卖火柴的小女孩

It was the day before Christmas. It was very cold. A poor little girl was walking along the street. Her clothes were ragged. She had only her mother's big slippers on her bare feet. " Matches! Matches! Does anyone want to buy matches?” she cried. But no one noticed her. People walked past her in a hurry. They were busy buying Christmas gifts.

Soon it was noon. But the little girl had not sold any matches. At this moment, she was beside the window of a beautiful house. She looked into the window. There was a very beautiful Christmas tree. Two kids were playing by the tree with candies. The candy papers were so beautiful. ” How happy they are! ” she said to herself. Then she thought of her sick mother. Tears came to her eyes.

She kept on walking and calling, ''Matches! Matches! Sir, Madam, would you please buy some matches?” Still, nobody noticed her. Suddenly, a carriage ran by fast. The little girl was scared. She ran away in a hurry.

The little girl finally got away from the carriage. But she lost her slippers. One was gone. The other was gotten by a boy. He was kicking it around. The little girl wanted to ask for it back. But the boy kicked it far away. The poor little girl was barefoot now. She walked on in the snow. Her feet were red and swollen with the cold.

It was getting darker. People went home. The little girl walked alone in the street. She wanted to go home too, but she hadn't sold any matches. Besides, her house was no warmer than the outside.

The snow was heavier. It became colder and colder. The little girl hadn't had anything for a whole day. Now she was very hungry, and she felt very tired. She sat down in a street corner. She rubbed her feet with her hands. But soon her hands were numb too. " It's so cold. It would be so good if I could light a match. It'll warm up my hands, " she thought.