1 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: Hello friends, and welcome to sleep Tight Stories. A short 2 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: message for grown ups. Bringing you sleep Tight Stories takes 3 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: us hundreds of hours each month. If you and your 4 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: family enjoy our stories, please consider supporting us on Patreon 5 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: with a monthly donation of your choosing between the cost 6 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: of a cup of coffee and a nice sweet. Please 7 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: visit us at patreon dot com slash sleep tight Stories. 8 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: A link can also be found in our show notes. 9 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 2: Thank you. 10 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 1: Do you have a lamp in your room? I find 11 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 1: it very cozy when I am reading to have a 12 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: lamp on rather than the big light in the room. 13 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 1: I can remember some of the lamps that I have 14 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: read with, and I have great memories of curling up 15 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: in different places beside a good lamp to read. This 16 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: episode is all about an old street lamp, the old 17 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: street lamp. It was a most respectable old lamp which 18 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: had seen many many years of service and now was 19 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: to retire with a pension. It was this very evening 20 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: at its post for the last time, giving light to 21 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 1: the street. Its feelings were something like those of an 22 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: old dancer at the theater who is dancing for the 23 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: last time and knows that on the morrow she will 24 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: be in her room alone and forgotten. The lamp had 25 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 1: very great anxiety about the next day, for it knew 26 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,119 Speaker 1: that it had to appear for the first time at 27 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: the town hall, to be inspected by the mayor and 28 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: the council, who were to decide whether it was fit 29 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: for further service, whether it was good enough to be 30 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: used to light the inhabitants of one of the suburbs, 31 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:05,679 Speaker 1: or in the at some factory. If the lamp could 32 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 1: not be used for one of these purposes, it would 33 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: be sent at once to an iron foundry to be 34 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: melted down. In this latter case, it might be turned 35 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 1: into anything, and it wondered very much whether it would 36 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:26,079 Speaker 1: then be able to remember that it had once been 37 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: a street lamp. Whatever might happen, it seemed certain that 38 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: the lamp would be separated from the watchman and his wife, 39 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: whose family had looked upon as its own. The lamp 40 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: had first been hung up on the very evening that 41 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: the watchman, then a robust young man, had entered upon 42 00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 1: the duties of his office. Ah, Well, it was a 43 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 1: very long time since one became a lamp and the 44 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: other a watchman. His wife had some little pride in 45 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: those days she condescended to glance at the lamp only 46 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: when she passed by in the evening, never in the daytime. 47 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: But in later years, when all of them, the watchman, 48 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 1: the wife, and the lamp had grown old, she had 49 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 1: attended to it, cleaning it and keeping it supplied with oil. 50 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: The old people were thoroughly honest. They had never cheated 51 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: the lamp of a single drop of the oil provided 52 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: for it. This was the lamp's last night in the street, 53 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: and tomorrow it must go to the town hall. Two 54 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: very dark things to think of. No wonder it did 55 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 1: not burn brightly. How many persons it had lighted on 56 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 1: their way, and how much it had seen, as much, 57 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: very likely as the mayor and corporations themselves. None of 58 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: these thoughts were uttered aloud, however, for the lamp was 59 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: good and honorable, and would not willingly do harm to anyone, 60 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 1: especially to those in authority. As one thing after another 61 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: was recalled to its mind, the light would flash up 62 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:42,919 Speaker 1: with sudden brightness. At such moments, the lamp had a 63 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: conviction that it would be remembered. There was a handsome 64 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: young man, once thought the lamp. It is certainly a 65 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: long while ago but I remember that he had a 66 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:04,720 Speaker 1: little note written on pink paper with a gold edge. 67 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 1: The writing was elegant, evidently a lady's. Twice he read 68 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: it through and kissed it, and then looked up at 69 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: me with eyes that quite plainly said, I am the 70 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:23,479 Speaker 1: happiest of men. Only he and I know what was 71 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: written on this, his first letter from. 72 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 2: His lady love. 73 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: Ah. Yes, and there was another pair of eyes that 74 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: I remember. It is really wonderful how the thoughts jump 75 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: from one thing to another. A funeral passed through the street. 