The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen, recorded for Love Stories Vol. 2 by Michelle Fry at Baton Rouge, Louisiana in November 2019. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit thelibrivox.org. The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen. Far out in the ocean, where the water is as blue as the prettiest cone flower 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 ember. The roof is formed of shells that open and close as the water flows over them. Their appearance is very beautiful, for in each shall I is a glittering pearl which would be fitted 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 were twelve oysters on her tail while others of high rank were only allowed to wear six. She was, however, deserving a 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 opened 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. 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 the 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 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 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 fifteenth 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 fifteen, 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 first 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 slushed 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.  At length the eldest was fifteen 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 sand bank in the quiet moon, let's see, 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 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 a 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 that 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 where 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 fifteen 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 fifteenth year.  Then the old lady ordered eight great oysters to attach themselves to the tale 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 set idle on the 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 the 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 sixteen 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 underwater 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 sun 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 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 beneath 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 main masts 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 he 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 drew 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.  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 but his eyes remained closed. The mermaid kissed his high smooth forehead and stroked back his wet hair.  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 but 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 mountain top smelt 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 arms 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 lifeless statues of marble. Through the clear crystal of the lofty windows could be seen noble rooms with costly silk cartons and hangings of tapestry and walls covered 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 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 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 as 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 wonder about with those whose world 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?  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 we not immortal souls? asked 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 see the pretty flowers or the red sun. Is there anything I can do to win an immortal soul? 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 priests 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 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 three hundred 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 sites which we can never see on earth. The walls and the ceilings of the large ballroom were of thick but transparent crystal. Many hundreds of colossal shells, some of a deep red and the 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 the 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 sea. But soon she thought again of the world above her and 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 which I have always been so 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 beyond which the sorcerers 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 turf moor. Beyond this was the witch's house which stood in the center of a strange forest where all the trees and flowers died 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 a 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 around her head so that the palapai should not lay a hold of it. She crossed her hands on her bosom and then darted forward as a fish shoots through the water between the supple arms and fingers of the ugly palapai which were stretched out on each side of her. She saw that they all held in their grasp something they had seized with 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. It was even a little mermaid whom they had caught and strangled and this seemed the most shocking of all to the little princess. Now she 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.   I know what you want said the sea witch.  You want to get rid of your fishes 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 the witch laughed so loud and so disgustingly that the toad and the 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 draft for you 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 movements and no dancer will ever tread so lightly. Every step you take however is 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 shape has become like a human being you can no more be a mermaid. You will never return through the water 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 that you may be man and wife 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 princess 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 draft which must be mixed with my own blood so that it may be as sharp as a two-edged sword. But if you take away my voice said the little mermaid what is left for me?  