Tales from Hans Andersen (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 Excerpt: ...summer--warm, glorious summer I THERE was once a darning-needle that thought so much of herself that she fancied she was a sewing-needle. "Only mind you hold me fast," would she say to the fingers that took hold of her, "and don't let me fall on the floor, or I should never be found again, I am so delicate." "This will do," said the fingers, taking her up round the body. "See, I come with a whole retinue " said the darning-needle, drawing a long thread after her; only there was no knot at the end of the thread. The fingers directed the needle towards the cook's shipper. The upper-leather had cracked, and it was to be sewed together. "This is very coarse work," said the darningneedle, "I shall never get through--I shall break--I am breaking." And sure enough she broke. "Did I not say so?" said the darning-needle; "I am too delicate for such work " "The needle will be of no further use," said the fingers, though they still held it fast; and the cook dropped some wax on the needle, and fastened her neckerchief with it. "There now I am a breast-pin " said the darning-needle. ' I knew that I should rise in the world. If one has merit, one is sure to become something or other." And then she laughed in her sleeve--for nobody ever saw a darningneedle laugh--and there she stuck as proud as though she were sitting in a state-coach, looking all about her. "By your leave--are you made of gold?" asked she of a neighboring pin. "You have a very fine appearance, and a remarkable head, only it is very small You must try and grow, for it is not everybody who has wax dropped upon them." And the darning-needle bridled up so proudly that she toppled ov...