Hello, my darling. I need to tell you about our sponsor anchor dot f m. Anchor is a podcast creation and distribution tool. And it gives you everything you need to record edit. Plus they'll distribute your podcast to all of the major channels including Spotify Apple podcasts and Google podcasts free of charge you can make money with no minimum listenership and it couldn't be easier. Download the anchor app or go to Anchor dot. F m-- to get started sweet dreams before we begin I would like you to get comfortable relax and close your eyes and let all of your worries drift away. Take a deep breath. Let it out slowly Notre arm out and draw shapes. Lightly with your other hand bring your fingers gently up and down just touching your skin lightly if you'd like. You can keep your eyes closed while I read to you. Today's reading is The Little Mermaid written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1836. Far out in the ocean where the water is as blue as the prettiest cornflour and is clear as Crystal. It is very very deep. So deep indeed that no cable could fathom it many Church Steeples piled upon one. Another would not reach from the ground beneath the surface of the water above. Third well the Sea King and his subjects we must not imagine that there is nothing at the bottom of the sea, but bear yellow sand no indeed the most singular flowers and plants grow their the leaves and stems of which plants are so client, but the slightest agitation of the water causes them to stir as if they had life. Fish has both large and small Glide beneath the branches as birds fly among the tree here upon land in the deepest spot of all stands the castle of the Sea King. Its walls are built of coral and the long Gothic windows are of the clearest Amber. The roof is formed of shells that open and close as the water flows over them. Their appearance is very beautiful for in each as a glittering Pearl which would be fit for the diadem of a queen. The Sea King had been a widower for many years and is aged mother kept house for him. She was a very wise woman and exceedingly proud of her High birth on the account. She wore 12 oysters on her tail While others also of high rank were only allowed to where 6 she was however deserving a very great praise especially for her care of her granddaughter's the see princesses. There were six beautiful girls, 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 His tail all day long. They played in The Great Halls of the castle are among the living flowers that grew out of the walls large. Amber windows were open in the fish swim in just as the swallows fly into our houses when we opened the windows accepting that the fishes swam up to the princesses eight out of their hands and allowed themselves to be stroked outside the castle there was a beautiful car. Eden in which group bright red and dark blue flowers and Blossoms like flame of fire the fruit glittered like gold in the leaves and stems waved to and fro continually. The Earth itself was the finest sand but blue has the flame of a burning silver over everything Leia peculiar blue Radiance as if it were surrounded by the air from above. In calm weather the sun could be seen looking like a purple flower with the 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 into the form of a whale another thought it better to make hers like the figure of a little mermaid that of the youngest was around like the sun and contain flowers as read. His Rays at Sunset she was a strange child quiet and thoughtful and Waters just hers would be delighted with the wonderful things which they obtained from the Rick's of vessels. She cared for nothing, but her pretty red flowers like the sun accepting a beautiful marble statue. The Statue 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 splendidly and very soon hyung. It's fresh branches over the statue almost down to the blue Sands. The shadow had a violent tint and waved to and fro like the branches it seemed as if the crown of the tree and the root were at play and trying to kiss each other. Nothing gave her so much pleasure as to hear about the world above the sea. She made her old grandmother tell her all she knew of the ships and of the town's the people and the animals. To her it seemed most wonderful and beautiful to hear that the flowers of the land should have fragrance and not those below the see that the Trees of the forest should be green and that the fish is among the trees could sing so sweetly. Her grandmother called the little birds fishes, or she would not have understood her for she had never seen birds. When you have reached your 15th year said the grandmother you will have permission to rise up out of the sea to sit on the rocks in the Moonlight. Well, the great ships are Sailing by and then you will see full of forests and down. In the following year one of the sisters would be 15. But as each was a year younger than the other the youngest would have to wait five years before her turn came to Rise Up from the bottom of the ocean and see the Earth as we do. However each promise to tell the others what she saw on her first visit and what she thought the most beautiful. For her grandmother could not tell them enough. There was so many things for which they wanted information. None of them longed so much for her turn to come as the youngest she who had the longest time to wait and was so quiet and thoughtful many nights. She stood by the open window looking up through the dark blue water and watching the fish as they splashed about with their fins and Tails. She could see the moon and stars shining faintly but through the water they looked larger than they do to our eye when something like a black cloud passed between her and them she knew that it was either a whale swimming above her head or a ship full