The World of Fairy Tales. The Scarlet Book/ Мир волшебных сказок. Алая книга. Книга для чтения на английском языке

The Magic Tinderbox

There was once a brave soldier who was coming home from the war. On the way home, he met an ugly witch with a hooked nose and heavy lips. He didn't know that she was a wicked witch and greeted her very politely.

The ugly witch pretended very unhappy and asked the soldier for help. She needed her tinderbox which had fallen into the well. The kind soldier agreed to help at once and climbed into the bucket. The witch warned him to talk gentle to three dogs, which he would meet, and they wouldn't do any harm to him. After these words of warning she let him down.

So the brave soldier found himself in a huge, shadowy cave where there were three angry dogs staring at him. They guarded the treasures and were ready to tear our soldier into pieces. Remembering the witch's warning he kindly saluted each dog and took so many copper, silver and gold coins as he was able to carry. Of course the grateful soldier picked up the tinderbox lying on the floor and was ready to climb up. He got into the bucket and shouted the witch to pull it out. The bucket was practically near the top when the cunning witch demanded to pass her tinderbox. Many times suddenly suspicious soldier promised to give her tinderbox but first she should take him out. It didn't work. The furious witch threw the rope and the bucket with a soldier flew down into the dark.

Luckily, the soldier had the tinderbox and could have some light. So he struck the tinderbox and a huge dog appeared in front of him ready to realise all the master's wishes. The hungry and cold soldier wished only two things, a tasty dinner and a comfortable bed. In a flash he found himself in the inn sitting at the table and eating a delicious meal. The bags with copper, silver and gold coins were just near his soft big bed.

Since this day his life was completely different. He could afford to visit a theatre, buy everything what he preferred. Frankly speaking, the soldier wasted his money. But the kind soldier never forgot poor people and always gave them alms.

One day he heard about a beautiful princess who was imprisoned in a copper castle somewhere in the kingdom. When she was born, the magician predicted that she would marry a mere soldier. That's why the king ordered to lock his daughter and not to allow to visit her.

One day our generous soldier had only two pennies and nothing to eat. But he suddenly remembered the tinderbox from the dark well. This time he asked the ugly dog to give him some money and to bring a princess to his room.

Everything was done immediately and the stunning princess appeared in front of him. You can believe or not but this girl was not only beautiful but a very clever. So the young people were able to talk and laugh for hours every day and very soon they fell in love.

Unfortunately, the king learned about these visits and ordered to arrest the soldier. He was thrown into prison and sentenced to death.

On the day of the execution a huge crowd of people came to the capital square. Even the king and queen wanted to see how the soldier would be hanged. The resourceful soldier begged or the last wish to smoke a pipe. Luckily his tinder-box was with him. The king couldn't refuse, it was the rule.

Once, twice, thrice! The soldier struck his tinderbox and three huge dogs appeared in front of him ready to realise any his wishes.

At once the wise king understood that it wasn't a mere soldier and allowed his beloved daughter to marry him.

Very soon the happy young people got married and had a very merry wedding and lived happily ever after.

Hans Christian Andersen

The Shepherdess & The Sweep

In the sitting room there was a very old wooden cupboard. It was carved with roses and tulips and heads of deer with large antlers. At the top there was a picture of a funny little man with goat’s hoofs and horns and a very long beard. The children of the house called him the Grand-General-Commander-in-Chief Goatfoot. Really, he looked like a devil.