He saw, too, that his hair was turning gray. But they could
never rest long, for they had their journey to perform, and it
was necessary for them to be always busy.
At last, there had been so many partings that there were no
children left, and only the traveler, the gentleman, and the lady
went upon their way in company. And now the wood was yellow; and
now brown; and the leaves, even of the forest trees, began to
fall.
They came to an avenue that was darker than the rest, and were
pressing forward on their journey without looking down it, when
the lady stopped.
"My husband," said the lady, "I am called."
They listened, and they heard a voice a long way down the avenue
say, "Mother, mother!"
It was the voice of the child who had said, "I am going to
heaven!" and the father cried, "I pray not yet. The sunset is
very near. I pray not yet."
But the voice called, "Mother, mother!" without minding him,
though his hair was now quite white, and tears were on his face.
Then the mother, who was already drawn into the shade of the dark
avenue, and moving away with her arms still around his neck,
kissed him and said, "My dearest, I am summoned, and I go!" And
she was gone.
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