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Hello and welcome to Storytime for Grown Ups. I'm Faith Moore and this is Summer Session. Normally on Storytime for Grown Ups we read classic literature a few chapters at a time with a few notes along the way. Like an audiobook with built in notes. But during the summer we switch things up a little. From now until September we will be in Summer Session which is sort of like a college class, only fun. This summer we're exploring fairy tales and their relationship to the books we've read this year on storytime and storytelling more broadly. We'll do this in once a week episodes which will drop on Mondays. If this doesn't sound like your thing, don't worry. Storytime will be back with a new book in September, but for now, brew a pot of tea, find a cosy chair and settle in. Class is in session. Hello.
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Welcome back.
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Happy Trailer Week.
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This is the week when we finally get to find out what book we are reading in September.
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Not today.
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Sorry, but almost. It will come out on Thursday. This Thursday, September 21st. Make sure you're subscribed. It will drop right into your podcast feed and you will find it there. I cannot wait. I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for you guys to know what the book is. I'm so excited for you to know. And when you do find out on Thursday, please write to me and tell me what you think. Send me all your reactions. Faith K. Moore.com Click on Contact or just scroll into the show notes and click on the link. I am so excited to hear from you guys to hear what what you think about the book that we're going to be reading in September. But we don't know that yet. So just a few more days and we will know other dates to remember. Tea time will be coming up on Thursday, August 28th at 8:00pm Eastern. If you don't know what tea time is, just scroll into the show notes and check the link for our online community which is called the Drawing Room. Click on that, you'll learn more about it. But basically it's a voice channel chat where you and I get to talk to each other and a bunch of other Storytime fans. Storytime listeners can talk to each other and you can ask me anything. We can talk about the fairy tales we've been reading. We can talk about the book. This is going to be a really fun one to join because we will have just learned what book we're going to be reading the week before and so in this tea time we can share our thoughts and ask some questions and Talk a little bit about that book. So if you've been thinking, maybe I would like to join tea time, but I'm not sure this is a great one to join. And as I say, go into the show notes and you will find the links that are there. I cannot believe this, you guys.
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But there are actually only two more.
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Weeks of Summer Session after today. So there are three more episodes of Summer Session. If we include today, we've got next week, which is August 25th. I'm actually going to be away that week, but we will still have an episode and I think you'll enjoy that one as well. And then the final episode of Summer session will be September 1st. That's going to be a kind of a wrap up episode. We'll have lots to discuss. Right, because I will be away. So we'll have our comments from today's episode and comments from next week's episode to go over in that episode and we'll sort of wrap up what we've been discussing all summer. And then that Thursday of that same week. So September 4th, we'll begin our next book by starting with an intro episode like I was talking about last time. And then we'll begin the book itself on Monday, September 8th. So that's just a kind of look ahead at what we're going to be doing. I'm really excited about all of it. I cannot wait. And I'm excited about this episode too. You may have noticed when you open it up in your podcast player, it's a little bit longer than the ones that we've been having. And that's because the story that we're going to read is quite a long one. But I didn't want to break it up or anything. I wanted you to hear it all in one go. So we're going to do that and we are going to do some comments. I have two comments today and we'll talk about that for a little while.
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Then I'm going to do a quick.
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Introduction to the topic of today's episode and the story that we're going to read. I think it needs a little bit of an intro, so I'm going to do that and then we'll get into this story. So we'll have some story time at the end of this episode. But let's get into our questions. Now. Remember, last week was our second episode talking about animal bridegrooms and we read the fairy tale east of the sun.
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And west of the Moon, which is.
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This Norwegian story about this white bear and this girl and this castle. And if you missed that, I really suggest going back and listening to it. It was a fan favorite. I got a lot of emails this week. People seem to really like this this story and with good reason. It's a great one. So if you missed it, go back and listen to it. It's still there. But let's move into our questions that came up after that. Oh, before I do that, I did want to just clarify something. I got something wrong. I have been getting amazing and wonderful emails from listeners who are into the art of spinning. We've been talking about spinning, spinning wheels, distaff, spindles, all this kind of stuff. And people have been writing in to tell me all kinds of amazing information about spinning and I actually got something wrong last time that I wanted to clarify. And this clarification comes from Laura. So I had said we there was a carding comb in the story that we read last time and I had said it was something for winding the thread or the wool around, but actually I was completely wrong and off base on that. Sorry, a carding comb according to Laura, who I really believe is something that it's like a large brush and that it's used to brush clean and straight the fibers or the wool and loosen them before before they are spun. So that is what a carding comb is. And I'm so sorry I got that wrong before everything else I think was basically right. People have been writing in to sort of add little details and things like that, but nothing that's been completely wrong except for this. So I'm sorry I got it all wrong about the carding comb. So just wanted to clarify that and correct my error. And thank you to those of you who have been writing in about spinning. It's fascinating. Okay, the first question or comment today comes from Ruby. Ruby writes, I just finished Animal Bridegroom Part 2 and was once again reminded why I love this podcast so much and summer session in I'm always learning new things. It's been so interesting hearing old versions of fairy tales and discovering lesser known ones. For instance, I had never heard the story of Snow White and Rose Red until last week, so I was certain this week's episode would be new to me as well. Boy, was I surprised. I've read a romance novel based off of east of the sun and west of the Moon and didn't even know it. It's called Echo north by Joanna Ruth Meyer. When I read the book originally a few years ago, I just thought it was inspired by Beauty and the Beast.
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But after hearing east of the Sun.
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I am certain Echo north is based off of it. What a fun discovery. That's why I love this podcast.
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It makes me wonder what other media.
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I've consumed that I didn't realize was based on fairy tales. So grateful for you and this podcast. Thank you. I'm grateful for you as well. And I'm definitely gonna have to check out that book, Echo north, because I've never heard of it and I would like to read it now. Okay, we have one more. This one comes from Cody. Cody writes, I very much enjoyed your reading of east of the sun and west of the Moon, mostly because I'd.
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Never heard it before.
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But about halfway through, I realized that I was hearing inspiration, at least in part, for the wizard of Oz.
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All the mentions of Wind, the girl.
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Who just wants to go home, the booming and terrible North Wind, several others. Very clever. Of course, there are other themes woven throughout that hearken to other tales. The old women with apples, the repetitions of domestic items, the prince beast who cannot be with the girl unless she redeems him.
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But the wizard of Oz leapt out.
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At me and was a super fun revelation. Okay, so this week, like I said, I got a lot of letters, but I think these two give you kind of a flavor of what essentially you all were writing in about, which is that at this point, you are starting to see all sorts of connections between the fairy tales that we've read this summer and, like, other things that you've read or watched or whatever it is.
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That are maybe more modern.
