'shecried,andarousedherhusbandinafrightenedway.heopenedhiseyes,rubbedthemwithhishands,andlookedatthebrisklittlelad.'why,thatisbertel,'saidhe.andmyeyequittedthepoorroom,forihavesomuchtosee.atthesamemomentilookedatthehallsofthevatican,wherethemarblegodsareenthroned.ishoneuponthegroupofthelaocoon;thestoneseemedtosigh.ipressedasilentkissonthelipsofthemuses,andtheyseemedtostirandmove.butmyrayslingeredlongestaboutthenilegroupwiththecolossalgod.leaningagainstthesphinx,heliestherethoughtfulandmeditative,asifhewerethinkingontherollingcenturies;andlittlelove-godssportwithhimandwiththecrocodiles.inthehornofplentysatwithfoldedarmsalittletinylove-god,contemplatingthegreatsolemnriver-god,atruepictureoftheboyatthespinningwheel-thefeatureswereexactlythesame.charmingandlife-likestoodthelittlemarbleform,andyetthewheeloftheyearhasturnedmorethanathousandtimessincethetimewhenitsprangforthfromthestone.justasoftenastheboyinthelittleroomturnedthespinningwheelhadthegreatwheelmurmured,beforetheagecouldagaincallforthmarblegodsequaltothoseheafterwardsformed.

"yearshavepassedsinceallthishappened,"themoonwentontosay."yesterdayilookeduponabayontheeasterncoastofriouswoodsarethere,andhightrees,anoldknightlycastlewithredwalls,swansfloatingintheponds,andinthebackgroundappears,amongorchards,alittletownwithachurch.manyboats,thecrewsallfurnishedwithtorches,glidedoverthesilentexpanse-butthesefireshadnotbeenkindledforcatchingfish,foreverythinghadafestivelook.musicsounded,asongwassung,andinoneoftheboatsthemanstooderecttowhomhomagewaspaidbytherest,atallsturdyman,wrappedinacloak.hehadblueeyesandlongwhitehair.iknewhim,andthoughtofthevatican,andofthegroupofthenile,andtheoldmarblegods.ithoughtofthesimplelittleroomwherelittlebertelsatinhisnight-shirtbythespinningwheeloftimehasturned,andnewgodshavecomeforthfromthestone.fromtheboatstherearoseashout:'hurrah,hurrahforbertelthorwaldsen!'"

twenty-fourthevening

"iwillnowgiveyouapicturefromfrankfort,"saidthemoon."iespeciallynoticedonebuildingthere.itwasnotthehouseinwhichgoethewasborn,northeoldcouncilhouse,throughwhosegratedwindowspeeredthehornsoftheoxenthatwereroastedandgiventothepeoplewhentheemperorswerecrowned.no,itwasaprivatehouse,plaininappearance,andpaintedgreen.itstoodneartheoldjews'street.itwasrothschild'shouse.

"ilookedthroughtheopendoor.thestaircasewasbrilliantlylighted:servantscarryingwaxcandlesinmassivesilvercandlesticksstoodthere,andbowedlowbeforeanoldwoman,whowasbeingbroughtdownstairsinalitter.theproprietorofthehousestoodbare-headed,andrespectfullyimprintedakissonthehandoftheoldwoman.shewashismother.shenoddedinafriendlymannertohimandtotheservants,andtheycarriedherintothedarknarrowstreet,intoalittlehouse,thatwasherdwelling.hereherchildrenhadbeenborn,fromhencethefortuneofthefamilyhadarisen.ifshedesertedthedespisedstreetandthelittlehouse,fortunewouldalsodesertherchildren.thatwasherfirmbelief."

themoontoldmenomore;hisvisitthiseveningwasfartooshort.butithoughtoftheoldwomaninthenarrowdespisedwouldhavecostherbutaword,andabrillianthousewouldhavearisenforheronthebanksofthethames-aword,andavillawouldhavebeenpreparedinthebayofnaples.

"ifidesertedthelowlyhouse,wherethefortunesofmysonsfirstbegantobloom,fortunewoulddesertthem!"