e morning dawn illuminated the red clouds； the swanrose strengthened； and flew towards the rising sun； towards the bluishcoast whither the caravan had gone； but he flew alone； with alonging 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。 〃Amongdark pine woods； near the melancholy banks of the Stoxen； lies the oldconvent church of Wreta。 My rays glided through the grating into theroomy vaults； where kings sleep tranquilly in great stone coffins。On the wall； above the grave of each； is placed the emblem ofearthly grandeur； a kingly crown； but it is made only of wood； paintedand gilt； and is hung on a wooden peg driven into the wall。 Theworms have gnawed the gilded wood； the spider has spun her web fromthe crown down to the sand； like a mourning banner； frail andtransient as the grief of mortals。 How quietly they sleep！ I canremember them quite plainly。 I still see the bold smile on their lips；that so strongly and plainly expressed joy or grief。 When thesteamboat winds along like a magic snail over the lakes； a strangeroften es to the church； and visits the burial vault； he asks thenames of the kings； and they have a dead and forgotten sound。 Heglances with a smile at the worm…eaten crowns； and if he happens to bea pious； thoughtful man； something of melancholy mingles with thesmile。 Slumber on； ye dead ones！ The Moon thinks of you； the Moon atnight sends down his rays into your silent kingdom； over which hangsthe crown of pine wood。〃
TWENTY…NINTH EVENING
〃Close by the high…road；〃 said the Moon； 〃is an inn； andopposite to it is a great waggon…shed； whose straw roof was just beingre…thatched。 I looked down between the bare rafters and through theopen loft into the fortless space below。 The turkey…cock slept onthe beam； and the saddle rested in the empty crib。 In the middle ofthe shed stood a travelling carriage； the proprietor was inside；fast asleep； while the horses were being watered。 The coachmanstretched himself； though I am very sure that he had been mostfortably asleep half the last stage。 The door of the servants' roomstood 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 thesocket。 The wind blew cold through the shed： it was nearer to the dawnthan to midnight。 In the wooden frame on the ground slept a wanderingfamily of musicians。 The father and mother seemed to be dreaming ofthe burning liquor that remained in the bottle。 The little paledaughter was dreaming too； for her eyes were wet with tears。 The harpstood at their heads； and the dog lay stretched at their feet。〃
THIRTIETH EVENING
〃It was in a little provincial town；〃 the Moon said； 〃it certainlyhappened last year； but that has nothing to do with the matter。 Isaw it quite plainly。 To…day I read about it in the papers； butthere it was not half so clearly expressed。 In the taproom of thelittle inn sat the bear leader； eating his supper； the bear was tiedup outside； behind the wood pile… poor Bruin； who did nobody any harm；though he looked grim enough。 Up in the garret three little childrenwere playing by the light of my beams； the eldest was perhaps sixyears old； the youngest certainly not more than two。 'Tramp； tramp'…somebody was ing upstairs： who might it be？ The door was thrustopen… it was Bruin； the great； shaggy Bruin！ He had got tired ofwaiting down in the courtyard； and had found his way to the stairs。I saw it all；〃 said the Moon。 〃The children were very muchfrightened at first at the great shaggy animal； each of them creptinto a corner； but he found them all out； and smelt at them； but didthem no harm。 'This must be a great dog；' they said； and began tostroke him。 He lay down upon the ground； the youngest boy clambered onhis back； and bending down a little head of golden curls； played athiding in the beast's shaggy skin。 Presently the eldest boy took hisdrum； and beat upon it till it rattled again； the bear rose upon hishind legs； and began to dance。 It was a charming sight to behold。 Eachboy now took his gun； and the bear was obliged to have one too； and heheld 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 themother of the children appeared。 You should have seen her in herdumb terror； with her face as white as chalk； her mouth half open； andher eyes fixed in a horrified stare。 But the youngest boy nodded toher in great glee； and called out in his infantile prattle； 'We'replaying 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 bee visible。 He said；〃I looked down from the silent sky upon the driving clouds； and sawthe great shadows chasing each other across the earth。 I looked upon aprison。 A closed carriage stood before it； a prisoner was to becarried away。 My rays pierced through the grated window towards thewall； the prisoner was scratching a few lines upon it； as a partingtoken； but he did not write words； but a melody； the outpouring of hisheart。 The door was opened； and he was led forth； and fixed his eyesupon my round disc。 Clouds passed between us； as if he were not to seehis face； nor I his。 He stepped into the carriage； the door wasclosed； the whip cracked； and the horses gallopped off into thethick forest； whither my rays were not able to follow him； but as Iglanced 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； sothe greater part of what was written there will ever remain dark tome。 Was it the death…hymn he wrote there？ Were these the glad notes ofjoy？ Did he drive away to meet death； or hasten to the embraces of hisbeloved？ The rays of the Moon do not read all that is written bymortals。〃
THIRTY…SECOND EVENING
〃I love the children；〃 said the Moon； 〃especially the quite littleones… they are so droll。 Sometimes I peep into the room； between thecurtain and the window frame； when they are not thinking of me。 Itgives me pleasure to see them dressing and undressing。 First； thelittle round naked shoulder es creeping out of the frock； thenthe arm； or I see how the stocking is drawn off； and a plump littlewhite leg makes its appearance； and a white little foot that is fit tobe kissed； and I kiss it too。
〃But about what I was going to tell you。 This evening I lookedthrough a window； before which no curtain was drawn； for nobodylives 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； butcan say her prayers as well as any of the rest。 The mother sits by herbed every evening； and hears her say her prayers； and then she has akiss； and the mother sits by the bed till the little one has gone tosleep； which generally happens as soon as ever she can close her eyes。
〃This evening the two elder children were a little boisterous。 Oneof them hopped about on one leg in his long white nightgown； and t