What is the correct name for the shepherd's tale. Children's fairy tales online. Andersen Hans Christian

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G.H. Andersen

Shepherdess and chimney sweep

Have you ever dreamed of an old-fashioned wardrobe, blackened by time and decorated with carved scrolls and leaves? Such a closet - great-grandmother's legacy - stood in the living room. It was all covered with carvings - roses, tulips and the most intricate curlicues. Between them peeped deer heads with branched horns, and in the very middle a full-length little man was carved. It was impossible to look at him without laughing, and he himself was grinning from ear to ear - such a grimace cannot be called a smile. He had goat legs, small horns on his forehead, and a long beard. The children called him Ober-Unter-General-Kriegskommissar-Sergeant Kozlonog, because it is difficult to pronounce such a name and not many are given such a title. But it is not easy to cut out such a figure, well, yes, they did cut it out. The little man kept looking at the table under the mirror, where stood a pretty china shepherdess. Gilded shoes, a skirt gracefully pinned up with a crimson rose, a gilded hat on the head and a shepherd's crook in his hand - well, isn't it beauty!

Next to her stood a little chimney sweep, black as coal, but also made of china, and as clean and sweet as all the others. After all, he only portrayed a chimney sweep, and the master could have made him a prince in the same way - all the same!

He stood gracefully, with a ladder in his hands, and his face was pink and white, like a girl's, and it was a little wrong, he could have been grimy. He stood very close to the shepherdess - as they were put, so they stood. And if so, they took and got engaged. The couple went anywhere: both young, both made of the same porcelain, and both equally fragile.

Right next to it stood another doll, three times their height, an old Chinese man who knew how to nod his head. He was also porcelain and called himself the grandfather of a little shepherdess, but he lacked evidence. He argued that she should obey him, and therefore nodded his head to Ober-Unter-General-Kriegskommissar-Sergeant Kozlonog, who was wooing a shepherdess.

You will have a good husband! said the old Chinese. - Looks like even mahogany. With him, you will be Ober-Unter-General-Kriegskommissar-Sergeant. He has a whole wardrobe of silver, not to mention what lies in secret drawers.

I don't want a dark closet! answered the shepherdess. - They say he has eleven china wives there!

Well, you will be the twelfth! - said the Chinese. - At night, as soon as the old closet groans, we will play your wedding, otherwise I won’t be a Chinese!

Then he nodded his head and fell asleep.

And the shepherdess burst into tears and, looking at her dear porcelain chimney sweep, said:

I beg you, run away with me wherever your eyes look. We can't stay here.

For you, I'm ready for anything! answered the chimney sweep. -Let's go now! Surely I can feed you with my craft.

Just get off the table! - she said. - I will not breathe freely until we are far, far away!

The chimney sweep reassured her and showed her where it was better to step with her china foot, on which ledge or gilded curl. His ladder also served them well, and in the end they descended safely to the floor. But, looking at the old closet, they saw a terrible commotion there. The carved deer stretched their heads forward, put out their antlers and twirled them in all directions, and Ober-Unter-General-Kriegskommissar-Sergeant Goatfoot jumped high and shouted to the old Chinese:

They are running away! Run away!

The shepherdess and the chimney sweep were frightened and darted into the box under the windowsill. There were scattered decks of cards, a puppet theater was somehow set up. There was a performance on the stage.

All the ladies - diamonds and hearts, clubs and spades - sat in the front row and fanned themselves with tulips, and jacks stood behind them and tried to show that they, too, had two heads, like all the figures in the cards. The play depicted the suffering of a couple in love, which was separated, and the shepherdess began to cry: it so reminded her of her own fate.

My strength is gone! she said to the chimney sweep. - Let's get out of here!

But when they found themselves on the floor and looked at their table, they saw that the old Chinese man woke up and swayed all over - after all, a lead ball was rolling inside him.

Ay, the old Chinese is chasing us! cried the shepherdess, and fell in despair on her china ones. knees.

