324 THE OLD HOUSE.

backs. Ugh! it was iust like the first time, for over there one
day or one hour was just like another.

“T can’t stand it!” said the Tin Soldier. “I’ve wept tears of
tin. It’s too dreamy here. I had rather go to war and lose my
arms and legs; at any rate, that’s a change. I cannot stand it!
Now I know what it means to havea visit from one’s old thoughts
and all they bring with them. I’ve had visits from my own, and
you may believe me, that’s no pleasure in the long run. I was
very nearly jumping down from the shelf. I could see you all in
the house opposite as plainly as if you had been here. It was
Sunday morning, and you children were all standing round the
table singing the psalm vou sing every morning. You were stand-
ing reverently with folded hands, and your father and mother
were just as piously disposed; then the door opened, and your
little sister Maria, who is not two years old yet, and who always
dances when she hears music or song, of whatever description
they may be, was brought in. She was not to do it, but she im-
mediately began to dance, though she could not get into right
time, for the song was too slow, so she first stood on one leg and
bent her head quite over in front, but it was not long enough.
You all stood very quietly, though that was rather difficult ; but
I laughed inwardly, and so I fell down from the table and got a
bruise which I have still; for it was not right of one to laugh.
But all this, and all the rest that I have experienced, now passes
by my inward vision, and those must be the old thoughts with
everything they bring with them. Tell me, do you still sing on
Sundays? Tell me something about little Maria. And how is
my comrade and brother tin soldier? Yes, he must be very
happy. I can’t stand it!”

“You have been given away,” said the little boy. “ You must
stay where you are. Don’t you see that?”

And the old man came with a box in which many things were
to be seen: little rouge-pots and scent-boxes ; and old cards so
large and so richly gilt as one never sees them in these days;
and many little boxes were opened, likewise the piano; and in
this were painted landscapes, inside the lid. But the piano was
quite hoarse when the old man played upon it; and then he
nodded to the picture that he had bought at the dealer’s, and
then the old man’s eyes shone quite brightly. ;

“T?ll go to the war! I’ll go the war!” cried the Tin Soldier
as loud as he could; and he threw himself down on the floor.

Where had he gone? The old man searched, the little boy
searched, but he was gone, and could not be found.

“T shall find him,” said the old man.

But he never found him : the flooring was so open and full of
holes, that the Tin Soldier had fallen through a crack, and there
he lay as in an open grave.

And the day passed away, and the little boy went home; and