THE LITTLE BOY FROM TOWN
jewels, but as soon as they touched the shell they changed into water.
“Look,” she said to Michael, “the jewels have melted.”
“Oh dear,” said Michael, “what am I to do? I am going back to town to-morrow, and I have nothing to remind me of the sea!”
“Do you really and truly wish to think of the sea for ever and ever?” asked the Mermaid.
“Of course I do,” said Michael.
“Then I will sing you the Sea Song,” said the Mermaid, “and after that there will be nothing that can make you forget the sea.”
So while Michael sat on the rock and looked at the sea, the Mermaid sang him the Sea Song, which mermaids have sung to sailors ever since the first ship was built. It is a song that no one ever forgets. It is like the voice of the sea calling, calling; and there are many people who hear it always, even in their dreams. If they are people who have to live in towns, or in country places far from the sea, they are not very happy.
When the Mermaid had finished singing, she said—
“Now I have given you something that will make you think of the sea for ever and ever.”
The next day Michael went back to town. He took with him the sound of the Sea Song; and for ever afterwards he heard the voice of the sea calling, calling, even in his dreams.
That was why he became a sailor when he was old enough.
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