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 draft shall be said the little mermaid then the witch placed her cauldron on the fire to prepare the magic draft. Cleanliness is a good thing as she said 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 draft 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 palapai should seize you as you return to 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 palapai spring back in terror when they caught sight of the glittering draft was shown 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 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 inside of the princess palace and approached the beautiful marble steps but the moon shone clear and bright then the little mermaid drank the magic draft and it seemed as if the 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 cold 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 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 I would have been 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 wide 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 tried 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 his dress made for her that she might accompany him on horseback they rode together through the sweet scented woods where the green bows 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 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 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 service 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 sister's head 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 were like a young maiden but whom I shall never meet again I was in a ship that was wrecked and the waves cast me ashore near the 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 carried him over the sea to the wood where the temple stands I sat beneath 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 the 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 he 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 princess thoughts better than any of the others I must travel he had 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 you resemble if I were forced to choose a bride I would choose you my dumbfoundling 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 to carry them to the country of the neighboring king then he told her of storm and of calm of strange fishes in the deep beneath them and of what the divers had 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 the 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 ringing 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 the sisters dived down he thought what he saw was only the foam of the sea the next morning the ship sailed into the harbor of the 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 shown with truth and purity it was you said the prince 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 in 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 and costly silver lamps on every altar the priests waved the censors 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 while 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 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 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 festivals so she too joined in the dance poised herself in the air as a swallow when he pursues and all present cheered her wonderingly she had never danced so gracefully before her tender feet fell as if cut with sharp knives but she cared not for the pain a sharper pain 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 that 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 gayity 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 a 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 mourning 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 falls upon your feet they will grow together again and to a fishes tail and you will once more be a mermaid and can return to us to live out your three hundred years before you are changed into the salty foam haste then either he or you must die before sunrise our old grandmother mourned so for you that her white hair is falling as ours fell under the witches 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 faking 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 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 of 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 a body like theirs and that she continued to rise higher and higher out of the foam where 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 the 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 the 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 she said 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 and 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 End of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson recorded by Michelle Fry Baton Rouge, Louisiana Love of Lovers by Maxim Gorky read for Love Stories Volume 2 by Nislihan Stamboli this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Love of Lovers by Maxim Gorky at a small station in Rome and Genoa the guard opened the door of our compartment and with the assistance of a dirty oiler lead, carried almost a little one-eyed old man up the steps into our midst very old remarked both at the same time smiling good naturedly but the old man turned out to be very vigorous after thanking his helpers with his wrinkled hand he politely and gaily lifted his shabby, dust-stained hat from his grey head and looking sharply at the seats with his one eye inquired will you permit me he was given a seat at once he then straightened his blue linen suit heaved a sigh of relief and putting his hands on his little withered knees disclosing a toothless mouth going far uncle asked my companion only three stations he replied readily I'm going to my grandson's wedding after a few minutes he became very talkative and raising his voice above the noise made by the wheels of the train told us as he swayed this way and that like a broken branch on a windy day I'm a Ligurian we Ligurians are a strong people I for instance have thirteen sons and four daughters I confuse my grandchildren in counting them this is the second one to get married that's pretty good don't you think he looked proudly around the compartment with his lustilist but still marry I then he laughed quietly and said see how many people I have given to my country and to the king how did I lose my eye oh that was long ago when I was still a boy but already helping my father he was breaking stones in the vineyard our soil is very hard and needs a lot of attention there are a great many stones a stone flew from underneath my father's pick and hit me in the eye I don't remember any pain at dinner my eye came out it was terrible seniors they put it back in its place and applied some warm bread but the eye died the old man rubbed his brown skinny cheek and laughed again in a merry good human way at that time there were not so many doctors and people were much more stupid what you think they may have been kinder perhaps they were and now this dried up one eye deeply wrinkled face with its partial covering of greenish grey moldy looking hair became knowing and triumphant when one has lived as long as I one may talk confidently about men isn't that so he raised significantly a dark crooked finger as though threatening someone I will tell you senior something about people when my father died I was 13 at the time you see how small I am even now but I was very skillful and could work without getting tired that is all I inherited from my father our house and land were sold for debts and so with but one eye and two hands I lived on working whatever I could get work it was hard but youth is not afraid to work is it when I was 19 I met a girl whom fate had meant me to love she was as poor as myself younger and more robust she also lived with her mother an old woman in failing health and worked when and where she could she was not very calm but kind and clever and she had a fine voice though she sang like a professional and that in itself means riches in yours shall we get married said I after we had known each other for some time it would be funny you one-eyed fellow she replied rather sadly neither you nor I have anything what