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TheTinder—Box打火匣ASOLDIERcamemarchingalongthehighroad:Leftright一leftright.Hehadhisknapsackonhisbackandaswordathisside;hehadbeentothewarsandwasnowreturninghome.Ashewalkedonhemetaveryfrightful-lookingoldwitchintheroad.Herunder-liphungquitedownonherbreastandshestoppedandsaid“Goodeveningsoldier;youhaveaveryfineswordandalargeknapsackandyouarearealsoldier;soyoushallhaveasmuchmoneyaseveryoulike.”“Thankyouoldwitch“saidthesoldier.“Doyouseethatlargetree“saidthewitchpointingtoatreewhichstoodbesidethem.Wellitisquitehollowinsideandyoumustclimbtothetopwhenyouwillseeaholethroughwhichyoucanletyourselfdownintothetreetoagreatdepth.IwilltiearoperoundyourbodysothatIcanpullyouupagainwhenyoucallouttome.”“ButwhatamItododownthereinthetree”askedthesoldier.“Getmoney“shereplied;uforyoumustknowthatwhenyoureachthegroundunderthetreeyouwillfindyourselfinalargehalllightedupbythreehundredlamps;youwillthenseethreedoorswhichcanbeeasilyopenedforthekeysareinallthelocks.Onenteringthefirstofthechamberstowhichthesedoorsleadyouwillseealargecheststandinginthemiddleoftheflooranduponitadogseatedwithapairofeyesaslargeasteacups.Butyouneednotbeatallafraidofhim;Iwillgiveyoumybluecheckedapronwhichyoumustspreaduponthefloorandthenboldlyseizeholdofthedogandplacehimuponit.Youcanthenopenthechestandtakefromitasmanypenceasyoupleasetheyareonlycopperpence;butifyouwouldratherhavesilvermoneyyoumustgointothesecondchamber.Hereyouwillfindanotherdogwitheyesasbigasmill-wheels;butdonotletthattroubleyou.Placehimuponmyapronandthentakewhatmoneyyouplease.Ifhoweveryoulikegoldbestenterthethirdchamberwherethereisanotherchestfullofit.Thedogwhositsonthischestisverydreadful;hiseyesareasbigasatowerbutdonotmindhim.Ifhealsoisplaceduponmyapronhecannothurtyouandyoumaytakefromthechestwhatgoldyouwill.”“Thisisnotabadstory“saidthesoldier;butwhatamItogiveyouyouoldwitchforofcourseyoudonotmeantotellmeallthisfornothing.”“Nosaidthewitch;butIdonotaskforasinglepenny.Onlypromisetobringmeanoldtinder-boxwhichmygrandmotherleftbehindthelasttimeshewentdownthere.”“Verywell;Ipromise.Nowtietheroperoundmybody.”“Hereitis“repliedthewitch;andhereismybluecheckedapron.”Assoonastheropewastiedthesoldierclimbedupthetreeandlethimselfdownthroughthehollowtothegroundbeneath;andherehefoundasthewitchhadtoldhimalargehallinwhichmanyhundredlampswereallburning.Thenheopenedthefirstdoor.Ah!”theresatthedogwiththeeyesaslargeasteacupsstaringathim.“Youreaprettyfellow“saidthesoldierseizinghimandplacinghimonthewitchsapronwhilehefilledhispocketsfromthechestwithasmanypiecesastheywouldhold.ThenheclosedthelidseatedthedoguponitagainandwalkedintoanotherchamberAndsureenoughtheresatthedogwitheyesasbigasmill-wheels.“Youhadbetternotlookatmeinthatway“saidthesoldier;youwillmakeyoureyeswater;”andthenheseatedhimalsoupontheapronandopenedthechest.Butwhenhesawwhataquantityofsilvermoneyitcontainedheveryquicklythrewawayallthecoppershehadtakenandfilledhispocketsandhisknapsackwithnothingbutsilver.Thenhewentintothethirdroomandtherethedogwasreallyhideous;hiseyesweretrulyasbigastowersandtheyturnedroundandroundinhisheadlikewheels.“Goodmorning“saidthesoldiertouchinghiscapforhehadneverseensuchadoginhislife.Butafterlookingathimmorecloselyhethoughthehadbeencivilenoughsoheplacedhimonthefloorandopenedthechest.Goodgraciouswhataquantityofgoldtherewas!enoughtobuyallthesugar-sticksofthesweet-stuffwomen;allthetinsoldierswhipsandrocking-horsesintheworldoreventhewholetownitselfTherewasindeedanimmensequantity.Sothesoldiernowthrewawayallthesilvermoneyhehadtakenandfilledhispocketsandhisknapsackwithgoldinstead;andnotonlyhispocketsandhisknapsackbutevenhiscapandbootssothathecouldscarcelywalk.Hewasreallyrichnow;sohereplacedthedogonthechestclosedthedoorandcalledupthroughthetree“Nowpullmeoutyouoldwitch.”uIlaveyougotthetinder-box”askedthewitch.“No;IdeclareIquiteforgotit.”Sohewentbackandfetchedthetinderboxandthenthewitchdrewhimupoutofthetreeandhestoodagaininthehighroadwithhispocketshisknapsackhiscapandhisbootsfullofgold.