从每扇窗子透出的亮光和飘出的烤鹅肉香味，使她想起的只是今天是除夕之夜。街边一前一后坐落着两座房子，形成一个小墙角，她蜷缩在那里。她把一双小脚卷缩到身下，可还是不觉得暖和。她也不敢回家，因为她还没有卖掉一根火柴，没有挣到一个铜板，她的父亲一定会因此而打她；况且她家几乎和大街上一样冷。虽然屋顶上几个较大的裂口用草和破布堵住了，可风和雪还是不时地灌进屋里来。
她那双小手都快冻僵了。啊！如果她能从这捆火柴中取出一根，在墙上划着了就会好一些，也就可以暖手。于是她抽出了一根。哧！火柴燃起来了，冒出了火苗。当她双手覆在上面时，它变成了一朵光明、温暖的火焰，好像一根小蜡烛。多美的光啊。小姑娘觉得自己象坐在一个大火炉旁边，铁炉镶有铮亮的黄铜花边和底座。
Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savory smell of roast goose, for it was New-year's eve- yes, she remembered that. In a corner, between two houses, one of which projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together. She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of money. Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for they had only the roof to cover them, through which the wind howled, although the largest holes had been stopped up with straw and rags.
Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold. Ah! perhaps a burning match might be some good, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out-"scratch!" how it sputtered as it burnt! It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with polished brass feet and a brass ornament.