should we live on upon my soul neither I nor she had anything but what does that signify to young love you all know seniors how little love requires I was insistent and got my way yes perhaps you're right said I at last if the holy mother helps you and me now when we live apart it will be much easier for her to help us when we live together we decided upon it and went to the priest this is madness said the priest aren't there beggars enough in Liguria unhappy people play things of the devil you must struggle against this snaz or you will pay dearly for your weakness all the youths in the commune jeered at us and all the old people shook their heads I can tell you but youth is obstinate and will have its way the wedding day drew near we were no better off than we had been before we really did not know where we should sleep on our wedding night let us go into the field said Ida why won't that do the mother of God is equally kind to all and love is everywhere equally passionate when people are young that is what we decided upon that the earth should be our bed and the sky our coverlet at this point another story begins seniors please pay attention this is the best story of my long life early in the morning of the day before our wedding the old manager of annie for whom I worked said to me like this his pipe between his teeth as if he were speaking about trifles Ugo you had better go and clean out the old sheep shed and put some straw in it although it is dry there and no sheep have been in it for over a year it ought to be cleaned out properly if you want to live in it with Ida thus we had a house as I worked and sang the carpenter constancio stood in the door and asked are you going to live here with Ida where is your bed you must come to me when you have finished and get one from me I have one to spare as I went to his house married the bed tempered shopkeeper shouted the wretched sillies get married and don't possess a sheet or pillow or anything else you're quite crazy you one-eyed fella send your sweetheart to me and Ettore Viano tortured by rheumatism and fever shouted from the threshold of his house asking whether he has saved up much wine for the guests oh good people who could be more light headed than these two in a deep wrinkle on the old man's cheek listened the tear of happiness he threw back his head and laughed noiselessly pawing his all straight and the flabby skin of his face restless as a child oh Seniors said he laughing and catching his breath on our wedding mourn we had everything that was wanted for a home a statue of the Madonna crocure linen furniture everything I swear Ida wept and laughed and so did I and everybody laughed it is not the thing to weep on one's wedding day and they all laughed at us Seniors words cannot tell how sweet it is to be able to say our people it is better still to feel that they are yours near and dear to you your kindred for whom your life is no joking matter your happiness no plaything and the wedding took place it was a great day the whole commune turned out to see us and everybody came to our shed which had become a rich house as in a fairy tale we had everything wine and fruit meat and bread and all ate and were married there is no greater happiness Seniors than to do good to others believe me there is nothing more beautiful or more joyful and we had a priest these people he said gravely and in a manner suited to the occasion have worked for you all and now you have provided for them so that they may be happy on the best day of their life that is exactly what you should have done for they have worked for you and work is of more account than copper and silver coins work is always greater than the payment that is given for it money disappears but work remains these people are happy and humble their life has been hard but they have not grumbled it may be harder yet and they will not murmur and you will help them in an hour of need their hands willing and their hearts as good as gold he said a lot of flattering things to me to Aida and to the whole commune the old man looked triumphantly with his one eye at his fellow travelers and there was something useful and vigorous in his glance as he said there you have something about people Seniors curious isn't it and of love of lovers by Max Simgorky Love on the Bondu by Kate Chopin recorded for Love Stories Volume 2 by William Jones Benita Springs, Florida this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Love on the Bondu by Kate Chopin upon the pleasant Miranda of Heron Twan's College that adjoined the church a young girl had been seated waiting his return it was the eve of Easter Sunday and since early afternoon the priest had been engaged in hearing the confessions of those who wished to make their Easter the following day the girl did not seem impatient at his delay on the contrary she would lie back in the big chair she had found there and peeped through the thick curtains of vines at the people occasionally passing along the village street she was slender with a frailness that indicated lack of wholesome and plentiful nourishment a pathetic uneasy look was in her grey eyes and even faintly stamped her features which were fine and delicate in lieu of a big head a barrage veil covered her light brown and abundant hair she wore a coarse white josey and a blue calico skirt that only half concealed her tattered shoes as she sat there she held carefully in her lap a parcel of eggs securely fastened in a red bandana handkerchief twice already a handsome stalwart young man in quest of the priest had entered the yard and printed traded to where she sat at first they had exchanged the uncompromising howdy of strangers and nothing more the second time finding the priest still absent he hesitated to go at once instead he stood upon the step and narrowing his brown eyes gazed beyond the river off toward the west where a murky streak of mist was spreading across the sun it looked like more rain he remarked slowly and carelessly we done had about enough she replied in much the same tone it's no chance to thin out the cotton he went on and the bondage she resumed it's only today you can cross him on foot you live yonder on the bondage you don't he asked looking at her for the first time since he had spoken yes by Ned Hebert Monsieur instinctive courtesy held him from questioning her further but he seated himself on the step evidently determined to wait there for the priest he said no more but set scanning critically the steps the porch and pillar beside him from which he occasionally tore away the little pieces of detached wood where it was beginning to rot at its base a click on the side gate that communicated with a churchyard soon announced Pierre Antoine's return he came hurriedly across the garden patch between the tall lusty rose bushes that lined either side of it which were now fragrant with blossoms his long-flebbing cassock added something of height to his undersized middle-aged figure as did the skullcap which rested securely back on his head he saw only the young man at first who rose at his approach well Asenor he called cheerly and French extending his hand how is this I expected you all week yes mom's here but I knew well what you wanted with me