76 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: A young and beautiful woman lay on a bire, decked 77 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 1: of garlands with flowers, and attended by torches which quite 78 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 1: overpowered my light. All along the street stood the people 79 00:06:56,320 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: from the houses in crowds, ready to join the pro session. 80 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: But when the torches had passed from before me and 81 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: I could look around, I saw one person standing alone, 82 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 1: leaning against my post and weeping. Never shall I forget 83 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: the sorrowful eyes that looked up at me. These and 84 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: similar memories occupied the old street lamp on this the 85 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: last time that it would shine its light. The sentry, 86 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: when he is relieved from his post, knows at least 87 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: who will be his successor, and may whisper a few 88 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 1: words to him. But the lamp did not know its successor, 89 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: or it might have given him a few hints respecting 90 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: rain or mist, and might have informed him how far 91 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: the moon's rays would reach, and from which side the 92 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: wind generally blew, and so on. On the bridge over 93 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 1: the canal stood three persons who wished to recommend themselves 94 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: to the lamp, for they thought it could give the 95 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: office to whomver it chose. The first was a herring's head, 96 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: which could emit light in the darkness. He remarked that 97 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 1: it would be a great saving of oil if they 98 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 1: placed him on the lamp post. Number two was a 99 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: piece of rotten wood, which also shines in the dark. 100 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: He considered himself descended from an old stem, once the 101 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: pride of the forest. The third was a glowworm, and 102 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: how he found his way there the lamp could not imagine. 103 00:08:56,640 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 1: Yet there he was, and could really give light as 104 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: well as the others. But the rotten wood and the 105 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 1: herring's head declared most seriously by all they held sacred, 106 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: that the glowworm only gave light at certain times and 107 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: must not be allowed to compete with them. The old 108 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: lamp assured them that not one of them could give 109 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: sufficient light to fill the position of a street lamp, 110 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:35,959 Speaker 1: but they would believe nothing that it said. When they 111 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: discovered that it had not the power of naming its successor, 112 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: they said they were very glad to hear it, for 113 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: the old lamp was too old and worn out to 114 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 1: make a proper choice. At this moment, the wind came 115 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:00,040 Speaker 1: rushing round the corner of the street and through the 116 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 1: air holes of the old lamp. 117 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 2: What is this I hear? It asked? Are you going 118 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 2: away tomorrow? 119 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: Is this evening the last time we shall meet? Then 120 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 1: I must present you with a farewell gift. I will 121 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 1: blow it into your brain, so that in future, not 122 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: only shall you be able to remember all that you 123 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: have seen or heard in the past, but your light 124 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 1: within shall be so bright that you will be able 125 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: to understand. 126 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 2: All that is said or done in your presence. 127 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 1: Oh that is really a very very great gift, said 128 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: the old lamp. I thank you most heartily. I only 129 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: hope I shall not be melted down. That is not 130 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: likely to happen, yet, said the wind. I will also 131 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: blow a memory into you, so that should you receive 132 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: other similar presents your old age, which you will pass 133 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: very pleasantly, that is if I am not melted down, 134 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: said the lamp. But should I, in that case still 135 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: retain my memory? Do be reasonable, old lamp, said the wind, 136 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: puffing away. At this moment, the moon burst forth from 137 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 1: the clouds. What will you give, the old lamp asked 138 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: the wind. I can give nothing, she replied, I am 139 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: on the wane, and no lamps have ever given me light, 140 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: while I have frequently shone upon them. With these words, 141 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: the moon hid herself again behind the clouds that she 142 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 1: might be saved from further annoyances. Just then a drop 143 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: fell on the lamp from the roof of the house. 144 00:11:56,720 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: But the drop explained that it was a gift from 145 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: those gray clouds, and perhaps the best of all gifts. 146 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 1: I shall penetrate you so thoroughly. It said that you 147 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:17,439 Speaker 1: will have the power of becoming rusty, and if you wish, 148 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: it can crumble into dust in one night. But this 149 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 1: seemed to the lamp a very shabby present, and the 150 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 1: wind thought, so too, does no one give any more? 151 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: Will no one give any more? Shouted the breath of 152 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: the wind as loud as it could. Then a bright 153 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:47,719 Speaker 1: falling star came down, leaving a broad, luminous streak behind it. 154 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:53,720 Speaker 1: What was that, cried the herrings head. Did not a 155 00:12:53,800 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: star fall? I really believe it went into the lamp. Certainly, 156 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 1: when such high born personages try for the office, we 157 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: may as well go home. And so they did, all three, 158 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: while the old lamp threw a wonderfully strong light all around. 