of human beings who never imagined that a pretty little mermaid was standing beneath them holding out her white hands towards the Keel of the ship. As soon as the eldest was 15, she was allowed to rise to the surface of the ocean when she came back. She had hundreds of things to talk about but the most beautiful she said was to lie in the Moonlight on a sandbank in the quiet sea near the coast and to Gaze on a large Town nearby where the lights were twinkling like hundreds of stars. Listen to the sounds of the music the noise of the carriages and the voices of human beings and then to hear the merry Bells peal up from the church Steeples and because she could never go near all those wonderful things. She longed for them more than ever. Oh did not the youngest sister listened eagerly to all these descriptions and afterwards when she stood at the open window looking up through the dark blue water. She thought of the great City with all its bustle and noise and even fancied she could hear the sound of the church bells down in the depths of the sea in another year the second sister received permission to rise to the surface of the 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 full violent and Rose Colored clouds, but she could not describe floated over her. And still more rapidly than the clouds flew a large flock of Wild Swans towards the Setting Sun. Looking like a long white Veil across the sea. She also swam towards the Sun but it's sunk into the waves and the rosy tints faded from the clouds and from the sea third sister's turn followed. She was the boldest of them all and she swam of a Broad River that emptied himself into the sea. On the banks. She saw Green Hills covered with beautiful Vines palaces and castles peeped out from amid the proud trees of the forest. She heard the birds singing and the Rays of the sun were so powerful that she was obliged often to dive down under the water to cool her burning face. In a narrow Creek, she found a whole troop of little human children quite naked and sporting about in the water. She wanted to play with them, but they fled in a great fright and then a little black animal came to the water. It was a dog, but she did not know that for she had never before seen one. This animal barked at her so terribly that she became frightened and rushed back to the open sea, but she said she can never forget the beautiful Forest the Green Hills and the pretty little children who could swim in the water, although they did not have fish his tails. The fourth sister was more timid. She remained in the midst of the sea. She could see her so many miles around her and the sky above looked like a bell of glass. She had seen the ships, but it's such a great distance that they looked like seagulls. The Dolphins sported in the waves and the great whales spout at water from their nostrils till it seemed as if a hundred fountains were playing in every direction to fit sister's birthday occurred in the winter. So when their 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 but larger and loved here than the churches built by men. They were of the most singular shapes and glittered like diamonds. She had seated herself upon one of the largest and let the wind play with her long hair. And she remarked that all of the ships sailed rapidly and steered as far away as they could from the iceberg as if they were afraid of it towards evening as the sun went down dark clouds cover the sky. The Thunder rolled the lightning flashed and the red light glowed on the icebergs as they rocked and tossed on the heaving sea. And all the ships were sales and reaped with fear and trembling. She said calmly on her floating Iceberg watching the blue Lightning is it darted its forked fleshes into the sea? When the first sisters had permission to rise to the surface, they were each delighted with the new and beautiful sights. They saw but now has grown up girls. They could go when they pleased and they had become indifferent to it. They wish themselves back again in the water. And after a month had passed they said it was much more beautiful down below and pleasant her to be at home. Yet often in the evening hours. The Five Sisters would twine their arms around each other and rise to the surface in a circle. They had more beautiful voices than any human being could have come before the approach of a storm and when they expected a ship would be lost. They swam before the bezel and sang sweetly of the Delights to be found in the depths of the sea. They beg the sailors not to fear if they sink to the bottom. But the sailors could not understand the song of the sirens. They took it for the howling of the storm and these things were never to be beautiful for them for if the ship sank the men were drowned and their dead bodies alone reach the Palace of the c key wouldn't sisters rose arm in arm through the water in this way their youngest sister would stand quite alone. Looking after them ready to cry only mermaids have no tears and therefore they suffer more. Oh War I but 15 years old said she I know that I shall love the world up there and all the people who live in it. At last she reached her 15th year. Well now you are grown up said the old Queen her grandmother. So you must let me Adorn you like your other sisters and she placed a wreath of white lilies in her hair and every flower leaf was have a pearl and the old lady ordered eight great oysters to attach themselves to the tail of the princess to show her how drink But they hurt me so said The Little Mermaid. Pride must suffer pain said her grandmother. Oh, I'll gladly she would have shaken off all of this Grandeur and laid aside the heavy wreath. The red flowers in her own garden would have suited her so much better. But she could not help herself. So she said farewell grandmother