　like　a　veil　over　the　sleeper；　there

was　the　sound　of　beautiful　music　and　a　hymn。　Then　the　vision　fled。

It　was　dark　again　in　the　snow…hut：　but　the　Bible　still　rested

beneath　his　head；　and　faith　and　hope　dwelt　in　his　heart。　God　was

with　him；　and　he　carried　home　in　his　heart；　even　〃in　the　uttermost

parts　of　the　sea。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

。