《世界名着英文普及版1215——THE OLD STREET LAMP》.pdf

1872 FAIRYTALESOF HANS CHRISTIANANDERSEN THE OLD STREETLAMP byHans ChristianAndersen DIDyouever hearthe story ofthe old street lamp? Itis not remarkablyinteresting, but for once ina wayyoumay as well listen toit. Itwas a most respectable old lamp, whichhad seenmany, many years ofservice, andnowwas toretire witha pension. Itwas this evening at its post for the last time, giving light tothe street. His feelings weresomething like those of an olddancerat thetheatre, who isdancing forthe last time, and knows that on the morrow she will beinher garret, alone andforgotten. The lamphad very great anxietyabout the next day,for he knew that he hadtoappearfor the first time at the townhall, tobe inspected bythe mayor and the council, who were todecide ifhe were fit for furtherservice or not;- whetherthe lamp was good enough tobe used tolight the inhabitants of one of the suburbs, or inthe country,at some factory; andifnot, it wouldbe sent at once toan iron foundry, tobe melted down. Inthis lattercase itmight beturned into anything, and he wonderedverymuchwhetherhe wouldthen be able torememberthat he hadonce beena street lamp, andittroubled him exceedingly. Whatever might happen, one thingseemed certain, that he wouldbe separatedfromthe watchmanand his wife, whose family he looked upon as his own. Thelamp hadfirst beenhung upon that very evening that thewatchman, thena robust youngman, hadenteredupon the duties ofhis office.Ah, well, it was a very longtime since onebecame a lamp andthe othera watchman. His wife hada little pride inthose days; she seldom condescendedtoglance at the lamp, excepting whenshe passedby inthe evening, never inthedaytime. But inlateryears, when all these,-the watchman, the wife, andthe lamp- hadgrown old, she had attended toit,cleaned it, andsuppliedit withoil. T