Stop! Invented! said the chimney sweep. - Do you see over there, in the corner, a large vase with dried fragrant herbs and flowers? Let's hide in it! Let's lie there on the rose and lavender petals, and if the Chinaman gets to us, we'll put salt in his eyes*.

Nothing will come of it! - said the shepherdess. - I know, the Chinaman and the vase were once engaged, but there is always something left of the old friendship. No, there is only one way for us - to go around the world!

Do you have the heart for it? asked the chimney sweep. Have you thought about how big the light is? That we'll never go back?

Yes Yes! she answered.

The chimney sweep looked at her closely and said:

My path leads through the chimney! Do you have the courage to climb into the stove with me, and then into the chimney? There, I know what to do! We will rise so high that no one will reach us. There, at the very top, there is a hole through which you can get out into the world!

And he led her to the stove.

How black it is! - she said, but all the same she climbed after him into the stove and into the chimney, where it was dark even to gouge out an eye.

Well, here we are in the pipe! said the chimney sweep. - Look look! Right above us shines a wonderful star!

There was indeed a star shining in the sky, as if showing them the way. And they climbed, climbed a terrible road, higher and higher. But the chimney sweep supported the shepherdess and suggested where it would be more convenient for her to put her porcelain legs. Finally they got to the very top and sat down to rest on the edge of the pipe - they were very tired, and no wonder.

They were the sky dotted with stars, under them all the roofs of the city, and all around on all sides, both in breadth and distance, the free world swung open. The poor shepherdess never thought that the light was so great. She leaned her head against the chimney sweep's shoulder and wept so bitterly that the tears washed away all the gold from her belt.

This is too much for me! - said the shepherdess. - I can't take it! The light is too big! Oh, how I want to go back to the mirror table! I won't have a moment of peace until I get back there! After all, I followed you to the ends of the world, and now you take me back home if you love me!

The chimney sweep began to reason with her, reminded her of the old Chinese and Ober-Unter-General-Kriegskommissar-Sergeant Kozlonoga, but she only sobbed inconsolably and kissed her chimney sweep. There was nothing to do, I had to give in to her, even though it was unreasonable.

And so they went back down the pipe. It wasn't easy! Once again in the dark oven, they first stood at the door, listening to what was happening in the room. Everything was quiet, and they looked out of the oven. Ah, the old Chinese was lying on the floor: chasing them, he fell off the table and broke into three pieces. The back flew clean, the head rolled into a corner. Ober-Unter-General-Kriegskommissar-Sergeant stood, as always, in his place and pondered.

Horrible! exclaimed the shepherdess. - The old grandfather crashed, and we are to blame for this! Oh, I won't survive this!

And she twisted her tiny hands.

It can still be fixed! said the chimney sweep. - It can be perfectly repaired! Just don't worry! They will glue his back, and put a good rivet in the back of his head, and he will again be just like new and will be able to say a lot of unpleasant things to us!

You think? - said the shepherdess.

And they climbed back to their table.

We have gone far with you! said the chimney sweep. - Not worth the trouble!

If only grandfather could be fixed! - said the shepherdess. Or will it be very costly?

Grandfather was repaired: they glued his back and drove a good rivet into the back of his head. He became like new, only he stopped nodding his head.

You've been proud of something since you crashed! - the chief non-commissar-general-kriegskommissar-sergeant Kozlonog told him. - But why would it? So, will you give me your granddaughter?

The chimney sweep and the shepherdess looked pleadingly at the old Chinese: they were so afraid that he would nod. But he could no longer nod, and explaining to outsiders that you have a rivet in the back of your head is also not enough joy. So the porcelain couple remained inseparable. The shepherdess and the chimney sweep blessed grandfather's rivet and loved each other until they broke.

* - In the old days, vases with dry flowers and herbs were placed in the rooms for the smell; this mixture was sprinkled with salt to make it smell stronger.