and Rose as lightly as a bubble to the surface of the water. The sun had just said as she raised her head above the waves the clouds were tinted with crimson and gold and through the glimmering Twilight to be named Evening Star all its beauty. The sea was called and the are mild and fresh a large ship with three masts lay be calm down the water only one sale set for not a breeze stiffened and the sailors set idle in a deck amongst 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 the Little mermaid swim close to the cabin windows and now and then is the waves lifted her up. She can look in through clear glass window panes and see a number of well-dressed people within. Among them was a young prince the most beautiful creature of all and large black eyes. He was 16 years of age and his birthday was being kept with much rejoicing. Sailors were dancing on Deck, but when the prince came out of the cabin more than a hundred Rockets Rose into the air the light was as bright as day. The Little Mermaid was so startled that she dived under the water and when she again stretched out her head it appeared as if all the stars of Heaven are falling upon her. Great sons spurted fire about her Splendid fireflies flew into the blue Air and everything was reflected in the clear. Calm sea beneath The ship itself was so brightly illuminated, but all of the people and even the smallest rope could be distinctly and plainly see. As he pressed the hands of all present and smiled at them the music resounded through the clear night air. It was very late yet The Little Mermaid could not take her eyes from the ship from the beautiful prince. The colored lanterns had become extinguished no more Rockets Rose into 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 which enabled her to look in. After a while the sales were quickly unfurled the noble ship continued her passage, but soon the waves Rose higher heavy clouds darkened the sky. lightning appeared in the distance a dreadful storm was approaching. once more the sales were received and the great ship pursed her flying course over the Raging Sea the waves Rose mountains high as if they would have overtopped the Mast but the ship died like a swan between them and then rose again on their lofty foaming crests to The Little Mermaid disappeared and pleasant sport, but not to the sailors or Prince at length the ship groaned and creaked the thick planks gave away into the lashing of the sea as it broke over the deck the mainmast snapped asunder like a read the ship lay over on her side and the water rushed in. Little Mermaid now perceived that the crew are in danger even she became scared and voted the beans and blanks of the wreck which lay scattered on the water. One moment. It was so pitch dark that she could not see a single object but a flash of lightning revealed the whole sea and she could see everyone who had been on board except her prints when the ship parted and she had seen him sink into the deep waves. She was glad for she thought he would now be with her. And 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 be dead. But he must not die. So she swam among the beams and planks which drew the surface of the sea forgetting that they could crush her to Pieces. Then she dive deeply under the dark Waters rising and falling with the waves till at length. She managed to reach the Young Prince was fast losing the power of swimming in the stormy sea. His limbs were failing him his beautiful eyes were closed and he would have died had not The Little Mermaid come to his assistance. She held his head above the water and let the waves drift them where they would. In the morning the storm had ceased but the ship not a single fragment could be seen the sun rose up red and glowing from the water and it's beans brought back the Hue of Health to the princes cheeks. But his eyes remained closed The Little Mermaid kissed his high smooth forehead and stroked back as wet hair. You seemed to her like the marble statue in her garden, and she kissed him again and wished that he might live. Presently they came in sight of land. She saw a lofty Blue Mountains on which the white snow rested as of a flock of swans were lying upon them. near the coast or beautiful green forests and close by stood a large building whether a church or Convent. She could not tell orange and Citron trees grew in the garden and before the door stood loved the poems. The see here formed a little Bay in which the water was quite still but very deep so 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 from the large white building and a number of young girls came into the garden. Little Mermaid swam out farther from the shore and placed herself between some high rocks that rose out of the water then she covered her head and neck with the foam of the sea so that her little face might not be seen. She watched to see what will become of the poor Prince. She did not wait long before she saw a young girl approached the spot where he lay. The girl seemed frightened at first but only for a moment and then she fetched a number of people and the mermaid saw that the prince came to life again and smiled upon those who stood around him. But to her he sent you no smile for he knew not that she had saved him. This made her very unhappy and when he was led into the great building she dived down sorrow flee 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 what she had seen during her first visit to the surface of the water, but she would tell them nothing. Many an evening and morning. Did she rise to the place where she left the prince? She saw the fruits in the garden ripen until they were gathered the snow on the tops of the mountains melt away. But she never saw her prince. She returned home always more sorrowful than before. It was her only