Hans Christian Andersen's "The Gardener and the Noble Family"

Since March, I've been reading The Complete Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales.  About two weeks ago, I read "The Gardener and the Noble Family," and a particular phrase stood out.  The narrator describes Larsen, the titular gardener:  "He was goodhearted and a good and faithful worker."

Because it was originally written in Danish and this is an English translation, I'm hesitant to assert anything too strongly, but the "good and faithful worker" seems like a phrase taken directly from the Bible, specifically the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30).  To the servants who increased the money that was entrusted to them, the master - once he returns - tells each, "Well done, good and faithful servant."  Of course, the New Testament was written in Greek, so there are translation problems there too.  Arguing for the resemblance between a Danish phrase and a Greek phrase using only English translations is a precarious position, but the lessons for both texts are the same too.

In the Parable of the Talents, the third servant - who buried the money he was entrusted with instead of investing it - is rebuked upon the master's return.  He's told that he should have done something with the money, which is what the other servants did.

Larsen, the gardener in Andersen's tale, is like the two "good and faithful" servants; he's a good steward.  The noble family is impressed with fruit, melons, and flowers that other families have, but the produce - unbeknownst to them - came from their own garden under Larsen's care.  At the end of the story, they reflect on Larsen's value:

     "Anything that Larsen does," said the noble family, "they beat the drum for.  He is a lucky man.  We should almost be proud to have him!"
     But they were not a bit proud of it; they knew they were the masters of the manor, and they could dismiss Larsen, but that they wouldn't do.  They were good people, and there are many good people of their kind in the world - and that is fortunate for all the Larsens.

To some degree, this is like a verse near the end of The Parable of the Talents: "For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance.  But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away" - Matthew 25:29.  Larsen is a good steward, so he's able to retain his job as gardener.  It might not be "abundance" exactly, but it is a result of his good management.