文本内容:
The LastPearl最后的珠子There wasa richand happyhouse.All thoseinit-the owners,and servants,and friends,too-were happyand cheerful,for onthis daya sonand heirhad beenborn,and motherand childweredoing well.The lampin thecozy bedroomhad beenpartly covered,and heavycurtains ofcostly silkenmaterialhad beendrawn tightlytogether beforethe windows.The carpetwas asthick andsoft asmoss.Everything hereinvited restand sleep;it wasa delightfulplace forrepose.And thenurse founditso,too;she slept,and indeedshe might,for allwas welland blessedhere.The Guardian Spirit of the housestood bythe headof thebed;and overthe child,at themother,s breast,it spreaditself likea netof shiningstars,stars ofgreat richness;each wasa pearlofgood fortune.Lifes goodfairies hadbrought theirgifts to the newbornchild;here sparkledhealth,wealth,happiness,love-everything thatman candesire onearth.“Everything hasbeen broughtand bestowedhere,〃said theGuardian Spirit.〃No,〃said avoice nearby;it wasthe voiceof thechild,s goodAngel.One fairyhas notyetbrought hergift,but she will bring it;she,11bringitin time,even ifyears shouldpassfirst.The lastpearl isyet lacking.z,“Lacking!Nothing must be lackinghere!If thatactually isthe case,let usgo andseek thepowerfulfairy;let usgo to her!,z“She willcome!She willcome someday!Her pearlmustbegiven tobind thewreath together!,zWhere doesshe liveWhere isher homeTell methat,and I11go andfetch thepearl!〃“You dowant tothen,〃said thechild,s goodAngel.〃I willguide youtoher,or towhereshe isto besought.She hasno permanentplace;she visitsthe palaceof theemperor and thecottage ofthe poorestpeasant.She passesno oneby withoutleaving atrace ofherself;to allshebrings hergift,be it a worldor atoy.And thischild,also,shewillcome to.You thinkthatwhile thetime tocome willbe equallylong oneway orthe other,it willnot beequallyprofitable ifyou awaither;well,then,we willgo andfetch thepearl,the lastpearl in thiswealth ofgifts.〃And so,hand inhand,they flewtotheplace whichat themoment wasthe fairy,s home.It wasa largehouse,with darkhalls andempty rooms,all strangelystill.A rowof windowsstoodopen,so thefresh aircould flowin,and thelong whitecurtains rustledin thebreeze.In themiddle ofthe floorstood anopen coffin,and withinit laythe corpseof awoman stillin the primeof life.The loveliestfresh roseslay uponher,leaving visibleonly thefolded,delicate handsand thenoble face,beautiful indeath,with theexalted solemnityof oneinitiatedinto God,s service.By the coffin stoodher husbandand children,a wholeflock ofthem,the smallestof whomwasheld inhis fathersarm.They hadcome tobid alast farewell,andthehusband kissedher hand,that which,now likea witheredleaf,had onceclasped theirswith strengthand love.Bittertears ofsorrow fellin heavydrops upon the floor,but nota wordwas spoken.Silence expressedaworld ofgrief.And silentand sobbing,they leftthe room.A lightedcandle stoodthere,the flamestruggling againstthe windas itshot up its longredtongue.Strangers enteredthe room,closed thelid ofthecoffin,and hammeredin thenails.The hammerstrokes clangedsharply throughthe hallsand roomsofthe house,resounding inthehearts thatbled there.z,Where doyou takeme〃inquired theGuardianSpirit.Here couldlive nofairy whosepearlbelong amonglifes bestgifts.〃“She dwellsinthisvery place,now atthis holyhour,〃said the Angel,pointing toa corner.And there,where themother hadsat inlife amidflowers andpictures,and beenlike thegoodfairy ofthehouse,where shehad affectionatelygreeted husband,children,and friends,and,like raysof sunshine,had spreadhappiness,love,and harmony,and beenthe veryheart ofeverything,there nowsat astrange womanclad inlong,heavy robes.It wasSorrow,and shenowruled hereinthemother,s place.A hottear rolleddown hercheek,into herlap,where itbecamea pearl,sparkling withall thehues ofthe rainbow,and astheAngelcaught itupitshone withthesevenfold lusterof astar.“The Pearl of Sorrow,the lastpearl,which mustnever belacking!Through itthe lightandsplendor ofall othergifts areenhanced.Behold initareflection ofthe rainbow,which unitesearthwith heavenitself!In theplace ofeach orour belovedones takenfrom usby death,wegain onefriend moreto lookforward tobeing within heaven.In thenight welook upbeyondthe stars,toward theend ofall things.Reflect,then,uponthePearlofSorrow,for withinitlie thewings ofPsyche,which carryus awayfrom here.,z。