and I was finishing the doors for Gros Lyon's new house saying which he drew back and indicated by emotion and look that someone was present who had prior claim upon Pierre Antoine's attention ah they leave the priest exclaimed when he had mounted to the porch and saw her there behind the vines have you been waiting here since you confessed surely an hour ago yes mom's here you should rather have made some visits in the village child I am not acquainted with anyone in the village she returned the priest as he spoke had drawn a chair and seated himself beside her with his hands comfortably clasping his knees he wanted to know how things were out on the bayou and how is the grandmother he asked as cross and crab as ever and with that he added reflectively good for ten years yet only yesterday to Boutron you know Boutron he works at Le Blancs-Bendieu place that Madame Zidori how is it with her Boutron I believe God has forgotten her you're on earth it isn't that irreverence said Boutron but it's neither God nor the devil that wants her and Pierre Antoine laughed with a jovial frankness that shook all staying of ill nature from his very pointed remarks Lely did not reply when he spoke of her grandmother she only pressed her lips firmly together and picked nervously at the red bandana I have come to ask Monsieur Antoine she began, lower than she needed to speak, for Asenor had withdrawn at once to the far end of the porch to ask if you will give me a little scrap of paper, a piece of writing for Manchure and Chaotron to the store over there I want new shoes and stockings for Easter and I have brought eggs to trade for them he says he is willing yes if he was sure I would bring more every week till the shoes were paid for with good natured indifference Pierre Antoine wrote the order that the girl had desired he was too familiar with distress to feel keenly for a girl who was able to buy Easter shoes and pay for them with eggs she immediately went away then after shaking hands with the priest and sending a quick glance of her pathetic eyes toward Asenor who had turned when he heard her rise and nodded when he caught the look through the vines he watched across the village street how is it that you do not know Lely, Asenor surely you must have seen her pass your house often away to the boundary no I don't know her I have never seen her the young man replied as he seated himself after the priest and kept his eyes absolutely fixed on the store across the road where he had seen her enter she is the granddaughter of that Madame Isador what? Mame Isador whom they drove off that island last winter yes, yes well you know they say the old woman stole word in things I don't know how true it is and destroyed people's property out of pure malice and now she lives on the Bandeu yes on Leblanc's place in a perfect wreck of a cabin you see she gets it for nothing not a Negro on the place but has refused to live in it surely it can't be that old abandoned hovel near this wamp that Michon occupied ages ago that is the one the very one and the girl lives there with that old wretch the young man marvel old wretch to be sure Asenor but what can you expect from a woman who never crosses the threshold of God's house who even tried to hinder the child doing so as well I said see here, Madame Zidora you know it's my way to handle such people without gloves you may damn your soul if you choose I told her that is a privilege which we all have but none of us has a right to imperil the salvation of another I want to see Lely at Mass here after on Sundays or you will hear from me and I shook my stick under her nose since then the child has never missed a Sunday but she is half starved you can see that you saw how shabby she is how broken her shoes are she is at Chartres now trading for new ones with those eggs she brought poor thing there's no doubt of her being ill treated Bertrand says he thinks Madame Zidora even beats the child I don't know how true it is for no power can make her utter a word against her grandmother Azenor whose face was a kind and sensitive one had paled with distress as the priest spoke and now at these final words he quivered as though he felt the sting of a cruel blow upon his own flesh but no more was said of Lely for Pierre Antoine drew the young men's attention to the carpenter work which he wished to entrust to him when they had talked the matter over in all his lengthy details Azenor mounted his horse and rode away a moment's gallop carried him outside the village then came a half mile strip along the river to cover and then the lane to enter in which stood his dwelling midway upon a low pleasant knoll as Azenor turned into the lane he saw the figure of Lely far ahead of him somehow he had expected to find her there and he watched her again as he had done through Pierre Antoine's vines when she passed his house he wondered if she would turn to look at it but she did not how could she know it was his upon reaching it himself he did not enter the yard but stood there motionless his eyes always fashioned upon the girl's figure he could not see a way off there how coarse her garments were she seemed through the distance that divided them as slim and delicate as a flower stalk he stayed till he reached the turn of the lane and disappeared into the woods Mass had not yet begun when Azenor tiptoed into church on Easter morning he did not take his place for the congregation but stood close to the holy water font and watched the people who entered almost every girl who passed him wore a white mole a dotted Swiss or a fresh starts a Muslim at least they were bright with ribbons that hung from their persons and flowers that bedecked their hats some carried fans and cambrick handkerchiefs most of them wore gloves and were odorant of pudra deris and nice toilet waters while all carried gay little baskets filled with Easter eggs but there was one who came empty handed saved for the worn prayer book which she bore it was Lely the veil upon her head and wearing the blue print and cotton bodice which she had worn the day before he dipped his hand in the holy water when she came and held it out to her though he had not thought of doing this for the others she touched his fingers with the tips of her own making a slight inclination as she did so and after a deep genuflection before the blessed sacrament passed on to the side he was not sure if she had known him he knew she had not looked into his eyes for he would have felt it he was feared against the other young women who passed him because of their flowers and ribbons when she wore none he himself did not care but he feared she might and watched her narrowly to see if she did but it was plain that Lely did not care her face as she seated herself settled into the same restful lines it had worn yesterday when she sat in pear Antoine's big chair it seemed good to her to be there sometimes she looked up at the little colored pains through which the Easter sun was streaming then at the flaming candles like stars or at the embowered figures of Joseph and Mary flanking the central tabernacle which shrouded the risen Christ yet she liked just as well to watch the young girls in their spring freshness or to sensuously inhale the