Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/106

90 or rather hopping, to the entrance of the hole, she threw off her frog-skin, and behold—a beautiful and graceful princess! But so lovely, so charming, was she that no mortal ever saw or ever even dreamt that such a being could possibly exist. Then she cried out in a voice which sounded like the sweetest music,—

"My cooks and my servants, listen to my call, and do my bidding faithfully. Bake and bring me some white bread, such as I had when I lived at the court of the king, my father."

Next morning, when the prince woke from his slumbers, he was astonshed, as well as delighted, to see some beautiful white bread lying by his side. He took it to the palace, and gave it to the king, his father, who was just as much delighted with it as his son had been, saying that it was far better than he really wanted it to be. But he again gave his sons another order for their wives. This time it was to get him a beautiful silk carpet, such a one as had never been seen before, and was not likely to be seen again.

"What has happened, my prince?" asked the frog, when Prince Akem returned from the palace, looking very dull and dreary. "Was not the bread of the right kind?"

"Yes, the bread was right enough; but the king wants you now to get him a silk carpet, something that has never been seen before, and is never likely to be seen again."

"Cheer up, my prince," laughed the frog. "You really must not be so down-hearted about such trifles.