the little corpse, almost fearing to find what I was seeking; and
then it was I first learnt how all had happened.

"My wife had taken the little one in her arms, and walked out to the
shore of the lake. She there sat down by its very brink; and while
she was playing with the infant, as free from all fear as she was
full of delight, it bent forward on a sudden, as if seeing something
very beautiful in the water. My wife saw her laugh, the dear angel,
and try to catch the image in her tiny hands; but in a moment--with a
motion swifter than sight--she sprang from her mother's arms, and
sank in the lake, the watery glass into which she had been gazing.
I searched for our lost darling again and again; but it was all in
vain; I could nowhere find the least trace of her.

"The same evening we childless parents were sitting together by our
cottage hearth. We had no desire to talk, even if our tears would
have permitted us. As we thus sat in mournful stillness, gazing into
the fire, all at once we heard something without,--a slight rustling
at the door. The door flew open, and we saw a little girl, three or
four years old, and more beautiful than I can say, standing on the
threshold, richly dressed, and smiling upon us. We were struck dumb
with astonishment, and I knew not for a time whether the tiny form
were a real human being, or a mere mockery of enchantment. But I
soon perceived water dripping from her golden hair and rich garments,
and that the pretty child had been lying in the water, and stood in
immediate need of our help.

"'Wife,' said I, 'no one has been able to save our child for us; but
let us do for others what would have made us so blessed could any one
have done it for us.'