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FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE LAST DREAM OF THE OLD OAK
by Hans Christian Andersen
IN the forest； high up on the steep shore； and not far from the
open seacoast； stood a very old oak…tree。 It was just three hundred
and sixty…five years old； but that long time was to the tree as the
same number of days might be to us； we wake by day and sleep by night；
and then we have our dreams。 It is different with the tree； it is
obliged to keep awake through three seasons of the year； and does
not get any sleep till winter comes。 Winter is its time for rest；
its night after the long day of spring； summer； and autumn。 On many
a warm summer； the Ephemera； the flies that exist for only a day；
had fluttered about the old oak； enjoyed life and felt happy and if；
for a moment； one of the tiny creatures rested on one of his large
fresh leaves； the tree would always say； 〃Poor little creature！ your
whole life consists only of a single day。 How very short。 It must be
quite melancholy。〃
〃Melancholy！ what do you mean？〃 the little creature would always
reply。 〃Everything around me is so wonderfully bright and warm； and
beautiful； that it makes me joyous。〃
〃But only for one day； and then it is all over。〃
〃Over！〃 repeated the fly； 〃what is the meaning of all over？ Are
you all over too？〃
〃No； I shall very likely live for thousands of your days； and my
day is whole seasons long； indeed it is so long that you could never
reckon it out。〃
〃No？ then I don't understand you。 You may have thousands of my
days； but I have thousands of moments in which I can be merry and
happy。 Does all the beauty of the world cease when you die？〃
〃No；〃 replied the tree； 〃it will certainly last much longer；…
infinitely longer than I can even think of。 〃Well； then；〃 said the
little fly； 〃we have the same time to live； only we reckon
differently。〃 And the little creature danced and floated in the air；
rejoicing in her delicate wings of gauze and velvet； rejoicing in
the balmy breezes； laden with the fragrance of clover…fields and
wild roses； elder…blossoms and honeysuckle； from the garden hedges；
wild thyme； primroses； and mint； and the scent of all these was so
strong that the perfume almost intoxicated the little fly。 The long
and beautiful day had been so full of joy and sweet delights； that
when the sun sank low it felt tired of all its happiness and
enjoyment。 Its wings could sustain it no longer； and gently and slowly
it glided down upon the soft waving blades of grass； nodded its little
head as well as it could nod； and slept peacefully and sweetly。 The
fly was dead。
〃Poor little Ephemera！〃 said the oak； 〃what a terribly short
life！〃 And so； on every summer day the dance was repeated； the same
questions asked； and the same answers given。 The same thing was
continued through many generations of Ephemera； all of them felt
equally merry and equally happy。
The oak remained awake through the morning of spring； the noon
of summer； and the evening of autumn； its time of rest； its night drew
nigh… winter was coming。 Already the storms were singing； 〃Good…night；
good…night。〃 Here fell a leaf and there fell a leaf。 〃We will rock you
and lull you。 Go to sleep； go to sleep。 We will sing you to sleep； and
shake you to sleep； and it will do your old twigs good； they will even
crackle with pleasure。 Sleep sweetly； sleep sweetly； it is your
three…hundred…and…sixty…fifth night。 Correctly speaking； you are but a
youngster in the world。 Sleep sweetly； the clouds will drop snow
upon you； which will be quite a cover…lid； warm and sheltering to your
feet。 Sweet sleep to you； and pleasant dreams。〃 And there stood the
oak； stripped of all its leaves； left to rest during the whole of a
long winter； and to dream many dreams of events that had happened in
its life； as in the dreams of men。 The great tree had once been small；
indeed； in its cradle it had been an acorn。 According to human
computation； it was now in the fourth century of its existence。 It was
the largest and best tree in the forest。 Its summit towered above
all the other trees； and could be seen far out at sea； so that it
served as a landmark to the sailors。 It had no idea how many eyes
looked eagerly for it。 In its topmost branches the wood…pigeon built
her nest； and the cuckoo carried out his usual vocal performances； and
his well…known notes echoed amid the boughs； and in autumn； when the
leaves looked like beaten copper plates； the birds of passage would
