The Complete Fairy Tales & Other Stories
By Hans Christian Andersen - online book

Oxford Complete Illustrated Edition all his stories written between 1835 and 1872.

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ON THE LAST DAY
437
from the branches of the trees ; with distinct human voices they shrieked, ' Thou wanderer with Death, rememberest thou me ? ' These were all the evil thoughts and desires of his lifetime which shouted to him, ' Rememberest thou me ? '
And the soul trembled for a moment, for it knew the voices of the wicked thoughts and desires, which came forward as witnesses.
I In our flesh, in our wicked nature lives nothing good !' said the soul, ' but with me the thoughts did not become deeds, the world has not seen the evil fruit ! ' and he hastened the more, to get quickly away from the horrid shrieks, but the great black birds hovered round him in circles, and shrieked and shrieked as if they meant to be heard over all the world ; and he sprang like the hunted deer, and at every step he struck his feet on sharp flint stones, and they cut his feet and hurt him sorely. ' How come these sharp stones here ? They lie like withered leaves over all the earth ! '
' That is every incautious word you let fall, which wounded your neighbour's heart far deeper than the stones now wound your feet!'
II did not think of that,' said the soul.
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged ! ' sounded through the air.
* We have all sinned,' said the soul, and raised itself again. ' I have kept the law and the gospel; I have done what I could, I am not like the others ! '
And they stood by the gate of Heaven, and the Angel that was the keeper of the gate asked, ' Who art thou ? Tell me thy faith, and show it to me in thy works.'
' I have strictly fulfilled all the commandments. I have humbled myself before the eyes of the world. I have hated and persecuted wicked things and wicked men, those who go the broad way to everlasting destruction, and I would do it yet, with fire and with sword, if I had the power.'
' You are then one of Mohammed's followers ?' said the Angel.
11—never ! '
Who takes the sword shall perish with the sword, says