Hans Christian Andersen. Children's fairy tales online The tale about the magic galosh on the right side

Galoshes of happiness

It happened in Copenhagen, on East Street, not far from the New Royal Square. A large company has gathered in one house - sometimes you still have to receive guests; but, you see, you yourself will get an invitation someday. The guests split into two large groups: one immediately sat down at the card tables, the other formed a circle around the hostess, who suggested “coming up with something more interesting,” and the conversation flowed by itself. By the way, we were talking about the Middle Ages, and many found that life was much better in those days than now. Yes Yes! Counselor of Justice Knap defended this opinion so zealously that the hostess immediately agreed with him, and the two of them attacked poor Oersted, who argued in his article in the Almanac that our era is in some ways superior to the Middle Ages. The adviser argued that the times of King Hans were the best and happiest times in the history of mankind.

While this heated argument is going on, which was interrupted only for a moment when the evening newspaper was brought (however, there was absolutely nothing to read in it), let's go into the hallway, where the guests left their coats, sticks, umbrellas and galoshes. Two women just came in here: a young one and an old one. At first glance, they could be mistaken for maids accompanying some old ladies who came here to visit, but if you looked more closely, you would notice that these women did not at all look like maids: their hands were too soft and gentle , the posture and movements were too stately, and the dress was distinguished by some particularly bold cut. Of course, you already guessed that they were fairies. The youngest was, if not the fairy of Happiness herself, then, most likely, the maid of one of her many ladies-in-waiting chambers and was busy bringing people various small gifts of Happiness. The eldest seemed much more serious - she was the fairy of Sorrow and always managed her affairs herself, without entrusting them to anyone: so, at least, she knew that everything would probably be done properly.

Standing in the hallway, they told each other about where they had been that day. Today the chambermaid of the maid of honor of Happiness carried out only a few unimportant tasks: she saved someone’s new hat from a downpour, conveyed a bow to one respectable person from a high-ranking nonentity, and everything in the same spirit. But she still had something completely extraordinary left in reserve.

“I need to tell you,” she finished, “that today is my birthday, and in honor of this event they gave me a pair of galoshes so that I could take them to people.” These galoshes have one remarkable property: the one who puts them on can be instantly transported to any place or setting of any era - wherever he wishes - and thus he will immediately find happiness.

- You think so? - responded the Fairy of Sorrow. “Know this: he will be the most unfortunate person on earth and will bless the moment when he finally gets rid of your galoshes.”

- Well, we'll see about that later! - said the maid of Happiness. “In the meantime, I’ll put them at the door.” Perhaps someone will put them on by mistake instead of their own and become happy.

This is the conversation that took place between them.

2. What happened to the justice adviser

- What a mess! It's just terrible! - muttered the adviser. - And besides, not a single lamp is lit.

The moon had not yet risen, there was a thick fog, and everything around was drowned in darkness. On the corner in front of the image of the Madonna there was a lamp hanging, but it glowed slightly, so the adviser noticed the picture only when he caught up with it, and only then did he see the Mother of God with a baby in her arms.

“There was probably an artist’s studio here,” he decided, “but they forgot to remove the sign.”

Then several people in medieval costumes walked past him.

“Why are they dressed up like that? – thought the adviser. “They must be coming from a masquerade party.”

But suddenly the beating of drums and the whistling of pipes was heard, torches flashed, and an amazing sight was presented to the advisor’s eyes! A strange procession was moving towards him along the street: drummers walked ahead, skillfully beating the beat with sticks, and behind them walked guards with bows and crossbows. Apparently, it was a retinue accompanying some important clergyman. The amazed adviser asked what kind of procession this was and who this dignitary was.

- Bishop of Zealand! - came the answer.

- Lord have mercy! What else happened to the bishop? – Councilor Knap sighed, sadly shaking his head. - No, it’s unlikely that this is a bishop.

Thinking about all these wonders and not looking around, the adviser slowly walked along East Street until he finally reached the High Bridge Square. However, the bridge leading to Palace Square was not in place - the poor adviser could barely see a small river in the pitch darkness and eventually noticed a boat in which two guys were sitting.

- Would you like to be transported to the island? - they asked.

- To the island? - the adviser asked, not yet knowing that he was now living during the Middle Ages. – I need to get to Christianova Harbor, to Malaya Torgovaya Street.

The guys rolled their eyes at him.

- At least tell me where the bridge is? – the adviser continued. - What a disgrace! The lanterns don’t light up, and the dirt is so muddy that it feels like you’re wandering through a swamp!

But the more he talked to the carriers, the less he could figure anything out.

“I don’t understand your Bornholm gibberish!” – he finally got angry and turned his back to them.

But he still did not find the bridge; The stone parapet of the embankment also disappeared. “What’s happening! What a disgrace!” - he thought. Yes, never before had reality seemed so pitiful and disgusting to him as it did that evening. “No, it’s better to take a cab,” he decided. - But, Lord, where did they all go? As luck would have it, not a single one! I’ll go back to the New Royal Square - there are probably carriages there, otherwise I’ll never get to Christian Harbor!”

He returned to Eastern Street again and had already walked almost all of it when the moon rose.

“Lord, what have they built here?” – the adviser was amazed when he saw in front of him the Eastern City Gate, which in those distant times stood at the end of Eastern Street.

Finally he found a gate and went out into what is now the New Royal Square, which in those days was just a large meadow. There were bushes here and there in the meadow, and it was crossed by either a wide canal or a river. On the opposite bank were the pitiful shops of the Halland skippers, which is why the place was called the Halland Heights.

