【正文】
one she had seen last christmas eve through the glass doors of the rich merchantamp。s house. hundreds of waxtapers lighted up the green branches, and tiny painted figures, such as she had seen in the shopwindows, looked down from the tree upon her. the child stretched out her hands towards them in delight, and in that moment the lights of the match warm quenched。 one of them fell, the lights streaming behind it like a long, fiery tail. ”。 said the little girl, softly, for she had been told by her old grandmother, the only person who had ever been kind to her, and who was now dead that whenever a star falls an immortal spirit returns to the god who gave it. she struck yet another match against the wall。39。39