Русалочка

           Shenowcametoaspaceofmarshygroundinthewood,wherelarge,fatwater-snakeswererollinginthemire,andshowingtheirugly,drab-coloredbodies. Inthemidstofthisspotstoodahouse,builtwiththebonesofshipwreckedhumanbeings. Theresattheseawitch,allowingatoadtoeatfromhermouth,justaspeoplesometimesfeedacanarywithapieceofsugar. Shecalledtheuglywater-snakesherlittlechickens,andallowedthemtocrawlalloverherbosom. 

           "Iknowwhatyouwant,"saidtheseawitch; "itisverystupidofyou,butyoushallhaveyourway,anditwillbringyoutosorrow,myprettyprincess. Youwanttogetridofyourfish’stail,andtohavetwosupportsinsteadofit,likehumanbeingsonearth,sothattheyoungprincemayfallinlovewithyou,andthatyoumayhaveanimmortalsoul. "Andthenthewitchlaughedsoloudanddisgustingly,thatthetoadandthesnakesfelltotheground,andlaytherewrigglingabout. "Youarebutjustintime,"saidthewitch; "foraftersunriseto-morrowIshouldnotbeabletohelpyoutilltheendofanotheryear. Iwillprepareadraughtforyou,withwhichyoumustswimtolandtomorrowbeforesunrise,andsitdownontheshoreanddrinkit. Yourtailwillthendisappear,andshrinkupintowhatmankindcallslegs,andyouwillfeelgreatpain,asifaswordwerepassingthroughyou. Butallwhoseeyouwillsaythatyouaretheprettiestlittlehumanbeingtheyeversaw.