作者簡介
安徒生，1805年4月2日生於丹麥菲英島歐登塞的貧民區，父親是個窮鞋匠。安徒生童年喪父，母親改嫁。他從小為貧困折磨，先後在幾家店鋪學徒，沒有受過正規教育。1819年後開始學習寫作。他寫的作品不適合演出，沒有被採用。後來他得到資助上學，寫了一些作品。他的第一部重要作品《1828和1829年從霍爾門運河至阿邁厄島東角步行記》於1829年問世，受到社會的初步承認。1833年寫了《埃格內特和美人魚》（詩劇）、《即興詩人》（小說，1835），兩部作品出版後，他的名字開始享譽國際。
他的第一部《講給孩子們聽的故事集》包括《打火匣》、《小克勞斯和大克勞斯》、《豌豆上的公主》、《小意達的花兒》等。
安徒生的作品大多帶有自傳的性質。
他一生堅持不懈地進行創作，把他的天才和生命獻給了“未來的一代”，共寫了168篇童話和故事。作品被譯成80多種語言。
1875年8月4日，安徒生在哥本哈根去世。
原文
錢豬IN the nursery a unmber of toys lay strewn about：high up，on the wardrobe，stood the Money-box，it was of clay in the shape of a little pig；of course the pig had a slit in its back，and this slit had been so enlarged with a knife that whole dollar-pieces could slip through；and，indeed，two such had slipped into the box，besides a number of pence．The Money-pig was stuffed so full that it could no longer rattle，and that is the highest point a Money-pig can attain．There it stood upon the cupboard，high and lofty，looking down upon everything else in the room．It knew very well that what it had in its stomach would have bought all the toys，and that's what we call having self-respect．
The others thought of that too，even if they did not exactly express it，for there were many other things to speak of．One of the drawers was half pulled out， and there lay a great handsome Doll，though she was somewhat old，and her neck had been mended．She looked out and said，
“Shall we now play at men and women，for that is al-ways something？”
And now there was a general uproar，and even the framed prints on the walls turned round and showed that there was a wrong side to them；but they did not do it to protest against the proposal．
It was late at night；the moon shone through the window-frames and gave free light．Now the game was about to begin，and all，even the children's Go-Cart，Which certainly belonged to the coarser playthings，were invited to take part in the sport．
“Each one has his own peculiar value，”said the Go-Cart：“we cannot all be noblemen．There must be some who do the work，as the saying is．”
The Money-pig was the only one who received a writ-ten invitation，for he was of high standing，and they were afraid he would not accept a verbal message．
Indeed，he did not answer to say whether he would come，nor did he come：if he was to take a part，he must enjoy the sport from his own home；they were to arrange accordingly，and，so they did．
The little toy theatre was now put up in such a way that the Money-pig could look directly in．They wanted to begin with a comedy，and afterwards there was to be a tea party and a discussion for mental improvement，and with this latter part they began immediately．The Rocking-Horse spoke of training and race，the Go-Cart of railways and steam power，for all this belonged to their profession，and it was something they could talk about．The Clock talked politics-ticks-ticks-and knew what was the time of day，though it was whispered he did not go correctly；the Bamboo Cane stood there，stiff and proud，for he was conceited about his brass ferrule and his silver top，for being thus bound above and below；and on the sofa lay two worked Cushions，pretty and stupid．And now the play began．
All sat and looked on，and it was requested that the audience should applaud and crack and stamp according as they were gratified．But the Riding-Whip said he never cracked for old people，only for young ones who were not yet married．
“I crack for everything，”said the Cracker．
