1、the Top and Ballby Hans Christian Andersen（1838） WHIPPING TOP and a little ball lay together in abox， among other toys， and the top said to theball，“Shall we be married， as we live in the samebox？” But the ball， which wore a dress of moroccoleather， and thought as much of herself as anyother young
2、 lady， would not even condescend toreply. the next day came the little boy to whom the playthings belonged， and he painted the topred and yellow， and drove a brass-headed nail into the middle， so that while the top wasspinning round it looked splendid. “Look at me，” said the top to the ball.“What
3、do you say now？ Shall we be engaged toeach other？ We should suit so well； you spring， and I dance. No one could be happier thanwe should be.” “Indeed！ do you think so？ Perhaps you do not know that my father and mother weremorocco slippers， and that I have a Spanish cork in my body.” “Yes； but I am
4、 made of mahogany，” said the top.“The major himself turned me. He has aturning lathe of his own， and it is a GREat amusement to him.” “Can I believe it？” asked the ball. “May I never be whipped again，” said the top，“if I am not telling you the truth.” “You certainly know how to speak for yourself
5、 very well，” said the ball；“but I cannotaccept your proposal. I am almost engaged to a swallow. Every time I fly up in the air， heputs his head out of the nest， and says， 'Will you？' and I have said， 'Yes，' to myselfsilently， and that is as good as being half engaged； but I will promise never to for
6、get you.” “Much good that will be to me，” said the top； and they spoke to each other no more. Next day the ball was taken out by the boy. The top saw it flying high in the air， like abird， till it would go quite out of sight. Each time it came back， as it touched the earth， itgave a higher leap th
7、an before， either because it longed to fly upwards， or from having aSpanish cork in its body. But the ninth time it rose in the air， it remained away， and did notreturn. The boy searched everywhere fo
