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FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE TRAVELLING COMPANION
by Hans Christian Andersen
POOR John was very sad； for his father was so ill； he had no
hope of his recovery。 John sat alone with the sick man in the little
room； and the lamp had nearly burnt out； for it was late in the night。
〃You have been a good son； John；〃 said the sick father； 〃and God
will help you on in the world。〃 He looked at him； as he spoke； with
mild； earnest eyes； drew a deep sigh； and died； yet it appeared as
if he still slept。
John wept bitterly。 He had no one in the wide world now； neither
father； mother； brother； nor sister。 Poor John！ he knelt down by the
bed； kissed his dead father's hand； and wept many； many bitter
tears。 But at last his eyes closed； and he fell asleep with his head
resting against the hard bedpost。 Then he dreamed a strange dream；
he thought he saw the sun shining upon him； and his father alive and
well； and even heard him laughing as he used to do when he was very
happy。 A beautiful girl； with a golden crown on her head； and long；
shining hair； gave him her hand； and his father said； 〃See what a
bride you have won。 She is the loveliest maiden on the whole earth。〃
Then he awoke； and all the beautiful things vanished before his
eyes； his father lay dead on the bed； and he was all alone。 Poor John！
During the following week the dead man was buried。 The son
walked behind the coffin which contained his father； whom he so dearly
loved； and would never again behold。 He heard the earth fall on the
coffin…lid； and watched it till only a corner remained in sight； and
at last that also disappeared。 He felt as if his heart would break
with its weight of sorrow； till those who stood round the grave sang a
psalm； and the sweet； holy tones brought tears into his eyes； which
relieved him。 The sun shone brightly down on the green trees； as if it
would say； 〃You must not be so sorrowful； John。 Do you see the
beautiful blue sky above you？ Your father is up there； and he prays to
the loving Father of all； that you may do well in the future。〃
〃I will always be good；〃 said John； 〃and then I shall go to be
with my father in heaven。 What joy it will be when we see each other
again！ How much I shall have to relate to him； and how many things
he will be able to explain to me of the delights of heaven； and
teach me as he once did on earth。 Oh； what joy it will be！〃
He pictured it all so plainly to himself； that he smiled even
while the tears ran down his cheeks。
The little birds in the chestnut…trees twittered； 〃Tweet；
tweet；〃 they were so happy； although they had seen the funeral； but
they seemed as if they knew that the dead man was now in heaven； and
that he had wings much larger and more beautiful than their own； and
he was happy now； because he had been good here on earth； and they
were glad of it。 John saw them fly away out of the green trees into
the wide world； and he longed to fly with them； but first he cut out a
large wooden cross； to place on his father's grave； and when he
brought it there in the evening； he found the grave decked out with
gravel and flowers。 Strangers had done this； they who had known the
good old father who was now dead； and who had loved him very much。
Early the next morning； John packed up his little bundle of
clothes； and placed all his money； which consisted of fifty dollars
and a few shillings； in his girdle； with this he determined to try his
fortune in the world。 But first he went into the churchyard； and； by
his father's grave； he offered up a prayer； and said； 〃Farewell。〃
As he passed through the fields； all the flowers looked fresh
and beautiful in the warm sunshine； and nodded in the wind； as if they
wished to say； 〃Welcome to the green wood； where all is fresh and
bright。〃
Then John turned to have one more look at the old church； in which
he had been christened in his infancy； and where his father had
taken him every Sunday to hear the service and join in singing the
psalms。 As he looked at the old tower； he espied the ringer standing
at one of the narrow openings； with his little pointed red cap on
his head； and shading his eyes from the sun with his bent arm。 John
nodded farewell to him； and the little ringer waved his red cap；
laid his hand on his heart； and kissed his hand to him a great many
times； to show that he felt kindly towards him； and wished him a
prosperous journey。
John continued his journey； and thought of all the wonderful
things he should see in the large； beautiful world； till he found
himself farther away from home than ever he had been before。 He did
not even know the names of the places he passed through； and could
scarcely understand the language of the people he met； for he was
far away； in a strange land。 The first night he slept on a haystack；
out in the fields； for there was no other bed for him； but it seemed
to him so nice and comfortable that even a king need not wish for a
better。 The field； the brook； the haystack； with the blue sky above；
formed a beautiful sleeping…room。 The green grass； with the little red
and white flowers； was the carpet； the elder…bushes and the hedges
of wild roses looked like garlands on the walls； and for a bath he
could have the clear； fresh water of the brook； while the rushes bowed
their heads to him； to wish him good morning and good evening。 The
moon； like a large lamp； hung high up in the blue ceiling； and he
had no fear of its setting fire to his curtains。 John slept here quite
safely all night； and when he awoke； the sun was up； and all the
little birds were singing round him； 〃Good morning； good morning。
Are you not up yet？〃
It was Sunday； and the bells were ringing for church。 As the
people went in； John followed them； he heard God's word； joined in
singing the psalms； and listened to the preacher。 It seemed to him
just as if he were in his own church； where he had been christened；
and had sung the psalms with his father。 Out in the churchyard were
several graves； and on some of them the grass had grown very high。
John thought of his father's grave； which he knew at last would look
like these； as he was not there to weed and attend to it。 Then he
set to work； pulled up the high grass； raised the wooden crosses which
had fallen down； and replaced the wreaths which had been blown away
from their places by the wind； thinking all the time； 〃Perhaps some
one is doing the same for my father's grave； as I am not there to do
it 〃
Outside the church door stood an old beggar； leaning on his
crutch。 John gave him his silver shillings； and then he continued
his journey； feeling lighter and happier than ever。 Towards evening；
the weather became very stormy； and he hastened on as quickly as he
could； to get shelter； but it was quite dark by the time he reached
a little lonely church which stood on a hill。 〃I will go in here；〃
he said； 〃and sit down in a corner； for I am quite tired； and want
rest。〃
So he went in； and seated himself； then he folded his hands； and
offered up his evening prayer； and was soon fast asleep and
dreaming； while the thunder rolled and the lightning flashed
without。 When he awoke； it was still night； but the storm had
ceased； and the moon shone in upon him through the windows。 Then he
saw an open coffin standing in the centre of the church； which
contained a dead man； waiting for burial。 John was not at all timid；
he had a good conscience； and he knew also that the dead can never
injure any one。 It is living wicked men who do harm to others。 Two
such wicked persons stood now by the dead man； who had been brought to
the church to be buried。 Their evil intentions were to throw the
poor dead body outside the church door； and not leave him to rest in
his coffin。
〃Why do you do this？〃 asked John； when he saw what they were going
to do； 〃it is very wicked。 Leave him to rest in peace； in Christ's
name。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 replied the two dreadful men。 〃He has cheated us； he
owed us money which he could not pay； and now he is dead we shall
not get a penny； so we mean to have our revenge； and let him lie
like a dog outside the church door。〃
〃I have only fifty dollars；〃 said John； 〃it is all I possess in
the world； but I will give it to you if you will promise me faithfully
to leave the dead man in peace。 I shall be able to get on without
the money； I have strong and healthy limbs； and God will always help
me。〃
〃Why； of course；〃 said the horrid men； 〃if you will pay his debt
we will both promise not to touch him。 You may depend upon that；〃
and then they took the money he offered them； laughed at him for his
good nature； and went their way。
Then he laid the dead body back in the coffin； folded the hands；
and took leave of it； and went away contentedly through the great
forest。 All around him he could see the prettiest little elves dancing
in the moonlight； which shone through the trees。 They were not
disturbed by his appearance；