The Frog Prince
Many,many years ago,there lived a king.He had many beautiful daughters.And the youngest one was very lovely,and even the sun was surprised to see her when he shone on her face.
Near the king's castle lay a dark,gloomy forest.In the middle of the forest there was a fountain.
One day,the king' s daughter went into the forest when it was very hot.She sat down on the side of the cool fountain.Then she began to toss a golden ball in the air,and catch it.It was a most interesting game to her.
Once,however,the king' s daughter failed to catch the golden ball.It fell on the ground,and rolled into the water.
The princess followed it with her eyes,but soon it disappeared.The water was very deep and she could not see the bottom.
Then she cried aloud,and began to weep.Soon she heard a voice.It said,"Why are you weeping,princess?Your tears can melt even the stones!"
She looked around and saw a frog.He was stretching his thick ugly head out of the water.
"Oh,there you are,old waterpaddler," she said."I am crying for the loss of my golden ball.It has fallen into into the fountain."
The frog believed the king' s daughter.He dipped his head under the water and dived to the bottom.After a while he carried the ball to the surface,and threw it onto the grass.
When the king' s daughter saw the beautiful ball,she was full of joy.She took it and ran away as fast as she could.
"Wait,wait," cried the frog."Take me with you!I can't run as fast as you." But the young princess would not listen to the frog's croaking.She ran to the palace as fast as she could,and soon forgot the poor frog.So the frog returned to the fountain and remained there.
The next day,however,when the princess was sitting with the king and eating out of her own little golden plate,she heard a strange noise on the marble steps outside.Then came a knock on the door,and a voice cried,"Lovely princess,open the door for me." So she rose and went to the door.
