 Chapter 23 of On Angels Wings, this is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Lola Jean. On Angels Wings by Louisa Lylis-Green. Great Preparations The morning of the procession had come, such a glorious morning, bright sunshine, blue sky, and a soft breeze blowing down from the hill. At an early hour the whole town was a stir. Everyone was anxious to join in or to see this procession. For the brave general for whose homecoming it was planned was the favorite of the town and all were anxious to do him honor. It seemed to them only a few days ago that they had seen his sturdy figure walking down the shady alley accompanied by his sons. Fine, fair-haired young fellows who had since then fallen wounded to death in the dreadful battle of Sedan. Those whose work could be got over in the early morning rose with the sun, so asked to leave the afternoon free to do honor to the general. The washerwoman at the river's edge were battering their linen on the stones from early dawn, while the usually sulky river crept in today bright with light rivulets of gold, and the walls of the great old castle were gay with flags, whose shining spearheads caught the first rays of the rising sun. In the streets the pigeons were already pecking happily for the noisy tread of their early rises had disturbed them, and beneath the window of Violet's house a whole cluster were collected. Madame Adler having already risen and thrown out to them a large sea full of corn which she had brought from the bakery for the purpose. She looked up at Violet's window before she turned to re-enter the shop and sighed heavily. She had been in the evening before to see her little darling and to show her Ella dressed in her angel's garments. Soft white raiment and glistening wings, but the effect on Violet had been so overpowering that Madame Adler had hurried Ella away and had herself been obliged to listen to a lecture from Avelina for having so thoughtlessly broken in on the child's evening sleep and set her heart beating with distress too deep for words. Madame Adler had made no reply to Avelina's repurchase for her own heart was too full of pain to see the great change which had lately come over the little winged face and when she saw the sudden luster which burned in Violet's eyes at the first sight of Ella with the white dress and the shining wings and then listened to the passionate sobbing which followed she had gone back to her own house overwhelmed with grief at the result of her visit and she longed for the day of the procession to be over that the subject might pass away from Violet's mind and Ella's wings be folded up and put away. Ella upstairs in her room was awake also this morning at an unusually early hour. She could not rest with the joyous expectation of being an angel and walking in the great procession and ever so many times she had risen and gone over and touched with her soft fat fingers the wings so beautifully tipped with silver and shining with stars and which lay upon the table in the middle of the room but every time she looked at them a sorrowful remembrance came over her of Violet's face and her bitter tears and at last the little girl walked back to her bedside and kneeling down said softly oh thou good Lord Jesus be very kind to poor Violet in the house opposite and give her wings to like Ella she looked up very steadily at the ceiling as she said these words her wide open eyes seemed to see far above the roof and the chimneys and the storks the soft yellow hair was straggling out in long loops and curls from under her linen nightcap her elbows rested on the bed and her dimpled fingers were clasped was she after all so unlike an angel this fat Miss Ella at whose appearance Evelina could not restrain her laughter when Ella had finished her little prayer and was saying amen in a rather loud voice the door opened and Fritz walked in what are thou doing Ella he said rather curiously out of bed already at this early hour and saying thy prayers does thou think thou art an angel already Ella blushed crimson as she stood up and she shuffled her little pink feet over each other uneasily on the carpet it was only about Violet she said nervously and her eyes traveled back again to the wings shining so softly on the dark oil cloth cover of the table so thou has been thinking of her too said Fritz drawing a deep breath I have thought of nothing else all night and that is why I too am up so early and dressed as thou seeest for going out Ella had noticed that Fritz had his cap in his hands and she had wondered at it well well she asked open mouth well I'm going off to the police barrack to try and see Violet's friend mother told me last night that she heard the procession was not to pass through our street at all but was to turn up by the cathedral and across the market square to the station and then poor Violet could not see it at all or hear any of the music mother says she is glad but I am not a bit for look at this Ella Fritz drew from his trouser pockets a little crumpled scrap of paper and spread it out upon the palm of his hand she dropped this out of the window to me last night and I know this one thing Fritz spoke in a curious husky voice and turned away his face what thing Fritz Violet will never send me any more notes look at this I was half an hour before I can make it out there was a large V and then a lot of trembling up and down strokes without any pretense at printing only there was a dot over one