garden behind the high street wall？ And did that occupation seem
more agreeable to him than watching the wax lights in the temple？ Or
did he wish to sit at the rich feast； wiping his mouth with silver
paper between each course？ Or was his sin so great that； if he dared
utter it； the Celestial Empire would punish it with death？ Had his
thoughts ventured to fly with the ships of the barbarians； to their
homes in far distant England？ No； his thoughts did not fly so far； and
yet they were sinful； sinful as thoughts born of young hearts；
sinful here in the temple； in the presence of Fo and the other holy
gods。
〃I know whither his thoughts had strayed。 At the farther end of
the city； on the flat roof paved with porcelain； on which stood the
handsome vases covered with painted flowers； sat the beauteous Pu；
of the little roguish eyes； of the full lips； and of the tiny feet。
The tight shoe pained her； but her heart pained her still more。 She
lifted her graceful round arm； and her satin dress rustled。 Before her
stood a glass bowl containing four gold…fish。 She stirred the bowl
carefully with a slender lacquered stick； very slowly； for she； too；
was lost in thought。 Was she thinking； perchance； how the fishes
were richly clothed in gold； how they lived calmly and peacefully in
their crystal world； how they were regularly fed； and yet how much
happier they might be if they were free？ Yes； that she could well
understand； the beautiful Pu。 Her thoughts wandered away from her
home； wandered to the temple； but not for the sake of holy things。
Poor Pu！ Poor Soui…hong！
〃Their earthly thoughts met； but my cold beam lay between the two；
like the sword of the cherub。〃
TWENTY…SEVENTH EVENING
〃The air was calm；〃 said the Moon； 〃the water was transparent as
the purest ether through which I was gliding； and deep below the
surface I could see the strange plants that stretched up their long
arms towards me like the gigantic trees of the forest。 The fishes swam
to and fro above their tops。 High in the air a flight of wild swans
were winging their way； one of which sank lower and lower； with
wearied pinions； his eyes following the airy caravan； that melted
farther and farther into the distance。 With outspread wings he sank
slowly； as a soap bubble sinks in the still air； till he touched the
water。 At length his head lay back between his wings； and silently
he lay there； like a white lotus flower upon the quiet lake。 And a
gentle wind arose； and crisped the quiet surface； which gleamed like
the clouds that poured along in great broad waves； and the swan raised his head； and the glowing water splashed like blue fire over his
breast and back。 The morning dawn illuminated the red clouds； the swan rose strengthened； and flew towards the rising sun； towards the bluish coast whither the caravan had gone； but he flew alone； with a
longing in his breast。 Lonely he flew over the blue swelling billows。〃
TWENTY…EIGHTH EVENING
〃I will give you another picture of Sweden；〃 said the Moon。 〃Among
dark pine woods； near the melancholy banks of the Stoxen； lies the old convent church of Wreta。 My rays glided through the grating into the roomy vaults； where kings sleep tranquilly in great stone coffins。
On the wall； above the grave of each； is placed the emblem of
earthly grandeur； a kingly crown； but it is made only of wood； painted
and gilt； and is hung on a wooden peg driven into the wall。 The
worms have gnawed the gilded wood； the spider has spun her web from the crown down to the sand； like a mourning banner； frail and
transient as the grief of mortals。 How quietly they sleep！ I can
remember them quite plainly。 I still see the bold smile on their lips；
that so strongly and plainly expressed joy or grief。 When the
steamboat winds along like a magic snail over the lakes； a stranger
often comes to the church； and visits the burial vault； he asks the
names of the kings； and they have a dead and forgotten sound。 He
glances with a smile at the worm…eaten crowns； and if he happens to be a pious； thoughtful man； something of melancholy mingles with the
smile。 Slumber on； ye dead ones！ The Moon thinks of you； the Moon at night sends down his rays into your silent kingdom； over which hangs the crown of pine wood。〃
TWENTY…NINTH EVENING
〃Close by the high…road；〃 said the Moon； 〃is an inn； and
opposite to it is a great waggon…shed； whose straw roof was just being re…thatched。 I looked down between the bare rafters and through the open loft into the comfortless space below。 The turkey…cock slept on the beam； and the saddle rested in the empty crib。 In the middle of the shed stood a travelling carriage； the proprietor was inside； fast asleep； while the horses were being watered。 The coachman stretched himself； though I am very sure that he had been most comfortably asleep half the last stage。 The door of the servants' room stood open； and the bed looked as if it had been turned over and over； the candle stood on the floor； and had burnt deep down into the socket。 The wind blew cold through the shed： it was nearer to the dawn than to midnight。 In the wooden frame on the ground slept a wandering family of musicians。 The father and mother seemed to be dreaming of the burning liquor that remained in the bottle。 The little pale daughter was dreaming too； for her eyes were wet with tears。 The harp stood at their heads； and the dog lay stretched at their feet。〃
