{"text":"A soldier came marching along the high road: \"Left, right - left, right.\" He","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"had his knapsack on his back, and a sword at his side; he had been to the wars,","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"and was now returning home. As he walked on, he met a very frightful-looking old","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"witch in the road. Her under-lip hung quite down on her breast, and she stopped","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"and said, \"Good evening, soldier; you have a very fine sword, and a large","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"knapsack, and you are a real soldier; so you shall have as much money as ever","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"you like.\"","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"Thank you, old witch,\" said the soldier.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"Do you see that large tree,\" said the witch, pointing to a tree which stood","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"beside them. \"Well, it is quite hollow inside, and you must climb to the top,","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"when you will see a hole, through which you can let yourself down into the tree","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"to a great depth. I will tie a rope round your body, so that I can pull you up","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"again when you call out to me.\"","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"But what am I to do, down there in the tree?\" asked the soldier.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"Get money,\" she replied; \"for you must know that when you reach the ground","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"under the tree, you will find yourself in a large hall, lighted up by three","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"hundred lamps; you will then see three doors, which can be easily opened, for","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"the keys are in all the locks. On entering the first of the chambers, to which","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"these doors lead, you will see a large chest, standing in the middle of the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"floor, and upon it a dog seated, with a pair of eyes as large as teacups. But","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"you need not be at all afraid of him; I will give you my blue checked apron,","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"which you must spread upon the floor, and then boldly seize hold of the dog, and","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"place him upon it. You can then open the chest, and take from it as many pence","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"as you please, they are only copper pence; but if you would rather have silver","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"money, you must go into the second chamber. Here you will find another dog, with","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"eyes as big as mill-wheels; but do not let that trouble you. Place him upon my","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"apron, and then take what money you please. If, however, you like gold best,","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"enter the third chamber, where there is another chest full of it. The dog who","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"sits on this chest is very dreadful; his eyes are as big as a tower, but do not","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"mind him. If he also is placed upon my apron, he cannot hurt you, and you may","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"take from the chest what gold you will.\"","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"This is not a bad story,\" said the soldier; \"but what am I to give you, you old","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"witch? For, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing.\"","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"No,\" said the witch; \"but I do not ask for a single penny. Only promise to","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"went down there.\"","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"Very well; I promise. Now tie the rope round my body.\"","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"Here it is,\" replied the witch; \"and here is my blue checked apron.\"","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"As soon as the rope was tied, the soldier climbed up the tree, and let himself","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"down through the hollow to the ground beneath; and here he found, as the witch","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"had told him, a large hall, in which many hundred lamps were all burning.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"Then he opened the first door. \"Ah!\" there sat the dog, with the eyes as large","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"as teacups, staring at him.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"You're a pretty fellow,\" said the soldier, seizing him, and placing him on the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"witch's apron, while he filled his pockets from the chest with as many pieces","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"as they would hold. Then he closed the lid, seated the dog upon it again, and","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"walked into another chamber, and, sure enough, there sat the dog with eyes as","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"big as mill-wheels.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"You had better not look at me in that way,\" said the soldier; \"you will make","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"your eyes water;\" and then he seated him also upon the apron, and opened the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"chest. But when he saw what a quantity of silver money it contained, he very","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"quickly threw away all the coppers he had taken, and filled his pockets and his","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"knapsack with nothing but silver. Then he went into the third room, and there","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"the dog was really hideous; his eyes were, truly, as big as towers, and they","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"turned round and round in his head like wheels.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"Good morning,\" said the soldier, touching his cap, for he had never seen such","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"a dog in his life. But after looking at him more closely, he thought he had","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"been civil enough, so he placed him on the floor, and opened the chest. Good","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"gracious, what a quantity of gold there was! enough to buy all the sugar-sticks","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"of the sweet-stuff women; all the tin soldiers, whips, and rocking-horses in","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"the world, or even the whole town itself There was, indeed, an immense quantity.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"So the soldier now threw away all the silver money he had taken, and filled","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"his pockets and his knapsack with gold instead; and not only his pockets and","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"his knapsack, but even his cap and boots, so that he could scarcely walk. He","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"was really rich now; so he replaced the dog on the chest, closed the door, and","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"called up through the tree: \"Now pull me out, you old witch.\"","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"Have you got the tinder-box?\" asked the witch.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"No; I declare I quite forgot it.\" So he went back and fetched the tinderbox,","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"and then the witch drew him up out of the tree, and he stood again in the high","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"road, with his pockets, his knapsack, his cap, and his boots full of gold.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"What are you going to do with the tinder-box?