come and rest upon the branches before taking their flight across
the sea。 But now it was winter； the tree stood leafless； so that every
one could see how crooked and bent were the branches that sprang forth
from the trunk。 Crows and rooks came by turns and sat on them； and
talked of the hard times which were beginning； and how difficult it
was in winter to obtain food。
It was just about holy Christmas time that the tree dreamed a
dream。 The tree had； doubtless； a kind of feeling that the festive
time had arrived； and in his dream fancied he heard the bells
ringing from all the churches round； and yet it seemed to him to be
a beautiful summer's day； mild and warm。 His mighty summits was
crowned with spreading fresh green foliage； the sunbeams played
among the leaves and branches； and the air was full of fragrance
from herb and blossom； painted butterflies chased each other； the
summer flies danced around him； as if the world had been created
merely for them to dance and be merry in。 All that had happened to the
tree during every year of his life seemed to pass before him； as in
a festive procession。 He saw the knights of olden times and noble
ladies ride by through the wood on their gallant steeds； with plumes
waving in their hats； and falcons on their wrists。 The hunting horn
sounded； and the dogs barked。 He saw hostile warriors； in colored
dresses and glittering armor； with spear and halberd； pitching their
tents； and anon striking them。 The watchfires again blazed； and men
sang and slept under the hospitable shelter of the tree。 He saw lovers
meet in quiet happiness near him in the moonshine； and carve the
initials of their names in the grayish…green bark on his trunk。
Once； but long years had intervened since then； guitars and Eolian
harps had been hung on his boughs by merry travellers； now they seemed
to hang there again； and he could hear their marvellous tones。 The
wood…pigeons cooed as if to explain the feelings of the tree； and
the cuckoo called out to tell him how many summer days he had yet to
live。 Then it seemed as if new life was thrilling through every
fibre of root and stem and leaf； rising even to the highest
branches。 The tree felt itself stretching and spreading out； while
through the root beneath the earth ran the warm vigor of life。 As he
grew higher and still higher； with increased strength； his topmost
boughs became broader and fuller； and in proportion to his growth；
so was his self…satisfaction increased； and with it arose a joyous
longing to grow higher and higher； to reach even to the warm； bright
sun itself。 Already had his topmost branches pierced the clouds； which
floated beneath them like troops of birds of passage； or large white
swans； every leaf seemed gifted with sight； as if it possessed eyes to
see。 The stars became visible in broad daylight； large and
sparkling； like clear and gentle eyes。 They recalled to the memory the
well…known look in the eyes of a child； or in the eyes of lovers who
had once met beneath the branches of the old oak。 These were wonderful
and happy moments for the old tree； full of peace and joy； and yet；
amidst all this happiness； the tree felt a yearning； longing desire
that all the other trees； bushes； herbs； and flowers beneath him；
might be able also to rise higher； as he had done； and to see all this
splendor； and experience the same happiness。 The grand； majestic oak
could not be quite happy in the midst of his enjoyment； while all
the rest； both great and small； were not with him。 And this feeling of
yearning trembled through every branch； through every leaf； as
warmly and fervently as if they had been the fibres of a human
heart。 The summit of the tree waved to and fro； and bent downwards
as if in his silent longing he sought for something。 Then there came
to him the fragrance of thyme； followed by the more powerful scent
of honeysuckle and violets； and he fancied he heard the note of the
cuckoo。 At length his longing was satisfied。 Up through the clouds
came the green summits of the forest trees； and beneath him； the oak
saw them rising； and growing higher and higher。 Bush and herb shot
upward； and some even tore themselves up by the roots to rise more
quickly。 The birch…tree was the quickest of all。 Like a lightning
flash the slender stem shot upwards in a zigzag line； the branches
spreading around it like green gauze and banners。 Every native of
the wood； even to the brown and feathery rushes； grew with the rest；
while the bird