Дівчинка зі сірниками

           Herlittlefeetshehaddrawncloseuptoher,butshegrewcolderandcolder,andtogohomeshedidnotventure,forshehadnotsoldanymatchesandcouldnotbringafarthingofmoney:fromherfathershewouldcertainlygetblows,andathomeitwascoldtoo,forabovehershehadonlytheroof,throughwhichthewindwhistled,eventhoughthelargestcrackswerestoppedupwithstrawandrags.

           Herlittlehandswerealmostnumbedwithcold.Oh!amatchmightaffordheraworldofcomfort,ifsheonlydaredtakeasingleoneoutofthebundle,drawitagainstthewall,andwarmherfingersbyit.Shedrewoneout.“Rischt!”howitblazed,howitburnt!Itwasawarm,brightflame,likeacandle,assheheldherhandsoverit:itwasawonderfullight.Itseemedreallytothelittlemaidenasthoughsheweresittingbeforealargeironstove,withburnishedbrassfeetandabrassornamentattop.Thefireburnedwithsuchblessedinfluence;itwarmedsodelightfully.Thelittlegirlhadalreadystretchedoutherfeettowarmthemtoo;but—thesmallflamewentout,thestovevanished:shehadonlytheremainsoftheburnt-outmatchinherhand.

           Sherubbedanotheragainstthewall:itburnedbrightly,andwherethelightfellonthewall,therethewallbecametransparentlikeaveil,sothatshecouldseeintotheroom.Onthetablewasspreadasnow-whitetablecloth;uponitwasasplendidporcelainservice,andtheroastgoosewassteamingfamouslywithitsstuffingofappleanddriedplums.