stroke and a letter something like a T at the end then came the word wants pretty fairly readable then another trembling set of meaningless lines and the word angels and again a word which Fritz after much trouble had made out to be seen Violet wants to hear the angels sing that was her message and I'm going straight now to the barracks and I shall show this to our policemen and he shall go to the general's wife and they shall arrange together that the procession is to go through this street I have settled it all in the night when I was lying awake perhaps the general's wife will not do it perhaps she will thou little ass replied Fritz curtly as he banged the door after him and went out ah if I could give Violet my wings Ella said softly as once more returning to the table she touched the silver pinions which lay spread out upon it shinningly but the good Lord Jesus is much much kinder than Ella and perhaps he will lend her some wings just for this one day Ella went over the casement and looked across and down at the closed shutters of Violet's window she was singing softly to herself the words of the angels song which her mother had with much care been teaching to her for the last few days angels sing on your faithful watches keep sing a sweet fragments of the songs above till morning's joy shall end the nights of weeping and life's long shadow breaks in endless love Ella had the sweetest childish voice that one could hear anywhere yes it was for this reason she had been chosen to form one of the angel choir and now as she came to the end of her verse she sang out the chorus loud and clearly angels of Jesus angels of light singing to welcome the pilgrims of night Ella did not quite understand what the words of the hymn meant though her mother had given many long minutes to their explanation she only knew they were about the good Lord Jesus and she felt that they were words Violet would love to hear so she sang them loud enough and clear enough for the sound to reach her ears were she awake but there was no stir in the Oreo window except a burst of song from the canary opposite behind whose cage the curtains of Violet's casement had been loosely folded but the blind in the room next to hers was at this moment quickly drawn up and Ella saw Evelina look out hurriedly into the street and then withdraw as quickly behind the table she was up early too and dressed already in a pretty white and blue muslin dress which she was evidently trying on before the looking glass for Ella saw her take up some blue bows from the table and pin them on her dress arranging them first in one place and then in another until she was satisfied with their effect Ella wondered that Evelina should be so smartly dressed at so early an hour but she wanted still more when she saw her turn back a moment from the window and then reappear with the large leg horn hat in her hand covered with some pale blue flowers and lined with a pretty light blue satin the same color as the ribbon bows upon her dress she turned it backwards and forwards for a few moments picking up the blue flowers with her fingers just here and there where they stuck too closely to the straw and she bent the broad flap a little to one side and pinned it up with much care and then she placed it on her head smiling a little and moving to and fro in front of the mirror all at once she turned and walked away Ella saw her hurriedly snap off the hat and throw it on the bed and then move forward as if towards Violet's room Ella watched for her to come back but at last growing tired of waiting she lay down on her little bed and still humming the angels chorus she fell into a light sleep before however she had quite wandered off into the land of dreams the door of her room opened again and Fritz came in with flushed face and excited manner it is all of no use he cried flinging his cap down at the foot of the bed I have seen the policeman and he says it is no good for him to ask and he will not even try asked Ella opening her sleepy eyes oh yes he will try he has gone off now to see the Colonel but he knows it is all no use Fritz sat down on the side of Ella's little cot and suddenly burst out crying I wish I had never told her anything about it he said sobbing why dear Fritz and Ella threw her fat arms around her brother's neck that old cat Evelina told the policeman that since I had told Violet about the angels she has had no sleep and can eat nothing and that in a few days she will be quite dead quite dead echoed Ella mournfully and poor Fritz will never see her nor speak to her anymore hush Ella Fritz cried springing up from the bed angrily Fritz will see her again Fritz will speak to Violet again he will go this instant and ask the Lord Jesus this very day to make her quite well to take all the sickness away from her and the Lord Jesus must listen to Fritz this time for he will go out on the very top of the house and call ever so loud so loud that he must hear him and Fritz his face all quivering with the anguish of the moment started up and rushed wildly out of the room and Ella heard his feet ascending the little wooden ladder that led out among the nostriums and the red geraniums onto the red tiled roof above End of Chapter 23 Chapter 24 of On Angels' Wings This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Lola Jimmy On Angels' Wings by Louisa Lylez-Green A grievous disappointment It was still quite early when Avelina drew back the curtains in the Oreo