The Shepherdess and the Sweep

by
Hans Christian Andersen
(1845)
AVE you ever seen an old wooden cupboard quite black with age, and ornamented with
carved foliage and curious figures? Well, just such a cupboard stood in a parlor, and had
been left to the family as a legacy by the great-grandmother. It was covered from top to bottom
with carved roses and tulips; the most curious scrolls were drawn upon it, and out of them
peeped little stags’ heads, with antlers. In the middle of the cupboard door was the carved figure
of a man most ridiculous to look at. He grinned at you, for no one could call it laughing. He had
goat’s legs, little horns on his head, and a long beard; the children in the room always called him,
“Major general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat’s-legs.” It was certainly a very difficult
name to pronounce, and there are very few who ever receive such a title, but then it seemed
wonderful how he came to be carved at all; yet there he was, always looking at the table under
the looking-glass, where stood a very pretty little shepherdess made of china. Her shoes were
gilt, and her dress had a red rose or an ornament. She wore a hat, and carried a crook, that were
both gilded, and looked very bright and pretty. Close by her side stood a little chimney-sweep, as
black as coal, and also made of china. He was, however, quite as clean and neat as any other
china figure; he only represented a black chimney-sweep, and the china workers might just as
well have made him a prince, had they felt inclined to do so. He stood holding his ladder quite
handily, and his face was as fair and rosy as a girl’s; indeed, that was rather a mistake, it should
have had some black marks on it. He and the shepherdess had been placed close together, side by
side; and, being so placed, they became engaged to each other, for they were very well suited,
being both made of the same sort of china, and being equally fragile. Close to them stood another
figure, three times as large as they were, and also made of china. He was an old Chinaman, who
could nod his head, and used to pretend that he was the grandfather of the shepherdess, although
he could not prove it. He however assumed authority over her, and therefore when “Major-
general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat’s-legs” asked for the little shepherdess to be his
wife, he nodded his head to show that he consented. “You will have a husband,” said the old
Chinaman to her, “who I really believe is made of mahogany. He will make you a lady of Major-
general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat’s-legs. He has the whole cupboard full of silver
plate, which he keeps locked up in secret drawers.”
“I won’t go into the dark cupboard,” said the little shepherdess. “I have heard that he has
eleven china wives there already.”
“Then you shall be the twelfth,” said the old Chinaman. “To-night as soon as you hear a
rattling in the old cupboard, you shall be married, as true as I am a Chinaman;” and then he
nodded his head and fell asleep.
Then the little shepherdess cried, and looked at her sweetheart, the china chimney-sweep. “I
must entreat you,” said she, “to go out with me into the wide world, for we cannot stay here.”
“I will do whatever you wish,” said the little chimney-sweep; “let us go immediately: I
think I shall be able to maintain you with my profession.”
“If we were but safely down from the table!” said she; “I shall not be happy till we are
really out in the world.”
 Then he comforted her, and showed her how to place her little foot on the carved edge and
gilt-leaf ornaments of the table. He brought his little ladder to help her, and so they contrived to
reach the floor. But when they looked at the old cupboard, they saw it was all in an uproar. The
carved stags pushed out their heads, raised their antlers, and twisted their necks. The major-
general sprung up in the air; and cried out to the old Chinaman, “They are running away! they
are running away!” The two were rather frightened at this, so they jumped into the drawer of the
window-seat. Here were three or four packs of cards not quite complete, and a doll’s theatre,
which had been built up very neatly. A comedy was being performed in it, and all the queens of
diamonds, clubs, and hearts,, and spades, sat in the first row fanning themselves with tulips, and
behind them stood all the knaves, showing that they had heads above and below as playing cards
generally have. The play was about two lovers, who were not allowed to marry, and the
shepherdess wept because it was so like her own story. “I cannot bear it,” said she, “I must get
out of the drawer;” but when they reached the floor, and cast their eyes on the table, there was
the old Chinaman awake and shaking his whole body, till all at once down he came on the floor,
“plump.” “The old Chinaman is coming,” cried the little shepherdess in a fright, and down she
fell on one knee.