Have you ever seen an old, old wardrobe, blackened with time and decorated with carved scrolls and leaves? Such a closet - great-grandmother's legacy - stood in the living room. It was all covered with carvings - roses, tulips and the most intricate curlicues. Between them peeped deer heads with branched horns, and in the very middle a full-length little man was carved. It was impossible to look at him without laughing, and he himself was grinning from ear to ear - such a grimace cannot be called a smile. He had goat legs, small horns on his forehead, and a long beard. The children called him Ober-Unter-General-Kriegskommissar-Sergeant Kozlonog, because it is difficult to pronounce such a name and not many are given such a title. But it is not easy to cut out such a figure, well, yes, they did cut it out. The little man kept looking at the table under the mirror, where stood a pretty china shepherdess. Gilded shoes, a skirt gracefully pinned up with a crimson rose, a gilded hat on the head and a shepherd's crook in his hand - well, isn't it beautiful!

He stood gracefully, with a ladder in his hands, and his face was pink and white, like a girl's, and it was a little wrong, he could have been grimy. He stood very close to the shepherdess - as they were placed, so they stood. And if so, they took and got engaged. The couple went anywhere: both young, both made of the same porcelain, and both equally fragile.

You will have a good husband! said the old Chinese. “Looks like it’s even mahogany.” With him, you will be oberunter-general-kriegskommissar-sergeant. He has a whole wardrobe of silver, not to mention what lies in secret drawers.

I don't want a dark closet! answered the shepherdess. “They say he has eleven porcelain wives there!”

Well, you will be the twelfth! the Chinese said. - At night, as soon as the old closet groans, we will play your wedding, otherwise I won’t be a Chinese!

Then he nodded his head and fell asleep.

And the shepherdess burst into tears and, looking at her dear porcelain chimney sweep, said:

I beg you, run away with me wherever your eyes look. We can't stay here.

For you, I'm ready for anything! answered the chimney sweep. -Let's go now! Perhaps I will be able to feed you with my craft.

Just get off the table! - she said. “I won’t breathe freely until we are far, far away!”

They are running away! Run away!

The shepherdess and the chimney sweep were frightened and darted into the box under the windowsill.

There were scattered decks of cards, a puppet theater was somehow set up. There was a performance on the stage.

My strength is gone! she said to the chimney sweep. - Let's get out of here!

But when they found themselves on the floor and looked at their table, they saw that the old Chinese man woke up and swayed all over - after all, a lead ball was rolling inside him.

Ay, the old Chinese is chasing us! cried the shepherdess, and fell in despair on her china knees.

Nothing will come of it! the shepherdess said. “I know that the Chinaman and the vase were once engaged, but there is always something left of the old friendship. No, there is only one way for us - to go around the world!

Do you have the heart for it? asked the chimney sweep. Have you thought about how big the light is? That we'll never go back?

Yes Yes! she answered.

The chimney sweep looked at her closely and said:

And he led her to the stove.

How black it is! - she said, but all the same she climbed after him into the stove and into the chimney, where it was dark, even gouge out her eyes.

Well, here we are in the pipe! said the chimney sweep. - Look look! Right above us shines a wonderful star!

Above them was a sky studded with stars, below them all the roofs of the city, and all around on all sides, both in breadth and distance, the free world swung open. The poor shepherdess never thought that the light was so great. She leaned her head against the chimney sweep's shoulder and wept so hard that the tears washed away all the gilding from her legs.

This is too much for me! the shepherdess said. - I can't take this! The light is too big! Oh, how I want to go back to the mirror table! I won't have a moment of peace until I get back there! After all, I followed you to the ends of the world, and now you take me back home if you love me!

And so they went back down the pipe. It wasn't easy! Once again in the dark oven, they first stood at the door, listening to what was happening in the room. Everything was quiet, and they looked out of the oven. Ah, the old Chinese was lying on the floor: chasing them, he fell off the table and broke into three pieces. The back flew clean, the head rolled into a corner. The chief non-commissioned general-kriegskommissar sergeant stood, as always, in his place and pondered.

Horrible! exclaimed the shepherdess. - The old grandfather crashed, and we are to blame for this! Oh, I won't survive this!

And she twisted her tiny hands.

