imaynotwrongthee,norwillidoso.ialsoloveher,buttomorrowidepart.inayearwewillseeeachotheragain,butthenyouwillbemarried;shallitnotbeso?ihavealittlegoldofmyown,itshallbeyours.youmustandshalltakeit."

wewanderedsilentlyhomewardacrossthemountains.itwaslateintheeveningwhenwereachedmymother'sdoor.anastasiaheldthelampasweentered;mymotherwasnotthere.shelookedataphtanideswithasweetbutmournfulexpressiononherface."to-morrowyouaregoingtoleaveus,"shesaid."iamverysorry."

"sorry!"heexclaimed,andhisvoicewastroubledwithagriefasdeepasmyown.icouldnotspeak;butheseizedherhandandsaid,"ourbrotheryonderlovesyou,andishenotdeartoyou?hisverysilencenowproveshisaffection."

anastasiatrembled,andburstintotears.thenisawnoone,thoughtofnone,buther.ithrewmyarmsroundher,andpressedmylipstohers.assheflungherarmsroundmyneck,thelampfelltotheground,andwewereindarkness,darkastheheartofpooraphtanides.

beforedaybreakherose,kissedusall,andsaid"farewell,"andwentaway.hehadgivenallhismoneytomymotherforus.anastasiawasbetrothedtome,andinafewdaysafterwardsshebecamemywife.

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

theshirt-collar

byhanschristianandersen

therewasonceafinegentlemanwhopossessedamongotherthingsaboot-jackandahair-brush;buthehadalsothefinestshirt-collarintheworld,andofthiscollarweareabouttohearastory.thecollarhadbecomesooldthathebegantothinkaboutgettingmarried;andonedayhehappenedtofindhimselfinthesamewashing-tubasagarter."uponmyword,"saidtheshirt-collar,"ihaveneverseenanythingsoslimanddelicate,soneatandsoftbefore.mayiventuretoaskyourname?"

"ishallnottellyou,"repliedthegarter.

"wheredoyouresidewhenyouareathome?"askedtheshirt-collar.butthegarterwasnaturallyshy,anddidnotknowhowtoanswersuchaquestion.