Description

This touching fairy tale comes from one of the most beloved children's writers of all time, Hans Christian Andersen. On a freezing New Year's Eve a little girl has been sent out to sell matches on the street without shoes on her feet or food in her belly. Warm lights and delicious smells stream from the windows of houses, making her feel her misery and poverty more acutely. Cold and hungry, she is afraid to go home since she has not earned any money, so she huddles in a corner and lights a match to try to keep herself warm. Miraculously, in the light of the match she feels the burning warmth of fire, and she suddenly doesn't feel so cold anymore. Inspired, the girl lights another, and this time she sees a wonderful vision of a Christmas tree and a sumptuous holiday feast. Her suffering is remarkably alleviated by these wonderful moments, and she continues to strike her matches one by one. She sees a falling star and recalls that her grandmother told her that whenever a star falls from the sky, a soul is ascending to God. The girl fervently lights the remaining matches in her bundle, and in a blaze of love and joy she feels herself rising upwards. Andersen's moving, simple tale reminds that even the most destitute are not entirely bereft, but have their home in God's heart, too.

About the Author

Hans Christian Andersen (April 2, 1805 – August 4, 1875) was a Danish author and poet, most famous for his fairy tales. Among his best-known stories are "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," "The Ugly Duckling," and "The Red Shoes." During Andersen's lifetime he was feted by royalty and acclaimed for having brought joy to children across Europe. His fairy tales have been translated into over 150 languages and continue to be published in millions of copies all over the world and to inspire many other works.

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Opening Lines (Experimental)

Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening-- the last evening of the year. In this cold and darkness there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and with naked feet. When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but what was the good of that? ...