“He has not come here yet!” said the old grave woman， who was appointed to look afterDeath's GREat greenhouse! “How have you been able to find the way hither? And who hashelped you?”
“OUR LORD has helped me，” said she. “He ismerciful， and you will also be so!
Where shall I find my little child?“
“Nay， I know not，” said the woman， “and youcannot see! Many flowers and trees have witheredthis night; Death will soon come and plant themover again!
You certainly know that every person has his orher life's tree or flower，just as everyone happens tobe settled; they look like other plants， but theyhave pulsations of the heart. Children's hearts can also beat; go after yours，perhaps youmay know your child's; but what will you give me if I tell you what you shall do more?“
“I have nothing to give，” said the afflicted mother， “but I will go to the world's end foryou!”
“Nay， I have nothing to do there!” said the woman. “But you can give me your long blackhair; you know yourself that it is fine， and that I like! You shall have my white hair instead，and that's always something!”
“Do you demand nothing else?” said she. “That I will gladly give you!” And she gave herher fine black hair， and got the old woman's snow-white hair instead.
So they went into Death's GREat greenhouse， where flowers and trees grew strangelyinto one another. There stood fine hyacinths under glass bells， and there stood strong-stemmed peonies; there grew water plants， some so fresh，others half sick， the water-snakes lay down on them， and black crabs pinched their stalks. There stood beautiful palm-trees， oaks， and plantains; there stood parsley and flowering thyme： every tree and everyflower had its name;each of them was a human life， the human frame still lived——one inChina， and another in Greenland——round about in the world. There were large trees in smallpots， so that they stood so stunted in growth， and ready to burst the pots; in otherplaces， there was a little dull flower in rich mould， with moss round about it， and it was sopetted and nursed. But the distressed mother bent down over all the smallest plants， andheard within them how the human heart beat; and amongst millions she knew her child's.
“there it is!” cried she， and stretched her hands out over a little blue crocus， that hungquite sickly on one side.
“Don't touch the flower!” said the old woman. “But place yourself here， and when Deathcomes——I expect him every moment——do not let him pluck the flower up， but threaten himthat you will do the same with the others. Then he will be afraid! He is responsible for them toOUR LORD， and no one dares to pluck them up before HE gives leave.”
All at once an icy cold rushed through the GREat hall， and the blind mother could feel thatit was Death that came.
“How hast thou been able to find thy way hither?” he asked. “How couldst thou comequicker than I?”
“I am a mother，” said she.
And Death stretched out his long hand towards the fine little flower， but she held herhands fast around his， so tight， and yet afraid that she should touch one of the leaves. ThenDeath blew on her hands， and she felt that it was colder than the cold wind， and her handsfell down powerless.
“Thou canst not do anything against me!” said Death.
“But OUR LORD can!” said she.
“I only do His bidding!” said Death. “I am His gardener， I take all His flowers and trees，and plant them out in the GREat garden of Paradise， in the unknown land; but how theygrow there， and how it is there I dare not tell thee.”
“Give me back my child!” said the mother， and she wept and prayed. At once she seizedhold of two beautiful flowers close by， with each hand， and cried out to Death， “I will tear allthy flowers off， for I am in despair.”
“Touch them not!” said Death. “Thou say'st that thou art so unhappy， and now thouwilt make another mother equally unhappy.”
“Another mother!” said the poor woman， and directly let go her hold of both the flowers.
“there， thou hast thine eyes，” said Death; “I fished them up from the lake，they shoneso bright; I knew not they were thine. Take them again， they are now brighter than before;now look down into the deep well close by; I shall tell thee the names of the two flowers thouwouldst have torn up， and thou wilt see their whole future life——their whole humanexistence： and see what thou wast about to disturb and destroy.”
And she looked down into the well; and it was a happiness to see how the one became ablessing to the world， to see how much happiness and joy were felt everywhere. And she sawthe other's life， and it was sorrow and distress，horror， and wretchedness.
“Both of them are God's will!” said Death.