It can still be fixed! said the chimney sweep. - It can be fixed very well! Just don't worry! They will glue his back, and put a good rivet in the back of his head, and he will again be just like new and will be able to say a lot of unpleasant things to us!

You think? the shepherdess said.

And they climbed back to their table.

We have gone far with you! said the chimney sweep. - Not worth the trouble!

If only grandfather could be fixed! the shepherdess said. Or will it be very costly?

Grandfather was repaired: they glued his back and drove a good rivet into the back of his head. He became like new, only he stopped nodding his head.

You've been proud of something since you crashed! - the Ober-Unter-General-Kriegskommissar-Sergeant Kozlonog told him. - But why would it? So, will you give me your granddaughter?

Have you ever dreamed of real antique cabinets, all blackened with age, with wooden curlicues and carved floral ornaments? In one living room there was just such a closet, inherited by its owners from their great-grandmother. The cupboard was carved from top to bottom - wooden roses and tulips; small deer protruded their horned heads from bizarre curlicues, and in the most prominent place the master carved the figure of a man. It was amusing to look at him: he grimaced and grinned; but there was no way he could be said to be laughing. The man had the legs of a goat, horns protruded from his forehead, and a long beard hung down on a gpul. Children always called him "goat-footed chief non-commissioned general-captain-sergeant", although this title was very difficult to pronounce and rarely was awarded to him; and carving a man out of wood cost a lot of work. Nevertheless, he showed off on the wardrobe, forever squinting at the mirror, because there stood a lovely little china shepherdess in gilded slippers and a gilded hat. Her dress was elegantly fitted at the side and adorned with a red rose, and in her hand she held a shepherd's crook. The shepherdess was adorable! Almost very close to her stood a small chimney sweep, black as coal, but also porcelain. He was clean and handsome, no worse than any other, and had only to portray a chimney sweep - the master could equally well make him a prince; is it all the same - a chimney sweep or a prince?

The chimney-sweep stood in a beautiful pose and holding a ladder in his hands, white-faced and ruddy, like a girl - but this, perhaps, was a mistake: it would not hurt to get him at least a little dirty. He stood almost next to the shepherdess, because they were so placed; and since they were next to each other, they became engaged, because they were very suitable for each other: both young, made of the same porcelain and equally fragile.

There was another doll on the mirror-holder next to them, but it was three times their size. It was an old Chinese man who could nod his head. He, too, was porcelain and said that he was the grandfather of a little shepherdess, and although, of course, he could not prove it, he claimed that he had the right to control her fate, so he nodded to the goat-footed Ober-Unter-General-Captain-Sergeant, who wooed for the shepherd.

Here is your future husband, an old Chinese once said to a shepherdess. - Apparently, it is made of mahogany. You will marry him, and you will be called the wife of the goat-legged Ober-Unter-General-Captain-Sergeant; he has a wardrobe full of silver, not to mention what is hidden in secret drawers.

I don't want to see him in a dark closet, - objected the little shepherdess. “They say he keeps eleven china wives locked up in there!”

Well, then you will be the twelfth! - cut off the Chinese. - Tonight, as soon as a crack is heard in the old closet, you will play a wedding - this is as true as the fact that I am Chinese! - and nodding his head, he fell asleep.

And the little shepherdess began to cry, looked at her dear friend - a porcelain chimney sweep - and said:

I beg you: let's get out of here into the wide world; we can't stay here!

I want what you want, - the little chimney sweep answered her, - let's leave even now! I'm sure I can feed you with my craft.

Oh, if only we could quickly get down from the mirror! sighed the shepherdess. - I will be happy only when I break free With the oboe.

The chimney sweep comforted her, then showed her the best way to get down the curb and the gilded carved legs of the mirror-holder. Here his ladder was very useful to them, and now they have already stepped on the floor; looked at the closet - they see that a commotion has begun there.

The carved deer extended their necks even more, alerted their horns and began to turn their heads, and the goat-legged Ober-Unter-General-Captain-Sergeant jumped high and shouted to the old Chinese:

They ran away, they ran away!