“I have thought of something,” said the chimney-sweep; “let us get into the great pot-pourri
jar which stands in the corner; there we can lie on rose-leaves and lavender, and throw salt in his
eyes if he comes near us.”
“No, that will never do,” said she, “because I know that the Chinaman and the pot-pourri jar
were lovers once, and there always remains behind a feeling of good-will between those who
have been so intimate as that. No, there is nothing left for us but to go out into the wide world.”
“Have you really courage enough to go out into the wide world with me?” said the
chimney-sweep; “have you thought how large it is, and that we can never come back here
again?”
“Yes, I have,” she replied.
When the chimney-sweep saw that she was quite firm, he said, “My way is through the
stove and up the chimney. Have you courage to creep with me through the fire-box, and the iron
pipe? When we get to the chimney I shall know how to manage very well. We shall soon climb
too high for any one to reach us, and we shall come through a hole in the top out into the wide
world.” So he led her to the door of the stove.
“It looks very dark,” said she; still she went in with him through the stove and through the
pipe, where it was as dark as pitch.
“Now we are in the chimney,” said he; “and look, there is a beautiful star shining above it.”
It was a real star shining down upon them as if it would show them the way. So they clambered,
and crept on, and a frightful steep place it was; but the chimney-sweep helped her and supported
her, till they got higher and higher. He showed her the best places on which to set her little china
foot, so at last they reached the top of the chimney, and sat themselves down, for they were very
tired, as may be supposed. The sky, with all its stars, was over their heads, and below were the
roofs of the town. They could see for a very long distance out into the wide world, and the poor
little shepherdess leaned her head on her chimney-sweep’s shoulder, and wept till she washed the
gilt off her sash; the world was so different to what she expected. “This is too much,” she said; “I
cannot bear it, the world is too large. Oh, I wish I were safe back on the table. again, under the
looking glass; I shall never be happy till I am safe back again. Now I have followed you out into
the wide world, you will take me back, if you love me.”
 Then the chimney-sweep tried to reason with her, and spoke of the old Chinaman, and of
the Major-general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat’s legs; but she sobbed so bitterly, and
kissed her little chimney-sweep till he was obliged to do all she asked, foolish as it was. And so,
with a great deal of trouble, they climbed down the chimney, and then crept through the pipe and
stove, which were certainly not very pleasant places. Then they stood in the dark fire-box, and
listened behind the door, to hear what was going on in the room. As it was all quiet, they peeped
out. Alas! there lay the old Chinaman on the floor; he had fallen down from the table as he
attempted to run after them, and was broken into three pieces; his back had separated entirely,
and his head had rolled into a corner of the room. The major-general stood in his old place, and
appeared lost in thought.
“This is terrible,” said the little shepherdess. “My poor old grandfather is broken to pieces,
and it is our fault. I shall never live after this;” and she wrung her little hands.
“He can be riveted,” said the chimney-sweep; “he can be riveted. Do not be so hasty. If they
cement his back, and put a good rivet in it, he will be as good as new, and be able to say as many
disagreeable things to us as ever.”
“Do you think so?” said she; and then they climbed up to the table, and stood in their old
places.
“As we have done no good,” said the chimney-sweep, “we might as well have remained
here, instead of taking so much trouble.”
“I wish grandfather was riveted,” said the shepherdess. “Will it cost much, I wonder?”
And she had her wish. The family had the Chinaman’s back mended, and a strong rivet put
through his neck; he looked as good as new, but he could no longer nod his head.
“You have become proud since your fall broke you to pieces,” said Major-general-field-
sergeant-commander Billy-goat’s-legs. “You have no reason to give yourself such airs. Am I to
have her or not?”
The chimney-sweep and the little shepherdess looked piteously at the old Chinaman, for
they were afraid he might nod; but he was not able: besides, it was so tiresome to be always
telling strangers he had a rivet in the back of his neck.
And so the little china people remained together, and were glad of the grandfather’s rivet,
and continued to love each other till they were broken to pieces.

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$Date: 2007/06/20 11:59:30 $