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  Anderson Fairy Tales (Group
       5)
  by Hans Christian Andersen
  THE SNOWDROP

    IT
        was winter-time;
           the air was cold,
           the wind was sharp,
         but within
               the closed doors it was
             warm and comfortable,
           and within the closed door
              lay the flower;
        it lay in the bulb
               under the snow-covered earth.
    One day rain fell.

    The drops
          penetrated through the snowy
              covering down into the earth,
           and touched the flower-bulb,
         and talked
               of the bright world above.

    Soon the Sunbeam
          pierced its way
               through the snow
                   to the root,
           and within the root
            there was a stirring.

    "Come in," said the flower.
    "I cannot," said the Sunbeam.

    "I am not strong enough
          to unlock the door!

    When the summer comes
         I shall be strong!"

    "When will it be summer?"

    asked the Flower,
           and she repeated
               this question each
                  time a new sunbeam
                      made its way
                           down to her.

    But the summer
        was yet far distant.

    The snow still
           lay upon the ground,
         and there was a coat
               of ice
             on the water every night.

  "What a long
    time it takes!

  what a long time
       it takes!"

    said the Flower.

    "I feel a stirring and
          striving within me;
        I must stretch myself,
           I must unlock the door,
         I must get out,
           and must
              nod a good morning
                   to the summer,
         and what a happy time
             that will be!"

    And the Flower
          stirred and stretched itself
               within the thin rind
          which the water
            had softened from without,
           and the snow
               and the earth
            had warmed,
         and the Sunbeam
            had knocked at;
        and it
             shot forth
                   under the snow
                       with a greenish-white
              blossom on a green stalk,
           with narrow thick leaves,
         which seemed to want
              to protect it.

    The snow was cold,
           but was
              pierced by the Sunbeam,
         therefore it
            was easy
                  to get through it,
           and now the Sunbeam
         came with greater strength
                   than before.

    "Welcome,
           welcome!"

    sang and sounded every ray,
           and the Flower
              lifted itself
                   up over the snow
                       into the brighter world.

    The Sunbeams
          caressed and kissed it,
           so that it opened altogether,
         white as snow,
           and ornamented with green stripes.

    It bent its head
           in joy and humility.

    "Beautiful Flower!"

    said the Sunbeams,
         "how graceful
               and delicate you are!

    You are the first,
           you are the only one!

    You are our love!

    You are the bell
         that rings out for summer,
           beautiful summer,
         over country and town.

    All the snow will melt;
        the cold winds
            will be driven away;
        we shall rule;
           all will become green,
           and then you
            will have companions,
         syringas,
           laburnums,
         and roses;
        but you are the first,
           so graceful,
         so delicate!"

    That was a great pleasure.

    It seemed
         as if the air
            were singing and sounding,
           as if rays of light
            were piercing
                   through the leaves
                       and the stalks
                           of the Flower.

    There it stood,
           so delicate
               and so easily broken,
         and yet so strong
               in its young beauty;
        it stood
              there in its white dress
                   with the green stripes,
           and made a summer.

    But there was
           a long time yet
         to the summer-time.

    Clouds hid the sun,
           and bleak winds were blowing.

    "You have come too early,"
          said Wind and Weather.

    "We have still the power,
           and you shall feel it,
         and give it
               up to us.

    You should have stayed quietly
           at home and not
          have run out
              to make
                   a display of yourself.

    Your time
        is not come yet!"


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