looked as tiny as possible。 Then it began to descend much more rapidly
than the rabbit had done； made somersaults in the air； and felt itself
quite young and unfettered； although it was half full of wine。 But
this did not last long。 What a journey it was！ All the people could
see the bottle； for the sun shone upon it。 The balloon was already far
away； and very soon the bottle was far away also； for it fell upon a
roof； and broke in pieces。 But the pieces had got such an impetus in
them； that they could not stop themselves。 They went jumping and
rolling about； till at last they fell into the court…yard； and were
broken into still smaller pieces； only the neck of the bottle
managed to keep whole； and it was broken off as clean as if it had
been cut with a diamond。
〃That would make a capital bird's glass；〃 said one of the
cellar…men； but none of them had either a bird or a cage； and it was
not to be expected they would provide one just because they had
found a bottle neck that could be used as a glass。 But the old maid
who lived in the garret had a bird； and it really might be useful to
her； so the bottle neck was provided with a cork； and taken up to her；
and； as it often happens in life； the part that had been uppermost was
now turned downwards； and it was filled with fresh water。 Then they
hung it in the cage of the little bird； who sang and twittered more
merrily than ever。
〃Ah； you have good reason to sing；〃 said the bottle neck； which
was looked upon as something very remarkable； because it had been in a
balloon； nothing further was known of its history。 As it hung there in
the bird's…cage； it could hear the noise and murmur of the people in
the street below； as well as the conversation of the old maid in the
room within。 An old friend had just come to visit her； and they
talked； not about the bottle neck； but of the myrtle in the window。
〃No； you must not spend a dollar for your daughter's bridal
bouquet；〃 said the old maid； 〃you shall have a beautiful little
bunch for a nosegay； full of blossoms。 Do you see how splendidly the
tree has grown？ It has been raised from only a little sprig of
myrtle that you gave me on the day after my betrothal； and from
which I was to make my own bridal bouquet when a year had passed：
but that day never came； the eyes were closed which were to have
been my light and joy through life。 In the depths of the sea my
beloved sleeps sweetly； the myrtle has become an old tree； and I am
a still older woman。 Before the sprig you gave me faded； I took a
spray； and planted it in the earth； and now； as you see； it has become
a large tree； and a bunch of the blossoms shall at last appear at a
wedding festival； in the bouquet of your daughter。〃
There were tears in the eyes of the old maid； as she spoke of
the beloved of her youth； and of their betrothal in the wood。 Many
thoughts came into her mind； but the thought never came； that quite
close to her； in that very window； was a remembrance of those olden
times；… the neck of the bottle which had； as it were shouted for joy
when the cork flew out with a bang on the betrothal day。 But the
bottle neck did not recognize the old maid； he had not been
listening to what she had related； perhaps because he was thinking
so much about her。
THE END
。