mingle order of flowers and incense that filled the temple Lely was among the last to quit the church when she walked down the clean pathway that led from Ed to the road she looked with pleased curiosity towards groups of men and maidens who were gaily matching their Easter eggs under the shade of the China berry trees Asinore was among them and when he saw her coming to the military down the path he approached her and with a smile extended his hat whose crown was quite line with the pretty colored eggs You must have forgot to bring eggs, he said take some of mine No merci, she replied flushing and drawing black but he urged them anew upon her much pleased then she bent her pretty head over the hat and was evidently puzzled to make a selection among so many that were beautiful he picked one out for her a pink one dotted with white clover leaves Yeah, he said, hand you to her I think this is the purdy and it looks strong too I'm sure it will break all of the rest and he playfully held out another half hidden in his fist for her to try its strength upon but she refused to she would not risk the ruin of her pretty egg then she walked away without once having noticed that the girls whom Azenor had left were looking curiously at her when he rejoined them he was hardly prepared for the greeting it startled him How can you two talk to that girl she's real cannae of her was what one of them said to him Who say so Who say she's cannae if it's a man I'll smash his head he exclaimed livid they all laughed merrily at this and if it's a lady Azenor what you going to do about it ask another quizzingly Tink no lady no lady would say that about a pole girl what she don't even know he turned away and emptying all his eggs into the head of a little urchin who stood near walked out of the churchyard he did not stop to exchange another word with anyone neither with the men who stood all on the march before the stores nor the women who were mounting upon horses into vehicles or walking in groups to their homes he took a short cut across the cotton field that extended back of the town and walking rapidly soon reached his home it was a pleasant house of a few rooms and many windows with fresh air blowing through from every side his workshop was beside it a broad strip of greenshord studded here and there with trees sloped down to the road Azenor entered the kitchen where an amiable old black woman was chopping onion and sage at a table front coiline he said abruptly there's a young girl going to pass here after a while she's got a blue dress with a white jose on it and a veil on her head when you see her I want you to go to the road and make her rest there on the bench and ask her if she don't want a cup of coffee I saw her go to the communion me so she didn't eat any breakfast everybody else from the town that went to communion got invited somewhere or another it's enough to make a person sick to see such meanness and you want me to go to her down to the gate list so and ask her pine blank if she wants some coffee as they bewildered Trenkaline I don't care if you ask her point blank or not but you do like I say Trenkaline was leaning over the gate when Lely came by Howdy offered the woman Howdy the girl returned Did you see a yellow calf with black spots on tarm coming down the lane missing No, no yellow and not with black spots May I see one little white calf tied by the rope yonder around the bend I thought barn hit this year one was yellow I hope he done flung his sift down the bank and broke his neck serve him right but where you come from child you look plum whoa out sit down there on that bench and let me fuck you a cup of coffee Izanor had already in his eagerness arranged a tray upon which was a smoking cup of cafe au lait he had buttered and jelly generous slices of bread and was searching wildly for something when Trenkaline re-entered what become of that half a chicken pie Trenkaline that was here in the garden manjured today what chicken pie what garden manger the woman like we got more than one garden manger in the house Trenkaline you just like old mama Izanor used to be you is you speck chicken pot pie one last eternal when something done spilled I flings it away that's me that's Trenkaline so Ajanor resigned himself what could he do and sent the tray incomplete as he fencing it out too lately he trembled at the thought of what he did he whose nerves were usually as steady as some piece of steel mechanism would it anger her if she suspected would it please her if she knew would she say this or that Trenkaline and would Trenkaline tell him truly what she said and how she looked as it was Sunday Ajanor did not work that afternoon instead he took a book out under the trees as he often did that reading it from the first sound of the Vesper bell that came faintly across the fields till the angel was all that time he turned many a page yet in the end did not know what he had read with his pencil he had traced lately upon every margin and was saying it softly to himself another Sunday Ajanor saw lately at mass and again once he walked with her Ajanor showed her the shortcut across the cotton field she was very glad that day and told him she was going to work her grandmother said she might so she was going to hoe up in the fields with Manchur Leblanc's hands he entreated her not to and when she asked his reason he could not tell her but turned and tore shyly and savagely at the elder blossoms that grew along the fence he stopped where she was going to cross the fence from the field to the lane he wanted to tell her that was his house which they could see not far away but he did not dare to since he had fed her on the morning she was hungry and you say your grandma is going to let you work she keeps you from work and don't he wanted to question her about her grandmother and could think of no other way to begin poor old grandma she answered I don't believe she knows most of the time what she's doing sometimes she say I ain't no better than one nigger and she forced me to work then she say she know I'm going to be one canale like mamma and she make me sit down still like she would want to kill me if I would move her she only want to be out in the wood day and night day and night and she got her right head poor grandma I know she ain't Lely had spoken in low and in jerks as if every word gave her a pain as you know her could feel her distress as plainly as he saw it he wanted to say something to her to do something for her but her presence paralyzed him into inactivity except his pulses that beat like hammers when he was with her poor shabby little thing as she was too I'm going to white year next Sunday for you Lely when the fence was between them and he thought he had said something very daring but the next Sunday she did not come she was neither at the appointed place of meeting in the lane nor was she at mass her absence so unexpected affected as in her like a calamity late in the afternoon when he could stand the trouble and bewilderment of it no longer he went and leaned over pair Antoine's fence the priest was picking the slugs from his roses on the other side that young girl from the bond you said as in her she was not at mass today I suppose her grandmother has