The fugitives got a little scared and quickly jumped into the drawer under the window.

This box contained three or four incomplete decks of cards and a tiny puppet theater, which was arranged as far as space allowed. There was a performance in the theater. In the front row sat all the ladies - hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades, and fanned themselves with their tulips. Behind them stood jacks, each of them had two heads - one above, the other below. The play was about two lovers who could not manage to unite in any way, and the shepherdess, looking at them, began to cry - the performance reminded her of her own fate.

Ah, I can't take it anymore! she murmured. - Let's get out of here!

But when they found themselves on the floor again and looked at their mirror-holder, they saw that the old Chinaman had woken up; he moved from his place and crawled somewhere while sitting - he always sat cross-legged, but did not know how to walk.

The old Chinese is chasing us! cried the little shepherdess, and was so frightened that she fell on her china knees.

That's what came to my mind, - said the chimney sweep. “Let’s get into the big spice bowl with you, the one that stands in the corner. Let's lie down on the petals of roses and lavender and from there we will throw salt into the eyes of the Chinese if he sticks his head in our direction.

It won't help much! - objected the shepherdess. “Besides, I know that the old Chinese man and the vase were once engaged, and since they loved each other, this feeling could not disappear without a trace. No, we have only one thing to do - get out into the wide world.

Aren't you afraid to hit the road with me? asked the chimney sweep. - Have you thought about how vast this world is, that we can’t return here? - Yes, I thought! answered the shepherdess.

The chimney sweep looked at her with a determined look and said:

I know only one way - the chimney! Do you really dare to enter the stove with me and then climb up the firebox and chimney up? When we finally get to the pipe, then I will be able to show myself: we will rise to such a height that they will not be able to overtake us; and at the very top there will be a hole - an exit to the wide world.

And the chimney sweep led the shepherdess to the stove door.

Ah, how black it is! she exclaimed, but nevertheless she climbed into the stove with the chimney sweep and crawled through the firebox into the chimney, where not a single light could be seen. - Nu here is, we and in chimney! said the chimney sweep. - Look, what a lovely little star shines upstairs!

A real star looked down at them from the sky; she shone directly above them, as if she wanted to show them the way out. And they crawled and climbed higher and higher - and what a hard way it was! So high they had to climb, so high! But the chimney sweep helped the shepherdess, lifted her up, supported her and pointed out where it would be better for her to put her porcelain legs. So they got to the very top of the pipe and sat down on its edge in order to have a good rest, for it is not surprising that they were tired after such a journey.

Above them stretched the sky, studded with stars, and below the roofs of the city could be seen. The chimney sweep and the shepherdess looked around, looking at this vast world. The poor shepherdess had not even imagined before that he was like that; she laid her head on the chimney sweep's shoulder and sobbed so that the gilding fell from her bodice.

No, this is too much! I can't live here. The world is too big! - she exclaimed. - Ah, if only to find myself on our under-mirror again! I won't rest until I get back. After all, I went with you into the wide world; and now you could walk me home if you love me a little!

Then the chimney sweep began to persuade her and reminded her of the old Chinese and the goat-legged chief non-commissioned general captain sergeant. But the shepherdess wept so bitterly, she kissed her dear chimney-sweep so, that he could only yield to her, though it was unreasonable.

With great difficulty descending the chimney, they again began to crawl down the chimney, and finally reached the furnace, where it was very dark; going to the closed stove door, they listened to what was going on in the room. It was very quiet there. They looked out of the stove and ... oh horror! :- in the very middle of the room, on the floor, lay an old Chinese man. It turns out that when he was chasing the fugitives, he fell from the mirror and broke into three parts - his back broke off entirely, and his head rolled into a corner. But the goat-legged chief non-commissioned general-captain-sergeant stood in the same place and thought about what had happened.

Oh, what a horror! exclaimed the little shepherdess. - My old grandfather crashed, and all because of us. I won't be able to survive this! And she wringed her tiny hands in despair.