\" asked the soldier.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"That is nothing to you,\" replied the witch; \"you have the money, now give me","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"the tinder-box.\"","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"I tell you what,\" said the soldier, \"if you don't tell me what you are going to","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"do with it, I will draw my sword and cut off your head.\"","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"No,\" said the witch.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"The soldier immediately cut off her head, and there she lay on the ground. Then","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"he tied up all his money in her apron, and slung it on his back like a bundle,","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"put the tinderbox in his pocket, and walked off to the nearest town.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"It was a very nice town, and he put up at the best inn, and ordered a dinner of","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"all his favourite dishes, for now he was rich and had plenty of money.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"The servant, who cleaned his boots, thought they certainly were a shabby pair","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"to be worn by such a rich gentleman, for he had not yet bought any new ones.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"The next day, however, he procured some good clothes and proper boots, so that","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"our soldier soon became known as a fine gentleman, and the people visited him,","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"and told him all the wonders that were to be seen in the town, and of the king's","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"beautiful daughter, the princess.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"Where can I see her?\" asked the soldier.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"She is not to be seen at all,\" they said; \"she lives in a large copper castle,","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"surrounded by walls and towers. No one but the king himself can pass in or out,","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"for there has been a prophecy that she will marry a common soldier, and the king","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"cannot bear to think of such a marriage.\"","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"I should like very much to see her,\" thought the soldier; but he could not","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"obtain permission to do so.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"However, he passed a very pleasant time; went to the theatre, drove in the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"king's garden, and gave a great deal of money to the poor, which was very good","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"of him; he remembered what it had been in olden times to be without a shilling.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"Now he was rich, had fine clothes, and many friends, who all declared he was a","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"fine fellow and a real gentleman, and all this gratified him exceedingly. But","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"his money would not last forever; and as he spent and gave away a great deal","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"daily, and received none, he found himself at last with only two shillings left.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"So he was obliged to leave his elegant rooms, and live in a little garret under","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"the roof, where he had to clean his own boots, and even mend them with a large","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"needle. None of his friends came to see him, there were too many stairs to mount","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"up.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"One dark evening, he had not even a penny to buy a candle; then all at once he","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"remembered that there was a piece of candle stuck in the tinder-box, which he","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"had brought from the old tree, into which the witch had helped him. He found the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"tinder-box, but no sooner had he struck a few sparks from the flint and steel,","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"than the door flew open and the dog with eyes as big as teacups, whom he had","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"seen while down in the tree, stood before him, and said, \"What orders, master?\"","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"Hallo,\" said the soldier; \"well this is a pleasant tinderbox, if it brings me","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"all I wish for.\" - \"Bring me some money,\" said he to the dog. He was gone in a","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"moment, and presently returned, carrying a large bag of coppers in his month.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"The soldier very soon discovered after this the value of the tinder-box. If he","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"struck the flint once, the dog who sat on the chest of copper money made his","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"appearance; if twice, the dog came from the chest of silver; and if three times,","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"the dog with eyes like towers, who watched over the gold. The soldier had now","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"plenty of money; he returned to his elegant rooms, and reappeared in his fine","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"clothes, so that his friends knew him again directly, and made as much of him as","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"before.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"After a while he began to think it was very strange that no one could get a","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"look at the princess. \"Every one says she is very beautiful,\" thought he to","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"himself; \"but what is the use of that if she is to be shut up in a copper castle","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"surrounded by so many towers. Can I by any means get to see her. Stop! where is","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"my tinder-box?\" Then he struck a light, and in a moment the dog, with eyes as","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"big as teacups, stood before him.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"It is midnight,\" said the soldier, \"yet I should very much like to see the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"princess, if only for a moment.\"","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"The dog disappeared instantly, and before the soldier could even look round, he","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"returned with the princess. She was lying on the dog's back asleep, and looked","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"so lovely, that every one who saw her would know she was a real princess. The","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"soldier could not help kissing her, true soldier as he was.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"Then the dog ran back with the princess; but in the morning, while at breakfast","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"with the king and queen, she told them what a singular dream she had had during","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"the night, of a dog and a soldier, that she had ridden on the dog's back, and","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"been kissed by the soldier.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"That is a very pretty story, indeed,\" said the queen.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"So the next night one of the old ladies of the court was set to watch by the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"princess's bed, to discover whether it really was a dream, or what else it might","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"be.