And then he glanced at a curious round thing like an old apple,which lay near a long, leafless cabbage-stalk. It was, however, not anapple, but an old ball, which had lain for years in the gutter, andwas soaked through with water.
  "Thank goodness, here comes one of my own class, with whom I cantalk," said the ball, examining the gilded top. "I am made ofmorocco," she said. "I was sewn together by a young lady, and I have aSpanish cork in my body; but no one would think it, to look at me now.I was once engaged to a swallow; but I fell in here from the gutterunder the roof, and I have lain here more than five years, and havebeen thoroughly drenched. Believe me, it is a long time for a youngmaiden."
  The top said nothing, but he thought of his old love; and the moreshe said, the more clear it became to him that this was the same ball.
  The servant then came to clean out the dust-bin.
  "Ah," she exclaimed, "here is a gilt top." So the top wasbrought again to notice and honor, but nothing more was heard of thelittle ball. He spoke not a word about his old love; for that soondied away. When the beloved object has lain for five years in agutter, and has been drenched through, no one cares to know heragain on meeting her in a dust-bin.
  THE END.
  1872
  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 nohope of his recovery. John sat alone with the sick man in the littleroom, 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 Godwill help you on in the world." He looked at him, as he spoke, withmild, earnest eyes, drew a deep sigh, and died; yet it appeared asif he still slept.
  John wept bitterly. He had no one in the wide world now; neitherfather, mother, brother, nor sister. Poor John! he knelt down by thebed, kissed his dead father's hand, and wept many, many bittertears. But at last his eyes closed, and he fell asleep with his headresting against the hard bedpost. Then he dreamed a strange dream;he thought he saw the sun shining upon him, and his father alive andwell, and even heard him laughing as he used to do when he was veryhappy. A beautiful girl, with a golden crown on her head, and long,shining hair, gave him her hand; and his father said, "See what abride you have won. She is the loveliest maiden on the whole earth."Then he awoke, and all the beautiful things vanished before hiseyes, his father lay dead on the bed, and he was all alone. Poor John!
  During the following week the dead man was buried. The sonwalked behind the coffin which contained his father, whom he so dearlyloved, and would never again behold. He heard the earth fall on thecoffin-lid, and watched it till only a corner remained in sight, andat last that also disappeared. He felt as if his heart would breakwith its weight of sorrow, till those who stood round the grave sang apsalm, and the sweet, holy tones brought tears into his eyes, whichrelieved him. The sun shone brightly down on the green trees, as if itwould say, "You must not be so sorrowful, John. Do you see thebeautiful blue sky above you? Your father is up there, and he prays tothe 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 bewith my father in heaven. What joy it will be when we see each otheragain! How much I shall have to relate to him, and how many thingshe will be able to explain to me of the delights of heaven, andteach me as he once did on earth. Oh, what joy it will be!"