TheSilverShilling byHansChristianAndersen（1862） theREwasonceashilling，whichcameforthfromthemintspringingandshouting，HurrahnowIamgoingoutintothewideworld.Andtrulyitdidgooutintothewideworld.Thechildrenhelditwithwarmhands，themiserwithacoldandconvulsivegrasp，andtheoldpeopleturneditabout，goodnessknowshowmanytimes，whiletheyoungpeoplesoonallowedittorollawayfromthem.Theshillingwasmadeofsilver，itcontainedverylittlecopper，andconsidereditselfquiteoutintheworldwhenithadbeencirculatedforayearinthecountryinwhichithadbeencoined.Oneday，itreallydidgooutintotheworld，foritbelongedtoagentlemanwhowasabouttotravelinforeignlands.Thisgentlemanwasnotawarethattheshillinglayatthebottomofhispursewhenhestarted，tillheonedayfounditbetweenhisfingers.Why，criedhe，hereisashillingfromhome；
well，itmustgoonitstravelswithmenowandtheshillingjumpedandrattledforjoy，whenitwasputbackagainintothepurse. Hereitlayamonganumberofforeigncompanions，whowerealwayscomingandgoing，onetakingtheplaceofanother，buttheshillingfromhomewasalwaysputback，andhadtoremaininthepurse，whichwascertainlyamarkofdistinction.Manyweekspassed，duringwhichtheshillinghadtravelledalongdistanceinthepurse，withoutintheleastknowingwherehewas.HehadfoundoutthattheothercoinswereFrenchandItalian；
andonecoinsaidtheywereinthistown，andanothersaidtheywereinthat，buttheshillingwasunabletomakeoutorimaginewhattheymeant.Amancertainlycannotseemuchoftheworldifheistiedupinabag，andthiswasreallytheshillingsfate.Butoneday，ashewaslyinginthepurse，henoticedthatitwasnotquiteclosed，andsoheslippedneartotheopeningtohavealittlepeepintosociety.Hecertainlyhadnottheleastideaofwhatwouldfollow，buthewascurious，andcuriosityoftenbringsitsownpunishment.Inhiseagerness，hecamesoneartheedgeofthepursethatheslippedoutintothepocketofthetrousers；
andwhen，intheevening，thepursewastakenout，theshillingwasleftbehindinthecornertowhichithadfallen.Astheclotheswerebeingcarriedintothehall，theshillingfelloutonthefloor，unheardandunnoticedbyanyone.Thenextmorningtheclothesweretakenbacktotheroom，thegentlemanputthemon，andstartedonhisjourneyagain；
buttheshillingremainedbehindonthefloor.Afteratimeitwasfound，andbeingconsideredagoodcoin，wasplacedwiththreeothercoins.Ah，thoughttheshilling，thisispleasant；
Ishallnowseetheworld，becomeacquaintedwithotherpeople，andlearnothercustoms. Doyoucallthatashillingsaidsomeonethenextmoment.Thatisnotagenuinecoinofthecountry，itisfalse；
itisgoodfornothing. Nowbeginsthestoryasitwasafterwardsrelatedbytheshillinghimself. ‘Falsegoodfornothingsaidhe.Thatremarkwentthroughandthroughmelikeadagger.IknewthatIhadatruering，andthatminewasagenuinestamp.thesepeoplemustatalleventsbewrong，ortheycouldnotmeanme.Butyes，Iwastheonetheycalledfalse，andgoodfornothing. ‘thenImustpayitawayinthedark，saidthemanwhohadreceivedme.SoIwastobegotridofinthedarkness，andbeagaininsultedinbroaddaylight. ‘FalsegoodfornothingOh，Imustcontrivetogetlost，thoughtI.AndItrembledbetweenthefingersofthepeopleeverytimetheytriedtopassmeoffslylyasacoinofthecountry.AhunhappyshillingthatIwasOfwhatuseweremysilver，mystamp，andmyrealvaluehere，whereallthesequalitieswereworthless.Intheeyesoftheworld，amanisvaluedjustaccordingtotheopinionedofhim.Itmustbeashockingthingtohaveaguiltyconscience，andtobesneakingaboutonaccountofwickeddeeds.Ase，innocentasIwas，Icouldnothelpshudderingbeforetheireyeswhenevertheybroughtmeout，forIknewIshouldbethrownbackagainupthetableasafalsepretender.AtlengthIwaspaidawaytoapooroldwoman，whoreceivedmeaswagesforaharddayswork.Butshecouldnotagaingetridofme；
noonewouldtakeme.Iwastothewomanamostunluckyshilling.Iampositivelyobligedtopassthisshillingtosomebody，saidshe；
Icannot，withthebestintentions，laybyabadshilling.Therichbakershallhaveit，hecanbearthelossbetterthanIcan.But，afterall，itisnotarightthingtodo. ‘AhsighedItomyself，amIalsotobeaburdenontheconscienceofthispoorwomanAmItheninmyolddayssocompletelychangedThewomanofferedmetotherichbaker，butheknewthecurrentmoneytoowell，andassoonashereceivedmehethrewmealmostinthewomansface.Shecouldgetnobreade，andIfeltquitegrievedtotheheartthatIshouldbecauseofsomuchtroubletoanother，andbet