It was too late. Councilor Justice Knap was going home, still thinking about the times of King Hans. And it had to happen that instead of his galoshes he would put on the galoshes of Happiness. As soon as he went out into the street in them, the magical power of the galoshes immediately transported him to the time of King Hans, and his feet immediately sank into impassable mud, because under King Hans the streets were not paved. - What a mess! It's just terrible! - muttered the adviser. - And besides, not a single lamp is lit. The moon had not yet risen, there was a thick fog, and everything around was drowned in darkness. On the corner in front of the image of the Madonna there was a lamp hanging, but it glowed slightly, so the adviser noticed the picture only when he caught up with it, and only then did he see the Mother of God with a baby in her arms. “There was probably an artist’s studio here,” he decided, “but they forgot to remove the sign.” Then several people in medieval costumes walked past him. “Why are they dressed up like that?” thought the adviser. “They must be coming from a masquerade.” But suddenly the beating of drums and the whistling of pipes was heard, torches flashed, and an amazing sight was presented to the advisor’s eyes! A strange procession was moving towards him along the street: drummers walked ahead, skillfully beating the beat with sticks, and behind them walked guards with bows and crossbows. Apparently, it was a retinue accompanying some important clergyman. The amazed adviser asked what kind of procession this was and who this dignitary was. - Bishop of Zealand! - came the answer. - Lord have mercy! What else happened to the bishop? - Councilor Knap sighed, sadly shaking his head. - No, it’s unlikely that this is a bishop. Thinking about all these miracles and not looking around, the adviser slowly walked along Eastern Street until he finally reached the High Bridge Square. However, the bridge leading to Palace Square was not in place - the poor adviser could barely make out some small river in the pitch darkness and eventually noticed a boat in which two guys were sitting. - Would you like to be transported to the island? - they asked. - To the island? - the adviser asked, not yet knowing that he was now living during the Middle Ages. - I need to get to Christian Harbor, to Malaya Torgovaya Street. The guys rolled their eyes at him. - At least tell me where the bridge is? - continued the adviser. - What a disgrace! The lanterns don’t light up, and the dirt is so muddy that it feels like you’re wandering through a swamp! But the more he talked to the carriers, the less he could figure anything out. - I don’t understand your Bornholm gibberish! - he finally got angry and turned his back to them. But he still did not find the bridge; The stone parapet of the embankment also disappeared. "What's going on! What a disgrace!" - he thought. Yes, reality had never seemed so pitiful and disgusting to him as it did that evening. “No, it’s better to take a cab,” he decided. “But, Lord, where did they all go? As luck would have it, not a single one! I’ll go back to the New Royal Square - there are probably carriages parked there, otherwise I’ll never be can't get to Christian Harbor!" He returned to Eastern Street again and had already walked almost all of it when the moon rose. “Lord, what have they built here?” - the adviser was amazed when he saw in front of him the Eastern City Gate, which in those distant times stood at the end of Eastern Street. Finally he found a gate and went out into what is now the New Royal Square, which in those days was just a large meadow. There were bushes here and there in the meadow, and it was crossed by either a wide canal or a river. On the opposite bank were the pitiful shops of the Halland skippers, which is why this place was called the Halland Heights. - My God! Or is it a mirage, a Fata Morgana, or am I... Lord... drunk? - the counselor of justice groaned. - What is it? What is it? And the adviser turned back again, thinking that he was sick. Walking along the street, he now looked more closely at the houses and noticed that they were all of ancient construction and many were thatched. “Yes, of course, I got sick,” he sighed, “but I only drank a glass of punch, but that hurt me too.” And you have to think of it - treat your guests to punch and hot salmon! No, I will definitely talk about this with the agent. Should I return to them and tell them what trouble happened to me? No, it's inconvenient. Yes, they probably went to bed long ago. He began to look for the house of some of his friends, but he, too, was not there. - No, this is just some kind of nonsense! I don’t recognize Eastern Street. Not a single store! Everything is just old, miserable shacks - you would think I was in Roskilde or Ringsted. Yes, my business is bad! Well, why be shy, I’ll go back to the agent! But damn, how can I find his house? I don't recognize him anymore. Aha, it seems they’re not sleeping here yet!... Oh, I’m completely ill, completely ill. He came across a half-open door, from behind which light was pouring. It was one of those old taverns that resembled our beer houses today. The common room resembled a Holstein tavern. Several regulars sat in it - the skipper, Copenhagen burghers and some other people who looked like scientists. While drinking beer from mugs, they had some kind of heated argument and did not pay the slightest attention to the new visitor. “Excuse me,” the adviser said to the hostess who approached him, “I suddenly felt ill.” Can you get me a cab? I live in Christian Haven. The hostess looked at him and sadly shook her head, then said something in German. The adviser thought that she did not understand Danish well and repeated his request to German . The hostess had already noticed that the visitor was dressed somehow strangely, and now, having heard German speech, she was finally convinced that this was a foreigner. Deciding that he was not feeling well, she brought him a mug of brackish well water. The adviser leaned his head on his hand, took a deep breath and thought: where did he end up? - Is this the evening “Day”? - he asked to say something, seeing how the hostess was putting away a large sheet of paper. She didn’t understand him, but still handed him the sheet: it was an old engraving depicting a strange glow in the sky, which was once observed in Cologne. - Antique painting! - said the adviser, seeing the engraving, and immediately perked up. - Where did you get this rarity? Very, very interesting, although completely fictional. In fact, it was just the northern lights, as scientists now explain; and, probably, similar phenomena are caused by electricity. Those who were sitting close and heard his words looked at him with respect; one man even stood up, respectfully took off his hat and said with the most serious look: “You are obviously a great scientist, monsieur?” “Oh no,” answered the adviser, “I just can talk about this and that, like anyone else.” “Modestial (modesty (Latin)) is the most beautiful virtue,” said his interlocutor. - However, about the essence of your statement mihi secus videtur (I have a different opinion (Latin)), although I will gladly refrain for now from expressing my own judicium (judgment (Latin)). - Dare I ask, with whom do I have the pleasure of talking? - the adviser inquired. “I am a bachelor of theology,” he answered. These words explained everything to the adviser - the stranger was dressed in accordance with his academic title. “This must be some old village teacher,” he thought, “a man out of this world, the kind you can still meet in the remote corners of Jutland.” “Here, of course, this is not a locus docendi (place of learned conversations (Latin)”), said the theologian, “but I still beg you to continue your speech.” You are, of course, very well read in ancient literature? - Oh yeah! You are right, I often read ancient authors, that is, all their good works; but I also really love the latest literature, but not “Ordinary Stories” (an allusion to the “Ordinary Stories” of the Danish writer Güllemburg), there are plenty of them in life. - Ordinary stories? - asked the theologian. - Yes, I’m talking about these new novels, of which so many are now being published. “Oh, they are very witty and popular at court,” the bachelor smiled. - The king especially loves the novels about Ifvent and Gaudian, which tell about King Arthur and the knights Round table, and even deigned to joke about this with his confidants (The famous Danish writer Holberg tells in his “History of the Danish State” that, after reading a novel about the Knights of the Round Table, King Hans once jokingly said to his confidant Otto Rud , whom he loved very much: “These gentlemen Ifvent and Gaudian, about whom this book speaks, were wonderful knights. You won’t meet such people anymore.” To which Otto Rud replied: “If only such kings as Ko - the role of Arthur, then, probably, there would have been many such knights as Ifvent and Gaudian. released?" "No, it's not Heiberg, it's Gottfred von Gehmen," answered the bachelor. "So that's who the author is!" exclaimed the adviser. "What ancient name ! After all, this is our first Danish book printer, isn’t it? - Yes, he is our first printer! - the theologian confirmed. So, so far everything was going great. When one of the townspeople started talking about the plague that raged here several years ago, namely in 1484, the adviser thought that he was talking about the recent cholera epidemic, and the conversation continued happily. And then how could one not remember the recently ended pirate war of 1490, when English privateers captured Danish ships in the roadstead. Here the adviser, remembering the events of 1801, willingly added his voice to the general attacks on the British. But then the conversation somehow stopped going well and was increasingly interrupted by deathly silence. The good bachelor was very ignorant: the adviser’s simplest judgments seemed to him something unusually bold and fantastic. The interlocutors looked at each other with increasing bewilderment, and when they finally completely stopped understanding each other, the bachelor, trying to improve matters, spoke in Latin, but this did not help much. - Well, how do you feel? - the hostess asked, pulling the adviser by the sleeve. Then he came to his senses and looked at his interlocutors in amazement, because during the conversation he had completely forgotten what was happening to him. "Lord, where am I?" - he thought, and just thinking about it made him dizzy. - Let's drink claret, honey and Bremen beer! - one of the guests shouted. - And you are with us! Two girls entered, one of them was wearing a two-color cap (under King Hans, in 1495, a decree was issued according to which women of easy virtue must wear caps of conspicuous colors), they poured wine for the guests and squatted low. The adviser even had goosebumps running down his spine. - What is it? What it is? - he whispered, but was forced to drink along with everyone else. His drinking buddies were so obsessed with him that the poor councilor was completely dismayed, and when someone said that he must be drunk, he did not doubt it at all and only asked that a cab be hired for him. But everyone thought that he spoke Muscovite. Never in his life had the adviser found himself in such rude and uncouth company. “You might think,” he said to himself, “that we have returned to the times of paganism. No, this is the most terrible moment of my life!” Then it occurred to him: what if he crawled under the table, crawled to the door and slipped away? But when he was almost there, the revelers noticed where he was crawling and grabbed him by the legs. Fortunately, the galoshes fell off his feet, and with them the magic dissipated. In the bright light of the lantern, the adviser clearly saw a large house standing right in front of him. He recognized this house and all the neighboring ones, and he recognized Eastern Street. He himself was lying on the sidewalk, resting his feet against someone’s gate, and next to him sat the night watchman, fast asleep. - God! So, I fell asleep right on the street, here you go! - said the adviser. - Yes, here is Eastern Street... How light and beautiful! But who would have thought that one glass of punch would have such a strong effect on me! Two minutes later, the adviser was already driving a cab to Christian's harbor. All the way he recalled the horrors he had experienced and from the bottom of his heart blessed the happy reality and his age, which, despite all its vices and shortcomings, was still better than the one he had just visited. And it must be said that this time the justice adviser thought quite sensibly.

I. Beginning

It happened in Copenhagen, on East Street, not far from the New Royal Square. A large company has gathered in one house - sometimes you still have to receive guests, but, you see, someday you yourself will receive an invitation.

The guests split into two large groups: one immediately sat down to play cards, the other formed a circle around the hostess, who suggested “coming up with something more interesting,” and the conversation flowed by itself.

By the way, we were talking about the Middle Ages, and many found that life was much better in those days than now. Yes Yes! Counselor of Justice Knap defended this opinion so zealously that the hostess immediately agreed with him, and the two of them attacked poor Oersted, who argued in his article in the Almanac that our era is in some ways superior to the Middle Ages. But the adviser argued that the times of King Hans were the best and happiest times in the history of mankind.

At first glance, they could be mistaken for maids accompanying some old ladies who came to visit the mistress, but, looking more closely, you would notice that these women did not at all look like maids: they were too soft and unclear their hands, their posture and all their movements were too majestic, and their dress was distinguished by some particularly bold cut.

Of course, you already guessed that they were fairies. The youngest was, if not the fairy of Happiness herself, then, most likely, one of her faithful assistants and was busy bringing various small gifts of happiness to people. The eldest seemed much more serious - she was a fairy of Sorrow and always managed her affairs herself, without entrusting them to anyone: then, at least, she knew that everything would be done as she wanted.

