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！’