Once upon a time a little girl tried to make a living by selling matches in the
street. It was new years vee and the snowed streets were deserted. from brightly
lit windows came the tinkle of laughter and the sound of singing. people were
getting ready to bring in the new year. but the poor little match seller sat
sadly beside the fountain. her ragged dress and worn shawl did not keep out the
cold and she tried to keep her bare feet from touching the frozen ground. she
hadnt sold one box of matches all day and she was frightened to go home, for
her father would certainly be angry. It wouldnt be much warmer anyway, in the
draughty attic that was her home. the little girls fingers were stiff with cold.
If only she could light a match! But what would her father say at such a waste.
falteringly she took out a match and lit it. what a nice warm flame the little
match seller cupped her hand over it, and as she did so, she magically saw in its
light a big brightly burning stove. She held out her hands to the heat, but just
then the match went out and the vision faded. The night seemed blacker than before
and it was getting colder. A shiver ran through the little girl's thin body. After
hesitating for a long time, she struck another match on the wall, and this time,
the glimmer turned the wall into a great sheet of crystal. Beyond that stood a fine
table laden with food and lit by a candlestick. Holding out her arms towards the
plates, the little match seller seemed to pass through the glass, but then the match
went out and the magic faded. Poor thing: in just a few seconds she had caught a
glimpse of everything that life had denied her: warmth and good things to eat.
Her eyes filled with tears and she lifted her gaze to the lit windows, praying that
she too might know a little of such happiness. She