"I will take the pebbles and the shells with me and I will try to
remember the sunlight and the song of the sea."

So it began to fill its little hands. But it saw that after as many as
possible were gathered together there were yet myriads left. And it
had to leave them.

Tired and with a sore heart it trudged homeward, its hands filled to
overflowing with the pebbles that shone in the sun on the sea-shore.
Now, however, they seemed dull. And because of this, the child did not
seem to regret it so much if now and then one fell. "There are still
some left in my hands," it thought.

At length it came near to its home; so very tired, the little limbs
could scarcely move. And one who loved the child came out smiling to
welcome it. The little one went up close and rested its tired head;
and opening its little hand, soiled with the sea and the sand, said:

"Look, mother, I still have one. May I go for the others some day?"

And the mother said:

"Yes, thou shalt go again."

And the child fell asleep to dream of the singing sea and of the
sunlight, for these were in its heart.