Outsideinthebrookgrewmanywater-lilies，withbroadgreenleaves，whichlookedasiftheywereswimmingaboutonthewater。
Theleaffarthestawaywasthelargest，andtothistheoldtoadswamwithThumbelinainherwalnut-shell。
ThetinyThumbelinawokeupveryearlyinthemorning，andwhenshesawwhereshewasshebegantocrybitterly；foroneverysideofthegreatgreenleafwaswater，andshecouldnotgettotheland。
Theoldtoadwasdownunderthemarsh，decoratingherroomwithrushesandyellowmarigoldleaves，tomakeitverygrandforhernewdaughter-in-law；thensheswamoutwithheruglysontotheleafwhereThumbelinalay。ShewantedtofetchtheprettycradletoputitintoherroombeforeThumbelinaherselfcamethere。
Theoldtoadbowedlowinthewaterbeforeher，andsaid:’Hereismyson；youshallmarryhim，andliveingreatmagnificencedownunderthemarsh。’
’Croak，croak，croak！’wasallthatthesoncouldsay。Thentheytooktheneatlittlecradleandswamawaywithit；butThumbelinasataloneonthegreatgreenleafandwept，forshedidnotwanttolivewiththeclammytoad，ormarryheruglyson。Thelittlefishesswimmingaboutunderthewaterhadseenthetoadquiteplainly，andheardwhatshehadsaid；sotheyputuptheirheadstoseethelittlegirl。Whentheysawher，theythoughthersoprettythattheywereverysorrysheshouldgodownwiththeuglytoadtolive。No；thatmustnothappen。Theyassembledinthewaterroundthegreenstalkwhichsupportedtheleafonwhichshewassitting，andnibbledthestemintwo。Awayfloatedtheleafdownthestream，bearingThumbelinafarbeyondthereachofthetoad。
Onshesailedpastseveraltowns，andthelittlebirdssittinginthebushessawher，andsang，’Whataprettylittlegirl！’Theleaffloatedfartherandfartheraway；thusThumbelinalefthernativeland。
Abeautifullittlewhitebutterflyflutteredaboveher，andatlastsettledontheleaf。Thumbelinapleasedhim，andshe，too，wasdelighted，fornowthetoadscouldnotreachher，anditwassobeautifulwhereshewastravelling；thesunshoneonthewaterandmadeitsparklelikethebrightestsilver。Shetookoffhersash，andtiedoneendroundthebutterfly；theotherendshefastenedtotheleaf，sothatnowitglidedalongwithherfasterthanever。
Agreatcockchafercameflyingpast；hecaughtsightofThumbelina，andinamomenthadputhisarmsroundherslenderwaist，andhadflownoffwithhertoatree。Thegreenleaffloatedawaydownthestream，andthebutterflywithit，forhewasfastenedtotheleafandcouldnotgetloosefromit。Oh，dear！howterrifiedpoorlittleThumbelinawaswhenthecockchaferflewoffwithhertothetree！Butshewasespeciallydistressedonthebeautifulwhitebutterfly’saccount，asshehadtiedhimfast，sothatifhecouldnotgetawayhemuststarvetodeath。Butthecockchaferdidnottroublehimselfaboutthat；hesatdownwithheronalargegreenleaf，gaveherthehoneyoutoftheflowerstoeat，andtoldherthatshewasverypretty，althoughshewasn’tintheleastlikeacockchafer。Lateron，alltheothercockchaferswholivedinthesametreecametopaycalls；theyexaminedThumbelinaclosely，andremarked，’Why，shehasonlytwolegs！Howverymiserable！’
’Shehasnofeelers！’criedanother。
’Howuglysheis！’saidalltheladychafers——andyetThumbelinawasreallyverypretty。
Thecockchaferwhohadstolenherknewthisverywell；butwhenheheardalltheladiessayingshewasugly，hebegantothinksotoo，andwouldnotkeepher；shemightgowhereversheliked。Soheflewdownfromthetreewithherandputheronadaisy。
Thereshesatandwept，becauseshewassouglythatthecockchaferwouldhavenothingtodowithher；andyetshewasthemostbeautifulcreatureimaginable，sosoftanddelicate，liketheloveliestrose-leaf。
ThewholesummerpoorlittleThumbelinalivedaloneinthegreatwood。Sheplaitedabedforherselfofbladesofgrass，andhungitupunderaclover-leaf，sothatshewasprotectedfromtherain；shegatheredhoneyfromtheflowersforfood，anddrankthedewontheleaveseverymorning。Thusthesummerandautumnpassed，butthencamewinter——thelong，coldwinter。Allthebirdswhohadsungsosweetlyaboutherhadflownaway；thetreesshedtheirleaves，theflowersdied；thegreatclover-leafunderwhichshehadlivedcurledup，andnothingremainedofitbutthewitheredstalk。Shewasterriblycold，forherclotheswereragged，andsheherselfwassosmallandthin。PoorlittleThumbelina！shewouldsurelybefrozentodeath。Itbegantosnow，andeverysnow-flakethatfellonherwastoherasawholeshovelfulthrownononeofus，forwearesobig，andshewasonlyaninchhigh。Shewraptherselfroundinadeadleaf，butitwastorninthemiddleandgavehernowarmth；shewastremblingwithcold。
Justoutsidethewoodwhereshewasnowlivinglayagreatcorn-field。Butthecornhadbeengonealongtime；onlythedry，barestubblewasleftstandinginthefrozenground。Thismadeaforestforhertowanderaboutin。Allatonceshecameacrossthedoorofafield-mouse，whohadalittleholeunderacorn-stalk。Therethemouselivedwarmandsnug，withastore-roomfullofcorn，asplendidkitchenanddining-room。
