Near the palace was an old forest and in the forest was a deep, dark well. When the day was hot, the little princess would run into the woods, sit beside the cool well, and play for hours with her golden ball. One day as she played, the ball rolled down, down, into the deep well.
"Oh, oh, my beautiful ball! My beautiful ball!" cried the princess.
"What is the matter, dear princess?" said a voice from the well.
The girl looked into the water, but she could see no one. Then the voice called again, "Tell me, princess, I will help you." This time she saw an ugly frog stretch its head above the water.
"Why should I tell you, old frog?" asked the princess.
"Because I can help the king's daughter," answered the frog.
Again the princess burst into tears.
"My beautiful ball has fallen into the well," she cried.
"Do not weep, beautiful one," said the frog. "I can get your ball, but what will you give me if I bring your toy back to you?"
"What do you want," said the princess, "my dresses, my jewels, or my golden crown?"
"Dresses, jewels, and golden crowns I do not need," said the frog. "Let me be your playmate, sit at your table, eat from your golden plate, and drink from your golden cup, and I will find your beautiful ball."
"I will do all that," she cried, "if you will only get my ball."
In a flash the frog dived under the water and brought up the lost toy.
"Oh, my beautiful ball! My beautiful ball!" cried the princess. "I will hold you fast this time." And off she ran without a word of thanks.
"Stop, stop!" shouted the frog. "Take me with you. I cannot hop as fast as you can run." But on ran the princess and the poor frog had to leap back into the well.
The next day the king's daughter was sitting at the table with her father. Suddenly they heard sounds as if something were coming up the marble steps.
"Open the door, daughter of the king!" shouted a voice outside.
The princess ran to the door. There stood the ugly frog. When she saw it she shut the door quickly and ran to her father.
"What is the matter, my child?" asked the king. "Did you see a giant?"
"Oh, no!" she answered. "It is an ugly frog. Yesterday my golden ball fell into the well. The frog brought it back to me. But first I promised that he should be my playmate, sit at my table, eat from my golden plate, and drink from my golden cup."
"A king's daughter never tells a lie," said her father.
Just then they heard the deep, hoarse voice again. It said,
"King's daughter
King's daughter,
Do not forget
The promise made
In the forest shade."
Then the king said, "Let the frog in, daughter. Your promise must be kept."
The princess opened the door and the frog hopped right up to her chair.
"Take me up, take me up!" cried the frog. "I must eat from our golden plate."
The princess did not like to touch it, so she lifted the frog with her napkin and placed it near her plate.
The frog seemed to enjoy the dinner but the poor princess could not eat.
"I must drink from your cup, I must drink from your cup," cried the hoarse voice again.
As the princess lifted her golden cup, her hand touched the frog and it was changed instantly to a handsome boy.
"It was an enchanted frog," they all cried in wonder.
"You speak truly," said the boy, "I was an enchanted frog. Nine years ago an evil witch changed me into a frog. She said that nothing but the touch of a king's daughter could make me myself again. I am a prince and I wish to be your daughter's playmate."
The king was pleased to hear this, and the prince became the playmate and friend of the princess. When they were older the king allowed his daughter to marry the prince.
Then the princess took his bride to his father's kingdom. Their golden chariot was drawn by ten white horses, with golden harness and silver plumes.
The prince helped his old father rule the kingdom wisely and the people loved the prince dearly. But best of all they loved the beautiful princess who had learned to be kind and gentle to all living things.
