It's more than I can understand。 It cannot be a trick of hers； and
mean that we are now to take care of ourselves。 She has left us the
house as an inheritance； but to which of us is it to belong when we
have families of our own？〃
〃Yes； it won't do for you to stay with me when I increase my
household with a wife and children；〃' said the smallest。
〃I daresay I shall have more wives and children than you；〃 said
the second。
〃But I am the eldest！〃 exclaimed the third。 Then they all got
excited； they hit out with their wings； pecked with their beaks； and
flop！ one after another was thrown out of the nest。 There they lay
with their anger； holding their heads on one side and blinking the eye
that was turned upwards。 That was their way of looking foolish。
They could fly a little； by practice they learned to improve；
and at last they agreed upon a sign by which to recognise each other
if they should meet in the world later on。 It was to be one 〃Peep！〃
and three scratches on the ground with the left foot。
The young one who had remained behind in the nest made himself
as broad as he could； for he was the proprietor。 But this greatness
did not last long。 In the night the red flames burst through the
window and seized the roof； the dry straw blazed up high； and the
whole house； together with the young sparrow； was burned。 The two
others； who wanted to marry； thus saved their lives by a stroke of
luck。
When the sun rose again and everything looked as refreshed as if
it had had a quiet sleep； there only remained of the farmhouse a few
black charred beams leaning against the chimney； which was now its own
master。 Thick smoke still rose from the ruins； but the rose…bush stood
yonder； fresh； blooming； and untouched； every flower and every twig
being reflected in the clear water。
〃How beautifully the roses bloom before the ruined house；〃
exclaimed a passer…by。 〃A pleasanter picture cannot be imagined。 I
must have that。〃 And the man took out of his portfolio a little book
with white leaves： he was a painter； and with his pencil he drew the
smoking house； the charred beams and the overhanging chimney； which
bent more and more； in the foreground he put the large； blooming
rose…bush； which presented a charming view。 For its sake alone the
whole picture had been drawn。
Later in the day the two sparrows who had been born there came by。
〃Where is the house？〃 they asked。 〃Where is the nest？ Peep！ All is
burned and our strong brother too。 That's what he has now for
keeping the nest。 The roses got off very well； there they still
stand with their red cheeks。 They certainly do not mourn at their
neighbours' misfortunes。 I don't want to talk to them； and it looks
miserable here… that's my opinion。〃 And away they went。
On a beautiful sunny autumn day… one could almost have believed it
was still the middle of summer… there hopped about in the dry
clean…swept courtyard before the principal entrance of the Hall a
number of black； white； and gaily…coloured pigeons； all shining in the
sunlight。 The pigeon…mothers said to their young ones： 〃Stand in
groups； stand in groups！ for that looks much better。〃
〃What kind of creatures are those little grey ones that run
about behind us？〃 asked an old pigeon； with red and green in her eyes。
〃Little grey ones！ Little grey ones！〃 she cried。
〃They are sparrows； and good creatures。 We have always had the
reputation of being pious； so we will allow them to pick up the corn
with us； they don't interrupt our talk； and they scrape so prettily
when they bow。〃
Indeed they were continually making three foot…scrapings with
the left foot and also said 〃Peep！〃 By this means they recognised each
other； for they were the sparrows from the nest on the burned house。
〃Here is excellent fare！〃 said the sparrow。 The pigeons strutted
round one another； puffed out their chests mightily； and had their own
private views and opinions。
〃Do you see that pouter pigeon？〃 said one to the other。 〃Do you
see how she swallows the peas？ She eats too many； and the best ones
too。 Curoo！ Curoo！ How she lifts her crest； the ugly； spiteful
creature！ Curoo！ Curoo！〃 And the eyes of all sparkled with malice。
〃Stand in groups！ Stand in groups！ Little grey ones； little grey ones！
Curoo； curoo； curoo！〃
So their chatter ran on； and so it will run on for thousands of
years。 The sparrows ate lustily； they listened attentively； and even
stood in the ranks with the others； but it did not suit them at all。
They were full； and so they left the pigeons； exchanging opinions
about them； slipped in under the garden palings； and when they found
the door leading into the house open； one of them； who was more than
full； and therefore felt brave； hopped on to the threshold。 〃Peep！〃
said he； 〃I may venture that。〃
〃Peep！〃 said the other； 〃so may I； and something more too！〃 and he
hopped into the room。 No one was there； the third sparrow； seeing
this； flew still farther into the room； exclaiming； 〃All or nothing！
