The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep

So snuggle up in your blankets and have sweet dreams . Have you ever seen a very old cupboard or cabinet , quite black , with age , carved all over , with trailing stems and leaves ? There was a cabinet of this kind in a sitting room Once it had belonged to the family's great-great-grandmother .

It was covered from top to bottom with carvings of roses and tulips , surrounded by curly flourishes , while through the spaces numbers of little carved deer poked out their antlered heads . But in the middle there was the complete figure of a man . Well , an odd sort of character .

He was comical enough to look at , for he had legs like a goat's small horns coming out of his forehead , a long beard and a peculiar sort of grin . You could hardly call it a smile . The children of the house called him Brigadier , Major , General , Captain , Sergeant , Corporal Goatlegs . The name suited him , they thought , because it was hard to say .

Because it was hard to say Besides , who else living or carved ever deserved such a title ? Anyhow , there he was , and his eyes were turned all the time to the table , under the mirror . For on the table stood a lovely little china shepherdess .

Her shoes were gilt , her dress was neatly pinned with a china rose , she also had a golden hat , and she held a shepherd's crook . Oh , she was beautiful . Close beside her was a little chimney sweep . He too was made of china . All of him was black , except his face , which was pink and white , as a girl's .

Really , he was just as clean and tidy as anyone else , for he was only a make-believe sweep . The China-maker could have turned him out just as well as a prince . And there he stood with his ladder and his pretty face which hadn't even a dab of soot on it .

And since the sweep and the shepherdess had always been placed together on the table , they became engaged . The most natural thing in the world . Indeed , they were very well suited . Both were young , both were made of the same kind of china clay . Each was quite as fragile as the other . Not far away was a very different figure , about three times their size .

This was an old Chinaman , a Mandarin , who could nod his head . He too was made of China and he always declared that he was the shepherdess's grandfather . He could give no proof , but he insisted that he was her guardian . So when Major General Goatlegs asked for her hand in marriage , he nodded his consent .

There's a fine husband for you , he said to the shepherdess . He is made of mahogany , I'm almost sure of it , and you will become Madam , Lady , Brigadier , Major General , Captain , Sergeant , Corporal Goatlegs . He owns this whole cupboard full of silver plate , as well as what he has secretly hidden away .

I don't want to go into that dark cupboard , said the little shepherdess . I've heard that he has eleven china wives in there already . Then you can be the twelfth , said the mandarin Tonight , as soon as the cupboard starts creaking , the wedding will take place as sure as I . Cupboard starts creaking , the wedding will take place as sure as I'm a Chinaman .

With that , he nodded his head and went to sleep . But the little shepherdess began to cry and look at her true love , the chimney sweep . I think I must ask you , she said , to come out into the wide world with me , for we cannot stay here . Your will is my will , said the little chimney sweep . Let us start at once .

I feel sure that I can earn enough to keep you by my profession . Oh , if only we were down from the table , she said . I cannot be happy until we are out in the wide world . So he comforted her and showed her where to place her little foot on the carved projections and the gilded leaves down the leg of the table . He took his ladder too to help her .

And there they were at last on the floor . But when they looked up at the dark old cupboard , what a commotion .

All the carved deer were poking out their heads still further , pricking their antlers , turning their necks from side to side , and Brigadier , Major , General , Captain , Sergeant , Corporal Goatlegs was jumping up and down and shouting across to the old tournament . Jumping up and down and shouting across to the old tournament they're running away , they're running away .

This frightened the lovers and they quickly hid in the drawer of the window seat . Here they found three or four packs of cards , none of them quite complete , and a little toy theater . A play was being acted and all the card queens , diamonds , hearts , clubs and spades were sitting in the front row fanning themselves with their tulips .

Behind them stood all the knaves with their two heads , one at the top one at the bottom . All playing cards are like that . The play they were watching was about two lovers who were prevented from marrying , and the shepherdess wept again , for it was just her own story . I cannot bear it . She said I must get out of this drawer .

But when they had reached the ground and looked up at the table , the old Chinaman had awakened and was rocking his body to and fro . He had to move like this since , apart from his head , he was made all in one piece . The old Chinaman is coming , shrieked the little shepherdess , and so terrified was she that she fell down on her porcelain knees .

