Great-Grandfather was so lovable， wise and good. All of us looked up to Great-Grandfather. As far back as I can remember， he was really called “Father's Father，” and “Mother's Father” as well， but when my Brother Frederick's little son came along he was promoted， and got the title of “Great-Grandfather.” He could not expect to go any higher than that.

He was very fond of us all， but he did not appear to be fond of our times. “Old times were the good times，” he used to say. “Quiet and genuine they were. In these days there's too much hurrying and turning everything upside down. The young folk lay down the law， and even speak about the Kings as if they are their equals. Any ne'er-do-well can sop¹ a rag in dirty water and wring² it out over the head of an honorable man.”

Great-Grandfather would get angry and red in the face when he talked of such things， but soon he would smile his kindly， sympathetic smile， and say， “Oh， well！ I may be a bit wrong. I belong to the old days， and I can't quite get a foothold in the new. May God guide us and show us the right way to go.”

When Great-Grandfather got started on the old days， it seemed to me as if they came back. I would imagine myself riding along in a gilded⁴ coach， with footmen in fine livery. I saw the guilds⁵ move their signs and march in procession with their banners aloft， preceded by music. And I attended the merry Christmas festivities， where people in fancy dress played games of forfeit⁶.

True enough， in the old days dreadfully cruel and horrible things used to be done. There was torture， rack and wheel， and bloodshed， but even these horrible things had an excitement about them that fascinated me. But I also thought of many pleasant things. I used to imagine how things were when the Danish nobility freed the peasants， and when the Danish Crown Prince abolished slave trading. It was marvelous to hear Great-Grandfather talk of all these things， and to hear him tell of the days of his youth. But I think the times even earlier than that were the very best times of all - so mighty⁷ and glorious.

“They were barbarous times，” Brother Frederick said. “Thank heaven we are well rid of them.” He used to say this right out to Great-Grandfather. This was most improper， I know， but just the same I always had great respect for Frederick. He was my oldest brother， and he used to say he was old enough to be my father - but then he was always saying the oddest things. He had graduated with the highest honors， and was so quick and clever in his work at Father's office that Father meant to make him a partner before long. Of us all， he was the one with whom Great-Grandfather talked most， but they always began to argue， for they did not get along well together. They did not understand each other， those two， and the family said they never would， but even as young as I was， I soon felt that they were indispensable to each other. Great-Grandfather would listen with the brightest look in his eyes while Frederick spoke⁹ of or read aloud about scientific progress， and new discoveries in the laws of nature， and about all the other marvels¹⁰ of our times.

“The human race gets cleverer， but it doesn't get better，” Great-Grandfather would say. “People invent the most terrible and harmful weapons with which to kill and injure each other.”

“Then the war will be over that much sooner，” Frederick would tell him. “No need now for us to wait seven years for the blessings¹² of peace. The world is full-blooded， and it needs to be bled now and then. That is a necessity.”

One day Frederick told him of something that actually happened in a small country and in our own times. The mayor's clock - the large one on the town hall - kept time for the whole town and for everyone who lived there. The clock did not run very well， but that didn't matter nor did it keep anyone from looking to it for the time. But by and by railroads were built in that country， and in all countries railroads run by the clock. One must therefore be sure of the time， and know it exactly， or there will be collisions. At the railroad station they had a clock that was absolutely reliable， and exactly in accord with the sun. But as the mayor's was not， everyone went by the railroad clock.

I laughed， and thought the story a funny one， but Great-Grandfather did not laugh. He became very serious.

“There is a profound meaning in what you have told me，” he declared， “and I understood the thought that prompted you to tell me the story. There's a moral in the clockwork. It reminds me of another clock - my parents' simple， old-fashioned Bornholm clock， with lead weights. It measured out the time of their lives and of my childhood. Perhaps it didn't run any too well， but it ran just the same. We would look at the hour hand and believe in it， with never a thought about the works inside. In those days the machinery¹³ of government was like that old clock. Everybody believed in it and only looked at the hour hand. Now government machinery is like a clock in a glass case， so that one can look directly into the works and see the wheels turning and whizzing around. Sometimes we become quite frightened over this spring or that wheel， and then I wonder how it is possible for all these complicated parts to tell the right time. I have lost my childish belief in the rightness of the old clock. That is the weakness of this age.”