forgotten your warning no answered the priest the child is ill I hear Boutrong tells me she has been ill for several days from overwork in the fields I shall go out tomorrow to see about her I would go today if I could the child is ill was all that as in her heard or understood of pair Antoine's words he turned and walked resolutely away like one who determined suddenly upon action after meaningless hesitation he walked towards his home and passed it as if it were a spot that did not concern him he went on down the lane and into the wood where he had seen Lely disappear that day here all was shadow for the sun had dipped too low in the west to send a single ray through the dense foliage of the forest now that he had found himself in Lely's home he strove to understand why he had not gone there before he often visited other girls in the village and neighborhood why not have gone to her as well the answer lay too deep in his heart for him to be more than half conscious of it fear had kept him dread to see her desolate life face to face he did not know how he could hear it but now he was going to her at last she was ill he would stand upon that dismantled porch that he could just remember doubtless mam Zidor would come out to know his will and he would tell her that Per Antoine had sent to inquire how Mam Zell Lely was no why drag in Per Antoine he would simply stand boredly Mam Zidor I learned that Lely is ill I have come do you know if it is true and to see her if I may when as an or reached the cabin where Lely dwelt all signs of day had vanished dusk had fallen swiftly after the sunset the moss that hung heavy from the great live oak branches was making fantastic silhouettes against the eastern sky the round moon was beginning to light often the swamp beyond the bayou hundreds of dismal voices were droning in a lullaby upon the havele itself a stillness like death oftener than once as an or tapped on the door which was closed as well as it could be without obtaining a reply he finally approached one of the small unglazed windows and of course mosquito netting had been fastened and looked into the room by the moonlight slanting in he could see Lely stretched upon a bed but of Mam Zidor there was no sign Lely he called softly Lely the girl slightly moved her head upon the pillow then he boldly opened the door and entered upon a wretched bed a patch calico Lely lay her frail body only half concealed by the single garment which was upon it one hand was plunged beneath her pillow the other which was free he touched it was as hot as flame so was her head he knelt sobbing upon the floor beside her and called her his love and his soul he begged her to speak a word to him to look at him but she only muttered disjointedly that the cotton was all turning to ashes in the fields and blades of corn were in flames if he was choked with love and grief to see her so he was moved by anger as well rage against himself against Perantuan against the people upon the plantation and in the village abandoned a helpless creature to misery and maybe death because she had been silent had not lifted her voice in complaint they believed she suffered no more than she could bear but surely the people could not be utterly without heart there must be one somewhere with a spirit of Christ Perantuan would tell him of such a one and he would carry Lely to her with the spirit of death he was in haste to be gone with her he fancied every moment of delay was a fresh danger threatening her life he folded the rude bed cover over Lely's naked limbs and lifted her in his arms she made no resistance she seemed only low to withdraw her hand from beneath the pillow when she did he saw that she held lightly in her encircling fingers the pretty easter egg he had given her he uttered a low cry of exultation as the full significance of this came over him if she had hung for hours upon his neck telling him that she loved him he could not have known it more surely than by this sign as in our felt as of some mysterious bond had all at once drawn them heart to heart and made them one no need now to go from door to door begging admittance for her she was his she belonged to him he knew now where her place was whose roof must shelter her and whose arms protect her so as in our was his loved one in his arms walked through this forest sure footed as a panther once as he walked he could hear in the distance the weird chant which madame zedore was crooning to the moon maybe as she gathered her wood once where the water was trickling cool through rocks he stopped to lay lay these hot cheeks and hands and forehead he had not once touched his lips to her but now when a sudden great fear came upon him because she did not know him finally he pressed his lips upon hers that were parched and burning he held them there till hers were soft and pliant from the healthy moisture of his own then she knew him she did not tell them so but her stiffened fingers relaxed their tense hold upon the easter bubble it fell to the ground as she twined her arm around his neck and he understood stay close by her tranquilline said asinore when he had laid lay lay upon his own couch at home I'm going for the doctor and for pair Antoine not because she's going to die he had it hastily seen all that crept into the woman's face at the mention of a priest she is going to live do you think I would let my wife die tranquilline on the bond you a pioneer woman by L. M. Montgomery recorder for love stories volume two by Kevin S this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Donald Frazier sitting by the low four-pane window of his new house was playing old Scotch airs on his fiddle time away on a cold winter afternoon more than a hundred years ago the place was a remote settlement in a nascent Canadian province where the settlers were engaged in the arduous task of carving out homes for themselves in the wilderness Donald's new house had only four small rooms but it was considered quite a pretentious edifice in those primitive days before it the cleared fields of his farm sloped down to the icebound bay behind it great woods stretched inland intersected here and there by trails and wood roads in winter the ice was the great highway of traffic and people from far and wide past Donald's door often calling to warm themselves before his fire and exchange news of the various scattered settlements the day was bitter cold and a storm threatened few travelers were abroad and Donald had no callers he felt lonely and got his fiddle down it was too early yet to go across the bay to Sherman's Donald smiled to himself as he played Annie Lorian bought him Nancy Sherman more beautiful than the heroine of the old ballad her face it is the ferris that aired the sun shone on on the young Scotch Canadian softly the Frasiers were one of the best families in the little colony which was as yet so thinly populated that everybody in it knew everybody else Alexander Frazier Donald's father had been one of the earliest immigrants from Scotland he was a man liked and respected by all and had taken a prominent part in shaping the affairs of the colony from him Donald his first horn inherited his broad shoulder sandy hair deep set gray eyes and resolute jaw but it was