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assive silvercandlesticks stood there； and bowed low before an old woman； who wasbeing brought downstairs in a litter。 The proprietor of the housestood bare…headed； and respectfully imprinted a kiss on the hand ofthe old woman。 She was his mother。 She nodded in a friendly mannerto him and to the servants； and they carried her into the darknarrow street； into a little house； that was her dwelling。 Here herchildren had been born； from hence the fortune of the family hadarisen。 If she deserted the despised street and the little house；fortune would also desert her children。 That was her firm belief。〃
The Moon told me no more； his visit this evening was far tooshort。 But I thought of the old woman in the narrow despised street。It would have cost her but a word； and a brilliant house would havearisen for her on the banks of the Thames… a word； and a villa wouldhave been prepared in the Bay of Naples。
〃If I deserted the lowly house； where the fortunes of my sonsfirst began to bloom； fortune would desert them！〃 It was asuperstition； but a superstition of such a class； that he who knowsthe story and has seen this picture； need have only two words placedunder the picture to make him understand it； and these two wordsare： 〃A mother。〃
TWENTY…FIFTH EVENING
〃It was yesterday； in the morning twilight〃… these are the wordsthe Moon told me… 〃in the great city no chimney was yet smoking… andit was just at the chimneys that I was looking。 Suddenly a little heademerged from one of them； and then half a body； the arms resting onthe rim of the chimney…pot。 'Ya…hip！ ya…hip！' cried a voice。 It wasthe little chimney…sweeper； who had for the first time in his lifecrept through a chimney； and stuck out his head at the top。 'Ya…hip！ya…hip' Yes； certainly that was a very different thing to creepingabout in the dark narrow chimneys！ the air blew so fresh； and he couldlook over the whole city towards the green wood。 The sun was justrising。 It shone round and great； just in his face； that beamed withtriumph； though it was very prettily blacked with soot。
〃'The whole town can see me now；' he exclaimed； 'and the mooncan see me now； and the sun too。 Ya…hip！ ya…hip！' And he flourishedhis 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 whatdoes the Chinaman care about the outer world？ Close wooden shutterscovered the windows behind the walls of the houses； but through thewindows of the temple a faint light glimmered。 I looked in； and sawthe quaint decorations within。 From the floor to the ceilingpictures are painted； in the most glaring colours； and richly gilt…pictures representing the deeds of the gods here on earth。 In eachniche statues are placed； but they are almost entirely hidden by thecoloured drapery and the banners that hang down。 Before each idol （andthey are all made of tin） stood a little altar of holy water； withflowers and burning wax lights on it。 Above all the rest stood Fo； thechief deity； clad in a garment of yellow silk； for yellow is herethe sacred colour。 At the foot of the altar sat a living being； ayoung priest。 He appeared to be praying； but in the midst of hisprayer he seemed to fall into deep thought； and this must have beenwrong； for his cheeks glowed and he held down his head。 PoorSoui…Hong！ Was he； perhaps； dreaming of working in the little flowergarden behind the high street wall？ And did that occupation seemmore agreeable to him than watching the wax lights in the temple？ Ordid he wish to sit at the rich feast； wiping his mouth with silverpaper between each course？ Or was his sin so great that； if he daredutter it； the Celestial Empire would punish it with death？ Had histhoughts ventured to fly with the ships of the barbarians； to theirhomes in far distant England？ No； his thoughts did not fly so far； andyet they were sinful； sinful as thoughts born of young hearts；sinful here in the temple； in the presence of Fo and the other holygods。
〃I know whither his thoughts had strayed。 At the farther end ofthe city； on the flat roof paved with porcelain； on which stood thehandsome 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。 Shelifted her graceful round arm； and her satin dress rustled。 Before herstood a glass bowl containing four gold…fish。 She stirred the bowlcarefully with a slender lacquered stick； very slowly； for she； too；was lost in thought。 Was she thinking； perchance； how the fisheswere richly clothed in gold； how they lived calmly and peacefully intheir crystal world； how they were regularly fed； and yet how muchhappier they might be if they were free？ Yes； that she could wellunderstand； the beautiful Pu。 Her thoughts wandered away from herhome； 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 asthe purest ether through which I was gliding； and deep below thesurface I could see the strange plants that stretched up their longarms towards me like the gigantic trees of the forest。 The fishes swamto and fro above their tops。 High in the air a flight of wild swanswere winging their way； one of which sank lower and lower； withwearied pinions； his eyes following the airy caravan； that meltedfarther and farther into the distance。 With outspread wings he sankslowly； as a soap bubble sinks in the still air； till he touched thewater。 At length his head lay back between his wings； and silentlyhe lay there； like a white lotus flower upon the quiet lake。 And agentle wind arose； and crisped the quiet surface； which gleamed likethe clouds that poured along in great broad waves； and the swan raisedhis head； and the glowing water splashed like blue fire over hisbreast and back。 The 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 o