He then covered himself again, and went on with his relation.
"On this side the forest, alas! it was on this side, that woe burst upon me.

My wife came wildly to meet me, clad in mourning apparel, and her eyes streaming with tears.

'Gracious God!' I cried, 'where's our child?
Speak!' "'With Him on whom you have called, dear husband,' she answered, and we now entered the cottage together, weeping in silence.

I looked for the little corpse, almost fearing to find what I was seeking; and then it was I first learnt how all had happened.
"My wife had taken the little one in her arms, and walked out to the shore of the lake.

She there sat down by its very brink; and while she was playing with the infant, as free from all fear as she was full of delight, it bent forward on a sudden, as if seeing something very beautiful in the water.