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chair； and guess where！ Why； at the old watchman's house。 He had
begged； as a favor； that the mayor and corporation would allow him
to keep the street lamp； in consideration of his long and faithful
service； as he had himself hung it up and lit it on the day he first
commenced his duties； four…and…twenty years ago。 He looked upon it
almost as his own child； he had no children； so the lamp was given
to him。 There it lay in the great arm…chair near to the warm stove。 It
seemed almost as if it had grown larger； for it appeared quite to fill
the chair。 The old people sat at their supper； casting friendly
glances at the old lamp； whom they would willingly have admitted to
a place at the table。 It is quite true that they dwelt in a cellar；
two yards deep in the earth； and they had to cross a stone passage
to get to their room； but within it was warm and comfortable and
strips of list had been nailed round the door。 The bed and the
little window had curtains； and everything looked clean and neat。 On
the window seat stood two curious flower…pots which a sailor； named
Christian； had brought over from the East or West Indies。 They were of
clay； and in the form of two elephants； with open backs； they were
hollow and filled with earth； and through the open space flowers
bloomed。 In one grew some very fine chives or leeks； this was the
kitchen garden。 The other elephant； which contained a beautiful
geranium； they called their flower garden。 On the wall hung a large
colored print； representing the congress of Vienna； and all the
kings and emperors at once。 A clock； with heavy weights； hung on the
wall and went 〃tick； tick；〃 steadily enough； yet it was always
rather too fast； which； however； the old people said was better than
being too slow。 They were now eating their supper； while the old
street lamp； as we have heard； lay in the grandfather's arm…chair near
the stove。 It seemed to the lamp as if the whole world had turned
round； but after a while the old watchman looked at the lamp； and
spoke of what they had both gone through together；… in rain and in
fog； during the short bright nights of summer； or in the long winter
nights； through the drifting snow…storms； when he longed to be at home
in the cellar。 Then the lamp felt it was all right again。 He saw
everything that had happened quite clearly； as if it were passing
before him。 Surely the wind had given him an excellent gift。 The old
people were very active and industrious； they were never idle for even
a single hour。 On Sunday afternoons they would bring out some books；
generally a book of travels which they were very fond of。 The old
man would read aloud about Africa； with its great forests and the wild
elephants； while his wife would listen attentively； stealing a
glance now and then at the clay elephants； which served as
flower…pots。
〃I can almost imagine I am seeing it all；〃 she said； and then
how the lamp wished for a wax taper to be lighted in him； for then the
old woman would have seen the smallest detail as clearly as he did
himself。 The lofty trees； with their thickly entwined branches； the
naked negroes on horseback； and whole herds of elephants treading down
bamboo thickets with their broad； heavy feet。
〃What is the use of all my capabilities；〃 sighed the old lamp；
〃when I cannot obtain any wax lights； they have only oil and tallow
here； and these will not do。〃 One day a great heap of wax…candle
ends found their way into the cellar。 The larger pieces were burnt；
and the smaller ones the old woman kept for waxing her thread。 So
there were now candles enough； but it never occurred to any one to put
a little piece in the lamp。
〃Here I am now with my rare powers；〃 thought the lamp； 〃I have
faculties within me； but I cannot share them； they do not know that
I could cover these white walls with beautiful tapestry； or change
them into noble forests； or； indeed； to anything else they might
wish for。〃 The lamp； however； was always kept clean and shining in a
corner where it attracted all eyes。 Strangers looked upon it as
lumber； but the old people did not care for that； they loved the lamp。
One day… it was the watchman's birthday… the old woman approached
the lamp； smiling to herself； and said； 〃I will have an illumination
to…day in honor of my old man。〃 And the lamp rattled in his metal
frame； for he thought； 〃Now at last I shall have a light within me；〃
but after all no wax light was placed in the lamp； but oil as usual。
The lamp burned through the whole evening； and began to perceive too
clearly that the gift of the stars would remain a hidden treasure
all his life。 Then he had a dream； for； to one with his faculties；
dreaming was no difficulty。 It appeared to him that the old people
were dead； and that he had been taken to the iron foundry to be melted
down。 It caused him quite as much anxiety as on the day when he had
been called upon to appear before the mayor and the council at the
town…hall。 But though he had been endowed with the power of falling
into decay from rust when he pleased； he did not make use of it。 He
was therefore put into the melting…furnace and changed into as elegant
an iron candlestick as you could wish to see； one intended to hold a
wax taper。 The candlestick was in the form of an angel holding a
nosegay； in the centre of which the wax taper was to be placed。 It was
to stand on a green writing table； in a very pleasant room； many books
were scattered about； and splendid paintings hung on the walls。 The
owner of the room was a poet； and a man of intellect； everything he
thought or wrote was pictured around him。 Nature showed herself to him
sometimes in the dark forests； at others in cheerful meadows where the
storks were strutting about； or on the deck of a ship sailing across
the foaming sea with the clear； blue sky above； or at night the
glittering stars。 〃What powers I possess！〃 said the lamp； awaking from
his dream； 〃I could almost wish to be melted down； but no； that must
not be while the old people live。 They love me for myself alone；
they keep me bright； and supply me with oil。 I am as well off as the
picture of the congress； in which they take so much pleasure。〃 And
from that time he felt at rest in himself； and not more so than such
an honorable old lamp really deserved to be。
THE END
。