Hukumusume fairy tale collection > Story Top > Classical stories of the world
Two Candles
(Andersen's Fairy Tales)
Translation ちいさな翻訳屋さん
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Candle①
Candle②| ♪Reading in English | ||
| TIME 6:10 | Reading Google Translate | |
Japanese ←→ Japanese ＆ English ←→ English
Once upon a time, there were two candles on the table at a house.
One of the candles was made from beeswax, which was very expensive but had superior quality.
It was so slim and stylish with the twisted design.
The other, on the other hand, was cheap, made from whale oil.
Compared to the superior one, it was just chubby with poor design.
The beeswax candle proudly said,
“I’m better looking than any other candles and I can brighten the most. So I’ll be put in a silver candle stand.”
Hearing that, the cheap candle sighed.
“I envy you. I wish I could brighten people in the living room for a party like you. But I guess I’ll be put somewhere in the kitchen.”
Then, a lady who lived in the house came to the cheap candle and took it to the kitchen.
“I knew it.”
The cheap candle was disappointed.
In the kitchen, a boy with a basket was standing.
There were some potatoes and apples in the basket.
The lady said to the boy,
“Here. Take this candle with you. Your mother will work late so this might be useful.”
The lady’s little daughter heard this and said,
“Well, I will stay up late too because I’m having a dance party tonight. I’ll get a big red bow on my hair.”
The cheap candle looked at the girl with sparkling eyes like a star.
“Wow. What a pretty girl,”
The cheap candle thought.
“But I’ll never be able to see her again. The beeswax candle sure will enjoy the dance party with this girl while I’ll be taken to the poor house.
The boy put the candle into the basket and headed for his small and shabby house.
His father had already passed away and his mother was raising three kids, making a living by sewing.
The boy offered the basket with the candle in it to his mother.
“Oh dear, what a great candle you’ve got,”
she said gladly and lit the cheap candle.
Then, the youngest girl of the family came in.
The girl was smiling and came to her brother and sister.
“I have a question for you. Guess what’s for dinner. He-he. It’s warm potatoes!”
The girl looked so happy with sparkling eyes.
The cheap candle looked at her and thought,
“Oh, her eyes look the same as the ones of the rich girl.
That rich girl should be enjoying the lavish party by now while this girl is enjoying the potato dish. But both girls must be equally happy.”
Before long, dinner was ready.
“These potatoes are so good, don’t you think?”
“We can enjoy apples too.”
“Thank you God for your blessings.”
After the cheerful dinner time was over, the kids went to bed and their mother kissed them good night.
“Oh. What a fun night.”
The cheap candle was so happy to have spent the fun time with this family.
“I don’t envy the beeswax candle anymore.
Everyone feels happiness differently. If you feel happy, you ARE happy.
So I’m very happy myself too.
Well, mom is going to start sewing.
Ok, I’ll do my job too.”
The end
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