window and led in the rosy morning light A few moments before Violet had startled her by a cry of joy so keen and unmistakable that she hurried from the inner room in her white New Zealand dress to the child's bedside only to find her face pressed in against the pillow around which her arms were tightly pressed What is it? Why did itst thou call so? She cried curiously as she stooped over the bed Oh, Avelina, the angels were singing to me Said Violet, lifting up a face still wreathed in the happiest smiles Didst thou not hear them, Avelina? I knew the very words they said And father, dear father, he was there with them in the meadow beside the hill And he stretched out his hands to me and cried out so loud to meet again that I screamed out with joy Ah, that was indeed a lovely dream, said Avelina Stooping over the bed and kissing the little face still lighted up with the straggling beams of heavenly glory Go to sleep, dearest one, and perhaps thou mayest dream of the angels again And dost thou know, Avelina, in the meadow beside the hill where the flowers grow, my feet never touched the ground Never! hush, little heart, go to sleep! she replied softly And thou, Avelina, wilt thou not be an angel too? For thou art dressed in white, and thou art so lovely and so kind Said the little voice from among its pillows Avelina made no answer, her cheeks burned with a vivid red and her heart gave loud throbs as she bent over the child and kissed her again passionately Then she turned and went back into the room but her eyes were full of tears and for many minutes afterwards she was restless and miserable until at length she took off the white dress and laid it aside on the top of her trunk and the hat with the blue forget-me-nots she hastily covered over with a handkerchief and hid it away in the press What is the boy doing up there? she said suddenly as she looked up at the red tiles of the house opposite why he is saying his prayers on the roof was ever anything so funny when Violet did awake later on she seemed to have forgotten all about her dream she sighed heavily and there were bright red spots on her cheeks she watched all Avelina's movements with a kind of dull curiosity but for a long time she made no effort to speak at last she said with a weak and somewhat complaining voice Avelina, why are dark making the room ready so early? that brush knocks so loudly against the chairs and Violet's head is aching I am up early because the whole town is up early replied Avelina somewhat shortly and a room cannot be cleaned properly without brushing it and why is the whole town up early? why, Avelina? why, of course, thou knowest that this is the day of the grand procession and one cannot be both inside of the house doing one's work and outside of it at the same time enjoying oneself and out there going out to see the angels asked Violet fixing her eyes sorrowfully on the face of Avelina that depends I'm not certain but thou wouldest like it, wouldest thou not? yes, yes, of course and will it be a long way off down a far, far street? no, no, quite close they are to turn off at the fountain and go up by the cathedral then Violet will perhaps hear them singing cried the child raising herself on her elbow and flushing all over a lovely carmine color I have often heard the women singing at the fountain in the evening yes, I daresay I'll have Violet would love to stand like the other little children in the street and see the beautiful angels with their wings a deep longing sigh followed this remark Avelina made no reply and Violet still followed her movements wistfully with her eyes to let last they fell upon the little carriage which she was at this moment destined and which she presently pushed somewhat further back into the corner just as far as the fountain pleaded Violet with quivering lips no, no, it is impossible for the greatest crowd of all will be just there they are all to gather at the fountain which is to be decked out with flowers and the first course is to be sung beside it to drag a carriage through such a multitude of people will be out of the question but in thine arms, Avelina could thou not take me such a little way in thine arms? in my arms dear love, who ever heard of such a thing? yes, yes, only to the fountain to see the angels and to hear them sing thou askest me that which thou knowest well I cannot do? replied Avelina almost angrily the doctor would not hear of my taking thee out of thy bed to carry thee in my arms among such a lot of people and besides, thou wouldest not like it thyself other children would stare at thee and say things perhaps which would hurt thee what would they say, Avelina? oh cruel things, children do not stop to pick their words but what would they say pleaded Violet her eyes opening wide and her cheeks flushing they would perhaps point their fingers at thee and call thee names I have heard such things often in the street they are wicked children as well as good I have seen them even throwing stones after little sick children yes? cried Violet, sitting up straight and her eyes deepening to the purple shade which always came with some great mental excitement and thou rememberest Avelina how one wicked boy threw a great heavy stone at poor hunchback and how God was watching and when they would have thrown another the Lord Jesus laid his hand on the hunchback's shoulders and out of them came two beautiful shining wings and he flew straight up to heaven thou rememberest all