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FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE STORY OF THE WIND
by Hans Christian Andersen
〃NEAR the shores of the great Belt； which is one of the straits
that connect the Cattegat with the Baltic； stands an old mansion
with thick red walls。 I know every stone of it；〃 says the Wind。 〃I saw
it when it was part of the castle of Marck Stig on the promontory。 But
the castle was obliged to be pulled down； and the stone was used again
for the walls of a new mansion on another spot… the baronial residence
of Borreby； which still stands near the coast。 I knew them well； those
noble lords and ladies； the successive generations that dwelt there；
and now I'm going to tell you of Waldemar Daa and his daughters。 How
proud was his bearing； for he was of royal blood； and could boast of
more noble deeds than merely hunting the stag and emptying the
wine…cup。 His rule was despotic： 'It shall be；' he was accustomed to
say。 His wife； in garments embroidered with gold； stepped proudly over
the polished marble floors。 The tapestries were gorgeous； and the
furniture of costly and artistic taste。 She had brought gold and plate
with her into the house。 The cellars were full of wine。 Black； fiery
horses； neighed in the stables。 There was a look of wealth about the
house of Borreby at that time。 They had three children； daughters；
fair and delicate maidens… Ida； Joanna； and Anna Dorothea； I have
never forgotten their names。 They were a rich； noble family； born in
affluence and nurtured in luxury。
〃Whir…r…r； whir…r…r！〃 roared the Wind； and went on； 〃I did not see
in this house； as in other great houses； the high…born lady sitting
among her women； turning the spinning…wheel。 She could sweep the
sounding chords of the guitar； and sing to the music； not always
Danish melodies； but the songs of a strange land。 It was 'Live and let
live；' here。 Stranger guests came from far and near； music sounded；
goblets clashed； and I；〃 said the Wind； 〃was not able to drown the
noise。 Ostentation； pride； splendor； and display ruled； but not the
fear of the Lord。
〃It was on the evening of the first day of May；〃 the Wind
continued； 〃I came from the west； and had seen the ships overpowered
with the waves； when all on board persisted or were cast shipwrecked
on the coast of Jutland。 I had hurried across the heath and over
Jutland's wood…girt eastern coast； and over the island of Funen； and
then I drove across the great belt； sighing and moaning。 At length I
lay down to rest on the shores of Zeeland； near to the great house
of Borreby； where the splendid forest of oaks still flourished。 The
young men of the neighborhood were collecting branches and brushwood
under the oak…trees。 The largest and dryest they could find they
carried into the village； and piled them up in a heap and set them
on fire。 Then the men and maidens danced； and sung in a circle round
the blazing pile。 I lay quite quiet；〃 said the Wind； 〃but I silently
touched a branch which had been brought by one of the handsomest of
the young men； and the wood blazed up brightly； blazed brighter than
all the rest。 Then he was chosen as the chief； and received the name
of the Shepherd； and might choose his lamb from among the maidens。
There was greater mirth and rejoicing than I had ever heard in the
halls of the rich baronial house。 Then the noble lady drove by towards
the baron's mansion with her three daughters； in a gilded carriage
drawn by six horses。 The daughters were young and beautiful… three
charming blossoms… a rose； a lily； and a white hyacinth。 The mother
was a proud tulip； and never acknowledged the salutations of any of
the men or maidens who paused in their sport to do her honor。 The
gracious lady seemed like a flower that was rather stiff in the stalk。
Rose； lily； and hyacinth… yes； I saw them all three。 Whose little
lambs will they one day become？ thought I； their shepherd will be a
gallant knight； perhaps a prince。 The carriage rolled on； and the
peasants resumed their dancing。 They drove about the summer through
all the villages near。 But one night； when I rose again； the high…born
lady lay down to rise again no more； that thing came to her which
comes to us all； in which there is nothing new。 Waldemar Daa
remained for a time silent and thoughtful。 'The loftiest tree may be
bowed without being broken；' said a voice within him。 His daughters
wept； all the people in the mansion wiped their eyes； but Lady Daa had
