Hans Christian Andersen

“ No wax candle can shine like those child-eyes! So the tallow candle was laid beneath the basket-lid and the boy went away with it.
"I wonder where I am going now! thought the candle. "I am on my way to poor people; perhaps I shall get a brass holder, while the wax-candle sits in silver and sees the most elegant people. How delightful it must be to shine before the grand folk. But it is my lot to be tallow, not wax!" And the candle came to the poor people, a widow with three children in a little low room right opposite the rich house. ”

“ It was quite a dinner, and every one got an apple in the bargain, and the smallest child of all said this little verse: "Thou God so good, my thanks to Thee; that thou has given food to me! Amen."
"Wasn't that nicely said, mother?" said the little one right afterward. "Do not be proud!" said the mother, "you should think about the good God who has fed you!" ”

“ I stay in the kitchen, but the kitchen is a good place too; the whole house gets its food from there."
"But there is something more important than food," said the wax candle. "Society! To see people shine and to shine one's self! There will be a ball here this evening. Now you'll see that I and all my family will be sent for at once!"
Scarcely had this been said when all the wax candles were sent for, but the tallow candle came along with them too. The lady of the house herself held it in her dainty hand and carried it into the kitchen ”