this Avelina oh yes I dare say replied Avelina who was down on her knees polishing the stove but thou didst tell that very story to me well and what then then Violet is not afraid to go out in the streets for the good Lord Jesus loves Violet very very much and if anything came to hurt her he would just give her wings and she would fly away straight up to heaven for a moment Avelina's heart relented as she looked up from the stove at those earnest eyes full of such beseeching entreaty well well we can see when the time comes she said quickly lie down now and don't talk about it anymore when I have done my work I will go and see the doctor and ask him and if he says yes why then we must arrange it somehow ah thou best Avelina how good thou art cried Violet stretching out her arms gratefully but Avelina was perhaps too busy to notice the action at any rate she continued polishing the stove and Violet with eyes still darkly dilated with the wonder of some great but as yet unrealized joy lay back upon her pillow only saying to herself in a whisper Violet will see the angels and will hear them sing at eleven o'clock Avelina went out she was some time away and Violet watched with a beating heart for her return at last she heard footsteps on the stairs but Avelina instead of entering the kitchen went into her own room and shut the door Violet waited for a few minutes and then called to her but she received no answer Avelina was walking hurriedly about the inside room and did not hear her calling at last the door opened and Avelina came in she had on a white dress now a white muslin dress dotted over with pale blue spots and on her bosom there was fastened a bunch of forget-me-nots and on the front of the dress there were also pale blue bows the same color as the flowers she looked so young and fresh with her golden hair and her pretty smiling face covered just now with a crimson blush that Violet cried out involuntarily oh how beautiful how lovely has thou seen the doctor but Avelina only said hastily as she looked at the bed how stupid of me I have forgotten to dress the child then thou wilt take me oh dearest Avelina thou art too good to Violet Avelina looked now really distressed she came over and took the child's hot hands in hers and sat down on the edge of the bed I have not seen the doctor she said in a quick nervous voice he was out and had left no word where he was gone I durst not take thee out on such a day without his leave although the sun is hot there's a keen east wind blowing so I will just run down to the fountain and have one look at the procession and then come back to thee I shall not be five minutes away and thou shalt hear all about it when I return and how Miss Ella looked and how she sang and then we shall have oh such a feast when Avelina comes home peaches and grapes which are in the next room waiting for us to eat them and a cake covered with sugar and a bunch of violets fastened on top and we shall have such fun shall we not that little heart's love and now Avelina will dress thee in thy purple frock and Miss Ella shall come back wings and all and have a share in our supper and our good things and now thou will not be an ungrateful little girl when Avelina has done all this for thee ah for shame dry thine eyes and let us have no more tears Violet drew her hand quickly out of Avelina's and wiped away the tears which were flowing fast down the poor pale face for was it not ungrateful and unkind of her to weep and fret when Avelina had been so good and had bought for her such lovely things as grapes and peaches Avelina tied an apron over her new dress and began to comb out Violet's yellow locks they did not glisten now so brightly as they used to do for long sickness had dimmed their golden color but still when tied up with a dark purple knot they hung prettily enough over the cashier dress into the neck and sleeves of which Avelina had sewn clean soft white frills there now thou art quite lovely quite charming cried Avelina gazing at the little girl whose lips still quivered with a suppressed excitement and see here I will give thee some of my forget-me-nots and thou shalt fasten them so on front of thy dress and there will not be an angel in all the processions so fair as thee ay little hearts darling what say is that Violet did not answer she only lifted her eyes to Avelina's face as if she wished to speak and could not what is it is there anything more I can do for thee for it is now on the stroke of twelve and if I do not start at once I shall be late please please Avelina take Violet in thine arms only this once such a little way to the fountain such a short, short street that Violet may see the angels and hear them sing it is impossible replied Avelina shortly and growing very red but as thou art so determined to cry and make a fuss I will stay at home myself and make an end of it all and Avelina sat down on a chair and tears came into her eyes no, no cried Violet passionately thou must go Avelina Violet will cry no more she will wait here quite quietly till thou comest back yes, go now please go Avelina ever so fast and when thou hast seen the beautiful angels at the fountain thou wilt come back quickly to Violet Avelina rose up with averted face and said somewhat sullenly well, as I am dressed I suppose I may well go but after such a fuss and crying one cannot enjoy oneself very much she pushed the door of her own room open as she said this and going in drew the bolt