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But also you're starting to see connections between the fairy tales themselves. And that's Fantastic two. And it's exactly what I was hoping would happen. You know, one of the reasons that I picked east of the sun and west of the Moon was because I felt like it held within it a lot of the ideas and images that we've been talking about this summer. And as things start to wind down, I definitely want to highlight this idea that these themes and ideas repeat from story to story. And the reason they repeat is that they are somehow universal ideas. So as Cody points out, and many of you also pointed out in your letters, as well as we're seeing a ton of things showing up in this fairy tale that we've seen before, right? We've got a wicked stepmother in this story, which tells us that this story has something to do with growing up. But we've also got kind older women, right? The women who help the girl ultimately find her way to the castle. Those old women with the various Objects. They are like Cinderella's fairy godmother and Snow White and Rose Red's mother, which tells us that growing up and growing old gracefully is possible. We've got the various feminine items related to spinning, which tell us that the story's got something to do with transitioning from girl to woman. We've got a prince in disguise, which tells us that the girl is going to have to go through some kind of transition from disliking this man to liking him or not trusting him to trusting him. Which, like we were talking about before, is often thought to be symbolic of a woman getting to know her new husband. Right. We've also got the potentially sexual implications of the man slaves sleeping next to.
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The girl each night.
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I don't actually think that they do have sex in this particular story, but there's the implication that these two people are eventually going to join together in that way, which jives with the symbolism around growing up and girls becoming women and all of that which we saw in the Sleeping Beauty stories. And in the Snow White story, though less overtly, we also have the symbolism around beauty and ugliness, right? With the ugly princess turning out to be a literal troll. So she's ugly on the outside, and that's symbolic of her ugliness on the inside. And we've got the girl who's beautiful and also beautiful on the inside, since she goes to all these lengths and she's so brave to find the prince who she's wronged. And she's gonna set everything right. So she's beautiful on the inside as well. As Ruby points out in her letter, of course, there are tons of similarities.
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To Beauty and the Beast as well.
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You know, if you went back and listened to that one or if you've read it before or whatever, you will notice that the girl is the youngest daughter of the family and also the most beautiful in both of these. Also, there's the house she enters that her whatever she desires. There's the fact that going back home is what causes all kinds of problems with the Beast, or in this case, bear. And in both stories, the girl has to essentially prove that she loves the man and kind of atone for the fact that she saw him as ugly or scary or whatever in the first place. She has to learn to love him, which, like I was saying before, is kind of like phase two of the maidenhood journey, right? First, she becomes a woman capable of being with a man, and then she actually has to be be with the man, which might be a little bit more Messy than the maidenhood stories like Cinderella, for example. More messy than those other stories might lead us to believe originally. One other thing that I want to point out about this story, because I love it, is that it reminds me of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, which, if you happen to have read that one, you will remember, has this element of not looking at the beloved person. And if you do look, then disaster will befall you. Right. If you haven't read this myth, it is wonderful. It's my favorite of all the Greek myths. But it also just shows that there really is a connection between these two kinds of story, the fairy tales and the Greek myths, like we were talking about several weeks ago in our interview with Spenser. Okay. So there's that connection as well. So lots of connections going on. And I love that you're seeing them yourself, and I love that you're connecting them to things that you're reading now, more modern things or movies you're watching. So keep that up. Keep telling me about it. Keep noticing it yourself. So all of this is really great, because today we're going to move on to something a little bit different, Right. So far, the stories that we've read have been these oral tales passed down from generation to generation and then written down at various points by various people. But this time, we're going to do something else. And that's why I think it's great that it's all kind of coming together like this. And I feel like that's a great time to put a small bow. We're not completely done, but put a little bit of a bow on that and move on. Because I don't think that any fairy tale summer would be complete without some kind of mention of Hans Christian Andersen. Okay. So obviously, we have only scratched the surface, right? Hardly even scratched the surface of fairy tales this summer. Right. We had limited time, and I decided to choose kind of the most popular stories and the most prominent fairy tale motifs to discuss with you as a kind of like, intro to fairy Tales. Right? Fairy Tales 101. Okay. But of course, as we learned right back in our first episode of summer session, when we talked with Bows Harrington, there are an almost infinite number of fairy tales and fairy tale variations, and you could spend probably an entire lifetime reading them all and thinking about what they mean and all of that. But I do think that even an introductory course on fairy tales must at least touch on Hans Christian Andersen. Because while there are lots of people who write fairy tales or write stories that are kind of fairy tale adjacent. I would argue that Hans Christian Andersen is the most famous author of original fairy tales. And what I mean by original fairy tales is stories that use all of the fairy tale symbolism and imagery and motifs and everything that we've been talking about all summer, but which are actually news stories, right? Stories that were invented and created by the person who's writing them, rather than by generations of oral storytellers being passed down and passed down. So it's not that original fairy tales don't use elements from those tales that were passed down, they often do. But they are new stories where you can definitively point to an author and say that this person created this story basically from scratch. And as I say, I think that arguably the most famous author of original fairy tales is Hans Christian Andersen, and arguably his most famous original fairy tale.
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Is the Little Mermaid.
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And that's what we're going to read today. Okay, so first I'd like to tell you just a little bit about this guy, Hans Christian Andersen, so you have some context and, you know, when he was writing and all of that. And then I'd like to read you the Little Mermaid. It's quite a long story, like I was saying earlier, but I'm going to read it to you in its entirety. And I think as you go along.
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You'Ll see that there is lots of.
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The imagery and symbolism and ideas that we've been talking about all summer. But. But there's a lot going on that's kind of like, wait, what? And if you're a fan of the Disney version, you might be quite surprised and perhaps a little bit confused by this version. Though I also think that you will see where a lot of the movie came from, because it's kind of all in there up to a point. Okay, so then, as I said before, next week I'm going to be away again, and I'm sorry to do this to you, where I make you wait two weeks to discuss a very juicy story. I did that before, and I'm sorry I'm doing it again. But next week isn't going to be an interview. It's going to be something else, which I hope that you will enjoy. But then in two weeks, which will actually be the last episode of Summer Session, like I was talking about, in two weeks, we will talk about the Little Mermaid again, as well as the episode you'll get while I'm away, and we'll kind of wrap all this up so that we're ready for the start of September and the start of the New book and everything. Okay, so Hans Christian Andersen, he was a Danish author who was writing in the 1800s. So he was born in 1805 and he died in 1875. So he was a contemporary of Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins. But of course, he was writing in a different language and in a different country. He wrote lots of things like plays and novels and poems and things like that. But he was most famous for his fairy tales. The Little Mermaid is one, but there's.
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Also the Snow Queen, the Emperor's New.
