The Flying Trunkpage 4 / 6
“‘You are talking too much,' said the tinder-box, and the steel struck against the flint till some sparks flew out, crying, ‘We want a merry evening, don't we?'
“‘Yes, of course,' said the matches, ‘let us talk about those who are the highest born.'
“‘No, I don't like to be always talking of what we are,' remarked the saucepan; ‘let us think of some other amusement; I will begin. We will tell something that has happened to ourselves; that will be very easy, and interesting as well. On the Baltic Sea, near the Danish shore'—
“‘What a pretty commencement!' said the plates; ‘we shall all like that story, I am sure.'
“‘Yes; well in my youth, I lived in a quiet family, where the furniture was polished, the floors scoured, and clean curtains put up every fortnight,'
“‘What an interesting way you have of relating a story,' said the carpet-broom; ‘it is easy to perceive that you have been a great deal in women's society, there is something so pure runs through what you say.'
“‘That is quite true,' said the water-bucket; and he made a spring with joy, and splashed some water on the floor.
“Then the saucepan went on with his story, and the end was as good as the beginning.
“The plates rattled with pleasure, and the carpet-broom brought some green parsley out of the dust-hole and crowned the saucepan, for he knew it would vex the others; and he thought, ‘If I crown him to-day he will crown me to-morrow.'
“‘Now, let us have a dance,' said the fire-tongs; and then how they danced and stuck up one leg in the air. The chair-cushion in the corner burst with laughter when she saw it.
“‘Shall I be crowned now?' asked the fire-tongs; so the broom found another wreath for the tongs.
“‘They were only common people after all,' thought the matches. The tea-urn was now asked to sing, but she said she had a cold, and could not sing without boiling heat. They all thought this was affectation, and because she did not wish to sing excepting in the parlor, when on the table with the grand people.