"If he live, he will lose his youthful beauty." "But he will preserve his virtues." "He will become old and decrepit." "I will nurse him." "She has an answer for every thing; there must be a woman's soul in her. After all--listen to me seriously, daughter--you may indeed do all you say, and become the blessing of Albert's life; but to do this, you must leave your parents, your sisters--leave them, and forever." "Must I, indeed?" "You must. Albert is of another class; he may be as good as you, still he is not your equal, nor can you enjoy his love and that of your family. Now choose between them." "My sisters--my father--Albert." "Choose--weigh them well in the balance; or one, or the other--both you can not have." "Does my father disapprove?" "You can not expect he wishes you to leave him for one of another sort. Your separation must be eternal." "Will Albert be happy?" "Why not? Even if he knew you, he could not think much of a wife who could sever herself from her earliest ties." "My mother, too! No, no, you are right; I should never be happy. What! To feel I had offended those who have the best claim to my love and affection! I must not think of it. Still, are they not a little prejudiced?" "Perhaps they are; but if you do your duty, their prejudices may eventually give way." "I am afraid all you say is true; I can not leave them. Oh! I am very miserable. What shall I do?" "Do good to every one, make yourself useful--that is the only cure for a broken heart." "Can I help Albert?" "To be sure you can. And now you have shown yourself to be a dutiful daughter, and a fairy of proper sense, I will teach you how to assist him, and all his fellow-men." I can not tell all the advice the old god gave to the disconsolate Aquarella, but its consequences were of great benefit to the young lord, and ultimately to all the world, for she consented to restrain her vagaries, and become a useful member of society, a working river. The same lively energy that helped her to quarrel with the stones, now enabled her to turn a mill; there is no saying what amount of water power is within her. Like all really benevolent, sensible persons, she considers no good work a degradation; and her activity is boundless. She has turned from her course to assist a paper manufacturer, her waters are invaluable to a calico printer also, and she may be seen in a bleaching ground. She is not so wildly beautiful as in her early days, but her banks are still charming, and, like a kind old maiden aunt, she is ever indulgent to youth. She has famous bays, where rosy boys can launch their tiny vessels; deep recesses, where sober anglers enjoy their silent sport; and sweet nooks, where Albert's posterity have often mused on pleasant thoughts, have pledged the faith, and vowed the love denied to the poor fairy, and here her course flows placidly and serenely along, as if she still took an interest in human happiness, and the trifles that compose it.