It can still be repaired, and repaired perfectly! the chimney sweep remarked. - Don't be so upset. One has only to smear glue on his back, and insert a large bar into his throat, and he will be just like new; what good, will say a bunch of unpleasant words.

You think so? asked the shepherdess, and they both climbed onto the mirror-holder where they had stood before.

You see what a great journey we have made, - said the chimney sweep. “But you might as well not move at all!”

If only we could fix Grandpa! sighed the shepherdess. - Will it cost a lot?

And the old Chinese was repaired - the whole family took part in this. His back was glued together, a bar was inserted into his throat, and he became just like new, only he could no longer nod his head.

You must have imagined yourself too much since you crashed, ”the goat-legged chief non-commissioned general captain sergeant said to the Chinese. “But I still don’t see what there is to be proud of.” Well, how is it? Will you marry her to me or not?

Then the chimney sweep and the little shepherdess looked pleadingly at the old Chinaman, fearing that he would nod his head. But he could no longer nod, and it was unpleasant to talk in front of strangers about the fact that a bar had been inserted into his throat.

Since then, both porcelain figurines have stood side by side, blessing the bar in the grandfather's throat and continuing to love each other until they broke.

He stood gracefully, with a ladder in his hands, and his face was pink and white, like a girl's, and it was a little wrong, he could have been grimy. He stood very close to the shepherdess - as they were placed, so they stood. And if so, they took and got engaged. The couple went anywhere: both young, both made of the same porcelain, and both equally fragile.

- You will have a good husband! said the old Chinese. “Looks like it’s even mahogany.” With him, you will be Ober-Unter-General-Kriegskommissar-Sergeant. He has a whole wardrobe of silver, not to mention what lies in secret drawers.

“I don’t want to be in a dark closet!” answered the shepherdess. “They say he has eleven porcelain wives there!”

- Well, you will be the twelfth! the Chinese said. - At night, as soon as the old closet groans, we will play your wedding, otherwise I won’t be a Chinese!

Then he nodded his head and fell asleep.

And the shepherdess burst into tears and, looking at her dear porcelain chimney sweep, said:

- I beg you, run away with me wherever your eyes look. We can't stay here.

- For you, I'm ready for anything! answered the chimney sweep. -Let's go now! Surely I can feed you with my craft.

"Just get off the table!" - she said. “I won’t breathe freely until we are far, far away!”

- They're running away! Run away!

- My strength is gone! she said to the chimney sweep. - Let's get out of here!

But when they found themselves on the floor and looked at their table, they saw that the old Chinese man woke up and swayed all over - after all, a lead ball was rolling inside him.

“Ay, the old Chinese is chasing us!” cried the shepherdess, and fell in despair on her china ones. knees.

- Stop! Invented! said the chimney sweep. - Do you see over there, in the corner, a large vase with dried fragrant herbs and flowers? Let's hide in it! Let's lie down there on the rose and lavender petals, and if the Chinaman gets to us, we'll fill his eyes with salt.

“Nothing will come of this! the shepherdess said. “I know that the Chinaman and the vase were once engaged, but there is always something left of the old friendship. No, there is only one way for us - to go around the world!

"Do you have the guts to do it?" asked the chimney sweep. Have you thought about how big the light is? That we'll never go back?

- Yes Yes! she answered.

The chimney sweep looked at her closely and said:

“My path leads through the chimney!” Do you have the courage to climb into the stove with me, and then into the chimney? There, I know what to do! We will rise so high that no one will reach us. There, at the very top, there is a hole through which you can get out into the world!

And he led her to the stove.

How black it is! she said, but nevertheless she climbed after him both into the stove and into the chimney, where it was dark even to gouge out an eye.

- Well, here we are in the pipe! said the chimney sweep. - Look look! Right above us shines a wonderful star!

- This is too much for me! the shepherdess said. - I can't take this! The light is too big! Oh, how I want to go back to the mirror table! I won't have a moment of peace until I get back there! After all, I followed you to the ends of the world, and now you take me back home if you love me!

