Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales Volume Ii Part 28

"Oh, that'll be all right," said Little Claus, but he put a big stone into the sack and gave it a push. Plump! and there lay Great Claus in the river. He sank at once to the bottom.

"I'm afraid he won't find the cattle," said Little Claus. Then he drove homeward with his herd.

NOTES

THE STORKS

PAGE 29. On account of the ravages it makes among noxious animals, the stork is a privileged bird wherever it makes its home. In cities it is sometimes trained to act as scavenger. In Denmark, Holland, and Germany it is always a welcome guest.

Boxes are placed upon roofs in the hope that nests may be made in them, for it is considered a sign of good fortune to have a stork's nest on one's roof.

The stork is noted for its great affection for its young and especially for the care it is said to give to its parents in their old age. It has no song, and is in no sense a bird to love, though it may become quite tame.

PAGE 37. The nurses in that country tell the children that the stork brings the little new babies.

THE WILD SWANS

PAGE 56. _Fata Morgana_ (fa'ta mor ga'na): a singular appearance, or phenomenon, similar to the mirage of the desert; images of objects distorted or multiplied into fanciful shapes. This phenomenon was so called because it was looked upon as the work of a fata, or fairy, called Morgana. The phenomenon has been remarked chiefly at the Strait of Messina, between Italy and Calabria.

WHAT THE GOODMAN DOES IS ALWAYS RIGHT

PAGE 220. _in the country_: here means in Denmark.

THE SWINEHERD

PAGE 263. "Ah! thou dearest Augustine, All is gone, gone, gone."

THE METAL PIG

PAGE 269. _piazza_ (pe at's?): in Italy, a square, or open s.p.a.ce, surrounded by buildings.

PAGE 271. _Palazzo degli Uffizi_ (pa lat'so dal'ye of fet'se): one of the chief art galleries of the world. _Palazzo_ is the Italian word for "palace."

PAGE 272. _Medici_ (med'[+e] che): the name of a Florentine family.

PAGE 275. _Galileo_ is called the Father of Modern Science. He made a number of most important scientific discoveries. To him is attributed the saying in regard to the earth, when under trial for the supposed heresy of believing in its motion, "_It moves_, nevertheless."

_Dante_ was the greatest of Italian poets.

_Alfieri_ and _Machiavelli_ were authors.

Opposite the grave of Galileo is the tomb of _Michelangelo_, on which stand his bust and three figures, representing sculpture, painting, and architecture. Close by is a monument to Dante, whose body is buried at Ravenna. On this monument Italy is represented as pointing to the colossal statue of Dante, while Poetry mourns his loss. A few steps farther on is Alfieri's monument, which is adorned with laurel, the lyre, and dramatic masks; Italy weeps over his grave. Machiavelli is the last in this group of celebrated men.

EVERYTHING IN ITS RIGHT PLACE

PAGE 329. _Thespis_: a dramatic writer of the sixth century. He is called the Father of the Greek Drama.