The Sad Little Angel, by Karl Gander
Once upon a time there was a
mother whose only child died. She cried
for it unceasingly. Once she was out in
the field and crying again. Suddenly she
saw an entire band of lovely angels
flying above her, all of them young and
beautiful, all of them happy and
cheerful. Then the mother thought, "Oh,
if only my child were also such a little
angel!" And she looked to see if she
could not find her child in the band.
But she could not see it. Then from
behind there came a little angel. It was
very sad and was carrying a heavy black
jug in its little hands. It was the
mother's child. The mother asked, "My
child, why are you not with the happy
little angels?" "Mother," it said, "as
long as you are crying I must collect
your tears and cannot be happy like the
others." From that hour forth the mother
cried no more.
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