quickly across it a minute or two later she opened the other door at the side of the landing and began to descend the stairs Avelina cried Violet after her piteously lift Violet first into the window Avelina, Avelina thou hast forgotten to put Violet into her chair Avelina turned to answer the child's appeal but suddenly remembering something she paused and raised her hand to her head I cannot wait now to take it off for it is all pinned to my hair she said peevishly in any case I shall be back directly and so turning a deaf ear to Violet's cries she went down the stairs and out into the street End of Chapter 24 Chapter 25 of On Angels Wings This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Lola Jane On Angels Wings by Louisa Lilas Green Wings at Last Violet waited and listened until the last sound of Avelina's footsteps had died away and then she fell into a sudden revere Her eyes remained fixed on the rails at the foot of her bed and she neither moved nor spoke Only now and then a little shiver seemed to pass over her and she sighed heavily and her eyebrows were contracted with pain A sudden sense of great loneliness had come over her and with it a swift remembrance of her dear mother the mother who had been carried out through that very door by which Avelina had that moment passed out and who had never returned to her anymore Ah, has she been here now She would have listened to her cries She would have carried her in her arms to the fountain She would have lifted her up so tenderly and held her tightly Oh, so tightly to her breast and together they would have listened to the angels sing And then came the recollection of that dream when the Lord Jesus had met her in the meadow and had shown her the little lamb which he was carrying in his bosom The little lamb with the white face so like Violet and she remembered the sound of his voice as he said to her so softly See, she has fallen asleep and I'm going to lay her in her mother's arms Ah, if Violet could fall asleep like that poor tired lamb and awake in the arms of her dear mother whose face she had not seen for so long Oh, so long Yes, long, long ago Again, that thrilling shiver passed over her and the little face grew pale Mother, she cried Mother, can't thou not hear me, mother Mother, mother It rose higher and higher now the wail of a child's despair But Hark, what was that other sound without? Music? Voices? A burst of sudden songs somewhere not far off Violet ceased to cry and listened with large, dilated eyes from which the pain of the past moment had not yet departed The angels, the angels, I hear them singing She cried, starting up in an ecstasy of delight They are singing at the fountain I can hear them and Ella is with them and she has wings Ah, if someone could lift me gently and put me in my chair at the window Kate, Kate, come to Violet, come quickly She had not longed to wait for an answer to her call for as she cried aloud for Kate the old servant pushed open the door and walked in She had not come, however, at Violet's summons She held a red-colored envelope in her hand and she looked round the room anxiously and somewhat angrily So it is just as I thought that little conceited minx has gone out and left the child all alone I just caught a sight of the hat as she whirled by the window and I knew well where it came from Kate, Kate, listen to the angels They are singing at the fountain If thou speak it so loud, I cannot hear them Aye, aye, I hear them well enough But who is to open this telegram and tell us what is in it? Ah, Kate, do not mind what is in it Lift me in thy arms, dear Kate and put me in my chair by the window Well, have patience a moment and I will see if I can make out the words I'm a regular block hat at reading but the messenger is waiting at the door to see if there's any answer and that silly girl may not be back for an hour Kate turned a little aside as she tore open the envelope and looked back a moment at Violet with an evident nervousness of manner Ah, God be thanked It is no bad news It is from the good lady at Gutsberg She will be here this afternoon But Violet did not hear one word Kate said A great hope was rising in her bosom The sound of the angels' voices was drawing nearer and nearer and she could now almost catch the very words they were singing It was growing clear to her that the procession must be advancing up the street Kate, Kate, where are they going? She cried suddenly as the old servant moved toward the door Will they not carry Violet across to her chair? Yes, yes, in a moment I am only going to the street door and I shall be back immediately By the time she returned to the room Violet's cheeks were burning with excitement and there was a look in her eyes which almost frightened the old servant Lift me to the window, she cried almost passionately The angels are coming They have wings, I must see them They are coming up the street Kate held out her arms quickly to the child but her heart sank as she noticed the crimson cheeks and the eyes which looked at her and yet did not seem to see her so full were they of some deep and overpowering excitement Quick, quick, they are in the street She repeated feverishly Aye, aye, they are in the street That is true enough But have patience, dear heart There is time enough yet They are not so near as thou thinkest Still, Violet repeated the same words furiously Quick, quick, they are in the street They are in the street until Kate had taken her in