159 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 1: This is a glorious gift, it said. The bright stars 160 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 1: have always been a joy to me, and have always 161 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 1: shone more brilliantly than I ever could. 162 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 2: Shine, though I have tried with my whole might. 163 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 1: Now they have noticed me a poor old lamp, and 164 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 1: have sent me a gift that will enable me to 165 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 1: clearly see everything that I remember as if it still 166 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:56,439 Speaker 1: stood before me, and to let it be seen by 167 00:13:56,480 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: all those who love me. And herein lies the truest 168 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 1: happiness for pleasures which we cannot share with others are 169 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 1: only half enjoyed. That sentiment, does you, honor, said the wind. 170 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: But for this purpose wax lights will be necessary. If 171 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: these are not lighted in you, your peculiar faculties will 172 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: not benefit others. 173 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 2: In the least. 174 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: The stars have not thought of this. They suppose that 175 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: you and every other light must be a wax taper. 176 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 1: But I must go down now, So it laid itself 177 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: to rest wax tapers. Indeed, said the lamp, I have 178 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: never yet had these, nor is it likely I ever shall. 179 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: If I could only be sure of not being melted 180 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 1: down the next day, well perhaps we had better pass 181 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: over the next day, the evening had come, and the 182 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 1: lamp was resting in a grandfather's chair. And guess where 183 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 1: why at the old watchman's house. He had begged as 184 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: a favor that the Mare and Corporation would allow him 185 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 1: to keep the street lamp in consideration of his long 186 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 1: and faithful service. As he had himself hung it up 187 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: and lighted it on the day he first commenced his 188 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: duties four and twenty years ago. He looked upon it 189 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: almost as his own child. He had no children, so 190 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: the lamp was given to him. There lay the lamp 191 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: in the great armchair near the warm stove. It seemed 192 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 1: almost to have grown larger, for it appeared quite to 193 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: fill the chair. The old people sat at their supper, 194 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: casting friendly glances at it, and would willingly have admitted 195 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: it to a place at the table. It is quite 196 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: true that they dwelt in a cellar two yards below ground, 197 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 1: and had to cross a stone passage to get to 198 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 1: their room. But within it was warm. 199 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 2: And comfortable, and strips of list had been nailed round 200 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 2: the door. The bed and the little. 201 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 1: Window had curtains, and everything looked clean and neat. On 202 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: the window seat stood two curious flower pots, which a 203 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: sailor named Christian had brought from the East or West Indies. 204 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: They were of clay and in the form of two 205 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:09,880 Speaker 1: elephants with open backs. They were filled with earth, and 206 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: through the open space flowers bloomed. In one grew some 207 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 1: very fine chives or leaks. This was the kitchen garden, 208 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 1: the other, which contained a beautiful geranium, they called their 209 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:33,720 Speaker 1: flower garden. On the wall hung a large colored print 210 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:39,399 Speaker 1: representing the Congress of Vienna and all the kings and emperors. 211 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 1: They clocked with heavy weights hung on the wall, and 212 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 1: went tick tick steadily enough, yet it was always rather 213 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: too fast, which, however, the old people said was better 214 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 1: than being too slow. They were now eating their supper 215 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:02,680 Speaker 1: while the old street lamp, as we have heard, lay 216 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 1: in the grandfather's armchair near the stove. It seemed to 217 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,919 Speaker 1: the lamp, as if the whole world had turned round. 