shesaidwithgroansandtears.

thecoffinwascarriedtothegrave,andthedisconsolatemothersatwithheryoungdaughters.shelookedatthem,butshesawthemnot;forherthoughtswerefarawayfromthedomestichearth.shegaveherselfuptohergrief,andittossedhertoandfro,astheseatossesashipwithoutcompassorrudder.sothedayofthefuneralpassedaway,andsimilardaysfollowed,ofdark,wearisometearfuleyesandmournfulglances,thesorrowingdaughtersandtheafflictedhusbandlookeduponherwhowouldnotheartheirwordsofcomfort;and,indeed,whatcomfortingwordscouldtheyspeak,whentheywerethemselvessofullofgrief?itseemedasifshewouldneveragainknowsleep,andyetitwouldhavebeenherbestfriend,onewhowouldhavestrengthenedherbodyandpouredpeaceintohersoul.theyatlastpersuadedhertoliedown,andthenshewouldlieasstillasifsheslept.

onenight,whenherhusbandlistened,asheoftendid,toherbreathing,hequitebelievedthatshehadatlengthfoundrestandreliefinsleep.hefoldedhisarmsandprayed,andsoonsunkhimselfintohealthfulsleep;thereforehedidnotnoticethathiswifearose,threwonherclothes,andglidedsilentlyfromthehouse,togowhereherthoughtsconstantlylingered-tothegraveofherchild.shepassedthroughthegarden,toapathacrossafieldthatledtothechurchyard.noonesawherasshewalked,nordidsheseeanyone;forhereyeswerefixedupontheoneobjectofherwanderings.itwasalovelystarlightnightinthebeginningofseptember,andtheairwasmildandstill.sheenteredthechurchyard,andstoodbythelittlegrave,whichlookedlikealargenosegayoffragrantflowers.shesatdown,andbentherheadlowoverthegrave,asifshecouldseeherchildthroughtheearththatcoveredhim-herlittleboy,whosesmilewassovividlybeforeher,andthegentleexpressionofwhoseeyes,evenonhissick-bed,shecouldnotforget.howfullofmeaningthatglancehadbeen,assheleanedoverhim,holdinginhersthepalehandwhichhehadnolongerstrengthtoraise!asshehadsatbyhislittlecot,sonowshesatbyhisgrave;andhereshecouldweepfreely,andhertearsfelluponit.

"thouwouldstgladlygodownandbewiththychild,"saidavoicequiteclosetoher,-avoicethatsoundedsodeepandclear,thatitwenttoherheart.

shelookedup,andbyhersidestoodamanwrappedinablackcloak,withahoodcloselydrawnoverhisface;butherkeenglancecoulddistinguishthefaceunderthehood.itwasstern,yetawakenedconfidence,andtheeyesbeamedwithyouthfulradiance.

"downtomychild,"sherepeated;andtonesofdespairandentreatysoundedinthewords.

"darestthoutofollowme?"askedtheform."iamdeath."

shebowedherheadintokenofassent.thensuddenlyitappearedasifallthestarswereshiningwiththeradianceofthefullmoononthemany-coloredflowersthatdeckedthegrave.theearththatcovereditwasdrawnbacklikeafloatingdrapery.shesunkdown,andthespectrecoveredherwithablackcloak;nightclosedaroundher,thenightofdeath.shesankdeeperthanthespadeofthesextoncouldpenetrate,tillthechurchyardbecamearoofaboveher.thenthecloakwasremoved,andshefoundherselfinalargehall,ofwide-spreadingdimensions,inwhichtherewasasubduedlight,liketwilight,reigning,andinamomentherchildappearedbeforeher,smiling,andmorebeautifulthanever;withasilentcryshepressedhimtoherheart.agloriousstrainofmusicsounded-nowdistant,nownear.neverhadshelistenedtosuchtonesasthese;theycamefrombeyondalargedarkcurtainwhichseparatedtheregionsofdeathfromthelandofeternity.

"mysweet,darlingmother,"sheheardthechildsay.itwasthewell-known,belovedvoice;andkissfollowedkiss,inboundlessdelight.thenthechildpointedtothedarkcurtain."thereisnothingsobeautifulonearthasitishere.mother,doyounotseethemall?