from his Irish mother that Donald got qualities which made him a favorite with all who knew him the nerve of his mobile mouth the twinkle in his grey eyes the gay smile the flashing wit the irrepressible good comradeship that distinguished him from the more reserved purebred Scotch folk even the faint suggestion of Brogue in his ringing tones all contributed to form a personality which was destined to stamp its influence on those rude early days many a blue-eyed Scotch in English lassie would have been close and had Donald Frazier come a woman and many a girlish heart of a hundred years ago beat quicker at his step for voice but Donald cared only for one whom many others would likewise he was not openly favored above his rivals he did not know whether Nancy Sherman cared for him or not but he knew that if she would not come to be the mistress of his new house none other ever should so he dreamed of her as he drew the bow over the strings and filled the sweetness of old lowland ballads the fine frenzy of highland reels and strathpays and the rollicking abandon of Irish jigs when he played the last the Irish fun in his nature overflowed him drowning out the Scottish romance and he wished that somebody would drop in and crack a joke with him when he left the north window which he liked best because it looked out over the bay to Sherman's went to the south one looking out over a dreary expense of stumps and half cleared land he saw a sway emerge from the woods he knew the driver at a glance and rushing to the door threw it open with hearty hospitality anyone would have been welcome but this visitor was Neil Campbell who was Donald's a special crony friends they had always been friends they were yet and there were also rivals people had expected to see their friendship blotted out by their rivalry but it had stood the test for Sherman and each knew that the other knew it each was determined to win her and neither would have hesitated over any ruse that would give in the advantage but no ill feeling found place between them and when Neil came from Burwick he always called to see Donald before he crossed the bay and sometimes so free from bitterness was their rivalry he even took Donald over he got out at the door and shook Donald's proffered hand heartily he tied his rest of young Mary to a post threw the buffalo robe over her and followed Donald into the kitchen neither in appearance nor character was there the slightest resemblance between the two men in point of looks Neil Campbell could not for an instant compare with Donald Frazier who was smaller and slider with a dark melancholy face and intensely blue eyes the vivid blue of the St. Lawrence water on a windy autumn day and the sun breaks out after a storm in parentage he was pure Highland with all the Highlanders mystic poetic temperament it was not so widely popular as the gay and dashing Donald and it was not a favorite with women but his few friends loved him rarely it was said by some that if a woman once loved him she would do and dare all things to win him Neil threw himself down before the roaring fire with a sigh of satisfaction it was ten miles from Burwick to the bay shore and though a lover thought little of that when his last waited for him at the end a blazing backlog and a taste of good scotch whiskey were not to be despised at the halfway station it's cold the day he said briefly you'll be going over the bay I'm thinking said Donald, good humordly a slight tinge of color showed itself on Campbell's dark face while he bore Donald no grudge for the rivalry he could not refer to it in the unreserved way of his friend to him Donald's offhand way of looking at the situation savored of greater confidence than he possessed and this stung him he only nodded and replied to Donald's remark the latter had meanwhile been rummaging in his untidy bachelor cupboard now emerged with a bottle of whiskey and a couple of tumblers this was a matter of course a hundred years ago a woman might offer her woman friends a cup of hot tea but a man treated his callers to a taste of the best whiskey obtainable if he failed to do so he was looked upon as seriously lacking in what were then considered the most rudimentary elements of hospitality you'll look cold said Donald set your to the fireman and let this put a bit of warmth in your veins you'll need it before you go over the bay it's bitter cold on the ice today now for the Burwick news has Jean McClain made up with her man yet and is it true that Sandy McDonald is to marry Kate Ferguson it will be a match now sure and with her red hair Sandy will not be like to lose his bride past finding Burwick was Donald's boyhood home and Neil had plenty of news for him concerning friends in kin first he talked a little and cautiously as was his want while Donald bantered and choked but presently the whiskey which neither spared began to tell on the different temperaments Donald's volatile spirits evaporated and the Scotch element of his nature came uppermost he grew cautious and watchful talk less but made shrewder remarks the Highlander on the contrary lost his reserve and became more and more confidential at last after being shrewdly manipulated by Donald Neil Campbell confessed that he meant to put his fate to the test that very night was going over the bay to ask Nancy Sherman to marry him if she consented then Donald and the rest should see a wedding such as the colony had never yet seen Donald rose abruptly and went to the window leaving Neil to sip his grog and gaze smilingly into the fire with the air of a man very well satisfied with himself as for Donald he was for the moment non-plus this was worse than he had expected he never dreamed that Neil would dare make matters to a crisis yet but there was no time to be lost if he meant to get ahead of his rival in his heart Donald hoped that Nancy Sherman cared for him what else could those modestly bestowed favors and shy looks such as she gave to no other mean yet he might be mistaken she might like Neil best after all but whether or not the first man there stood the better chance Donald knew very well that Nancy's father favored Neil Campbell as being a richer man in worldly goods if Neil asked Nancy to marry him when he, Donald, had not yet spoken a live Sherman would have the most to say in the matter and Nancy would never dream of disputing her father's command Donald looked far out over the bay realized that his chance of winning Nancy depended on his crossing that white expanse before Neil did how could it be managed a twinkle came into Donald's eye all was fair and love and war and Nancy was well worth the trial he went back to the table and sat down have some more man have some more he said persuasively to keep the life in you and the teeth of that wind hope yourself there's plenty more where that came from is it going over the bay the night that yourself will be doing asked Neil as he obeyed Donald shook his head I had thought of it going but it looks a wee like a storm and my sleigh is at the blacksmiths he'd be shod by when it must be on black Dan's back and he'd like a canter over the ice in the snowstorm as little as I his own fireside is by far the best place for a man to be tonight Campbell Neil not