The Steadfast Tin Soldier (10 完)

The Steadfast Tin Soldier (10)

The boy did it for no reason at all.
That black goblin in the snuffbox must have put him up to it.

The Tin soldier stood there dressed in flames.
The flames lit up the Tin Soldier.

He felt a terrible heat, but whether it came from the flames or from his love he didn't know.
He started to melt away. He'd lost his splendid colors, maybe from his hard journey, maybe from grief, nobody can say.

He looked at the little lady, and she looked at him, and he felt himself melting.
But still he stood steadfast, with his musket held trim on his shoulder.

Then the door blew open.
A puff of wind struck the dancer.

She flew like a fairy, straight into the fire by the Tin soldier's side.
She blazed up in a flash, and was gone.

The Tin soldier finally melted, all in a lump.

The next morning, when a maid took up the ashes and cleaning out the stove, she found him melted into the shape of a little tin heart.

But of the pretty little dancer nothing was left except her spangle tinsel rose, and it was burned as black as a coal.

(10/10 完)