SHE FELL ON HER CHINA KNEE.
“I have thought of a plan,” said the chimney-sweeper. “Suppose we creep into the jar of perfumes that stands in the corner. There we might lie upon roses and lavender, and throw salt into his eyes if he comes near us.”
“That would be of no use,” said she. “Besides, I know that the old Chinese and the jar were formerly betrothed, and there always remains a degree of good-will when one has been on such terms. No! we have nothing for it but to go out into the wide world!”
“Have you really the courage to go out into the wide world with me?” asked the chimney-sweeper. “Have you reflected how large it is, and that we can never come back hither?”
“I have,” said she.
And the chiinney-sweeper looked hard at her, and said: “My way lies through the chimney. Have you really the courage to go with me, not only through the stove itself, but to creep through the flue? We shall then come out by the chimney, and then I know how to manage. We shall climb so high that they won't be able to reach us, and quite at the top is a hole that leads out into the wide world.”
And he led her to the door of the stove.
“It looks very black,” said she; still, in she went with him, both through the stove and through the pipe, where it was as dark as pitch.
“Now we are in the chimney,” said he; “and look! there shines the most beautiful star above!”
HE LED HER TO THE DOOR OF THE STOVE.
And it was a real star in the sky that seemed to shine down upon them as though it would light them on their way. And now they climbed and crept, and a frightful way it was—so steep and so high! But he went first, and smoothed it as much as he could; he held her, and showed her the best places to set her little china foot upon, and so they managed to reach the edge of the chimney-pot, on which they sat down—for they were vastly tired, as may be imagined.
The sky and all its stars was above them, and all the roofs of the town lay below. They saw far around them, and a great way out into the wide world. It was not like what the poor shepherdess had fancied it. She leaned her little head on her chimney-sweeper’s shoulder, and cried till she washed the gilding off her 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 on the table under the looking-glass. I shall never be happy till I am once more there. Now I have followed you into the wide world, you can accompany me back if you really love me.”
Then the chimney-sweeper tried to reason with her, and spoke of the old Chinese, and of General-and-Lieutenant-General-Goat-Bandylegs-Field-Sergeant; but she sobbed so violently, and kissed her little chimney-sweeper, till he could not do otherwise than what she wished, foolish as it was.
And so they climbed down the chimney with infinite difficulty. They next crept through the flue and the stove, which were anything but pleasant places; and then they stood in the dark stove, and listened behind the door, to catch what might be
