按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he was a gift from those gray clouds； and perhaps the best of all
gifts。 〃I shall penetrate you so thoroughly；〃 he said； 〃that you
will have the power of becoming rusty； and； if you wish it； to crumble
into dust in one night。〃
But this seemed to the lamp a very shabby present； and the wind
thought so too。 〃Does no one give any more？ Will no one give any
more？〃 shouted the breath of the wind； as loud as it could。 Then a
bright falling star came down； leaving a broad； luminous streak behind
it。
〃What was that？〃 cried the herring's head。 〃Did not a star fall？ I
really believe it went into the lamp。 Certainly； when such high…born
personages try for the office； we may as well say 'Good…night；' and go
home。〃
And so they did； all three； while the old lamp threw a wonderfully
strong light all around him。
〃This is a glorious gift；〃 said he； 〃the bright stars have
always been a joy to me； and have always shone more brilliantly than I
ever could shine； though I have tried with my whole might； and now
they have noticed me； a poor old lamp； and have sent me a gift that
will enable me to see clearly everything that I remember； as if it
still stood before me； and to be seen by all those who love me。 And
herein lies the truest pleasure； for joy which we cannot share with
others is only half enjoyed。〃
〃That sentiment does you honor；〃 said the wind； 〃but for this
purpose wax lights will be necessary。 If these are not lighted in you；
your particular faculties will not benefit others in the least。 The
stars have not thought of this； they suppose that you and every
other light must be a wax taper： but I must go down now。〃 So he laid
himself to rest。
〃Wax tapers； indeed！〃 said the lamp； 〃I have never yet had
these； nor is it likely I ever shall。 If I could only be sure of not
being melted down！〃
The next day。 Well； perhaps we had better pass over the next
day。 The evening had come； and the lamp was resting in a grandfather's
chair； and guess where！ Why； at the old watchman's house。 He had
begged； as a favor； that the mayor and corporation would allow him
to keep the street lamp； in consideration of his long and faithful
service； as he had himself hung it up and lit it on the day he first
commenced his duties； four…and…twenty years ago。 He looked upon it
almost as his own child； he had no children； so the lamp was given
to him。 There it lay in the great arm…chair near to the warm stove。 It
seemed almost as if it had grown larger； for it appeared quite to fill
the chair。 The old people sat at their supper； casting friendly
glances at the old lamp； whom they would willingly have admitted to
a place at the table。 It is quite true that they dwelt in a cellar；
two yards deep in the earth； and they had to cross a stone passage
to get to their room； but within it was warm and comfortable and
strips of list had been nailed round the door。 The bed and the
little window had curtains； and everything looked clean and neat。 On
the window seat stood two curious flower…pots which a sailor； named
Christian； had brought over from the East or West Indies。 They were of
clay； and in the form of two elephants； with open backs； they were
hollow and filled with earth； and through the open space flowers
bloomed。 In one grew some very fine chives or leeks； this was the
kitchen garden。 The other elephant； which contained a beautiful
geranium； they called their flower garden。 On the wall hung a large
colored print； representing the congress of Vienna； and all the
kings and emperors at once。 A clock； with heavy weights； hung on the
wall and went 〃tick； tick；〃 steadily enough； yet it was always
rather too fast； which； however； the old people said was better than
being too slow。 They were now eating their supper； while the old
street lamp； as we have heard； lay in the grandfather's arm…chair near
the stove。 It seemed to the lamp as if the whole world had turned
round； but after a while the old watchman looked at the lamp； and
spoke of what they had both gone through together；… in rain and in
fog； during the short bright nights of summer； or in the long winter
nights； through the drifting snow…storms； when he longed to be at home
in the cellar。 Then the lamp felt it was all right again。 He saw
everything that had happened quite clearly； as if it were passing
before him。 Surely the wind had given him an excellent gift。 The old
people were very active and industrious； they were never idle for even
a single hour。 On Sunday afternoons they would bring out some books；
generally a book of travels which they were very fond of。 The old
man would read aloud about Africa； with its great forests and the wild
elephants； while his wife would listen attentively； stealing a
glance now and then at the clay elephants； which served as
flower…pots。
〃I can almost imagine I am seeing it all；〃 she said； and then
how the lamp wished for a wax taper to be lighted in him； for then the
old woman would have seen the smallest detail as clearly as he did
himself。 The lofty trees； with their thickly entwined branches； the
naked negroes on horseback； and whole herds of elephants treading down
bamboo thickets with their broad； heavy feet。
〃What is the use of all my capabilities；〃 sighed the old lamp；
〃when I cannot obtain any wax lights； they have only oil and tallow
here； and these will not do。〃 One day a great heap of wax…candle
ends found their way into the cellar。 The larger pieces were burnt；
and the smaller ones the old woman kept for waxing her thread。 So
there were now candles enough； but it never occurred to any one to put
a little piece in the lamp。
〃Here I am now with my rare powers；〃 thought the lamp； 〃I have
faculties within me； but I cannot share them； they do not know that
I could cover these white walls with beautiful tapestry； or change
them into noble forests； or； indeed； to anything else they might
wish for。〃 The lamp； however； was always kept clean and shining in a
corner where it attracted all eyes。 Strangers looked upon it as
lumber； but the old people did not care for that； they loved the lamp。
One day… it was the watchman's birthday… the old woman approached
the lamp； smiling to herself； and said； 〃I will have an illumination
to…day in honor of my old man。〃 And the lamp rattled in his metal
frame； for he thought； 〃Now at last I shall have a light within me；〃
but after all no wax light was placed in the lamp； but oil as usual。
The lamp burned through the whole evening； and began to perceive too
clearly that the gift of the stars would remain a hidden treasure
all his life。 Then he had a dream； for； to one with his faculties；
dreaming was no difficulty。 It appeared to him that the old people
were dead； and that he had been taken to the iron foundry to be melted
down。 It caused him quite as much anxiety as on the day when he had
been called upon to appear before the mayor and the council at the
town…hall。 But though he had been endowed with the power of falling
into decay from rust when he pleased； he did not make use of it。 He
was there