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lar days followed； of dark； wearisome pain。With tearful eyes and mournful glances； the sorrowing daughters andthe afflicted husband looked upon her who would not hear their wordsof fort； and； indeed； what forting words could they speak；when they were themselves so full of grief？ It seemed as if shewould never again know sleep； and yet it would have been her bestfriend； one who would have strengthened her body and poured peace intoher soul。 They at last persuaded her to lie down； and then she wouldlie as still as if she slept。
One night； when her husband listened； as he often did； to herbreathing； he quite believed that she had at length found rest andrelief in sleep。 He folded his arms and prayed； and soon sunkhimself into healthful sleep； therefore he did not notice that hiswife arose； threw on her clothes； and glided silently from thehouse； to go where her thoughts constantly lingered… to the grave ofher child。 She passed through the garden； to a path across a fieldthat led to the churchyard。 No one saw her as she walked； nor didshe see any one； for her eyes were fixed upon the one object of herwanderings。 It was a lovely starlight night in the beginning ofSeptember； and the air was mild and still。 She entered thechurchyard； and stood by the little grave； which looked like a largenosegay of fragrant flowers。 She sat down； and bent her head low overthe grave； as if she could see her child through the earth thatcovered him… her little boy； whose smile was so vividly before her；and the gentle expression of whose eyes； even on his sick…bed； shecould not forget。 How full of meaning that glance had been； as sheleaned over him； holding in hers the pale hand which he had no longerstrength to raise！ As she had sat by his little cot； so now she satby his grave； and here she could weep freely； and her tears fell uponit。
〃Thou wouldst gladly go down and be with thy child；〃 said avoice quite close to her；… a voice that sounded so deep and clear；that it went to her heart。
She looked up； and by her side stood a man wrapped in a blackcloak； with a hood closely drawn over his face； but her keen glancecould distinguish the face under the hood。 It was stern； yetawakened confidence； and the eyes beamed with youthful radiance。
〃Down to my child；〃 she repeated； and tones of despair andentreaty sounded in the words。
〃Darest thou to follow me？〃 asked the form。 〃I am Death。〃
She bowed her head in token of assent。 Then suddenly it appearedas if all the stars were shining with the radiance of the full moon onthe many…colored flowers that decked the grave。 The earth that coveredit was drawn back like a floating drapery。 She sunk down； and thespectre covered her with a black cloak； night closed around her； thenight of death。 She sank deeper than the spade of the sexton couldperate； till the churchyard became a roof above her。 Then the cloakwas removed； and she found herself in a large hall； ofwide…spreading dimensions； in which there was a subdued light； liketwilight； reigning； and in a moment her child appeared before her；smiling； and more beautiful than ever； with a silent cry she pressedhim to her heart。 A glorious strain of music sounded… now distant； nownear。 Never had she listened to such tones as these； they came frombeyond a large dark curtain which separated the regions of deathfrom the land of eternity。
〃My sweet； darling mother；〃 she heard the child say。 It was thewell…known； beloved voice； and kiss followed kiss； in boundlessdelight。 Then the child pointed to the dark curtain。 〃There is nothingso beautiful on earth as it is here。 Mother； do you not see themall？ Oh； it is happiness indeed。〃
But the mother saw nothing of what the child pointed out； only thedark curtain。 She looked with earthly eyes； and could not see as thechild saw；… he whom God has called to be with Himself。 She couldhear the sounds of music； but she heard not the words； the Word inwhich she was to trust。
〃I can fly now； mother；〃 said the child； 〃I can fly with otherhappy children into the presence of the Almighty。 I would fain flyaway now； but if you weep for me as you are weeping now； you may neversee me again。 And yet I would go so gladly。 May I not fly away？ Andyou will e to me soon； will you not； dear mother？〃
〃Oh； stay； stay！〃 implored the mother； 〃only one moment more； onlyonce more； that I may look upon thee； and kiss thee； and press thee tomy heart。〃
Then she kissed and fondled her child。 Suddenly her name wascalled from above； what could it mean？ her name uttered in a plaintivevoice。
〃Hearest thou？〃 said the child。 〃It is my father who callsthee。〃 And in a few moments deep sighs were heard； as of childrenweeping。 〃They are my sisters；〃 said the child。 〃Mother； surely youhave not forgotten them。〃
And then she remembered those she left behind； and a greatterror came over her。 She looked around her at the dark night。 Dimforms flitted by。 She seemed to recognize some of them； as theyfloated through the regions of death towards the dark curtain； wherethey vanished。 Would her husband and her daughters flit past？ No；their sighs and lamentations still sounded from above； and she hadnearly forgotten them； for the sake of him who was dead。
〃Mother； now the bells of heaven are ringing；〃 said the child；〃mother； the sun is going to rise。〃
An overpowering light streamed in upon her； the child hadvanished； and she was being borne upwards。 All around her became cold；she lifted her head； and saw that she was lying in the churchyard；on the grave of her child。 The Lord； in a dream； had been a guide toher feet and a light to her spirit。 She bowed her knees； and prayedfor forgiveness。 She had wished to keep back a soul from itsimmortal flight； she had forgotten her duties towards the living whowere left her。 And when she had offered this prayer； her heart feltlighter。 The sun burst forth； over her head a little bird carolled hissong； and the church…bells sounded for the early service。 Everythingaround her seemed holy； and her heart was chastened。 Sheacknowledged the goodness of God； she acknowledged the duties shehad to perform； and eagerly she returned home。 She bent over herhusband； who still slept； her warm； devoted kiss awakened him； andwords of heartfelt love fell from the lips of both。 Now she was gentleand strong as a wife can be； and from her lips came the words offaith： 〃Whatever He doeth is right and best。〃
Then her husband asked； 〃From whence hast thou all at once derivedsuch strength and forting faith？〃
And as she kissed him and her children； she said； 〃It came fromGod； through my child in the grave。〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE CONCEITED APPLE…BRANCH
by Hans Christian Andersen
IT was the month of May。 The wind still blew cold； but from bushand tree； field and flower； came the wele sound； 〃Spring ise。〃 Wild…flowers in profusion covered the hedges。 Under thelittle apple…tree； Spring seemed busy； and told his tale from one ofthe branches which hung fresh and blooming； and covered withdelicate pink blossoms that were just ready to open。 The branch wellknew how beautiful it was； this knowledge exists as much in the leafas in the blood； I was therefore not surprised when a nobleman'scarriage； in which sat the young countess； stopped in the road justby。 She said that an apple…branch was a most lovely object； and anemblem of spring in its most charming aspect。 Then the branch wasbroken off for her； and she held it in her delicate hand； andsheltered it with her silk parasol。 Then they drove to the castle；in which were lofty halls and splendid drawing…rooms。 Pure whitecurtains fluttered before the open windows； and beautiful flowersstood in shining； transparent vases； and in one of them； whichlooked as if it had been cut out of newly fallen snow； theapple…branch was placed； among some fresh； light twigs of beech。 Itwas a charming sight。 Then the branch became proud； which was verymuch like human nature。
People of every description entered the room； and； according totheir position in society； so dared they to express theiradmiration。 Some few said nothing； others expressed too much； andthe apple…branch very soon got to understand that there was as muchdifference in the characters of