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furniture was polished； the floors scoured； and clean curtains put
up every fortnight；'
〃'What an interesting way you have of relating a story；' said
the carpet…broom； 'it is easy to perceive that you have been a great
deal in women's society； there is something so pure runs through
what you say。'
〃'That is quite true；' said the water…bucket； and he made a spring
with joy； and splashed some water on the floor。
〃Then the saucepan went on with his story； and the end was as good
as the beginning。
〃The plates rattled with pleasure； and the carpet…broom brought
some green parsley out of the dust…hole and crowned the saucepan；
for he knew it would vex the others； and he thought； 'If I crown him
to…day he will crown me to…morrow。'
〃'Now； let us have a dance；' said the fire…tongs； and then how
they danced and stuck up one leg in the air。 The chair…cushion in
the corner burst with laughter when she saw it。
〃'Shall I be crowned now？' asked the fire…tongs； so the broom
found another wreath for the tongs。
〃'They were only common people after all；' thought the matches。
The tea…urn was now asked to sing； but she said she had a cold； and
could not sing without boiling heat。 They all thought this was
affectation； and because she did not wish to sing excepting in the
parlor； when on the table with the grand people。
〃In the window sat an old quill…pen； with which the maid generally
wrote。 There was nothing remarkable about the pen； excepting that it
had been dipped too deeply in the ink； but it was proud of that。
〃'If the tea…urn won't sing；' said the pen； 'she can leave it
alone； there is a nightingale in a cage who can sing； she has not been
taught much； certainly； but we need not say anything this evening
about that。'
〃'I think it highly improper；' said the tea…kettle； who was
kitchen singer； and half…brother to the tea…urn； 'that a rich
foreign bird should be listened to here。 Is it patriotic？ Let the
market…basket decide what is right。'
〃'I certainly am vexed；' said the basket； 'inwardly vexed； more
than any one can imagine。 Are we spending the evening properly？
Would it not be more sensible to put the house in order？ If each
were in his own place I would lead a game； this would be quite another
thing。'
〃'Let us act a play；' said they all。 At the same moment the door
opened； and the maid came in。 Then not one stirred； they all
remained quite still； yet； at the same time； there was not a single
pot amongst them who had not a high opinion of himself； and of what he
could do if he chose。
〃'Yes； if we had chosen；' they each thought； 'we might have
spent a very pleasant evening。'
〃The maid took the matches and lighted them； dear me； how they
sputtered and blazed up！
〃'Now then；' they thought； 'every one will see that we are the
first。 How we shine； what a light we give！' Even while they spoke
their light went out。
〃What a capital story；〃 said the queen； 〃I feel as if I were
really in the kitchen； and could see the matches； yes； you shall marry
our daughter。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the king； 〃thou shalt have our daughter。〃 The
king said thou to him because he was going to be one of the family。
The wedding…day was fixed； and； on the evening before； the whole
city was illuminated。 Cakes and sweetmeats were thrown among the
people。 The street boys stood on tiptoe and shouted 〃hurrah；〃 and
whistled between their fingers； altogether it was a very splendid
affair。
〃I will give them another treat；〃 said the merchant's son。 So he
went and bought rockets and crackers； and all sorts of fire…works that
could be thought of； packed them in his trunk； and flew up with it
into the air。 What a whizzing and popping they made as they went
off！ The Turks； when they saw such a sight in the air； jumped so
high that their slippers flew about their ears。 It was easy to believe
after this that the princess was really going to marry a Turkish
angel。
As soon as the merchant's son had come down in his flying trunk to
the wood after the fireworks； he thought； 〃I will go back into the
town now； and hear what they think of the entertainment。〃 It was
very natural that he should wish to know。 And what strange things
people did say； to be sure！ every one whom he questioned had a
different tale to tell； though they all thought it very beautiful。
〃'I saw the Turkish angel myself；〃 said one； 〃he had eyes like
glittering stars； and a head like foaming water。〃
〃He flew in a mantle of fire；〃 cried another； 〃and lovely little
cherubs peeped out from the folds。〃
He heard many more fine things about himself； and that the next
day he was to be married。 After this he went back to the forest to
rest himself in his trunk。 It had disappeared！ A spark from the
fireworks which remained had set it on fire； it was burnt to ashes！ So
the merchant's son could not fly any more； nor go to meet his bride。
She stood all day on the roof waiting for him； and most likely she
is waiting there still； while he wanders through the world telling
fairy tales； but none of them so amusing as the one he related about
the matches。
THE END
。