comfort to sit in her own little garden and fling her arm round the beautiful marble statue, which reminded her of the prince. She gave up tending her flowers and they grew wild confusion over the past two whining their loan leaves and stems around the branches of the trees. the whole place became dark and gloomy At length, she could bear it no longer and told one of her sisters about it. Then the others heard the secret and very soon. It became known to two mermaids whose intimate friend happen to know who the prince was. She come little sister said the other princesses than the entwine their own homes and Rose up in a long circle to the surface of the water Loose by the spot where they knew the princes Palace stood. It was built a bright yellow shining stone with long flights of marble steps whatever which reached quite down into the sea. Splendid Guild and couple has Rose above the roof and between the pillars that surrounded the whole building stood life like statues of white marble through the clear crystal of the lofty windows can be seen Noble rooms with costly still curtains and hangings of tapestry while the walls are covered with beautiful paintings. Which for a pleasure to look at? In the center of the largest Saloon a fountain through its sparkling Jets into the glass couple of the ceiling through which the sun Shone down upon the water and upon the beautiful plants growing around the Basin of the fountain. Now that she knew where he 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 ventured to do the deed. Once she went up and narrow channel under the marble balcony which through a broad shadow on the water. Here she would sit sit and watch the young prince who thought himself quite alone in the bright moonlight. She saw him many evenings sailing in a pleasant boat music played Flags waved. She peeped out from among the green rushes and if the wind caught her long silvery white Veil, those who saw it bleed her to be a swamp spreading out her wings. On many a night to when the fishermen with their torches were out at sea. She heard them relate so many good things about the doings of the only prints. She was glad she had saved his life when he had been tossed about half dead on the way and she remembered that his head had rested on her bosom and how heartily she had kissed him. But he knew nothing of all of this and could never dream of her. She grew more and more fond of human beings and wished more and more to be able to wonder about with those whose World seemed so much larger than her own. They can fly over the sea and there are ships and melt the high hills which are far above the clouds and the land they possessed their Woods in their fields stretched too far away beyond the reach of her sight. There was so much that she wished to know and her sisters were unable to answer questions. When she asked her grandmother who knew all about the upper World, which she very rightly called the lands above the sea. If human beings are not drowned as Little Mermaid can they live forever? Do they never die as we do here in the sea? Yes replied her grandmother. They must also die and their term of life is even shorter than ours. We sometimes live to 300 years, but when we cease to exist here, we only become the foam on the surface of the water. We have not even a grave down here those we love. We have not Immortal Souls. We shall never live again. But like the green seaweed when once it has been cut off we can never flourish more. Human beings on the contrary. I was Soul which lives forever lives after the body has been turned to dust Rises 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 they rise to unknown and glorious regions, which we shall never see. Why have we not an immortal Soul asked The Little Mermaid, I would gladly give all of my hundreds of years that I have to be a human being only one day and to have the hope of knowing the happiness of that glorious world above the Stars. You must not think of that said her grandmother. We feel ourselves to be so 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 nor the Red Sun. Is there anything that I can do to win an immortal soul? No said her grandmother unless a man were to love you so much that you were more to him than his father or mother. And if all of his thoughts all of his love for fixed upon you and the priest placed his right hand and yours and he promise to be true to you here and Hereafter then his soul would glide into your body and you obtain of share in the future happiness of mankind. He would give a soul to you and retain his own as well. But this can never happen. Your fish's tail, which is amongst us considered. So beautiful is thought on Earth to be quite ugly. They do not know any better and they think it necessary to have to step out props, which they call legs in order to be handsome. Then The Little Mermaid decide and the sorrowful e at her tail let us be happy said her grandmother and aunt and spring about during the 300 years that we have to live. This is quite long enough. After that. We can rest ourselves all the better. This evening. We are going to have a coat ball. It is one of those Splendid sites, which we never see on Earth the walls and the ceiling of the large Ballroom are thick but transparent Crystal many hundreds of colossal shells some of a deep red others that grass green will stand each side in rows with blue fire in them. This will light the whole Saloon and shine through the walls. The sea will also be eliminated innumerable fish has great and small spam past the crystal walls on some of them the scales glowed with purple brilliancy. And on others they show like silver and gold. Through the holes float a broad stream and it danced the merman and the mermaids to the music of their own sweet to see. No one learns has such a lovely voice has theirs. The Little Mermaid is saying more sweetly than the mall the whole Court applauded her with hands and Tails and for a moment her heartfelt quite happy for she knew she had the loveliest voice of any on Earth or any in the sea, but she soon thought again of the world above her for she could not forget a Charming Prince nor her sorrow that she Not an immortal Soul like his therefore. 