The Little Match Man

g!" I exclaimed.

nd of this story, with whic

wo big fingers fumbled around inside and rudely grasped one of the sticks, which in this last store I had heard called matches. Then: tric, trac! the head of the stick was struck violently against the sid

ered horr

ong the lower sticks till, at last, there remained only three. I resigned myself to my dreadful end and began to count the hours of my life. By this time I k

't you tr

hese legs that you have made for me! But enough of that! By chance the box was forgotten and laid where you found me.

are my dear

the most evil thin

; w

and destroy and change, those new mo

6

machi

. They devour the most sacred and ancient being

d, you are not

and howled in a voice that sounded lik

be careful, you know, for if yo

was sorry he had such an inflammable temper, bu

there when I was working and writing. I must tell you that he gave me excellent advice, made suggestions, and explained Japanese affairs to me. I shall

silk waterfall." There he read what I wrote and gave me his opinion with a frankness that would have made me very

you written? Throw it away. I

tion I would sto

is t

onsense. I will tell you what to sa

6

o sign it, too?"

always satisfied with what he did. In th

"I am tired. I don't feel like

eren't here what would you do? Well, just this

, how good he wa