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Himself。 In the last hour of existence the events of a whole life
often appear before us； and this hour the old woman remembered how；
when a child； she had shed tears over the story of Inge； and she
prayed for her now。 As the eyes of the old woman closed to earth；
the eyes of the soul opened upon the hidden things of eternity； and
then she； in whose last thoughts Inge had been so vividly present； saw
how deeply the poor girl had sunk。 She burst into tears at the
sight； and in heaven； as she had done when a little child on earth；
she wept and prayed for poor Inge。 Her tears and her prayers echoed
through the dark void that surrounded the tormented captive soul；
and the unexpected mercy was obtained for it through an angel's tears。
As in thought Inge seemed to act over again every sin she had
committed on earth； she trembled； and tears she had never yet been
able to weep rushed to her eyes。 It seemed impossible that the gates
of mercy could ever be opened to her； but while she acknowledged
this in deep penitence； a beam of radiant light shot suddenly into the
depths upon her。 More powerful than the sunbeam that dissolves the man
of snow which the children have raised； more quickly than the
snowflake melts and becomes a drop of water on the warm lips of a
child； was the stony form of Inge changed； and as a little bird she
soared； with the speed of lightning； upward to the world of mortals。 A
bird that felt timid and shy to all things around it； that seemed to
shrink with shame from meeting any living creature； and hurriedly
sought to conceal itself in a dark corner of an old ruined wall； there
it sat cowering and unable to utter a sound； for it was voiceless。 Yet
how quickly the little bird discovered the beauty of everything around
it。 The sweet； fresh air； the soft radiance of the moon； as its
light spread over the earth； the fragrance which exhaled from bush and
tree； made it feel happy as it sat there clothed in its fresh；
bright plumage。 All creation seemed to speak of beneficence and
love。 The bird wanted to give utterance to thoughts that stirred in
his breast； as the cuckoo and the nightingale in the spring； but it
could not。 Yet in heaven can be heard the song of praise； even from
a worm； and the notes trembling in the breast of the bird were as
audible to Heaven even as the psalms of David before they had
fashioned themselves into words and song。
Christmas…time drew near； and a peasant who dwelt close by the old
wall stuck up a pole with some ears of corn fastened to the top；
that the birds of heaven might have feast； and rejoice in the happy；
blessed time。 And on Christmas morning the sun arose and shone upon
the ears of corn； which were quickly surrounded by a number of
twittering birds。 Then； from a hole in the wall； gushed forth in
song the swelling thoughts of the bird as he issued from his hiding
place to perform his first good deed on earth；… and in heaven it was
well known who that bird was。
The winter was very hard； the ponds were covered with ice； and
there was very little food for either the beasts of the field or the
birds of the air。 Our little bird flew away into the public roads； and
found here and there； in the ruts of the sledges； a grain of corn； and
at the halting places some crumbs。 Of these he ate only a few； but
he called around him the other birds and the hungry sparrows； that
they too might have food。 He flew into the towns； and looked about；
and wherever a kind hand had strewed bread on the window…sill for
the birds； he only ate a single crumb himself； and gave all the rest
to the rest of the other birds。 In the course of the winter the bird
had in this way collected many crumbs and given them to other birds；
till they equalled the weight of the loaf on which Inge had trod to
keep her shoes clean； and when the last bread…crumb had been found and
given； the gray wings of the bird became white； and spread
themselves out for flight。
〃See； yonder is a sea…gull！〃 cried the children； when they saw the
white bird； as it dived into the sea； and rose again into the clear
sunlight； white and glittering。 But no one could tell whither it
went then although some declared it flew straight to the sun。
THE END
。