to the wide world."

And he led her to the door of the stove.

"Oh, how black it looks!" she said. Still she went on with him, through
the stove, the flues, and the tunnel, where it was as dark as pitch.

"Now we are in the chimney," said he; "and see what a lovely star shines
above us."

There actually was a star in the sky, that was shining right down upon
them, as if to show them the way. Now they climbed and crept--a
frightful way it was, so steep and high! But he went first to guide, and
to smooth the way as much as he could. He showed her the best places on
which to set her little china foot, till at last they came to the edge
of the chimney and sat down to rest, for they were very tired, as may
well be supposed.

The sky and all its stars were above them, and below lay all the roofs
of the town. They saw all around them the great, wide world. It was not
like what the poor little shepherdess had fancied it, and she leaned her
little head upon her chimney sweep's shoulder and wept so bitterly that
the gilding was washed from her golden sash.

"This is too much," said she; "it is more than I can bear. The world is
too large! I wish I were safe back again upon the little table under the
mirror. I shall never be happy till I am there once more. I have
followed you out into the wide world. Surely, if you really love me, you
will follow me back."

The chimney sweep tried to reason with her. He reminded her of the old
mandarin, and the crooked-legged field-marshal-major-general-corporal-sergeant,
but she wept so bitterly, and kissed her little chimney sweep so fondly,
that he could not do otherwise than as she wished, foolish as it was.

So they climbed down the chimney, though with the greatest difficulty,
crept through the flues, and into the stove, where they paused to listen
behind the door, to discover what might be going on in the room.

All was quiet, and they peeped out. Alas! there on the floor lay the old
mandarin. He had fallen from the table in his attempt to follow the
runaways, and had broken into three pieces. His whole back had come off
in a single piece, and his head had rolled into a corner. The
crooked-legged field-marshal-major-general-corporal-sergeant stood where
he had always stood, reflecting upon what had happened.

"This is shocking!" said the little shepherdess. "My old grandfather is
broken in pieces, and we are the cause of it," and she wrung her little
hands.

"He can be riveted