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〃The flowers scented the air； every breath of air was hushed； itseemed as if the sea were a part of the sky that stretched above thedeep valley。 A carriage rolled by。 Six people were sitting in it。 Fourof them were asleep； the fifth was thinking of his new summer coat；which would suit him admirably； the sixth turned to the coachman andasked him if there were anything remarkable connected with yonder heapof stones。 'No；' replied the coachman； 'it's only a heap of stones；but the trees are remarkable。' 'How so？' 'Why I'll tell you how theyare very remarkable。 You see； in winter； when the snow lies very deep；and has hidden the whole road so that nothing is to be seen； thosetrees serve me for a landmark。 I steer by them； so as not to driveinto the sea； and you see that is why the trees are remarkable。'
〃Now came a painter。 He spoke not a word； but his eyes sparkled。He began to whistle。 At this the nightingales sang louder than ever。'Hold your tongues！' he cried testily； and he made accurate notes ofall the colours and transitions… blue； and lilac； and dark brown。'That will make a beautiful picture；' he said。 He took it in just as amirror takes in a view； and as he worked he whistled a march ofRossini。 And last of all came a poor girl。 She laid aside the burdenshe carried； and sat down to rest upon the Hun's Grave。 Her palehandsome face was bent in a listening attitude towards the forest。 Hereyes brightened； she gazed earnestly at the sea and the sky； her handswere folded； and I think she prayed； 'Our Father。' She herself couldnot understand the feeling that swept through her； but I know thatthis minute； and the beautiful natural scene； will live within hermemory for years； far more vividly and more truly than the paintercould portray it with his colours on paper。 My rays followed hertill the morning dawn kissed her brow。〃
EIGHTH EVENING
Heavy clouds obscured the sky； and the Moon did not make hisappearance at all。 I stood in my little room； more lonely than ever；and looked up at the sky where he ought to have shown himself。 Mythoughts flew far away； up to my great friend； who every eveningtold me such pretty tales； and showed me pictures。 Yes； he has hadan experience indeed。 He glided over the waters of the Deluge； andsmiled on Noah's ark just as he lately glanced down upon me； andbrought fort and promise of a new world that was to spring forthfrom the old。 When the Children of Israel sat weeping by the waters ofBabylon； he glanced mournfully upon the willows where hung thesilent harps。 When Romeo climbed the balcony； and the promise oftrue love fluttered like a cherub toward heaven； the round Moonhung； half hidden among the dark cypresses； in the lucid air。 He sawthe captive giant at St。 Helena； looking from the lonely rock acrossthe wide ocean； while great thoughts swept through his soul。 Ah！what tales the Moon can tell。 Human life is like a story to him。To…night I shall not see thee again； old friend。 Tonight I can draw nopicture of the memories of thy visit。 And； as I looked dreamilytowards the clouds； the sky became bright。 There was a glancing light；and a beam from the Moon fell upon me。 It vanished again； and darkclouds flew past： but still it was a greeting； a friendly good…nightoffered to me by the Moon。
NINTH EVENING
The air was clear again。 Several evenings had passed； and the Moonwas in the first quarter。 Again he gave me an outline for a sketch。Listen to what he told me。
〃I have followed the polar bird and the swimming whale to theeastern coast of Greenland。 Gaunt ice…covered rocks and dark cloudshung over a valley； where dwarf willows and barberry bushes stoodclothed in green。 The blooming lychnis exhaled sweet odours。 Mylight was faint； my face pale as the water lily that； torn from itsstem； has been drifting for weeks with the tide。 The crown…shapedNorthern Light burned fiercely in the sky。 Its ring was broad； andfrom its circumference the rays shot like whirling shafts of fireacross the whole sky； flashing in changing radiance from green to red。The inhabitants of that icy region were assembling for dance andfestivity； but； accustomed to this glorious spectacle； they scarcelydeigned to glance at it。 'Let us leave the soul of the dead to theirball…play with the heads of the walruses；' they thought in theirsuperstition； and they turned their whole attention to the song anddance。 In the midst of the circle； and divested of his furry cloak；stood a Greenlander； with a small pipe； and he played and sang asong about catching the seal； and the chorus around chimed in with；'Eia； Eia； Ah。' And in their white furs they danced about in thecircle； till you might fancy it was a polar bear's ball。
〃And now a Court of Judgment was opened。 Those Greenlanders whohad quarrelled stepped forward； and the offended person chantedforth the faults of his adversary in an extempore song； turning themsharply into ridicule； to the sound of the pipe and the measure of thedance。 The defendant replied with satire as keen； while the audiencelaughed； and gave their verdict。 The rocks heaved； the glaciersmelted； and great masses of ice and snow came crashing down； shiveringto fragments as they fall； it was a glorious Greenland summer night。 Ahundred paces away； under the open tent of hides； lay a sick man。 Lifestill flowed through his warm blood； but still he was to die… hehimself felt it； and all who stood round him knew it also； thereforehis wife was already sewing round him the shroud of furs； that shemight not afterwards be obliged to touch the dead body。 And she asked；'Wilt thou be buried on the rock； in the firm snow？ I will deck thespot with thy kayak； and thy arrows； and the angekokk shall dance overit。 Or wouldst thou rather be buried in the sea？' 'In the sea；' hewhispered； and nodded with a mournful smile。 'Yes； it is a pleasantsummer tent； the sea；' observed the wife。 'Thousands of seals sportthere； the walrus shall lie at thy feet； and the hunt will be safe andmerry！' And the yelling children tore the outspread hide from thewindow…hole； that the dead man might be carried to the ocean； thebillowy ocean； that had given him food in life； and that now； indeath； was to afford him a place of rest。 For his monument； he had thefloating； ever…changing icebergs； whereon the seal sleeps； while thestorm bird flies round their gleaming summits！〃
TENTH EVENING
〃I knew an old maid；〃 said the Moon。 〃Every winter she wore awrapper of yellow satin； and it always remained new； and was theonly fashion she followed。 In summer she always wore the same strawhat； and I verily believe the very same gray…blue dress。
〃She never went out； except across the street to an old femalefriend； and in later years she did not even take this walk； for theold friend was dead。 In her solitude my old maid was always busy atthe window； which was adorned in summer with pretty flowers； and inwinter with cress； grown upon felt。 During the last months I saw herno more at the window； but she was still alive。 I knew that； for I hadnot yet seen her begin the 'long journey；' of which she often spokewith her friend。 'Yes； yes；' she was in the habit of saying； when Ie to die I shall take a longer journey than I have made my wholelife long。 Our family vault is six miles from here。 I shall be carriedthere； and shall sleep there among my family and relatives。' Lastnight a van stopped at the house。 A coffin was carried out； and then Iknew that she was dead。 They placed straw round the coffin； and thevan drove away。 There slept the quiet old lady； who had not gone outof her house once for the last year。 The van rolled out through thetown…gate as briskly as if it were going for a pleasant excursion。On the high…road the pace was quicker yet。 The coachman lookednervously round every now and then… I fancy he half expected to seeher sitting on the coffin； in her yellow satin wrapper。 And because hewas startled； he foolishly lashed his horses； while he held thereins so tightly that the poor beasts were in a foam： they wereyoung and fiery。 A hare jumped across the road and startled them；and they fairly ran away。 The old sober maiden； who had for yearsand years moved quietly round and round in a dull circle； was now；in death； rattled over stock and stone on the public highway