Once upon a time when wishes could still come true there was a king whose daughters were all beautiful but the youngest was so lovely that the sun itself although it had seen so much marvelled at her beauty whenever it shone on her face Close to the king's castle there was a great dark forest and in the forest under an old linden tree there was a well If the weather was very hot the king's daughter used to go out into the forest and sit on the rim of the well and if she was bored she took a golden ball that was her favorite plaything with her threw it up in the air and caught it again One day it so happened that after she had thrown the golden ball up it did not fall back into her little hands again but came down on the ground and rolled straight into the water The king's daughter followed it with her eyes but the ball disappeared and the well was deep so deep that you couldn't see to the bottom of it Then she began to weep and wail inconsolably louder and louder And as she was weeping like that a voice spoke to her What's the matter king's daughter Why are you crying so pitifully that it would melt a heart of stone She looked around to find out where the voice came from and then she saw a frog putting his fat ugly head up above the water Oh it's you is it old squelchy splasher she said I'm crying because my golden ball has fallen into the well and now I've lost it Hush don't cry replied the frog I can help you there but what will you give me if I bring your plaything up out of the water again Anything you like dear frog she said My fine dresses my pearls and jewels even the golden crown that I wear I don't want your dresses your pearls and jewels or your golden crown said the frog but if you will be kind to me and take me as your friend and playmate let me sit at your little table beside you eat from your little golden plate drink from your little golden goblet and sleep in your little bed if you will promise me all that I will climb down the well and bring your golden ball up again Oh yes she said I promise anything you like if you will only bring me back my golden ball But she was thinking what nonsense that silly frog talks There he sits in the water with the other frogs so how can he be friends with any human being Once she had promised the frog dipped his head down under the water sank to the bottom of the well and a little later he came swimming up again with the ball in his mouth and dropped it on the grass The king's daughter was delighted to see her pretty toy again She picked it up and ran away with it Wait for me the frog called after her Take me with you I can't run as fast as you
But however loud he croaked it did him no good She paid him no attention but hurried home and soon forgot all about the poor frog who had to climb down into his well again Next day when she was sitting at the dinner table with the king and all the courtiers eating from her little golden plate something came crawling up the marble steps outside the castle slip slop slip slop and when it was at the top of the flight of steps it knocked on the door and called Youngest daughter of the king open the door to let me in She went to see who was outside the door but when she opened it there sat the frog Then she quickly slammed the door and sat down again feeling very frightened The king could see that her heart was beating fast and he asked What are you afraid of my child Is there a giant outside the door wanting to take you away No she said it's not a giant it's a nasty frog What does the frog want Oh dear father when I was sitting beside the well in the forest yesterday my golden ball fell into the water And the frog fetched it out because I was crying so hard and when he insisted I promised to be his friend but I never thought he could get out of the water Now he's outside the door and wants to come in And already there was a second knock on the door and a voice called out Youngest king's daughter Open the door Don't you remember The promise you swore Beside the cool water Youngest king's daughter Open the door Then the king said If you made a promise you must keep it so go and open the door to him She went and opened the door and the frog hopped in and followed her back to her chair He sat there on the floor and said Pick me up so that I can sit beside you She hesitated until at last the king told her to do as the frog said Once he was on the chair he wanted to get up on the table and when he was on the table he said Push your little golden plate closer to me so that we can eat from it together She did as the frog said but anyone could tell that she was reluctant to do so The frog ate a good dinner but she could hardly swallow a morsel At last the frog said I've eaten all I want and now I'm tired so carry me into your little bedchamber make up the bed with silken sheets and we'll lie down to sleep
