empty in a corner； when a storm arose… whether on the passage out or
home it could not tell； for it had never been ashore。 It was a
terrible storm； great waves arose； darkly heaving and tossing the
vessel to and fro。 The main mast was split asunder； the ship sprang
a leak； and the pumps became useless； while all around was black as
night。 At the last moment； when the ship was sinking； the young mate
wrote on a piece of paper； 〃We are going down： God's will be done。〃
Then he wrote the name of his betrothed； his own name； and that of the
ship。 Then he put the leaf in an empty bottle that happened to be at
hand； corked it down tightly； and threw it into the foaming sea。 He
knew not that it was the very same bottle from which the goblet of joy
and hope had once been filled for him； and now it was tossing on the
waves with his last greeting； and a message from the dead。 The ship
sank； and the crew sank with her； but the bottle flew on like a
bird； for it bore within it a loving letter from a loving heart。 And
as the sun rose and set； the bottle felt as at the time of its first
existence； when in the heated glowing stove it had a longing to fly
away。 It outlived the storms and the calm； it struck against no rocks；
was not devoured by sharks； but drifted on for more than a year；
sometimes towards the north； sometimes towards the south； just as
the current carried it。 It was in all other ways its own master； but
even of that one may get tired。 The written leaf； the last farewell of
the bridegroom to his bride； would only bring sorrow when once it
reached her hands； but where were those hands； so soft and delicate；
which had once spread the table…cloth on the fresh grass in the
green wood； on the day of her betrothal？ Ah； yes！ where was the
furrier's daughter？ and where was the land which might lie nearest
to her home？
The bottle knew not； it travelled onward and onward； and at last
all this wandering about became wearisome； at all events it was not
its usual occupation。 But it had to travel； till at length it
reached land… a foreign country。 Not a word spoken in this country
could the bottle understand； it was a language it had never before
heard； and it is a great loss not to be able to understand a language。
The bottle was fished out of the water； and examined on all sides。 The
little letter contained within it was discovered； taken out； and
turned and twisted in every direction； but the people could not
understand what was written upon it。 They could be quite sure that the
bottle had been thrown overboard from a vessel； and that something
about it was written on this paper： but what was written？ that was the
question；… so the paper was put back into the bottle； and then both
were put away in a large cupboard of one of the great houses of the
town。 Whenever any strangers arrived； the paper was taken out and
turned over and over； so that the address； which was only written in
pencil； became almost illegible； and at last no one could
distinguish any letters on it at all。 For a whole year the bottle
remained standing in the cupboard； and then it was taken up to the
loft； where it soon became covered with dust and cobwebs。 Ah！ how
often then it thought of those better days… of the times when in the
fresh； green wood； it had poured forth rich wine； or； while rocked
by the swelling waves； it had carried in its bosom a secret； a letter；
a last parting sigh。 For full twenty years it stood in the loft； and
it might have stayed there longer but that the house was going to be
rebuilt。 The bottle was discovered when the roof was taken off； they
talked about it； but the bottle did not understand what they said… a
language is not to be learnt by living in a loft； even for twenty
years。 〃If I had been down stairs in the room；〃 thought the bottle； 〃I
might have learnt it。〃 It was now washed and rinsed； which process was
really quite necessary； and afterwards it looked clean and
transparent； and felt young again in its old age； but the paper
which it had carried so faithfully was destroyed in the washing。
They filled the bottle with seeds； though it scarcely knew what had
been placed in it。 Then they corked it down tightly； and carefully
wrapped it up。 There not even the light of a torch or lantern could
reach it； much less the brightness of the sun or moon。 〃And yet；〃
thought the bottle； 〃men go on a journey that they may see as much
as possible； and I can see nothing。〃 However； it did something quite
as important； it travelled to the place of its destination； and was
unpacked。
〃What trouble they have taken with that bottle over yonder！〃
said one； and very likely it is broken after all。〃 But the bottle
was not broken； and； better still； it understood every word that was
said： this language it had heard at the furnaces and at the wine
merchant's； in the forest and on the ship；… it was the only good old
language it could understand。 It had returned home； and the language
was as a welcome greeting。 For very joy； it felt ready to jump out