Standing in the hallway, they told each other about where they had been that day. The assistant to the Fairy of Happiness today carried out only a few unimportant tasks: she saved someone’s new hat from a downpour, conveyed a bow from a high-ranking nonentity to one respectable person, and everything in the same spirit. But she still had something completely extraordinary left in reserve.

I need to tell you,” she finished, “that today is my birthday, and in honor of this event they gave me a pair of galoshes so that I could take them to people. These galoshes have one remarkable property: whoever puts them on can be instantly transported to any place and any era - he just has to wish it - and this will make him feel completely happy.

You think so? - responded the Fairy of Sorrow. - Know this: he will be the most unfortunate person on earth and will bless the moment when he finally gets rid of his galoshes.

Well, we'll see about that later! - said the Fairy of Happiness. - In the meantime, I will put them at the door. Perhaps someone will put them on by mistake instead of their own and find happiness.

This is the conversation that took place between them.

II. What happened to the justice adviser

It was too late. Councilor Justice Knapp was going home, still thinking about the times of King Hans. And it had to happen that instead of his galoshes he would put on the galoshes of happiness. As soon as he went out into the street wearing them, the magical power of the galoshes immediately transported him to the time of King Hans, and his feet immediately sank into impassable mud, because under King Hans, of course, the streets were not paved.

What a mess! It's just terrible! - muttered the adviser. - And besides, not a single lamp is lit.

The moon had not yet risen, there was a thick fog, and everything around was drowned in darkness.

On the corner in front of the image of the Madonna there was a lamp hanging, but it glowed slightly, so the adviser noticed the picture only when he caught up with it, and only then did he see the Mother of God with a baby in her arms.

“There was probably an artist’s studio here,” he decided, “but they forgot to remove the sign.”

Then several people in medieval costumes walked past him.

“Why are they dressed up like that?” thought the adviser. “They must be coming from a masquerade.”

But suddenly the beating of drums and the whistling of pipes was heard, torches flashed, and an amazing sight was presented to the advisor’s eyes! A strange procession was moving towards him along the street: drummers walked ahead, skillfully beating the beat, and behind them were guards with bows and crossbows. Apparently, it was a retinue accompanying some important person. The amazed adviser asked what kind of procession this was and who this dignitary was.

Bishop of Zealand! - came the answer.

Lord have mercy! What else happened to the bishop? - Councilor Knap sighed, sadly shaking his head.

Thinking about all these wonders and not looking around, the adviser slowly walked along Eastern Street until he finally reached the High Cape Square. However, the bridge leading to Palace Square was not in place - the poor adviser could barely make out some small river in the pitch darkness and eventually noticed a boat in which two guys were sitting.

Would you like to be transported to the island? - they asked.

To the island? - the adviser asked, not yet knowing that he was now living in the Middle Ages. - I need to get to Christian Harbor on Malaya Torgovaya Street.

The guys rolled their eyes at him.

At least tell me where the bridge is? - The adviser continued. - What a disgrace! The lanterns don’t light up, and the dirt is so muddy that it feels like you’re wandering through a swamp!

But the more he talked to the carriers, the less he understood them.

I don't understand your gibberish! - The adviser finally got angry and turned his back to them.

He still didn’t find the bridge; the stone parapet of the embankment also disappeared.

“What can I do! What a disgrace!” he thought. Yes, never before had reality seemed so pitiful and disgusting to him as it did that evening. “No, it’s better to take a cab,” he decided. “But, Lord, where have they all gone?” "As luck would have it, not a single one! I'll go back to New Royal Square, there are probably carriages there, otherwise I'll never get to Christian Harbor!"

He returned to Eastern Street again and had already walked almost all of it when the moon rose.

“Lord, what have they built here?” - the adviser was amazed when he saw in front of him the Eastern City Gate, which in those distant times stood at the end of the Eastern Gate. streets.

Finally he found a gate and went out into what is now the New Royal Square, which in the old days was just a large meadow. There were bushes sticking out here and there in the meadow, and it was crossed by either a wide canal or a river. On the opposite bank were the pitiful shops of the Halland skippers, which is why the place was called the Halland Heights.

My God! Or is it a mirage, a Fata Morgana, or am I... Lord... drunk? - the counselor of justice groaned. - What is it? What is it?

And the adviser turned back again, thinking that he was sick. Walking along the street, he now looked more closely at the houses and noticed that they were all of ancient construction and many were thatched.

Yes, of course, I got sick,” he sighed, “but I only drank a glass of punch, but that hurt me too.” And you have to think of it - treat your guests to punch and hot salmon! No, I will definitely talk about this with Madam Advisor. Should I return to her and tell her what trouble happened to me? Inconvenient, perhaps. Yes, they all probably went to bed long ago.

He began to look for the house of some of his friends, but he, too, was not there.

No, it's just some kind of obsession! I don't recognize East Street. Not a single store! It's all just old, miserable shacks - you'd think I was in Roskilde or Ringsted. Yes, my business is bad! Well, why be shy, I’ll go back to the advisor! But damn, how can I find her house? I don't recognize him anymore. Aha, it seems they’re not sleeping here yet!.. Oh, I’m completely ill, completely ill...

He came across a half-open door, from behind which light was pouring. It was one of those old taverns that resembled our beer houses today. The common room resembled a Holstein tavern. Several regulars sat in it - the skipper, Copenhagen burghers and some other people who looked like scientists. While drinking beer from mugs, they had some kind of heated argument and did not pay the slightest attention to the new visitor.

“Excuse me,” the adviser said to the hostess who approached him, “I suddenly felt sick.” Can you get me a cab? I live in Christian Harbor.

The hostess looked at him and shook her head sadly, then said something in German. The adviser thought that she did not understand Danish well and repeated his request in German. The hostess had already noticed that the visitor was dressed somehow strangely, and now, having heard German speech, she was finally convinced that this was a foreigner. Deciding that he was not feeling well, she brought him a mug of brackish well water. The adviser leaned his head on his hand, took a deep breath and thought: where did he end up?

Is this evening "Day"? - he asked, just to say something, seeing how the hostess put away a large sheet of paper.

She didn’t understand him, but still handed him the sheet: it was an old engraving depicting a strange glow in the sky, which was once observed in Cologne.

Antique painting! - said the adviser, seeing the engraving, and immediately perked up: - Where did you get this rarity? Very, very interesting, although completely fictional. In fact, it was just the northern lights, as scientists now explain; and probably similar phenomena are caused by electricity.

Those who were sitting close and heard his words looked at him with respect; one man even stood up, respectfully took off his hat and said with the most serious look:

You are obviously a great scientist, monsieur?

“Oh no,” the adviser replied, “I just can talk about this and that, like anyone else.”

Modesty is the most beautiful virtue,” said his interlocutor. - However, I have a different opinion about the essence of your statement, although I will refrain for now from sharing my own judgment.

Dare I ask, with whom do I have the pleasure of talking? - the adviser inquired.

“I am a bachelor of theology,” he replied. These words explained everything to the adviser - the stranger was dressed in accordance with his academic title.

“This must be some old village teacher,” he thought, “a man out of this world, the kind you can still meet in the remote corners of Jutland.”

“This is, of course, not the place for learned conversations,” said the theologian, “but I still beg you to continue your speech. You are, of course, very well read in ancient literature?

Oh yeah! You are right, I often read ancient authors, that is, all their good works; but I also really love the latest literature, just not “Ordinary Stories”; there are enough of them in life.

Ordinary stories? - asked the theologian.

Yes, I'm talking about these new novels that are coming out so much now.

“Oh, they are very witty and popular at court,” the bachelor smiled. - The king especially loves the novels about Ifvent and Gaudian, which tell about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and even deigned to joke about this with his entourage.

“I haven’t read these novels yet,” said the justice adviser. - It must be Holberg who released something new?

“No, not Holberg, but Gottfred von Gehmen,” answered the bachelor.

Yes, he is our first printer! - the theologian confirmed.

So, so far everything was going great. When one of the townspeople spoke about the plague that raged in Denmark several years ago, namely in 1484, the councilor thought that he was talking about the recent cholera epidemic, and the conversation continued happily. And after that, how could I not remember the one that ended quite recently? pirate war 1490, when English privateers captured Danish ships in the roadstead. Here the adviser, remembering the events of 1801, willingly added his voice to the general attacks on the British. But then the conversation somehow stopped going well and was increasingly interrupted by deathly silence. The good bachelor was very ignorant: the adviser’s simplest judgments seemed to him something unusually bold and fantastic. The interlocutors looked at each other with increasing bewilderment, and when they finally completely ceased to understand each other, the bachelor, trying to improve matters, spoke in Latin, but this did not help much.