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. That she heard the bugle sounding through the water and the point he is certainly sailing above he on whom my wishes to bend 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 all my sisters are dancing in my father's Palace. I'll go to the Sea winch of whom I have always been so afraid but she can give me counsel and help. And then The Little Mermaid went out from her garden and took the road to the filming whirlpools behind which the Sorceress lived she had never been that way before either flowers. No grass grew there nothing but bare Grace and ground stretched out to the whirlpool where the water like a foaming Mill Wheels World round everything that it sees. And cast fathomless depth through the midst of these crushing whirlpools The Little Mermaid was obliged to pass to reach the dominions of the sea witch and also for a long distance the only Road lay right across quantity for bubbling Meyer. Called by the winch her Turf more Beyond this stood her house in the center of a strange forest in which all the trees and flowers or Paula P have animals have plants. They look like serpents with a hundred heads growing out of the ground. The branches were long slimy arms. With fingers like flexible worms moving limb after limb from the root to the top all that could be reached in the sea They seized upon and held fast so that it never escaped from their clutches. The Little Mermaid was so alarmed at what she saw that she stood still your heart beat with fear and she was very nearly turning back. But she thought of The Prince and of the human soul for what she loved and her courage returned. She fastened her long flowing hair around her head. So the polyb might not seized hold of it. She laid her hands together across her bosom and then she darted forward as a fish shoots through the water between the Supple arms and fingers of ugly Paula P, which were stretched out on each side of her. She saw that each held in its grasp something. It had seized with its numerous little arms as if they were iron bands the white skeletons of human beings who perished at Sea. It had sunk down into the deep Waters skeletons of land animals ours Butters and chests of ships were lying tightly grasped by their clinging arms. Even a little mermaid who they had caught and strangled and this seemed the most shocking of all to the little princess. She know came to a space of marshy ground in the wood or large water snakes or rolling in the mire showing the ugly drab colored bodies. In the midst of the spot instead of house built with the bones of shipped direct human beings. They're sad to see which allowing a toad to eat from her mouth. Just as people sometimes feed a canary with a piece of sugar. She called ugly water snakes are little chickens and allowed them to crawl all over her bosom. I know what you want said the see which it is very stupid of you. But you shall have your way and it will bring you to sorrow my pretty princess. You want to get rid of your fish's tail and I have do supports instead of it like human beings on Earth so that the Young Prince may fall in love with you and that you may have an immortal soul and then the witch laughed so loud and disgustingly that the toad and the snakes fell to the ground and lay their wriggling about 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 what she must swim tool in tomorrow before sunrise and sit down on the shore and drink it your tail will disappear and Shrink up into what mankind the colors legs and you will feel great pain as it was sword were passing through you but all who see you will say that you were the prettiest little human being they ever so He will still have the same floating gracefulness of movement and no dancer will ever tread so lightly. But every step you take will feel as if you were treading upon sharp knives and blood will flow. If you will bear all of this, I will help you. Yes, I will said the princess in a trembling voice. She thought of The Prince and her Immortal soul, but think again said the which for once your shape has become like a human being you can never become a mermaid. You will never return through the water to your sisters or to your father's Palace again, and if you do not win the love of the prince, so He's willing to forget his father and mother for your sake and to love you with his whole soul and allow the priest join your hands, but he 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'll become foam on the crest of the waves. I will do it said The Little Mermaid she felt pale as death. But I must be paid also said the witch. And it is not a trifle that I asked you have the sweetest voice of any who dwell here in the depths of the sea and you believe that you'll be able to charm the prince with it also, but this voice you must give to me. The best thing you possess will I have the price of my draft my own blood must be mixed with it that it may be as sharp as a two-edged sword. But if you take away my voice asked Little Mermaid what is left for me? Your beautiful form your graceful walk and your expressive eyes surely with these you can change a man's heart. Have you lost your courage put out your little tongue, but I may cut it off as my payment and then you will have a powerful draft. It shall be said The Little Mermaid then the witch placed her cauldron on the fire and prepared the