of people's hands； and scarcely noticed that its cork had been
drawn； and its contents emptied out； till it found itself carried to a
cellar； to be left there and forgotten。 〃There's no place like home；
even if it's a cellar。〃 It never occurred to him to think that he
might lie there for years； he felt so comfortable。 For many long years
he remained in the cellar； till at last some people came to carry away
the bottles； and ours amongst the number。
Out in the garden there was a great festival。 Brilliant lamps hung
in festoons from tree to tree； and paper lanterns； through which the
light shone till they looked like transparent tulips。 It was a
beautiful evening； and the weather mild and clear。 The stars twinkled；
and the new moon； in the form of a crescent； was surrounded by the
shadowy disc of the whole moon； and looked like a gray globe with a
golden rim： it was a beautiful sight for those who had good eyes。
The illumination extended even to the most retired of the garden
walks； at least not so retired that any one need lose himself there。
In the borders were placed bottles； each containing a light； and among
them the bottle with which we are acquainted； and whose fate it was；
one day； to be only a bottle neck； and to serve as a water…glass to
a bird's…cage。 Everything here appeared lovely to our bottle； for it
was again in the green wood； amid joy and feasting； again it heard
music and song； and the noise and murmur of a crowd； especially in
that part of the garden where the lamps blazed； and the paper lanterns
displayed their brilliant colors。 It stood in a distant walk
certainly； but a place pleasant for contemplation； and it carried a
light； and was at once useful and ornamental。 In such an hour it is
easy to forget that one has spent twenty years in a loft； and a good
thing it is to be able to do so。 Close before the bottle passed a
single pair； like the bridal pair… the mate and the furrier's
daughter… who had so long ago wandered in the wood。 It seemed to the
bottle as if he were living that time over again。 Not only the
guests but other people were walking in the garden； who were allowed
to witness the splendor and the festivities。 Among the latter came
an old maid； who seemed to be quite alone in the world。 She was
thinking； like the bottle； of the green wood； and of a young betrothed
pair； who were closely connected with herself； she was thinking of
that hour； the happiest of her life； in which she had taken part； when
she had herself been one of that betrothed pair； such hours are
never to be forgotten； let a maiden be as old as she may。 But she
did not recognize the bottle； neither did the bottle notice the old
maid。 And so we often pass each other in the world when we meet； as
did these two； even while together in the same town。
The bottle was taken from the garden； and again sent to a wine
merchant； where it was once more filled with wine； and sold to an
aeronaut； who was to make an ascent in his balloon on the following
Sunday。 A great crowd assembled to witness the sight； military music
had been engaged； and many other preparations made。 The bottle saw
it all from the basket in which he lay close to a live rabbit。 The
rabbit was quite excited because he knew that he was to be taken up；
and let down again in a parachute。 The bottle； however； knew nothing
of the 〃up；〃 or the 〃down；〃 he saw only that the balloon was
swelling larger and larger till it could swell no more； and began to
rise and be restless。 Then the ropes which held it were cut through；
and the aerial ship rose in the air with the aeronaut and the basket
containing the bottle and the rabbit； while the music sounded and
all the people shouted 〃Hurrah。〃
〃This is a wonderful journey up into the air；〃 thought the bottle；
〃it is a new way of sailing； and here； at least； there is no fear of
striking against anything。〃
Thousands of people gazed at the balloon； and the old maid who was
in the garden saw it also； for she stood at the open window of the
garret； by which hung the cage containing the linnet； who then had
no water…glass； but was obliged to be contented with an old cup。 In
the window…sill stood a myrtle in a pot； and this had been pushed a
little on one side； that it might not fall out； for the old maid was
leaning out of the window； that she might see。 And she did see
distinctly the aeronaut in the balloon； and how he let down the rabbit
in the parachute； and then drank to the health of all the spectators
in the wine from the bottle。 After doing this； he hurled it high
into the air。 How little she thought that this was the very same
bottle which her friend had thrown aloft in her honor； on that happy
day of rejoicing； in the green wood； in her youthful days。 The
bottle had no time to think； when raised so suddenly； and before it
was aware； it reached the highest point it had ever attained in its
life。 Steeples and roofs lay far； far beneath it； and the people
looked as tiny as possible。 Then it began to descend much more rapidly