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1872
FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN
TWO　BROTHERS
by　Hans　Christian　Andersen
　
ON　one　of　the　Danish　islands；　where　old　Thingstones；　the　seats
of　justice　of　our　forefathers；　still　stand　in　the　cornfields；　and　huge
trees　rise　in　the　forests　of　beech；　there　lies　a　little　town　whose　low
houses　are　covered　with　red　tiles。　In　one　of　these　houses　strange
things　were　brewing　over　the　glowing　coals　on　the　open　hearth；　there
was　a　boiling　going　on　in　glasses；　and　a　mixing　and　distilling；
while　herbs　were　being　cut　up　and　pounded　in　mortars。　An　elderly　man　looked　after　it　all。

〃One　must　only　do　the　right　thing；〃　he　said；　〃yes；　the　right…
the　correct　thing。　One　must　find　out　the　truth　concerning　every
created　particle；　and　keep　to　that。〃
In　the　room　with　the　good　housewife　sat　her　two　sons；　they　were
still　small；　but　had　great　thoughts。　Their　mother；　too；　had　always
spoken　to　them　of　right　and　justice；　and　exhorted　them　to　keep　to
the　truth；　which　she　said　was　the　countenance　of　the　Lord　in　this
world。

The　elder　of　the　boys　looked　roguish　and　enterprising。　He　took　a
delight　in　reading　of　the　forces　of　nature；　of　the　sun　and　the　moon；
no　fairy　tale　pleased　him　so　much。　Oh；　how　beautiful　it　must　be；　he
thought；　to　go　on　voyages　of　discovery；　or　to　find　out　how　to
imitate　the　wings　of　birds　and　then　to　be　able　to　fly！　Yes；　to　find
that　out　was　the　right　thing。　Father　was　right；　and　mother　was
right…　truth　holds　the　world　together。

The　younger　brother　was　quieter；　and　buried　himself　entirely　in
his　books。　When　he　read　about　Jacob　dressing　himself　in　sheep…skins　to　personify　Esau；　and　so　to　usurp　his　brother's　birthright；　he　would
clench　his　little　fist　in　anger　against　the　deceiver；　when　he　read
of　tyrants　and　of　the　injustice　and　wickedness　of　the　world；　tears
would　come　into　his　eyes；　and　he　was　quite　filled　with　the　thought
of　the　justice　and　truth　which　must　and　would　triumph。

One　evening　he　was　lying　in　bed；　but　the　curtains　were　not　yet
drawn　close；　and　the　light　streamed　in　upon　him；　he　had　taken　his　book　into　bed　with　him；　for　he　wanted　to　finish　reading　the　story　of　Solon。

His　thoughts　lifted　and　carried　him　away　a　wonderful　distance；　it
seemed　to　him　as　if　the　bed　had　become　a　ship　flying　along　under
full　sail。　Was　he　dreaming；　or　what　was　happening？　It　glided　over
the　rolling　waves　and　across　the　ocean　of　time；　and　to　him　came　the
voice　of　Solon；　spoken　in　a　strange　tongue；　yet　intelligible　to　him；
he　heard　the　Danish　motto：　〃By　law　the　land　is　ruled。〃

The　genius　of　the　human　race　stood　in　the　humble　room；　bent　down
over　the　bed　and　imprinted　a　kiss　on　the　boy's　forehead：　〃Be　thou
strong　in　fame　and　strong　in　the　battle　of　life！　With　truth　in　thy
heart　fly　toward　the　land　of　truth！〃

The　elder　brother　was　not　yet　in　bed；　he　was　standing　at　the
window　looking　out　at　the　mist　which　rose　from　the　meadows。　They
were　not　elves　dancing　out　there；　as　their　old　nurse　had　told　him；
he　knew　better…　they　were　vapours　which　were　warmer　than　the　air；
and　that　is　why　they　rose。　A　shooting　star　lit　up　the　sky；　and　the
boy's　thoughts　passed　in　a　second　from　the　vapours　of　the　earth　up
to　the　shining　meteor。　The　stars　gleamed　in　the　heavens；　and　it　seemed　as　if　long　golden　threads　hung　down　from　them　to　the　earth。

〃Fly　with　me；〃　sang　a　voice；　which　the　boy　heard　in　his　heart。　And
the　mighty　genius　of　mankind；　swifter　than　a　bird　and　than　an　arrow…
swifter　than　anything　of　earthly　origin…　carried　him　out　into　space；
where　the　heavenly　bodies　are　bound　together　by　the　rays　that　pass
from　star　to　star。　Our　earth　revolved　in　the　thin　air；　and　the
cities　upon　it　seemed　to　lie　close　to　each　other。　Through　the
spheres　echoed　the　words：

〃What　is　near；　what　is　far；　when　thou　art　lifted　by　the　mighty
genius　of　mind？〃

And　again　the　boy　stood　by　the　window；　gazing　out；　whilst　his
younger　brother　lay　in　bed。　Their　mother　called　them　by　their　names：

〃Anders　Sandoe〃　and　〃Hans　Christian。〃
Denmark　and　the　whole　world　knows　them…　the　two　brothers　Oersted。

THE　END

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Written　By　Anderson