m
me into the water."

[Illustration]

"Be quiet, and do not cry," answered the Frog; "I can 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 companion 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."

[Illustration]

"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." 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 when she again saw her beautiful plaything; and, taking it
up, she ran off immediately. "Stop! stop!" cried the Frog; "take me with
thee. I cannot run as thou canst." 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.

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, thou youngest daughter of the King!"
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. 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. "Oh, no!" answered she; "it is no giant, but an ugly Frog."

"What does the Frog want with you?" said the King.

"Oh, dear father, when I was sitting yesterday playing by the fountain,
my golden ball fell into the water, and this Frog fetched it up again
because I cried so much: but f