Русалочка

           Oh,howgladlyshewouldhaveshakenoffallthisgrandeur,andlaidasidetheheavywreath!Theredflowersinherowngardenwouldhavesuitedhermuchbetter,butshecouldnothelpherself: soshesaid,"Farewell,"androseaslightlyasabubbletothesurfaceofthewater. Thesunhadjustsetassheraisedherheadabovethewaves;butthecloudsweretintedwithcrimsonandgold,andthroughtheglimmeringtwilightbeamedtheeveningstarinallitsbeauty.Theseawascalm,andtheairmildandfresh. Alargeship,withthreemasts,laybecalmedonthewater,withonlyonesailset;fornotabreezestiffed,andthesailorssatidleondeckoramongsttherigging. Therewasmusicandsongonboard;and,asdarknesscameon,ahundredcoloredlanternswerelighted,asiftheflagsofallnationswavedintheair. Thelittlemermaidswamclosetothecabinwindows;andnowandthen,asthewavesliftedherup,shecouldlookinthroughclearglasswindow-panes,andseeanumberofwell-dressedpeoplewithin. Amongthemwasayoungprince,themostbeautifulofall,withlargeblackeyes; hewassixteenyearsofage,andhisbirthdaywasbeingkeptwithmuchrejoicing. Thesailorsweredancingondeck,butwhentheprincecameoutofthecabin,morethanahundredrocketsroseintheair,makingitasbrightasday. Thelittlemermaidwassostartledthatshedivedunderwater;andwhensheagainstretchedoutherhead,itappearedasifallthestarsofheavenwerefallingaroundher, shehadneverseensuchfireworksbefore.