off earth came the sweet singing of a robin; and as the bird sang he came nearer and nearer, till the little bride could see his red throat pulsing with his song. And the song he bore upon his beak was her mother's prayer.
Now, when the soul of the little bride heard this sweet singing, she became strong, and followed the bird even to the gates of heaven; and there she paused, trembling, afraid to knock, for she had gone forth of her own free will, and she had returned with a burden that she had no leave to bring.
‘And without these dear ones how could I enter?’ saith she; and the souls trembled with her in her fear.
But the robin tapped upon the golden gates three times with his beak, and flung his song into the shining blue of the skies.
Then a voice came forth, saying:
‘By what right comest thou, of all birds, to disturb the peace of Paradise with thy singing?’
