你曾经看到过一个老木碗柜没有?它老得有些发黑了。它上面刻着许多蔓藤花纹和叶子。客厅里正立着这么一个碗柜。它是从曾祖母继承下来的;它从上到下都刻满了玫瑰和郁金香。它上面有许多奇奇怪怪的蔓藤花纹，在这些花纹中间露出一只小雄鹿的头，头上有许多花角。在碗柜的中央雕刻了一个人的全身像。他看起来的确有些好笑，他露出牙齿——你不能认为这就是笑。他生有公羊的腿，额上长出一些小角，而且留了一把长胡须。
房间里的孩子们总是把他叫做“公山羊腿——中将和少将——作战司令——中士”。这是一个很难念的名字，而得到这种头衔的人也并不多。不过把他雕刻出来倒也是一件不太轻松的工作。
他现在就立在那儿!他老是瞧着镜子下面的那张桌子，因为桌子上有一个可爱的瓷做的小牧羊女。她穿着一双镀了金的鞋子;她的长衣服用一朵红玫瑰扎起来，显得很入时。她还有一顶金帽子和一根木杖。她真是动人!
紧靠近她的身旁，立着一个小小的扫烟囱的人。他像炭一样黑，但是也是瓷做的。他的干净和整齐赛得过任何人。他是一个“扫烟囱的人”——这只不过是一个假设而已。做瓷器的人也可能把他捏成一个王子。如果他们有这种心情的话!
他拿着梯子，站在那儿怪潇洒的。他的面孔有点儿发白，又有点儿发红，很像一个姑娘。这的确要算是一个缺点，因为他应该有点发黑才对。他站得离牧羊女非常近;他们两人是被安放在这样的一个地位上的。但是他们现在既然处在这个地位上，他们就订婚了。他们配得很好。两个人都很年轻，都是用同样的瓷做的，而且也是同样的脆弱。
紧贴近他们有另一个人物。这人的身材比他们大三倍。他是一个年老的中国人。他会点头。他也是瓷做的;他说他是小牧羊女的祖父，不过他却提不出证明。他坚持说他有权管她，因此就对那位向小牧羊女求婚的“公山羊腿——中将和少将——作战司令——中士”点过头。
“现在你可以有一个丈夫了!”年老的中国人说，“这人我相信是桃花心木做的。他可以使你成为一位‘公山羊腿——中将和少将——作战司令——中士’夫人。他除了有许多秘藏的东西以外，还有整整一碗柜的银盘子。”
“我不愿意到那个黑暗的碗柜里去!”小牧羊女说。“我听说过，他在那儿藏有11个瓷姨太太。”
“那么你就可以成为第12个呀，”中国人说。“今天晚上，当那个老碗柜开始嘎嘎地响起来的时候，你就算是结婚了，一点也不差，正如我是一个中国人一样!”于是他就点点头，睡去了。
不过小牧羊女双眼望着她最心爱的瓷制的扫烟囱的人儿，哭起来了。
“我要恳求你，”她说，“我要恳求你带着我到外面广大的世界里去。在这儿我是不会感到快乐的。”
她的爱人安慰着她，同时教她怎样把小脚踏着雕花的桌角和贴金的叶子，沿着桌腿爬下来。他还把他的梯子也拿来帮助她。不一会儿，他们就走到地上来了。不过当他们抬头来瞧瞧那个老碗柜时，却听到里面起了一阵大的骚动声;所有的.雕鹿都伸出头来，翘起花角，同时把脖子掉过来。“公山羊腿——中将和少将——作战司令——中士”向空中暴跳，同时喊着对面的那个年老的中国人，说：
“他们现在私奔了!他们现在私奔了!”
他们有点害怕起来，所以就急忙跳到窗台下面的一个抽屉里去了。
这儿有三四副不完整的扑克牌，还有一座小小的木偶剧场——总算在可能的条件下搭得还像个样子。戏正在上演，所有的女士们——方块、梅花、红桃和黑桃①都坐在前一排挥动着郁金香做的扇子。所有的“贾克”都站在她们后面，表示他们上下都有一个头，正如在普通的扑克牌中一样。这出戏描写两个年轻人没有办法结成夫妇。小牧羊女哭起来，因为这跟她自己的身世有相似之处。
“我看不下去了，”她说。“我非走出这个抽屉不可!”
不过当他们来到地上、朝桌上看一下的时候，那个年老的中国人已经醒了，而且全身在发抖——因为他下部是一个整块。
“老中国人走来了!”小牧羊女尖叫一声。她的瓷做的膝头弯到地上，因为她是那么地惊惶。
“我想到一个办法，”扫烟囱的人说。“我们钻到墙脚边的那个大混合花瓶②里去好不好?我们可以躺在玫瑰花和薰衣草里面。如果他找来的话，我们就撒一把盐到他的眼睛里去。”
“那不会有什么用处，”她说。“而且我知道老中国人曾经跟混合花瓶订过婚。他们既然有过这样一段关系，他们之间总会存在着某种感情的。不成，现在我们没有其他的办法，只有逃到外面广大的世界里去了。”
“你真的有勇气跟我一块儿跑到外边广大的世界里去么?”扫烟囱的人问。“你可曾想过外边的世界有多大，我们一去就不能再回到这儿来吗?”
