persons in the street. All that was peculiar or disagreeable in a person he
would imitate directly, and people said, “That boy will be very clever; he
has a remarkable genius.” But it was the piece of glass in his eye, and the
coldness in his heart, that made him act like this. He would even tease little
Gerda, who loved him with all her heart. His games, too, were quite
different; they were not so childish. One winter’s day, when it snowed, he
brought out a burning-glass, then he held out the tail of his blue coat, and let
the snow-flakes fall upon it. “Look in this glass, Gerda,” said he; and she
saw how every flake of snow was magnified, and looked like a beautiful
flower or a glittering star. “Is it not clever?” said Kay, “and much more
interesting than looking at real flowers. There is not a single fault in it, and
the snow-flakes are quite perfect till they begin to melt.”
Soon after Kay made his appearance in large thick gloves, and with his
sledge at his back. He called up stairs to Gerda, “I’ve got to leave to go into
the great square, where the other boys play and ride.” And away he went.
In the great square, the boldest among the boys would often tie their
sledges to the country people’s carts, and go with them a good way. This
was capital. But while they were all amusing themselves, and Kay with
them, a great sledge came by; it was painted white, and in it sat some one
wrapped in a rough white fur, and wearing a white cap. The sledge drove
twice round the square, and Kay fastened his own little sledge to it, so that
when it went away, he followed with it. It went faster and faster right
through the next street, and then the person who drove turned round and
nodded pleasantly to Kay, just as if they were acquainted with each other,
but whenever Kay wished to loosen his little sledge the driver nodded
again, so Kay sat still, and they drove out through the town gate. Then the
snow began to fall so heavily that the little boy could not see a hand’s
breadth before him, but still they drove on; then he suddenly loosened the
cord so that the large sled might go on without him, but it was of no use, his
little carriage held fast, and away they went like the wind. Then he called
out loudly, but nobody heard him, while the snow beat upon him, and the
sledge flew onwards. Every now and then it gave a jump as if it were going
