1、the Buckwheatby Hans Christian Andersen（1842） VERY often， after a violent thunder-storm， afield of buckwheat appears blackened and singed，as if a flame of fire had passed over it. the countrypeople say that this appearance is caused bylightning； but I will te
2、ll you what the sparrowsays， and the sparrow heard it from an old willow-tree which GREw near a field of buckwheat， and isthere still. It is a large venerable tree， though alittle crippled by age. The trunk has been split， and out of the crevice grass and bram
3、blesgrow. The tree bends for-ward slightly， and the branches hang quite down to the groundjust like green hair. Corn grows in the surrounding fields， not only rye and barley， but oats，—pretty oats that， when ripe， look like a number of little golden canary-bir
4、ds sitting on abough. The corn has a smiling look and the heaviest and richest ears bend their heads low as ifin pious humility. Once there was also a field of buckwheat， and this field was exactlyopposite to old willow-tree. The buckwheat did not bend like th
5、e other grain， but erected itshead proudly and stiffly on the stem.“I am as valuable as any other corn，” said he，“and Iam much handsomer； my flowers are as beautiful as the bloom of the apple blossom， and itis a pleasure to look at us. Do you know of anything
6、prettier than we are， you old willow-tree？” And the willow-tree nodded his head， as if he would say，“Indeed I do.” But the buckwheat spread itself out with pride， and said，“Stupid tree； he is so old thatgrass grows out of his body.” there arose a very terri
7、ble storm. All the field-flowers folded their leaves together， orbowed their little heads， while the storm passed over them， but the buckwheat stood erect inits pride.“Bend your head as we do，” said the flowers. “I have no occasion to do so，” replied the buck
8、wheat. “Bend your head as we do，” cried the ears of corn；“the angel of the storm is coming；his wings spread from the sky above to the earth beneath. He will strike you down before
