theStoryoftheWind byHansChristianAndersen（1859） EARtheshoresoftheGREatBelt，whichisoneofthestraitsthatconnecttheCattegatwiththeBaltic，standsanoldmansionwiththickredwalls.Iknoweverystoneofit，“saystheWind. ”IsawitwhenitwaspartofthecastleofMarckStigonthepromontory.Butthecastlewasobligedtobepulleddown，andthestonewasusedagainforthewallsofanewmansiononanotherspotthebaronialresidenceofBorreby，whichstillstandsnearthecoast.Iknewthemwell，thosenoblelordsandladies，thesuccessivegenerationsthatdweltthere；
andnowImgoingtotellyouofWaldemarDaaandhisdaughters.Howproudwashisbearing，forhewasofroyalblood，andcouldboastofmorenobledeedsthanmerelyhuntingthestagandemptyingthewine-cup.HisrulewasdespoticItshallbe，hewasaccustomedtosay.Hiswife，ingarmentsembroideredwithgold，steppedproudlyoverthepolishedmarblefloors.Thetapestriesweregorgeous，andthefurnitureofcostlyandartistictaste.Shehadbroughtgoldandplatewithherintothehouse.Thecellarswerefullofwine.Black，fieryhorses，neighedinthestables.TherewasalookofwealthaboutthehouseofBorrebyatthattime.Theyhadthreechildren，daughters，fairanddelicatemaidensIda，Joanna，andAnnaDorothea；
Ihaveneverforgottentheirnames.Theywerearich，noblefamily，borninaffluenceandnurturedinluxury. “Whir-r-r，whir-r-r”roaredtheWind，andwenton， “Ididnotseeinthishouse，asinotherGREathouses，thehigh-bornladysittingamongherwomen，turningthespinning-wheel.Shecouldsweepthesoundingchordsoftheguitar，andsingtothemusic，notalwaysDanishmelodies，butthesongsofastrangeland.ItwasLiveandletlive，here.Strangerguestscamefromfarandnear，musicsounded，gobletsclashed，andI，”saidtheWind， “wasnotabletodrownthenoise.Ostentation，pride，splendor，anddisplayruled，butnotthefearoftheLord. “ItwasontheeveningofthefirstdayofMay，”theWindcontinued， “Icamefromthewest，andhadseentheshipsoverpoweredwiththewaves，whenallonboardpersistedorwerecastshipwreckedonthecoastofJutland.IhadhurriedacrosstheheathandoverJutlandswood-girteasterncoast，andovertheislandofFunen，andthenIdroveacrosstheGREatbelt，sighingandmoaning.AtlengthIlaydowntorestontheshoresofZeeland，neartothegreathouseofBorreby，wherethesplendidforestofoaksstillflourished.Theyoungmenoftheneighborhoodwerecollectingbranchesandbrushwoodundertheoak-trees.Thelargestanddryesttheycouldfindtheycarriedintothevillage，andpiledthemupinaheapandsetthemonfire.Thenthemenandmaidensdanced，andsunginacircleroundtheblazingpile.Ilayquitequiet，”saidtheWind， “butIsilentlytouchedabranchwhichhadbeenbroughtbyoneofthehandsomestoftheyoungmen，andthewoodblazedupbrightly，blazedbrighterthanalltherest.Thenhewaschosenasthechief，andreceivedthenameoftheShepherd；
andmightchoosehislambfromamongthemaidens.TherewasgreatermirthandrejoicingthanIhadeverheardinthehallsoftherichbaronialhouse.Thenthenobleladydrovebytowardsthebaronsmansionwithherthreedaughters，inagildedcarriagedrawnbysixhorses.Thedaughterswereyoungandbeautifulthreecharmingblossomsarose，alily，andawhitehyacinth.Themotherwasaproudtulip，andneveracknowledgedthesalutationsofanyofthemenormaidenswhopausedintheirsporttodoherhonor.Thegraciousladyseemedlikeaflowerthatwasratherstiffinthestalk.Rose，lily，andhyacinthyes，Isawthemallthree.WhoselittlelambswilltheyonedaybecomethoughtI；
theirshepherdwillbeagallantknight，perhapsaprince.Thecarriagerolledon，andthepeasantsresumedtheirdancing.Theydroveaboutthesummerthroughallthevillagesnear.Butonenight，whenIroseagain，thehigh-bornladylaydowntoriseagainnomore；
thatthingcametoherwhichcomestousall，inwhichthereisnothingnew.WaldemarDaaremainedforatimesilentandthoughtful.Theloftiesttreemaybebowedwithoutbeingbroken，saidavoicewithinhim.Hisdaughterswept；
allthepeopleinthemansionwipedtheireyes，butLadyDaahaddrivenaway，andIdroveawaytoo，”saidtheWind. “Whir-r-r，whir-r-r- “Ireturnedagain；
IoftenreturnedandpassedovertheislandofFunenandtheshoresoftheBelt.ThenIrestedbyBorreby，nearthegloriouswood，wheretheheronmadehisnest，thehauntofthewood-pigeons，theblue-birds，andtheblackstork.Itwasyetspring，someweresittingontheireggs，othershadalreadyhatchedtheiryoungbroods；
buthowtheyflutteredaboutandcriedoutwhentheaxesoundedthroughtheforest，blowuponblowThetreesoftheforestweredoomed.WaldemarDaawantedtobuildanobleship，aman-of-war，athree-decker，whichthekingwouldbesuretobuy；