He stood gracefully, with a ladder in his hands, and his face was pink and white, like a girl's, and it was a little wrong, he could have been grimy. He stood very close to the shepherdess - as they were placed, so they stood. And if so, they took and got engaged. The couple went anywhere: both young, both made of the same porcelain, and both equally fragile.

“I don’t want to be in a dark closet!” answered the shepherdess. “They say he has eleven porcelain wives there!”

- Well, you will be the twelfth! the Chinese said. - At night, as soon as the old wardrobe groans, we will play your wedding, otherwise I won’t be a Chinese!

Then he nodded his head and fell asleep.

And the shepherdess burst into tears and, looking at her dear porcelain chimney sweep, said:

- I beg you, run away with me wherever your eyes look. We can't stay here.

- For you, I'm ready for anything! answered the chimney sweep. -Let's go now! Perhaps I will be able to feed you with my craft.

"Just get off the table!" - she said. "I won't breathe freely until we're far, far away!"

- They're running away! Run away!

The shepherdess and the chimney sweep were frightened and darted into the box under the windowsill.

There were scattered decks of cards, a puppet theater was somehow set up. There was a performance on the stage.

My strength is gone! she said to the chimney sweep. - Let's get out of here!

But when they found themselves on the floor and looked at their table, they saw that the old Chinese man was awake and swaying all over - after all, a lead ball was rolling inside him.

“Ay, the old Chinese is chasing us!” cried the shepherdess, and fell in despair on her china knees.

- Stop! Invented! said the chimney sweep. “Do you see over there, in the corner, a large vase with dried fragrant herbs and flowers?” Let's hide in it! Let's lie there on the rose and lavender petals, and if the Chinaman gets to us, put salt in his eyes.

"Nothing will come of this!" said the shepherdess. “I know that the Chinaman and the vase were once engaged, but there is always something left of the old friendship. No, there is only one way for us - to set off in the wide world!

"Do you have the guts to do it?" asked the chimney sweep. Have you thought about how big the light is? That we'll never go back?

- Yes Yes! she answered.

The chimney sweep looked at her closely and said:

And he led her to the stove.

How black it is! she said, but all the same she climbed after him into the stove and into the chimney, where it was dark, even gouge out her eye.

- Well, here we are in the pipe! said the chimney sweep. - Look look! Right above us shines a wonderful star!

- This is too much for me! said the shepherdess. - I can't take this! The light is too big! Oh, how I want to go back to the mirror table! I won't have a moment of peace until I get back there! After all, I followed you to the ends of the world, and now you take me back home if you love me!

The chimney sweep began to reason with her, reminded her of the old Chinese and Ober-Unter-General-Kriegskommissar-Sergeant Kozlony, but she only sobbed inconsolably and kissed her chimney sweep. There was nothing to do, I had to give in to her, even though it was unreasonable.

And so they went back down the pipe. It wasn't easy! Once again in the dark oven, they first stood at the door, listening to what was happening in the room. Everything was quiet, and they looked out of the oven. Ah, the old Chinese was lying on the floor: chasing them, he fell off the table and broke into three pieces. The back flew clean, the head rolled into a corner. The chief non-commissioned general-kriegskommissar sergeant stood, as always, in his place and pondered.

- Horrible! exclaimed the shepherdess. - Old grandfather crashed, and we are to blame for this! Oh, I won't survive this!

And she twisted her tiny hands.

- It can still be repaired! said the chimney sweep. - It can be repaired very well! Just don't worry! They will glue his back, and put a good rivet in the back of his head, and he will again be just like new and will be able to say a lot of unpleasant things to us!

- You think? said the shepherdess.

And they climbed back to their table.

- How far have we gone! said the chimney sweep. - Not worth the trouble!

- If only grandfather was repaired! said the shepherdess. Or will it be very costly?

Grandfather was repaired: they glued his back and drove a good rivet into the back of his head. He became like new, only he stopped nodding his head.

“You have been proud of something since you crashed!” - the Ober-Unter-General-Kriegskommissar-Sergeant Kozlonog told him. - But why would it? So, will you give me your granddaughter?