the Goblin and the Huckster

by Hans Christian Andersen（1853）

　　theRE was once a regular student， who lived in a garret， and had no possessions. And there was also a regular huckster， to whom the house belonged， and who occupied the ground floor. A goblin lived with the huckster， because at Christmas he always had a large dish full of jam， with a GREat piece of butter in the middle. The huckster could afford this； and therefore the goblin remained with the huckster， which was very cunning of him.

　　One evening the student came into the shop through the back door to buy candles and cheese for himself， he had no one to send， and therefore he came himself； he obtained what he wished， and then the huckster and his wife nodded good evening to him， and she was a woman who could do more than merely nod， for she had usually plenty to say for herself. The student nodded in return as he turned to leave， then suddenly stopped， and began reading the piece of paper in which the cheese was wrapped. It was a leaf torn out of an old book， a book that ought not to have been torn up， for it was full of poetry.

　　“Yonder lies some more of the same sort，” said the huckster： “I gave an old woman a few coffee berries for it； you shall have the rest for sixpence， if you will.”

　　“Indeed I will，” said the student； “give me the book instead of the cheese； I can eat my bread and butter without cheese. It would be a sin to tear up a book like this. You are a clever man； and a practical man； but you understand no more about poetry than that cask yonder.”

　　This was a very rude speech， especially against the cask； but the huckster and the student both laughed， for it was only said in fun. But the goblin felt very angry that any man should venture to say such things to a huckster who was a householder and sold the best butter. As soon as it was night， and the shop closed， and every one in bed except the student， the goblin stepped softly into the bedroom where the huckster's wife slept， and took away her tongue， which of course， she did not then want. Whatever object in the room he placed his tongue upon immediately received voice and speech， and was able to express its thoughts and feelings as readily as the lady herself could do. It could only be used by one object at a time， which was a good thing， as a number speaking at once would have caused GREat confusion. The goblin laid the tongue upon the cask， in which lay a quantity of old newspapers.

　　“Is it really true，” he asked， “that you do not know what poetry is？”

　　“Of course I know，” replied the cask： “poetry is something that always stand in the corner of a newspaper， and is sometimes cut out； and I may venture to affirm that I have more of it in me than the student has， and I am only a poor tub of the huckster's.”

　　then the goblin placed the tongue on the coffee mill； and how it did go to be sure！ Then he put it on the butter tub and the cash box， and they all expressed the same opinion as the waste-paper tub； and a majority must always be respected.

　　“Now I shall go and tell the student，” said the goblin； and with these words he went quietly up the back stairs to the garret where the student lived. He had a candle burning still， and the goblin peeped through the keyhole and saw that he was reading in the torn book， which he had brought out of the shop. But how light the room was！ From the book shot forth a ray of light which GREw broad and full， like the stem of a tree， from which bright rays spread upward and over the student's head. Each leaf was fresh， and each flower was like a beautiful female head； some with dark and sparkling eyes， and others with eyes that were wonderfully blue and clear. The fruit gleamed like stars， and the room was filled with sounds of beautiful music. The little goblin had never imagined， much less seen or heard of， any sight so glorious as this. He stood still on tiptoe， peeping in， till the light went out in the garret. The student no doubt had blown out his candle and gone to bed； but the little goblin remained standing there nevertheless， and listening to the music which still sounded on， soft and beautiful， a sweet cradle-song for the student， who had lain down to rest.

　　“This is a wonderful place，” said the goblin； “I never expected such a thing. I should like to stay here with the student；” and the little man thought it over， for he was a sensible little spirit. At last he sighed， “but the student has no jam！” So he went down stairs again into the huckster's shop， and it was a good thing he got back when he did， for the cask had almost worn out the lady's tongue； he had given a description of all that he contained on one side， and was just about to turn himself over to the other side to describe what was there， when the goblin entered and restored the tongue to the lady. But from that time forward， the whole shop， from the cash box down to the pinewood logs， formed their opinions from that of the cask； and they all had such confidence in him， and treated him with so much respect， that when the huckster read the criticisms on theatricals and art of an evening， they fancied it must all come from the cask.

　　But after what he had seen， the goblin could no longer sit and listen quietly to the wisdom and understanding down stairs； so， as soon as the evening light glimmered in the garret， he took courage， for it seemed to him as if the rays of light were strong cables， drawing him up， and obliging him to go and peep through the keyhole； and， while there， a feeling of vastness came over him such as we experience by the ever-moving sea， when the storm breaks forth； and it brought tears into his eyes. He did not himself know why he wept， yet a kind of pleasant feeling mingled with his tears. “How wonderfully glorious it would be to sit with the student under such a tree；” but that was out of the question， he must be content to look through the keyhole， and be thankful for even that.

　　there he stood on the old landing， with the autumn wind blowing down upon him through the trap-door. It was very cold； but the little creature did not really feel it， till the light in the garret went out， and the tones of music died away. Then how he shivered， and crept down stairs again to his warm corner， where it felt home-like and comfortable. And when Christmas came again， and brought the dish of jam and the GREat lump of butter， he liked the huckster best of all.