“我想过。”她回答说。
扫烟囱的人直瞪瞪地望着她，于是他说：
“我的道路是通过烟囱。你真的有勇气跟我一起爬进炉子、钻出炉身和通风管吗?只有这样，我们才能走进烟囱。到了那里，我就知道怎样办了。我们可以爬得很高，他们怎样也追不到我们。在那顶上有一个洞口通到外面的那个广大世界。”
于是他就领着她到炉门口那儿去。
“它里面看起来真够黑!”她说。但是她仍然跟着他走进去，走过炉身和通风管——这里面简直是漆黑的夜。
“现在我们到了烟囱里面了，”他说，“瞧吧，瞧吧!上面那颗美丽的星星照得多么亮!”
那是天上一颗真正的星。它正照着他们，好像是要为他们带路似的。他们爬着，他们摸着前进。这是一条可怕的路——它悬得那么高，非常之高。不过他拉着她，牵着她向上爬去。他扶着她，指导她在哪儿放下一双小瓷脚最安全。这样他们就爬到了烟囱口，在口边坐下来，因为他们感到非常疲倦——也应该如此。
布满了星星的天空高高地悬着;城里所有的屋顶罗列在他们的下面。他们远远地向四周了望——远远地向这广大的世界望去。这个可怜的牧羊女从来没有想象到世界就是这个样子;她把她的小脑袋靠在扫烟囱的人身上，哭得可怜而又伤心，弄得缎带上的金色都被眼泪洗掉了。
“这真是太那个了，”她说。“我吃不消。这世界是太广大了!我但愿重新回到镜子下面那个桌子上去!在我没有回到那儿去以前，我是永远也不会快乐的。现在我既然跟着你跑到这个茫茫的世界里来了，如果你对我有点爱情的话，你还得陪着我回去!”
扫烟囱的人用理智的话语来劝她，并且故意提到那个中国老头儿和“公山羊腿——中将和少将——作战司令——中士”。但是她抽噎得那么伤心，并且吻着这位扫烟囱的人，结果他只好听从她了——虽然这是很不聪明的。
所以他们又费了很大的气力爬下烟囱。他们爬下通风管和炉身。这一点也不愉快。他们站在这个黑暗的火炉里面，静静地在门后听，想要知道屋子里面的情况到底怎样。屋子里是一片静寂，他们偷偷地露出头来看。——哎呀!那个老中国人正躺在地中央!这是因为当他在追赶他们的时候，从桌子上跌下来了。现在他躺在那儿，跌成了三片。他的背跌落了，成为一片;他的头滚到一个墙角里去了。那位“公山羊腿——中将和少将——作战司令——中士”仍然站在他原来的地方，脑子里仿佛在考虑什么问题。
“这真可怕!”小牧羊女说。“老祖父跌成了碎片。这完全是我们的过错。我再也活不下去了!”于是她悲恸地扭着一双小巧的手。
“他可以补好的!”扫烟囱的人说，“他完全可以补好的!请不要过度地激动吧。只消把他的背粘在一起，再在他颈子上钉一个钉子，就可以仍然像新的一样，仍然可以对我们讲些不愉快的话了。”
“你真的这样想吗?”她问。
于是他们就又爬上桌子，回到他们原来的地方去。
“你看，我们白白地兜了一个大圈子，”扫烟囱的人说。
“我们大可不必找这许多的麻烦!”
“我只希望老祖父被修好了!”牧羊女说。“这需要花很多的钱吗?”
他真的被修好了。这家人设法把他的背粘好了，在他的颈子上钉了一根结实的钉子。他像新的一样了，只是不能再点头罢了。
“自从你跌碎了以后，你倒显得自高自大起来。”“公山羊腿——中将和少将——作战司令——中士”说。“我看你没有任何理由可以摆出这副架子。我到底跟她结婚呢，还是不跟她结婚?”
扫烟囱的人和牧羊女望着这位老中国人，样子很可怜，因为他们害怕他会点头答应。但是他现在不能点头了，他同时又觉得怪不好意思告诉一个生人，说自己颈子里牢牢地钉着一根钉子。因此这一对瓷人就成为眷属了。他们祝福老祖父的那根钉子;他们相亲相爱，直到他们碎裂为止。
①这些都是扑克牌上的花色的名称。
②混合花瓶(Potpourri Krukken)是旧时欧洲的一种室内装饰品，里边一般盛着干玫瑰花瓣和其他的花瓣，使室内经常保持一种香气。为了使这些花瓣不致腐烂，瓶里经常放有一些盐。
牧羊女和扫烟囱的人英文版：
The Shepherdess and the Sweep
HAVE 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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