I have an idea , said the chimney sweep . Let us creep into the big potpourri jar over there in the corner . We can hide in there among the roses and lavender and throw salt in his eyes if he comes . That will not help , she said .

Besides , I happen to know that the old Chinaman and the Potpourri jar were once engaged , and there's always some feeling left when people have been as close as that . No , there's nothing left for us but to go forth into the wide world . Have you really the courage to come with me into the wide world ?

As the chimneys sweep , do you realize how vast it is and that we can never come back again . Yes , I have thought of that , she answered . The chimney sweep gave her a keen and serious look . Then he said the only path I know lies through the chimney . Are you sure you are brave enough ? I know lies through the chimney .

Are you sure you are brave enough to follow me through the heart of the stove and into the dark tunnel of the flue ? That is the way to the chimney , and once I am there , I shall know how to manage . We shall climb so high that no one can reach us , and right at the top there's a hole that leads out into the wide world .

And he led her across to the door of the stove . It looks very black , she said , but she went with him all the same through firebreak and flew where the darkness was as black as night . Now we are in the chimney , he said , and look , the loveliest star shining above our heads .

Yes , there was indeed a real star in the sky overhead , shining right down on them , as though it wanted to show them the way On . They clambered on , they crawled up and up and up , higher and higher , up and up and up , higher and higher .

It was a horrible journey , but the little sweep kept lifting and helping her , showing her the best places for putting her little china feet until at last they arrived at the edge of the chimney pot . There they sat down , for they were tired out , and no wonder . High above was the sky with all its stars . Below was the town with all its roofs .

They could see far , far around them where the wide world lay with its distances . The poor shepherdess had never imagined anything like it . She laid her little head on the sweet shoulder and cried so bitterly that the gold was washed from her sash . It's all too much , she cried . I cannot bear it . The world is too big .

Oh , if only I were back again on the table under the mirror . I shall never be happy until I am there again . I shall never be happy until I am there again . I have followed you into the wide world . Now , if you really care for me , I beg you to take me home again . The chimney sweep gently reasoned with her .

He reminded her of the Chinamen and of the Brigadier , Major General , Captain , Sergeant , Corporal Goatlegs . But she wept with despair and kissed and clung to her chimney sweep until he could not help giving in to her , foolish as it was .

So they crawled back down the chimney a hard and perilous business and crept through the flue while the nastiest parts of the journey , and at last they found themselves inside the dark cavern of the stove . They stood behind its door for a while to hear what was going on in the room . Everything seemed quiet enough , so they peeped out .

But oh , there in the middle of the floor lay the old Chinaman Trying to run after them . He had fallen from his table and now he lay broken into three pieces his back , his front and his head , which had rolled into a corner . The Brigadier , Major , General , Captain , Sergeant , Corporal Goatlegs stood fixed where he had always stood , deep in thought .

Thought , how terrible , cried the little shepherdess , Old grandfather's broken to bits . And it is all our fault . I shall never get over it . And she wrung her little hands . He can still be mended , said the chimney sweep that that can easily be done . Now don't get so excited .

When they have glued him together and put a rivet in his neck , he'll be as good as new . He'll be able to say plenty of tiresome things to us yet . Yet , Do you think so ? She said , and they climbed back to the tabletop where they stood before . Well , we have been a long way , said the chimney sweep , and here we are back where we started .

We might have spared ourselves the journey . Oh , if only old grandfather were mended . The shepherdess said Will it cost very much ? Do you think ? The Chinaman was mended ? The family had his back glued on , A rivet was put in his neck and he looked as good as new , but he could no longer nod his head .

You have become high and mighty since you were broken , said Brigadier , Major General , Captain , Sergeant , Corporal Goatlegs . But what have you got to be proud of , Dear Major General , Captain , Sergeant , Corporal Goatlegs ? What have you got to be proud of ? Tell me , am I to have the shepherdess or not ?

The sweep and the shepherdess looked anxiously at the old Chinaman , for they were afraid that he might nod . But he could not do this and he did not wish to admit that he had a rivet in his neck . So the little porcelain lovers stayed together and went on loving each other in the greatest happiness until they broke .

