andhebeatathunderingroll-callontheinstrument,andthedrumfeltsohighlyhonoredthattheparchmentburstwithexultation.

"hehasasplendidtouch!"saidthedrum."i'vearemembranceofhimnowthatwilllast.iexpectthatthesamethingwillhappentohismother,frompurejoyoverhergoldentreasure."

andthisisthestoryofthegoldentreasure.

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

thegoloshesoffortune

byhanschristianandersen

abeginning

inahouseincopenhagen,notfarfromtheking'snewmarket,averylargepartyhadassembled,thehostandhisfamilyexpecting,nodoubt,toreceiveinvitationsinreturn.onehalfofthecompanywerealreadyseatedatthecard-tables,theotherhalfseemedtobewaitingtheresultoftheirhostess'squestion,"well,howshallweamuseourselves?"

conversationfollowed,which,afterawhile,begantoproveveryentertaining.amongothersubjects,itturnedupontheeventsofthemiddleages,whichsomepersonsmaintainedweremorefullofinterestthanourowntimes.counsellorknappdefendedthisopinionsowarmlythattheladyofthehouseimmediatelywentovertohisside,andbothexclaimedagainstoersted'sessaysonancientandmoderntimes,inwhichthepreferenceisgiventoourown.thecounsellorconsideredthetimesofthedanishking,hans,asthenoblestandhappiest.

theconversationonthistopicwasonlyinterruptedforamomentbythearrivalofanewspaper,whichdidnot,however,containmuchworthreading,andwhileitisstillgoingonwewillpayavisittotheante-room,inwhichcloaks,sticks,andgolosheswerecarefullyplaced.heresattwomaidens,oneyoung,andtheotherold,asiftheyhadcomeandwerewaitingtoaccompanytheirmistresseshome;butonlookingatthemmoreclosely,itcouldeasilybeseenthattheywerenocommonservants.theirshapesweretoograceful,theircomplexionstoodelicate,andthecutoftheirdressesmuchtooelegant.theyweretwofairies.theyoungerwasnotfortuneherself,butthechambermaidofoneoffortune'sattendants,whocarriesabouthermoretriflinggifts.theelderone,whowasnamedcare,lookedrathergloomy;shealwaysgoesabouttoperformherownbusinessinperson;forthensheknowsitisproperlydone.theyweretellingeachotherwheretheyhadbeenduringtheday.themessengeroffortunehadonlytransactedafewunimportantmatters;forinstance,shehadpreservedanewbonnetfromashowerofrain,andobtainedforanhonestmanabowfromatitlednobody,andsoon;butshehadsomethingextraordinarytorelate,afterall.

"imusttellyou,"saidshe,"thatto-dayismybirthday;andinhonorofitihavebeenintrustedwithapairofgoloshes,tointroduceamongstmankind.thesegolosheshavethepropertyofmakingeveryonewhoputsthemonimaginehimselfinanyplacehewishes,orthatheexistsatanyperiod.everywishisfulfilledatthemomentitisexpressed,sothatforoncemankindhavethechanceofbeinghappy."

no,"repliedcare;"youmaydependuponitthatwhoeverputsonthosegolosheswillbeveryunhappy,andblessthemomentinwhichhecangetridofthem."

"whatareyouthinkingof?"repliedtheother."nowsee;iwillplacethembythedoor;someonewilltaketheminsteadofhisown,andhewillbethehappyman."

thiswastheendoftheirunsellor

whathappenedtothecounsellor

itwaslatewhencounsellorknapp,lostinthoughtaboutthetimesofkinghans,desiredtoreturnhome;andfatesoordereditthatheputonthegoloshesoffortuneinsteadofhisown,andwalkedoutintotheeaststreet.throughthemagicpowerofthegoloshes,hewasatoncecarriedbackthreehundredyears,tothetimesofkinghans,forwhichhehadbeenlongingwhenheputthemon.thereforeheimmediatelysethisfootintothemudandmireofthestreet,whichinthosedayspossessednopavement.

"why,thisishorrible;howdreadfullydirtyitis!"