Page:Little Ellie and Other Tales (1850).djvu/19

Rh escape; and we, meanwhile, will build a festal hall below in the mud, where you two shall live together.”

Innumerable plants were growing in the water, with their broad green leaves looking as though they floated on the stream. The one that grew farthest off was at the same time the largest, and thither the old toad swam, and set the walnut-shell with the little maiden upon it.

Poor little Ellie awoke early on the following morning; and when she looked about her and saw where she was, that her new dwelling was surrounded with water, and that there was no possible way by which she could get to land, she began to weep bitterly.

The old toad sat, meanwhile, in the marsh, and decorated the hall with reeds and the leaves of the water-lily, so that it might look nice for her future daughter-in-law; and then, in company with her frightful son, she swam to the island lily-leaf, where Ellie was. They wanted to fetch her pretty little bed, that it might at once be