Have you ever seen a very old cupboard or cabinet , quite black with age , carved all over with trailing stems and leaves ? There was a cabinet of this kind in a sitting room , Once it had belonged to the family's great-great-grandmother .

It was covered from top to bottom with carvings of roses and tulips , surrounded by curly flourishes , while through the spaces numbers of little carved deer poked out their antlered heads . But in the middle there was the complete figure of a man . Well , an odd sort of character .

He was comical enough to look at , for he had legs like a goat's small horns coming out of his forehead , a long beard and a peculiar sort of grin . You could hardly call it a smile . The children of the house called him Brigadier , Major , General , Captain , Sergeant , Corporal Goatlegs . The name suited him , they thought , because it was hard to say .

Besides , who else living or carved ever deserved such a title ? Anyhow , there he was , and his eyes were turned all the time to the table under the mirror . For on the table stood a lovely little china shepherdess . Her shoes were gilt , her dress was neatly pinned with a china rose , she also had a golden hat and she held a shepherd's crook .

Oh , she was beautiful . Close beside her was a little chimney sweep . He too was made of china . All of him was black , except his face , which was pink and white as a girl's . Really , he was just as clean and tidy as anyone else , for he was only a make-believe sweep . The china maker could have turned him out just as well as a prince .

And there he stood , with his ladder and his pretty face which hadn't even a dab of soot on it . And since the sweep and the shepherdess had always been placed together on the table , they became engaged . The most natural thing in the world . Indeed , they were very well suited . Both were young , Both were made of the same kind of china clay .

Each was quite as fragile as the other . Not far away was a very different figure , about three times their size . This was an old Chinaman , a Mandarin , who could nod his head . He too was made of China , and he always declared that he was the shepherdess's grandfather . He could give no proof , but he insisted that he was her guardian .

So when Major General Goatlegs asked for her hand in marriage , he nodded his consent . There's a fine husband for you , he said to the shepherdess . He is made of mahogany , I am almost sure of it , and you will become , Madam , Lady , Brigadier , Major General , Captain , Sergeant , Corporal Goatlegs .

He owns this whole cupboard full of silver plate , as well as what he has secretly hidden away . I don't want to go into that dark cupboard , said the little shepherdess . I've heard that he has eleven china wives in there already . Then you can be the twelfth , said the mandarin . Tonight , as soon as the cupboard starts creaking , the wedding will take place .

As sure as I'm a Chinaman . With that , he nodded his head and went to sleep . But the little shepherdess began to cry and look at her true love , the chimney sweep . I think I must ask you , she said , to come out into the wide world with me , for we cannot stay here . Your will is my will , said the little chimney sweep . Let us start at once .

I feel sure that I can earn enough to keep you by my profession . Oh , if only we were down from the table , she . I cannot be happy until we are out in the wide world . So he comforted her and showed her where to place her little foot , on the car of projections and the gilded leaves down the leg of the table . He took his ladder too to help her .

And there they were at last , on the floor . But when they looked up at the dark old cupboard , what a commotion .

All the carved deer were poking out their heads still further , pricking their antlers , turning their necks from side to side and Brigadier Major General Captain , Sergeant Corporal Goatlegs was jumping up and down and shouting across to the old gentlemen they're running away , they're running away , they're running away , they're running away .

This frightened the lovers and they quickly hid in the drawer of the window seat . Here they found three or four packs of cards , none of them quite complete , and a little toy theater . A play was being acted and all the card queens , diamonds , hearts , clubs and spades were sitting in the front row fanning themselves with their tulips .

Behind them stood all the knaves with their two heads , one at the top , top , one at the bottom . All playing cards are like that . The play they were watching was about two lovers who were prevented from marrying , and the shepherdess wept again , for it was just her own story . I cannot bear it . She said swept again , for it was just her own story .

I cannot bear it . She said I must get out of this drawer . But when they had reached the ground and looked up at the table , the old Chinaman had awakened and was rocking his body to and fro . The old Chinaman had awakened and was rocking his body to and fro . He had to move like this since , apart from his head , he was made all in one piece .

