It kindled and blazed, and wherever its light fell the wall became transparent as a veil - the little girl could see into the room within.
She saw the table spread with a snow - white damask cloth, whereon were ranged shining china dishes; the roast goose, stuffed with apples and dried plums, stood at one end, smoking hot, and - which was pleasantest of all to see - the goose, with knife and fork still in her breast, jumped down from the dish, and waddled along the floor right up to the poor child.
Then the match went out, and only the thick, hard wall was beside her.
She kindled a third match.
Again up shot the flame.
And now she was sitting under a most beautiful Christmas tree, far larger, and far more prettily decked out, than the one she had seen last Christmas Eve through the glass doors of the rich merchant's house.
Hundreds of wax tapers lighted up the green branches, and tiny painted figures, such as she had seen in the shop windows, looked down from the tree upon her.
The child stretched out her hands towards them in delight, and in that moment the light of the match was quenched.
Still, however, the Christmas candles burned higher and higher - she beheld them beaming like stars in heaven.
One of them fell, the lights streaming behind it like a long, fiery tail.