The Neighbouring Families · page 21 2 3101That was their way of looking foolish.102They 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.checked by a teacher103It was to be one "Peep!" and three scratches on the ground with the left foot.104The young one who had remained behind in the nest made himself as broad as he could, for he was the proprietor.105But this greatness did not last long.106In 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.107The two others, who wanted to marry, thus saved their lives by a stroke of luck.108When 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.109Thick 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.110"How beautifully the roses bloom before the ruined house," exclaimed a passer-by. "111A pleasanter picture cannot be imagined.112I must have that."113And 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.114For its sake alone the whole picture had been drawn.115Later in the day the two sparrows who had been born there came by. "116Where is the house?" they asked. "117Where is the nest?118Peep!119All is burned and our strong brother too.120That's what he has now for keeping the nest.121The roses got off very well; there they still stand with their red cheeks.122They certainly do not mourn at their neighbours' misfortunes.123I don't want to talk to them, and it looks miserable here--that's my opinion."124And away they went.125On 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.126The pigeon-mothers said to their young ones: "Stand in groups, stand in groups! for that looks much better."127"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. "128Little grey ones!129Little grey ones!" she cried.130"They are sparrows, and good creatures.131We 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."132Indeed they were continually making three foot-scrapings with the left foot and also said "Peep!"133By this means they recognised each other, for they were the sparrows from the nest on the burned house.134"Here is excellent fare!" said the sparrow.135The pigeons strutted round one another, puffed out their chests mightily, and had their own private views and opinions.136"Do you see that pouter pigeon?" said one to the other. "137Do you see how she swallows the peas?138She eats too many, and the best ones too.139Curoo!140Curoo!141How she lifts her crest, the ugly, spiteful creature!142Curoo!143Curoo!"144And the eyes of all sparkled with malice. "145Stand in groups!146Stand in groups!147Little grey ones, little grey ones!148Curoo, curoo, curoo!"149So their chatter ran on, and so it will run on for thousands of years.150The sparrows ate lustily; they listened attentively, and even stood in the ranks with the others, but it did not suit them at all.151They 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. "152Peep!" said he; "I may venture that."153"Peep!" said the other; "so may I, and something more too!" and he hopped into the room.154No one was there; the third sparrow, seeing this, flew still farther into the room, exclaiming, "All or nothing!155It is a curious man's nest all the same; and what have they put up here?156What is it?"157Close to the sparrows the roses were blooming; they were reflected in the water, and the charred beams leaned against the overhanging chimney. "158Do tell me what this is.159How comes this in a room at the Hall?"160And all three sparrows wanted to fly over the roses and the chimney, but flew against a flat wall.161It was all a picture, a great splendid picture, which the artist had painted from a sketch.162"Peep!" said the sparrows, "it's nothing.163It only looks like something.164Peep! that is 'the beautiful.'165Do you understand it?166I don't."167And they flew away, for some people came into the room.168Days and years went by.169The 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.170They 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.171The eldest had remained an old maid and had no nest nor young ones.172It was her pet idea to see a great city, so she flew to Copenhagen.173There 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.174The 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.175But 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.176Up on the roof stood a metal chariot drawn by metal horses, and the goddess of Victory, also of metal, was driving.177It was Thorwaldsen's Museum.178"How it shines! how it shines!" said the maiden sparrow. "179I suppose that is 'the beautiful.'180Peep!181But here it is larger than a peacock."182She still remembered what in her childhood's days her mother had looked upon as the greatest among the beautiful.183She flew down into the courtyard: there everything was extremely fine.184Palms 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.185Thither flew the maiden sparrow, for she saw several of her own kind there.186A "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.187But to-day two old sparrows and a young one answered with a "peep" and the thrice-repeated scrape with the left foot.188"Ah!189Good-day! good-day!"190They were two old ones from the nest and a little one of the family. "191Do we meet here?192It's a grand place, but there's not much to eat.193This is 'the beautiful.'194Peep!"195Many 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.196All stood with enraptured faces round Thorwaldsen's grave, and a few picked up the fallen rose-leaves and preserved them.197They had come from afar: one from mighty England, others from Germany and France.198The fairest of the ladies plucked one of the roses and hid it in her bosom.199Then the sparrows thought that the roses reigned here, and that the house had been built for their sake.200That 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. 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