Дюймовочка

           Agreatwhitemarblepillarhadfallentotheground,whereitlayinthreebrokenpieces.Betweenthesepiecesgrewtheloveliestlargewhiteflowers. TheswallowflewdownwithThumbelinaandputherononeofthelargepetals. Howsurprisedshewastofindinthecenterofthefloweralittleman,asshiningandtransparentasifhehadbeenmadeofglass. Onhisheadwasthedaintiestoflittlegoldcrowns, onhisshoulderswerethebrightestshiningwings, andhewasnotabitbiggerthanThumbelina. Hewasthespiritoftheflower. Ineveryflowertherelivedasmallmanorwomanjustlikehim,buthewasthekingoverallofthem. 

           "Oh,isn’thehandsome?"Thumbelinasaidsoftlytotheswallow. Thekingwassomewhatafraidoftheswallow,whichseemedaverygiantofabirdtoanyoneassmallashe. ButwhenhesawThumbelinaherejoiced,forshewastheprettiestlittlegirlhehadeverlaideyeson. Sohetookoffhisgoldencrownandputitonherhead.Heaskedifhemightknowhername,andheaskedhertobehiswife,whichwouldmakeherqueenoveralltheflowers. Hereindeedwasadifferentsortofhusbandfromthetoad’ssonandthemolewithhisblackvelvetcoat. Soshesaid"Yes"tothischarmingking. Fromalltheflowerstroopedlittleladiesandgentlemendelightfultobehold. EveryoneofthembroughtThumbelinaapresent,butthebestgiftofallwasapairofwingsthathadbelongedtoalargesilverfly. Whentheseweremadefasttoherback,shetoocouldflitfromflowertoflower.