magic dressed. Cleanliness is a good thing said she scouring The Vessel was Sphinx, which she had tied together into a large. Not that she picked herself in the breast that the black blood drop into it the steam that Rose formed itself into such horrible shapes that no one could look at them without fear. Every moment the witch through something else into the vessel and when it began to boil, the sound was like that of a week being crocodile when it lasts the magic draft was ready. It looked like the clearest water. There it is for you said the witch that she cut off the mermaids tongue so that she became mute. I would never again speak or sing if the Paula P should seize hold of you as he returned Through the Wood through 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 Paula P spring back in Terror when they caught sight of the glittering draft it Shone in her hand like a twinkling star. So she passed quickly through the wood in the marsh and between the rushing whirlpools. She saw that in her father's Palace the Torches in the ballroom were extinguished and all within were asleep, but she did not venture to go into them for now. She was me and going to leave them forever. She felt as if her heart would break she ran into her garden took a flower from the flower beds of each of her sisters. Kissed her hand a thousand times towards the palace and then rose up there the dark blue Waters. The sun had not risen when she came inside of the princes Palace. She approached the marble beautiful steps, but the moon Shone clear and bright then The Little Mermaid drink the magic draft and it seemed as if a two-edged sword went through her delicate body. She fell into a swoon of pain and lay as though she were dead. When the sun rose and Shone Over the Sea she recovered she felt a sharp pain, but just before her stood the handsome prince. He fixed his cold black eyes upon her. So earnestly that she cast down her own and then became aware that her little fishes tail was gone and that she had as pretty a pair of white legs and tiny feet as any little Maiden could add. She had no clothes so she wrapped herself and her long thick hair. The prince asked her who she was and where she came from and she looked at him mildly and sorrow flee with her deep blue eyes. She could not speak every step. She took was as the which had said it would be she felt as if she were treading upon the points of sharp knives. She bore it willingly and stepped his lightly by the princes side as a soap bubble. So that he and all who saw her wondered at her graceful swaying buttons. She was very soon arrayed in costly Robes of silk and muslin and was the most beautiful creature in the palace. But she was mute and could never speak or seen? Beautiful female slaves dressed in silk and gold stepped forward and saying before the prince and his Royal parents one sing better than all the others and the prince clapped his hands and smiled at her. This was great sorrow to The Little Mermaid. She knew how much more sweetly she herself could sing and she thought oh if he could only know that I have given away my voice forever to be with him. The sleeps next to perform to some fairytale dances to the sound beautiful music and the Little Mermaid raised her lovely white arms stood on the tips of her toes and glided over the floor. She danced as no one yet been able to dance. And each moment her beauty became more revealed their expressive eyes peeled more directly to the heart that the songs of the slaves. Everyone was enchanted especially her prince called her his little foundling and she danced again quite readily to please him though each time or foot touch the floor it seemed as if she trod on Sharp knives the prince said she should remain with him always and she received permission to sleep at his door on a velvet cushion. He had a Pages dress made for her that she might accompany him on Horseback. They rode together through the sweet scented ones with a green boughs touch their shoulders the little birds sing. Mom fresh leaves. She climbed with the prince to the tops of high mountains and although her tender feet bled so that every step was marked. She They left and followed him until they can see the clouds beneath them that looked like a flock of birds traveling to distant lands while at the princes Palace and went all the household or asleep. She would go and sit in the broad marble steps for Easter burning feet to bathe them in the cold sea water and then she thought of all those Below in a 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 they grieved for her. after that, they came to the same place every night and what she saw in the distance Earl grandmother would not bend the surface of the sea and many years and the old Sea King her father the crown on his head and he stretched out their hands towards her but they did not Venture so near the land is her sisters did As the days passed she loved prints more fondly and he loved her as he would a child but it never came into his head to make her his wife. Yeah, unless he married her. She did not receive an immortal Soul. Do you not love me the best of them all the eyes Little Mermaid seem to say when he took her into his arms. He kissed her Fair forehead. 