wood and seat herself at the edge of the cool well； and when she became wearied； she would take a golden ball； throw it up in the air； and catch it again。 This was her favorite amusement。 Once it happened that her golden ball； instead of falling back into the little hand that she stretched out for it； dropped on the ground； and immediately rolled away into the water。 The king's daughter followed it with her eyes； but the ball had vanished； and the well was so deep that no one could see down to the bottom。 Then she began to weep； wept louder and louder every minute； and could not console herself at all。
While she was thus lamenting some one called to her： 〃What is the matter with you； king's daughter？ You weep so that you would touch the heart of a stone。〃
She looked around to see whence the voice came； and saw a frog stretching his thick ugly head out of the water。
〃Ah！ it is you； old water…paddler！〃 said she。 〃I am crying for my golden ball； which has fallen into the well。〃
〃Be content；〃 answered the frog； 〃I dare say I can give you some good advice； but what will you give me if I bring back your plaything to you？〃
〃Whatever you like； dear frog；〃 said she； 〃my clothes； my pearls and jewels； even the golden crown I wear。〃
The frog answered； 〃Your clothes； your pearls and jewels； even your golden crown； I do not care for； but if you will love me； and let me be your companion and play…fellow； sit near you at your little table； eat from your little golden plate； drink from your little cup； and sleep in your little bedif you will promise me this； then I will bring you back your golden ball from the bottom of the well。〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 said she； 〃I promise you every… thing； if you will only bring me back my golden ball。〃
She thought to herself； meanwhile： 〃What nonsense the silly frog talks！ He sits in the water with the other frogs； and croaks； and cannot be anybody's playfellow！〃
But the frog； as soon as he had received the promise dipped his head under the water and sank down。 In a little while up he came again with the ball in his mouth； and threw it on the grass。 The king's daughter was overjoyed when she beheld her pretty plaything again； picked it up； and ran away with it。
〃Wait！ wait！〃 cried the frog； 〃take me with you。 I cannot run as fast as you。〃
Alas！ of what use was it that he croaked after her as loud as he could。 She would not listen to him； but hastened home； and soon forgot the poor frog； who was obliged to plunge again to the bottom of his well。
The next day； when she was sitting at dinner with the king and all the courtiers； eating from her little gold plate； there came a sound of something creeping up the marble staircasesplish； splash； and when it had reached the top； it knocked at the door and cried； 〃Youngest king's daughter； open to me。〃
She ran； wishing to see who was outside； but when she opened the door and there sat the frog； she flung it hastily to again and sat down at table； feeling very； very uncomfortable。 The king saw that her heart was beating violently； and said； 〃How； my child； why are you afraid？ Is a giant standing outside the door to carry you off？〃
〃Oh； no！〃 answered she； 〃it is no giant； but a nasty frog； who yesterday； when I was playing in the wood near the well； fetched my golden ball out of the water。 For this I promised him he should be my companion； but I never thought he could come out of his well。 Now he is at the door； and wants to come in。〃
Again； the second time there was a knock； and a voice cried：
〃Youngest king's daughter； Open to me； Know you what yesterday You promised me； By the cool water？ Youngest king's daughter； Open to me。〃
Then said the king； 〃What you promised you must perform。 Go and open the door。〃
She went and opened the door； the frog hopped in； always following and following her till he came up to her chair。 There he sat and cried out； 〃Lift me up to you on the table。〃
She refused； till the king； her father； commanded her to do it。 When the frog was on the table； he said； 〃Now push your little golden plate nearer to me； that we may eat together。〃 She did as he desired； but one could easily see that she did it unwillingly。 The frog seemed to enjoy his dinner very much； but every morsel she ate stuck in the throat of the poor little princess。
Then said the frog； 〃I have eaten enough； and am tired； carry me to your little room； and make your little silken bed smooth； and we will lay ourselves down to sleep together。〃
At this the daughter of the king began to weep； for she was afraid of the cold frog； who wanted to sleep in her pretty clean bed。
But the king looked angrily at her； and said again： 〃What you have promised you must perform。 The frog is your companion。〃
It was no use to complain； whether she liked it or not； she was obliged to take the frog with her up to her little bed。 So she picked him up with two fingers； hating him bitterly the while； and carried him upstairs： but when she got into bed； instead of lifting him up to her； she threw him with all her strength against the wall； saying； 〃Now you nasty frog； there will be an end of you。〃
