him. Then in despair
he left their villages, and went out into the country, and, seating
himself on the bank of a pond began to cry bitterly.

Suddenly there was a noise close beside him, and a frog jumped out of
the water on to the bank and asked him why he was crying. The youth told
her of his trouble, and how his brothers would bring home linen spun for
them by their promised wives, but that no one would spin his thread.

Then the frog answered: 'Do not weep on that account; give me the
thread, and I will spin it for you.' And, having said this, she took
it out of his hand, and flopped back into the water, and the youth went
back, not knowing what would happen next.

In a short time the two elder brothers came home, and their mother asked
to see the linen which had been woven out of the skeins of flax she had
given them. They all three left the room; and in a few minutes the two
eldest returned, bringing with them the linen that had been spun by
their chosen wives. But the youngest brother was greatly troubled, for
he had nothing to show for the skein of flax that had been given to him.
Sadly he betook himself to the pond, and sitting down on the bank, began
to weep.

Flop! and the frog appeared out of the water close beside him.

'Take this,' she said; 'here is the linen that I have spun for you.'

You may imagine how delighted the youth was. She put the linen into his
hands, and he took it straight back to his mother, who was so pleased
with it that she declared she had never seen linen so beautifully spun,
and that it was far finer and whiter than the webs that the two elder
brothers had brought home.

Then she turned to her sons and said: 'But this is not enough, my sons,
I must have another proof as to what sort of wives you have chosen. In
the house there are three puppies. Each of you take one, and give it to
the woman whom you mean to bring home as your wife. She must train it
and bring it up. Whichever dog turns out the best, its mistress will be
my favourite daughter-in-law.'

So the young men set out on their different ways, each taking a puppy
with him. The youngest, not knowing where to go, returned to the pond,
sat down once more on the bank, and began to weep.

Flop! and close beside him, he saw the frog. 'Why are you weeping?' she
said. Then he told her his difficulty, and that he did not know to whom
he should take the puppy.

'Give it to me,' she said, 'and I will bring it up for you.' A