ling star gleamed across the sky。 〃Theregoes one！〃 cried he。 〃However； there are quite enough left； I shouldvery much like to examine these a little nearer； especially themoon； for that could not slip away under one's hands。 The student； forwhom my wife washes； says that when we die we shall fly from onestar to another。 If that were true； it would be very delightful； but Idon't believe it。 I wish I could make a little spring up there now；I would willingly let my body lie here on the steps。〃
There are certain things in the world which should be uttered verycautiously； doubly so when the speaker has on his feet the goloshes ofFortune。 Now we shall hear what happened to the watchman。
Nearly every one is acquainted with the great power of steam； wehave proved it by the rapidity with which we can travel； both on arailroad or in a steamship across the sea。 But this speed is likethe movements of the sloth； or the crawling march of the snail； whenpared to the swiftness with which light travels； light fliesnieen million times faster than the fleetest race…horse； andelectricity is more rapid still。 Death is an electric shock which wereceive in our hearts； and on the wings of electricity the liberatedsoul flies away swiftly； the light from the sun travels to our earthniy…five millions of miles in eight minutes and a few seconds；but on the wings of electricity； the mind requires only a second toacplish the same distance。 The space between the heavenly bodiesis； to thought； no farther than the distance which we may have to walkfrom one friend's house to another in the same town； yet this electricshock obliges us to use our bodies here below； unless； like thewatchman； we have on the goloshes of Fortune。
In a very few seconds the watchman had travelled more than twohundred thousand miles to the moon； which is formed of a lightermaterial than our earth； and may be said to be as soft as new fallensnow。 He found himself on one of the circular range of mountains whichwe see represented in Dr。 Madler's large map of the moon。 The interiorhad the appearance of a large hollow； bowl…shaped； with a depthabout half a mile from the brim。 Within this hollow stood a largetown； we may form some idea of its appearance by pouring the whiteof an egg into a glass of water。 The materials of which it was builtseemed just as soft； and pictured forth cloudy turrets and sail…liketerraces； quite transparent； and floating in the thin air。 Our earthhung over his head like a great dark red ball。 Presently he discovereda number of beings； which might certainly be called men； but were verydifferent to ourselves。 A more fantastical imagination than Herschel'smust have discovered these。 Had they been placed in groups； andpainted； it might have been said； 〃What beautiful foliage！〃 They hadalso a language of their own。 No one could have expected the soul ofthe watchman to understand it； and yet he did understand it； for oursouls have much greater capabilities then we are inclined tobelieve。 Do we not； in our dreams； show a wonderful dramatic talent？each of our acquaintance appears to us then in his own character；and with his own voice； no man could thus imitate them in his wakinghours。 How clearly； too； we are reminded of persons whom we have notseen for many years； they start up suddenly to the mind's eye with alltheir peculiarities as living realities。 In fact； this memory of thesoul is a fearful thing； every sin； every sinful thought it canbring back； and we may well ask how we are to give account of 〃everyidle word〃 that may have been whispered in the heart or uttered withthe lips。 The spirit of the watchman therefore understood very wellthe language of the inhabitants of the moon。 They were disputing aboutour earth； and doubted whether it could be inhabited。 Theatmosphere； they asserted； must be too dense for any inhabitants ofthe moon to exist there。 They maintained that the moon alone wasinhabited； and was really the heavenly body in which the old worldpeople lived。 They likewise talked politics。
But now we will descend to East Street； and see what happened tothe watchman's body。 He sat lifeless on the steps。 His staff hadfallen out of his hand； and his eyes stared at the moon； about whichhis honest soul was wandering。
〃What is it o'clock； watchman？〃 inquired a passenger。 But therewas no answer from the watchman。
The man then pulled his nose gently； which caused him to losehis balance。 The body fell forward； and lay at full length on theground as one dead。
All his rades were very much frightened； for he seemed quitedead； still they allowed him to remain after they had given noticeof what had happened； and at dawn the body was carried to thehospital。 We might imagine it to be no jesting matter if the soul ofthe man should chance to return to him； for most probably it wouldseek for the body in East Street without being able to find it。 Wemight fancy the soul inquiring of the police； or at the addressoffice； or among the missing parcels； and then at length finding it atthe hospital。 But we may fort ourselves by the certainty that thesoul； when acting upon its own impulses； is wiser than we are； it isthe body that makes it stupid。
As we have said； the watchman's body had been taken to thehospital； and here it was placed in a room to be washed。 Naturally；the first thing done here was to take off the goloshes； upon which thesoul was instantly obliged to return； and it took the direct road tothe body at once； and in a few seconds the man's life returned to him。He declared； when he quite recovered himself； that this had been themost dreadful night he had ever passed； not for a hundred pounds wouldhe go through such feelings again。 However； it was all over now。
The same day he was allowed to leave； but the goloshes remained atthe hospital。
THE EVENTFUL MOMENT … A MOST UNUSUAL JOURNEY
Every inhabitant of Copenhagen knows what the entrance toFrederick's Hospital is like； but as most probably a few of thosewho read this little tale may not reside in Copenhagen； we will give ashort description of it。
The hospital is separated from the street by an iron railing； inwhich the bars stand so wide apart that； it is said； some very slimpatients have squeezed through； and gone to pay little visits in thetown。 The most difficult part of the body to get through was the head；and in this case； as it often happens in the world； the small headswere the most fortunate。 This will serve as sufficient introduction toour tale。 One of the young volunteers； of whom； physically speaking；it might be said that he had a great head； was on guard that eveningat the hospital。 The rain was pouring down； yet； in spite of these twoobstacles； he wanted to go out just for a quarter of an hour； it wasnot worth while； he thought； to make a confidant of the porter； ashe could easily slip through the iron railings。 There lay thegoloshes； which the watchman had forgotten。 It never occurred to himthat these could be goloshes of Fortune。 They would be veryserviceable to him in this rainy weather； so he drew them on。 Now camethe question whether he could squeeze through the palings； hecertainly had never tried； so he stood looking at them。 〃I wish togoodness my head was through；〃 said he；