THE STORKS 29
THE WILD SWANS 39
THE LAST DREAM OF THE OLD OAK 71
THE PORTUGUESE DUCK 84
THE SNOW MAN 96
THE FARMYARD COCK AND THE WEATHERCOCK 107
THE RED SHOES 112
THE LITTLE MERMAID 124
BUCKWHEAT 170
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE THISTLE 174
THE PEN AND THE INKSTAND 183
THE TEAPOT 188
SOUP FROM A SAUSAGE SKEWER 192
WHAT THE GOODMAN DOES IS ALWAYS RIGHT 220
THE OLD STREET LAMP 232
THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE CHIMNEY SWEEP 246
THE DROP OF WATER 256
THE SWINEHERD 260
THE METAL PIG 269
THE FLYING TRUNK 290
THE BUTTERFLY 303
THE GOBLIN AND THE HUCKSTER 309
EVERYTHING IN ITS RIGHT PLACE 317
THE REAL PRINCESS 333
THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES 336
GREAT CLAUS AND LITTLE CLAUS 345
NOTES 367

HANS ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES

[Illustration: They wanted to seen the paper burn....]

[Illustration]

HANS ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES

THE FLAX

THE flax was in full bloom; it had pretty little blue flowers, as
delicate as the wings of a moth. The sun shone on it and the showers
watered it; and this was as good for the flax as it is for little
children to be washed and then kissed by their mothers. They look much
prettier for it, and so did the flax.

"People say that I look exceedingly well," said the flax, "and that I am
so fine and long that I shall make a beautiful piece of linen. How
fortunate I am! It makes me so happy to know that something can be made
of me. How the sunshine cheers me, and how sweet and refreshing is the
rain! My happiness overpowers me; no one in the world can feel happier
than I."

"Ah, yes, no doubt," said the fern, "but you do not know the world yet
as well as I do, for my sticks are knotty"; and t