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Clothes, the Ugly Duckling, and there are lots more. You can look them up. It's very easy. It's a Google away. So there are lots of stories that you probably have heard of. His first collection of fairy tales was published in 1835.
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It wasn't a huge success.
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Right. Critics didn't like his stories very much, and they felt that they lacked clear morals, and therefore they weren't really fairy tales and perhaps not even appropriate for children. But eventually he was offered a publishing deal for more stories, and of course, he went on to become a beloved writer of fairy tales, and he famous even today. He was kind of a strange person, you guys. And he had several friendships and romantic relationships that kind of went awry. One of these friendships that went awry.
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Was with Charles Dickens.
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Okay. Both Dickens and Anderson admired each other's work, and they met at a party and they got along. But then Anderson came to England and.
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He stayed with Dickens, and then he.
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Overstayed with Dickens, and Dickens had to eventually kick him out because he was staying so long and not leaving. And then Dickens kind of ended their correspondence. Despondence. And that was really sad for Hans Christian Andersen. And there are other sort of odd and kind of sad stories about Hans Christian Andersen which we don't really have time to discuss here because this isn't really a podcast about his life.
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But you can look him up if.
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You'Re interested, and you will find out lots of interesting and very strange stuff. But that's just a little bit of backstory. So you know a bit about him when he was writing and that he was creating these new stories that fall within the genre of fairy tale, but weren't passed down orally to him, but.
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Rather created by him from scratch.
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Though, of course, with symbolism and imagery that you will probably recognize. So, as I say, I am now going to read you the Little Mermaid, and then in two weeks, we'll discuss it along with whatever comes up for you in next week's episode, and then we'll be moving on to our next book, which you will learn the title of this Thursday. So don't forget to write to me about all of that so that we can have lots of discussion when I get back. Faithk moore.com, click on contact or just scroll into the Show Notes and click click on the link that's there. You can also find the link to the Drawing Room, our online community, and lots of other links like the Merch Store. Buy some merch. Check it all out. I hope you do and I will be back with you in a couple of weeks.
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All right, let's get started with the Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen.
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It's story time.
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The Little Mermaid Written by Hans Christian Andersen Far out in the ocean, where the water is as blue as the prettiest cornflower and as clear as crystal. It is very, very deep, so deep indeed that no cable could sound it, and many church steeples piled one upon another would not reach from the ground beneath to the surface of the water above there dwell the Sea King and his subjects. We must not imagine that there is nothing at the bottom of the sea but bare yellow sand. No indeed, for on this sand grow the strangest flowers and plants, the leaves and stems of which are so pliant that the slightest agitation of the water causes them to stir as if they had life. Fishes, both large and small, glide between the branches as birds fly among the trees. Here upon land, in the deepest spot of all, stands the castle of the Sea King. Its walls are built of coral, and the long gothic windows are of the clearest amber. The roof is formed of shells that open and close as the water flows over them. Their appearance is very beautiful, for in each lies a glittering pearl which would be fit for the diadem of a queen. The Sea King had been a widower for many years, and his aged mother kept house for him. She was a very sensible woman, but exceedingly proud of her high birth, and on that account wore 12 oysters on her tail, while others of high rank were only allowed to wear six. She was, however, deserving of very great praise, especially for her care of the little sea princesses, her six granddaughters. They were beautiful children, but the youngest was the prettiest of them all. Her skin was as clear and delicate as a rose leaf, and her eyes as blue as the deepest sea, but like all the others, she had no feet, and her body ended in a fish's tail. All day long they played in the great halls of the castle, or among the living flowers that grew out of the Walls. The large amber windows were open and the fish swam in. Just as the swallows fly into our houses. When we open the windows, only the fishes swam up to the princesses, ate out of their hands and allowed themselves to be stroked. Outside the castle there was a beautiful garden in which grew bright red and dark blue flowers and blossoms. Like flames of fire. The fruit glittered like gold and the leaves and stems waved to and fro continually. The earth itself was the finest sand, but blue as the flame of burning sulfur. Over everything lay a peculiar blue radiance, as if the blue sky were everywhere above and below, instead of the dark depths of the sea. In calm weather, the sun could be seen looking like a reddish purple flower with light streaming from the calyx. So the calyx is the green petal, like leaves that grow up from the stem of a flower over the undersides of the petals. To protect them. Each of the young princesses had a little plot of ground in the garden where she might dig and plant as she pleased. One arranged her flower bed in the form of a whale. Another preferred to make hers like the figure of a little mermaid, while the youngest child made hers round like the sun. And in it grew flowers as red as his rays at sunset. She was a strange child, quiet and thoughtful. While her sisters showed delight at the wonderful things which they obtained from the wrecks of vessels. She cared only for her pretty flowers, red like the sun and a beautiful marble statue. It was the representation of a handsome boy carved out of pure white stone, which had fallen to the bottom of the sea from a wreck. She planted by the statue a rose colored weeping willow. It grew rapidly and soon hung its fresh branches over the statue almost down to the blue sands. The shadows had the color of violet and waved to and fro like the branches, so that it seemed as if the crown of the tree and the root were at play and trying to kiss each other. Nothing gave her so much pleasure as to hear about the world above the sea. She made her old grandmother tell her all she knew of the ships and of the towns, the people and the animals. To her it seemed most wonderful and beautiful to hear that the flowers of the land had fragrance while those below the sea had none, that the trees of the forest were green and that the fishes among the trees, meaning the birds, could sing so sweetly that it was a pleasure to listen to them. Her grandmother called the birds fishes, or the little mermaid would not have understood what was meant, for she had never seen birds. When you have reached your 15th year, said the grandmother, you will have permission to rise up out of the sea and sit on the rocks in the moonlight while the great ships go sailing. By then you will see both forests and towns. In the following year, one of the sisters would be 15. But as each was a year younger than the other, the youngest would have to wait five years before her turn came to rise up from the bottom of the ocean to see the earth as we do. However, each promised to tell the others what she saw on her visit and what she thought was most beautiful. Their grandmother could not tell them enough. There were so many things about which they wanted to know. None of them longed so much for her turn to come as the youngest, she who had the longest time to wait and who was so quiet and thoughtful. Many nights she stood by the open window, looking up through the dark blue water and watching the fish as they splashed