Well, how are you feeling? - the hostess asked, pulling the adviser by the sleeve.

Then he came to his senses and looked at his interlocutors in amazement, because during the conversation he had completely forgotten what was happening to him.

"Lord, where am I?" - he thought, and just thinking about it made him dizzy.

Let's drink claret, mead and Bremen beer! - one of the guests shouted. - And you are with us!

Two girls entered, one of them was wearing a two-color cap, they poured wine for the guests and squatted low. The adviser even had goosebumps running down his spine.

What is it? What it is? - he whispered, but was forced to drink along with everyone else.

His drinking buddies were so obsessed with him that the poor councilor fell into complete confusion, and when someone said that he must be drunk, he did not doubt it at all and only asked that a cab be hired for him. But everyone thought that he spoke Muscovite. In his life the adviser had never found himself in such rude and uncouth company.

“You might think,” he said to himself, “that we have returned to the times of paganism. No, this is the most terrible moment of my life!”

Then it occurred to him: what if he crawled under the table, crawled to the door and slipped away? But when he was almost there, the revelers noticed where he was crawling and grabbed him by the legs. Fortunately, at the same time the galoshes fell off his feet, and with them the magic dissipated.

In the bright light of the lantern, the adviser clearly saw the large house and all its neighbors, and recognized East Street. He himself was lying on the sidewalk, resting his feet against someone's gate, and the night watchman sat next to him, sleeping soundly.

God! So I fell asleep right on the street! - said the adviser. - And here is Eastern Street... How light and beautiful it is here! Who would have thought that one glass of punch would have such an effect on me!

Two minutes later, the adviser was already driving a cab to Christian's harbor. All the way he recalled the horrors he had experienced and with all his heart blessed the happy reality and his age, which, despite all its vices and shortcomings, was still better than the Middle Ages, which he had just visited. And it must be said that this time the justice adviser thought quite sensibly.

III. Adventures of the Night Watchman

Hm, someone left their galoshes here! - said the watchman. - This is probably the lieutenant who lives upstairs. What a guy, he threw them right at the gate!

The honest watchman, of course, wanted to immediately call and give the galoshes to their rightful owner, especially since the lieutenant’s light was still on, but he was afraid to wake up the neighbors.

Well, it must be warm to walk around in such galoshes! - said the watchman. - And the skin is so soft!

The galoshes suited him just right.

And how strange the world is! - he continued. - Take this lieutenant, for example: he could now sleep peacefully in a warm bed, but no, he paces back and forth across the room all night. That's who the happiness is! He has no wife, no children, no worries, no worries; Every evening he travels to visit guests. It would be nice if I could change places with him: then I would become the happiest person on earth!

Before he had time to think this, by magical power the galosh instantly transformed into the officer who lived upstairs. Now he stood in the middle of the room, holding in his hands a piece of pink paper with poems that the lieutenant himself had written.

I WOULD BE RICH

“If I were rich,” I dreamed as a boy,
I would definitely become an officer,
I would wear a uniform, a saber and a plume!"
But it turned out that dreams were a mirage.
Years passed - I put on epaulettes,
But, unfortunately, poverty is my destiny.

Cheerful boy, in the evening hour,
When, do you remember, I visited you,
I amused you with a children's fairy tale,
Which was my entire capital.
You were surprised, dear child,
And she kissed my lips jokingly.

If I were rich, I'd still be dreaming
About the one that was irretrievably lost...
She is now beautiful and smart
But my money is still poor,
But fairy tales will not replace capital,
Which the Almighty did not give me.

If I were rich, I wouldn't know bitterness
And I didn’t pour out my sorrow on paper,
But I put my soul into these lines
And he dedicated them to the one he loved.
I put the fervor of love into my poems!
I am a poor man, God bless you!

Yes, lovers always write such poems, but prudent people still don’t publish them. The rank of lieutenant, love and poverty - this is the ill-fated triangle, or rather the triangular half dice, abandoned for luck and split.

The lieutenant thought so too, hanging his head on the windowsill and sighing heavily: “The poor watchman is happier than me. He does not know my torment. He has a home, and his wife and children share with him both joy and sorrow. Oh, how I would like to be in his place, because he is much happier than me!”

And at that very moment the night watchman became a night watchman again: after all, he became an officer only thanks to his galoshes, but, as we saw, this did not make him any happier and wanted to return to his previous state. And just in time!

“What a bad dream I had,” he thought. “But quite a funny one. Wow, I became the same lieutenant who lives upstairs. And how boring his life is! How I missed my wife and children: who “who, and they are always ready to kiss me to death.”

The night watchman sat in the same place and nodded in time with his thoughts. The dream could not get out of his head, and the galoshes of happiness were still on his feet. A star rolled across the sky.

“Look at how it rolled,” the watchman said to himself. “Well, it’s okay, there are still a lot of them left there. But it would be nice to see all these celestial things closer. Especially the moon...”

He was so daydreaming that the stick with a star at the end - we called it the morning star - fell out of his hands, and his eyes were staring at the moon, but then they closed, the eyelids stuck together, and the watchman; started nodding off.

Hey watchman, what time is it? - asked some passerby.

Without waiting for an answer, he lightly flicked the sleeping man on the nose. The watchman's body lost its balance and stretched out to its full length on the sidewalk.

Deciding that the watchman had died, the passer-by was horrified and hastened to report this to the appropriate place. The watchman was taken to the hospital, and the first thing there, of course, was to remove his galoshes.

And as soon as the galoshes were removed, the magic dissipated, and the watchman immediately came to life. Then he insisted that it was the most crazy night of his life. He wouldn't even agree to relive all these horrors for two marks. However, now all this is behind us.

The watchman was discharged the same day, but the galoshes remained in the hospital.

IV. Adventures of a young doctor

Every Copenhagen resident has seen the main entrance to the city's main hospital many times, but since this story may not only be read by Copenhagenites, we will have to give some explanations.

The fact is that the hospital is separated from the street by a rather high grille made of thick iron rods. These bars are spaced so sparsely that many trainees, if they are thin, manage to squeeze between them when they want to get out into the city at an inopportune hour. It is most difficult for them to stick their heads through, so in this case, as, indeed, often happens in life, the big-headed ones had the most difficulty... Well, that’s enough for the introduction.

That evening, a young doctor was on duty at the main hospital, about whom, although one could say that “he has a big head,” but... only in the most literal sense of the word.

It was pouring rain; however, despite the bad weather and the duty, the doctor still decided to run into the city for some urgent business, at least for a quarter of an hour.

“There’s no point,” he thought, “to get involved with the gatekeeper if you can easily get through the bars.”

The galoshes, forgotten by the watchman, were still lying in the lobby. In such a downpour, they were very useful, and the doctor put them on, not realizing that they were galoshes of happiness. Now all that remained was to squeeze between the iron bars, something he had never had to do before.

Lord, if only I could stick my head in,” he said.

And at that same moment his head, although very large, slipped safely between the bars - not without the help of galoshes, of course. Now it was up to the body, but he couldn’t get through.

Wow, I'm so fat! - said the student. “And I thought that getting my head through would be the hardest thing.” No, I can't get through!

He wanted to immediately pull his head back, but that was not the case: it was stuck hopelessly, he could only twist it as much as he wanted and without any sense. At first the doctor was simply angry, but soon his mood deteriorated completely: the galoshes put him in a truly terrible position.

Unfortunately, he had no idea that he just had to wish to free himself, and no matter how much he turned his head, she wouldn’t crawl back through.

The rain continued to pour and pour, and there was not a soul on the street. There was still no way to reach the janitor's bell, and he couldn't free himself. He thought that he would have to stand there until the morning: only in the morning would he be able to send for a blacksmith to saw through the grate. And it is unlikely that it will be possible to saw through it quickly, but schoolchildren and all the surrounding residents will come running to the noise - yes, yes, they will come running and stare at the doctor who is chained to bars, like a criminal to a pillory! Gawk like last year at the huge agave when it blossomed.

Oh, the blood just rushes to my head. No, I'm going so crazy! I'll just go crazy! Oh, if only I could be free!

The doctor needed to say this a long time ago: at that very moment his head was freed, and he rushed headlong back, completely maddened by the fear into which the galoshes of happiness plunged him.

But if you think that this is the end of the matter, you are deeply mistaken. Feeling ill, our doctor decided that he had caught a cold there, near the hospital fence, and decided to immediately begin treatment.

“They say that in such cases the Russian bath is most beneficial,” he recalled. “Oh, if only I were already lying on the shelf.”