her arms and carried her to the window Do not put me in the chair Put me on the seat in the middle of the window She cried eagerly as Kate would have deposited her in her usual place Violet can see so much better all up and down the street and thou canst put thy arms round me and hold me so tightly Is it not so, Kate? She turned round quickly and put her burning lips against the old woman's cheek The good Lord Jesus holds the sick lamb ever so closely in his arms and I am one of his lambs for I saw its face Oh, so white, and it was violence Dear heart, she is crazed Mother Kate to herself There, now sit down on the seat and I will hold thee tightly, I warrant The angels, I see them They are dressed in white They are coming nearer and nearer Kate, canst thou not see them too? Violet clutched at the wooden box full of sweet violets which stood on the window sill outside and drew herself forward with a sudden access of strength The box, which was bound by many a cobweb to the mulled stone moved one inch or so and rocked ominously Two white pigeons which were preening their feathers on the ledge just beside it flew away frightened and surged on the roof opposite Kate, Kate, I see Ella She is waving her hand to me There's a crown in it Dust thou not see? A crown of gold She's holding it out to me I, I, I see Miss Ella How fat she looks And cold too, poor child Her arms look quite blue in her thin white dress Ah, she looks beautiful The angels of God are all beautiful They fly about in heaven and have no pain, Kate And look at Ella's wings how they shine Stand up straight, Kate and thou wilt see better Kate leaned a little forward over the child's head and looked out Yes, yes, one would almost think that they were real But here is another messenger coming to the door with a telegram and there is no one downstairs Let's go down, cried Violet eagerly I'm quite safe here in the window and quite, quite comfortable Thou art sure, dear heart Yes, I can hold on the box until thou comest back Here, all at once the children's voices burst forth in the street beneath and in a delicious harmony took up the melodious hymn Angels of Jesus, Angels of Light singing to welcome the pilgrims of night Ella's clear travel rose up high, high into the air and seemed to enter in at the very window Violet clutching unconsciously at the box in front of her drew herself more forward till at length she was leaning over the sweet-scented leaves and could see well down into the street beneath There was a hush now among the crowd for all the people gathered in the space below listening entranced to the sweet childish treble as it rose higher and higher in his anxiety that the song should reach the ear of one the child loved but all at once the song ceased and a cry came from her parted lips See, see, look up Violet is at the window and she will fall The white-robed procession paused for a moment at the shrill scream of the child and all heads were turned up to see what was the cause of her anguish while at the same moment a woman's voice uplifted in sudden terror cried passionately from amongst them Violet, ah, wicked child go back, what after her doing? But Violet did not see the upturned faces nor hear Evelina's cry of terror struck reproach She was alike unconscious of rebuke or fear for in the street beneath her were gathered a glorious company of angels Their raiment, white and glistening dazzled her aching eyes Their crowns of gold seemed all on fire while the voices of a great multitude rang in her ears in sweet melodious invitation Come, weary soul Jesus bids thee come To Violet it was no longer the hot and dusty streets of Edelstein on which she gazed She did not see the rocking crowd or the terror imprinted now on every upturned face No, those who caught a glimpse of her at this moment knew that she saw none of them that some heavily vision held her enthralled and amazed Her lips were white her eyes burned She spoke yet no one heard till all at once stretched out her arms with a cry of surpassing ecstasy and exclaimed Mother, dear mother, see Look up, here is Violet Then all the people knew what was coming For the child as she uttered the last words had fallen forward upon the box It was hopeless to think that Evelina with all her efforts could reach the room in time The wooden box had turned over on each side and the loosened clay and the fragrant flowers rattling over their heads and faces gave them timely warning to retreat The crowd surged to each side The angels who had ceased their singing recoiled with a terrified rapidity to the farther side of the street Only one person with a courageous presence of mind and a fearless love rushed from amongst them a terrible catastrophe But it was, after all so terrible that the women should faint and the angels hide their faces in their hands Only a flutter of purple frock, a glimpse of golden hair preceded by a sudden crash as the box of violets fell splintered on the pavement beneath Then all looked upwards with a scream But Violet was in the arms and the shining yellow locks were hanging loosely over his shoulder A crowd gathered around him quickly and the people pressed upon him while some of the little angels in their silver shoes stood on tiptoe that they might perchance catch one glimpse of that white, white face Yes, it was white and still and sad enough to look upon Keep back Keep back cried the policemen sternly and let the child have room to breathe She will never breathe