" you," said the prince, "who saved my life when I lay dead beach," and he folded his blushing bride arms "Oh, too happy," said he little mermaid; "my fondest hopes are all fulfilled rejoice at my happiness; for your devotion is great and sincere "

The little mermaid kissed his hand, and felt her heart were already broken His wedding morning would bring death to her, and change foam sea All the church bells rung, heralds rode town proclaiming the betrothal Perfumed oil was burning in costly silver lamps on every altar The priests waved the censers, while the bride and bridegroom joined their hands and received the blessing bishop The little mermaid, dressed in silk and gold, held up the bride's train; but her ears heard nothing festive music, and her eyes saw not the holy ceremony; she thought night of death coming to her, and of all she had lost same evening the bride and bridegroom went on board ship; cannons were roaring, flags waving, and centre ship costly tent of purple and gold erected It contained elegant couches, reception bridal pair during the night The ship, with swelling sails and favorable wind, glided away smoothly and lightly over the calm sea When it grew dark number of colored lamps were lit, sailors danced merrily deck The little mermaid help thinking of her first rising sea, when she had seen similar festivities and joys; and she joined dance, poised herself air as swallow when he pursues his prey, and all present cheered her with wonder She had never danced so elegantly before Her tender feet felt cut with sharp knives, but she cared not ; sharper pang had pierced through her heart She knew the last evening she should ever see the prince, for whom she had forsaken her kindred and her home; she had given up her beautiful voice, and suffered unheard-of pain daily for him, while nothing of it the last evening that breathe the same air , or gaze starry sky deep sea; an eternal night, without thought or dream, awaited her: she had no soul and now never win one All was joy and gayety on board ship till long after midnight; she laughed and danced rest, while the thoughts of death were in her heart The prince kissed his beautiful bride, while she played raven hair, till they went arm-in-arm to rest splendid tent Then all became still on board the ship; the helmsman, alone awake, stood helm The little mermaid leaned her white arms edge vessel, and looked towards the east first blush of morning, first ray of dawn bring her death She saw her sisters rising flood: they were as pale as herself; but their long beautiful hair waved no more wind, and cut off

" given our hair witch," said they, "to obtain help , that not die to-night She us knife: here , see very sharp sun rises plunge it heart prince; warm blood falls upon your feet grow together again, and form into fish's tail, and once more mermaid, and return to live out your three hundred years die and change salt sea foam Haste, then; he or die before sunrise Our old grandmother moans so , that her white hair is falling off from sorrow, as ours fell under the witch's scissors Kill the prince and come back; hasten: not see the first red streaks sky ? the sun will rise, and die " And then they sighed deeply and mournfully, and sank down beneath the waves

The little mermaid drew back the crimson curtain tent, and beheld the fair bride with her head resting prince's breast She bent down and kissed his fair brow, then looked sky the rosy dawn grew brighter and brighter; then she glanced sharp knife, and again fixed her eyes prince, who whispered the name bride dreams She was thoughts, knife trembled hand little mermaid: then she flung it far away from her waves; the water turned red where it fell, drops that spurted up looked like blood She cast one more lingering, half-fainting glance prince, and then threw herself ship sea, and thought her body was dissolving into foam The sun rose above the waves, warm rays fell cold foam little mermaid, who feel she were dying She saw the bright sun, and all around her floated hundreds of transparent beautiful beings; she through them the white sails ship, red clouds sky; their speech was melodious, but too ethereal heard by mortal ears, were also unseen by mortal eyes The little mermaid perceived that she had body like theirs, she continued to rise higher and higher foam "Where am I ? " asked she, and her voice sounded ethereal, voice who were with her; no earthly music could imitate it

" daughters air," answered "A mermaid an immortal soul, nor can she obtain one unless she wins the love of human being power of another hangs her eternal destiny But the daughters air, although possess an immortal soul, can, by their good deeds, procure one for themselves We fly to warm countries, and cool the sultry air that destroys mankind pestilence We carry the perfume flowers to spread health and restoration After striven for three hundred years to all the good power, we receive an immortal soul and take part happiness of mankind You, poor little mermaid, have tried with your whole heart doing; suffered and endured and raised yourself spirit-world by your good deeds; and now, by striving for three hundred years same way, obtain an immortal soul "

The little mermaid lifted her glorified eyes towards the sun, and felt them, first time, filling with tears ship, she had left the prince, there were life and noise; she saw him beautiful bride searching for her; sorrowfully they gazed pearly foam, as knew she had thrown herself waves Unseen she kissed the forehead of her bride, and fanned the prince, and then mounted other children air to rosy cloud that floated aether

"After three hundred years, thus shall we float kingdom of heaven," said she "And even get there sooner," whispered one of her companions "Unseen enter the houses of men, where children, and for every day good child, the joy parents and deserves their love, our time of probation is shortened The child know, when we fly room, that we smile with joy at his good conduct, for count one year less three hundred years But when we see naughty or wicked child, we shed tears of sorrow, and for every tear day is added to our time of trial ! "

THE END