Great-Grandfather would talk on until he became quite angry. He and Frederick could not agree， yet they could not bear to be separated - “just like old times and new.” Both of them felt this - and so did our whole family - when Frederick was to set out on his journey to far-away America. It was on business for the Company， so the journey had to be made. To Great-Grandfather， it was a sad parting， and it seemed a long， long journey - all the way across a great ocean， and to the other side of the globe.

“You shall get a letter from me every fortnight，” Frederick promised. “And faster than any letter can go， you shall hear from me by telegraph. The days will be like hours， and the hours like minutes.”

By telegraph we received Frederick's greeting to us from England， just as he boarded the steamship¹⁴. Sooner than any letter could reach us， even though the swift sailing clouds had been our postman， came greetings from America， where Frederick had landed only a few hours before.

“What a glorious and divine inspiration has been granted our age，” said Great-Grandfather. “It is a true blessing¹¹ to the human race.”

“And it was in our country，” I said， “that the natural principle underlying¹⁵ the telegraph was first understood and stated. Frederick told me so.”

“Yes，” Great-Grandfather said， and he kissed me. “Yes， and I once looked into the kindly³ eyes that were the first to see and understand this marvelous law of nature - his were the eyes of a child， like yours - and I have shaken his hand.” Then he kissed me again.

More than a month had gone by， when a letter came from Frederick with the news that he was engaged to a beautiful and lovable young lady. He was sure that everyone in our family would be delighted with her， and he sent us her photograph. We looked at it first with our bare eyes， and then with a magnifying glass， for the advantage of photographs is not only that they stand close inspection¹⁶ through the strongest glass， but that then you see the full likeness¹⁷ even better. No painter has ever been able to do that， even in the greatest of the ages past.

“If only this discovery had been made earlier， then we could have seen the world's greatest and most illustrious men， face to face. How gentle and good this young girl looks，” Great-Grandfather said， and stared through the glass.

“Now I know her face， and I shall recognize her the moment she comes in the door.”

But that very nearly failed to happen. Fortunately， at home we did not hear of the danger until it had passed.

After a safe and pleasant trip， the young couple reached England. From there， they were to come by steamship to Copenhagen. When they came in sight of the Danish coast- the white sand dunes¹⁸ along the western shore of Jutland - a heavy sea arose and dashed the ship against the shore. The enormous waves threatened to break the grounded ship in pieces.

No lifeboat could reach them. Night fell， but out of the darkness burst a brightly flashing rocket from the shore. It shot far out over the grounded ship， and brought a line to those on board. Once this connection between ship and shore was made fast， a rescue buoy¹⁹ was carefully drawn²⁰ through the rough， tumultuous sea， to the shore. In it was a lovely young woman， safe and sound， and marvelously happy when she and her young husband again stood together on the shore. Every soul on board was saved before the break of day.

Here in Copenhagen we were sound asleep， dreaming neither of grief nor of danger. When we were gathered at the breakfast table， we heard a rumor²¹ that an English steamship had been wrecked²² on the west coast. We grew heartsick with anxiety， but within an hour we received a telegram from those who were dear to us. Frederick and his young bride were saved - they would soon be with us.

Everyone cried， and I cried too. Great-Grandfather cried and clasped his hands. I am sure he gave thanks for the age in which we live， for that very day he gave two hundred dollars toward raising a monument to Hans Christian²³ Oersted. When Frederick came home with his bride， and heard of it， he said， “That was right， Great-Grandfather. Now let me read to you what Oersted wrote， a great many years ago， about the old times and the new.”

