Gadis Korek Api

Udara sangat dingin dan hampir gelap pada malam terakhir tahun yang lama, dan salju turun dengan lebat. Dalam dingin dan kegelapan, seorang gadis kecil yang malang, dengan kepala terbuka dan kaki telanjang, berjalan menyusuri jalanan.

It was terribly cold and nearly dark on the last evening of the old year, and the snow was falling fast. In the cold and the darkness, a poor little girl, with bare head and naked feet, roamed through the streets.

Memang benar dia memakai sepasang sandal selop ketika meninggalkan rumah, tetapi sandal itu tidak banyak berguna.

It is true she had on a pair of slippers when she left home, but they were not of much use.

Sandal itu sangat besar, bahkan begitu besar karena dahulunya milik ibunya, dan makhluk kecil yang malang itu telah kehilangannya saat berlari menyeberangi jalan untuk menghindari dua kereta kuda yang melaju dengan kecepatan yang mengerikan.

They were very large, so large, indeed, that they had belonged to her mother, and the poor little creature had lost them in running across the street to avoid two carriages that were rolling along at a terrible rate.

Salah satu sandalnya tidak dapat dia temukan, dan seorang anak laki-laki merebut yang satunya lagi lalu melarikan diri bersamanya, berkata bahwa dia bisa menggunakannya sebagai buaian saat dia memiliki anak sendiri kelak.

One of the slippers she could not find, and a boy seized upon the other and ran away with it, saying that he could use it as a cradle, when he had children of his own.

Maka gadis kecil itu terus berjalan dengan kaki telanjangnya yang kecil, yang tampak sangat merah dan biru karena kedinginan. Di dalam celemek tua dia membawa sejumlah korek api, dan seikat korek api ada di tangannya.

So the little girl went on with her little naked feet, which were quite red and blue with the cold. In an old apron she carried a number of matches, and had a bundle of them in her hands.

Tak seorang pun membeli apa pun darinya sepanjang hari, dan tak seorang pun memberinya walau hanya satu sen. Menggigil karena kedinginan dan kelaparan, dia berjalan perlahan-lahan; anak kecil yang malang, dia tampak seperti gambaran kesengsaraan.

No one had bought anything of her the whole day, nor had any one given here even a penny. Shivering with cold and hunger, she crept along; poor little child, she looked the picture of misery.

Kepingan salju jatuh di atas rambut pirangnya yang panjang, yang terurai bergelombang di atas bahunya, tetapi dia sama sekali tidak mempedulikannya.

The snowflakes fell on her long, fair hair, which hung in curls on her shoulders, but she regarded them not.

Cahaya bersinar dari setiap jendela, dan ada aroma lezat angsa panggang, karena saat itu adalah malam tahun baru—ya, dia ingat itu.

Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savory smell of roast goose, for it was New-year’s eve—yes, she remembered that.

Di sebuah sudut, di antara dua rumah, yang salah satunya menjorok lebih jauh daripada yang lain, dia duduk merosot dan meringkukkan tubuhnya.

In a corner, between two houses, one of which projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together.

Dia telah menarik kaki kecilnya ke bawah tubuhnya, tetapi dia tidak dapat menahan rasa dingin; dan dia tidak berani pulang ke rumah, karena dia tidak menjual korek api satu pun, dan tidak dapat membawa pulang uang walau hanya satu sen.

She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of money.

Ayahnya pasti akan memukulnya; lagipula, di rumah hampir sama dinginnya seperti di sini, karena mereka hanya memiliki atap untuk melindungi mereka, tempat angin melolong melaluinya, meskipun celah-celah terbesar telah disumbat dengan jerami dan kain perca.

Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for they had only the roof to cover them, through which the wind howled, although the largest holes had been stopped up with straw and rags.

Kedua tangan kecilnya hampir membeku karena dingin. Ah! Mungkin sebatang korek api yang menyala bisa berguna, jika dia dapat mengambilnya dari ikatan itu dan menggoreskannya ke dinding, hanya untuk menghangatkan jari-jarinya. Dia menarik satu batang keluar—“kres!”

Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold. Ah! perhaps a burning match might be some good, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out-“scratch!”

betapa ia mendesis saat menyala! Korek api itu mengeluarkan cahaya hangat dan terang, seperti lilin kecil, saat dia menangkupkan tangannya di atasnya. Itu benar-benar cahaya yang luar biasa.

how it sputtered as it burnt! It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a wonderful light.

Tampak bagi gadis kecil itu seolah-olah dia sedang duduk di dekat tungku besi besar, dengan kaki kuningan mengilap dan hiasan kuningan. Betapa apinya berkobar! Dan terasa begitu hangat menyenangkan sehingga anak itu menjulurkan kakinya seakan-akan hendak menghangatkannya, ketika tiba-tiba!

It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with polished brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! and seemed so beautifully warm that the child stretched out her feet as if to warm them, when, lo!