And these were the thoughts they had while the play went on．The piece was worthless，but it was well played；all the characters turned their painted side to the audience，for they were so made that they should only be looked at from that side，and not from the other；and all played wonderfully well，coming out quite beyond the lamps，because the wires were a little too long，but that only made them come out the more．The mended Doll was so affected that she burst at the mended place in her neck，and the Money-pig was so enchanted in his way that he formed the resolution to do something for one of the players，and to remember him in his will as the one who should be buried with him in the family vault when matters were so far advanced．
It was true enjoyment，so that they quite gave up the thoughts of tea，and only carried out the idea of mental recreation．That's what they called playing at men and women；and there was no malice in it，for they were only playing；and each one thought of himself and of what the Money-pig might think；and the Money-pig thought farthest of all，for he thought of making his will and of his burial．And when might this come to pass？Certainly far sooner than was expected．Crack！it fell down from the cup-board-fell on the ground，and was broken to pieces；and the pennies hopped and danced：the little ones turned round like tops，and the bigger ones rolled away，particularly the one great Silver Dollar who wanted to go out into the world．And he came out into the world，and they all succeeded in doing so．The pieces of the Money-pig were put into the dust-bin；but the next day a new Money-pig was standing on the cupboard：it had not yet a farthing in its stomach，and therefore could not rattle，and in this it was like the other．But that was a beginning-and with that we will make an end．
譯文
錢豬嬰兒室里有許多許多玩具；櫥櫃頂上有一個撲滿，它的形狀像豬，是泥燒的。它的背上自然還有一條狹口。這狹口後來又用刀子挖大了一點，好使整個銀元也可以塞進去。的確，除了許多銀毫以外，裡面也有兩塊銀元。
錢豬裝得非常滿，連搖也搖不響——這的確要算是一隻錢豬所能達到的最高峰了。他現在高高地站在櫥柜上，瞧不起房裡一切其他的東西。他知道得很清楚，他肚皮里所裝的錢可以買到這所有的玩具。這就是我們所謂的“心中有數”。
別的玩具也想到了這一點，雖然它們不講出來——因為還有許多其他的事情要講。桌子的抽屜是半開著的；這裡面有一個很大的玩具。她略微有點兒舊，脖子也修理過一次。她朝外邊望了一眼，說：
“我們現在來扮演人好嗎？因為這究竟是值得一做的事情呀！”
這時大家騷動了一下，甚至牆上掛著的那些畫也掉過身來，表示它們也有反對的一面；不過這並不是說明它們在抗議。
現在是半夜了。月亮從窗子外面照進來，送來不花錢的光。遊戲就要開始了。所有的玩具，甚至屬於比較粗糙的玩具一類的學步車，都被邀請了。
“每個人都有自己的優點，”學步車說。“我們不能全都是貴族。正如俗話所說的，總要有人做事才成！”
只有錢豬接到了一張手寫的請帖，因為他的地位很高，大家都相信他不會接受口頭的邀請。的確，他並沒有回答說他來不來，而事實上他沒有來。如果要他參加的話，他得在自己家裡欣賞。大家可以照他的意思辦，結果他們也就照辦了。
那個小玩偶舞檯布置得恰恰可以使他一眼就能看到台上的扮演。大家想先演一齣喜劇，然後再吃茶和做知識練習。他們立刻就開始了。搖木馬談到訓練和純血統問題，學步車談到鐵路和蒸汽的力量。這些事情都是他們的本行，所以他們都能談談。座鐘談起政治：“滴答——滴答”。它知道它敲的是什麼時候，不過，有人說他走的並不準確。竹手杖直挺挺地站著，驕傲得不可一世，因為它上麵包了銀頭，下面箍了銅環，上上下下都包了東西。沙發上躺著兩個繡花墊子，很好看，但是糊塗。現在戲可以開始了。
大家坐著看戲。事先大家都說好了，觀眾應該根據自己喜歡的程度喝彩、鼓掌和跺腳。不過馬鞭說他從來不為老人鼓掌，他只為還沒有結婚的年輕人鼓掌。
“我對大家都鼓掌，”爆竹說。
“一個人應該有一個立場！”痰盂說。這是當戲正在演的時候他們心中所有的想法。
這齣戲沒有什麼價值，但是演得很好。所有的人物都把它們塗了顏色的一面掉向觀眾，因為他們只能把正面拿出來看，而不能把反面拿出來看。大家都演得非常好，都跑到舞台前面來，因為拉著它們的線很長，不過這樣人們就可以把他們看得更清楚。
那個補了一次的玩偶是那么興奮，弄得她的補丁都鬆開了。錢豬也看得興奮起來，他決心要為演員中的某一位做點事情：他要在遺囑上寫下，到了適當的時候，他要這位演員跟他一起葬在公墓里。這才是真正的愉快，因此大家就放棄吃茶，繼續做知識練習。這就是他們所謂的扮演人類了。這裡面並沒有什麼惡意，因為他們只不過是扮演罷了，每件東西只想著自己，和猜想錢豬的心事；而這錢豬想得最遠，因為他想到了寫遺囑和入葬的事情。這事會在什麼時候發生，他總是比別人料想得早。
啪！他從櫥柜上掉下來了——落到地上，跌成了碎片。小錢毫跳著，舞著，那些頂小的打著轉，那些大的打著轉滾開了，特別是那塊大銀元——他居然想跑到廣大的世界裡去。他真的跑到廣大的世界裡去了，其他的也都是一樣。錢豬的碎片則被掃進垃圾箱裡去了。不過，在第二天，碗柜上又出現了一個泥燒的新錢豬。它肚皮里還沒有裝進錢，因此它也搖不出響聲來；在這一點上說來，它跟別的東西完全沒有什麼分別。不過這只是一個開始而已——與這開始同時，我們作一個結尾。
（1855年）
作品評述
這是一起很有風趣的小品，最初發表在1855年哥本哈根出版的《丹麥大眾曆書》上。“錢豬”肚子裡裝滿錢，滿得連搖動時連響聲都不發，是一種大人物沉著莊重的樣子。但它跌碎了以後，錢都光了，另一個新“錢豬”來代替它，“它肚皮里還沒有裝進錢，因此它也搖不出響聲來。”實際既然如此，“它跟別的東西完全沒有什麼區別，”因此它就談不上是什麼大人物了。世事就是如此。
