Author: Hans Christian Andersen

Publisher: Theclassics.Us

Published: 2013-09

Total Pages: 28

ISBN-13: 9781230220949

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863* edition. Excerpt: ... THE FALSE COLLAR. HERE was once a fine gentleman, all of whose moveables were a bootjack and a haircomb: but he had the finest false collars in the world; and it is about one of these collars that we are now to hear a story. It was so old, that it began to think of marriage; and it happened that it came to be washed in company with a garter. "Nay!" said the collar, "I never did see anything so slender and so fine, so soft and so neat. May I not ask your name l" "That I shall not tell you!" said the "Where do you live V asked the collar. But the garter was so bashful, so modest, and thought it was a strange question to answer. "You are certainly a girdle," said the collar; "that is to say an inside girdle. I see well that you are both for use and ornament, my dear young lady." "I will thank you not to speak to me," said the garter. "I think I have not given the least occasion for it." "Yes! when one is as handsome as you," said the collar, "that is occasion enough." "Don't come so near me, I beg of you!" said the garter. "You look so much like those men-folks." "I am also a fine gentleman," said the collar. "I have a boot-jack and a hair-comb." But that was not true, for it was his master who had them: but he boasted. "Don't come so near me," said the garter: "I am not accustomed to it." "Prude !" exclaimed the collar; and then it was taken out of the washing-tub. It was starched, hung over the back of a chair in the sunshine, and was then laid on the ironingblanket; then came the warm box-iron. "Dear lady!" said the collar. "Dear widowlady! I feel quite hot. I am quite changed. I begin to unfold myself. You will burn a hole in me. Oh! I offer you my hand." "Rag!" said the box-iron; and went proudly over the collar: for she fancied she...