![]() “What does the Frog want with you?” said the King. “Oh, no!” answered she “it is no giant, but an ugly Frog.” But the King perceived that her heart was beating violently, and asked her whether it were a giant who had come to fetch her away who stood at the door. So she rose and went to see who it was that called her but when she opened the door and caught sight of the Frog, she shut it again with great vehemence, and sat down at the table, looking very pale. The next day, when the King’s daughter was sitting at table with her father and all his courtiers, and was eating from her own little golden plate, something was heard coming up the marble stairs, splish-splash, splish-splash and when it arrived at the top, it knocked at the door, and a voice said, “Open the door, youngest daughter of the King!” I cannot run as you can.” But all his croaking was useless although it was loud enough, the King’s daughter did not hear it, but, hastening home, soon forgot the poor Frog, who was obliged to leap back into the fountain. “Stop! stop!” cried the Frog “take me with you. ![]() The King’s daughter was full of joy when she again saw her beautiful plaything and, taking it up, she ran off immediately. Presently he swam up again with the ball in his mouth, and threw it on the grass. “Oh, I will promise you all,” said she, “if you will only get me my ball.” But she thought to herself, “What is the silly Frog chattering about? Let him remain in the water with his equals he cannot mix in society.”īut the Frog, as soon as he had received her promise, drew his head under the water and dived down. The Frog answered, “Dresses, or jewels, or golden crowns, are not for me but if you will love me, and let me be your companion and playfellow, and sit at your table, and eat from your little golden plate, and drink out of your cup, and sleep in your little bed,-if you will promise me all these, then will I dive down and fetch up your golden ball.” “My dresses, my pearls and jewels, or the golden crown which I wear?” “What will you have, dear Frog?” said she. But what will you give me if I fetch your plaything up again?” “Be quiet, and do not cry,” answered the Frog “I can give you good advice. “Ah! you old water-paddler,” said she, “was it you that spoke? I am weeping for my golden ball, which has slipped away from me into the water.” Then she began to lament, and to cry louder and louder and, as she cried, a voice called out, “Why do you weep, O King’s daughter? your tears would melt even a stone to pity.” And she looked around to the spot whence the voice came, and saw a Frog stretching his thick ugly head out of the water. The King’s daughter followed the ball with her eyes, but it disappeared beneath the water, which was so deep that no one could see to the bottom. Now, one day it happened that this golden ball, when the King’s daughter threw it into the air, did not fall down into her hand, but on the grass and then it rolled past her into the fountain. Near the castle of this King was a large and gloomy forest, and in the midst stood an old lime-tree, beneath whose branches splashed a little fountain so, whenever it was very hot, the King’s youngest daughter ran off into this wood, and sat down by the side of this fountain and, when she felt dull, would often divert herself by throwing a golden ball up in the air and catching it. In the olden time, when wishing was having, there lived a King whose daughters were all beautiful but the youngest was so exceedingly beautiful that the Sun himself, although he saw her very often, was enchanted every time she came out into the sunshine. We would encourage parents to read beforehand if your child is sensitive to such themes. This is a vintage fairy tale, and may contain violence.
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