A FEARLESS BOY
asked Death for he it was—"to lie here alone?" "No," returned the boy, "what should I be afraid of?" "You seem to be a brave boy," observed Death. "Would you like to visit me?" "Yes; where do you live?" answered Hans. "Directly east of the church," explained his old friend; "where you see a light shine from the ground, you will find a hole. Descend through that, and come to-morrow night at this hour." Hans promised, and Death parted from him.
He passed the following day in picking nuts about the church-yard and in the adjoining woods. When midnight came he entered the church-yard, and east of the church he found what seemed to be an open grave, through which a red glare was seen. As there was no rope or ladder, Hans resolutely jumped into the opening. He fell a long distance, but landed safely on a soft meadow. A few steps away from him a door opened into a large building from which the same ruddy glare issued, and in the doorway his old friend Death was standing, bidding him welcome.
When they came into the house Hans noticed that great numbers of lighted candles stood everywhere. There was a huge hall filled with them. Some were as tall as church-candles, others were of ordinary size, and there were some as small as those which are used for Christmas-trees. Some burned brightly, others feebly, and there were some which seemed ready to go out. "Why do you burn
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