thedoorwasthrustopen-itwasbruin,thegreat,shaggybruin!hehadgottiredofwaitingdowninthecourtyard,andhadfoundhiswaytothesawitall,"saidthemoon."thechildrenwereverymuchfrightenedatfirstatthegreatshaggyanimal;eachofthemcreptintoacorner,buthefoundthemallout,andsmeltatthem,butdidthemnoharm.'thismustbeagreatdog,'theysaid,andbegantostrokehim.helaydownupontheground,theyoungestboyclamberedonhisback,andbendingdownalittleheadofgoldencurls,playedathidinginthebeast'sshaggyskin.presentlytheeldestboytookhisdrum,andbeatuponittillitrattledagain;thebearroseuponhishindlegs,andbegantodance.itwasacharmingsighttobehold.eachboynowtookhisgun,andthebearwasobligedtohaveonetoo,andhehelditupquiteproperly.herewasacapitalplaymatetheyhadfound;andtheybeganmarching-one,two;one,two.

"suddenlysomeonecametothedoor,whichopened,andthemotherofthechildrenappeared.youshouldhaveseenherinherdumbterror,withherfaceaswhiteaschalk,hermouthhalfopen,andhereyesfixedinahorrifiedstare.buttheyoungestboynoddedtoheringreatglee,andcalledoutinhisinfantileprattle,'we'replayingatsoldiers.'andthenthebearleadercamerunningup."

thirty-firstevening

thewindblewstormyandcold,thecloudsflewhurriedlypast;onlyforamomentnowandthendidthemoonbecomevisible.hesaid,"ilookeddownfromthesilentskyuponthedrivingclouds,andsawthegreatshadowschasingeachotheracrosstheearth.ilookeduponaprison.aclosedcarriagestoodbeforeit;aprisonerwastobecarriedaway.myrayspiercedthroughthegratedwindowtowardsthewall;theprisonerwasscratchingafewlinesuponit,asapartingtoken;buthedidnotwritewords,butamelody,theoutpouringofhisheart.thedoorwasopened,andhewasledforth,andfixedhiseyesuponmyrounddisc.cloudspassedbetweenus,asifhewerenottoseehisface,norihis.hesteppedintothecarriage,thedoorwasclosed,thewhipcracked,andthehorsesgalloppedoffintothethickforest,whithermyrayswerenotabletofollowhim;butasiglancedthroughthegratedwindow,myraysglidedoverthenotes,hislastfarewellengravedontheprisonwall-wherewordsfail,soundscanoftenspeak.myrayscouldonlylightupisolatednotes,sothegreaterpartofwhatwaswrittentherewilleverremaindarktome.wasitthedeath-hymnhewrotethere?werethesethegladnotesofjoy?didhedriveawaytomeetdeath,orhastentotheembracesofhisbeloved?theraysofthemoondonotreadallthatiswrittenbymortals."

thirty-secondevening

"ilovethechildren,"saidthemoon,"especiallythequitelittleones-theyaresodroll.sometimesipeepintotheroom,betweenthecurtainandthewindowframe,whentheyarenotthinkingofme.itgivesmepleasuretoseethemdressingandundressing.first,thelittleroundnakedshouldercomescreepingoutofthefrock,thenthearm;oriseehowthestockingisdrawnoff,andaplumplittlewhitelegmakesitsappearance,andawhitelittlefootthatisfittobekissed,andikissittoo.

"butaboutwhatiwasgoingtotellyou.thiseveningilookedthroughawindow,beforewhichnocurtainwasdrawn,fornobodylivesopposite.isawawholetroopoflittleones,allofonefamily,andamongthemwasalittlesister.sheisonlyfouryearsold,butcansayherprayersaswellasanyoftherest.themothersitsbyherbedeveryevening,andhearshersayherprayers;andthenshehasakiss,andthemothersitsbythebedtillthelittleonehasgonetosleep,whichgenerallyhappensassoonasevershecanclosehereyes.

"thiseveningthetwoelderchildrenwerealittleboisterous.oneofthemhoppedaboutononeleginhislongwhitenightgown,andtheotherstoodonachairsurroundedbytheclothesofallthechildren,anddeclaredhewasactinggrecianstatues.thethirdandfourthlaidthecleanlinencarefullyinthebox,forthatisathingthathastobedone;andthemothersatbythebedoftheyoungest,andannouncedtoalltherestthattheyweretobequiet,forlittlesisterwasgoingtosayherprayers.

"ilookedin,overthelamp,intothelittlemaiden'sbed,whereshelayundertheneatwhitecoverlet,herhandsfoldeddemurelyandherlittlefacequitegraveandserious.shewasprayingthelord'sprayeraloud.buthermotherinterruptedherinthemiddleofherprayer.'howisit,'sheasked,'thatwhenyouhaveprayedfordailybread,youalwaysaddsomethingicannotunderstand?