louder and louder; and, as she cried, a voice called out, “ Why
weepest thou, O King’s daughter ? thy 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. “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.”
~ Be quiet, and do not cry, ‘answered’ the. Frog; 1 ean
give thee good advice. But what wilt thou give me if I fetch thy
plaything up again ?~
“What will you have, dear Frog?” said she. “ My dresses,
my pearls and jewels, or the golden crown which I wear ?¬
The Frog answered, “ Dresses, or jewels, or golden crowns,
are not for me; but if thou wilt love me, and let me be thy com¬
panion and playfellow, and sit at thy table, and eat from thy little
golden plate, and drink out of thy cup, and sleep in thy little bed,
—if thou wilt promise me all these, then will I dive down and
fetch up thy golden ball.
“Oh, I will promise you ail,” said she, “if you will only get
me my ball.” But she thought to herself, ““ What is the silly Frog
chattering about 2? Let him remain in the water with his equals ;
he cannot mix in society.” But the Frog, as soon as he had
received her promise, drew his head under the water and dived
down. Presently he swam up again with the ball in his mouth,
and threw it on the grass. The King’s daughter was full of joy