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N the olden time, when wishing was some good, there lived a King whose daughters were all beautiful, but the youngest was so lovely that even the sun, that looked on many things, could not but marvel when he shone upon her face.

Near the King’s palace there was a large dark forest, and in the forest, under an old lime-tree, was a well. When the day was very hot the Princess used to go into the forest and sit upon the edge of this cool well; and when she was tired of doing nothing she would play with a golden ball, throwing it up in the air and. catching it again, and this was her favourite game. Now on one occasion it so happened that the ball did not fall back into her hand stretched up to catch it, but dropped to the ground and rolled straight into the well. The Princess followed it with her eyes, but it disappeared, for the well was so very deep that it was quite impossible to see the bottom. Then she began to cry bitterly, and nothing would comfort her.

As she was lamenting in this manner, some one called out to her, ‘What is the matter, Princess? Your lamentations would move the heart of a stone.’

She looked round towards the spot whence the voice came, and saw a Frog stretching its broad, ugly face out of the water.

‘Oh, it’s you, is it, old splasher? I am crying for my golden ball which has fallen into the water.’

‘Be quiet then, and stop crying,’ answered the Frog. ‘I know what to do; but what will you give me if I get you back your plaything?’

‘Whatever you like, you dear old Frog,’ she said. ‘My