And of course he immediately found himself in the bathhouse on the very top shelf. But he lay there completely dressed, in boots and galoshes, and dripping from the ceiling onto his face. hot water.

Oh! - the doctor shouted and ran to quickly take a shower.

The bathhouse attendant also screamed: he was scared when he saw a dressed man in the bathhouse.

Fortunately, the doctor, without being taken aback, whispered to him:

Don't be afraid, I'm the one betting.

Returning home, the first thing the doctor did was put one large Spanish fly patch on his neck and another on his back to get the crap out of his head.

The next morning his whole back was swollen with blood - that’s all that the galoshes of happiness blessed him with. This smart guy with a big head - “big”, but only in the most literal sense of the word.

V. Transformations of the unlucky clerk

Meanwhile, our familiar watchman remembered the galoshes that he found on the street, and then left in the hospital, and took them from there. But neither the lieutenant nor the neighbors recognized these galoshes as theirs, and the watchman took them to the police.

Yes, they are like two peas in a pod like mine! - said one of the police clerks, placing the find next to his galoshes and examining it carefully. - Even the experienced eye of a shoemaker would not be able to distinguish one pair from another.

Mr. Clerk... - a policeman turned to him, coming in with some papers.

The clerk talked to him, and when he looked at both pairs of galoshes again, he himself no longer understood which pair was his - the one on the right or the one on the left.

“Mine must be these, wet ones,” he thought and was mistaken: they were just the galoshes of happiness.

Well, the police sometimes make mistakes too.

The clerk put on his galoshes and, putting some papers in his pocket and others under his arm (he needed to reread and rewrite some things at home), went out into the street. It was a Sunday, the weather was wonderful, and the police clerk thought it would be a good idea to take a walk around Fredericksburg.

The young man was distinguished by rare diligence and perseverance, so we wish him a pleasant walk after many hours of work in a stuffy office.

At first he walked without thinking about anything, and therefore the galoshes never had an opportunity to demonstrate their miraculous power.

But then he met his acquaintance, a young poet, in one alley, and he said that tomorrow he was going to travel for the whole summer.

Eh, here you are leaving again, and we are staying,” said the clerk. - You are happy people, you fly wherever you want and wherever you want, but we have chains on our feet.

Yes, but with them you are chained to the breadfruit tree,” the poet objected. “You don’t need to worry about tomorrow, and when you get old, you’ll get a pension.”

That’s how it is, but you still live much more freely,” said the clerk. - Writing poetry - what could be better! The public carries you in their arms, and you are your own masters. But you should try to sit in court, as we sit, and tinker with these most boring cases!

The poet shook his head, the clerk also shook his head, and they went in different directions, each remaining with his own opinion.

“These poets are an amazing people,” thought the young official. “I would like to get to know people like him better and become a poet myself. If I were in their place, I wouldn’t whine in my poems. Oh, what a wonderful spring day it is today.” "What beauty, freshness, poetry there is in it! What unusually clear air! What bizarre clouds! And the grass and leaves smell so sweetly! I have never felt it so keenly as now."

You, of course, noticed that he had already become a poet. But outwardly he has not changed at all - it is absurd to think that the poet is not the same person as everyone else. Among ordinary people there are often more poetic natures than many famous poets. Only poets have a much better developed memory, and all ideas, images, impressions are stored in it until they find their poetic expression on paper. When a simple person shows his poetically gifted nature, a kind of transformation occurs, and this is exactly the transformation that happened to the clerk.

“What a delightful fragrance!” he thought. “It reminds me of Aunt Lona’s violets. I was still very little then. Lord, how come I never thought of her before! Good old aunt! She lived just behind the Exchange. Always, even in the most severe cold, there were some green twigs or sprouts in jars on her windows, violets filled the room with aroma, and I applied heated copper coins to the icy glass so that I could look out onto the street. What a view opened up from these windows! On the canal there were ships frozen in the ice, huge flocks of crows made up their entire crew. But with the onset of spring, the ships were transformed. With songs and shouts of “Hurray!” the sailors chipped away at the ice: the ships were tarred, equipped with everything they needed, and they finally sailed to overseas countries. They float away, but I remain here; and it will always be so; I will always sit in the police office and watch others receive foreign passports. Yes, that is my lot! - And he sighed deeply, deeply, but then suddenly came to his senses: “What is this happening to me today?” Nothing like this had ever occurred to me before. That’s right, it’s the spring air that has that effect on me. And my heart contracts with some sweet excitement."

He reached into his pocket for his papers. “I’ll take them on and think about something else,” he decided and ran his eyes over the first sheet of paper that came to hand.

“Fru Siegbrit, an original tragedy in five acts,” he read. - What's happened? Strange, my handwriting! Was it really me who wrote the tragedy? What else is this? "Intrigue at the ball, or Big holiday, vaudeville." But where did I get all this? Someone probably slipped it in. Yes, there's another letter...

The letter was sent by the management of one theater; she not very politely informed the author that both of his plays were no good.

Hm,” said the clerk, sitting down on the Bench. Many thoughts suddenly poured into his head, and his heart was filled with inexplicable vagueness... why - he himself did not know. Mechanically, he picked a flower and admired it. It was a simple little daisy, but in one minute it told him more about itself than could be learned by listening to several lectures on botany. She told him the legend of her birth, told him how powerful the sunlight was, because it was thanks to him that her delicate petals blossomed and began to smell fragrant. And at that time the poet was thinking about the harsh struggle of life, awakening in a person forces and feelings unknown to him. Air and light are the beloved daisies, but light is her main patron, she reveres him; and when he leaves in the evening, she falls asleep in the arms of the air.

The light has given me beauty! - said the daisy.

And the air gives you life! - the poet whispered to her.

A boy stood nearby and slammed a stick on the water in a dirty ditch - the splashes flew in different directions. The clerk suddenly thought about those millions of living creatures invisible to the naked eye that fly up along with water drops to a huge height compared to their own size - just as if we, for example, found ourselves above the clouds. Thinking about this, as well as about his transformation, our clerk smiled: “I’m just sleeping and dreaming. But what an amazing dream it is! It turns out that you can dream in reality, realizing that you are only dreaming. It would be good to remember everything this tomorrow morning when I wake up. What strange condition! Now I see everything so clearly, so clearly, I feel so vigorous and strong - and at the same time I know very well that if I try to remember something in the morning, only nonsense will come into my head. How many times has this happened to me! All these wonderful things are like the treasures of the gnomes: at night, when you receive them, they seem precious stones, and during the day they turn into a pile of rubble and withered leaves."

Completely upset, the clerk sighed sadly, looking at the birds, who cheerfully sang their songs, flitting from branch to branch.

“And they live better than me. To be able to fly is such a wonderful ability! Happy is the one who is gifted with it. If only I could turn into a bird, I would become such a little lark!”

And at that very moment the sleeves and tails of his coat turned into wings and became overgrown with feathers, and claws appeared instead of galoshes. He immediately noticed all these transformations and smiled.

“Well, now I’m convinced that this is a dream. But I’ve never seen such stupid dreams,” he thought, flew up onto a green branch and sang.

However, there was no longer poetry in his singing, since he had ceased to be a poet: the galoshes only performed one task at a time. The clerk wanted to become a poet - he became, he wanted to turn into a bird - he turned, but lost his former properties.

“It’s funny, there’s nothing to say!” he thought. “During the day I sit in the police office, doing the most important things, and at night I dream that I’m flying like a lark through Fredericksburg Park. Yes, damn it, you could write a whole folk comedy about this!”

He flew onto the grass, turned his head and began cheerfully pecking at the flexible blades of grass, which now seemed to him like huge African palm trees. Suddenly everything around him became as dark as night; he felt as if some kind of giant blanket had been thrown over him! In fact, it was a boy from the settlement who covered it with his hat. The boy put his hand under his hat and grabbed the clerk by the back and wings. At first he squealed in fear, then suddenly became indignant:

Oh, you worthless puppy! How dare you! I'm a police clerk!

But the boy heard only a plaintive “pi-i, pi-i-i.” He clicked the bird's beak and walked with it further up the hill.

On the way he met two schoolchildren; Both of them were in the upper class in terms of their position in society and in the lower class in terms of mental development and success in the sciences. They bought a lark for eight skills. Thus, the police clerk returned to the city and ended up in an apartment on Gothskaya Street.

Damn it, it’s good that this is a dream,” said the clerk, “otherwise I would be very angry!” First I became a poet, then a lark. And it was my poetic nature that inspired me with the desire to turn into such a little thing. However, this is not a fun life, especially when you fall into the clutches of such brats. Oh, how will this all end?