PoorlittleThumbelinawentuptothedoorandbeggedforalittlepieceofbarley，forshehadnothadanythingtoeatforthelasttwodays。
’Poorlittlecreature！’saidthefield-mouse，forshewasakind-
heartedoldthingatthebottom。’Comeintomywarmroomandhavesomedinnerwithme。’
AsThumbelinapleasedher，shesaid:’AsfarasIamconcernedyoumayspendthewinterwithme；butyoumustkeepmyroomcleanandtidy，andtellmestories，forIlikethatverymuch。’
AndThumbelinadidallthatthekindoldfield-mouseasked，anddiditremarkablywelltoo。
’NowIamexpectingavisitor，’saidthefield-mouse；’myneighbourcomestocallonmeonceaweek。HeisinbettercircumstancesthanIam，hasgreat，bigrooms，andwearsafineblack-velvetcoat。Ifyoucouldonlymarryhim，youwouldbewellprovidedfor。Butheisblind。Youmusttellhimalltheprettieststoriesyouknow。’
ButThumbelinadidnottroubleherheadabouthim，forhewasonlyamole。Hecameandpaidthemavisitinhisblack-velvetcoat。
’Heissorichandsoaccomplished，’thefield-mousetoldher。
’Hishouseistwentytimeslargerthanmine；hepossessesgreatknowledge，buthecannotbearthesunandthebeautifulflowers，andspeaksslightinglyofthem，forhehasneverseenthem。’
Thumbelinahadtosingtohim，soshesang’Lady-bird，lady-
bird，flyawayhome！’andothersongssoprettilythatthemolefellinlovewithher；buthedidnotsayanything，hewasaverycautiousman。Ashorttimebeforehehaddugalongpassagethroughthegroundfromhisownhousetothatofhisneighbour；
inthishegavethefield-mouseandThumbelinapermissiontowalkasoftenastheyliked。Buthebeggedthemnottobeafraidofthedeadbirdthatlayinthepassage:itwasarealbirdwithbeakandfeathers，andmusthavediedalittletimeago，andnowlaidburiedjustwherehehadmadehistunnel。Themoletookapieceofrottenwoodinhismouth，forthatglowslikefireinthedark，andwentinfront，lightingthemthroughthelongdarkpassage。Whentheycametotheplacewherethedeadbirdlay，themoleputhisbroadnoseagainsttheceilingandpushedaholethrough，sothatthedaylightcouldshinedown。Inthemiddleofthepathlayadeadswallow，hisprettywingspressedclosetohissides，hisclawsandheaddrawnunderhisfeathers；thepoorbirdhadevidentlydiedofcold。Thumbelinawasverysorry，forshewasveryfondofalllittlebirds；theyhadsungandtwitteredsobeautifullytoherallthroughthesummer。Butthemolekickedhimwithhisbandylegsandsaid:
’Nowhecan’tsinganymore！Itmustbeverymiserabletobealittlebird！I’mthankfulthatnoneofmylittlechildrenare；
birdsalwaysstarveinwinter。’
’Yes，youspeaklikeasensibleman，’saidthefield-mouse。
’Whathasabird，inspiteofallhissinging，inthewinter-time？Hemuststarveandfreeze，andthatmustbeverypleasantforhim，Imustsay！’
Thumbelinadidnotsayanything；butwhentheothertwohadpassedonshebentdowntothebird，brushedasidethefeathersfromhishead，andkissedhisclosedeyesgently。’Perhapsitwashethatsangtomesoprettilyinthesummer，’shethought。
’Howmuchpleasurehedidgiveme，dearlittlebird！’
Themolecloseduptheholeagainwhichletinthelight，andthenescortedtheladieshome。ButThumbelinacouldnotsleepthatnight；soshegotoutofbed，andplaitedagreatbigblanketofstraw，andcarrieditoff，andspreaditoverthedeadbird，andpileduponitthistle-downassoftascotton-wool，whichshehadfoundinthefield-mouse’sroom，sothatthepoorlittlethingshouldliewarmlyburied。
’Farewell，prettylittlebird！’shesaid。’Farewell，andthankyouforyourbeautifulsongsinthesummer，whenthetreesweregreen，andthesunshonedownwarmlyonus！’Thenshelaidherheadagainstthebird’sheart。Butthebirdwasnotdead:hehadbeenfrozen，butnowthatshehadwarmedhim，hewascomingtolifeagain。
Inautumntheswallowsflyawaytoforeignlands；buttherearesomewhoarelateinstarting，andthentheygetsocoldthattheydropdownasifdead，andthesnowcomesandcoversthemover。
Thumbelinatrembled，shewassofrightened；forthebirdwasverylargeincomparisonwithherself——onlyaninchhigh。Butshetookcourage，piledupthedownmorecloselyoverthepoorswallow，fetchedherowncoverlidandlaiditoverhishead。
Nextnightshecreptoutagaintohim。Therehewasalive，butveryweak；hecouldonlyopenhiseyesforamomentandlookatThumbelina，whowasstandinginfrontofhimwithapieceofrottenwoodinherhand，forshehadnootherlantern。
’Thankyou，prettylittlechild！’saidtheswallowtoher。’Iamsobeautifullywarm！SoonIshallregainmystrength，andthenI
shallbeabletoflyoutagainintothewarmsunshine。’
’Oh！’shesaid，’itisverycoldoutside；itissnowingandfreezing！stayinyourwarmbed；Iwilltakecareofyou！’