The Little Match Girl

Hans Christian Andersen

It is a very cold night. Snow is falling, and the sky is dark. It is the last night of the year.

A poor little girl is walking alone in the street. She has no hat, and she has no shoes. Her feet are very cold and blue. She carries matches in her apron. She wants to sell them, but no one stops to buy. No one gives her money.

She feels hungry and tired, and her body is shaking from the cold.

Warm light comes from the windows of the houses. Inside, people are eating and laughing.

The girl smells good food in the air, and she thinks about New Year’s dinner. But she keeps walking.

At last, she sits down between two houses. She pulls her legs close to her body to stay warm. She does not go home, because she has no money, and she is afraid.

Her hands are very cold. She takes one match and lights it. The match is warm and bright. She feels better.

In the light, she sees a warm stove. It looks safe and nice. She stretches her hands to the fire. Then the match goes out. The stove is gone.

She lights another match. Now she sees a table with good food. There is a big roast goose. It smells delicious. She smiles. Then the match goes out. The food is gone.

She lights another match. She sees a beautiful Christmas tree. It is big and full of lights. The lights look like stars in the sky. One star falls down.

“My grandmother,” the girl says softly. “She is coming.”

Her grandmother was kind and loved her very much.

The girl lights all the matches. She wants to keep the light. Now she sees her grandmother clearly. She is smiling and looks warm and gentle.

“Take me with you,” the girl says.

Her grandmother takes her hand. Together they go up. The girl feels warm and happy. There is no cold. There is no hunger.

In the morning, people find the little girl sitting by the wall. She looks calm and peaceful. All her matches are burned.

“She wanted to get warm,” people say.

They do not know what she saw. They do not know she felt happy.