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Grimm CMU · Grimm's Fairy Tales

The Aged Mother

147-the-aged-mother

Review Status Pending

Child Rewrite

Displayed from child_friendly_chunks

In a big town, there was an old woman who lived alone. She sat in her room in the evening and thought about her sad life. She had lost her husband, her children, and all her friends. Now, she was all by herself. She felt very heavy in her heart. The saddest part was losing her sons, and she felt a little bit angry at God for it. She was lost in thought when she suddenly heard the church bells ring for morning prayer. She was surprised that she had stayed up all night. She lit her lantern and walked to the church. When she arrived, the church was already lighted up, but it did not look like it usually did. It was not bright with candles, but it had a soft, dim light.

The church was very crowded, and every seat was taken. When the old woman found her usual spot, the whole bench was full, too. She looked at the people sitting there. They were her family, but they looked very pale and were wearing old-fashioned clothes. They did not speak or sing. Instead, a soft, quiet humming filled the air. Then, an aunt stood up and said, "Look beside the altar. You will see your sons." The old woman looked and saw her two children. One was hanging on a rope, and the other was tied to a wheel.

Then the aunt said, "That would have been their story if they had lived. But the good God took them when they were innocent children." The old woman went home, shaking with fear. She fell to her knees and thanked God for being so kind to her. She did not understand why, but she was happy. On the third day, she lay down and went to sleep forever.

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