Hans Christian Andersen

April 2, 1805 - August 4, 1875

 

First Lines of Hans Christian Andersen

As soon as a good little child dies, one of God's angels descends to the earth, takes the dead child in his arms, spreads out his large white wings, and flies over all the places that were dear to the little one when alive; and on the way he gathers a handful of flowers, which he then carries to Heaven, in order that they may bloom still more beautifully there than they did here on Earth.Did you ever see any body who knows so many stories as good old Ole Luckoie -- and then, too, such stories!Far, far from here, in the land whither the swallows fly when with us it is winter, there dwelt a King, who had eleven sons, and one daughter named Elise.If, after a thunderstorm, you go into a field where Buckwheat is growing, you will sometimes see that it looks quite black and singed; just as if a stream of flame had passed over it: and then the farmer says, The lightning has done this.Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening -- the last evening of the year.Poor Johnny was very melancholy; for his father lay grievously ill, and could not hope to live. He was quite alone with the sick man in his small chamber; the lamp burned faintly, and gave but a glimmering light, and the evening was already far advanced.There was once a little girl who was very pretty and delicate, but in summer she was forced to run about with bare feet, she was so poor, and in winter wear very large wooden shoes, which made her little insteps quite red, and that looked so dangerous!