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.