A merry sound of sledge bells sounded, and like a lovely dream two beautiful young girls flew past in a sledge, wrapped snugly in rich furs. Their cheeks and eyes sparkled with joy in the beautiful sunshine. It passed like lightning, this vision, but all in the little house were dazzled by it. The sick girl drew her thin hands through her black hair, the poor woman bit her teeth together, and the two children said—
"Mother, were those angels?"
"No," she uttered harshly; "they were human beings like ourselves, only rich and happy, who are not hungry, and have warm clothes."
Sorrow touched her arm—
"If you desire it, I will bring them here, into your home; but at one price—they will suffer pain and misery, and their joy will vanish. Do you want that?"
"Yes," said the woman, "I do. Why should not they watch and weep as we do?"
Sorrow sighed.
"Shall I fetch them?" she asked once again.
"Go, go; do you not see that my children starve? What do other people's children concern me?"