“Whatareyougoingtodowiththetinder-box^askedthesoldier.“Thatisnothingtoyou“repliedthewitch;youhavethemoneynowgivemethetinder-box.”“Itellyouwhat“saidthesoldier“ifyoudonttellmewhatyouaregoingtodowithitIwilldrawmyswordandcutoffyourhead.”“No”saidthewitch.Thesoldierimmediatelycutoffherheadandthereshelayontheground.Thenhetiedupallhismoneyinherapronandslungitonhisbacklikeabundleputthetinderboxinhispocketandwalkedofftothenearesttown.Itwasaverynicetownandheputupatthebestinnandorderedadinnerofallhisfavoritedishesfornowhewasrichandhadplentyofmoney.Theservantwhocleanedhisbootsthoughttheycertainlywereashabbypairtobewornbysucharichgentlemanforhehadnotyetboughtanynewones.Thenextdayhoweverheprocuredsomegoodclothesandproperbootssothatoursoldiersoonbecameknownasafinegentlemanandthepeoplevisitedhimandtoldhimallthewondersthatweretobeseeninthetownandofthekingsbeautifuldaughtertheprincess.uWherecanIseeher”askedthesoldier.“Sheisnottobeseenatall“theysaid;ashelivesinalargecoppercastlesurroundedbywallsandtowers.Noonebutthekinghimselfcanpassinoroutfortherehasbeenaprophecythatshewillmarryacommonsoldierandthekingcannotbeartothinkofsuchamarriage.”“Ishouldlikeverymuchtoseeher“thoughtthesoldier;buthecouldnotobtainpermissiontodoso.Howeverhepassedaverypleasanttime;wenttothetheatredroveinthekingsgardenandgaveagreatdealofmoneytothepoorwhichwasverygoodofhim;herememberedwhatithadbeeninoldentimestobewithoutashilling.Nowhewasrichhadfineclothesandmanyfriendswhoalldeclaredhewasafinefellowandarealgentlemanandallthisgratifiedhimexceedingly.Buthismoneywouldnotlastforever;andashespentandgaveawayagreatdealdailyandreceivednonehefoundhimselfatlastwithonlytwoshillingsleft.Sohewasobligedtoleavehiselegantroomsandliveinalittlegarretundertheroofwherehehadtocleanhisownbootsandevenmendthemwithalargeneedle.Noneofhisfriendscametoseehimthereweretoomanystairstomountup.Onedarkeveninghehadnotevenapennytobuyacandle;thenallatonceherememberedthattherewasapieceofcandlestuckinthetinder-boxwhichhehadbroughtfromtheoldtreeintowhichthewitchhadhelpedhim.Hefoundthetinder-boxbutnosoonerhadhestruckafewsparksfromtheflintandsteelthanthedoorflewopenandthedogwitheyesasbigasteacupswhomhehadseenwhiledowninthetreestoodbeforehimandsaid“Whatordersmaster”uHallo“saidthesoldier;wellthisisapleasanttinderboxifitbringsmeallIwishfor.”“Bringmesomemoney“saidhetothedog.Hewasgoneinamomentandpresentlyreturnedcarryingalargebagofcoppersinhismonth.Thesoldierverysoondiscoveredafterthisthevalueofthetinder-box.Ifhestrucktheflintoncethedogwhosatonthechestofcoppermoneymadehisappearance;iftwicethedogcamefromthechestofsilver;andifthreetimesthedogwitheyesliketowerswhowatchedoverthegold.Thesoldierhadnowplentyofmoney;hereturnedtohiselegantroomsandreappearedinhisfineclothessothathisfriendsknewhimagaindirectlyandmadeasmuchofhimasbefore.Afterawhilehebegantothinkitwasverystrangethatnoonecouldgetalookattheprincess.Everyonesayssheisverybeautiful“thoughthetohimself;“butwhatistheuseofthatifsheistobeshutupinacoppercastlesurroundedbysomanytowers.CanIbyanymeansgettoseeher.Stop!whereismytinder-box”Thenhestruckalightandinamomentthedogwitheyesasbigasteacupsstoodbeforehim.“Itismidnight“saidthesoldier“yetIshouldverymuchliketoseetheprincessifonlyforamoment.”Thedogdisappearedinstantlyandbeforethesoldiercouldevenlookroundhereturnedwiththeprincess.Shewaslyingonthedogsbackasleepandlookedsolovelythateveryonewhosawherwouldknowshewasarealprincess.Thesoldiercouldnothelpkissinghertruesoldierashewas.Thenthedogranbackwiththeprincess;butinthemorningwhileatbreakfastwiththekingandqueenshetoldthemwhatasingulardreamshehadhadduringthenightofadogandasoldierthatshehadriddenonthedogsbackandbeenkissedbythesoldier.