driven away； and I drove away too；〃 said the Wind。 〃Whir…r…r；
whir…r…r…！
〃I returned again； I often returned and passed over the island
of Funen and the shores of the Belt。 Then I rested by Borreby； near
the glorious wood； where the heron made his nest； the haunt of the
wood…pigeons； the blue…birds； and the black stork。 It was yet
spring； some were sitting on their eggs； others had already hatched
their young broods； but how they fluttered about and cried out when
the axe sounded through the forest； blow upon blow！ The trees of the
forest were doomed。 Waldemar Daa wanted to build a noble ship； a
man…of…war； a three…decker； which the king would be sure to buy； and
these； the trees of the wood； the landmark of the seamen； the refuge
of the birds； must be felled。 The hawk started up and flew away； for
its nest was destroyed； the heron and all the birds of the forest
became homeless； and flew about in fear and anger。 I could well
understand how they felt。 Crows and ravens croaked； as if in scorn；
while the trees were cracking and falling around them。 Far in the
interior of the wood； where a noisy swarm of laborers were working；
stood Waldemar Daa and his three daughters； and all were laughing at
the wild cries of the birds； excepting one； the youngest； Anna
Dorothea； who felt grieved to the heart； and when they made
preparations to fell a tree that was almost dead； and on whose naked
branches the black stork had built her nest； she saw the poor little
things stretching out their necks； and she begged for mercy for
them； with the tears in her eyes。 So the tree with the black stork's
nest was left standing； the tree itself； however； was not worth much
to speak of。 Then there was a great deal of hewing and sawing； and
at last the three…decker was built。 The builder was a man of low
origin； but possessing great pride； his eyes and forehead spoke of
large intellect； and Waldemar Daa was fond of listening to him； and so
was Waldemar's daughter Ida； the eldest； now about fifteen years
old； and while he was building the ship for the father； he was
building for himself a castle in the air； in which he and Ida were
to live when they were married。 This might have happened； indeed； if
there had been a real castle； with stone walls； ramparts； and a
moat。 But in spite of his clever head； the builder was still but a
poor； inferior bird； and how can a sparrow expect to be admitted
into the society of peacocks？
〃I passed on in my course；〃 said the Wind； 〃and he passed away
also。 He was not allowed to remain； and little Ida got over it；
because she was obliged to do so。 Proud； black horses； worth looking
at； were neighing in the stable。 And they were locked up； for the
admiral； who had been sent by the king to inspect the new ship； and
make arrangements for its purchase； was loud in admiration of these
beautiful horses。 I heard it all；〃 said the Wind； 〃for I accompanied
the gentlemen through the open door of the stable； and strewed
stalks of straw； like bars of gold； at their feet。 Waldemar Daa wanted
gold； and the admiral wished for the proud black horses； therefore
he praised them so much。 But the hint was not taken； and
consequently the ship was not bought。 It remained on the shore covered
with boards；… a Noah's ark that never got to the water… Whir…r…r…r…
and that was a pity。
〃In the winter； when the fields were covered with snow； and the
water filled with large blocks of ice which I had blown up to the
coast；〃 continued the Wind； 〃great flocks of crows and ravens； dark
and black as they usually are； came and alighted on the lonely；
deserted ship。 Then they croaked in harsh accents of the forest that
now existed no more； of the many pretty birds' nests destroyed and the
little ones left without a home； and all for the sake of that great
bit of lumber； that proud ship； that never sailed forth。 I made the
snowflakes whirl till the snow lay like a great lake round the ship；
and drifted over it。 I let it hear my voice； that it might know what
the storm has to say。 Certainly I did my part towards teaching it
seamanship。
〃That winter passed away； and another winter and summer both
passed； as they are still passing away； even as I pass away。 The
snow drifts onwards； the apple…blossoms are scattered； the leaves
fall；… everything passes away； and men are passing away too。 But the
great man's daughters are still young； and little Ida is a rose as
fair to look upon as on the day when the shipbuilder first saw her。
I often tumbled her long； brown hair； while she