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
  。