again said the voice of a woman by his side The child is stoned dead We can see that for ourselves It was Madame Adler who spoke and she held Fritz by the hand whose face was gray and rigid with fear and horror Keep back said for pity's sake let the child have air There was a slight retrograde movement and then a general start of wonder Violet had opened her eyes for a second hope rose in every breast for a smile glimmered and flickered over the poor pale face and the lips moved She lifted the drooping arms which had hung so listlessly by her side and laid it for a moment with the faithful breast of the old policeman My friend She said softly and looked up into his eyes with a gaze which was terrible in his steadfastness of love Then the eyelids closed quietly again and the smile died out A hush fell on all the people Surely this was death But there was still a breath and the little purple frock heaved slowly and the frill of the white pinafore quivered with a thrilling motion All at once she moved turned her head quickly towards the street and strove to raise herself in the arms of her friend Fritz Fritz she cried eagerly in a strange uplifted voice full of strong appeal Yes, here is Fritz What is it dear Violet? Fritz is here he replied faintly lifting up an ashen face towards hers But Violet's eyes were wide open now and full of a wonderful joy They traveled straight up over the housetops and the golden crown of the hill towards the bright blue sky as if following some vision of delight Fritz It was now a cry of triumph It is all quite true See? Look up yonder High, high up Ah, see as thou now Violet has wings All the people with a common consent looked upward as she spoke But there was nothing there to see but God's blue heaven and a speck of golden cloud sailing slowly past across the mountaintop When they turned back again they knew then that the child was dead For the eyes still full of that strange purple wonder were immovably fixed upon the far off heavens and the awe and majesty of death were creeping into them as the light of life died out Free at last said the policeman lifting up his face with a strange grim smile towards the distant sky She has escaped like a bird from its cage and is gone up yonder There was nothing more to wait for now The policeman turned towards the door of Violet's house and carried her away from their eyes The procession, reforming moved mournfully onwards Some women in the street snatched up bunches of violets which lay scattered about over the road and thrust them into their bosom But Madame Adler, Fritz and Little Ella in her silver shoes and shining wings remained behind And they and many others followed the old policeman and his burden up the stairs And Madame Adler, pushing her way on in front opened the door of the kitchen to allow him to pass in But there on the threshold they were met by Kate behind whom stood the form of Evelina rigid with horror and dismay It's all over? cried the old woman distractedly Is the child dead? Tell me now at once is our Violet dead? Yes, quite dead Thou art certain? Yes, quite certain Then God be praised for all his mercies She will never know this new trouble as fallen upon us Her father is gone also She held out her hand vaguely toward them all with an open telegraph form crumpled up in her fingers Madame Adler snatched it from her and read the words John was killed this morning in repulsing with his company a sortie of the enemy from the town of Metz End of chapter 25 Chapter number 26 No more tears No more tears for little Violet Yes, that was the joy which almost stirred their sorrow How could they weep as they looked at that smile of perfect peace that wonderful smile that was the joy that was the joy that was the joy that was the joy that was the joy that wonderful smile fixed now in death which had lightened up all her face as she cried out to Fritz with her parting breath Fritz, see? It is all true Violet has wings Unlizzy sat all day beside the little bed Yes, and all night too She was never tired looking at the sweet pale face so restful in its sleep her load constantly down her cheeks her heart was ever busy thanking God who had so mercifully called home his little suffering lamb before the last sad news had reached her of her father's death She was with them now that was enough for her to know and forevermore all would be peace the little mother so alongside for the father who had so tenderly shielded his darling from trouble and had watched over her in her loneliness Yes, they were all united now and she knew that Violet was beyond the reach of trouble for her and for them sorrow and sighing had fled away and in their place had come the everlasting rest and happiness of heaven No wonder that Unlizzy rose up some time suddenly and kissed the sweet face with a passionate thrill of joy nay, almost envy the neighbors streamed in all day long indeed it seemed to Unlizzy that the whole town of Edelshine came to see the little face lying in such a sweet stillness on the pillow beautiful white flowers were laid upon the counterpane and the air of the room was almost oppressive with the scent of the Violet's which were brought as the last offering as the last tribute of love to their own Violet the sweet flower of Edelshine whose face had ever looked out upon them from the many sided window overhanging the street with the patient's smile so familiar to their eyes in the evening when all the rest were gone Fritz