IntheUttermostPartsoftheSeabyHansChristianAndersen（1855）SOMEyearsago，largeshipsweresenttowardsthenorthpole，toexplorethedistantcoasts，andtotryhowfarmencouldpenetrateintothoseunknownregions.Formorethanayearoneoftheseshipshadbeenpushingitswaynorthward，amidsnowandice，andthesailorshadenduredmanyhardships；tillatlengthwintersetin，andthesunentirelydisappeared；formanyweekstherewouldbeconstantnight.Allaround，asfarastheeyecouldreach，nothingcouldbeseenbutfieldsofice，inwhichtheshipremainedstuckfast.ThesnowlaypiledupinGREatheaps，andofthesethesailorsmadehuts，intheformofbee-hives，someofthemaslargeandspaciousasoneofthe“Hunsgraves，”andothersonlycontainingroomenoughtoholdthreeorfourmen.Itwasnotquitedark；thenorthernlightsshotforthredandblueflames，likecontinuousfireworks，andthesnowglittered，andreflectedbackthelight，sothatthenightherewasonelongtwilight.Whenthemoonwasbrightest，thenativescameincrowdstoseethesailors.Theyhadaverysingularappearanceintheirrough，hairydressesoffur，andridinginsledgesovertheice.Theybroughtwiththemfursandskinsingreatabundance，sothatthesnow-housesweresoonprovidedwithwarmcarpets，andthefursalsoservedforthesailorstowrapthemselvesin，whentheysleptundertheroofsofsnow，whileoutsideitwasfreezingwithacoldfarmoreseverethaninthewinterwithus.Inourcountryitwasstillautumn，thoughlateintheseason；andtheythoughtofthatintheirdistantexile，andoftenpicturedtothemselvestheyellowleavesonthetreesathome.Theirwatchespointedtothehoursofevening，andtimetogotosleep，althoughintheseregionsitwasnowalwaysnight.Inoneofthehuts，twoofthemenlaidthemselvesdowntorest.Theyoungerofthesemenhadbroughtwithhimfromhomehisbest，hisdearesttreasureaBible，whichhisgrandmotherhadgivenhimonhisdeparture.Everynightthesacredvolumerestedunderhishead，andhehadknownfromhischildhoodwhatwaswritteninit.Everydayhereadinthebook，andwhilestretchedonhiscoldcouch，theholywordshehadlearntwouldcomeintohismind： “IfItakethewingsofthemorning，andflytotheuttermostpartsofthesea，eventhereThouartwithme，andThyrighthandshallupholdme；”andundertheinfluenceofthatfaithwhichtheseholywordsinspired，sleepcameuponhim，anddreams，whicharethemanifestationsofGodtothespirit.Thesoullivesandacts，whilethebodyisatrest.Hefeltthislifeinhim，anditwasasifheheardthesoundofdear，well-knownmelodies，asifthebreezesofsummerfloatedaroundhim；andoverhiscouchshonearayofbrightness，asifitwereshiningthroughthecoveringofhissnow-roof.Heliftedhishead，andsawthatthebrightgleamingwasnotthereflectionoftheglitteringsnow，butthedazzlingbrightnessofthepinionsofamightyangel，intowhosebeamingfacehewasgazing.Asfromthecupofalily，theangelrosefromamidsttheleavesoftheBible；and，stretchingouthisarm，thewallsofthehutsunkdown，asthoughtheyhadbeenformedofalight，airyveilofmist，andtheGREenhillsandmeadowsofhome，withitsruddywoods，layspreadaroundhiminthequietsunshineofalovelyautumnday.Thenestofthestorkwasempty，butripefruitstillhungonthewildapple-tree，althoughtheleaveshadfallen.Theredhipsgleamedonthehedges，andthestarlingwhichhunginthegreencageoutsidethewindowofthepeasantshut，whichwashishome，whistledthetunewhichhehadtaughthim.Hisgrandmotherhunggreenbirds-foodaroundthecage，ashe，hergrandson，hadbeenaccustomedtodo.Thedaughterofthevillageblacksmith，whowasyoungandfair，stoodatthewell，drawingwater.Shenoddedtothegrandmother，andtheoldwomannoddedtoher，andpointedtoaletterwhichhadcomefromalongwayoff.Thatverymorningtheletterhadarrivedfromthecoldregionsofthenorth；there，wheretheabsentonewassweetlysleepingundertheprotectinghandofGod.Theylaughedandweptovertheletter；andhe，faraway，amidiceandsnow，undertheshadowoftheangelswings，weptandsmiledwiththeminspirit；forhesawandhearditallinhisdream.FromthelettertheyreadaloudthewordsofHolyWrit： “Intheuttermostpartsofthesea，Thyrighthandshallupholdme.”Andastheangelspreadhiswingslikeaveiloverthesleeper，therewasthesoundofbeautifulmusicandahymn.Thenthevisionfled.Itwasdarkagaininthesnow-hut：buttheBiblestillrestedbeneathhishead，andfaithandhopedweltinhisheart.Godwaswithhim，andhecarriedhomeinhisheart，even“intheuttermostpartsofthesea.”有几艘大船开到北极去；它们的目的是要发现陆地和海的界线，同时也要试验一下，人类到底能够向前走多远。它们在雾和冰中已经航行了好几年，而且也吃过不少的苦头。现在冬天开始了，太阳已经不见了。漫长的黑夜将要一连持续好几个星期。四周是一望无际的冰块。船只已经凝结在冰块的中间。雪堆积得很高；从雪堆中人们建立起蜂窠似的小屋有的很大，像我们的