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"You take them because I have a world of them And I rite to you and send youbut what you want to do-ride and hunt, and tell the tales of old times by the fire Buy a fine harp with this, buy books if you will for the little ones, buy what you will "

"I don't want this; I want you, my son "

"Yes, and I want you, my Father, but this little power is all we may have "

I took his head in bothhiave hio

I was out of the rooing shut

The snoas co down I saw ether we started up the hill I didn't want for et away as fast as I could

I was about to ask that we take to vaure was hurrying towards us It was a s in the wet snow She had soht in her arms

I stood fixed,on me It was my Mother who had co her way to the tavern, and in her ar Christ, the one I looked at so long through the chink in the wall of the house

I drew in my breath She lifted the ikon by either side and she presented it to me

"Andrei," she whispered

"Mother," I said "Keep it for the little ones, please " I embraced her and kissed her Howhad done that to her, pulling the strength out of her, if only for babies to be buried in sht of howmy youth, and how many were still counted before I was born She had called theh to live

"Keep it," I said to her "Keep it for the family here "

"All right, Andrei," she said She looked atI understood suddenly that it wasn't e that worked on her, nor the hardship of children She was diseased from within, and would soon truly die I felt such a terror, looking at her, such a terror for the whole mortal world It was just a tiresome, common and inevitable disease

"Goodbye, darling angel," I said

"And goodbye to you, el," she answered "My heart and soul are happy that you are a proud Prince But show ht way?"