theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

theloveliestroseintheworld

byhanschristianandersen

therelivedonceagreatqueen,inwhosegardenwerefoundatallseasonsthemostsplendidflowers,andfromeverylandintheworld.shespeciallylovedroses,andthereforeshepossessedthemostbeautifulvarietiesofthisflower,fromthewildhedge-rose,withitsapple-scentedleaves,tothesplendidprovencerose.theygrewneartheshelterofthewalls,woundthemselvesroundcolumnsandwindow-frames,creptalongpassagesandovertheceilingsofthehalls.theywereofeveryfragranceandcolor.

butcareandsorrowdweltwithinthesehalls;thequeenlayuponasickbed,andthedoctorsdeclaredthatshemustdie."thereisstillonethingthatcouldsaveher,"saidoneofthewisestamongthem."bringhertheloveliestroseintheworld;onewhichexhibitsthepurestandbrightestlove,andifitisbroughttoherbeforehereyesclose,shewillnotdie."

thenfromallpartscamethosewhobroughtrosesthatbloomedineverygarden,buttheywerenottherightsort.theflowermustbeonefromthegardenoflove;butwhichoftherosesthereshowedforththehighestandpurestlove?thepoetssangofthisrose,theloveliestintheworld,andeachnamedonewhichheconsideredworthyofthattitle;andintelligenceofwhatwasrequiredwassentfarandwidetoeveryheartthatbeatwithlove;toeveryclass,age,andcondition.

"noonehasyetnamedtheflower,"saidthewiseman."noonehaspointedoutthespotwhereitbloomsinallitssplendor.itisnotarosefromthecoffinofromeoandjuliet,orfromthegraveofwalburg,thoughtheseroseswillliveineverlastingsong.itisnotoneoftheroseswhichsproutedforthfromtheblood-stainedfameofwinkelreid.thebloodwhichflowsfromthebreastofaherowhodiesforhiscountryissacred,andhismemoryissweet,andnorosecanberedderthanthebloodwhichflowsfromhisveins.neitherisitthemagicflowerofscience,toobtainwhichwondrousfloweramandevotesmanyanhourofhisfreshyounglifeinsleeplessnights,inalonelychamber."

"iknowwhereitblooms,"saidahappymother,whocamewithherlovelychildtothebedsideofthequeen."iknowwheretheloveliestroseintheworldis.itisseenonthebloomingcheeksofmysweetchild,whenitexpressesthepureandholyloveofinfancy;whenrefreshedbysleepitopensitseyes,andsmilesuponmewithchildlikeaffection."

"thisisalovelyrose,"saidthewiseman;"butthereisonestillmorelovely."

"yes,onefarmorelovely,"saidoneofthewomen."ihaveseenit,andaloftierandpurerrosedoesnotbloom.butitwaswhite,liketheleavesofablush-rose.isawitonthecheeksofthequeen.shehadtakenoffhergoldencrown,andthroughthelong,drearynight,shecarriedhersickchildinherarms.sheweptoverit,kissedit,andprayedforitasonlyamothercanprayinthathourofheranguish."

"holyandwonderfulinitsmightisthewhiteroseofgrief,butitisnottheoneweseek."

"no;theloveliestroseintheworldisawatthelord'stable,"saidthegoodoldbishop."isawitshineasifanangel'sfacehadappeared.ayoungmaidenkneltatthealtar,andrenewedthevowsmadeatherbaptism;andtherewerewhiterosesandredrosesontheblushingcheeksofthatyounggirl.shelookeduptoheavenwithallthepurityandloveofheryoungspirit,inalltheexpressionofthehighestandpurestlove."

"mayshebeblessed!"