The Little Match Girl – Denmark (Original Version)

On a bitterly cold New Year’s Eve, as snowflakes danced through the streets of a bustling town in Denmark, a poor little girl wandered alone. She was barefoot, having lost the oversized slippers her mother had given her, and her feet were red and blue from the biting cold. In her worn apron, she carried a bundle of matches, hoping to sell them to passersby.

Despite her efforts, no one paid her any attention. The townspeople were preoccupied with their celebrations, hurrying past her with scarcely a glance. She hadn’t sold a single match all day, and she had no money to bring home to her family.

As evening descended, the cold grew more intense. The little girl sought shelter in a small alley between two houses. She curled up against the wall, pulling her thin shawl around her shoulders, and tried to keep warm. Her tiny hands trembled as she clutched the matches, her only source of warmth.

Desperate for comfort, she decided to light a match. As the flame flickered to life, she felt a sudden warmth and imagined herself sitting before a large iron stove, the heat enveloping her like a soft embrace. She held her hands out to the imaginary fire, but soon the flame sputtered out, leaving her in the cold darkness once more.

Undeterred, the girl struck another match. This time, the light revealed a splendid vision of a feast, with a table laden with delicious foods: roasted goose, steaming vegetables, and a rich, warm pudding. She reached out, longing to taste the feast, but the match went out, and the vision vanished.

With trembling fingers, she lit a third match. In its glow, she saw a beautiful Christmas tree adorned with candles and ornaments, each one more dazzling than the last. The girl reached out to touch the tree, but the match burned down, and the tree faded into the night.

As her hope began to wane, she struck another match. In the light, she saw her beloved grandmother, the only person who had ever shown her true kindness and love. Her grandmother smiled warmly, and the little girl felt a deep sense of comfort and joy.

“Grandmother,” she whispered, “please take me with you.”

Desperate to hold onto the vision, the girl struck the entire bundle of matches. The flames blazed bright, and her grandmother appeared more vivid than ever. The little girl reached out, and her grandmother took her gently by the hand.

As the night wore on, the townspeople passed by the alley, unaware of the little girl’s plight. When the morning light finally broke, they found her still sitting against the wall, with a peaceful expression on her face and the burnt-out matches in her hands.

The little girl had left the cold, harsh world behind and found warmth and love in her grandmother’s embrace. Though she had suffered in life, she found solace in the end, and her spirit soared to a place where there was no more pain.

The story of the little match girl is a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by those less fortunate and the enduring power of hope and love.

The End.