曾祖父十分随和、聪明和善良，我们都很尊敬他。本来，就我能回忆起来的，他是祖父或叫外公。但是自从我哥哥腓德烈的小儿子诞生到我们这个家庭以后，他便升格为曾祖父了。他在世时没有能够再往上升，他很喜欢我们大家，可是他似乎不很喜欢我们的时代。“旧时代是最好的时代！”他说道。“那时很安稳很牢靠！而现在，干甚么都拚命地奔波，甚么事都颠三倒四。年轻人一说话就对国王评头论足，就好像国王和他是平辈。街上随便谁都可以把烂布浸上臭水，再把水拧到有身份的人的头上。”

讲这些话的时候，曾祖父总是脸红脖子粗的。但没过多久，他那和蔼的笑容又露出来了，於是他加上几句：“嗯，是啊！也许是我错了！我站在旧时代，在新时代里怎么也站不稳脚根。愿上帝指引我！”

曾祖父讲起旧时代的时候，旧时代好像又回到我身边来了。我幻想我坐在仆人跟从的金马车里，看到各个同业公会的人抬着自己行会的招牌，吹吹打打，手持着彩旗在街上走着。我化了妆参加欢庆圣诞节的有趣晚会，玩罚物游戏。大家知道，那个时代也有可怕残酷的事，棒子、轮子上血肉横飞。可是残酷的事总有一种诱人、令人头脑清醒的东西。我还感受到了许多美好的事，想到丹麦贵族给予农民自由1，想到丹麦王储废除买卖奴隶2的事情。

听曾祖父讲他年轻时候的这些事很令人愉快。然而那个时代以前的时代才是最美好的时代，十分昌盛强大。“那个时代很野蛮！”哥哥腓德烈说道。“谢天谢地我们已经脱离了那个时代！”他直截了当地对曾祖父说。这虽然不太成体统，可是我还是很尊敬腓德烈的。他是我最大的哥哥，他说，他满可以做我的父亲，他是很喜欢开玩笑的。他高中毕业的时候得分最高，他在父亲的办公室里也表现得很能干，不久就可以参加父亲的生意了。曾祖父最喜欢找他来聊天，可是他们总是争辩不休。他们两人互不瞭解，也不可能瞭解，全家人都这么说。不过虽然我年纪很小，我仍然很快就感觉到，他们两个人谁也离不开谁。

曾祖父睁大炯炯有神的眼睛听腓德烈讲或读关於科学上取得进步的事；关於大自然威力的新发现；关於我们时代的一切奇异的事情。“人类变得更加聪明了，可是却没有变得更好！”曾祖父会这样说，“他们发明了最可怕的武器互相残杀。”“这样战争结束得更快了！”腓德烈说道。“人们不用再等七年才能重享和平幸福3！世界太冲动了，不时总得放掉点血，这是必要的！”

一天腓德烈对他讲了发生在我们时代一个小城市里的真人真事。市长的钟——市政厅上面的那只大钟，为城市和市民报时。钟走得不那么准，不过全市都按它报的时办事。这时火车来到了这个国家。火车是和各国都相连的，所以人们必须知道准确的时间，否则便会撞车。火车站有一个依照阳光定时的钟，走得很准。但市长却没有，现在全城的人都按照火车站的钟办事。

我笑了起来，觉得这是一个很有趣的故事。可是曾祖父不笑，他变得严肃起来。“你刚才讲的这个故事包含着许多道理！”他说道。“我也懂得你对我讲的意思，你的钟很有教益。听了以后，令我想起了我的父母亲的那只挂铅锤的、简朴的老波尔霍尔姆钟；它是他们的、也是我童年时代的计时器。钟走得可能不太准，但是它在走。我们看着指针，我们相信它，而不去想钟里面的齿轮。当时的国家机器也是这样的，大夥儿对它有安全感，相信它的指针。现在的国家机器已经成了一只玻璃钟，人们可以看到里面的机器，看见轮子在转动，听到它丝丝在响，大夥儿很担心它的发条和齿轮！我在想，它是怎么敲响报时的，我失去了童年时代的信心。这便是现在这个时代的弱点。”曾祖父讲到这里很生气。他和腓德烈谈不到一起。但是他们两个又分不开，“就像旧时代和新时代一样！”——在后来腓德烈要出远门，要去美国的时候，他们两人和全家都感觉到了这一点。那是为了家事必须作的一次远行，却是一次令曾祖父感到痛苦的离别，这次路途又那么远，要越过大洋到世界的另一边去。“每十四天你就会收到我的一封信！”腓德烈说道，“甚至比信更快，你会通过电报得到我的消息。日缩短为时，时缩短为分了！”

