first row fanning themselves with tulips, and behind them stood all the
knaves, showing that they had heads above and below as playing cards
generally have. The play was about two lovers, who were not allowed to
marry, and the shepherdess wept because it was so like her own story. “I
cannot bear it,” said she, “I must get out of the drawer;” but when they
reached the floor, and cast their eyes on the table, there was the old
Chinaman awake and shaking his whole body, till all at once down he came
on the floor, “plump.” “The old Chinaman is coming,” cried the little
shepherdess in a fright, and down she fell on one knee.
“I have thought of something,” said the chimney-sweep; “let us get into
the great pot-pourri jar which stands in the corner; there we can lie on rose-
leaves and lavender, and throw salt in his eyes if he comes near us.”
“No, that will never do,” said she, “because I know that the Chinaman
and the pot-pourri jar were lovers once, and there always remains behind a
feeling of good-will between those who have been so intimate as that. No,
there is nothing left for us but to go out into the wide world.”
“Have you really courage enough to go out into the wide world with
me?” said the chimney-sweep; “have you thought how large it is, and that
we can never come back here again?”
“Yes, I have,” she replied.
When the chimney-sweep saw that she was quite firm, he said, “My way
is through the stove and up the chimney. Have you courage to creep with
me through the fire-box, and the iron pipe? When we get to the chimney I
shall know how to manage very well. We shall soon climb too high for any
one to reach us, and we shall come through a hole in the top out into the
wide world.” So he led her to the door of the stove.
“It looks very dark,” said she; still she went in with him through the stove
and through the pipe, where it was as dark as pitch.
“Now we are in the chimney,” said he; “and look, there is a beautiful star
shining above it.” It was a real star shining down upon them as if it would
show them the way. So they clambered, and crept on, and a frightful steep
