theTopandBall byHansChristianAndersen（1838） WHIPPINGTOPandalittleballlaytogetherinabox，amongothertoys，andthetopsaidtotheball， “Shallwebemarried，asweliveinthesamebox” Buttheball，whichworeadressofmoroccoleather，andthoughtasmuchofherselfasanyotheryounglady，wouldnotevencondescendtoreply. thenextdaycamethelittleboytowhomtheplaythingsbelonged，andhepaintedthetopredandyellow，anddroveabrass-headednailintothemiddle，sothatwhilethetopwasspinningrounditlookedsplendid. “Lookatme，”saidthetoptotheball. “WhatdoyousaynowShallwebeengagedtoeachotherWeshouldsuitsowell；
youspring，andIdance.Noonecouldbehappierthanweshouldbe.” “IndeeddoyouthinksoPerhapsyoudonotknowthatmyfatherandmotherweremoroccoslippers，andthatIhaveaSpanishcorkinmybody.” “Yes；
butIammadeofmahogany，”saidthetop. “Themajorhimselfturnedme.Hehasaturninglatheofhisown，anditisaGREatamusementtohim.” “CanIbelieveit”askedtheball. “MayIneverbewhippedagain，”saidthetop， “ifIamnottellingyouthetruth.” “Youcertainlyknowhowtospeakforyourselfverywell，”saidtheball；
“butIcannotacceptyourproposal.Iamalmostengagedtoaswallow.EverytimeIflyupintheair，heputshisheadoutofthenest，andsays，WillyouandIhavesaid，Yes，tomyselfsilently，andthatisasgoodasbeinghalfengaged；
butIwillpromisenevertoforgetyou.” “Muchgoodthatwillbetome，”saidthetop；
andtheyspoketoeachothernomore. Nextdaytheballwastakenoutbytheboy.Thetopsawitflyinghighintheair，likeabird，tillitwouldgoquiteoutofsight.Eachtimeitcameback，asittouchedtheearth，itgaveahigherleapthanbefore，eitherbecauseitlongedtoflyupwards，orfromhavingaSpanishcorkinitsbody.Buttheninthtimeitroseintheair，itremainedaway，anddidnotreturn.Theboysearchedeverywhereforit，buthesearchedinvain，foritcouldnotbefound；
itwasgone. “Iknowverywellwheresheis，”sighedthetop；
“sheisintheswallowsnest，andhasmarriedtheswallow.” themorethetopthoughtofthis，themorehelongedfortheball.Hisloveincreasedthemore，justbecausehecouldnotgether；
andthatsheshouldhavebeenwonbyanother，wastheworstofall.Thetopstilltwirledaboutandhummed，buthecontinuedtothinkoftheball；
andthemorehethoughtofher，themorebeautifulsheseemedtohisfancy. Thusseveralyearspassedby，andhislovebecamequiteold.thetop，also，wasnolongeryoung；
buttherecameadaywhenhelookedhandsomerthanever；
forhewasgildedallover.Hewasnowagoldentop，andwhirledanddancedabouttillhehummedquiteloud，andwassomethingworthlookingat；
butonedayheleapedtoohigh，andthenhe，also，wasgone.Theysearchedeverywhere，eveninthecellar，buthewasnowheretobefound.WherecouldhebeHehadjumpedintothedust-bin，whereallsortsofrubbishwerelyingcabbage-stalks，dust，andrain-droppingsthathadfallendownfromthegutterundertheroof. “NowIaminaniceplace，”saidhe；
“mygildingwillsoonbewashedoffhere.Ohdear，whatasetofrabbleIhavegotamongst”Andthenheglancedatacuriousroundthinglikeanoldapple，whichlaynearalong，leaflesscabbage-stalk.Itwas，however，notanapple，butanoldball，whichhadlainforyearsinthegutter，andwassoakedthroughwithwater. “Thankgoodness，herecomesoneofmyownclass，withwhomIcantalk，”saidtheball，examiningthegildedtop. “Iammadeofmorocco，”shesaid. “Iwassewntogetherbyayounglady，andIhaveaSpanishcorkinmybody；
butnoonewouldthinkit，tolookatmenow.Iwasonceengagedtoaswallow；
butIfellinherefromthegutterundertheroof，andIhavelainheremorethanfiveyears，andhavebeenthoroughlydrenched.Believeme，itisalongtimeforayoungmaiden.” thetopsaidnothing，buthethoughtofhisoldlove；
andthemoreshesaid，themoreclearitbecametohimthatthiswasthesameball. theservantthencametocleanoutthedust-bin. “Ah，”sheexclaimed， “hereisagilttop.”Sothetopwasbroughtagaintonoticeandhonor，butnothingmorewasheardofthelittleball.Hespokenotawordabouthisoldlove；
forthatsoondiedaway.Whenthebelovedobjecthaslainforfiveyearsinagutter，andhasbeendrenchedthrough，noonecarestoknowheragainonmeetingherinadust-bin. []