The Girl Who Sold Matches
Once upon a time, in a small, quiet village nestled at the foot of the mountains, there lived a poor little girl named Mei. Mei’s family had little to eat, and her parents were sick and unable to work. Every day, Mei would go into the village, carrying a small basket of matches to sell to the villagers. She would walk the busy streets, calling out, “Matches! Matches for sale!” but few people paid attention to her.
One winter evening, as the cold winds blew fiercely and snowflakes covered the ground, Mei walked through the village, her feet cold and her clothes threadbare. She had not sold a single match that day, and her stomach growled with hunger. Her hands were numb from the cold, and she feared she would have to return home empty-handed.
Shivering and feeling hopeless, Mei sat down by the side of the road, trying to warm her hands by rubbing them together. As the sky darkened, she struck one of her matches to see if it would give her any warmth. The match flared brightly, and to her surprise, the flame seemed to take her to a magical place. She saw a beautiful scene of a warm, glowing room, with a fireplace crackling and a table full of delicious food. Mei felt warmth in her heart and smiled for a moment, but the match quickly burned out, and she was left in the cold once again.
She struck another match, hoping for the same warmth. This time, she saw a beautiful garden filled with flowers in bloom, despite the winter cold. A gentle breeze blew, and the air smelled of sweet blossoms. Mei felt joy in her heart, but again, the match burned out, and she was left alone.
Desperate and cold, Mei lit another match. This time, she saw her parents, smiling and healthy, sitting together in their warm home, calling her to join them. She felt safe and loved, but when the match went out, she was back in the cold, dark night.
With her last match, Mei struck it carefully, and to her surprise, it burned longer than the others. In its light, Mei saw the most beautiful thing of all—a kind and gentle woman, dressed in flowing robes, with a warm smile. The woman extended her hand to Mei and whispered, “Come with me, little one. I will take you to a place where you will never feel cold again.”
The little girl felt no more fear or sadness. As the match flickered out, Mei was embraced by the warm light, and she was never cold again.
The next morning, the villagers found Mei’s empty basket of matches, but no sign of the little girl. They knew she had passed on, but her spirit lived on in their hearts. The villagers, touched by her story, began to care for those in need, sharing warmth and kindness with others.
