thecandieswerelightedonebyone,andtherewasbrightnessandgrandeursuchashehadonlyseeninthespanishcathedral.theportraitsoftheoldcitizensbecamealive,steppeddownfromthewallsagainstwhichtheyhadhungforcenturies,andtookseatsnearthechurchdoor.thegatesflewopen,andallthedeadpeoplefromthechurchyardcamein,andfilledthechurch,whilebeautifulmusicsounded.thenthemelodyofthepsalmburstforth,likethesoundofthewaters,andjurgensawthathisfosterparentsfromthehunsbyduneswerethere,alsooldmerchantbronnewithhiswifeandtheirdaughterclara,whogavehimherhand.theybothwentuptothealtarwheretheyhadkneltbefore,andthepriestjoinedtheirhandsandunitedthemforlife.thenmusicwasheardagain;itwaswonderfullysweet,likeachild'svoice,fullofjoyandexpectation,swellingtothepowerfultonesofafullorgan,sometimessoftandsweet,thenlikethesoundsofatempest,delightfulandelevatingtohear,yetstrongenoughtoburstthestonetombsofthedead.thenthelittleshipthathungfromtheroofofthechoirwasletdownandlookedwonderfullylargeandbeautifulwithitssilkensailsandrigging:

"theropeswereofsilk,theanchorofgold,

andeverywhererichesandpompuntold,"astheoldsongsays.

theyoungcouplewentonboard,accompaniedbythewholecongregation,fortherewasroomandenjoymentforthemall.thenthewallsandarchesofthechurchwerecoveredwithfloweringjunipersandlimetreesbreathingforthfragrance;thebrancheswaved,creatingapleasantcoolness;theybentandparted,andtheshipsailedbetweenthemthroughtheairandoverthesea.everycandleinthechurchbecameastar,andthewindsangahymninwhichtheyalljoined."throughlovetoglory,nolifeislost,thefutureisfullofblessingsandhappiness.hallelujah!"thesewerethelastwordsjurgenutteredinthisworld,forthethreadthatboundhisimmortalsoulwassevered,andnothingbutthedeadbodylayinthedarkchurch,whilethestormragedoutside,coveringitwithloosesand.

thenextdaywassunday,andthecongregationandtheirpastorwenttothechurch.theroadhadalwaysbeenheavy,butnowitwasalmostunfitforuse,andwhentheyatlastarrivedatthechurch,agreatheapofsandlaypiledupinfrontofthem.thewholechurchwascompletelyburiedinsand.theclergymanofferedashortprayer,andsaidthatgodhadclosedthedoorofhishousehere,andthatthecongregationmustgoandbuildanewoneforhimsomewhereelse.sotheysungahymnintheopenair,andwenthomeagain.

jurgencouldnotbefoundanywhereinthetownofskjagen,noronthedunes,thoughtheysearchedforhimeverywhere.theycametotheconclusionthatoneofthegreatwaves,whichhadrolledfaruponthebeach,hadcarriedhimaway;buthisbodylayburiedinagreatsepulchre-thechurchitself.thelordhadthrowndownacoveringforhisgraveduringthestorm,andtheheavymoundofsandliesuponittothisday.thedriftingsandhadcoveredthevaultedroofofthechurch,thearchedcloisters,andthestoneaisles.thewhitethornandthedogrosenowblossomabovetheplacewherethechurchliesburied,butthespire,likeanenormousmonumentoveragrave,canbeseenformilesround.nokinghasamoresplendidmemorial.nothingdisturbsthepeacefulsleepofthedead.iwasthefirsttohearthisstory,forthestormsungittomeamongthesand-hills.

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

annelisbeth

byhanschristianandersen

annelisbethwasabeautifulyoungwoman,witharedandwhitecomplexion,glitteringwhiteteeth,andclearsofteyes;andherfootstepwaslightinthedance,buthermindwaslighterstill.shehadalittlechild,notatallpretty;sohewasputouttobenursedbyalaborer'swife,andhismotherwenttothecount'scastle.shesatinsplendidrooms,richlydecoratedwithsilkandvelvet;notabreathofairwasallowedtoblowuponher,andnoonewasallowedtospeaktoherharshly,forshewasnursetothecount'schild.hewasfairanddelicateasaprince,andbeautifulasanangel;andhowshelovedthischild!