1872
fairy tales of hans christian1 andersen
in the nursery
by hans christian andersen
father, and mother, and brothers, and sisters, were gone to the
play; only little anna and her grandpapa were left at home.
"we'll have a play too," he said, "and it may begin immediately."
"but we have no theatre," cried little anna, "and we have no one
to act for us; my old doll cannot, for she is a fright, and my new one
cannot, for she must not rumple2 her new clothes."
"one can always get actors if one makes use of what one has,"
observed grandpapa.
"now we'll go into the theatre. here we will put up a book,
there another, and there a third, in a sloping row. now three on the
other side; so, now we have the side scenes. the old box that lies
yonder may be the back stairs; and we'll lay the flooring on top of
it. the stage represents a room, as *ry one may see. now we want the actors. let us see what we can find in the plaything-box. first the
perso*s, and then we will get the play ready. one after the
other; that will be capital! here's a pipe-head, and yonder an odd
glove; they will do very well for father and daughter."
"but those are only two characters," said little anna. "here's
my brother's old waistcoat- could not that play in our piece, too?"
"it's *g enough, certainly," replied grandpapa. "it shall be
the lover. there's nothing in the pockets, and that's very
interesting, for that's half of an unfortunate attachment3. and here we
have the nut-cracker's boots, with spurs to them. row, dow, dow! how they can stamp and strut4! they shall represent the unwelcome wooer, whom the lady does not like. what kind of a play will you have now?shall it be a tragedy, or a domestic drama?"
"a domestic drama, please," said little anna, "for the others
are so fond of that. do you know one?"
"i know a hundred," said grandpapa. "those that are most in
favor are from the french, but they are not good for little girls.
in the meantime, we may take one of the prettiest, for inside
they're all very much alike. now i shake the pen! cock-a-lorum! so
now, here's the play, brin-bran-span new! now listen to the
play-*ll."
and grandpapa took a news*, and read as if he were reading
from it:
the pipe-head and the good head
a family drama in one act
characters
mr. pipe-head, a father. mr. waistcoat, a lover.
miss glove, a daughter. mr. de boots, a suitor.
"and now we're going to begin. the curtain rises. we have no
curtain, so it has risen already. all the characters are there, and so
we have them at hand. now i speak as papa pipe-head! he's angry
to-day. one can see that he's a colored meerschaum.
"'snik, snak, snurre, bassellurre! i'm * of this house! i'm
the father of my daughter! will you hear what i have to say? mr. de
boots is a person in whom one may see one's face; his upper part is of morocco, and he has spurs into the bargain. snikke, snakke, snak! he shall have my daughter!"
"now listen to what the waistcoat says, little anna," said
grandpapa. "now the waistcoat's speaking. the waistcoat has a
laydown collar, and is very modest; but he knows his own value, and
has quite a right to say what he says:
"'i haven't a spot on me! goodness of material ought to be
appreciated. i am of real silk, and have strings5 to me.'
"'- on the wedding day, but no longer; you don't keep your color
in the wash.' this is mr. pipe-head who is speaking. 'mr. de boots
is water-tight, of strong leather, and yet very delicate; he can
creak, and clank with his spurs, and has an italian physiognomy-'"
"but they ought to speak in verses," said anna, "for i've heard
that's the most charming way of all."
"they can do that too," replied grandpapa; "and if the public
demands it, they will talk in that way. just look at little miss
glove, how she's pointing her fingers!
"'could i but have my love,
who then so happy as glove!
ah!
if i from him must part,
i'm sure 'twill break my heart!'
'bah!'
the last word was spoken by mr. pipe-head; and now it's mr.
waistcoat's turn:
"'o glove, my own dear,
though it cost thee a tear,
thou must be mine,
for holger danske has sworn it!'
"mr. de boots, hearing this, kicks up, jingles6 his spurs, and
knocks down three of the side-scenes."
"that's exceedingly charming!" cried little anna.
"silence! silence!" said grandpapa. "silent approbation7 will
show that you are the educated public in the stalls. now miss glove
sings her great song with startling effects:
"'i can't see, heigho!
and therefore i'll crow!
kikkeriki, in the lofty hall!'
"now comes the exciting part, little anna. this is the most
important in all the play. mr. waistcoat undoes8 himself, and addresses his speech to you, that you may applaud; but leave it alone,- that's considered * genteel.
"'i am driven to extremities9! take care of yourself! now comes the
plot! you are the pipe-head, and i am the good head- snap! there you
go!"
"do you notice this, little anna?" asked grandpapa. "that's a most
charming comedy. mr. waistcoat seized the old pipe-head and put him in his pocket; there he lies, and the waistcoat says:
"'you are in my pocket; you can't come out till you promise to
unite me to your daughter glove on the left. i hold out my right
hand.'"
"that's awfully10 pretty," said little anna.
"and now the old pipe-head replies:
"'though i'm all ear,
very stupid i appear:
where's my humor? gone, i fear,
and i feel my hollow stick's not here,
ah! n*r, my dear,
did i feel so queer.
oh! pray let me out,
and like a lamb led to slaughter
i'll betroth11 you, no doubt,
to my daughter.'"
"is the play over already?" asked little anna.
"by no means," replied grandpapa. "it's only all over with mr.
de boots. now the lovers kneel down, and one of them sings:
"'father!'
and the other,
'come, do as you ought to do,-
bless your son and daughter.'
and they receive his blessing12, and celebrate their wedding, and all
the pieces of furniture sing in chorus,
"'klink! clanks!
a thousand thanks;
and now the play is over!'
"and now we'll applaud," said grandpapa. "we'll call them all out,
and the pieces of furniture too, for they are of mahogany."
"and is not our play just as good as those which the others have
in the real theatre?"
"our play is much better," said grandpapa. "it is shorter, the
performers are natural, and it has passed away the interval13 before
tea-time."
the end
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written by anderson
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