the Moon told me… 〃in the great city no chimney was yet smoking… and
it was just at the chimneys that I was looking。 Suddenly a little head
emerged from one of them； and then half a body； the arms resting on
the rim of the chimney…pot。 'Ya…hip！ ya…hip！' cried a voice。 It was
the little chimney…sweeper； who had for the first time in his life
crept through a chimney； and stuck out his head at the top。 'Ya…hip！
ya…hip' Yes； certainly that was a very different thing to creeping
about in the dark narrow chimneys！ the air blew so fresh； and he could
look over the whole city towards the green wood。 The sun was just
rising。 It shone round and great； just in his face； that beamed with
triumph； though it was very prettily blacked with soot。
〃'The whole town can see me now；' he exclaimed； 'and the moon
can see me now； and the sun too。 Ya…hip！ ya…hip！' And he flourished
his broom in triumph。〃
TWENTY…SIXTH EVENING
〃Last night I looked down upon a town in China；〃 said the Moon。
〃My beams irradiated the naked walls that form the streets there。
Now and then； certainly； a door is seen； but it is locked； for what
does the Chinaman care about the outer world？ Close wooden shutters
covered the windows behind the walls of the houses； but through the
windows of the temple a faint light glimmered。 I looked in； and saw
the quaint decorations within。 From the floor to the ceiling
pictures are painted； in the most glaring colours； and richly gilt…
pictures representing the deeds of the gods here on earth。 In each
niche statues are placed； but they are almost entirely hidden by the
coloured drapery and the banners that hang down。 Before each idol （and
they are all made of tin） stood a little altar of holy water； with
flowers and burning wax lights on it。 Above all the rest stood Fo； the
chief deity； clad in a garment of yellow silk； for yellow is here
the sacred colour。 At the foot of the altar sat a living being； a
young priest。 He appeared to be praying； but in the midst of his
prayer he seemed to fall into deep thought； and this must have been
wrong； for his cheeks glowed and he held down his head。 Poor
Soui…Hong！ Was he； perhaps； dreaming of working in the little flower
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
th