Whenever these partings happened, the traveller looked at the
gentleman, and saw him glance up at the sky above the trees, where
the day was beginning to decline, and the sunset to come on. He
saw, too, that his hair was turning grey. But, they never could
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 traveller, 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.
So, 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 first child who had said, "I am going to
Heaven!" and the father said, "I pray not yet. The sunset is very
near. I pray not yet!"
But, the voice cried, "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 round his neck, kissed
him, and said, "My dearest, I am summoned, and I go!" And she was
gone.
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