Onceuponatimealittlegirltriedtomakealivingbysellingmatchesinthestreet.ItwasNewYear'sEveandthesnowedstreetsweredeserted.Frombrightlylitwindowscamethetinkleoflaughterandthesoundofsinging.PeopleweregettingreadytobringintheNewYear.Butthepoorlittlematchsellersatsadlybesidethefountain.Herraggeddressandwornshawldidnotkeepoutthecoldandshetriedtokeepherbarefeetfromtouchingthefrozenground.Shehadn'tsoldoneboxofmatchesalldayandshewasfrightenedtogohome,forherfatherwouldcertainlybeangry.Itwouldn'tbemuchwarmeranyway,inthedraughtyatticthatwasherhome.Thelittlegirl'sfingerswerestiffwithcold.Ifonlyshecouldlightamatch!Butwhatwouldherfathersayatsuchawaste!Falteringlyshetookoutamatchandlitit.Whatanicewarmflame!Thelittlematchsellercuppedherhandoverit,andasshedidso,shemagicallysawinitslightabigbrightlyburningstove. 　　Sheheldoutherhandstotheheat,butjustthenthematchwentoutandthevisionfaded.Thenightseemedblackerthanbeforeanditwasgettingcolder.Ashiverranthroughthelittlegirl'sthinbody.Afterhesitatingforalongtime,shestruckanothermatchonthewall,andthistime,theglimmerturnedthewallintoagreatsheetofcrystal.Beyondthatstoodafinetableladenwithfoodandlitbyacandlestick.Holdingoutherarmstowardstheplates,thelittlematchsellerseemedtopassthroughtheglass,butthenthematchwentoutandthemagicfaded.Poorthing:injustafewsecondsshehadcaughtaglimpseofeverythingthatlifehaddeniedher:warmthandgoodthingstoeat.Hereyesfilledwithtearsandsheliftedhergazetothelitwindows,prayingthatshetoomightknowalittleofsuchhappiness.Shelitthethirdmatchandanevenmorewonderfulthinghappened.TherestoodaChristmastreehungwithhundredsofcandles,glitteringwithtinselandcolouredballs."Oh,howlovely!"exclaimedthelittlematchseller,holdingupthematch.Then,thematchburnedherfingerandflickeredout.ThelightfromtheChristmascandlesrosehigherandhigher,thenoneofthelightsfell,leavingatrailbehindit."Someoneisdying,"murmuredthelittlegirl,assherememberedherbelovedGrannywhousedtosay:"Whenastarfalls,aheartstopsbeating!"Scarcelyawareofwhatshewasdoing,thelittlematchsellerlitanothermatch.Thistime,shesawhergrandmother.Acolddaydawnedandapalesunshoneonthefountainandtheicyroad.Closebylaythelifelessbodyofalittlegirlsurroundedbyspentmatches."Poorlittlething!"exclaimedthepassersby."Shewastryingtokeepwarm