IntheUttermostPartsoftheSea byHansChristianAndersen（1855） SOMEyearsago，largeshipsweresenttowardsthenorthpole，toexplorethedistantcoasts，andtotryhowfarmencouldpenetrateintothoseunknownregions.orethanayearoneoftheseshipshadbeenpushingitswaynorthward，amidsnowandice，andthesailorshadenduredmanyhardships；
tillatlengthwintersetin，andthesunentirelydisappeared；
anyweekstherewouldbeconstantnight.Allaround，asfarastheeyecouldreach，nothingcouldbeseenbutfieldsofice，inwhichtheshipremainedstuckfast.ThesnowlaypiledupinGREatheaps，andofthesethesailorsmadehuts，intheofbee-hives，someofthemaslargeandspaciousasoneofthe“Hunsgraves，”andothersonlycontainingroomenoughtoholdthreeorfourmen.Itwasnotquitedark；
thenorthernlightsshotforthredandblueflames，likecontinuousfireworks，andthesnowglittered，andreflectedbackthelight，sothatthenightherewasonelongtwilight.Whenthemoonwasbrightest，thenativescameincrowdstoseethesailors.Theyhadaverysingularappearanceintheirrough，hairydressesoffur，andridinginsledgesovertheice.Theybroughtwiththemfursandskinsingreatabundance，sothatthesnow-housesweresoonprovidedwithwarmcarpets，andthefursalsoservedforthesailorstowrapthemselvesin，whentheysleptundertheroofsofsnow，whileoutsideitwasfreezingwithacoldfarmoreseverethaninthewinterwithus.Inourcountryitwasstillautumn，thoughlateintheseason；
andtheythoughtofthatintheirdistantexile，andoftenpicturedtothemselvestheyellowleavesonthetreesathome.Theirwatchespointedtothehoursofevening，andtimetogotosleep，althoughintheseregionsitwasnowalwaysnight. Inoneofthehuts，twoofthemenlaidthemselvesdowntorest.Theyoungerofthesemenhadbroughtwithhimfromhomehisbest，hisdearesttreasureaBible，whichhisgrandmotherhadgivenhimonhisdeparture.Everynightthesacredvolumerestedunderhishead，andhehadknownfromhischildhoodwhatwaswritteninit.Everydayhereadinthebook，andwhilestretchedonhiscoldcouch，theholywordshehadlearntwouldcomeintohismind “IfItakethewingsofthemorning，andflytotheuttermostpartsofthesea，eventhereThouartwithme，andThyrighthandshallupholdme；
”andundertheinfluenceofthatfaithwhichtheseholywordsinspired，sleepcameuponhim，anddreams，whicharethemanifestationsofGodtothespirit.Thesoullivesandacts，whilethebodyisatrest.Hefeltthislifeinhim，anditwasasifheheardthesoundofdear，well-knownmelodies，asifthebreezesofsummerfloatedaroundhim；
andoverhiscouchshonearayofbrightness，asifitwereshiningthroughthecoveringofhissnow-roof.Heliftedhishead，andsawthatthebrightgleamingwasnotthereflectionoftheglitteringsnow，butthedazzlingbrightnessofthepinionsofamightyangel，intowhosebeamingfacehewasgazing.Asfromthecupofalily，theangelrosefromamidsttheleavesoftheBible；
and，stretchingouthisarm，thewallsofthehutsunkdown，asthoughtheyhadbeenedofalight，airyveilofmist，andtheGREenhillsandmeadowsofhome，withitsruddywoods，layspreadaroundhiminthequietsunshineofalovelyautumnday.Thenestofthestorkwasempty，butripefruitstillhungonthewildapple-tree，althoughtheleaveshadfallen.Theredhipsgleamedonthehedges，andthestarlingwhichhunginthegreencageoutsidethewindowofthepeasantshut，whichwashishome，whistledthetunewhichhehadtaughthim.Hisgrandmotherhunggreenbirds-foodaroundthecage，ashe，hergrandson，hadbeenaccustomedtodo.Thedaughterofthevillageblacksmith，whowasyoungandfair，stoodatthewell，drawingwater.Shenoddedtothegrandmother，andtheoldwomannoddedtoher，andpointedtoaletterwhichhadcomefromalongwayoff.Thatverymorningtheletterhadarrivedfromthecoldregionsofthenorth；
there，wheretheabsentonewassweetlysleepingundertheprotectinghandofGod.Theylaughedandweptovertheletter；
andhe，faraway，amidiceandsnow，undertheshadowoftheangelswings，weptandsmiledwiththeminspirit；
forhesawandhearditallinhisdream.FromthelettertheyreadaloudthewordsofHolyWrit “Intheuttermostpartsofthesea，Thyrighthandshallupholdme.”Andastheangelspreadhiswingslikeaveiloverthesleeper，therewasthesoundofbeautifulmusicandahymn.Thenthevisionfled.Itwasdarkagaininthesnow-hutbuttheBiblestillrestedbeneathhishead，andfaithandhopedweltinhisheart.Godwaswithhim，andhecarriedhomeinhisheart，even“intheuttermostpartsofthesea.” 有几艘大船开到北极去；
它们的目的是要发现陆地和海的界线，同时也要试验一下，人类到底能够向前走多远。它们在雾和冰中已经航行了好几年，而且也吃过不少的苦头。现在冬天开始了，太阳已经不见了。漫长的黑夜将要一连持续好几个星期。四周是一望无际的冰块。船只已经凝结在冰块的中间。雪堆积得很高；
从雪堆中人们建立起蜂窠似的小屋有的很大，像我们的