ChildrensPrattlebyHansChristianAndersen（1859）ATarichmerchantshousetherewasachildrensparty，andthechildrenofrichandGREatpeoplewerethere.Themerchantwasalearnedman，forhisfatherhadsenthimtocollege，andhehadpassedhisexamination.Hisfatherhadbeenatfirstonlyacattledealer，butalwayshonestandindustrious，sothathehadmademoney，andhisson，themerchant，hadmanagedtoincreasehisstore.Cleverashewas，hehadalsoaheart；buttherewaslesssaidofhisheartthanofhismoney.Alldescriptionsofpeoplevisitedatthemerchantshouse，wellborn，aswellasintellectual，andsomewhopossessedneitheroftheserecommendations.Nowitwasachildrensparty，andtherewaschildrensprattle，whichalwaysisspokenfreelyfromtheheart.Amongthemwasabeautifullittlegirl，whowasterriblyproud；butthishadbeentaughtherbytheservants，andnotbyherparents，whowerefartoosensiblepeople.HerfatherwasgroomoftheChambers，whichisahighofficeatcourt，andsheknewit. “Iamachildofthecourt，”shesaid；nowshemightjustaswellhavebeenachildofthecellar，fornoonecanhelphisbirth；andthenshetoldtheotherchildrenthatshewaswell-born，andsaidthatnoonewhowasnotwell-borncouldriseintheworld.Itwasnousetoreadandbeindustrious，forifapersonwasnotwell-born，hecouldneverachieveanything. “Andthosewhosenamesendwithsen，”saidshe， “canneverbeanythingatall.Wemustputourarmsakimbo，andmaketheelbowquitepointed，soastokeepthesesenpeopleataGREatdistance.”Andthenshestuckoutherprettylittlearms，andmadetheelbowsquitepointed，toshowhowitwastobedone；andherlittlearmswereverypretty，forshewasasweet-lookingchild.Butthelittledaughterofthemerchantbecameveryangryatthisspeech，forherfathersnamewasPetersen，andsheknewthatthenameendedin“sen，”andthereforeshesaidasproudlyasshecould， “Butmypapacanbuyahundreddollarsworthofbonbons，andgivethemawaytochildren.Canyourpapadothat？”“Yes；andmypapa，”saidthelittledaughteroftheeditorofapaper， “mypapacanputyourpapaandeverybodyspapaintothenewspaper.Allsortsofpeopleareafraidofhim，mymammasays，forhecandoashelikeswiththepaper.”Andthelittlemaidenlookedexceedinglyproud，asifshehadbeenarealprincess，whomaybeexpectedtolookproud.Butoutsidethedoor，whichstoodajar，wasapoorboy，peepingthroughthecrackofthedoor.Hewasofsuchalowlystationthathehadnotbeenallowedeventoentertheroom.Hehadbeenturningthespitforthecook，andshehadgivenhimpermissiontostandbehindthedoorandpeepinatthewell-dressedchildren，whowerehavingsuchamerrytimewithin；andforhimthatwasaGREatdeal. “Oh，ifIcouldbeoneofthem，”thoughthe，andthenheheardwhatwassaidaboutnames，whichwasquiteenoughtomakehimmoreunhappy.Hisparentsathomehadnotevenapennytosparetobuyanewspaper，muchlesscouldtheywriteinone；andworsethanall，hisfathersname，andofcoursehisown，endedin“sen，”andthereforehecouldneverturnoutwell，whichwasaverysadthought.Butafterall，hehadbeenbornintotheworld，andthestationoflifehadbeenchosenforhim，thereforehemustbecontent.Andthisiswhathappenedonthatevening.Manyyearspassed，andmostofthechildrenbecamegrown-uppersons.therestoodasplendidhouseinthetown，filledwithallkindsofbeautifulandvaluableobjects.Everybodywishedtoseeit，andpeopleevencameinfromthecountryroundtobepermittedtoviewthetreasuresitcontained.Whichofthechildrenwhoseprattlewehavedescribed，couldcallthishousehisown？Onewouldsupposeitveryeasytoguess.No，no；itisnotsoveryeasy.Thehousebelongedtothepoorlittleboywhohadstoodonthatnightbehindthedoor.HehadreallybecomesomethingGREat，althoughhisnameendedin“sen，”foritwasThorwaldsen.Andthethreeotherchildrenthechildrenofgoodbirth，ofmoney，andofintellectualpride，well，theywererespectedandhonoredintheworld，fortheyhadbeenwellprovidedforbybirthandposition，andtheyhadnocausetoreproachthemselveswithwhattheyhadthoughtandspokenonthateveninglongago，for，afterall，itwasmere“childrensprattle.”批发商家为孩子们安排了一次聚会，参加的都是有钱人家、体面人家的孩子。这位批发商生意做得很不错，是一位有学识的人。他得到过高级中学结业证书，是他那和善的父亲坚持要他念书的。父亲最初做贩牛生意，为人老成勤俭，赚了不少钱。批发商接着又不断地赚钱。他很有头脑，心地也很慈善。可是大夥儿很少说起他的这些，说得最多的还是他的那许多钱。他家出出进进的都是体面人物。有的是人们说的血统很体面，有的是人们说的精神方面很体面，有的两者兼而有之，有的则两者皆缺。现在这里是孩子们的聚会，讲的都是孩子话，孩子们讲话从来不拐弯抹角。有一个小姑娘很漂亮，只是过於高傲了。都是仆佣们总是亲吻她而宠出来的，不是她的父母，在这方面，他们倒还是很注意分寸的。她的父亲是宫廷侍从官，这很了不起，她知道。“我是宫廷里的孩子！”她说道。她其实也可能是地下室的孩子，随便你自己怎么定都可以。於是她对别的孩子说，她是“生就”的，还说，如果不是生就的，那她就变也变不成。读书也没有用，即便你十分用功读书也不行，要是你不是生就的，那你是变不成的。“那些以”生“字为姓的结尾的人1，”她说道，“在世界上怎么也成不了大器！应该把手叉在腰旁，远远地躲开这些”生“呀”生“的！”於是她便把她那娇嫩的小手叉在腰上，胳膊尖尖的，让人看看应该怎么样行事。那一双