The boys carried him into a beautifully furnished room, where they were greeted by a fat, smiling woman. She was not at all happy about the simple field bird, as she called the lark, but nevertheless she allowed the boys to leave him and put him in a small cage on the windowsill;

Maybe he'll entertain the little bum a little! - she added and looked with a smile at the large green parrot, which was swinging importantly on a ring in a luxurious metal cage. “Today is the little one’s birthday,” she said, smiling stupidly, “and the field bird wants to congratulate him.”

The parrot, without answering anything, still swayed back and forth as importantly. At this time, a beautiful canary, which was brought here last summer from a warm and fragrant native country, sang loudly.

Look, screamer! - said the hostess and threw a white handkerchief over the cage.

Pee-wee! What a terrible snowstorm! - The canary sighed and fell silent.

The clerk, whom the owner called a field bird, was put in a small cage, next to the canary's cage and next to the parrot. The parrot could clearly pronounce one phrase, which often sounded very comical: “No, let’s be human!”, but everything else was as incomprehensible to him as the twitter of a canary. However, the clerk, having turned into a bird, understood his new acquaintances very well.

“I fluttered over a green palm tree and a blooming almond tree,” the canary sang. - Together with my brothers and sisters, I flew over wonderful flowers and the mirror surface of lakes, and to us. The reflections of the coastal bushes nodded welcomingly. I saw flocks of colorful parrots who told many wonderful stories.

“These are wild birds,” responded the parrot, “who have not received any education.” No, let's be human! Why aren't you laughing, stupid bird? If the hostess herself and her guests laugh at this joke, why not you too? Not appreciating good witticisms is a very big vice, I must tell you. No, let's be human!

Do you remember the beautiful girls who danced under the shade of flowering trees? Do you remember the sweet fruits and cool juice of wild plants?

Of course, I remember,” answered the parrot, “but I’m much better here!” They feed me well and please me in every possible way. I know I'm smart and that's enough for me. No, let's be human! You have, as they say, a poetic nature, and I am knowledgeable in the sciences and witty. You have genius, but you lack judgment. You aim too high, so people push you down. They won't do that to me because I cost them dearly. I inspire respect with just my beak, and with my chatter I can put anyone in their place. No, let's be human!

O my warm, blooming homeland, - the canary sang, - I will sing about your dark green trees, whose branches kiss the clear waters of quiet bays, about the bright joy of my brothers and sisters, about the evergreen guardians of moisture in the desert - cacti.

Stop whining! - said the parrot. - Better say something funny. Laughter is a sign of high spiritual development. Can a dog or a horse, for example, laugh? No, they can only whine, and only humans are gifted with the ability to laugh. Ha ha ha, let's be human! - the little priest burst out laughing.

And you, little gray Danish bird, said the canary to the lark, you too have become a prisoner. It may be cold in your forests, but in them you are free. Get out of here! Look, they forgot to lock your cage! The window is open, fly - quickly, quickly!

The clerk did so, flew out of the cage and sat down next to her.

At that moment, the door to the next room opened, and a cat appeared on the threshold, flexible, scary, with green glowing eyes. The cat was just about ready to jump, but the canary darted about in the cage, and the parrot flapped its wings and shouted:

No, let's be human!

The clerk froze with horror and, flying out the window, flew over the houses and streets. He flew and flew, finally got tired, and then he saw a house that seemed familiar to him. One window in the house was open. The clerk flew into the room and sat down on the table.

To his amazement, he saw that this was his own room.

No, let's be human! - he mechanically repeated the parrot’s favorite phrase, and at that very moment he again became a police clerk, only for some reason he sat down on the table.

“Lord have mercy,” said the clerk, “how did I end up on the table and still fall asleep?” And what a wild dream I had! What nonsense!

VI. End

The next day, early in the morning, while the clerk was still lying in bed, there was a knock on the door, and his neighbor, who rented a room on the same floor, a young philosophy student, entered.

Please lend me your galoshes,” he said. - Even though it’s damp in the garden, the sun is shining too brightly. I want to go there and smoke a pipe.

He put on his galoshes and went out into the garden, in which only two trees grew - a plum and a pear; however, such sparse vegetation is still very rare in Copenhagen.

The student walked up and down the path. The time was early, only six o'clock in the morning. A stagecoach's horn began to play in the street.

Oh, travel, travel! - he burst out. - What could be more beautiful! All my life I have dreamed of traveling. How I want to go far away from here, see magical Switzerland, travel around Italy!

It’s good that the galoshes of happiness fulfilled the wishes immediately, otherwise the student, perhaps, would have gone too far both for himself and for you and me. At that very moment he was already traveling through Switzerland, hidden in a stagecoach with eight other passengers. His head was cracking, his neck was aching, his legs were numb and hurt because his boots were pinching mercilessly. He was neither asleep nor awake, but was in a state of some kind of painful stupor. He had a letter of credit in his right pocket, a passport in his left pocket, and several gold pieces were sewn into a leather bag on his chest.

As soon as our traveler nodded, he immediately began to imagine that he had already lost one of these treasures, and then he would tremble, and his hand would frantically describe a triangle - from right to left and onto his chest - to check if everything was intact. Umbrellas, sticks, and hats dangled in the net above the passengers' heads, and this prevented the student from enjoying the beautiful mountain landscape. But he looked and looked and couldn’t get enough of it, and in his heart were the lines of a poem that a Swiss poet known to us wrote, although he did not publish it:

The nature here was gloomy, harsh and majestic. The coniferous forests that covered the sky-high mountain peaks seemed from a distance to be just thickets of heather. It began to snow and a sharp, cold wind blew.

Wow! - the student sighed. - If only we were already on the other side of the Alps! Summer has now arrived there, and I would finally receive my money under the letter of credit. I am so afraid for them that all these Alpine beauties have ceased to captivate me. Oh, if only I were already there!

And he immediately found himself in the very heart of Italy, somewhere on the road between Florence and Rome.

The last rays of the sun illuminated Lake Trasimene, lying between two dark blue hills, turning its waters into molten gold. Where Hannibal had once defeated Flaminius, now the vines peacefully entwined each other with their green lashes. Along the road, under the canopy of fragrant laurels, lovely half-naked children tended a herd of pitch-black pigs.

Yes, if we were to describe this picture properly, everyone would just repeat: “Oh, amazing Italy!”

But, oddly enough, neither the student nor his companions thought so. Thousands of poisonous flies and mosquitoes flew in clouds in the air; It was in vain that the travelers fanned themselves with myrtle branches; the insects still bit and stung them. There was not a person in the carriage whose entire face was not swollen, bitten into blood. The horses looked even more miserable: the poor animals were completely covered with huge insects, so that the coachman from time to time got off the box and drove their tormentors away from the horses, but after a moment new ones swooped down.

The sun soon set, and the travelers were gripped by a piercing cold - admittedly, not for long, but still it was not very pleasant. But the mountain peaks and clouds were painted in indescribably beautiful green tones, shimmering with the brilliance of the latter sun rays. This play of colors defies description; it needs to be seen. The spectacle was amazing, everyone agreed with this, but everyone’s stomach was empty, their body was tired, their soul was yearning for shelter for the night, and where to find it? Now all these questions occupied travelers much more than the beauty of nature.

The road passed through an olive grove, and it seemed as if you were driving somewhere in your homeland, between the familiar blue willows. Soon the carriage arrived at a lonely hotel. At its gates sat many crippled beggars, even the most vigorous of them seemed like a terrible son of hunger.
It was as if poverty itself was reaching out to the travelers from this heap of rags and rags.

Sir, help the unfortunate! - they wheezed, holding out their hands for alms.

The travelers were met by the hotel owner, barefoot, unkempt, and wearing a dirty jacket. The doors in the rooms were held on by ropes, bats were flying around the ceiling, the brick floor was full of potholes, and the stench was so bad you could hang an axe.

It would be better if she set the table for us in the stables,” said one of the travelers. - At least you know what you're breathing there.

They opened the window to let in fresh air, but then withered hands reached into the room and they heard it again:

Sir, help the unfortunate!

The walls of the room were covered with writing, and half of the inscriptions cursed “beautiful Italy.”

Lunch was brought; watery soup with pepper and rancid olive oil, then a salad seasoned with the same oil and, finally, stale eggs and fried cockscombs - as decoration for the feast. Even the wine seemed not like wine, but like some kind of mixture.

At night, the door was barricaded with suitcases, and one traveler was assigned to stand guard while the rest fell asleep. A philosophy student was chosen as a sentry. Well, it was stuffy in the room! The heat is unbearable, mosquitoes, and then there are the moans of beggars under the window, which did not give peace even at night.