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 my one saw but whom I never shall meet again. I was in a ship that was wrecked in the waves cast me ashore near a holy Temple several young maidens perform the service the youngest of them found me on the shore and saved my life. I saw her but twice that she is the only one in the world whom I could love. You are like her and you have almost driven Her Image out of my mind. She belongs to the Holy Temple and my good fortune has sent you to me instead of her and we will never part. He knows not that I was the one who saved his life The Little Mermaid. I carried him over the sea to the blood or the temple stands. I sat beneath the phone and watched till the human beings came to help him. I saw the pretty made him that he loves better than he loves me. And the mermaid sighed deeply but she did not shed tears. He says the maiden belongs to the Holy Temple therefore. She will never return to the world. They will meet no more William 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 must marry and that the beautiful daughter of a neighboring king would be his wife. A fine ship was being fitted although the prince gave out the he nearly intended to pay this it to the king. It was generally supposed that he really went to see his daughter the 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 This beautiful princess my parents desire it but they will not oblige me to bring her home as my bride. I cannot love her. She is not like the beautiful Maiden Temple who you resemble if I were forced to choose a bride. I would rather choose you my mute foundling with those expressive eyes. And then he kissed her Rosy mouth playing with her long wavy hair and laid his head on her heart while she dreamed of human happiness and an immortal soul. You are not afraid of the see my mute child said he as he stood on the deck of the noble ship which was to carry them to the country of the neighboring King. And then when he told her of storm calm of strange fishes in the Deep beneath them and what the divers had seen there and she smiled at his descriptions for she knew better than anyone wonders for at the bottom of the sea in the Moonlight when all on board were asleep, except the man at the helm who was steering. Little Mermaid sat on the deck glazing down through the clear water she thought she could distinguish her father's castle and upon it or aged grandmother with a silver crown on her head looking through the rushing tide the Keel of the vessel. Than her sisters came up on the waves and gazed at her mournfully ringing their white hands. She beckoned to them and smiled and wanted them to know how happy and well up she was But the cabin boy approached and when her sisters Dove down he thought it was only the foam of the sea. He saw the next morning the ship sailed into the harbor of a beautiful Town belonging to the king and the prince was going to visit the church bells were ringing and from the high tower sounded flourish of trumpets and Soldiers with flying colors and glittering Bayon. Lion the rocks through which they passed every day was a festival balls and entertainment followed by more balls and entertainment, but the princess had not yet appeared people said that she was being brought up and educated in a religious house where she was learning every Royal virtue. At last she came The Little Mermaid who was very anxious to see whether she was really beautiful was obliged to acknowledge that she had never seen a more perfect vision of beauty. Their skin was delicately fair and beneath her long dark eyelashes her laughing blue eyes Shone with truth and purity. It was you said the prince who saved my life when I laid out on the beach and he folded his Blushing Bride into his arms. Oh I am too. Happy said he did a little mermaid. My fondest hopes are all fulfilled. You will rejoice at my happiness for your Devotion to me is great and sincere. The Little Mermaid kissed his hand and felt as if her heart were already broken his wedding morning would bring death for her and she would change into the foam of the sea. all of the church bells rung and the Herald's rolled about the town proclaiming the engagement perfumed oil was burning and costly silver lamps on every alter the priests waived all the bride and bridegroom joined their hands and receive the blessing of the bishop The Little Mermaid dressed in silk and gold held up the bride's dream. But her ears heard nothing of the festive music and her eyes, so nothing of 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 ship cannons were roaring Flags waving and in the center of the ship the costly tend to purple and gold had been erected. It contained elegant couches for the reception of the bridal pair during the night. The ship was swelling sails in a favorable wind glided away smoothly and lightly over. The calm sea when it grew dark a number of coloured lamps were lit 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 festivities enjoys teaching join in the dance, please herself in the air as a swallow when he pursues his prey and all present cheered her with Wonder. She had never danced. So elegantly before her tender feet felt as if cut a sharp knives and she bled with every step but she cared not for it sharper paying and pierced through her heart. She knew this was the last evening. She would ever see the prince for whom she had forsaken her Kindred in her home. She had given up her beautiful voice and suffered unheard of pain every day with every step. Well, he knew nothing of it. This was the last evening, but she would Breathe the same air with him or Gaze on the Starry Sky and the deep sea and eternal night without a thought or a dream awaited her. She had no soul. And now she could never win 100 was joy and gaiety on board ship too long after midnight. She laughed and danced with the rest all the thoughts of death were in her heart the prince kissed his beautiful bride while she played with his Raven hair till they went armed and arms to rest in The Splendid tent then all became still Board the ship the Helmsman alone awake stood at the hill. The Little Mermaid leaned her white arms and the edge of the vessel and look towards the east for the first blush of morning. For that first Ray of dawn that would bring her death. She saw her sisters rising out of the flood they were as pale as