Mendelssohn Songs Without Words Opus 85, No. 4 "Elegy"

[mbdey]

All of the scores of this piece show minimal amounts of pedaling.  Yet, in listening to many recordings of this piece, it seems that most performers use the pedal throughout most of the piece.  Is it acceptable or even preferred, to alter the composer's intention in this way?  It is much more difficult to play the piece beautifully with predominantly finger legato.  Is that the reason it is performed with so much pedal?  What is correct?  Thank you for your thoughts.