J.  They sit together on the window-mat Nursing their dolls.

C.  Yes, Uncle, our new dolls—­ Our best dolls, that you gave us.

M.  Did you say The afternoon was bright?

J.  Yes, bright indeed!  The sun is on the plane-tree, and it flames All red and orange.

C.  I can see my father—­ Look! look! the leaves are falling on his gown.

M.  Where?

C.  In the churchyard, Uncle—­he is gone:  He passed behind the tower.

M.  I heard a bell:  There is a funeral, then, behind the church.

2d Child.  Are the trees sorry when their leaves drop off?

1st Child.  You talk such silly words;—­no, not at all.  There goes another leaf.

2d Child.  I did not see.

1st Child.  Look! on the grass, between the little hills.  Just where they planted Amy.

J. Amy died—­ Dear little Amy! when you talk of her, Say, she is gone to heaven.

2d Child.  They planted her—­ Will she come up next year?

1st Child.  No, not so soon; But some day God will call her to come up, And then she will.  Papa knows everything—­ He said she would before he planted her.

2d Child.  It was at night she went to heaven.  Last night We saw a star before we went to bed.

1st Child.  Yes, Uncle, did you know?  A large bright star, And at her side she had some little ones—­ Some young ones.

M.  Young ones! no, my little maid, Those stars are very old.

1st Child.  What! all of them?

M.  Yes.

1st Child.  Older than our father?

M.  Older, far.

2d Child.  They must be tired of shining there so long.  Perhaps they wish they might come down.

J.  Perhaps!  Dear children, talk of what you understand.  Come, I must lift the trailing creepers up That last night’s wind has loosened.

1st Child.  May we help?  Aunt, may we help to nail them?

J. We shall see.  Go, find and bring the hammer, and some shreds.

[Steps outside the window, lifts a branch, and sings.]

Should I change my allegiance for rancor
  If fortune changes her side? 
Or should I, like a vessel at anchor,
  Turn with the turn of the tide? 
Lift!  O lift, thou lowering sky;
  An thou wilt, thy gloom forego! 
An thou wilt not, he and I
  Need not part for drifts of snow.

M. [within] Lift! no, thou lowering sky, thou wilt not lift—­ Thy motto readeth, “Never.”

Children.  Here they are!  Here are the nails! and may we help?