The girl with matches

As it was cold this evening! There was a snow, and twilight was condensed. And evening was last in a year - eve of New year. The small poor girl went to this cold and dark time on streets with an uncovered head and barefooted. However, from the house it left put, but whether was to use in huge old shoes much? These shoes were carried before by her mother - here what they were big, - and the girl has lost them today when has rushed to run through road, having been frightened of two carriages which rushed. It and has not found one shoe, another was dragged off by any boy, having declared, that from it there is an excellent cradle for its future children.

Here the girl also went now barefoot, and its legs have reddened and have turned blue from a cold. In a pocket of its old apron laid some packs of sulfuric matches, and one pack it held in a hand. For all this day she has not sold any match, and to it have not submitted not a stiver. She went hungry and продрогшая and so it was exhausted, the poor thing!

Snowflakes sat down on its long blond ringlets beautifully scattered on shoulders, but she, the right, and did not suspect that they are beautiful. From all windows light flew, in the street is tasty smelt as a fried goose - after all there was an eve of New year. Here of what she thought!

At last the girl has found a corner behind a house ledge. Here it has sat down and has shrivelled, having drawn in under itself legs. But to it became even colder, and to come back home it is not dared: it after all did not manage to sell any match, it has not gained not a stiver, and she knew, that for it the father will beat it; besides, she thought, at home too is cold; they live on an attic where the wind though the greatest cracks in walls and are stopped up by straw and rags walks.

Its hands have absolutely grown numb. Ah, as though they were warmed by a spark of a small match! If only she has dared to pull out a match, to strike it about a wall and to warm fingers! The girl has shy extended one match and... чирк! As the match has flashed, as brightly it has lighted up! The girl has covered with her hand, and the match began to burn an equal light flame, precisely tiny свечечка.

Surprising candle! To the girl has seemed, as if it sits in front of the big iron furnace with brilliant copper balls and заслонками. As in it fire nicely flares, as what heat from it blows! But what is it? the Girl has kicked the bucket to fire to warm them, - and suddenly... The flame has gone out, the oven has disappeared, and in a hand the girl still had burnt match.

It has struck one more match, the match has lighted up, lighted, and when its reflexion has fallen to a wall, the wall became transparent, as a muslin. The girl has seen before itself a room, and in drink a table covered with a snow-white cloth and filled with expensive porcelain; on a table, extending wonderful aroma, there was a dish with the fried goose filled with prunes and apples! And it was more wonderful than all that the goose has suddenly jumped off from a table and as was, with a plug and a knife in a back, вперевалку has hobbled on a floor. It went directly to the poor girl, but... The match has gone out, and before the poor thing there was an impenetrable, cold, crude wall.

The girl has lighted one more match. Now it sat before a magnificent Christmas fur-tree. This fur-tree was much above and наряднее that which the girl has seen in Christmas Eve, having approached to the house of one rich merchant and having glanced in a window. Thousand candles burnt on its green branches, and multi-coloured pictures with what decorate show-windows of shops, looked at the girl. The baby has stretched to them hands, but... The match has gone out. Sparks began to leave all above and above and have soon turned to clear asterisks. One of them has swept on the sky, having reserved a long fiery trace.

"Someone has died", - the girl because its recently died old grandmother, which one all over the world loved her has thought, time and again spoke to it: "When the asterisk will fall, someone's soul flies away to the god".

The girl has again struck about a wall a match and when all was around shined, has seen in this light the old grandmother, such silent and clarified, such kind and tender.

- The grandmother, - has exclaimed the girl, - take, take me to itself! I know, that you will leave, when the match will go out, will disappear, as a warm oven, as a tasty fried goose and a wonderful big fur-tree!

And it has hasty struck all matches which have remained in a pack, - here is how it would like to keep the grandmother! And matches have flashed so is dazzling, that became more light, than in the afternoon. The grandmother never was during lifetime such beautiful, such stately. It took the girl on hands, and, lighted up by light and pleasure, both of them have risen highly-highly - there where there is either no hunger, or a cold, fear, - they have risen to the god.

In the frosty morning behind a house ledge have found the girl: on cheeks it was played by a flush, lips - a smile, but it was dead; it has frozen last evening old year. The New Year's sun has shined a dead little body of the girl with matches; it has burnt almost whole pack.

- The girl wished to get warm, - people spoke. And nobody knew, what miracles she saw, among what beauty they together with the grandmother have met New Year's Happiness.