forsakenandforgotten,inagardenbyahedgeinafield,andclosetoapublicroad.thereitstands,unsheltered,plundered,andbroken.itcertainlyhasnotyetwithered;butinthecourseofyearsthenumberofblossomsfromtimetotimewillgrowless,andatlastitwasceasealtogethertobearfruit;andthenitshistorywillbeover."

suchwereanthony'sthoughtsashestoodunderthetree,andduringmanyalongnightashelayinhislonelychamberinthewoodenhouseinhauschenstreet,copenhagen,intheforeignlandtowhichtherichmerchantofbremen,hisemployer,hadsenthimonconditionthatheshouldnevermarry."marry!ha,ha!"andhelaughedbitterlytohimselfatthethought.

winteroneyearsetinearly,anditwasfreezinghard.without,asnowstormmadeeveryoneremainathomewhocoulddoso.thusithappenedthatanthony'sneighbors,wholivedoppositetohim,didnotnoticethathishouseremainedunopenedfortwodays,andthathehadnotshowedhimselfduringthattime,forwhowouldgooutinsuchweatherunlesshewereobligedtodoso.theyweregray,gloomydays,andinthehousewhosewindowswerenotglass,twilightanddarknightsreignedinturns.duringthesetwodaysoldanthonyhadnotlefthisbed,hehadnotthestrengthtodoso.thebitterweatherhadforsometimeaffectedhislimbs.therelaytheoldbachelor,forsakenbyall,andunabletohelphimself.hecouldscarcelyreachthewaterjugthathehadplacedbyhisbed,andthelastdropwaswasnotfever,norsickness,butoldage,thathadlaidhimlow.inthelittlecorner,wherehisbedlay,hewasover-shadowedasitwerebyperpetualnight.alittlespider,whichhecouldhowevernotsee,busilyandcheerfullyspunitswebabovehim,sothatthereshouldbeakindoflittlebannerwavingovertheoldman,whenhiseyesclosed.thetimepassedslowlyandpainfully.hehadnotearstoshed,andhefeltnopain;nothoughtofmollycameintohismind.hefeltasiftheworldwasnownothingtohim,asifhewerelyingbeyondit,withnoonetothinkofhim.nowandthenhefeltslightsensationsofhungerandthirst;butnoonecametohim,noonetendedhim.hethoughtofallthosewhohadoncesufferedfromstarvation,ofsaintelizabeth,whooncewanderedontheearth,thesaintofhishomeandhischildhood,thenobleduchessofthuringia,thathighlyesteemedladywhovisitedthepoorestvillages,bringinghopeandrelieftothesickinmates.therecollectionofherpiousdeedswasaslighttothesoulofpooranthony.hethoughtofherasshewentaboutspeakingwordsofcomfort,bindingupthewoundsoftheafflictedandfeedingthehungry,althoughoftenblamedforitbyhersternhusband.herememberedastorytoldofher,thatononeoccasion,whenshewascarryingabasketfullofwineandprovisions,herhusband,whohadwatchedherfootsteps,steppedforwardandaskedherangrilywhatshecarriedinherbasket,whereupon,withfearandtrembling,sheanswered,"roses,whichihavepluckedfromthegarden."thenhetoreawaytheclothwhichcoveredthebasket,andwhatcouldequalthesurpriseofthepiouswoman,tofindthatbyamiracle,everythinginherbasket-thewine,thebread-hadallbeenchangedintoroses.

inthiswaythememoryofthekindladydweltinthecalmmindofanthony.shewasasalivingrealityinhislittledwellinginthedanishland.heuncoveredhisfacethathemightlookintohergentleeyes,whileeverythingaroundhimchangedfromitslookofpovertyandwant,toabrightrosetint.thefragranceofrosesspreadthroughtheroom,mingledwiththesweetsmellofapples.hesawthebranchesofanapple-treespreadingabovehim.itwasthetreewhichheandmollyhadplantedtogether.thefragrantleavesofthetreefelluponhimandcooledhisburningbrow;uponhisparchedlipstheyseemedlikerefreshingbreadandwine;andastheyrestedonhisbreast,apeacefulcalmstoleoverhim,andhefeltinclinedtosleep."ishallsleepnow,"hewhisperedtohimself."sleepwilldomegood.inthemorningishallbeuponmyfeetagain,strongandrious!