But what fell down from the wall was not a dead frog； but a living young prince； with beautiful and loving eyes； who at once became； by her own promise and her father's will； her dear companion and husband。 He told her how he had been cursed by a wicked sorceress； and that no one but the king's youngest daughter could release him from his enchantment and take him out of the well。
The next day a carriage drove up to the palace gates with eight white horses； having white feathers on their heads and golden reins。 Behind it stood the servant of the young prince； called the faithful Henry。 This faithful Henry had been so grieved when his master was changed into a frog that he had been compelled to have three iron bands fastened round his heart； lest it should break。 Now the carriage came to convey the prince to his kingdom； so the faithful Henry lifted in the bride and bridegroom and mounted behind； full of joy at his lord's release。 But when they had gone a short distance； the prince heard behind him a noise as if something was breaking。 He cried out； 〃Henry； the carriage is breaking！〃
But Henry replied： 〃No； sir； it is not the carriage but one of the bands from my heart； with which I was forced to bind it up； or it would have broken with grief while you sat as a frog at the bottom of the well。〃
Twice again this happened； and the prince always thought the carriage was breaking； but it was only the bands breaking off from the heart of the faithful Henry； out of joy that his lord； the frog…prince； was a frog no more。
CLEVER ALICE
ONCE upon a time there was a man who had a daughter who was called 〃Clever Alice；〃 and when she was grown up； her father said； 〃We must see about her marrying。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied her mother； 〃whenever a young man shall appear who is worthy of her。〃
At last a certain youth； by name Hans； came from a distance to make a proposal of marriage； but he required one condition； that the clever Alice should be very prudent。
〃Oh；〃 said her father； 〃no fear of that！ she has got a head full of brains；〃 and the mother added； 〃ah； she can see the wind blow up the street； and hear the flies cough！〃
〃Very well；〃 replied Hans； 〃but remember； if she is not very prudent； I will not take her。〃 Soon afterward they sat down to dinner； and her mother said； 〃Alice； go down into the cellar and draw some beer。〃
So Clever Alice took the jug down from the wall； and went into the cellar； jerking the lid up and down on her way； to pass away the time。 As soon as she got downstairs she drew a stool and placed it before the cask； in order that she might not have to stoop； for she thought stooping might in some way injure her back and give it an undesirable bend。 Then she placed the can before her and turned the tap； and while the beer was running； as she did not wish her eyes to be idle； she looked about upon the wall above and below。 Presently she perceived； after much peeping into this corner and that corner； a hatchet； which the bricklayers had left behind？ sticking out of the ceiling right above her head。 At the sight of this Clever Alice began to cry； saying； 〃Oh！ if I marry Hans； and we have a child； and he grows up； and we send him into the cellar to draw beer； the hatchet will fall upon his head and kill him；〃 and so she sat there weeping with all her might over the impending misfortune。
Meanwhile the good folks upstairs were waiting for the beer； but as Clever Alice did not come； her mother told the maid to go and see what she was stopping for。 The maid went down into the cellar and found Alice sitting before the cask crying heartily； and she asked； 〃Alice； what are you weeping about？〃
〃Ah；〃 she replied； 〃have I not cause？ If I marry Hans； and we have a child； and he grows up； and we send him here to draw beer； that hatchet will fall upon his head and kill him。〃
〃Oh；〃 said the maid； 〃what a clever Alice we have！〃 And sitting down； she began to weep； too； for the misfortune that was to happen。
After a while； when the servant did not return； the good folks above began to feel very thirsty； so the husband told the boy to go down into the cellar and see what had become of Alice and the maid。 The boy went down； and there sat Clever Alice and the maid both crying； so he asked the reason； and Alice told him the same tale； of the hatchet that was to fall on her child； if she married Hans； and if they had a child。 When she had finished； the boy exclaimed； 〃What a clever Alice we have！〃 and fell weeping and howling with the others。
Upstairs they were still waiting； and the husband said； when the boy did not return； 〃Do you go down； wife； into the cellar and see why Alice stays so long。〃 So she went down； and finding all three sitting there crying； asked the reason； and Alice told her about the hatchet which must inevitably fall upon the head of her son。 Then the mother likewise exclaimed； 〃Oh； what a clever Alice we have！〃 and； sitting down； began to weep as much as any of the rest。
Meanwhile the husband waited for his wife's return； but at last he felt so very thirsty that he said