the Old Street Lamp老路燈

the Old Street Lamp

by Hans Christian Andersen（1847）

　　DID you ever hear the story of the old street lamp？ It is not remarkably interesting， but for once in a way you may as well listen to it. It was a most respectable old lamp， which had seen many， many years of service， and now was to retire with a pension. It was this evening at its post for the last time， giving light to the street. His feelings were something like those of an old dancer at the theatre， who is dancing for the last time， and knows that on the morrow she will be in her garret， alone and forgotten. The lamp had very GREat anxiety about the next day， for he knew that he had to appear for the first time at the town hall， to be inspected by the mayor and the council， who were to decide if he were fit for further service or not；—whether the lamp was good enough to be used to light the inhabitants of one of the suburbs， or in the country， at some factory； and if not， it would be sent at once to an iron foundry， to be melted down. In this latter case it might be turned into anything， and he wondered very much whether he would then be able to remember that he had once been a street lamp， and it troubled him exceedingly. Whatever might happen， one thing seemed certain， that he would be separated from the watchman and his wife， whose family he looked upon as his own. The lamp had first been hung up on that very evening that the watchman， then a robust young man， had entered upon the duties of his office. Ah， well， it was a very long time since one became a lamp and the other a watchman. His wife had a little pride in those days； she seldom condescended to glance at the lamp， excepting when she passed by in the evening， never in the daytime. But in later years， when all these，—the watchman， the wife， and the lamp— had grown old， she had attended to it， cleaned it， and supplied it with oil. The old people were thoroughly honest， they had never cheated the lamp of a single drop of the oil provided for it.

　　This was the lamp's last night in the street， and to-morrow he must go to the town-hall，—two very dark things to think of. No wonder he did not burn brightly. Many other thoughts also passed through his mind. How many persons he had lighted on their way， and how much he had seen； as much， very likely， as the mayor and corporation themselves！ None of these thoughts were uttered aloud， however； for he was a good， honorable old lamp， who would not willingly do harm to any one， especially to those in authority. As many things were recalled to his mind， the light would FLASH up with sudden brightness； he had， at such moments， a conviction that he would be remembered. “There was a handsome young man once，” thought he； “it is certainly a long while ago， but I remember he had a little note， written on pink paper with a gold edge； the writing was elegant， evidently a lady's hand： twice he read it through， and kissed it， and then looked up at me， with eyes that said quite plainly， 'I am the happiest of men！' Only he and I know what was written on this his first letter from his lady-love. Ah， yes， and there was another pair of eyes that I remember，—it is really wonderful how the thoughts jump from one thing to another！ A funeral passed through the street； a young and beautiful woman lay on a bier， decked with garlands of flowers， and attended by torches， which quite overpowered my light. All along the street stood the people from the houses， in crowds， ready to join the procession. But when the torches had passed from before me， and I could look round， I saw one person alone， standing， leaning against my post， and weeping. Never shall I forget the sorrowful eyes that looked up at me.” These and similar reflections occupied the old street lamp， on this the last time that his light would shine. The sentry， when he is relieved from his post， knows at least who will succeed him， and may whisper a few words to him， but the lamp did not know his successor， or he could have given him a few hints respecting rain， or mist， and could have informed him how far the moon's rays would rest on the pavement， and from which side the wind generally blew， and so on.

　　On the bridge over the canal stood three persons， who wished to recommend themselves to the lamp， for they thought he could give the office to whomsoever he chose. The first was a herring's head， which could emit light in the darkness. He remarked that it would be a GREat saving of oil if they placed him on the lamp-post. Number two was a piece of rotten wood， which also shines in the dark. He considered himself descended from an old stem， once the pride of the forest. The third was a glow-worm， and how he found his way there the lamp could not imagine， yet there he was， and could really give light as well as the others. But the rotten wood and the herring's head declared most solemnly， by all they held sacred， that the glow-worm only gave light at certain times， and must not be allowed to compete with themselves. The old lamp assured them that not one of them could give sufficient light to fill the position of a street lamp； but they would believe nothing he said. And when they discovered that he had not the power of naming his successor， they said they were very glad to hear it， for the lamp was too old and worn-out to make a proper choice.

　　At this moment the wind came rushing round the corner of the street， and through the air-holes of the old lamp. “What is this I hear？” said he； “that you are going away to-morrow？ Is this evening the last time we shall meet？ Then I must present you with a farewell gift. I will blow into your brain， so that in future you shall not only be able to remember all that you have seen or heard in the past， but your light within shall be so bright， that you shall be able to understand all that is said or done in your presence.”

　　“Oh， that is really a very， very GREat gift，” said the old lamp； “I thank you most heartily. I only hope I shall not be melted down.”

　　“That is not likely to happen yet，” said the wind； “and I will also blow a memory into you， so that should you receive other similar presents your old age will pass very pleasantly.”

　　“That is if I am not melted down，” said the lamp. “But should I in that case still retain my memory？”

　　“Do be reasonable， old lamp，” said the wind， puffing away.

　　At this moment the moon burst forth from the clouds. “What will you give the old lamp？” asked the wind.

　　“I can give nothing，” she replied； “I am on the wane， and no lamps have ever given me light while I have frequently shone upon them.” And with these words the moon hid herself again behind the clouds， that she might be saved from further importunities. Just then a drop fell upon the lamp， from the roof of the house， but the drop explained that he was a gift from those gray clouds， and perhaps the best of all gifts. “I shall penetrate you so thoroughly，” he said， “that you will have the power of becoming rusty， and， if you wish it， to crumble into dust in one night.”

　　But this seemed to the lamp a very shabby present， and the wind thought so too. “Does no one give any more？ Will no one give any more？” shouted the breath of the wind， as loud as it could. Then a bright falling star came down， leaving a broad， luminous streak behind it.