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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SHE WAS GOOD FOR NOTHING            493
said the mayor. ' It's a good thing that she is dead ; for now the boy will have the whole, and I, will get him into a house among respectable people. He may turn out a reputable working man.'
And Heaven gave its blessing to these words.
So the mayor sent for the boy, promised to take care
of him, and added that it was a good thing the lad's mother was dead, inasmuch as she had been good for nothing.
They bore her to the churchyard, to the cemetery of the poor, and Martha planted a rose tree upon the grave, and the boy stood beside her.
1 My dear mother ! ' he cried, as the tears fell fast. ' Is it true what they said, that she was good for nothing ? '
1 No, she was good for much ! ' replied the old servant,