“No, it’s better to die than to endure all this torment,” thought the student. “I want to sleep so much. Sleep, sleep, sleep and not wake up.”

Before he had time to think like that, he found himself at home. Long white curtains hung on the windows, in the middle of the room on the floor there was a black coffin, and in it he himself slept in the sleep of death. His wish came true.

At that moment two women appeared in the room. We know them: they were the fairy of Sorrow and the messenger of Happiness, and they bent over the deceased.

Well,” asked Sadness, “have your galoshes brought much happiness to humanity?”

Well, at least they gave the one who lies here eternal rest! - answered the Fairy of Happiness.

Oh no, said Sadness. - He himself left the world before his time. But I will do him a favor! - And she pulled the galoshes off the student.

Brief summary of the fairy tale by H. C. Andersen "Galoshes of Happiness"

It was in Copenhagen, on East Street. A large company had gathered in one of the houses. They were talking in different topics, and the adviser to justice Knap defended the opinion that in the Middle Ages, life was better.

Two women entered the room - they were fairies. The Fairy of Happiness had magic boots in her hands that could make any wish come true, if you just thought about something. The Fairy of Sorrow said that these boots could not bring happiness to anyone. And yet the Fairy of Happiness put her boots in the corridor.

Counselor of Justice Knap accidentally put on these boots, and again thinking about the Middle Ages, he ended up there. He didn’t understand where the street he was on had disappeared, why people were dressed strangely, where the roads had gone. He went into the tavern and began asking people questions that made them perplexed. Fortunately, he managed to escape from them and return to his own time.

The second one who tried on the boots was a watchman who wanted to become a lieutenant, he thought that his life was better. Having turned into a lieutenant, he began to envy the watchman, because he had children and a wife, and this was happiness. And then he wanted to fly to the moon. A passerby thought that the watchman had died. They took him to the hospital and took off his galoshes, the magic dissipated.

At the hospital, a medical worker put on galoshes, he wanted to leave for urgent matters, his head fit through the bars and got stuck. I wished to free myself and visit a Russian bathhouse. The bathhouse attendant was frightened when he saw a man in outerwear on the shelf, but the doctor said that he was there for a bet.

The next one to put on the boots was the police clerk, accidentally confusing them with his own. The clerk wanted to become a poet, and then a bird. When I wanted to become a man, I woke up lying on the table.

And the last person to try on the boots was a philosophy student who wanted to travel to Italy and Switzerland. But not everything was as wonderful as he imagined. And he wished to die. The student lay in a coffin until the Fairy of Sorrow took off his boots.

The death sleep was interrupted. The philosophy student woke up and stood up.

The Fairy of Sorrow disappeared, and with her the galoshes. She must have decided that they would now belong to her.

The main idea of the fairy tale "Galoshes of Happiness"

None of the characters in the fairy tale became happy when they found themselves out of place. For some reason, it always seems to a person that if he lived in another place, at another time, things would be different. It’s not for nothing that there is a saying: “It’s good where we are not.”

Getting something and appreciating it takes time and hard work. You need to move towards your goal gradually, enjoying every step you take. For example, some lucky person won a lot of money in the lottery and became rich, but his habits remained like those of a poor person, he is not internally ready for this, he begins to spend his money and becomes poor again. The second option is that the person himself earned the same amount of money, then he will spend it more thoughtfully, saving most of the money or investing it in some business.

Each of us has our own idea of happiness, so if we turned into someone else, we would be unlikely to get what we really needed. Self-development and internal change of consciousness plus specific actions to get what you want, and then happiness will not keep you waiting, and of course you need to remain HUMAN.

Block of short questions

1. Did you like the fairy tale by H.K. Andersen's "Galoshes of Happiness"?

3. Which of the characters did you like the most? Why?

Two fairies argued. One argued that galoshes would make a person feel full of happiness. And the second noted the opposite point of view. Then the first sorceress placed them at the entrance, with the goal that someone would wear them.

They went to Councilor Knap. Having put them on, he found himself in the past. There was fog all around. All the people passing by were wearing clothes from the last century. The Bishop was carried before him. Once in a simple meadow, which later became the main street. Entering an old tavern, he met a scholar of worship. They continued the conversation, thinking in their own way.

He was scared, he tried to sneak away from his drinking companions, but someone pulled his feet and the magic shoes came off. And he ended up on his street. Looking down, the old guard picked up his galoshes. He wanted to give them to a military man, but after trying them on, he became a lieutenant (at his own request). While writing poetry, he realized that he had neither children nor a wife. And again he turned into a watchman who has a family: a wife and children.

Then he was still daydreaming in them and fell, when he was sent to the hospital, they took off his shoes and he found himself back at home. He left the hospital, leaving his shoes behind.

The person on duty at the hospital, a young doctor, jumped up and, unafraid of the rain, rushed out of the room. These galoshes were still lying there, and after putting them on, he was not immediately able to climb through the fence. Because I didn’t think well.

The shoes were brought to the police station. And the clerk dressed them, confusing them with others.

The student ended up in Italy because he wanted it. There were stinking flies and mosquitoes flying around. The room was stuffy. The food they brought him was not fresh; the wine tasted bad. His thoughts reached the point of wanting to fall asleep for a long time. And he found himself in his room, lying in a black coffin. And the Fairy of Sorrow said (to the Fairy of Happiness): “This is what your galoshes bring you to! Is he happy? And she took the shoes. After this, the hero woke up. And the Fairy disappeared.

Picture or drawing Galoshes of happiness

Where did it all start?

So, the work takes us to Copenhagen, to East Street, which is located next to the Royal Square. Many guests gathered in one house and had fun. Some of them sat down to play cards, others occupied their leisure time with interesting conversation. Its meaning boiled down to the fact that life was much better than at present. Justice Adviser Knapp especially insisted on this. He was so eloquent that the mistress of the house immediately agreed with him. A certain Esterd, who published an article in the Almanac stating that the modern era was nevertheless subjected to merciless criticism. During the heated argument, the interlocutors did not notice the appearance of two ladies in the hallway. This is how the fairy tale “Galoshes of Happiness” begins, a brief summary of which is given in this article.

Two fairies

So, in the hallway, where the galoshes, hats and umbrellas of the guests were, two unknown women appeared. They looked modest, but their manners appearance and the unusual cut of their clothes revealed that they were not mere mortals. And so it was. One of the ladies - an old one - was the fairy of Sorrow and preferred to do everything on her own because she did not trust others. The other - a young one - was an assistant to the Fairy of Happiness and was distinguished by her fun and cheerfulness. Today was her birthday, and she decided to give people something special in honor of this holiday. The girl brought with her galoshes of happiness, which could transport the person who wore them to any era he wished, and thereby make him happy. The Fairy of Sorrow suggested that such an unusual gift would most likely make a mortal the most unhappy on earth. The ladies have disappeared. The only reminders of their arrival were the galoshes of happiness remaining in the hallway. The summary of the tale further tells about the fate of Councilor Knap, who put on the magic shoes.

As we already know, the adviser really wanted to get into the Middle Ages. Therefore, leaving the hospitable house in galoshes, he was immediately transported to the era of King Hans. Knap's feet immediately sank into impassable mud, since the streets were not paved in those days. The amazed adviser saw people in medieval costumes and heard unfamiliar speech. He met an unusual procession, consisting of drummers walking in front and guards with crossbows and bows following them, and learned that this was the escort of the Bishop of Zealand. Thinking about why the clergyman would start such a masquerade, the adviser reached the square of the High Cape, but could not find the bridge leading to the river in the same place. Two guys suggested that the adviser cross to the other side by boat. The man refused. The reality seemed more and more disgusting to him: the dirt, lack of lanterns and stone porch made his existence unbearable. He was about to return to New Royal Square to look for a cab driver, but found in this place a spacious meadow crossed by an unknown canal. Then Knap headed to Eastern Street. Under the light of the moon, he was able to see ancient thatched buildings. In the end, the poor adviser had to go into a house in which the light was still on, and find himself in the strangest company of his life. Knap found himself in a tavern filled with people who listened with amazement to his every word. The adviser decided to sneak away from his interlocutors, hid under the table and began to slowly crawl towards the exit, but he was caught by his legs. Fortunately, the galoshes of happiness immediately fell off Knap. The summary of the work takes us after the new owner of the ill-fated shoes. And Knap again found himself in his era. And until the end of his days he thanked fate for not living in the Middle Ages.

