PERFORMANCE TASK NO.

2
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The Angel
by Hans Christian Abdersen

“Whenever a good child dies, an angel of God comes down from heaven, takes the dead child in his arms,
and flies with him over all the places the child had loved during his life. Then he gathers a handful flowers,
which he carries up to the Almighty that they bloom more brightly in heaven than they do on earth. And God
presses the flowers to His heart, but He kisses the flower that pleases Him best, and it receives a voice, and
is able to join the song of the chorus of bliss.”

The flower grew beautifully, rose-bush, but some wicked hand had broken the stem. The dead child
said, “That was so pitiful! Let us take it to heaven in God’s garden so that it will grow there.” The angel took up
the rose-bush; then he kissed the child, and the little one half opened eyes. The angel picked also some
beautiful flowers, as well as a few humble buttercups and heart’s-ease. "Now we have more flowers," said the
child; the angel only nodded and he did not fly upward to heaven.

It was quite still in the middle of night in this great town. They remained still and the angel came over a
small, narrow street. There are dirty plates, pieces of plaster, rags, old hats, and other things that is not good
to see. In all this confusion, the angel pointed to the pieces of a broken flower-pot. The earth had been kept
from falling flower-pot and to a lump of earth which had fallen out of it. The earth had been kept from falling to
pieces by the roots of a withered field-flower, which had been thrown by the rubbish.

The angel said, “We will take this with us, I will tell you why as we fly.” And as they flew the angel
started to tell a story.

"Down in that narrow alley, in a low cellar, lived a poor sick boy; he had been troubled from his
childhood, and even in his best days he could just manage walk up and down the room on crutches once or
twice, but no more. Some days in summer, the sunbeams would lie on the floor of the cellar for about half an
hour. In this spot the poor sick boy would sit and warming himself in the sunshine. Then he would say he had
been out, they knew nothing of the green forest in its spring verdure, till a neighbor’s son brought him a green
bough from a beech-tree. This he would place over his head, and fancy that he was in the beech-wood while
sun shone, and birds carolled gayly. One day the neighbor’s boy brought him some field-flowers, and among
them was one to which the root still adhered. This he carefully planted by a fortunate hand, for it grew, put
forth fresh shoots, and blossomed every year. It became a splendid flower-garden to the sick boy, and his
little treasure upon earth. He watered it, and cherished it, and took care of it. It should have the benefit of
every sunbeam that found its way into the cellar, from the earliest morning ray to the evening sunset. The
flower entwined itself even in his dreams, for him it bloomed, for him it spread its perfume. And it gladdened
his eyes and to the flower he turned, when the Lord called him. He has been one year with God. The flower
has stood in the window, withered and forgotten. Even this flower, withered and faded as it is, it gave more
real joy than the most beautiful flower in the Queen’s garden,”

"But why do you know this?" he asked. "I knew it, because I ‘am the sick little boy and I know my own
flower very well," said the Angel.

Then the child opened his eyes and looked into the glorious happy face of the angel, and at the same
moment they found themselves in God's Heaven where all is happiness and joy. The Almighty pressed the
child to His chest, and he received white wings, so they can flew together with the angels, hand in hand. After
that, God pressed all the flowers to His heart, but He kissed the poor withered flower. All were supremely
happy and they all graciously sang, the God blessed child and the withered field flower that had lain so long in
the rubbish heap in the narrow, dark alley.

Activity 1
Answer the following questions and name the characters in the given story.

__________________________ 1. Whenever a good child dies, who comes down from heaven?

__________________________ 2. Who sends an angel to takes the dead child?

__________________________ 3. One spring day, who brought some field flowers to the little boy?

__________________________ 4. In the said story of the angel, who is the poor sick little boy that had

been bedridden since his childhood?

_________________________ 5. Who takes the angel by his arms and flies with him all over the place?

Activity 2
Identify the setting of the story. Match Column A to Column B. Choose the letter of the correct
answer.
COLUMN A COLUMN B
1. Where the angel of God does come a. God’s Heaven
down from?
2. In this place, there was everlasting joy b. Beautiful Garden
and happiness.
3. After they passed over the places where c. Queen’s Garden.
the child used to play, they came to?
4. It has given more happiness than the d. Field Flowers
richest flower in what garden it is?
5. This place was the little sick boy’s one e. Gardens with Lovely
and only treasure on earth Flowers
f. Heaven

Activity 3

Read the following question. Write your answer on the given blank.
1. If you were the dead child, what would you feel if there’s an angel taking you to heaven? Why?
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2. Which flowers will you take to plant in heaven? Why?
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