joy it spread around. But she saw that the life of the other was full of care
and poverty, misery and woe.
“Both are the will of God,” said Death.
“Which is the unhappy flower, and which is the blessed one?” she said.
“That I may not tell you,” said Death; “but thus far you may learn, that
one of the two flowers represents your own child. It was the fate of your
child that you saw,-the future of your own child.”
Then the mother screamed aloud with terror, “Which of them belongs to
my child? Tell me that. Deliver the unhappy child. Release it from so much
misery. Rather take it away. Take it to the kingdom of God. Forget my tears
and my entreaties; forget all that I have said or done.”
“I do not understand you,” said Death. “Will you have your child back?
or shall I carry him away to a place that you do not know?”
Then the mother wrung her hands, fell on her knees, and prayed to God,
“Grant not my prayers, when they are contrary to Thy will, which at all
times must be the best. Oh, hear them not;” and her head sank on her
bosom.
Then Death carried away her child to the unknown land.