The Night Watchman's Wish

This man discovered galoshes of happiness on the street. He decided that the shoes belonged to the brave lieutenant who lived upstairs. Since it was late, the watchman decided to return them in the morning, but in the meantime he tried on the galoshes himself. They suited him well. The watchman thought about how freely a military man could live. The lieutenant is not bothered by worries; he has no wife and children. Every day he visits guests. The man decided that he would trade places with the military man. The wise Andersen laughed at this naive dream in his fairy tale. The galoshes of happiness immediately made the night watchman a lieutenant.

The Lieutenant's Concerns

While in the guise of a military man, the watchman found himself standing in front of the window and reading love poems written on pink paper, composed by the lieutenant himself. In them, a man talks about his bitter fate. Being a poor man, he could not marry the one he idolized. All his capital consisted of beautiful fairy tales that he told to his beloved. But the lieutenant’s eloquence could not win the girl’s heart. The unhappy lover looked longingly at the street, cursed fate and envied the night guard, who did not know his worries. Thinking that a person with a close-knit family is much happier than him, the officer wholeheartedly wanted to become a watchman. Of course, his wish immediately came true, because the soldier had galoshes of happiness on his feet. A short stay in the lieutenant's shoes put the man in a different mood. He finally realized how lucky he was. But now he was overcome by other dreams.

Flight to the stars

The night watchman looked at the night sky, dotted with bright stars. It seemed to him that being among the stars and the moon would make him happy. The man began to daydream, the stick with the star-shaped tip fell out of his hands and he began to nod off. A random passer-by asked the watchman what time it was, and saw the body of a man dreaming in reality stretched out at full length on the sidewalk. Everyone decided that the guard had died. His lifeless body was taken to the hospital. And then the crafty Andersen took pity on his hero. The watchman's galoshes of happiness were removed first, and he instantly came to life. The man recalled with horror the last few hours of his life and assured that even for two marks he could not endure such nightmares again. The watchman was discharged the same day, but the magic galoshes remained in the hospital.

The adventure of a medic at the hospital bars

The fairy tale “Galoshes of Happiness,” a brief summary of which is offered in this article, takes us to the territory of the main city hospital in Copenhagen. At the time described by Andersen, it was separated from the street by a fence made of iron bars. Thin trainees squeezed through them when they tried to escape into the city at an inopportune hour. Squeezing the head through the bars was the most difficult thing, so the big-headed doctors had a hard time. The hero of the story, which will be described below, had a big head in the literal sense of the word. This young doctor was planning to run into town for a quarter of an hour on urgent matters. In order not to disturb the gatekeeper, he decided to sneak through the bars. Seeing galoshes forgotten by the watchman in the lobby, the young man decided that in such damp weather they would come in handy and put them on. Finding himself in front of the bars, the medic became worried. He had never had to climb through it before. The guy was only thinking about how to stick his big head through the bars. As soon as he mentally wanted this, his head immediately found itself on the other side of the fence. Galoshes of happiness fulfilled the young man's wish. However, the guy's torso was too thick to follow his head. The doctor found himself in a terrible situation. Stuck inside the fence, he dreamed only of getting out of his trap. Afraid that he would have to stand like that until the morning and wait until a crowd of mocking onlookers gathered around him, the guy with all his heart wished himself to get out of the damned bars. Of course, his wish immediately came true.

Adventures of a medic in the bathhouse

But the doctor’s misadventures did not end there. Feeling ill, he decided that he had a cold and needed treatment. The most the best way To restore his health, a Russian bathhouse appeared to him, and the guy wanted to find himself in it. Naturally, he immediately found himself in the steam room, on the very top shelf, fully dressed and with galoshes on his feet. Hot water dripped onto it from above. The young man rushed to take a shower in horror. On the way, he scared the bathhouse attendant to death with his appearance. Returning home, the doctor decided that he had gone crazy. He immediately put one impressive plaster on his neck, and a second one on his back. In the morning, the young man’s entire back was swollen with blood. This is all that the galoshes of happiness blessed the doctor with.

How a clerk became a poet

A night watchman we knew remembered about the forgotten shoes, took them from the hospital and took them to the police station. There, a young clerk put them on by mistake. In wonderful shoes, he wanted to walk around Frederiksberg. Having got out of the stuffy office on Fresh air, the young man began to look around and saw a familiar poet. He went on a trip for the whole summer. The clerk envied his friend's freedom and wanted to become a poet himself. The world the surroundings suddenly seemed to him painted in rainbow colors. The young man noticed how fresh and beautiful it was around. He admired the bizarre clouds above his head. The clerk's heart sank with sweet excitement. In his pocket he found not familiar office protocols, but some manuscripts. Mechanically picking a daisy, the guy admired it. A whole story immediately came to his mind. He thought that the light gave the flower beauty, and the air gave her life. Overwhelmed by unusual sensations, the clerk saw a singing bird. It immediately occurred to him that for complete happiness he lacked the miraculous ability to fly. This careless idea was immediately turned into reality by the Galoshes of Happiness. From this moment on, Andersen's tale tells not about a person, but about a little bird.

Adventures of the Lark

So, the coattails and sleeves of the clerk's coat turned into wings and were covered with feathers, and the galoshes became black claws. The man decided that this was all an amazing dream. The lark, in which he was reincarnated, first flew up onto a branch and sang. Then he moved to the ground and began cheerfully pecking at flexible blades of grass. Suddenly it seemed to him that a huge blanket had been thrown over him. In fact, a mischievous boy threw the hat on him. Having caught the lark in this way, he sold it to two schoolchildren. They brought the bird into a beautifully furnished room and put it in a cage. The lark found himself in the company of two other birds. One of them, a large green parrot, was extremely proud of her intelligence. Still would! After all, she knew how to pronounce a human phrase, which sometimes sounded very comical: “No, let’s be human!” Another - a canary - constantly sang songs about beauty native land and free life. Fortunately, the people forgot to lock the cage, and the lark managed to get free. Leaving the room, he almost fell into the clutches of a scary cat. The clerk became cold with fear, flew out of the window and flew through the streets for a long time until he found a house that seemed familiar to him. He flew into the window of his own room, sat down on the table and mechanically uttered the parrot’s favorite words: “No, let’s be human!” The lark immediately turned into a man. The man thought he accidentally fell asleep on the table. This is how Anderson treated the police clerk in his fairy tale. The galoshes of happiness played a funny joke on the dreamy young man.

Travels of a Philosopher Student

In the morning, the clerk received a visit from his roommate. It was a philosophy student. He came to ask for galoshes so he could go down into the garden and smoke a pipe. So the young man had to test the effect of the magic shoes on himself. He went out into the garden, began to walk along the path and heard the horn of a stagecoach. The student suddenly wanted to travel. He always dreamed of visiting Switzerland and Italy. All the details of what the young man suffered while traveling around Europe cannot be conveyed. brief retelling. The galoshes of happiness first carried the student into a cramped stagecoach, where he, in the company of eight other passengers, rode through the picturesque places of harsh Switzerland. Then the young man wanted to be on the other side of the Alps, and he immediately found himself in Italy. However, the sunny country seemed unusually inhospitable to him. On the way, travelers were mercilessly bitten by insects. The nature here, however, was magnificent. The play of colors at sunset was amazing. However, in the evening the travelers were overcome by a piercing cold. And the hotel where the traveler happened to spend the night was simply terrible: the brick floor was full of potholes, there were bats on the ceiling, and there was an unbearable stench in the rooms. The dinner offered by the hostess was disgusting. The travelers had to barricade the door with suitcases and post a sentry. The lot fell on the poor philosophy student. The unbearable heat, mosquitoes and the moans of beggars outside the window brought the guy to the point that he wanted to fall asleep forever. The next moment he found himself at home in a black coffin. This is the plot twist that the brilliant H.H. Andersen came up with. Galoshes of happiness made this careless wish come true.

The final

Many instructive conclusions can be drawn from this ironic tale. Andersen wanted to tell a lot in this work. “Galoshes of Happiness” (a brief summary of the work is given in this article) is a story about how unreasonable and senseless human desires can be.

The sorceresses we know - the Fairy of Sorrow and the Messenger of Happiness - appeared in the student’s home at the moment of his sudden death. They wondered how much happiness the unusual shoes had brought to people. The Fairy of Sorrow took pity on the young man, took off his galoshes and disappeared with them. Perhaps she decided that she would need these magical objects more. The student woke up, got up and began to live his old life.

"Galoshes of Happiness" - summary

In shortening, this work loses its original charm. The great writer has his own unique style of presentation, which makes his fairy tales truly magical. You can only enjoy this extraordinary story by reading it in the original. Therefore, the author of this article recommends that everyone once open a book of fairy tales that Andersen himself wrote. “Galoshes of Happiness” (a brief summary of this work will help readers take the first step in this direction) is a fairy tale that everyone should read.