The Flax by Hans Christian Andersen. Short summary

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The linen was first used to make the canvas. Then the linen was cut and clothes were sewn. When it was worn, the rags were sent to the factory, where they were used to make paper. And on it the writer wrote wonderful stories.

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By the hedge grew flax, eternally content with life. The stakes of the fence assured it that its song would soon be over, but the plant was confident that it would be forever.

The flax was plucked from the ground and began to flutter. It was unpleasant, but it endured. And so a cloth was woven. The flax rejoiced at its metamorphosis. A dozen pieces of linen were cut from the cloth. The plant was glad to be useful.

But the clothes had worn out. It was given to the ragmaker. But the flax did not die. The ragman took the old clothes to a paper mill. The flax was there for real tortures: it was cut, diluted with water, dried, and beaten. But after all the ordeals, the flax turned into paper. The plant was very happy that it was so thin.

The author wrote very interesting stories on the paper. Sheets have been in the living room at literary evenings and lay on the table to the editor. The text was reprinted in books, and the flax in the form of scribbled sheets of paper stacked. And when the pile was thrown into the oven, the sparklers were not discouraged: the song never ends.