herself, but her long beautiful hair waved no more in the wind and had been cut off. We have given our hair to the which said they to obtain help for you that you may not die tonight. She had given us a knife here. It is see it is very sharp for 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 form into a fish's tail and even once more become a mermaid in return to us to live out your 300 years before you die and change into the sea salt foam haste then here you will die Before Sunrise. Harold grandmother moans so for you that are white hair is falling off from sorrow as ours fell under the witch 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 will die. And 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 with her head resting upon the princes breast she bent down and kissed his fair brow and looked at the sky on which the rosy Dawn grew brighter and brighter and that she glanced at the sharp knife and again fixed her eyes on the prince whispered the name of his bride in his dreams. Hey. She was in his thoughts and the knife trembled in the hand of The Little Mermaid and then she floated far away from her into the waves. The water turned red or it fell and the drums. Let's burn it up looked like blood she cast one more lingering have fainting glance at The Prince and then threw herself in the ship into the sea. She thought her body was dissolving into foam. The sun rose above the waves and its Warm Rays fill in the cold foam The Little Mermaid who did not feel as if she were dying. She saw the bright Sun and all around her floated hundreds of transparent beautiful beings. She could see through them the white sails of the ship and the red clouds in the sky. Their speech was melodious but to leave Ariel to be heard by mortal ears as they were also unseen by mortal eyes. Little Mermaid perceived that she had a body like theirs and that she continued to rise higher and higher out of the phone. Why are am I asked she and her voice sounded ethereal as a voice of those who were with her? No earthly. Sounds good imitated. Among the daughters of the are answered one of them a mermaid has not an immortal Soul no more. Can she obtained one unless she wins the love of a human being the power of another hangs our Eternal destiny. But the daughters of the air, although they do not possess an immortal Soul can buy their Good Deeds procure one for themselves. We fly to warm countries and cool. The sultry are the destroys mankind with pestilence. We carry the perfumes of the flowers to spread health and restoration. After we have striven for 300 years to all the good in our power. We receive an immortal soul and take part in the happiness of mankind you poor little mermaid. I've tried with your whole heart to do is we are doing you have suffered and endured and raised yourself to the spirit world, but you are good deeds. And no by striving for 300 years in the same way. You may obtain an immortal soul. The Little Mermaid lifted her glorified eyes towards the Sun and felt them for the first time filling with tears. On the ship in which she had left the prince there was life and noise. She saw him and his beautiful bride searching for her sorrow flee they gazed at the Pearly foam as if they knew she had thrown herself into the waves Lindsay. She kissed the forehead of her bride and vent the prince the mounted with the other children of the air. two Rosy Cloud that floated Through The Ether after 300 years the shall we float into the Kingdom of Heaven said she and we may even get there sooner whispered one of her companion. Unseen, we can enter the houses of men where there are children and for every day on which we find a good child who is the joy of his parents and deserves that love our time of probation is short. The child does not know when we fly through the room that we smile with joy at his Good Conduct for we can count one year less of our 300 years. But when we see a naughty or Wicked Child, we shed tears of sorrow and for every tear we shed a day is added to our time of trial. That concludes today's reading. Thank you for listening. Sweet dreams.
ASMR reading of the creepy fairy tale The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen, written in 1836. Soft spoken with gentle introduction and personal attention for relaxation. Enjoy with headphones. As we learn, mermaids live up to 300 years, but the life of a mortal is very short. Still, the Little Mermaid gives up her tongue (by literally cutting it out) and endures the pain and blood of having legs formed from her tail. Every step she takes is brutally painful and bloody, but she endures because this is the life she so longed for. Unfortunately, the Prince she comes across and rescues takes her into his life as only a friend and remembers a different woman, though similar to her, who was his true rescuer. He is reunited with this woman, and though the mermaid gets a chance to get revenge and continue to live as a mortal, she is consumed by her choice and dies instead, leaving the Prince to lead a happy life with his new bride. The Little Mermaid was republished numerous times in its history, eventually becoming a much different story altogether by the writers at Disney. An important message is lost in the retelling; however, as the mermaid is never given the same redemption. As in this original tale, she takes the burden unto herself and, instead of the death she believed would occur, is taken into a beautiful spiritual realm of peace where her immortal soul can be at rest. #asmr #softspokenasmr #thelittlemermaid #littlemermaid #originallittlemermaid #originlittlemermaid#originalfairytales #hanschristianandersen #thebrothersgrimm #asmrfairytales #asmrforsleep#whisperedasmr  ---   This episode is sponsored by  · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. 