218 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: But after a while the old watchman looked at the 219 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: lamp and spoke of what they had both gone through 220 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 1: together in rain and in fog, during the short bright 221 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 1: nights of summer, or in the long winter nights, through 222 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,920 Speaker 1: the drifting snowstorms, when he longed to be at home 223 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:38,439 Speaker 1: in the cellar. Then the lamp felt that all was 224 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: well again. It saw everything that had happened quite clearly, 225 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: as if the events were passing before it. Surely the 226 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: wind had given it an excellent gift. The old people 227 00:18:56,680 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: were very active and industrious. They were never idle for 228 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 1: even a single hour. On Sunday, afternoons, they would bring 229 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 1: out some books, generally a book of travels, which they 230 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:15,679 Speaker 1: greatly liked. The old man would read aloud about Africa 231 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 1: with its great forests and the wild elephants, while his 232 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 1: wife would listen attentively, stealing a glance now and then 233 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: at the clay elephants which served as flower pots. I 234 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: can almost imagine I am seeing it all, she said. Ah, 235 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: how the lamp wished for a wax taper to be 236 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 1: lighted in it, for then the old woman would have 237 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: seen the smallest detail as clearly as it did itself, 238 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: the lofty trees with their thickly entwined branches, and whole 239 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: herds of elephants treading down bamboo thickets with their broad, 240 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: heavy feet. What is the use of all my capabilities, 241 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: sighed the old lamp, when I cannot obtain any wax lights. 242 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 1: They have only oil and tallow here, and these will 243 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: not do. One day a great heap of wax candle 244 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:28,400 Speaker 1: ends found their way into the cellar. The larger pieces 245 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: were burned, and the smaller ones the old woman kept 246 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:36,920 Speaker 1: for waxing her thread. So there were now candles enough. 247 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 1: But it never occurred to anyone to put a little 248 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: piece in the lamp. 249 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 2: Here. 250 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,399 Speaker 1: I am now with my rare power, thought the lamp. 251 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: I have faculties within me, but I cannot share them. 252 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: They do not know that I could cover these white 253 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: walls with beautiful tapes, or change them into noble forests, 254 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 1: or indeed to anything else they might wish. The lamp, however, 255 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,640 Speaker 1: was always kept clean and shining in a corner where 256 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:22,880 Speaker 1: it attracted all eyes. Strangers looked upon it as lumber, 257 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 1: but the old people did not care for that. They 258 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 1: loved it. One day, it was the watchman's birthday. The 259 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: old woman approached the lamp, smiling to herself, and said, 260 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 1: I will have an illumination today in honor of my 261 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 1: old man. The lamp rattled in its metal frame, for 262 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,359 Speaker 1: it thought, now at last I shall have a light 263 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: within me. But after all no wax light was placed 264 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 1: in the lamp, only oil. As usual. The lamp burned 265 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:08,400 Speaker 1: through the whole evening and began to perceive too clearly 266 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 1: that the gift of the stars would remain a hidden 267 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 1: treasure all its life. Then it had a dream, or 268 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 1: to one with its faculties. Dreaming was not difficult. It 269 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:26,919 Speaker 1: dreamed that the old people were gone, and that it 270 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 1: had been taken to the iron foundry to be melted down. 271 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 1: This caused the lamp quite as much anxiety as on 272 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:38,680 Speaker 1: the day when it had been called upon to appear 273 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 1: before the Mayor and the council at the town hall. 274 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,199 Speaker 1: But though it had been endowed with the power of 275 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:50,200 Speaker 1: falling into decay from rust when it pleased, it did 276 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 1: not make use of this power. It was therefore put 277 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:06,160 Speaker 1: into the melting furnace and changed into an elegant iron candlestick. 278 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 1: As elegant as you could wish to see. One intended 279 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:18,119 Speaker 1: to hold a wax taper. Candlestick was in the form 280 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:22,119 Speaker 1: of an angel holding a nosegay in the center of 281 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:27,119 Speaker 1: which the wax taper was to be placed. It was 282 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:30,920 Speaker 1: to stand on a green writing table in a very 283 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 1: pleasant room, where there were many books scattered about and 284 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:42,360 Speaker 1: splendid paintings on the walls. The owner of the room 285 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 1: was a poet and a man of intellect. Everything he 286 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:52,120 Speaker 1: thought or wrote was pictured around him. Nature showed herself 287 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 1: to him, sometimes in the dark forests, sometimes in cheerful 288 00:23:56,520 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: meadows where the storks were strutting about, or on the 289 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 1: deck of a ship sailing across the foaming sea with 290 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:08,919 Speaker 1: the clear blue sky above, or at night in the 291 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 1: glittering stars. What powers I possess? Said the lamp, awakening 292 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:22,440 Speaker 1: from its dream. I could almost wish to be melted down, 293 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: But no, that must not be. While the old people live. 294 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:33,679 Speaker 1: They love me for myself alone. They keep me bright 295 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:38,480 Speaker 1: and supply me with oil. I am as well off 296 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 1: as the pitcher of the congress in which they take 297 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:48,240 Speaker 1: so much pleasure. And from that time it felt at 298 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:53,680 Speaker 1: rest in itself, and not more so than such an 299 00:24:53,680 --> 00:25:05,199 Speaker 1: honorable old lamp really deserved to be, and that is 300 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:12,240 Speaker 1: the end of this episode. Good Night, sleep Tight.