THIRTIETH EVENING
〃It was in a little provincial town；〃 the Moon said； 〃it certainly
happened last year； but that has nothing to do with the matter。 I
saw it quite plainly。 To…day I read about it in the papers； but
there it was not half so clearly expressed。 In the taproom of the
little inn sat the bear leader； eating his supper； the bear was tied
up outside； behind the wood pile… poor Bruin； who did nobody any harm； though he looked grim enough。 Up in the garret three little children were playing by the light of my beams； the eldest was perhaps six years old； the youngest certainly not more than two。 'Tramp； tramp'… somebody was coming upstairs： who might it be？ The door was thrust open… it was Bruin； the great； shaggy Bruin！ He had got tired of waiting down in the courtyard； and had found his way to the stairs。
I saw it all；〃 said the Moon。 〃The children were very much
frightened at first at the great shaggy animal； each of them crept
into a corner； but he found them all out； and smelt at them； but did
them no harm。 'This must be a great dog；' they said； and began to
stroke him。 He lay down upon the ground； the youngest boy clambered on his back； and bending down a little head of golden curls； played at hiding in the beast's shaggy skin。 Presently the eldest boy took his drum； and beat upon it till it rattled again； the bear rose upon his hind legs； and began to dance。 It was a charming sight to behold。 Each boy now took his gun； and the bear was obliged to have one too； and he held it up quite properly。 Here was a capital playmate they had found； and they began marching… one； two； one； two。
〃Suddenly some one came to the door； which opened； and the
mother of the children appeared。 You should have seen her in her
dumb terror； with her face as white as chalk； her mouth half open； and
her eyes fixed in a horrified stare。 But the youngest boy nodded to
her in great glee； and called out in his infantile prattle； 'We're
playing at soldiers。' And then the bear leader came running up。〃
THIRTY…FIRST EVENING
The wind blew stormy and cold； the clouds flew hurriedly past；
only for a moment now and then did the Moon become visible。 He said； 〃I looked down from the silent sky upon the driving clouds； and saw the great shadows chasing each other across the earth。 I looked upon a prison。 A closed carriage stood before it； a prisoner was to be
carried away。 My rays pierced through the grated window towards the wall； the prisoner was scratching a few lines upon it； as a parting
token； but he did not write words； but a melody； the outpouring of his
heart。 The door was opened； and he was led forth； and fixed his eyes
upon my round disc。 Clouds passed between us； as if he were not to see his face； nor I his。 He stepped into the carriage； the door was
closed； the whip cracked； and the horses gallopped off into the
thick forest； whither my rays were not able to follow him； but as I
glanced through the grated window； my rays glided over the notes；
his last farewell engraved on the prison wall… where words fail；
sounds can often speak。 My rays could only light up isolated notes； so the greater part of what was written there will ever remain dark to
me。 Was it the death…hymn he wrote there？ Were these the glad notes of joy？ Did he drive away to meet death； or hasten to the embraces of his beloved？ The rays of the Moon do not read all that is written by
mortals。〃
THIRTY…SECOND EVENING
〃I love the children；〃 said the Moon； 〃especially the quite little
ones… they are so droll。 Sometimes I peep into the room； between the
curtain and the window frame； when they are not thinking of me。 It
gives me pleasure to see them dressing and undressing。 First； the
little round naked shoulder comes creeping out of the frock； then
the arm； or I see how the stocking is drawn off； and a plump little
white leg makes its appearance； and a white little foot that is fit to
be kissed； and I kiss it too。
〃But about what I was going to tell you。 This evening I looked
through a window； before which no curtain was drawn； for nobody
lives opposite。 I saw a whole troop of little ones； all of one family；
and among them was a little sister。 She is only four years old； but
can say her prayers as well as any of the rest。 The mother sits by her
bed every evening； and hears her say her prayers； and then she has a
kiss； and the mother sits by the bed till the little one has gone to
sleep； which generally happens as soon as ever she can close her eyes。
〃This evening the two elder children were a little boisterous。 One
of them hopped about on one leg in his long white nightgown； and the
other stood on a chair surrounded by the clothes of all the
children； and declared he was acting Grecian statues。 The third and
fourth laid the clean linen carefully in the box； for that is a