brightly, and he was guiding the plough across his field. The ploughshare
struck against something which he fancied was a firestone, and then he saw
glittering in the earth a splinter of shining metal which the plough had cut
from something which gleamed brightly in the furrow. He searched, and
found a large golden armlet of superior workmanship, and it was evident
that the plough had disturbed a Hun’s grave. He searched further, and found
more valuable treasures, which Ib showed to the clergyman, who explained
their value to him. Then he went to the magistrate, who informed the
president of the museum of the discovery, and advised Ib to take the
treasures himself to the president.
“You have found in the earth the best thing you could find,” said the
magistrate.
“The best thing,” thought Ib; “the very best thing for me,-and found in
the earth! Well, if it really is so, then the gypsy woman was right in her
prophecy.”
So Ib went in the ferry-boat from Aarhus to Copenhagen. To him who
had only sailed once or twice on the river near his own home, this seemed
like a voyage on the ocean; and at length he arrived at Copenhagen. The
value of the gold he had found was paid to him; it was a large sum-six
hundred dollars. Then Ib of the heath went out, and wandered about in the
great city.
On the evening before the day he had settled to return with the captain of
the passage-boat, Ib lost himself in the streets, and took quite a different
turning to the one he wished to follow. He wandered on till he found
himself in a poor street of the suburb called Christian’s Haven. Not a
creature could be seen. At last a very little girl came out of one of the
wretched-looking houses, and Ib asked her to tell him the way to the street
he wanted; she looked up timidly at him, and began to cry bitterly. He asked
her what was the matter; but what she said he could not understand. So he
went along the street with her; and as they passed under a lamp, the light
fell on the little girl’s face. A strange sensation came over Ib, as he caught
sight of it. The living, breathing embodiment of Little Christina stood