The old Chinaman is coming , shrieked the little shepherdess , and so terrified was she that she fell down on her porcelain knees . I have an idea , said the chimney sweep . Let us creep into the big potpourri jar over there in the corner . We can hide in there among the roses and lavender and throw salt in his eyes if he comes .

That will not help' she said "'Besides , I happen to know that the old Chinaman "'and the Pope Purijar were once engaged , "'and there is always some feeling left "'when people have been as close as that . "'no , there is nothing left for us "'but to go forth into the wide world' .

Have you really the courage to come with me into the wide world , asked the chimney sweep . Do you realize how vast it is and that we can never come back again ? Yes , I have thought of that , she answered . The chimney sweep gave her a keen and serious look . Then he said the only path I know lies through the chimney .

Are you sure you are brave enough to follow me through the heart of the stove and into the dark tunnel of the flue ? That is the way to the chimney , and once I am there , I shall know how to manage .

We shall climb so high that no one can reach us , and right at the top there's a hole that leads out into the wide world , and he led her across to the door of the stove . It looks very black , she said , but she went with him all the same , through firebrick and flue , where the darkness was as black as night . Now we are in the chimney , he said .

Now we are in the chimney , he said and look , the loveliest star is shining above our heads . Yes , there was indeed a real star in the sky overhead , shining right down on them , as though it wanted to show them the way on . They clambered On , they crawled Up and up , and up , higher and higher .

It was a horrible journey , but the little sweep kept lifting and helping her , showing her the best places for putting her little china feet , until , at last , they arrived at the edge of the chimney pot . There they sat down , for they were tired out , and no wonder . High above was the sky with all its stars . Below was the town with all its stars .

Below was the town with all its roofs . They could see far , far around them where the wide world lay with its distances . The poor shepherdess had never imagined anything like it . She laid her little head on the sweep shoulder and cried so bitterly that the gold was washed from her sash . It's all too much , she cried . I cannot bear it .

The world is too big . Oh , if only I were back again on the table under the mirror . I shall never be happy until I am there again . I have followed you into the wide world . Now , if you really care for me , I beg you to take me home again . The chimney sweep gently reasoned with her .

He reminded her of the Chinamen and of the Brigadier Major , general , captain , sergeant , corporal Goatlegs . But she wept with despair and kissed and clung to her chimney sweep until he could not help giving in to her , foolish as it was .

So they crawled back down the chimney a hard and perilous business and crept through the flue while the nastiest parts of the journey . And at last they found themselves inside the dark ca parts of the journey . And at last they found themselves inside the dark cavern of the stove . They stood behind its door for a while to hear what was going on in the room .

Everything seemed quiet enough , so they peeped out . But oh , there in the middle of the floor lay the old Chinaman Trying to run after them . He had fallen from his table and now he lay broken into three pieces His back , his front and his head , which had rolled into a corner .

The Brigadier , major , general , captain , sergeant , corporal Goatlegs stood fixed where he had always stood , deep in thought . How terrible , cried the little shepherdess . Old Grandfather's broke into bits . And it is all our fault . I shall never get over it . And she wrung her little hands . He can still be mended , said the chimney sweep . That can easily be done .

Now don't get so excited . When they have glued him together and put a rivet in his neck , he'll be as good as new . He'll be able to say plenty of tiresome things to us yet . Do you think so , she said , and they climbed back to the tabletop where they stood before . Well , we have been a long way , said the chimney sweep .

And here we are , back where we started . We might have spared ourselves the journey . Oh , if only old grandfather remended the shepherdess said Will it cost very much ? Do you think the Chinaman was mended ? The family had his back glued on , a rivet was put in his neck and he looked as good as new . But he could no longer nod his head .

You have become high and mighty since you were broken , said Brigadier , major , general , captain , sergeant , corporal Goatlegs . But what have you got to be proud of ? Tell me , am I to have the shepherdess or not . The sweep and the shepherdess looked anxiously at the old Chinaman , for they were afraid that he might nod .

But he could not do this and he did not wish to admit that he had a rivet in his neck . So the little porcelain lovers stayed together and went on loving each other in the greatest no-transcript .