ALeaffromHeavenbyHansChristianAndersen（1855）HIGHupintheclear，pureairflewanangel，withaflowerpluckedfromthegardenofheaven.Ashewaskissingthefloweraverylittleleaffellfromitandsunkdownintothesoftearthinthemiddleofawood.Itimmediatelytookroot，sprouted，andsentoutshootsamongtheotherplants.“Whataridiculouslittleshoot！”saidone. “Noonewillrecognizeit；noteventhethistlenorthestinging-nettle.”“Itmustbeakindofgardenplant，”saidanother；andsotheysneeredanddespisedtheplantasathingfromagarden.“Whereareyoucoming？”saidthetallthistleswhoseleaveswereallarmedwiththorns. “Itisstupidnonsensetoallowyourselftoshootoutinthisway；wearenotheretosupportyou.”Wintercame，andtheplantwascoveredwithsnow，butthesnowglitteredoveritasifithadsunshinebeneathaswellasabove.Whenspringcame，theplantappearedinfullbloom：amorebeautifulobjectthananyotherplantintheforest.Andnowtheprofessorofbotanypresentedhimself，onewhocouldexplainhisknowledgeinblackandwhite.Heexaminedandtestedtheplant，butitdidnotbelongtohissystemofbotany，norcouldhepossiblyfindouttowhatclassitdidbelong. “Itmustbesomedegeneratespecies，”saidhe； “Idonotknowit，anditisnotmentionedinanysystem.”“Notknowninanysystem！”repeatedthethistlesandthenettles.thelargetreeswhichGREwrounditsawtheplantandheardtheremarks，buttheysaidnotawordeithergoodorbad，whichisthewisestplanforthosewhoareignorant.therepassedthroughtheforestapoorinnocentgirl；herheartwaspure，andherunderstandingincreasedbyherfaith.HerchiefinheritancehadbeenanoldBible，whichshereadandvalued.FromitspagessheheardthevoiceofGodspeakingtoher，andtellinghertorememberwhatwassaidofJosephsbrethrenwhenpersonswishedtoinjureher. “Theyimaginedevilintheirhearts，butGodturnedittogood.”Ifwesufferwrongfully，ifwearemisunderstoodordespised，wemustthinkofHimwhowaspureandholy，andwhoprayedforthosewhonailedHimtothecross， “Fatherforgivethem，fortheyknownotwhattheydo.”thegirlstoodstillbeforethewonderfulplant，fortheGREenleavesexhaledasweetandrefreshingfragrance，andtheflowersglitteredandsparkledinthesunshinelikecoloredflames，andtheharmonyofsweetsoundslingeredroundthemasifeachconcealedwithinitselfadeepfountofmelody，whichthousandsofyearscouldnotexhaust.WithpiousgratitudethegirllookeduponthisgloriousworkofGod，andbentdownoveroneofthebranches，thatshemightexaminetheflowerandinhalethesweetperfume.Thenalightbrokeinonhermind，andherheartexpanded.Gladlywouldshehavepluckedaflower，butshecouldnotovercomeherreluctancetobreakoneoff.Sheknewitwouldsosoonfade；soshetookonlyasinglegreenleaf，carriedithome，andlaiditinherBible，whereitremainedevergreen，fresh，andunfading.BetweenthepagesoftheBibleitstilllaywhen，afewweeksafterwards，thatBiblewaslaidundertheyounggirlsheadinhercoffin.Aholycalmrestedonherface，asiftheearthlyremainsboretheimpressofthetruththatshenowstoodinthepresenceofGod.IntheforestthewonderfulplantstillcontinuedtobloomtillitGREwandbecamealmostatree，andallthebirdsofpassagebowedthemselvesbeforeit.“Thatplantisaforeigner，nodoubt，”saidthethistlesandtheburdocks. “Wecanneverconductourselveslikethatinthiscountry.”Andtheblackforestsnailsactuallyspatattheflower.thencametheswineherd；hewascollectingthistlesandshrubstoburnthemfortheashes.Hepulledupthewonderfulplant，rootsandall，andplaceditinhisbundle. “Thiswillbeasusefulasany，”hesaid；sotheplantwascarriedaway.Notlongafter，thekingofthecountrysufferedfromthedeepestmelancholy.Hewasdiligentandindustrious，butemploymentdidhimnogood.Theyreaddeepandlearnedbookstohim，andthenthelightestandmosttriflingthatcouldbefound，butalltonopurpose.Thentheyappliedforadvicetooneofthewisemenoftheworld，andhesentthemamessagetosaythattherewasoneremedywhichwouldrelieveandcurehim，andthatitwasaplantofheavenlyoriginwhichGREwintheforestinthekingsowndominions.Themessengerdescribedtheflowersothatisappearancecouldnotbemistaken.thensaidtheswineherd， “IamafraidIcarriedthisplantawayfromtheforestinmybundle，andithasbeenburnttoasheslongago.ButIdidnotknowanybetter.”“Youdidnotknow，anybetter！Ignoranceuponignoranceindeed！”thepoorswineherdtookthesewordstoheart，fortheywereaddressedtohim；heknewnotthattherewereotherswhowereequallyignorant.Notevenaleafoftheplantcouldbefound.Therewasone，butitlayinthecoffinofth