“Now we are in the chimney，” said he; “and look， there is a beautiful star shining aboveit.” It was a real star shining down upon them as if it would show them the way. So theyclambered， and crept on， and a frightful steep place it was; but the chimney-sweep helpedher and supported her， till they got higher and higher. He showed her the best places onwhich to set her little china foot， so at last they reached the top of the chimney， and satthemselves down， for they were very tired， as may be supposed. The sky， with all its stars，was over their heads， and below were the roofs of the town. They could see for a very longdistance out into the wide world， and the poor little shepherdess leaned her head on herchimney-sweep's shoulder， and wept till she washed the gilt off her sash; the world was sodifferent to what she expected. “This is too much，” she said; “I cannot bear it， the world istoo large. Oh， I wish I were safe back on the table. again， under the looking glass; I shallnever be happy till I am safe back again. Now I have followed you out into the wide world， youwill take me back， if you love me.”
then the chimney-sweep tried to reason with her， and spoke of the old Chinaman， andof the Major-general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat's legs; but she sobbed sobitterly， and kissed her little chimney-sweep till he was obliged to do all she asked， foolish asit was. And so， with a GREat deal of trouble， they climbed down the chimney， and thencrept through the pipe and stove， which were certainly not very pleasant places. Then theystood in the dark fire-box， and listened behind the door， to hear what was going on in theroom. As it was all quiet， they peeped out. Alas! there lay the old Chinaman on the floor; hehad fallen down from the table as he attempted to run after them， and was broken into threepieces; his back had separated entirely， and his head had rolled into a corner of the room.The major-general stood in his old place， and appeared lost in thought.
“This is terrible，” said the little shepherdess. “My poor old grandfather is broken topieces， and it is our fault. I shall never live after this;” and she wrung her little hands.
“He can be riveted，” said the chimney-sweep; “he can be riveted. Do not be so hasty. Ifthey cement his back， and put a good rivet in it， he will be as good as new， and be able tosay as many disaGREeable things to us as ever.”
“Do you think so?” said she; and then they climbed up to the table， and stood in theirold places.
“As we have done no good，” said the chimney-sweep， “we might as well have remainedhere， instead of taking so much trouble.”
“I wish grandfather was riveted，” said the shepherdess. “Will it cost much， I wonder?”
And she had her wish. the family had the Chinaman's back mended， and a strong rivet putthrough his neck; he looked as good as new， but he could no longer nod his head.
“You have become proud since your fall broke you to pieces，” said Major-general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat's-legs. “You have no reason to give yourself such airs. Am Ito have her or not?”
the chimney-sweep and the little shepherdess looked piteously at the old Chinaman， forthey were afraid he might nod; but he was not able： besides， it was so tiresome to bealways telling strangers he had a rivet in the back of his neck.
And so the little china people remained together， and were glad of the grandfather'srivet， and continued to love each other till they were broken to pieces.
你曾经看到过一个老木碗柜没有?它老得有些发黑了。
它上面刻着许多蔓籐花纹和叶子。客厅里正立着这么一个碗柜。它是从曾祖母继承下来的;它从上到下都刻满了玫瑰和郁金香。它上面有许多奇奇怪怪的蔓籐花纹，在这些花纹中间露出一只小雄鹿的头，头上有许多花角。在碗柜的中央雕刻了一个人的全身像。他看起来的确有些好笑，他露出牙齿——你不能认为这就是笑。他生有公羊的腿，额上长出一些小角，而且留了一把长鬍鬚.房间里的孩子们总是把他叫做“公山羊腿——中将和少将——作战司令——中士”。这是一个很难念的名字，而得到这种头衔的人也并不多。不过把他雕刻出来倒也是一件不太轻松的工作。
他现在就立在那儿!他老是瞧着镜子下面的那张桌子，因为桌子上有一个可爱的瓷做的小牧羊女。她穿着一双镀了金的鞋子;她的长衣服用一朵红玫瑰紮起来，显得很入时。她还有一顶金帽子和一根木杖。她真是动人!
紧靠近她的身旁，立着一个小小的扫烟囱的人。他像炭一样黑，但是也是瓷做的。他的乾净和整齐赛得过任何人。他是一个“扫烟囱的人”——这只不过是一个假设而已。做瓷器的人也可能把他捏成一个王子。如果他们有这种心情的话!
他拿着梯子，站在那儿怪潇洒的。他的面孔有点儿发白，又有点儿发红，很像一个姑娘。这的确要算是一个缺点，因为他应该有点发黑才对。他站得离牧羊女非常近;他们两人是被安放在这样的一个地位上的。但是他们现在既然处在这个地位上，他们就订婚了。他们配得很好。两个人都很年轻，都是用同样的瓷做的，而且也是同样的脆弱。