腓德烈在英国上船的时候，就通过电报传递了他的问候，比一封信还要快，即便让飞云作邮差也不至如此快。他在美国一上岸，又打来一个电报问候，他到美国只不过是接到电报前几个小时的事。“这真是上帝的旨意，恩赐了我们的时代！”曾祖父说道。“赐给人类的幸福！”“这种自然的威力是首先在我们国家被发现，被披露的4，腓德烈曾告诉过我。”“是啊，”曾祖父说道，吻了我一下。“是啊，我曾注意过那双首先发现、瞭解这种自然力的温柔眼睛。那是一双孩子气的眼睛，就和你的一样！我还握过他的手呢。”他又吻了我一下。

过了一个多月，腓德烈在一封信里说，他已经和一个年轻美丽的姑娘订了婚。他保证全家都会喜欢这个姑娘的。她的照片也被寄来了，大家先用眼睛看，后用放大镜瞧。因为那张照片的妙处经得起用最精确的放大镜瞧。是啊，用最精确的放大镜越看越像真人。这是任何画家、即使是旧时代最伟大的画家也做不到的。“要是当年有这样的发明就好了！”曾祖父说道，“那么我们便可以面对面地看世界上那些为人造福的伟人了！——这个姑娘的模样多么温柔，多么美丽啊！”他说道，透过放大镜仔细地瞧着。“她一走进家门，我就认得出她来的！”

但是，这样的事差一点儿没有出现。幸运的是，危险出现时，我们一点儿都不知道。

这对新婚夫妇欢喜、安康地到了英国，他们要从那里乘汽轮来哥本哈根。他们看到了丹麦的海岸，看到了西日德兰那白色的沙岗。这时刮起了风暴，他们的船在一个海底沙堆上搁了浅。海浪汹涌，就要把船击碎；甚么救援船都不起作用。黑夜降临了，在一片黑暗中一枚明亮的救生箭从岸上射向搁浅的船，它把救生绳索带到船上，於是船上的人和岸上的人便取得了联系。没有多久，那位美丽年轻，容光焕发的人坐在救生篮里，经过波浪翻滚的海面被拖上岸来。她年轻的丈夫没过多久也到达陆地，站在她的身旁，她感到无限欢乐和幸福。船上所有的人都得救了，这时天还没有亮。

那时我们在哥本哈根睡得十分香甜，没有想到过悲伤，也没有想过危险。当我们聚在一起喝早餐咖啡的时候，传来了谣言，一份电报带来一艘英国汽轮在西海岸沉没的消息。我们心里害怕极了。但是就在同一个时间里那些遇救的人也发来了电报，归途中的亲爱的腓德烈和他年轻的妻子，很快就要和我们团聚了。

大家都哭了；我也跟着哭，曾祖父也哭了。他合起了双手——我可以肯定——他在颂扬新的时代。

那天曾祖父为修建汉斯·克里斯钦·奥斯特纪念碑5捐了二百块银币。

腓德烈带着他的年轻妻子回到家里，当他听到这些事情的时候，他说道：“很对，祖父！现在我还要给你念一念奥斯特多年以前就写过的关於旧时代和我们的时代的话！”“他的意见和你的意见是一样的吗？”曾祖父说道。“是的，你不用怀疑！”腓德烈说道。“你也在内，你为修建他的纪念碑捐了钱！”

1腓德烈六世年轻时，因其父克里斯钦七世患精神病他便以王储身份摄政。他於1788年宣佈废除农奴制。

2腓德烈六世还是王储时曾於1792年3月16日宣佈禁止向丹麦运进黑奴。

3“人们不用再等七年才能重享和平幸福”，系指1756-1763年英国、普鲁士和汉诺威为一方，法国、奥地利、俄国、萨克森、瑞典和西班牙为另一方，在欧洲、美洲、印度和海上的七年战争。

4“这种自然威力……被发现被披露”，系指奥斯特於1820年从有电的线圈上发现磁场一事。

5为修建奥斯特的纪念碑而进行的筹备募捐活动进行了20年。奥斯特是安徒生的好友，也是安徒生很尊重的科学家。他对安徒生相信科学有很大影响。安徒生在世时，曾积极参加建纪念碑的筹备工作。奥斯特的纪念碑（上有铜像）於1876年9月25日落成时，安徒生已经去世了。