the woman went away with the girls. michael rose from the bench, put down his work, and took off his apron. then, bowing low to simon and his wife, he said: “farewell, masters. god has forgiven me. i ask your forgiveness, too, for anything done amiss.”

and they saw that a light shone from michael. and simon rose, bowed down to michael, and said: “i see, michael, that you are no common man, and i can neither keep you nor question you. only tell me this: how is it that when i found you and brought you home, you were gloomy, and when my wife gave you food you smiled at her and became brighter? then when the gentleman came to order the boots, you smiled again and became brighter still? and now, when this woman brought the little girls, you smiled a third time, and have become as bright as day? tell me, michael, why does your face shine so, and why did you smile those three times?”

and michael answered: “light shines from me because i have been punished, but now god has pardoned me. and i smiled three times, because god sent me to learn three truths, and i have learnt them. one i learnt when your wife pitied me, and that is why i smiled the first time. the second i learnt when the rich man ordered the boots, and then i smiled again. and now, when i saw those little girls, i learn the third and last truth, and i smiled the third time.”

and simon said, “tell me, michael, what did god punish you for? and what were the three truths? that i, too, may know them.”

and michael answered: “god punished me for disobeying him. i was an angel in heaven and disobeyed god. god sent me to fetch a woman’s soul. i flew to earth, and saw a sick woman lying alone, who had just given birth to twin girls. they moved feebly at their mother’s side, but she could not lift them to her breast. when she saw me, she understood that god had sent me for her soul, and she wept and said: ‘angel of god! my husband has just been buried, killed by a falling tree. i have neither sister, nor aunt, nor mother: no one to care for my orphans. do not take my soul! let me nurse my babes, feed them, and set them on their feet before i die. children cannot live without father or mother.’ and i hearkened to her. i placed one child at her breast and gave the other into her arms, and returned to the lord in heaven. i flew to the lord, and said: ‘i could not take the soul of the mother. her husband was killed by a tree; the woman has twins, and prays that her soul may not be taken. she says: “let me nurse and feed my children, and set them on their feet. children cannot live without father or mother.” i have not taken her soul.’ and god said: ‘go-take the mother’s soul, and learn three truths: learn what dwells in man, what is not given to man, and what men live by. when thou has learnt these things, thou shalt return to heaven.’ so i flew again to earth and took the mother’s soul. the babes dropped from her breasts. her body rolled over on the bed and crushed one babe, twisting its leg. i rose above the village, wishing to take her soul to god; but a wind seized me, and my wings drooped and dropped off. her soul rose alone to god, while i fell to earth by the roadside.”