&34;then you can be the 12th,&34; said the chinese &34;tonight, when that old cupboard begins to rattle, you will be married, just as well as i am a chinese!&34; so he nodded his head and went to sleep

but the little shepherdess looked at her favorite china chimney sweep and began to cry

&34;i beg you,&34; she said, &34;i beg you to take me out into the wide world&34; i can&39;t be happy here&34;

her lover forted her and taught her how to climb down the legs with her little foot on the carved corners and gilded leaves he also brought his ladder to help her soon they were on the ground but when they looked up at the old cupboard, they heard a great motion; all the eagles put their heads out, raised their horns, and dropped their necks &34;the leg of the goat -- lieutenant general and major general -- operational mander -- sergeant&34; roared into the air and shouted to the old chinese man opposite, saying:

&34;they&39;ve eloped now! they&39;ve eloped now!&34;

they were a little afraid, so they jumped into a drawer under the windowsill

there were three or four inplete decks of playing cards, and a little puppet theater -- at last, under the conditions that were possible, built in a decent way the play was going on, and all the ladies -- diamonds, clubs, hearts, and spades -- were sitting in the front row waving their tulip fans all the &34;jacks&34; stand behind them, indicating that they have a head above and below them, just like in regular playing cards the play is about two young people who can&39;t get married the little shepherdess began to cry because it was similar to her own life

&34;i can&39;t watch it,&34; she said &34;i must get out of this drawer!&34;

but when they reached the ground and looked at the table, the old chinaman was awake, and trembling all over - for his lower part was a lump

&34;the old chinese is ing!&34; the little shepherdess let out a scream her porcelain knees bent to the ground, for she was so frightened”

&34;i have an idea,&34; said the chimney sweep &34;shall we get into that big mixed vase at the foot of the wall we can lie in roses and lavender if he finds it, we&39;ll throw a handful of salt into his eyes&34;

&34;that won&39;t do any good,&34; she said &34;and i know that old chinese people have been engaged to mixed vases since they had such a relationship, there must be some kind of affection between them no, we have no choice now but to escape into the wide world&34;

&34;do you really have the courage to go out into the wide world with me&34; &39;asked the chimney sweep &34;have you ever thought how big the outside world is, that we can&39;t e back here once we go&34;

&34;i&39;ve thought about it&34; &39;she answered

the chimney sweep stared at her, and he said:

&34;my way is through the chimney do you really have the courage to climb into the stove and drill through the body and vent with me only then can we go into the chimney

when i get there, i&39;ll know what to do we can climb so high that they can never catch us there is a hole at the top that opens out into the wide world&34;

so he led her to the door of the fire

&34;it looks really dark inside!&34; &34;she said but still she went in after him, past the hearth and the vents -- it was dark inside

&34;now we&39;re in the chimney,&34; he said &34;look, look! how bright the beautiful star above shines!&34;

it was a real star in the sky it was shining at them as if to show them the way they crawl they feel their way it was a terrible road -- it hung so high, so high but he pulled her and led her uphe supported her and instructed her where it was safest to put down a pair of little porcelain feet so they climbed to the mouth of the chimney and sat down by it, for they were very tired, as they ought to be