IS HE THE DEAREST ONE?
II
IS HE THE DEAREST ONE?
In the distance a dark strip of pine wood was visible. In front of the wood was a meadow, and amid fields of grain stood a cottage covered with a straw roof and with moss. Birch trees hung their tresses above it. On a fir tree stood a stork on its nest, and in a cherry garden were dark beehives.
Through an open gate a wanderer walked into the yard and said to the mistress of the cottage, who was standing on its threshold:
“Peace to this quiet house, to those trees, to the grain, to the whole place, and to thee, mother!”
The woman greeted him kindly, and added:
“I will bring bread and milk to thee, wayfarer; but sit down the while and rest, for it is clear that thou art coming back from a long journey.”