about with their fins and tails. She could see the moon and stars shining faintly, but through the water they looked larger than they do to our eyes. When something like a black cloud passed between her and them, she knew that it was either a whale swimming over her head or a ship full of human beings who never imagined that a pretty little mermaid was standing beneath them, holding out her white hands toward the keel of their ship. At length, the eldest was 15 and was allowed to rise to the surface of the ocean. When she returned, she had hundreds of things to talk about. But the finest thing, she said, was to lie on a sandbank and in the quiet, moonlit sea near the shore, gazing at the lights of the nearby town that twinkled like hundreds of stars, and listening to the sounds of music, the noise of carriages, the voices of human beings, and the merry peeling of the bells in the church steeples. Because she could not go near all these wonderful things, she longed for them all the more. Oh, how eagerly did the youngest sister listen to all these descriptions. And afterwards, when she stood at the open window looking up through the dark blue water, she thought of the great city with all its bustle and noise. And even fancied she could hear the sound of the church bells down in the depths of the sea. In another year, the second sister received permission to rise to the surface of the water and to swim about where she pleased. She rose just as the sun was setting. And this, she said, was the most beautiful sight of all. The whole sky looked like gold and violet and rose colored clouds which she could not describe, drifted across it. And more swiftly than the clouds flew a large flock of wild swans toward the setting sun. Like a long white veil across the sea. She also swam towards the sun, but it sank into the waves. And the rosy tints faded from the clouds and from the sea. The third sister's turn followed, and she was the boldest of them all. For she swam up a broad river that emptied into the sea. On the banks she saw green hills covered with beautiful vines. And palaces and castles peeping out from amid the proud trees of the forest. She heard birds singing and felt the rays of the sun so strongly. That she was obliged often to dive under the water to cool her burning face. In a narrow creek she found a large group of little human children, almost naked, sporting about in the water. She wanted to play with them, but they fled in great fright. And then a little black animal. It was a dog, but she did not know it, for she had never seen one before. Came to the water and barked at her so furiously that she became frightened and rushed back to the open sea. But she said she should never forget the beautiful forest, the green hills. And the pretty children who could swim in the water although they had no tails. The fourth sister was more timid. She remained in the midst of the sea. But said it was quite as beautiful there as nearer the land. She could see many miles around her. And the sky above looked like a bell of glass. She had seen the ships, but at such a great distance that they looked like seagulls. The dolphins sported in the waves. And the great whales spouted water from their nostrils. Till it seemed as if a hundred fountains were playing in every direction. The fifth sister's birthday occurred in the winter. So when her turn came, she saw what the others had not seen. The first time they went up. The sea looked quite green, and large icebergs were floating about. Each like a pearl, she said, but larger and loftier than the churches built by men. They were of the most singular shapes and glittered like diamonds. She had seated herself on one of the largest and let the wind play with her long hair. She noticed that all the ships sailed past very rapidly, steering as far away as they could, as if they were afraid of the iceberg. Towards evening, as the sun went down, dark clouds covered the sky. The thunder rolled, and the flashes of lightning glowed red on the icebergs. As they were tossed about by the heaving sea. On all the ships, the sails were reefed with fear and trembling. While she sat on the floating iceberg, calmly watching the lightning. As it darted its forked flashes into the sea. Each of the sisters, when first she had permission to rise to the surface, was delighted with the new and beautiful sights. Now that they were grown up girls and could go when they pleased, they had become quite indifferent about it. They soon wished themselves back again. And after a month had passed, they said it was much more beautiful down below and pleasanter to be at home. Yet often in the evening hours, the five sisters would twine their arms about each other and rise to the surface together. Their voices were more charming than that of any human being. And before the approach of a storm, when they feared that a ship might be lost, they swam before the vessel, singing enchanting songs of the delights to be found in the depths of the sea and begging the voyagers not to fear if they sank to the bottom. But the sailors could not understand the song and thought it was the sighing of the storm. These things were never beautiful to them. For if the ship sank, the men were drowned and their dead bodies alone reached the palace of the Sea King. When the sisters rose arm in arm through the water, their youngest sister would stand quite alone, looking after them, ready to cry. Only since mermaids have no tears, she suffered more acutely. Oh, were I but 15 years old, said she, I know that I shall love the world up there and all the people who live in it. At last she reached her 15th year. Well, now you are grown up, said the old dowager, her grandmother. Come and let me adorn you like your sisters. And she placed in her hair a wreath of white lilies, of which every flower leaf was half a pearl. Then the old lady ordered eight great oysters to attach themselves to the tail of the princess to show her high rank. But they hurt me so, said the little mermaid. Yes, I know. Pride must suffer pain, replied the old lady. Oh, how gladly she would have shaken off all this grandeur and laid aside the heavy wreath. The red flowers in her own garden would have suited her much better, but she could not change herself. So she said farewell and rose as lightly as a bubble to the surface of the water. The sun had just set when she raised her head above the waves. The clouds were tinted with crimson and gold, and through the glimmering twilight beamed the evening star in all its beauty. The sea was calm and the air mild and fresh. A large ship with three masts lay becalmed on the water. Only one sail was set, for not a breeze stirred, and the sailors sat idle on deck or amidst the rigging. There was music and song on board, and as darkness came on, a hundred colored lanterns were lighted, as if the flags of all nations waved in the air. The little mermaid swam close to the Cabin windows. And now and then, as the waves lifted her up, she could look in through glass window panes and see a number of gaily dressed people among them. And the most beautiful of all was a young prince with large black eyes. He was 16 years of age, and his birthday was being celebrated with great display. The sailors were dancing on deck, and when the prince came out of the cabin, more than a hundred rockets rose in the air, making it as bright as day. The Little Mermaid was so startled that she dived under water. And when she again stretched out her head, it looked as if all the stars of heaven were falling around her. She had never seen such fireworks before. Great suns spurted fire about. Splendid fireflies flew into the blue air, and everything was reflected in the clear, calm sea beneath. The ship itself was so brightly illuminated that all the people and even the smallest rope could be distinctly seen. How handsome the young prince looked as he pressed the hands of all his guests and smiled at them while the music resounded through the clear night air. It was very late, yet the Little Mermaid could not take her eyes from the ship or from the beautiful prince. The colored lanterns had been extinguished. No more rockets rose in the air, and the cannon had ceased firing. But the sea became restless, and a moaning, grumbling sound could be heard beneath the waves. Still the Little Mermaid remained by the cabin window with rocking up and down on the water so that she could look within. After a while, the sails were quickly set and the ship went on her way. But soon the waves rose higher, heavy clouds darkened the sky, and lightning appeared in the distance. A dreadful storm was approaching. Once more the sails were furled, and the great ship pursued