“Thatisaveryprettystoryindeed“saidthequeen.Sothenextnightoneoftheoldladiesofthecourtwassettowatchbytheprincesssbedtodiscoverwhetheritreallywasadreamorwhatelseitmightbe.Thesoldierlongedverymuchtoseetheprincessoncemoresohesentforthedogagaininthenighttofetchherandtorunwithherasfastaseverhecould.Buttheoldladyputonwaterbootsandranafterhimasquicklyashedidandfoundthathecarriedtheprincessintoalargehouse.Shethoughtitwouldhelphertoremembertheplaceifshemadealargecrossonthedoorwithapieceofchalk.Thenshewenthometobedandthedogpresentlyreturnedwiththeprincess.Butwhenhesawthatacrosshadbeenmadeonthedoorofthehousewherethesoldierlivedhetookanotherpieceofchalkandmadecrossesonallthedoorsinthetownsothatthelady-in-waitingmightnotbeabletofindouttherightdoor.Earlythenextmorningthekingandqueenaccompaniedtheladyandalltheofficersofthehouseholdtoseewheretheprincesshadbeen.“Hereitis“saidthekingwhentheycametothefirstdoorwithacrossonit.“Nomydearhusbanditmustbethatone“saidthequeenpointingtoaseconddoorhavingacrossalso.“Andhereisoneandthereisanother!”theyallexclaimed;fortherewerecrossesonallthedoorsineverydirection.Sotheyfeltitwouldbeuselesstosearchanyfarther.Butthequeenwasaverycleverwoman;shecoulddoagreatdealmorethanmerelyrideinacarriage.Shetookherlargegoldscissorscutapieceofsilkintosquaresandmadeaneatlittlebag.Thisbagshefilledwithbuckwheatflourandtieditroundtheprincesssneck;andthenshecutasmallholeinthebagsothattheflourmightbescatteredonthegroundastheprincesswentalong.Duringthenightthedogcameagainandcarriedtheprincessonhisbackandranwithhertothesoldierwholovedherverymuchandwishedthathehadbeenaprincesothathemighthaveherforawife.Thedogdidnotobservehowtheflourranoutofthebagallthewayfromthecastlewalltothesoldiershouseandevenuptothewindowwherehehadclimbedwiththeprincess.Thereforeinthemorningthekingandqueenfoundoutwheretheirdaughterhadbeenandthesoldierwastakenupandputinprison.Ohhowdarkanddisagreeableitwasashesatthereandthepeoplesaidtohim“To-morrowyouwillbehanged.Itwasnotverypleasantnewsandbesideshehadleftthetinder-boxattheinn.Inthemorninghecouldseethroughtheirongratingofthelittlewindowhowthepeoplewerehasteningoutofthetowntoseehimhanged;heheardthedrumsbeatingandsawthesoldiersmarching.Everyoneranouttolookatthemandashoemakersboywithaleatherapronandslippersongallopedbysofastthatoneofhisslippersflewoffandstruckagainstthewallwherethesoldiersatlookingthroughtheirongrating.Halloyoushoemakersboyyouneednotbeinsuchahurry“criedthesoldiertohim.uTherewillbenothingtoseetillIcome;butifyouwillruntothehousewhereIhavebeenlivingandbringmemytinder-boxyoushallhavefourshillingsbutyoumustputyourbestfootforemost.vTheshoemakersboylikedtheideaofgettingthefourshillingssoheranveryfastandfetchedthetinder-boxandgaveittothesoldier.Andnowweshallseewhathappened.Outsidethetownalargegibbethadbeenerectedroundwhichstoodthesoldiersandseveralthousandsofpeople.Thekingandthequeensatonsplendidthronesoppositetothejudgesandthewholecouncil.Thesoldieralreadystoodontheladder;butastheywereabouttoplacetheropearoundhisneckhesaidthataninnocentrequestwasoftengrantedtoapoorcriminalbeforehesuffereddeath.Hewishedverymuchtosmokeapipeasitwouldbethelastpipeheshouldeversmokeintheworld.Thekingcouldnotrefusethisrequestsothesoldiertookhistinder-boxandstruckfireoncetwicethrice一andthereinamomentstoodallthedogs;一theonewitheyesasbigasteacupstheonewitheyesaslargeasmill-wheelsandthethirdwhoseeyeswereliketowers.HelpmenowthatImaynotbehanged“criedthesoldier.Andthedogsfelluponthejudgesandallthecouncillors;seizedonebythelegsandanotherbythenoseandtossedthemmanyfeethighintheairsothattheyfelldownandweredashedtopieces.“Iwillnotbetouched“saidtheking.Butthelargestdogseizedhimaswellasthequeenandthrewthemaftertheothers.Thenthesoldiersandallthepeoplewereafraidandcried“Goodsoldieryoushallbeourkingandyoushallmarrythebeautifulprincess.”Sotheyplacedthesoldierinthekingscarriageandthethreedogsranoninfrontandcried“Hurrah!”andthelittleboyswhistledthroughtheirfingersandthesoldierspresentedarms.Theprincesscameoutofthecoppercastleandbecamequeenwhichwasverypleasingtoher.Theweddingfestivitieslastedawholeweekandthedogssatatthetableandstaredwithalltheireyes.。