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TheHardyTinSoldier坚定的锡兵THEREwereoncefive-and-twentytinsoldiers;theywereallbrothers,fortheyhadallbeenbornofoneoldtinspoon.Theyshoulderedtheirmuskets,andlookedstraightbeforethem;theiruniformwasredandblue,andverysplendid.Thefirstthingtheyhadheardintheworld,whenthelidwastakenofftheirbox,hadbeenthewordsTinsoldiers!Thesewordswereutteredbyalittleboy,clappinghishands:thesoldiershadbeengiventohim,foritwashisbirthday;andnowheputthemuponthetable.Eachsoldierwasexactlyliketherest;butoneofthemhadbeencastlastofall,andtherehadnotbeenenoughtintofinishhim;buthestoodasfirmlyuponhisonelegastheothersontheirtwo;anditwasjustthisSoldierwhobecameremarkable.Onthetableonwhichtheyhadbeenplacedstoodmanyotherplaythings,butthetoythatattractedmostattentionwasaneatcastleofcardboard.Throughthelittlewindowsonecouldseestraightintothehall.Beforethecastlesomelittletreeswereplacedroundalittlelooking-glass,whichwastorepresentaclearlake.Waxenswansswamonthislake,andweremirroredinit.Thiswasallverypretty;buttheprettiestofallwasalittlelady,whostoodattheopendoorofthecastle;shewasalsocutoutinpaper,butshehadadressoftheclearestgauze,andalittlenarrowblueribbonoverhershoulders,thatlookedlikeascarf;andinthemiddleofthisribbonwasashiningtinselroseasbigasherwholeface.Thelittleladystretchedoutbothherarms,forshewasadancer;andthensheliftedonelegsohighthattheTinSoldiercouldnotseeitatall,andthoughtthat,likehimself,shehadbutoneleg.Thatwouldbethewifeforme,thoughthe;butsheisverygrand.Shelivesinacastle,andIhaveonlyabox,andtherearefive-and-twentyofusinthat.Itisnoplaceforher.ButImusttrytomakeacquaintancewithher.Andthenhelaydownatfulllengthbehindasnuff-boxwhichwasonthetable;therehecouldeasilywatchthelittledaintylady,whocontinuedtostandupononelegwithoutlosingherbalance.Whentheeveningcamealltheothertinsoldierswereputintotheirbox,andthepeopleinthehousewenttobed.Nowthetoysbegantoplayatvisiting,andatwar,andgivingballs.Thetinsoldiersrattledintheirbox,fortheywantedtojoin,butcouldnotliftthelid.Thenutcrackerthrewsomersaults,andthepencilamuseditselfonthetable:therewassomuchnoisethatthecanarywokeup,andbegantospeaktoo,andeveninverse.TheonlytwowhodidnotstirfromtheirplacesweretheTinSoldierandtheDancingLady:shestoodstraightuponthepointofoneofhertoes,andstretchedoutbothherarms;andhewasjustasenduringonhisoneleg;andheneverturnedhiseyesawayfromher.Nowtheclockstrucktwelve--and,bounce!thelidflewoffthesnuff-box;buttherewasnosnuffinit,butalittleblackGoblin:yousee,itwasatrick.TinSoldier!saidtheGoblin,don'tstareatthingsthatdon'tconcernyou.ButtheTinSoldierpretendednottohearhim.Justyouwaittillto-morrow!saidtheGoblin.Butwhenthemorningcame,andthechildrengotup,theTinSoldierwasplacedinthewindow;andwhetheritwastheGoblinorthedraughtthatdidit,allatoncethewindowflewopen,andtheSoldierfellheadoverheelsoutofthethirdstory.Thatwasaterriblepassage!Heputhislegstraightup,andstuckwithhelmetdownwardandhisbayonetbetweenthepaving-stones.Theservant-maidandthelittleboycamedowndirectlytolookforhim,butthoughtheyalmosttroduponhim,theycouldnotseehim.IftheSoldierhadcriedoutHereIam!theywouldhavefoundhim;buthedidnotthinkitfittingtocalloutloudly,becausehewasinuniform.Nowitbegantorain;thedropssoonfellthicker,andatlastitcamedownintoacompletestream.Whentherainwaspast,twostreetboyscameby.Justlook!saidoneofthem:thereliesaTinSoldier.Hemustcomeoutandrideintheboat.Andtheymadeaboatoutofanewspaper,andputtheTinSoldierinthemiddleofit,andsohesaileddownthegutter,andthetwoboysranbesidehimandclappedtheirhands.Goodnesspreserveus!howthewavesroseinthatgutter,andhowfastthestreamran!Butthenithadbeenaheavyrain.Thepaperboatrockedupanddown,andsometimesturnedroundsorapidlythattheTinSoldiertrembled;butheremainedfirm,andneverchangedcountenance,andlookedstraightbeforehim,andshoulderedhismusket.Allatoncetheboatwentintoalongdrain,anditbecameasdarkasifhehadbeeninhisbox.WhereamIgoingnow?hethought.Yes,yes,that'stheGoblin'sfault.Ah!ifthelittleladyonlysatherewithmeintheboat,itmightbetwiceasdark-{orwhatIshouldcare.SuddenlytherecameagreatWaterRat,whichlivedunderthedrain.Haveyouapassport?saidtheRat.Givemeyourpassport.ButtheTinSoldierkeptsilence,andheldhismuskettighterthanever.Theboatwenton,buttheRatcameafterit.Hu!howhegnashedhisteeth,andcalledouttothebitsofstrawandwood.Holdhim!holdhim!He'hasn'tpaidtoll--hehasn'tshownhispassport!''Butthestreambecamestrongerandstronger.TheTinSoldiercouldseethebrightdaylightwherethearchended;butheheardaroaringnoise,whichmightwellfrightenabolderman.Onlythink--justwherethetunnelended,thedrainranintoagreatcanal;andforhimthatwouldhavebeenasdangerousasforustobecarrieddownagreatwaterfall.Nowhewasalreadysonearitthathecouldnotstop.Theboatwascarriedout,thepoorTinSoldierstiffeninghimselfasmuchashecould,andnoonecouldsaythathemovedaneyelid.Theboatwhirledroundthreeorfourtimes,andwasfullofwatertotheveryedge--itmustsink.TheTinSoldierstooduptohisneckinwater,andtheboatsankdeeperanddeeper,andthepaperwasloosenedmoreandmore;andnowthewaterclosedoverthesoldier'shead.ThenhethoughtoftheprettylittleDancer,andhowheshouldneverseeHeragain;anditsoundedintheSoldier