her flying course over the raging sea. The waves rose mountain high, as if they would overtop the mast. But the ship dived like a swan between them, then rose again on their lofty, foaming crests. To the Little Mermaid, this was pleasant sport, but not so to the sailors. At length, the ship groaned and creaked. The thick planks gave way under the lashing of the sea. As the waves broke over the deck, the mainmast snapped asunder like a reed. And as the ship lay over on her side, the water rushed in. The Little Mermaid now perceived that the crew were in danger. Even she was obliged to be careful to avoid the beams and planks of the wreck, which lay scattered on the water. At one moment it was pitch dark, so that she could not see a single object. But when a flash of lightning came, it revealed the whole scene. She could see everyone who had been on board except the prince. When the ship parted, she had seen him sink into the deep waves, and she was glad, for she thought he would now be with her. Then she remembered that human beings could not live in the water, so that when she got down to her father's palace, he would certainly be quite dead. No, he must not die. So she swam about among the beams and planks which strewed the surface of the sea, forgetting that they could crush her to pieces. Diving deep under the dark waters, rising and falling with the waves, she at length managed to reach the young prince, who was fast losing the power to swim in that stormy sea. His limbs were failing him, his beautiful eyes were closed, and he would have died had not the little mermaid come to his assistance. She held his head above the water and let the waves carry them where they would. In the morning the storm had ceased, but of the ship not a single fragment could be seen. The sun came up, red and shining out of the water, and its beams brought back the hue of health to the prince's cheeks and. But his eyes remained closed. The mermaid kissed his high, smooth forehead and stroked back his wet hair. He seemed to her like the marble statue in her little garden. So she kissed him again and wished that he might live. Presently they came in sight of land, and she saw lofty blue mountains on which the white snow rested, as if a flock of swans were lying upon them. Beautiful green forests were near the shore, and close by stood a large building, whether a church or a convent, she could not tell. Orange and citron trees grew in the garden, and before the door stood lofty palms. The sea here formed a little bay in which the water lay quiet and still, but very deep. She swam with the handsome prince to the beach, which was covered with fine white sand. And there she laid him in the warm sunshine, taking care to raise his head higher than his body. Then bells sounded in the large white building, and some young girls came into the garden. The little mermaid swam out farther from the shore and hid herself among some high rocks that rose out of the water, covering her head and neck with the foam of the sea. She watched there to see what would become of the poor prince. It was not long before she saw a young girl approach the spot where the prince lay. She seemed frightened at first, but only for a moment. Then she brought a number of people, and the mermaid saw that the prince came to life again and smiled upon those who stood about him. But to her he sent no smile. He knew not that she had saved him. This made her very sorrowful and when he was led away into the great building, she dived down into the water and returned to her father's castle. She had always been silent and thoughtful, and now she was more so than ever. Her sisters asked her what she had seen during her first visit to the surface of the water, but she could tell them nothing. Many an evening and morning did she rise to the place where she had left the prince. She saw the fruits in the garden ripen and watched them gathered. She watched the snow on the mountaintops melt away. But never did she see the prince. And therefore she always returned home more sorrowful than before. It was her only comfort to sit in her own little garden. And fling her arm around the beautiful marble statue, which was like the prince. She gave up tending her flowers, and they grew in wild confusion over the paths, twining their long leaves and stems round the branches of the trees, so that the whole place became dark and gloomy. At length she could bear it no longer and told one of her sisters all about it. Then the others heard the secret, and very soon it became known to several mermaids, one of whom had an intimate friend who happened to know about the prince. She had also seen the festival on board ship, and she told them where the prince came from and where his palace stood. Come, little sister, said the other princesses. Then they entwined their arms and rose together to the surface of the water. Near the spot where they knew the prince's palace stood. It was built of bright yellow, shining stone. And had long flights of marble steps, one of which reached quite down to the sea. Splendid gilded cupolas rose over the roof. And between the pillars that surrounded the whole building stood lifelike statues of marble. Through the clear crystal of the lofty windows could be seen noble rooms with costly silk curtains and hangings of tapestry, and walls covered with with beautiful paintings. In the center of the largest salon, a fountain threw its sparkling jets high up into the glass cupola of the ceiling, through which the sun shone in upon the water and upon the beautiful plants that grew in the basin of the fountain. Now that the little mermaid knew where the prince lived, she spent many an evening and many a night on the water near the palace. She would swim much nearer the shore than any of the others had ventured. And once she went up the narrow channel under the marble balcony, which threw a broad shadow on the water. Here she sat and watched the young prince, who thought himself alone in the bright moonlight. She often saw him evenings sailing in a beautiful boat on which music sounded and flags waved. She peeped out from among the green rushes. And if the wind caught her long silvery white veil, those who saw it believed it to be a swan spreading out its wings. Many a night, too, when the fishermen set their nets by the light of their torches, she heard them relate many good things about the young prince, and this made her glad that she had saved his life. When he was tossed about half dead on the waves, she remembered how his head had rested on her bosom and how heartily she had kissed him. But he knew nothing of all this and could not even dream of her. She grew more and more to like human beings and wished more and more to be able to wander about with those whose worlds seemed to be so much larger than her own. They could fly over the sea in ships and mount the high hills which were far above the clouds and the lands they possessed. Their woods and their fields stretched far away beyond the reach of her sight. There was so much that she wished to know, but her sisters were unable to answer all her questions. She then went to her old grandmother, who knew all about the upper world, which she rightly called the lands above the sea. If human beings are not drowned, asked the little mermaid, can they live forever? Do they never die as we do here in the sea? Yes, replied the old lady. They must also die, and their term of life is even shorter than ours. We sometimes live for 300 years, but when we cease to exist here, we become only foam on the surface of the water and have not even a grave among those we love. We have not immortal souls. We shall never live again like the green seaweed, when once it has been cut off, we can never flourish more. Human beings, on the contrary, have souls which live forever. Even after the body has been turned to dust, they rise up through the clear, pure air beyond the glittering stars. As we rise out of the water and behold all the land of the earth, so do they rise to unknown and glorious regions which we shall never see. Why have not we immortal souls? Said the little mermaid mournfully. I would gladly give all the hundreds of years that I have to live to be a human being only for one day, and to have the hope of knowing the happiness of that glorious world above the stars. You must not think that, said the old woman. We believe that we are much happier and much better off than human beings. So I shall die, said the little mermaid, and as the foam of the sea I shall be driven about, never again to hear the music of the waves, or to sing, see the pretty flowers, or the red sun. Is there anything I can do to.
- [43:01]
B
Win an immortal soul?
