Oldal 28 [28]
THE PROG eae
N 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.
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.
And this was her favourite amusement.
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 foun¬
tain. 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. [hen she began to lament, and to cry