The Little Match Girl

Most terribly cold it was, and nearly quite dark. There went along the street a poor little girl, trembling with cold and hunger, but she did not dare to go home, for she had sold no matches and her father would surely beat her.

From all the windows the candles were gleaming. Thousands of lights were burning and gaily-coloured pictures, such as she had seen in the shop windows, looked down upon her. The little girl stretched out her hands towards them.

(from Hans Christian Andersen)


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