It is a curious man's nest all the same； and what have they put up
here？ What is it？〃
Close to the sparrows the roses were blooming； they were reflected
in the water； and the charred beams leaned against the overhanging
chimney。 〃Do tell me what this is。 How comes this in a room at the
Hall？〃 And all three sparrows wanted to fly over the roses and the
chimney； but flew against a flat wall。 It was all a picture； a great
splendid picture； which the artist had painted from a sketch。
〃Peep！〃 said the sparrows； 〃it's nothing。 It only looks like
something。 Peep！ that is 'the beautiful。' Do you understand it？ I
don't。〃
And they flew away； for some people came into the room。
Days and years went by。 The pigeons had often cooed； not to say
growled… the spiteful creatures； the sparrows had been frozen in
winter and had lived merrily in summer： they were all betrothed； or
married； or whatever you like to call it。 They had little ones； and of
course each one thought his own the handsomest and cleverest； one flew
this way； another that； and when they met they recognised each other
by their 〃Peep！〃 and the three scrapes with the left foot。 The
eldest had remained an old maid and had no nest nor young ones。 It was
her pet idea to see a great city； so she flew to Copenhagen。
There was a large house painted in many gay colours standing close
to the castle and the canal； upon which latter were to be seen many
ships laden with apples and pottery。 The windows of the house were
broader at the bottom than at the top； and when the sparrows looked
through them； every room appeared to them like a tulip with the
brightest colours and shades。 But in the middle of the tulip stood
white men； made of marble； a few were of plaster； still； looked at
with sparrows' eyes； that comes to the same thing。 Up on the roof
stood a metal chariot drawn by metal horses； and the goddess of
Victory； also of metal； was driving。 It was Thorwaldsen's Museum。
〃How it shines！ how it shines！〃 said the maiden sparrow。 〃I
suppose that is 'the beautiful。' Peep！ But here it is larger than a
peacock。〃 She still remembered what in her childhood's days her mother
had looked upon as the greatest among the beautiful。 She flew down
into the courtyard： there everything was extremely fine。 Palms and
branches were painted on the walls； and in the middle of the court
stood a great blooming rose…tree spreading out its fresh boughs；
covered with roses； over a grave。 Thither flew the maiden sparrow； for
she saw several of her own kind there。 A 〃peep〃 and three
foot…scrapings… in this way she had often greeted throughout the year；
and no one here had responded； for those who are once parted do not
meet every day； and so this greeting had become a habit with her。
But to…day two old sparrows and a young one answered with a 〃peep〃 and
the thrice…repeated scrape with the left foot。
〃Ah！ Good…day！ good…day！〃 They were two old ones from the nest and
a little one of the family。 〃Do we meet here？ It's a grand place；
but there's not much to eat。 This is 'the beautiful。' Peep！〃
Many people came out of the side rooms where the beautiful
marble statues stood and approached the grave where lay the great
master who had created these works of art。 All stood with enraptured
faces round Thorwaldsen's grave； and a few picked up the fallen
rose…leaves and preserved them。 They had come from afar： one from
mighty England； others from Germany and France。 The fairest of the
ladies plucked one of the roses and hid it in her bosom。 Then the
sparrows thought that the roses reigned here； and that the house had
been built for their sake。 That appeared to them to be really too
much； but since all the people showed their love for the roses； they
did not wish to be behindhand。 〃Peep！〃 they said sweeping the ground
with their tails； and blinking with one eye at the roses； they had not
looked at them long before they were convinced that they were their
old neighbours。 And so they really were。 The painter who had drawn the
rose…bush near the ruined house； had afterwards obtained permission to
dig it up； and had given it to the architect； for finer roses had
never been seen。 The architect had planted it upon Thorwaldsen's
grave； where it bloomed as an emblem of 'the beautiful' and yielded
fragrant red rose…leaves to be carried as mementoes to distant lands。
〃Have you obtained an appointment here in the city？〃 asked the
sparrows。 The roses nodded； they recognized their grey neighbours
and were pleased to see them again。 〃How glorious it is to live and to
bloom； to see old friends again； and happy faces every day。 It is as
if every day were a festival。〃 〃Peep！〃 said the sparrows。 〃Yes； they
are really our old neighbours； we remember their origin near the pond。
Peep！ how they have got on。 Yes； some succeed while they are asleep。
Ah！ there's a faded leaf； I can see that quite plainly。〃 And they
pecked at it till it fell off。 But the tree stood there fresher and
greener than ever； the roses bloomed