From a humble childhood, the writer Hans Christian Andersen became one of the world's best loved story tellers. Here is one of his earlier stories 'The Tinder Box' that was first published in 1835. Hans Christian Andersen 1805 1875 The Tinder Box... A soldier came marching along the high road: "Left, right-left, right." He had his knapsack on his back, and a sword at his side; he had been to the wars, and was now returning home. As he walked on, he met a very frightful-looking old witch in the road. Her under-lip hung quite down on her breast, and she stopped and said, "Good evening, soldier; you have a very fine sword, and a large knapsack, and you are a real soldier; so you shall have as much money as ever you like..".