said the wise man: "but no one has yet namedthe loveliest rose in the world."
  Then there came into the room a child- the queen's little son.Tears stood in his eyes, and glistened on his cheeks; he carried agreat book and the binding was of velvet, with silver clasps."Mother," cried the little boy; "only hear what I have read." Andthe child seated himself by the bedside, and read from the book of Himwho suffered death on the cross to save all men, even who are yetunborn. He read, "Greater love hath no man than this," and as heread a roseate hue spread over the cheeks of the queen, and her eyesbecame so enlightened and clear, that she saw from the leaves of thebook a lovely rose spring forth, a type of Him who shed His blood onthe cross.
  "I see it," she said. "He who beholds this, the loveliest roseon earth, shall never die."
  THE END.
  1872
  FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
  THE MAIL-COACH PASSENGERS
  by Hans Christian Andersen
  IT was bitterly cold, the sky glittered with stars, and not abreeze stirred. "Bump"- an old pot was thrown at a neighbor's door;and "bang, bang," went the guns; for they were greeting the NewYear. It was New Year's Eve, and the church clock was striking twelve."Tan-ta-ra-ra, tan-ta-ra-ra," sounded the horn, and the mail-coachcame lumbering up. The clumsy vehicle stopped at the gate of the town;all the places had been taken, for there were twelve passengers in thecoach.
  "Hurrah! hurrah!" cried the people in the town; for in every housethe New Year was being welcomed; and as the clock struck, they stoodup, the full glasses in their hands, to drink success to the newcomer. "A happy New Year," was the cry; "a pretty wife, plenty ofmoney, and no sorrow or care."
  The wish passed round, and the glasses clashed together tillthey rang again; while before the town-gate the mail coach stoppedwith the twelve strange passengers. And who were these strangers? Eachof them had his passport and his luggage with him; they even broughtpresents for me, and for you, and for all the people in the town. "Whowere they? what did they want? and what did they bring with them?"
  "Good-morning," they cried to the sentry at the town-gate.
  "Good-morning," replied the sentry; for the clock had strucktwelve. "Your name and profession?" asked the sentry of the one whoalighted first from the carriage.
  "See for yourself in the passport," he replied. "I am myself;" anda famous fellow he looked, arrayed in bear-skin and fur boots. "I amthe man on whom many persons fix their hopes. Come to me to-morrow,and I'll give you a New Year's present. I throw shillings and penceamong the people; I give balls, no less than thirty-one; indeed,that is the highest number I can spare for balls. My ships are oftenfrozen in, but in my offices it is warm and comfortable. My name isJANUARY. I'm a merchant, and I generally bring my accounts with me."
  Then the second alighted. He seemed a merry fellow. He was adirector of a theatre, a manager of masked balls, and a leader ofall the amusements we can imagine. His luggage consisted of a greatcask.
  "We'll dance the bung out of the cask at carnival time," saidhe; "I'll prepare a merry tune for you and for myself too.Unfortunately I have not long to live- the shortest time, in fact,of my whole family- only twenty-eight days. Sometimes they pop me in aday extra; but I trouble myself very little about that. Hurrah!"
  "You must not shout so," said the sentry.
  "Certainly I may shout," retorted the man; "I'm Prince Carnival,travelling under the name of FEBRUARY."
  The third now got out. He looked a personification of fasting; buthe carried his nose very high, for he was related to the "forty(k)nights," and was a weather prophet. But that is not a verylucrative office, and therefore he praised fasting. In his button-holehe carried a little bunch of violets, but they were very small.
  "MARCH, March," the fourth called after him, slapping him on theshoulder, "don't you smell something?