theDaisybyHansChristianAndersen（1838）NOWlisten！Inthecountry，closebythehighroad，stoodafarmhouse；perhapsyouhavepassedbyandseenityourself.Therewasalittleflowergardenwithpaintedwoodenpalingsinfrontofit；closebywasaditch，onitsfreshGREenbankgrewalittledaisy；thesunshoneaswarmlyandbrightlyuponitasonthemagnificentgardenflowers，andthereforeitthrivedwell.Onemorningithadquiteopened，anditslittlesnow-whitepetalsstoodroundtheyellowcentre，liketheraysofthesun.Itdidnotmindthatnobodysawitinthegrass，andthatitwasapoordespisedflower；onthecontrary，itwasquitehappy，andturnedtowardsthesun，lookingupwardandlisteningtothesongofthelarkhighupintheair.thelittledaisywasashappyasifthedayhadbeenaGREatholiday，butitwasonlyMonday.Allthechildrenwereatschool，andwhiletheyweresittingontheformsandlearningtheirlessons，itsatonitsthingreenstalkandlearntfromthesunandfromitssurroundingshowkindGodis，anditrejoicedthatthesongofthelittlelarkexpressedsosweetlyanddistinctlyitsownfeelings.Withasortofreverencethedaisylookeduptothebirdthatcouldflyandsing，butitdidnotfeelenvious. “Icanseeandhear，”itthought； “thesunshinesuponme，andtheforestkissesme.HowrichIam！”InthegardenclosebyGREwmanylargeandmagnificentflowers，and，strangetosay，thelessfragrancetheyhadthehaughtierandproudertheywere.Thepeoniespuffedthemselvesupinordertobelargerthantheroses，butsizeisnoteverything！Thetulipshadthefinestcolours，andtheyknewitwell，too，fortheywerestandingboltuprightlikecandles，thatonemightseethemthebetter.Intheirpridetheydidnotseethelittledaisy，whichlookedovertothemandthought， “Howrichandbeautifultheyare！Iamsuretheprettybirdwillflydownandcalluponthem.ThankGod，thatIstandsonearandcanatleastseeallthesplendour.”Andwhilethedaisywasstillthinking，thelarkcameflyingdown，crying“Tweet，”butnottothepeoniesandtulipsno，intothegrasstothepoordaisy.Itsjoywassogreatthatitdidnotknowwhattothink.Thelittlebirdhoppedrounditandsang， “Howbeautifullysoftthegrassis，andwhatalovelylittleflowerwithitsgoldenheartandsilverdressisgrowinghere.”Theyellowcentreinthedaisydidindeedlooklikegold，whilethelittlepetalsshoneasbrightlyassilver.Howhappythedaisywas！Noonehastheleastidea.Thebirdkisseditwithitsbeak，sangtoit，andthenroseagainuptothebluesky.Itwascertainlymorethanaquarterofanhourbeforethedaisyrecovereditssenses.Halfashamed，yetgladatheart，itlookedovertotheotherflowersinthegarden；surelytheyhadwitnesseditspleasureandthehonourthathadbeendonetoit；theyunderstooditsjoy.Butthetulipsstoodmorestifflythanever，theirfaceswerepointedandred，becausetheywerevexed.Thepeoniesweresulky；itwaswellthattheycouldnotspeak，otherwisetheywouldhavegiventhedaisyagoodlecture.Thelittleflowercouldverywellseethattheywereillatease，andpitiedthemsincerely.Shortlyafterthisagirlcameintothegarden，withalargesharpknife.Shewenttothetulipsandbegancuttingthemoff，oneafteranother. “Ugh！”sighedthedaisy， “thatisterrible；nowtheyaredonefor.”thegirlcarriedthetulipsaway.Thedaisywasgladthatitwasoutside，andonlyasmallfloweritfeltverygrateful.Atsunsetitfoldeditspetals，andfellasleep，anddreamtallnightofthesunandthelittlebird.w&ww.zzstep.c%omOnthefollowingmorning，whenthefloweroncemorestretchedforthitstenderpetals，likelittlearms，towardstheairandlight，thedaisyrecognisedthebirdsvoice，butwhatitsangsoundedsosad.Indeedthepoorbirdhadgoodreasontobesad，forithadbeencaughtandputintoacageclosebytheopenwindow.Itsangofthehappydayswhenitcouldmerrilyflyabout，offreshGREencorninthefields，andofthetimewhenitcouldsoaralmostuptotheclouds.Thepoorlarkwasmostunhappyasaprisonerinacage.Thelittledaisywouldhavelikedsomuchtohelpit，butwhatcouldbedone？Indeed，thatwasverydifficultforsuchasmallflowertofindout.Itentirelyforgothowbeautifuleverythingarounditwas，howwarmlythesunwasshining，andhowsplendidlywhiteitsownpetalswere.Itcouldonlythinkofthepoorcaptivebird，forwhichitcoulddonothing.Thentwolittleboyscameoutofthegarden；oneofthemhadalargesharpknife，likethatwithwhichthegirlhadcutthetulips.Theycamestraighttowardsthelittledaisy，whichcouldnotunderstandwhattheywanted.“Hereisafinepieceofturfforthelark，”saidoneoftheboys，andbegantocutoutasquareroundthedaisy，sothatitremainedinthecentreofthegrass.“Pluckthefloweroff”saidtheotherboy，andthedaisytrembledforfear，fortobepulledoffmeantdeathtoit；anditwishedsomuchtolive，asitwastogowiththesquareofturfintothepoorcaptivelarkscage.“Noletitstay，”saidtheotherboy， “itlookssopretty.”Andsoitstayed，andwasbroughtintothelarkscage.Thepoorbirdwaslamentingitslostliberty，andbeatingitswingsagainstthewires；andthelittledaisycouldnotspeakorutteraconsolingword，muchasitwouldhavelikedtodoso.Sotheforenoonpassed.“Ihavenowater，”saidthecaptivelark， “theyhaveallgoneout，andforgottentogivemeanythingtodrink.Mythroatisdryandburning.IfeelasifIhadfireandicewithinme，andtheairissooppressive.Alas！Imustdie，andpartwiththewarmsunshine，thefreshGREenmeadows，andallthebeautythatGodhascreated.”Anditthrustitsbeakintothepieceofgrass，torefreshitselfalittle.Thenitnoticedthelittledaisy，andnoddedtoit，andkisseditwithitsbeakandsaid： “Youmustalsofadeinhere，poorlittleflower.Youandthepieceofgrassarealltheyhavegivenmeinexchangeforthewholeworld，whichIenjoyedoutside.Eachlittlebladeofgrassshallbeagreentreeforme，eachofyourwhitepetalsafragrantflower.Alas！youonlyremindmeofwhatIhavelost.”“IwishIcouldconsolethepoorlark，”thoughtthedaisy.Itcouldnotmoveoneofitsleaves，butthefragranceofitsdelicatepetalsstreamedforth，andwasmuchstrongerthansuchflowersusuallyhave：thebirdnoticedit，althoughitwasdyingwiththirst，andinitspaintoreuptheGREenbladesofgrass，butdidnottouchtheflower.theeveningcame，andnobodyappearedtobringthepoorbirdadropofwater；itopeneditsbeautifulwings，andflutteredaboutinitsanguish；afaintandmournful“Tweet，tweet，”wasallitcou