Русалочка

           Butthedaughtersoftheair,althoughtheydonotpossessanimmortalsoul,can,bytheirgooddeeds,procureoneforthemselves. Weflytowarmcountries,andcoolthesultryairthatdestroysmankindwiththepestilence. Wecarrytheperfumeoftheflowerstospreadhealthandrestoration. Afterwehavestrivenforthreehundredyearstoallthegoodinourpower,wereceiveanimmortalsoulandtakepartinthehappinessofmankind. You,poorlittlemermaid,havetriedwithyourwholehearttodoaswearedoing;youhavesufferedandenduredandraisedyourselftothespirit-worldbyyourgooddeeds; andnow,bystrivingforthreehundredyearsinthesameway,youmayobtainanimmortalsoul." 

           Thelittlemermaidliftedherglorifiedeyestowardsthesun,andfeltthem,forthefirsttime,fillingwithtears. Ontheship,inwhichshehadlefttheprince,therewerelifeandnoise;shesawhimandhisbeautifulbridesearchingforher; sorrowfullytheygazedatthepearlyfoam,asiftheyknewshehadthrownherselfintothewaves. Unseenshekissedtheforeheadofherbride,andfannedtheprince,andthenmountedwiththeotherchildrenoftheairtoarosycloudthatfloatedthroughtheaether. 

           "Afterthreehundredyears,thusshallwefloatintothekingdomofheaven,"saidshe. "Andwemayevengettheresooner,"whisperedoneofhercompanions