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"The soldier longed very much to see the princess once more, so he sent for the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"dog again in the night to fetch her, and to run with her as fast as ever he","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"could. But the old lady put on water boots, and ran after him as quickly as he","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"did, and found that he carried the princess into a large house. She thought it","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"would help her to remember the place if she made a large cross on the door with","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"a piece of chalk. Then she went home to bed, and the dog presently returned","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"with the princess. But when he saw that a cross had been made on the door of the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"house, where the soldier lived, he took another piece of chalk and made crosses","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"on all the doors in the town, so that the lady-in-waiting might not be able to","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"find out the right door.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"Early the next morning the king and queen accompanied the lady and all the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"officers of the household, to see where the princess had been.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"Here it is,\" said the king, when they came to the first door with a cross on","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"it.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"No, my dear husband, it must be that one,\" said the queen, pointing to a second","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"door having a cross also.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"And here is one, and there is another!\" they all exclaimed; for there were","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"crosses on all the doors in every direction. So they felt it would be useless to","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"search any farther.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"But the queen was a very clever woman; she could do a great deal more than","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"merely ride in a carriage. She took her large gold scissors, cut a piece of silk","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"into squares, and made a neat little bag. This bag she filled with buckwheat","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"flour, and tied it round the princess's neck; and then she cut a small hole in","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"the bag, so that the flour might be scattered on the ground as the princess went","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"along.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"During the night, the dog came again and carried the princess on his back, and","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"ran with her to the soldier, who loved her very much, and wished that he had","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"been a prince, so that he might have her for a wife.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"The dog did not observe how the flour ran out of the bag all the way from the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"castle wall to the soldier's house, and even up to the window, where he had","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"climbed with the princess. Therefore in the morning the king and queen found out","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"where their daughter had been, and the soldier was taken up and put in prison.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"Oh, how dark and disagreeable it was as he sat there, and the people said to","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"him, \"To-morrow you will be hanged.\" It was not very pleasant news, and besides,","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"he had left the tinder-box at the inn. In the morning he could see through the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"iron grating of the little window how the people were hastening out of the town","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"to see him hanged; he heard the drums beating, and saw the soldiers marching.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"Every one ran out to look at them, and a shoemaker's boy, with a leather apron","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"and slippers on, galloped by so fast, that one of his slippers flew off and","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"struck against the wall where the soldier sat looking through the iron grating.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"Hallo, you shoemaker's boy, you need not be in such a hurry,\" cried the soldier","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"to him. \"There will be nothing to see till I come; but if you will run to the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"house where I have been living, and bring me my tinder-box, you shall have four","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"shillings, but you must put your best foot foremost.\" The shoemaker's boy liked","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"the idea of getting the four shillings, so he ran very fast and fetched the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"tinder-box, and gave it to the soldier. And now we shall see what happened.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"Outside the town a large gibbet had been erected, round which stood the soldiers","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"and several thousands of people. The king and the queen sat on splendid thrones","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"opposite to the judges and the whole council.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"The soldier already stood on the ladder; but as they were about to place the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"rope around his neck, he said that an innocent request was often granted to a","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"poor criminal before he suffered death. He wished very much to smoke a pipe, as","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"it would be the last pipe he should ever smoke in the world.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"The king could not refuse this request, so the soldier took his tinder-box, and","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"struck fire, once, twice, thrice, and there in a moment stood all the dogs; the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"one with eyes as big as teacups, the one with eyes as large as mill-wheels, and","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"the third, whose eyes were like towers.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"Help me now, that I may not be hanged,\" cried the soldier. And the dogs fell","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"upon the judges and all the councillors; seized one by the legs, and another by","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"the nose, and tossed them many feet high in the air, so that they fell down and","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"were dashed to pieces.","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"\"I will not be touched,\" said the king. But the largest dog seized him, as well","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"as the queen, and threw them after the others. Then the soldiers and all the","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"people were afraid, and cried, \"Good soldier, you shall be our king, and you","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"shall marry the beautiful princess.\"","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"So they placed the soldier in the king's carriage, and the three dogs ran on in","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"front and cried \"Hurrah!\" and the little boys whistled through their fingers,","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"and the soldiers presented arms. The princess came out of the copper castle, and","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"became queen, which was very pleasing to her. The wedding festivities lasted a","book":"The tinder-box"}
{"text":"whole week, and the dogs sat at the table, and stared with all their eyes.","book":"The tinder-box"}