theDarning-Needle byHansChristianAndersen（1846） theREwasonceadarning-needlewhothoughtherselfsofinethatshefanciedshemustbefitforembroidery. “Holdmetight，”shewouldsaytothefingers，whentheytookherup， “dontletmefall；
ifyoudoIshallneverbefoundagain，Iamsoveryfine.” “Thatisyouropinion，isit”saidthefingers，astheyseizedherroundthebody. “See，Iamcomingwithatrain，”saidthedarning-needle，drawingalongthreadafterher；
buttherewasnoknotinthethread. thefingersthenplacedthepointoftheneedleagainstthecooksslipper.Therewasacrackintheupperleather，whichhadtobesewntogether. “Whatcoarsework”saidthedarning-needle， “Ishallnevergetthrough.IshallbreakIambreaking”andsureenoughshebroke. “DidInotsayso”saidthedarning-needle， “IknowIamtoofineforsuchworkasthat.” “Thisneedleisquiteuselessforsewingnow，”saidthefingers；
buttheystillhelditfast，andthecookdroppedsomesealing-waxontheneedle，andfastenedherhandkerchiefwithitinfront. “SonowIamabreast-pin，”saidthedarning-needle；
“IknewverywellIshouldcometohonorsomedaymeritissuretorise；
”andshelaughed，quietlytoherself，forofcoursenooneeversawadarning-needlelaugh.Andthereshesatasproudlyasifshewereinastatecoach，andlookedallaroundher. “MayIbeallowedtoaskifyouaremadeofgold”sheinquiredofherneighbor，apin；
“youhaveaveryprettyappearance，andacurioushead，althoughyouarerathersmall.Youmusttakepainstogrow，foritisnoteveryonewhohassealing-waxdroppeduponhim；
”andasshespoke，thedarning-needledrewherselfupsoproudlythatshefelloutofthehandkerchiefrightintothesink，whichthecookwascleaning. “NowIamgoingonajourney，”saidtheneedle，asshefloatedawaywiththedirtywater， “IdohopeIshallnotbelost.”Butshereallywaslostinagutter. “Iamtoofineforthisworld，”saidthedarning-needle，asshelayinthegutter；
“butIknowwhoIam，andthatisalwayssomecomfort.”Sothedarning-needlekeptupherproudbehavior，anddidnotlosehergoodhumor.Thentherefloatedoverherallsortsofthings，chipsandstraws，andpiecesofoldnewspaper. “Seehowtheysail，”saidthedarning-needle；
“theydonotknowwhatisunderthem.Iamhere，andhereIshallstick.See，theregoesachip，thinkingofnothingintheworldbuthimselfonlyachip.Theresastrawgoingbynow；
howheturnsandtwistsaboutDontbethinkingtoomuchofyourself，oryoumaychancetorunagainstastone.Thereswimsapieceofnewspaper；
whatiswrittenuponithasbeenforgottenlongago，andyetitgivesitselfairs.Isitherepatientlyandquietly.IknowwhoIam，soIshallnotmove.” Onedaysomethinglyingclosetothedarning-needleglitteredsosplendidlythatshethoughtitwasadiamond；
yetitwasonlyapieceofbrokenbottle.Thedarning-needlespoketoit，becauseitsparkled，andrepresentedherselfasabreast-pin. “Isupposeyouarereallyadiamond”shesaid. “Whyyes，somethingofthekind，”hereplied；
andsoeachbelievedtheothertobeveryvaluable，andthentheybegantotalkabouttheworld，andtheconceitedpeopleinit. “Ihavebeeninaladyswork-box，”saidthedarning-needle， “andthisladywasthecook.Shehadoneachhandfivefingers，andanythingsoconceitedasthesefivefingersIhaveneverseen；
andyettheywereonlyemployedtotakemeoutoftheboxandtoputmebackagain.” “Weretheynothigh-born” “High-born”saidthedarning-needle， “noindeed，butsohaughty.Theywerefivebrothers，allbornfingers；
theykeptveryproudlytogether，thoughtheywereofdifferentlengths.Theonewhostoodfirstintherankwasnamedthethumb，hewasshortandthick，andhadonlyonejointinhisback，andcouldthereforemakebutonebow；
buthesaidthatifhewerecutofffromamanshand，thatmanwouldbeunfitforasoldier.Sweet-tooth，hisneighbor，dippedhimselfintosweetorsour，pointedtothesunandmoon，andedtheletterswhenthefingerswrote.Longman，themiddlefinger，lookedovertheheadsofalltheothers.Gold-band，thenextfinger，woreagoldencircleroundhiswaist.AndlittlePlaymandidnothingatall，andseemedproudofit.Theywereboasters，andboasterstheywillremain；
andthereforeIleftthem.” “Andnowwesithereandglitter，”saidthepieceofbrokenbottle. Atthesamemomentmorewaterstreamedintothegutter，sothatitoverflowed，andthepieceofbottlewascarriedaway. “Soheispromoted，”saidthedarning-needle， “whileIremainhere；
Iamtoofine，butthatismypride，andwhatdoIcare”Andsoshesatthereinherpride，andhadmanysuchthoughtsasthese，“IcouldalmostfancythatIcamefromasunbeam，Iamsofine.Itseemsasifthesunbeamswerealwayslookingeunderthewater.AhIamsofinethatevenmymot