theElfoftheRose byHansChristianAndersen（1839） INthemidstofagardenGREwarose-tree，infullblossom，andintheprettiestofalltheroseslivedanelf.Hewassuchalittleweething，thatnohumaneyecouldseehim.Behindeachleafoftherosehehadasleepingchamber.Hewasaswelledandasbeautifulasalittlechildcouldbe，andhadwingsthatreachedfromhisshoulderstohisfeet.Oh，whatsweetfragrancetherewasinhischambersandhowcleanandbeautifulwerethewallsfortheyweretheblushingleavesoftherose. Duringthewholedayheenjoyedhimselfinthewarmsunshine，flewfromflowertoflower，anddancedonthewingsoftheflyingbutterflies.Thenhetookitintohisheadtomeasurehowmanystepshewouldhavetogothroughtheroadsandcross-roadsthatareontheleafofalinden-tree.Whatwecalltheveinsonaleaf，hetookforroads；
ay，andverylongroadstheywereforhim；
forbeforehehadhalffinishedhistask，thesunwentdownhehadcommencedhisworktoolate.Itbecameverycold，thedewfell，andthewindblew；
sohethoughtthebestthinghecoulddowouldbetoreturnhome.Hehurriedhimselfasmuchashecould；
buthefoundtherosesallclosedup，andhecouldnotgetin；
notasinglerosestoodopen.Thepoorlittleelfwasverymuchfrightened.Hehadneverbeforebeenoutatnight，buthadalwaysslumberedsecretlybehindthewarmrose-leaves.Oh，thiswouldcertainlybehisdeath.Attheotherendofthegarden，heknewtherewasanarbor，overgrownwithbeautifulhoney-suckles.Theblossomslookedlikelargepaintedhorns；
andhethoughttohimself，hewouldgoandsleepinoneofthesetillthemorning.Heflewthither；
but“hush”twopeoplewereinthearbor，ahandsomeyoungmanandabeautifullady.Theysatsidebyside，andwishedthattheymightneverbeobligedtopart.Theylovedeachothermuchmorethanthebestchildcanloveitsfatherandmother. “Butwemustpart，”saidtheyoungman；
“yourbrotherdoesnotlikeourengagement，andthereforehesendsmesofarawayonbusiness，overmountainsandseas.Farewell，mysweetbride；
forsoyouaretome.” Andthentheykissedeachother，andthegirlwept，andgavehimarose；
butbeforeshedidso，shepressedakissuponitsoferventlythatthefloweropened.Thenthelittleelfflewin，andleanedhisheadonthedelicate，fragrantwalls.Herehecouldplainlyhearthemsay， “Farewell，farewell；
”andhefeltthattherosehadbeenplacedontheyoungmansbreast.Oh，howhisheartdidbeatThelittleelfcouldnotgotosleep，itthumpedsoloudly.Theyoungmantookitoutashewalkedthroughthedarkwoodalone，andkissedtheflowersooftenandsoviolently，thatthelittleelfwasalmostcrushed.Hecouldfeelthroughtheleafhowhotthelipsoftheyoungmanwere，andtherosehadopened，asiffromtheheatofthenoondaysun. therecameanotherman，wholookedgloomyandwicked.Hewasthewickedbrotherofthebeautifulmaiden.Hedrewoutasharpknife，andwhiletheotherwaskissingtherose，thewickedmanstabbedhimtodeath；
thenhecutoffhishead，andburieditwiththebodyinthesoftearthunderthelinden-tree. “Nowheisgone，andwillsoonbeforgotten，”thoughtthewickedbrother；
“hewillnevercomebackagain.Hewasgoingonalongjourneyovermountainsandseas；
itiseasyforamantolosehislifeinsuchajourney.Mysisterwillsupposeheisdead；
forhecannotcomeback，andshewillnotdaretoquestionmeabouthim.” thenhescatteredthedryleavesoverthelightearthwithhisfoot，andwenthomethroughthedarkness；
buthewentnotalone，ashethought，thelittleelfaccompaniedhim.Hesatinadryrolled-uplinden-leaf，whichhadfallenfromthetreeontothewickedmanshead，ashewasdiggingthegrave.Thehatwasontheheadnow，whichmadeitverydark，andthelittleelfshudderedwithfrightandindignationatthewickeddeed. Itwasthedawnofmorningbeforethewickedmanreachedhome；
hetookoffhishat，andwentintohissistersroom.Therelaythebeautiful，bloominggirl，dreamingofhimwhomshelovedso，andwhowasnow，shesupposed，travellingfarawayovermountainandsea.Herwickedbrotherstoppedoverher，andlaughedhideously，asfiendsonlycanlaugh.Thedryleaffelloutofhishairuponthecounterpane；
buthedidnotnoticeit，andwenttogetalittlesleepduringtheearlymorninghours.Buttheelfslippedoutofthewitheredleaf，placedhimselfbytheearofthesleepinggirl，andtoldher，asinadream，ofthehorridmurder；
describedtheplacewhereherbrotherhadslainherlover，andburiedhisbody；
andtoldherofthelinden-tree，infullblossom，thatstoodcloseby. “ThatyoumaynotthinkthisisonlyadreamthatIhavetoldyou，”hesaid， “youwillfindonyourbedawitheredleaf.” thensheawoke，andfounditthere.Oh，whatbittertearssheshedandshecouldnotopenherhearttoanyon