as seen so much, was astonished whenever it
shone in her face. Close by the King's castle lay a great dark forest,
and under an old lime-tree in the forest was a well, and when the day
was warm the King's child went out into the forest and sat down by
the side of the cool fountain, and when she was dull she took a
golden ball and threw it up high and caught it, and this ball was her
favorite plaything.

Now it so happened that, on one occasion, the princess' golden ball
did not fall into the little hand which she was holding up for it, but
onto the ground beyond, and rolled straight into the water. The King's
daughter followed it with her eyes, but it vanished, and the well was
deep so deep that the bottom could not be seen. On this she began to
cry, and cried louder and louder, and could not be comforted. And
as she thus lamented, some one said to her: "What ails thee, King's
daughter? Thou weepest so that even a stone would show pity." She
looked around to the side from whence the voice came, and saw a
frog stretching forth its thick, ugly head from the water. "Ah! old
water-splasher, is it thou?" asked she; "I am weeping for my golden
ball, which has fallen into the well."

[Illustration: JACOB GRIMM E. Hader]

[Illustration: WILLIAM GRIMM E. Hader]

"Be quiet, and do not weep," answered the frog; "I can help thee; but
what wilt thou give me if I bring thy plaything up again?" "Whatever
thou wilt have, dear frog," said she--"my clothes, my pearls and
jewels, and even the golden crown which I am wearing."

The frog answered, "I do not care for thy clothes, thy pearls and
jewels, or thy golden crown, but if thou wilt love me and let me be
thy companion and play-fellow, and sit by thee at thy little table,
and eat off thy little golden plate, and drink out of thy little cup,
and sleep in thy little bed--if thou wilt promise me this I will go
down below and bring thee thy golden ball again."

"Oh, yes," said she, "I promise thee all thou wishest, if thou wilt
but bring me my ball back again." She, how ever, thought, "How the
silly frog does talk! He lives in the water with the other frogs and
croaks, and can be no companion to any human being!"

But the frog, when he had received this promise, put his head into the
water and sank down, and in a short time came swimming up again with
the ball in his mouth, and threw it on the grass. The King's daughter
was delighted to see her pretty plaything once more, and picke