The Sand-Hills of Jutland   By: Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875)

SAND HILLS OF JUTLAND.

BY

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN,

AUTHOR OF "THE IMPROVISATORE," ETC.

TRANSLATED BY MRS. BUSHBY.

LONDON:

RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.

1860.

The Following Tales

ARE DEDICATED,

WITH THE HIGHEST SENTIMENTS OF

ESTEEM AND REGARD,

TO

THE BARON CHARLES JOACHIM HAMBRO,

BY

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

THE SAND HILLS OF JUTLAND 1

THE MUD KING'S DAUGHTER 48

THE QUICKEST RUNNERS 97

THE BELL'S HOLLOW 101

SOUP MADE OF A SAUSAGE STICK 106

THE NECK OF A BOTTLE 124

THE OLD BACHELOR'S NIGHTCAP 137

SOMETHING 153

THE OLD OAK TREE'S LAST DREAM 162

THE WIND RELATES THE STORY OF WALDEMAR DAAE AND HIS DAUGHTERS 170

THE GIRL WHO TROD UPON BREAD 185

OLÉ, THE WATCHMAN OF THE TOWER 196

ANNE LISBETH; OR, THE APPARITION OF THE BEACH 204

CHILDREN'S PRATTLE 218

A ROW OF PEARLS 222

THE PEN AND THE INKSTAND 232

THE CHILD IN THE GRAVE 236

CHARMING. 243

The Sand hills of Jutland.

This is a story from the Jutland sand hills, but it does not commence there; on the contrary, it commences far away towards the south, in Spain. The sea is the highway between the two countries. Fancy yourself there. The scenery is beautiful; the climate is warm. There blooms the scarlet pomegranate amidst the dark laurel trees; from the hills a refreshing breeze is wafted over the orange groves and the magnificent Moorish halls, with their gilded cupolas and their painted walls. Processions of children parade the streets with lights and waving banners; and, above these, clear and lofty rises the vault of heaven, studded with glittering stars. Songs and castanets are heard; youths and girls mingle in the dance under the blossoming acacias; whilst beggars sit upon the sculptured blocks of marble, and refresh themselves with the juicy water melon. Life dozes here: it is all like a charming dream, and one indulges in it. Yes, thus did two young newly married persons, who also possessed all the best gifts of earth health, good humour, riches, and rank.

"Nothing could possibly exceed our happiness," they said in the fulness of their joyful hearts; yet there was one degree of still higher happiness to which they might attain, and that would be when God blessed them with a child a son, to resemble them in features and in disposition.

That fortunate child would be hailed with rapture; would be loved and daintily cared for; would be the heir to all the advantages that wealth and high birth can bestow.

The days flew by as a continual festival to them.

"Life is a merciful gift of love almost inconceivably great," said the young wife; "but the fulness of this happiness shall be tasted in that future life, when it will increase and exist to all eternity. The idea is incomprehensible to me."