- [43:03]
A
No, said the old woman, unless a man should love you so much that you were more to him than his father or his mother. And if all his thoughts and all his love were fixed upon you, and the priest placed his right hand in yours, and he promised to be true to you here and hereafter, then his soul would glide into your body. And you would obtain a share in the future happiness of mankind. He would give to you a soul and retain his own as well. But this can never happen. Your fish's tail, which among us is considered so beautiful on earth, is thought to be quite ugly. They do not know any better, and they think it necessary, in order to be handsome. To have two stout props which they call legs. Then the little mermaid sighed and looked sorrowfully at her fish's tail. Let us be happy, said the old lady, and dart and spring about during the 300 years that we have to live, which is really quite long enough. After that we can rest ourselves all the better. This evening we are going to have a court ball. It was one of those splendid sights which we can never see on earth. The walls and the ceiling of the large ballroom. Were of thick but transparent crystal. Many hundreds of colossal shells, some of a deep red, others of a grass green with blue fire in them, stood in rows on each side. These lighted up the whole salon and shone through the walls so that the sea was also illuminated. Innumerable fishes, great and small, swam past the crystal walls. On some of them the scales glowed with purple brilliance. And on others shone like silver and gold. Through the halls flowed a broad stream. And in it danced the mermen and the mermaids to the music of their own sweet singing. No one on earth has such lovely voices as they. But the little mermaids sang more sweetly than all. The whole court applauded her with hands and tails. And for a moment her heart felt quite gay. For she knew she had the sweetest voice, either on earth or in the sea. But soon she thought again of the world above her. She could not forget the charming prince, nor her sorrow that she had not an immortal soul like his. She crept away silently out of her father's palace. And while everything within was gladness and song, she sat in her own little garden, sorrowful and alone. Then she heard the bugle sounding through the water and thought. He is certainly sailing above. He in whom my wishes center and in whose hands I should like to place the happiness of my life. I will venture all for him and to win an immortal soul. While my sisters are dancing in My father's palace. I will go to the Sea Witch, of whom I have always been so much afraid. She can give me counsel and help. Then the little mermaid went out from her garden and took the road to the foaming whirlpools behind which the sorceress lived. She had never been that way before. Neither flowers nor grass grew there. Nothing but bare, gray, sandy ground stretched out to the whirlpool, where the water, like foaming mill wheels, seized everything that came within its reach and cast it into the fathomless deep. Through the midst of these crushing whirlpools, the Little mermaid was obliged to pass before she could reach the dominions of the Sea Witch. Then, for a long distance, the road lay across a stretch of warm, bubbling mire, called by the witch her Turfmoor. Beyond this was the witch's house, which stood in the center of a strange forest where all the trees and flowers were polypi. Half animals and half plants. They looked like serpents with a hundred heads growing out of the ground. The branches were long, slimy arms with fingers like flexible worms, moving limb after limb from the root to the top. All that could be reached in the sea, they seized upon and held fast so that it never escaped from their clutches. The Little mermaid was so alarmed at what she saw that she stood still, and her heart beat with fear. She came very near, turning back, but she thought of the prince and of the human soul for which she longed, and her courage returned. She fastened her long, flowing hair round her head so that the polypi should not lay hold of it. She crossed her hands on her bosom and then started forward as a fish shoots through the water. Between the supple arms and fingers of the ugly polypi which were stretched out on each side of her, she saw that they all held in their grasp something they had seized. Within their numerous little arms, which were as strong as iron bands. Tightly grasped in their clinging arms were white skeletons of human beings who had perished at sea and had sunk down into the deep waters. Skeletons of land animals and oars, rudders and chests of ships. There was even a little mermaid whom they had caught and strangled, and this seemed the most shocking of all to the little princess. She now came to a space of marshy ground in the wood, where large, fat water snakes were rolling in the mire and showing their ugly, drab colored bodies. In the midst of this spot stood a house built of the bones of shipwrecked human beings. There sat the Sea Witch, allowing a toad to eat from her mouth, just as people Sometimes feed a canary with pieces of sugar. She called the ugly water snakes her little chickens. And allowed them to crawl all over her bosom. I know what you want, said the sea witch. It is very stupid of you, but you shall have your way. Though it will bring you to sorrow, my pretty princess. You want to get rid of your fish's tail. And to have two supports instead. Like human beings on earth. So that the young prince may fall in love with you. And so that you may have an immortal soul. And then the witch laughed so loud and so disgustingly. That the toad and the sister snakes fell to the ground and lay there wriggling. You are but just in time, said the witch. For after sunrise tomorrow. I should not be able to help you till the end of another year. I will prepare a draught for you. A draught is like a potion with which you must swim to land. Tomorrow before sunrise, seat yourself there and drink it. Your tail will then disappear and shrink up into what men call legs. You will feel great pain, as if a sword were passing through you. But all who see you will say that you are the prettiest little human being they ever saw. You will still have the same floating gracefulness of movement. And no dancer will ever tread so lightly. Every step you take, however, will be as if you were treading upon sharp knives. And as if the blood must flow. If you will bear all this, I will help you. Yes, I will, said the little princess in a trembling voice. As she thought of the prince and the immortal soul. But think again, said the witch. For when once your sheep has become like a human being. You can no more be a mermaid. You will never return through the water to your sister's or to your father's palace again. And if you do not win the love of the prince. So that he is willing to forget his father and mother for your sake. And to love you with his whole soul. And allow the priest to join your hands.
- [51:29]
B
That you may be man and wife.
- [51:32]
A
Then you will never have an immortal soul. The first morning after he marries another, your heart will break. And you will become foam on the crest of the waves. I will do it, said the little mermaid. And she became pale as death. But I must be paid also, said the witch. And it is not a trifle that I ask. You have the sweetest voice of any who dwell here in the depths of the sea. And you believe that you will be able to charm the prince with it. But this voice you must give to me. The best thing you possess will I have as the price of my Costly draught, which must be mixed with my own blood, so that it may be as sharp as a two edged sword.
- [52:34]
B
But if you take away my voice.
