Jere Coldrens age 10, of Lancaster, PA  for his question:

Who was Hans Christian Andersen?

We all know the story about the misplaced swan's egg, It appeared in a nest of duck eggs, When it hatched, it was a misfit among its foster brothers and sisters. It was a big, gawky bird and very unlike the pretty ducklings, Others in the farmyard made it miserable and it ran away* It was unhappy all the time it was growing up. Then one day it became a swan azd settled down to live happily with other swans,.

This touching story was written by Hans Christian Andersen, Some people think his life was like that of the Ugly Duckling. Certainly he had his troubles growing up, But so does everybody„. As a child he was far too sensible to brood over what he could not have, And he never ran away in misery, Later he wrote many stories of young men who left home to seek their fortunes just as he himself did when he grew older.

Off the coast of Denmark there is a bleak little island called Funen. This is where Hans was born in 1805, He was born and lived his early years in the fishing village of Odense his father was a poor cobbler, his mother took in washing. The work bench beds and table were crowded into a one‑room house. And Hans remembered best of all the pretty cups and glasses, the bright pictures on the wall and the shelf of books.

He was a talk gawky lad and very shy at school. die avoided going to school for this reason, He studied books at home and loved stories. His father helped him to read. His grandmother told him the old Norse tales of elves and fairies, goblins and ogres. Young Hans wanted to be and actors a dancer and to write plays and novels. At 14 he bade goodbye to Odense and his family and lefts with seven dollars, to seek his fortune in Copenhagen,

The next three years were rough for the ambitious young man. He found he had no talent for acting or dancing, But his writing was good enough to be brought to the attention of the king, Hans was given money for his education and to develop his writing talent. School life was hard on Hans,, for he was older than his schoolmates. But a good education is necessary for anybody who wants to write. So Hans made the grade and wrote a novel. He also wrote about his travels,

Then he took a little time to write four tales for a young friend named Ida Thiele* One of the tales was about a real princess who slept on a pea, Another was called The Tinderbox, One was about two rascals called Big Claus and Little Claus. When those tales were published everyone knew where his talent lay, His novel and travel books are forgotten. He rates as one of the world's greatest writers of fairy tales.

Hans lived for 70 years, He wrote 156 of his fascinating tales, He used his wonderful imagination m d his memories to make the world of childhood come alive, He describes happy feelings through princesses and fairies grim feelings through ogres and giants. And, in his stories, the tin soldier, the pots,  the pans and the market basket can all talk.

Naturally, all the tales have a happy ending as all good fairy tales should. In 1975 celebrated the 100th anniversary of Hans death. But the tales he wrote will be as fresh and wonderful as ever.