The Little Match Girl
Hans Christian Andersen
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Retold by The Legendary Connection
TLC#00142
On one chilly New Year’s Eve, a young girl walked down a snowy street as the last light of the day was fading away, leaving a cold darkness all around. The poor girl had no hat, and her bare feet were numb from the cold. When she had left her small home that day, she had worn her mother’s old slippers, though they were far too big for her tiny feet. She lost them because two zooming carriages caused her to hurry to cross the street to avoid being hurt. She tried to get them back but one had disappeared and she saw a young boy grab it saying he would use it for a bed for his toys. The boy then dashed away before she could say anything to stop him, leaving her without shoes.
So, the little girl trudged on, her feet turning red and blue from the freezing snow. She wore an old apron with a pocket full of matches, and in her hands, she held a small bundle of them. All day she had tried to sell her matches, hoping someone would buy just one to help her bring a coin home. But nobody had stopped to buy, and she hadn’t earned a single penny. She knew she couldn’t go home; her father would be upset if she returned with no money from selling the matches.
Cold and hungry, she wandered through the street, shivering. She walked past homes where warm lights glowed in the windows, and a delicious smell filled the air—families were roasting goose to celebrate the New Year. As she breathed in the wonderful smells, her empty stomach ached even more, and she longed for just one taste of the delicious meals she smelled.
Finally, the little girl found a corner between two houses, where one wall jutted out slightly, giving her a small place to rest. She sat down and tucked her bare feet beneath her to try to keep them warm. She thought of her family’s house. It was drafty and cold, with only a flimsy roof and holes in the walls, patched as best they could with straw and cloth. It wasn’t much warmer there than it was outside.
Her tiny hands were nearly frozen. If only she could light just one match, she thought, maybe she could warm her fingers, even if only for a moment. Finally, she gathered her courage, took one match from the bundle, and struck it against the wall. Whisht! It sparked to life, and she held her hands close, feeling the warmth. The little flame glowed brightly, like a tiny candle. For a moment, it was as if she were sitting by a big, cozy stove with polished brass feet, just like the one she’d seen in the grand houses. The warmth filled her with comfort, and she stretched out her feet to feel it, too. But then—poof!—the flame went out, and the stove was gone. All that remained was the little burnt match in her hand.
The girl lit another match. This time, the light fell on the wall, and it seemed to turn transparent, like a magical window she could see through. In the glow, she saw a table covered in a beautiful white cloth, and on it sat a wonderful feast. There were plates, shiny glasses, and, in the middle, a roast goose stuffed with apples and prunes. It smelled heavenly, filling her with delight. And then, something amazing happened—the goose actually hopped off the dish and began waddling across the table toward her, as if it were coming just for her! But before she could reach out, the match burned out, and she was left staring at the empty, cold wall.
Shivering, the little girl struck yet another match. And suddenly, she found herself under a sparkling Christmas tree, more beautiful and grand than anything she had ever seen. The tree was covered with decorations, and tiny candles shone from every branch. She reached out to touch the ornaments, but the match faded again, and the lights rose higher and higher until they seemed to turn into stars in the night sky. Just then, one star fell, trailing light as it drifted down.
“Someone must be going to heaven now,” she whispered to herself, remembering how her dear grandmother, the one person who had truly loved her, used to tell her that when a star falls, a soul is on its way to God.
Longing for warmth and comfort, the little girl struck another match, and in its light, she saw her grandmother standing before her, looking radiant and kind. Her grandmother seemed so warm and gentle, smiling at her as she never had in life. “Oh, Grandmother!” cried the little girl, reaching out. “Please, take me with you! Don’t leave me like the warm stove, the wonderful feast, or the beautiful Christmas tree that all disappeared when the light faded.” Afraid her grandmother might vanish, she quickly lit the rest of the matches, holding them up as they blazed into a bright, warm glow.
In the light of all the matches burning, her grandmother did not fade away. She felt the warmth all around her and saw her grandmother smile brighter than ever before. Her grandmother held her close, lifting her up, and together they rose higher and higher, leaving behind the cold street. Now, they were safe, warm, and full of joy, far away from hunger and pain.
The next morning, as dawn broke, people passing by found the little girl huddled in the corner, her face peaceful and her lips smiling. Though her body was still, they could see the burnt matches around her, and they guessed she must have lit them to keep herself warm.
“Poor thing,” they said softly, not knowing the wonderful visions she had seen or how, in those final moments, she had found happiness with her grandmother. They did not realize that she had left behind the world’s cold and had gone to a place filled with love and warmth for all eternity. And so, the New Year began for everyone else, while the little match girl found her way to the warmth and peace she had always wished for.
---. “Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales. First Series.” Https://Www.gutenberg.org/Files/32571/32571-h/32571-H.htm, 28 May 2010, gutenberg.org/cache/epub/32571/pg32571-images.html#Page_117. Accessed 26 July 2024.