　　Soon after， in the middle of the night， the goblin was awoke by a terrible noise and knocking against the window shutters and the house doors， and by the sound of the watchman's horn； for a GREat fire had broken out， and the whole street appeared full of flames. Was it in their house， or a neighbor's？ No one could tell， for terror had seized upon all. The huckster's wife was so bewildered that she took her gold ear-rings out of her ears and put them in her pocket， that she might save something at least. The huckster ran to get his business papers， and the servant resolved to save her blue silk mantle， which she had managed to buy. Each wished to keep the best things they had. The goblin had the same wish； for， with one spring， he was up stairs and in the student's room， whom he found standing by the open window， and looking quite calmly at the fire， which was raging at the house of a neighbor opposite. The goblin caught up the wonderful book which lay on the table， and popped it into his red cap， which he held tightly with both hands. The greatest treasure in the house was saved； and he ran away with it to the roof， and seated himself on the chimney. The flames of the burning house opposite illuminated him as he sat， both hands pressed tightly over his cap， in which the treasure lay； and then he found out what feelings really reigned in his heart， and knew exactly which way they tended. And yet， when the fire was extinguished， and the goblin again began to reflect， he hesitated， and said at last， “I must divide myself between the two； I cannot quite give up the huckster， because of the jam.”

　　And this is a representation of human nature. We are like the goblin； we all go to visit the huckster “because of the jam.”

　　从前有一个名副其实的学生：他住在一间顶楼1里，甚么也没有；同时有一个名副其实的小商人，住在第一层楼上，拥有整幢房子。一个小鬼就跟这个小商人住在一起，因为在这儿，在每个圣诞节的前夕，他总能得到一盘麦片粥吃，里面还有一大块黄油！这个小商人能够供给这点东西，所以小鬼就住在他的店里，而这件事是富有教育意义的。

　　1顶楼（Qvist）即屋顶下的一层楼。在欧洲的建筑物中，它一般用来堆破烂的东西。只有穷人或穷学生才住在顶楼里。

　　有一天晚上，学生从后门走进来，给自己买点蜡烛和干奶酪。他没有人为他跑腿，因此才亲自来买。他买到了他所需要的东西，也付了钱。小商人和他的太太对他点点头，表示祝他晚安。这位太太能做的事情并不止点头这一项——她还有会讲话的天才！

　　学生也点了点头。接着他忽然站着不动，读起包干奶酪的那张纸上的字来了。这是从一本旧书上撕下的一页纸。这页纸本来是不应该撕掉的，因为这是一部很旧的诗集。“这样的书多得是！”小商人说。“我用几粒咖啡豆从一个老太婆那儿换来的。你只要给我三个铜板，就可以把剩下的全部拿去。”“谢谢，”学生说，“请你给我这本书，把干奶酪收回去吧；我只吃黄油麵包就够了。把一整本书撕得乱七八糟，真是一桩罪过。你是一个能干的人，一个讲究实际的人，不过就诗说来，你不会比那个盆子懂得更多。”

　　这句话说得很没有礼貌，特别是用那个盆子作比喻；但是小商人大笑起来，学生也大笑起来，因为这句话不过是开开玩笑罢了。但是那个小鬼却生了气：居然有人敢对一个卖最好的黄油的商人兼房东说出这样的话来。

　　黑夜到来了，店铺关上了门；除了学生以外，所有的人都上床去睡了。这时小鬼就走进来，拿起小商人的太太的舌头，因为她在睡觉的时候并不需要它。只要他把这舌头放在屋子里的任何物件上，这物件就能发出声音，讲起话来，而且还可以像太太一样，表示出它的思想和感情。不过一次只能有一件东西利用这舌头，而这倒也是一桩幸事，否则它们就要彼此打断话头了。

　　小鬼把舌头放在那个装报纸的盆里。“有人说你不懂得诗是甚么东西，”他问，“这话是真的吗？”“我当然懂得，”盆子说，“诗是一种印在报纸上补白的东西，可以随便剪掉不要。我相信，我身体里的诗要比那个学生多得多；但是对小商人说来，我不过是一个没有价值的盆子罢了。”

　　於是小鬼再把舌头放在一个咖啡磨上。哎唷！咖啡磨简直成了一个话匣子了！於是他又把舌头放在一个黄油桶上，然后又放到钱匣子上——它们的意见都跟盆子的意见一样，而多数人的意见是必须尊重的。“好吧，我要把这意见告诉那个学生！”

　　於是小鬼就静悄悄地从一个后楼梯走上学生所住的那间顶楼。房里还点着蜡烛。小鬼从门锁孔里朝里面偷看。他瞧见学生正在读他从楼下拿去的那本破书。

　　但是这房间里是多么亮啊！那本书里冒出一根亮晶晶的光柱。它扩大成为一根树干，变成了一株大树。它长得非常高，而且它的枝丫还在学生的头上向四面伸展开来。每片叶子都很新鲜，每朵花儿都是一个美女的面孔：脸上的眼睛有的乌黑发亮，有的蓝得分外晶莹。每一个果子都是一颗明亮的星；此外，房里还有美妙的歌声和音乐。