had drowsily his potations after his long cold drive were beginning to have their effect Donald with laughter in his deep set eyes watched his friend and persuaded him again and again to have yet another tasting when Neil's head at last fell heavily on his arm, Donald arose with the smile of a man who has won in a doubtful game Neil Campbell was sound asleep and would remain so for some time how long was the question might be for hours you know might be for only a few minutes but half an hour start would be enough for the rest it would depend on Nancy but there was no time to lose Donald flung on his stout homespun overcoat pulled his fur cap warmly over his ears and wrapped a knitted muffler of handspun yarn around his neck then he caught his mitts and riding whip from the nail over the fireplace and strode to the door with a parting glance at the reclining figure of his unconscious friend may your sleep be long and sweet man he laughed softly as for the waking twill be betwitched you and me with an amused smile he untied Neil's horse, climbed onto Neil's sleigh and tucked Neil's buffalo robe comfortably around him when he wakes Black Dan will carry him as well as he would have carried me thought this gamer but if the snow comes after sunset it's little sea of either over the bay tonight now best old girl do your baniest there's more than you know hangs on your speed if the Campbell awakes too soon Black Dan could show you a pair of clean heels for all of your good start on my girl brown best one of the best mayors in the county spring forward over the ice like a deer the sun was nearing at setting the gleaming white expanse of the bay gemmed here and there with wooded purple islets and rimmed in by dark violet coast glittered like the breast of a fair woman decked with jewels above the curdled gray rolls of cloud flushed faintly pink but the north and east were gray with the presage of night and storm Donald thought of none of these sermons nor of the rare spiritual beauty of the waste about him as he urged brown best forward with now and then a glance behind to see if Black Dan were yet following he thought only of what he should say to Nancy Sherman and of what her answer would be the sermons were a family of united empire loyalists who would come to Canada at the close of the American war of independence they never spoke of their former fortunes but it was the general opinion that they had once been wealthy however that might be they were poor enough now and life was even a harder struggle for them than it was for the Scotch immigrants who had already obtained a footing on the Canadian soil Eli Sherman was a genial friendly soul and his wife was a pale proud woman who had once been beautiful and was dignified and gracious yet when they came to the little maritime colony they brought two children with them these two children Betty grew up amid many hardships and privations but as they blossomed out into young womanhood they were widely famed for their beauty and lovers from the best and wealthiest of the colonial families came a wooing to the little cottage on the bay shore and thought themselves richly repaid if they won a smile or a kind glance from the beautiful Sherman girls beautiful and stately they were indeed with a grace and charm of manner that triumphed over mean attire and rough surroundings a hundred years ago Nancy and Betty Sherman now sleeping forgotten in mossy grass grown graves on a hill that slopes down to the moaning St. Lawrence Gulf had the pick of five counties to their hand not one of the blue-eyed fresh-faced Scotch and English flassies the jeans and capes and margarits could for a moment compare with them they were envied bitterly enough no doubt and caused many a long forgotten heartache yet the fault was not theirs they made no effort to win or retain the homage offered them the boldest lover never boasted of favors received a kindly word or a gracious smile was all that any ever won and was esteemed enough even Donald Frazier could but own to himself that Nancy was as likely to say no as yes she had set it calmly and sweetly for men well he would face the question bravely and if he were refused Neil will have the laugh on me then sure and he's sleeping well and the snow is coming soon there'll be a bonny swirl on the bay air long I hope no harm will come to the lad if he starts to cross when he wakes he'll be in such a fine highland temper that he'll never stop to think of danger well best my girl here we are at last Frazier pluck up heart and play the man remember you're a Scotchman with a dash of old Ireland to boot they never flinch because a slip of a last looks scornful at you out of the bonniest dark blue eyes on earth in spite of his bold words however Donald's heart was bumping furiously when he drove into the farm yard Nancy was there milking a cow by the stable door but she stood up when she saw him coming grasping her pale with one hand and holding the other out to him in the gracious untroubled way for which she was noted hallowed by the sunset light that was flinging its rosy splendors over all the wide white ways around them the girl was so beautiful that Donald's courage failed him almost completely was it not the wildest presumption to hope that this exquisite creature could care for him or would come to be the mistress of his little house she who was fit for a king's halls in all the humility of a true lover he stood before her and Nancy looking into his bonny face understood with woman's instinct why he had come a color and light that was not of the sunset crept into her face and eyes she did not withdraw her hand from his grasp but she turned her face aside bent her head Donald knew that he must make the most of this unexpected chance he might not see Nancy alone again when he came clasping both of his hands over the slender one he held he said breathlessly Nan, lass, I love you you may say tis a hasty woman but that's a story I can tell you later maybe I know well I'm not worthy of you but if true love could make a man worthy there'd be none before me will you have me Nan Nan's head in its crimson shawl drooped lower still poured an agony of suspense then he heard an answer oh such a low sweet answer and he knew that she was one the snow was beginning to fall when they walked together to the house Donald looked over the bay misty white me gathering gloom and laughed light heartedly I must tell you that story my laughs he said catching Nancy's look of wonder and you'll see what a trick I played on my best friend to win you with such inimitable droglary and such emphasized broke that Nancy could but laugh as heartily as he did she was not proof against the humor of this situation even amid the sweeter romance of it when morning broke the storm was over and Donald knew that vengeance must be on his track not wishing to make the Sherman House the scene of a quarrel he resolved to get away before Neo came and he persuaded Nancy to drive to the town some 10 miles away for a Cali as he brought Neil's sleigh up to the door he saw a black speck far off on the bay and laughed black Dan goes well but he'll not be quick enough he said as he helped Nancy in half an hour later Neil Campbell with the black lead Ben