Дюймовочка

           "Good-by,andthankyouforyoursweetsongslastsummer,whenthetreeswereallgreenandthesunshonesowarmlyuponus." Shelaidherheadonhisbreast,anditstartledhertofeelasoftthump,asifsomethingwerebeatinginside. Thiswasthebird’sheart. Hewasnotdead-hewasonlynumbwithcold,andnowthathehadbeenwarmedhecametolifeagain. 

           Inthefall,allswallowsflyofftowarmcountries,butifoneofthemstartstoolatehegetssocoldthathedropsdownasifheweredead,andlieswherehefell.Andthenthecoldsnowcovershim. 

           Thumbelinawassofrightenedthatshetrembled,forthebirdwassobig,soenormouscomparedtoherowninchofheight. Butshemusteredhercourage,tuckedthecottonwooldowncloseraroundthepoorbird, broughtthemintleafthatcoveredherownbed, andspreaditoverthebird’shead. 

           Thefollowingnightshetiptoedouttohimagain. Hewasalivenow,butsoweakthathecouldbarelyopenhiseyesforamomenttolookatThumbelina, whostoodbesidehimwiththepieceoftouchwoodthatwasheronlylantern. 

           "Thankyou,prettylittlechild,"thesickswallowsaid. "Ihavebeenwonderfullywarmed. SoonIshallgetstrongoncemore,andbeabletoflyagaininthewarmsunshine." 

           "Oh,"shesaid,"It’scoldoutside,it’ssnowing,andfreezing. YoujuststayinyourwarmbedandI’llnurseyou." 

           Thenshebroughthimsomewaterinthepetalofaflower.