Friday, December 19, 2008

Little Match Girl




After having some mixed feelings for this little one, she found her way into my heart:)




This is the story of the little match girl by Hans Christian Andersen.







Once upon a time . . . a little glrl tried to make a living by selling matches in the street.

It was New Year's Eve and the snowclad streets were deserted. From brightly lit windows came the tinkle of laughter and the sound of singing. People were getting ready to bring in the New Year. But the poor little matchseller sat sadly beside the fountain. Her ragged dress and worn shawl did not keep out the cold and she tried to keep her bare feet from touching the frozen ground. She hadn't sold one box of matches all day and she was frightened to go home, for her father would certainly be angry. It wouldn't be much warmer anyway, in the draughty attic that was her home. The little girl's fingers were stiff with cold. If only she could light a match! But what would her father say at such a waste! Falteringly she took out a match and lit it. What a nice warm flame! The little matchseller cupped her hand over it, and as she did so, she magically saw in its light a big brightly burning stove.
She held out her hands to the heat, but just then the match went out and the vision faded. The night seemed blacker than before and it was getting colder. A shiver ran through the little girl's thin body.
After hesitating for a long time, she struck another match on the wall, and this time, the glimmer turned the wall into a great sheet of crystal. Beyond that stood a fine table laden with food and lit by a candlestick. Holding out her arms towards the plates, the little matchseller seemed to pass through the glass, but then the match went out and the magic faded. Poor thing: in just a few seconds she had caught a glimpse of everything that life had denied her: warmth and good things to eat. Her eyes filled with tears and she lifted her gaze to the lit windows, praying that she too might know a little of such happiness.
She lit the third match and an even more wonderful thing happened. There stood a Christmas tree hung with hundreds of candles, glittering with tinsel and coloured balls. "Oh, how lovely!" exclaimed the little matchseller, holding up the match. Then, the match burned her finger and flickered out. The light from the Christmas candles rose higher and higher, then one of the lights fell, leaving a trail behind it. "Someone is dying," murmured the little girl, as she remembered her beloved Granny who used to say: "When a star falls, a heart stops beating!"
Scarcely aware of what she was doing, the little matchseller lit another match. This time, she saw her grandmother.
"Granny, stay with me!" she pleaded, as she lit one match after the other, so that her grandmother could not disappear like all the other visions. However, Granny did not vanish, but gazed smilingly at her. Then she opened her arms and the little girl hugged her crying: "Granny, take me away with you!"
A cold day dawned and a pale sun shone on the fountain and the icy road. Close by lay the lifeless body of a little girl surrounded by spent matches. "Poor little thing!" exclaimed the passersby. "She was trying to keep warm!"
But by that time, the little matchseller was far away where there is neither cold, hunger nor pain.




17 comments:

Sue said...

Jacqui, she is adorable!
What a poignant expression...you just want to pick her up and hug her!

Sue

Odddollz by Jacqui said...

Oh good Sue! that is what I was going for:)

HUGZ
Jacqui

Gail Lackey said...

She's just perfectly precious Jacqui!! You do just want to hug her! Her little tiny hands and naked feet are too adorable!You've really captured her esscence... Fantastic job!!
Haunted Holiday Huggz, Gail

Odddollz by Jacqui said...

Why thank you so much Ms Gail, you made my day:)

HUGZ

Jacqui

Odddollz by Jacqui said...

I just told Jay her story and he thought it was horrible and said I sould do an alternet ending where she finds some money and lives happily ever after or get adopted to a family that loves her and that has lots of money!! lol

Sue said...

Ha! Guys just don't get it
sometimes, do they?

LOL

Sue

Unknown said...

aww, she's precious, Gail is right. you have really captured her essence, and thats the most important part of an art dolls. you just keep getting better and better, each new doll you make i love even more than the last. :) martin is amazed at your work too.
the recipient of this gift is awfully lucky!

Odddollz by Jacqui said...

Thanks so much Kamila, having such a great sculpting partner like you has been a huge inspiration for me. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you:)
This will be a very sentamental gift for my mom and I think she will love her:)

HUGZ
Jacqui

The Whimsical Goblin said...

She's wonderful and I love her story. Dont change it :)

Lisa Gatz said...

Beautiful! Wow, I just love this doll.

Kimberly said...

WOW what talent you have!!! Love your stuff!! Thanks so much for checking out my blog. I will be sure to check back often!!! Love it Love it Love it! :} Kimberly

Stefania Morgante said...

my dear...the first book will be for you! for the moment I'm drawing...adn dreaming new drawings...Buon natale (merry Christmas), ciao bella!

Odddollz by Jacqui said...

Thanks Darlene, I have diecide that the bitter sweet story that it is, is the best:) I won't be doing an alternet ending.

Thank you for the kind words Lisa:)

Kimberly I am flattered you like my dolls:)
Your jewelry is beautiful and unique! Keep up the good work:)

Gofobardo, I can not wait for you book to come out, I look forward to seeing it, your art work is very cool!

Best wishes for the holidays my friends

Jacqui

Silke Janas-Schloesser said...

Ohhhh she is great, I love and hate that fairytale !!! It allways makes me cry and you catched the spirit so well !!! Congrats on her !!!

Odddollz by Jacqui said...

Oh thank you Liesl, I made this for my Mom for Christmas, she use to read us this story at Christmas when we were small. I mailed it to her but it did not come in time for Christmas:( I think she may get it the day after. I hope she loves her.

HUGZ
Jacqui

Jodi Cain said...

What a lovely little doll! I like that she's barefoot and wearing a sweater...so cute!

Odddollz by Jacqui said...

Thanks Jodi:) If you read the story, she froze to death in the end:(

HUGZ
JAcqui