stole in leading Ella by the hand Kate had just placed the lamp on the table and Unlizzy had risen up to draw the curtains but he looked at neither of them and finally walked over straight to the bedside and stood there gazing at his little companion's face with an intense and speechless sorrow but with Ella it was different she gave one glance at the figure so unfamiliar in its stillness and then fled with a cry to Unlizzy burying her face in her dress and sobbing violently Unlizzy drew the little girl into the inner room to comfort her Kate hobbled down the stairs looking as she went and Fritz was left alone still standing gazing with a bursting heart at the smile which was not for him for a moment he lifted his eyes and looked around the room nervously and then he stooped and kissed her forehead Violet he said softly and waited childlike for an answer but the lips did not move in response only to his eyes dazzled and the lips were with resisted tears the smile seemed to widen at his call Violet hissed Fritz knows now thou hast wings Violet Fritz loves thee and listen Violet Fritz will always always remember thee and he will always love God too and the good Lord Jesus two immense tears fell upon Violet's face and then Fritz drawing nearer knelt down by the side of the little bed and covered his face reverently with his hands when Aunt Lizzie returned to the room Fritz was gone but the tears which the boy had shed still glimmered faintly on the quiet face that evening too the old policeman came to take his last look he stood with uncovered head by the bedside and uttered not a word the face seemed to have a strange attraction for him for he gazed at it without moving for many minutes he too kissed his little friend ere he walk away and laid in the cold clasp hands a bunch of blue forget-me-nots but at the door he paused and looking at Aunt Lizzie he asked with an eye which for the moment burned with a suppressed anger where is the girl does thou meet Evelina certainly she has returned to Gootsburg she is left here the very evening of the accident she feared I think to meet the face of anyone who knew and loved our darling odd she did well he said bitterly God who forgives all sin may pardon her he can be merciful as well as just but we of Edel's time never the next morning the carriage poor faithful John was lifted out from its corner in the room and carried down onto the street and there they laid upon it the little white coffin which held the body of Violet the descent to the little churchyard near the fountain was densely packed with mourners and with difficulty the old policeman assisted by fritz drew it through the weeping crowd behind it walked a company of children dressed in the same white robes with the same white wings which they had worn on the day of the procession and now as the little carriage moved on their lips opened and there burst forth the same song of the angels welcoming the weary soul to heaven which had startled Violet from her revere only a few short days before and had called her from her loneliness and her fear to everlasting life thus her wish was fulfilled that the first drive in the church made for her by her father should be to the place where her mother had been buried and there they laid down the poor tired lamb at last to sleep on its mother's breast the people gathered around the grave sobbed and wept the angels lifted up their voices with the same sweet but mournful cry the policeman folded his arms on his breast grim and stern while his sword against the gravel but it was left for Fritz to know the whole grand truth standing there unconscious of all and everything around him with eyes uplifted to heaven he saw her as she was white winged rejoicing exalting in her new found strength poised in the air above his head radiant in robes of dazzling whiteness he saw again that small white face break into a smile of rapture and he heard a voice say Fritz no more tears violet has wings and then someone cried out look at the boy he is white as death he is fainting and so they lifted him into the church and laid him on the ground and Aunt Lizzie placed his head upon her knee and by and by the crowd dispersed and those who lingered laid the wreaths and some knelt down and kissed the earth above their little violet's sleeping place it is now many a long year since little violet escaped out of her cage and mounted up like a bird to heaven and yet she is remembered as lovingly as ever by the people of Edelstein if you turn aside into the little churchyard at the foot of the hill you will see the monument that they have erected with much love and care for her memory and perhaps you may meet there a woman who comes often to weep at her grave and to pray but from whom the townspeople still turn away with aversion she is never tired looking at the white face carved so faithfully and beautifully in marble nor at the outstretched pinions which spreading across the arms of the cross support the cherub's head there is no epitaph to tell Violet's pure life nor of her sad death only three words and yet they embrace all violet has wings it was Fritz who chose them but to comfort the hearts of all those in Edelstein who has loved her so well the sculptor added at the base of the monument a bunch of fading violets and beneath them he carved these words of hope and consolation Violet is saying to meet again end of chapter 26 end of On Angels Wings by Louisa Lylas Green recording by Lola Jane