In stepped a boy and a girl
The parents pressed the children to their hearts and all praised God, who on this lovely spring evening had brought the warmth of joy to them.
And now the children had to tell everything that had happened to them, and though there was much sorrow and many dark days to tell of, now the sorrow was changed to joy. The father felt of the arms of his son and rejoiced to find him so manly and strong. The mother kissed the rosy cheeks of her daughter and said, "I knew something beautiful would happen to-day, because two little strange birds sang so sweetly in the top of the birch this morning."
"We know those birds," said the little girl. "They are angels disguised which have flown before us all the way to lead us home. They sang because they were glad that we had found our home."
"Come, let us go and see the birch," said the boy. "Look, sister, here lie our little brother and sister."
"Yes," said the mother, "but they are now angels with God."
"I know, I know," cried the little girl, "the angels in bird form who have flown before us all the way and who sang of our coming, are our brother and sister. It was they who always seemed to say to us 'Go home to Father and Mother.' It was they who cared for us, so that we did not starve or freeze to death. It was they who sent us boats so that we were not drowned in the rapid rivers. It was also they who said to us, 'That is the right birch, this is the right star.' God sent them to keep us safe."
"See," said the boy, "the star is shining more brightly than ever through the leaves. It is bidding us welcome. Now we have found our home—now our wanderings are ended."
—From the Swedish by Zacharias Topelius.