- [52:37]
A
Said the little mermaid, what is left for me? Your beautiful form, your graceful walk and your expressive eyes. Surely with these you can enchain a man's heart. Well, have you lost your courage? Put out your little tongue, that I may cut it off as my payment. Then you shall have the powerful draught. It shall be, said the little mermaid. Then the witch placed her cauldron on the fire to prepare the magic draught. Cleanliness is a good thing, said she, scouring the vessel with snakes, which she had tied together in a large knot. Then she pricked herself in the breast and let the black blood drop into the cauldron. The steam that rose twisted itself into such horrible shapes that no one could look at them without fear. Every moment the witch threw a new ingredient into the vessel, and when it began to boil, the sound was like the weeping of a crocodile. When at last the magic draught was ready, it looked like the clearest water. There it is for you, said the witch. Then she cut off the mermaid's tongue, so that she would never again speak or sing. If the Polypi should seize you as you return through the wood, said the witch, throw over them a few drops of the potion, and their fingers will be torn into a thousand pieces. But the little mermaid had no occasion to do this, for the Polypi sprang back in terror when they caught sight of the glittering draught which shone in her hand like a twinkling star. So she passed quickly through the wood and the marsh and between the rushing whirlpools she saw that in her father's palace the torches in the ballroom were extinguished, and that all within were asleep. But she did not venture to go into them, for now that she was dumb, meaning she can't speak, and going to leave them forever, she felt as if her heart would break. She stole into the garden, took a flower from the flower bed of each of her sisters, kissed her hand towards the palace a thousand times, and then rose up through the dark blue waters. The sun had not risen when she came in sight of the prince's palace and approached the beautiful marble steps. But the moon shone clear and bright. Then the little mermaid drink the magic draught, and it seemed as if a two edged sword went through her delicate body. She fell into a swoon and lay like one dead. When the sun rose and shone over the sea, she recovered and felt a sharp pain. But before her stood the handsome young prince. He fixed his Coal black eyes upon her so earnestly that she cast down her own and then became aware that her fish's tail was gone and that she had as pretty a pair of white legs and tiny feet as any little maiden could have. But she had no clothes, so she wrapped herself in her long thick hair. The prince asked her who she was, and when she came she looked at him mildly and sorrowfully with her deep blue eyes, but could not speak. He took her by the hand and led her to the palace. Every step she took was as the witch had said it would be. She felt as if she were treading upon the points of needles or sharp knives. She bore it willingly, however, and moved at the prince's side as lightly as a bubble, so that he and all who saw her wondered at her graceful, swaying movements. She was very soon arrayed in costly robes of silk and muslin and was the most beautiful creature in the palace. But she was dumb and could neither speak nor sing. Beautiful female slaves dressed in silk and gold stepped forward and sang before the prince and his royal parents. One sang better than all the others, and the prince clapped his hands and smiled at her. This was a great sorrow to the little mermaid, for she knew how much more sweetly she herself once could sing. And she thought, oh, if he could only know that I have given away my voice forever to be with him. The slaves next performed some pretty fairy like dances to the sound of beautiful music. Then the little mermaid raised her lovely white arms. Arms stood on the tips of her toes, glided over the floor and danced as no one yet had been able to dance. At each moment her beauty was more revealed and her expressive eyes appealed more directly to the heart than the songs of the slaves. Everyone was enchanted, especially the prince, who called her his little foundling. She danced again quite readily to please him, though each time her foot touched the floor it seemed as if she trod on sharp knives. The prince said she should remain with him always, and she was given permission to sleep at his door on a velvet cushion. He had a page's dress made for her that she might accompany him on horseback. They rode together through the sweet scented woods where the green boughs touched their shoulders and the little birds sang among the fresh leaves. She climbed with him to the tops of high mountains, and although her tender feet bled so that even her steps were marked and she only smiled and followed him till they could see the clouds beneath them, like a flock of birds flying to distant lands. While at the prince's palace, and when all the household were asleep, she Would go and sit on the broad marble steps, for it eased her burning feet to bathe them in the cold sea water. It was then that she thought of all those below in the deep. Once, during the night, her sisters came up, arm in arm, standing, singing sorrowfully as they floated on the water. She beckoned to them, and they recognized her and told her how she had grieved them. After that they came to the same place every night. Once she saw in the distance her old grandmother, who had not been to the surface of the sea for many years, and the old sea king, her father, with his crown on his head. They stretched out their hands towards her, but did not venture so near the land as her sisters had. As the days passed, she loved the prince more dearly, and he loved her as one would love a little child. The thought never came to him to make her his wife. Yet unless he married her, she could not receive an immortal soul. And on the morning after his marriage with another, she would dissolve into the foam of the sea. Do you not love me the best of them all? The eyes of the little mermaid seemed to say, when he took her in his arms and kissed her fair forehead. Yes, you are dear to me, said the prince, for you have the best heart, and you are the most devoted to me. You are like a young maiden whom I saw once, but whom I shall never meet again. I was in a ship that was wrecked, and the waves cast me ashore near a holy temple where several young maidens performed the service. The youngest of them found me on the shore and saved my life. I saw her but twice, and she is the only one in the world whom I could love. But you are like her, and you have almost driven her image from my mind. She belongs to the holy temple, and good fortune has sent you to me in her stead. We will never part. Ah, he knows not that it was I who saved his life, thought the little mermaid. I. I carried him over the sea to the wood where the temple stands. I sat behind the foam and watched till the human beings came to help him. I saw the pretty maiden that he loves better than he loves me. The mermaid sighed deeply, but she could not weep. He says the maiden belongs to the holy temple. Therefore she will never return to the world. They will meet no more. I am by his side and see him every day. I will take care of him and love him and give up my life for his sake very soon. It was said that the prince was to marry and that the beautiful daughter of a neighboring king would be his wife for A fine ship was being fitted out. Although the prince gave out that he intended merely to pay a visit to the king. It was generally supposed that he went to court the princess. A great company were to go with him. The little mermaid smiled and shook her head. She knew the prince's thoughts better than any of the others. I must travel, he said to her. I must see this beautiful princess. My parents desire it, but they will not oblige me to bring her home as my bride. I cannot love her because she is not like the beautiful maiden in the temple whom you resemble. If I were forced to choose a.
- [61:28]
B
Bride, I should choose you, my dumb.
- [61:30]
A
Foundling, with those expressive eyes. Then he kissed her rosy mouth, played with her long waving hair. And laid his head on her heart while she dreamed of human happiness and an immortal soul. You are not afraid of the sea, my dumb child, are you? He said as they stood on the deck of the noble ship which was.
- [61:50]
B
To carry them to the country of the neighboring king.
