The Frog Prince and Other Stories The Frog Prince, Princess Belle-Etoile, Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp
THE FROG PRINCE. In the olden time, when wishing was having, there lived a King, whose daughters were all beautiful; but the youngest was so exceedingly beautiful that the Sun himself, although he saw her very often, was enchanted every time she came out into the sunshine. Near the castle of this King was a large and gloomy forest, and in the midst stood an old lime-tree, beneath whose branches splashed a little fountain; so, whenever it was very hot, the King's youngest daughter ran off into this wood, and sat down by the side of this fountain; and, when she felt dull, would often divert herself by throwing a golden ball up in the air and catching it. And this was her favourite amusement. Now, one day it happened, that this golden ball, when the King's daughter threw it into the air, did not fall down into her hand, but on the grass; and then it rolled past her into the fountain. The King's daughter followed the ball with her eyes, but it disappeared beneath the water, which was so deep that no one could see to the bottom. Then she began to lament, and to cry louder and louder; and, as she cried, a
Gradually they drew closer and closer, and at last, three of the eldest
gins going down on all fours, crept slowly up until close in front of her,
when they stopped, and buried their withered old faces in the sand at her
feet. After enjoying their humiliation for a few seconds, she condescended
to speak to them, and very shortly they were all chattering away on the
most amicable terms.
Meanwhile the gunyahs or native huts, and the camp, had been thoroughly
searched, but without bringing to light anything European, except a few
bottles, and a pint pot which had been accidentally left behind by one of
the party on the occasion of Lizzie's abduction. The gunyahs were better
constructed than usual, and consisted of saplings bent in an arch and
covered with tea-tree bark, a great improvement on all the native dwellings
we had hitherto seen, which were generally little better than a rude screen
against the wind. But our time was precious, for we carried but little
provision; and we could not afford to loiter about, even in so pleasant a
spot as this little bay; so, after dispatching a hasty dinner, we started
off afresh, to the immense relief of the gins, and got out of the valley by
another pass, which Lizzie showed us. I must not forget to mention one
ludicrous circumstance, which convulsed us with laughter. The gins showed
such curiosity about Lizzie's pipe, that she handed it round and made them
each take a puff. Their expressions, when the pungent smoke caused them
either to sneeze, cough, or choke, were most laughable; and I have no doubt
that it is still a matter of wonder to them, and a fruitful source of
debate over the camp-fires, what pleasure the white man can find in filling
his mouth with smoke, apparently with no better object than to puff it out
THE FROG PRINCE. In the olden time, when wishing was having, there lived a King, whose daughters were all beautiful; but the youngest was so exceedingly beautiful that the Sun himself, although he saw her very often, was enchanted every time she came out into the sunshine. Near the castle of this King was a large and gloomy forest, and in the midst stood an old lime-tree, beneath whose branches splashed a little fountain; so, whenever it was very hot, the King's youngest daughter ran off into this wood, and sat down by the side of this fountain; and, when she felt dull, would often divert herself by throwing a golden ball up in the air and catching it. And this was her favourite amusement. Now, one day it happened, that this golden ball, when the King's daughter threw it into the air, did not fall down into her hand, but on the grass; and then it rolled past her into the fountain. The King's daughter followed the ball with her eyes, but it disappeared beneath the water, which was so deep that no one could see to the bottom. Then she began to lament, and to cry louder and louder; and, as she cried, a