Page:Fairy tales and stories (Andersen, Tegner).djvu/473

THE WIND TELLS ABOUT VALDEMAR DAA^[1] AND HIS DAUGHTERS

WHEN the wind sweeps over the grass the meadow ripples like a lake, and when it sweeps over the corn the whole field moves in waves like the sea; it is the dance of the wind—but listen to him telling stories. He sings them out loudly; among the trees in the forest it sounds quite different to when it blows through holes, cracks, and crevices in the walls. Do you see how the wind up there is chasing the clouds as if they were a flock of sheep ? Do you hear how the wind down here is howling through the open gate, as if it were a watchman blowing his horn? With strange sounds it whistles down the chimney and into the fireplace. The fire flares up and sends out sparks, and throws a light far into the room, where it is so snug and pleasant to sit and listen to it. Only let the wind speak. He knows more fairy tales and stories than all of us put together. Just listen to what he is telling: "Whew!—ugh!—whew! Rush along!" is the burden of his song.

"By the shore of the Great Belt stands an old mansion with thick red walls," begins the wind. "I know every stone of it; I have seen them