- [61:53]
A
Then he told her of storm and of calm, of strange fishes in the deep beneath them, and of what the divers had seen seen there. She smiled at his descriptions, for she knew better than anyone what wonders were at the bottom of the sea. In the moonlight night, when all on board were asleep except the man at the helm. She sat on deck, gazing down. Through the clear water. She thought she could distinguish her father's castle and upon it her aged grandmother with the silver crown on her head, looking through the rushing tide at the keel of the vessel. Then her sisters came up on the waves and gazed at her mournfully, wringing their white hands. She beckoned to them and smiled and wanted to tell them how happy and well off she was. But the cabin boy approached, and when her sisters dived down, he thought what she saw was only the foam of the sea. The next morning, the ship sailed into the harbor of a beautiful town belonging to the king, whom the prince was going to visit. The church bells were ringing, and from the high towers sounded a flourish of trumpets. Soldiers with flying colors and glittering bayonets lined the roads through which they passed. Every day was a festival, balls and entertainments following one another. But the princess had not yet appeared. People said that she had been brought up and educated in a religious house. Where she was learning every royal virtue. At last she came. Then the little mermaid, who was anxious to see whether she was really beautiful, was obliged to admit that she had never seen a more perfect vision of beauty. Her skin was delicately fair, and beneath her long dark eyelashes, her laughing blue eyes shone with truth and purity. It was you, said the prince, who. Who saved my life when I lay as if dead on the beach. And he folded his blushing bride in his arms. Oh, I am too happy, said he to the little mermaid. My fondest hopes are now fulfilled. You will rejoice at my happiness, for your devotion to me is great and sincere. The little mermaid kissed his hand and felt as if her heart were already broken. His wedding morning would bring death to her and she would change into the foam of the sea. All the church bells rang and the heralds rode through the town proclaiming the betrothal. Perfumed oil was burned in costly silver lamps on every altar. The priests waved the censers while the bride and the bridegroom joined their hands and received the blessing of the bishop. The little mermaid, dressed in silk and gold, held up the bride's train. But her ears heard nothing of the festive music and her eyes saw not the holy ceremony. She thought of the night of death which was coming to her and of all she had lost in the world. On the same evening the the bride and bridegroom went on board the ship. Cannons were roaring, flags waving, and in the center of the ship a costly tent of purple and gold had been erected. It contained elegant sleeping couches for the bridal pair. During the night the ship, under a favorable wind with swelling sails, glided away smoothly and lightly over the calm sea. When it grew dark, a number of colored lamps were lighted and the sailors danced merrily on the deck. The little mermaid could not help thinking of her first rising out of the sea when she had seen similar joyful festivities. So she too joined in the dance, poised herself in the air as a swallow when he pursues his prey. And all present cheered her wonderingly. She had never danced so gracefully before. Her tender feet felt as if cut with sharp knives. But she cared not for the pain. A sharper pang had pierced her heart. She knew this was 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 he knew nothing of it. This was the last evening that she should breathe the same air with him or gaze on the starry sky and the deep sea. An eternal night without a thought or a dream awaited her. She had no soul and now could never win one. All was joy and gaiety up on the ship until long after midnight. She smiled and danced with the rest while the thought of death was in her heart. The prince kissed his beautiful bride, and she played with his raven hair till they went arm in arm to rest in the sumptuous tent. Then all became still on board the ship, and only the pilot who stood at the helm was awake. The Little Mermaid leaned her white arms on the edge of the vessel and looked towards the east for the first blush of morning, for that first ray of the dawn which was to be her death. She saw her sisters rising out of the flood. They were as pale as she, but their beautiful hair no longer waved in the wind. It had been cut off. We have given our hair to the Witch, said they, to obtain help for you, that you may not die tonight. She has given us a knife. See? It is very sharp. Before the sun rises, you must plunge it into the heart of the prince. When the warm blood flows upon your feet, they will grow together again into a fish's tail. And you will once more be a mermaid and can return to us to live out your 300 years before you are changed into the salt sea foam. Haste, then. Either he or you must die before sunrise. Our old grandmother mourns so for you that her white hair is falling as ours fell under the Witch's scissors. Kill the prince and come back. Hasten. Do you not see the first red streaks in the sky? In a few minutes the sun will rise and you must die. Then they sighed deeply and mournfully and sank beneath the waves. The Little Mermaid drew back the crimson curtain of the tent and beheld the fair bride whose head was resting on the prince's breast. She bent down and kissed his noble brow, then looked at the sky on which the rosy dawn grew brighter and brighter. She glanced at the sharp knife and again fixed her eyes on the prince, who whispered the name of his bride in his dreams. She was in his thoughts, and the knife trembled in the hand of the Little Mermaid. But she flung it far from her into the waves. The water turned red where it fell, and the drops that spurred it up looked like blood. She cast one more lingering, half fainting glance at the prince, then threw herself from the ship into the sea and felt her body dissolving into foam. The sun rose above the waves and his warm rays fell on the cold foam of the Little Mermaid, who did not feel as if she were dying. She saw the bright sun and hundreds of transparent, beautiful creatures floating around her. She could see through them the white sails of the ships and the red clouds in the sky. Their speech was melodious but could not be heard by mortal ears, just as their bodies could not be seen by mortal eyes. The Little Mermaid perceived that she had a body like theirs, and that she continued to rise higher and higher out of the foam. Where is am I? Asked she, and her voice sounded ethereal like the voices of those who were with her. No earthly music could imitate it. Among the Daughters of the Air, answered one of them, a mermaid has not an immortal soul, nor can she obtain one unless she wins the love of a human being. On the will of another hangs her eternal destiny. But the Daughters of the Air, although they do not 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 with pests, pestilence. We carry the perfume of the flowers to spread health and restoration. After we have striven for 300 years to do all the good in our power, we receive an immortal soul and take part in the happiness of mankind. You, poor little mermaid, have tried with your whole heart to do as we are doing. You have suffered and endured and raised yourself to the spirit world by your good deeds. And now, by striving for 300 years in the same way, you may obtain an immortal soul. The Little Mermaid lifted her glorified eyes toward the sun, and for this first time felt them filling with tears. On the ship in which she had left the Prince, there was life and noise, and she saw him and his beautiful bride searching for her. Sorrowfully they gazed at the pearly foam as if they knew she had thrown herself into the waves. Unseen, she kissed the forehead of the bride and fanned the prince, and then mounted with the other children of the Air to a rosy cloud that floated above. After 300 years, thus shall we float into the kingdom of heaven, said she. And we may even get there sooner, whispered one of her companions. Unseen, we can enter the houses of men, where there are children. And for every day on which we find a good child, that is the joy of his parents and deserves their love, our time of probation is shortened. The child does not know when we fly through the room that we smile with joy at his good conduct. For we can count one year less of our 300 years. But when we see a naughty or a wicked child, we shed tears of sorrow. And for every tear, a day is added to our time of trial. Thank you so much for listening. Storytime will return in September with a new book read aloud in twice weekly episodes, with a few notes along the way, like an audiobook with built in notes. The new book will be revealed sometime in August. In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Is there anything you'd like me to clarify? Did something particularly interest you? Please go to my website, faithkmoore.com, click on Contact and send me your questions and thoughts. Or you can click on the link in the Show Notes to contact me. I'll feature some of your thoughts as we go along. Speaking of links, please check out the other links in the Show Notes. You can learn more about me, pick up Storytime merch, or become a member.
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B
Of our online community.
- [73:50]
A
Before I go, I'd like to ask a quick favor. This is an independent podcast. It's produced, recorded and marketed by me. So I need your help. Spread the word about the show by.
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Posting about it on social media or.
- [74:04]
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Texting a link to your friends. Subscribe, tap those five stars and leave a positive review wherever you're listening. If you are able to support the show financially, there's a link in the Show Notes to make a donation. I would really, really appreciate it. Alright everyone, class is dismissed. I'll see you next week.