　　嗨！这样华丽的景像是小鬼从没有想到过的，更谈不上看见过或听到过了。他踮着脚尖站在那儿，望了又望，直到房里的光灭掉为止。学生把灯吹熄，上床睡觉去了。但是小鬼仍旧站在那儿，因为音乐还没有停止，声音既柔和，又美丽；对於躺着休息的学生说来，它真算得是一支美妙的催眠曲。“这真是美丽极了！”小鬼说。“这真是出乎我的想像之外！

　　我倒很想跟这学生住在一起哩。“

　　接着他很有理智地考虑了一下，歎了一口气：“这学生可没有粥给我吃！”所以他仍然走下楼来，回到那个小商人家里去了。他回来得正是时候，因为那个盆子几乎把太太的舌头用烂了：它已经把身子这一面所装的东西全都讲完了，现在它正打算翻转身来把另一面再讲一通。正在这时候，小鬼来到了，把这舌头拿走，还给了太太。不过从这时候起，整个的店——从钱匣一直到木柴——都随声附和盆子了。它们尊敬它，五体投地地佩服它，弄得后来店老闆晚间在报纸上读到艺术和戏剧批评文章时，它们都相信这是盆子的意见。

　　但是小鬼再也没有办法安安静静地坐着，听它们卖弄智慧和学问了。不成，只要顶楼上一有灯光射出来，他就觉得这些光线好像就是锚索，硬要把他拉上去。他不得不爬上去，把眼睛贴着那个小钥匙孔朝里面望。他胸中起了一种豪迈的感觉，就像我们站在波涛汹涌的、正受暴风雨袭击的大海旁边一样。他不禁淒然泪下！他自己也不知道他为甚么要流眼泪，不过他在流泪的时候却有一种幸福之感：跟学生一起坐在那株树下该是多么幸福啊！然而这是做不到的事情——他能在小孔里看一下也就很满足了。

　　他站在寒冷的楼梯上；秋风从阁楼的圆窗吹进来。天气变得非常冷了。不过，只有当顶楼上的灯灭了和音乐停止了的时候，这个小矮子才开始感觉到冷。嗨！这时他就颤抖起来，爬下楼梯，回到他那个温暖的角落里去了。那儿很舒服和安适！

　　圣诞节的粥和一大块黄油来了——的确，这时他体会到小商人是他的主人。

　　不过半夜的时候，小鬼被窗扉上一阵可怕的敲击声惊醒了。外面有人在大喊大叫。守夜人在吹号角，因为发生了火灾——整条街上都是一片火焰。火是在自己家里烧起来的呢，还是在隔壁房里烧起来的呢？究竟是在甚么地方烧起来的呢？

　　大家都陷入恐怖中。

　　小商人的太太给弄糊涂了，连忙扯下耳朵上的金耳环，塞进衣袋，以为这样总算救出了一点东西。小商人则忙着去找他的股票，女佣人跑去找她的黑绸披风——因为她没有钱再买这样一件衣服。每个人都想救出自己最好的东西。小鬼当然也是这样。他几步就跑到楼上，一直跑进学生的房里。学生正泰然自若地站在一个开着的窗子面前，眺望着对面那幢房子里的火焰。小鬼把放在桌上的那本奇书抢过来，塞进自己的小红帽里，同时用双手捧着帽子。现在这一家的最好的宝物总算救出来了！所以他就赶快逃跑，一直跑到屋顶上，跑到烟囱上去。他坐在那儿，对面那幢房子的火光照着他——他双手抱着那顶藏有宝贝的帽子。现在他知道他心里的真正感情，知道他的心真正向着谁了。不过等到火被救熄以后，等到他的头脑冷静下来以后——嗨……“我得把我分给两个人，”他说。“为了那碗粥，我不能舍弃那个小商人！”

　　这话说得很近人情！我们大家也到小商人那儿去——为了我们的粥。

　　（1853年）

　　这篇作品发表在《故事集》第二辑里。这里所谈到的问题就是文艺——具体地说，诗——与物质利益的关系。小鬼从锁孔里偷看到，那个学生正在读的那本破书- -诗集——中长出了青枝绿叶的树，开出了花朵——“每朵花儿都是一个美女的面孔：脸上的眼睛有的乌黑发亮，有的蓝得分外晶莹。”这情景真是美妙极了。小鬼心里想：“我倒很想跟这学生住在一起哩。”但一回到现实中来，他住楼底下那个小商人的屋子里却保证了他有饭吃——那个穷学生可没有这种能力。於是，他只好“把我分给两个人，为了那碗粥，我不能舍弃那个小商人。”故事的结论是：“这话说得很近人情！”