Imagine a sunny afternoon in a beautiful kingdom. A young princess, who loved sparkly things, was playing by a deep, cool well in the palace garden. Her favorite toy was a shiny, golden ball. She tossed it up, up, up, but oh dear! This time, she threw it a little too high, and *plop!* it fell right into the well.

The princess began to cry. "My golden ball! My beautiful golden ball!" she wailed.

Suddenly, a little voice said, "Ribbit! What's the matter, Princess?"

She looked down and saw a green frog, with big, bulgy eyes, poking his head out of the water. "Oh, Mr. Frog," she sobbed, "my golden ball has fallen into the well!"

"Hmm," said the frog. "I can get it for you. But what will you give me if I do?"

"Anything!" cried the princess. "My jewels, my crown, whatever you want!"

The frog shook his head. "I don't want jewels or crowns. I want a friend. Promise me that you will let me be your companion, eat from your little golden plate, drink from your little golden cup, and sleep on your soft little pillow."

The princess thought, "What a silly frog! He can't really come to the castle." So she said, "Oh yes, I promise all that! Just get my ball!"

The frog dived down, and soon he came up with the golden ball in his mouth. He tossed it onto the grass. The princess was overjoyed! She snatched up her ball and ran back to the castle, completely forgetting about the frog.

"Wait!" croaked the frog. "Take me with you! I can't run that fast!" But the princess didn't listen.

The next day, as the princess sat down to dinner with her father, the King, there was a strange sound at the door. *Splish-splash, splish-splash, tap-tap-tap!*

"Princess, open the door," said the King.

She opened it, and there was the frog! She quickly slammed the door shut, her face pale.

The King saw she was scared. "What's wrong, my dear?" he asked.

"Oh, Father," she said, "it's that yucky frog from the well. I promised he could be my friend if he got my ball, but I didn't think he'd actually come!"

The King looked serious. "A promise is a promise, daughter. You must keep your word. Let him in."

So, the princess had to open the door. The frog hopped in. "Lift me onto the table," he said. She did, but not very happily. "Now push your little golden plate closer so I can eat with you." She pushed it, making a face. The frog ate his fill, but the princess could hardly swallow a bite.

Then the frog said, "I'm tired. Carry me to your room so I can sleep on your soft little pillow."

The princess shivered. "On my clean, silky pillow? Eww!" But the King gave her a stern look, so she carefully picked up the frog with two fingers and carried him upstairs.

In her room, she really didn't want the cold, damp frog on her lovely bed. She felt cross and a little bit scared. In a fit of temper, she cried, "You slimy thing!" and threw him against the wall. *Thwack!*

But instead of a squashed frog, there was a soft *poof!* and standing there was a handsome young prince with kind eyes!

The princess stared in amazement.

The prince smiled. "An enchantress turned me into a frog," he explained. "Only a princess could break the spell by having me near her, though I didn't expect to be thrown against a wall!" He chuckled.

The princess felt a bit silly, but also very happy. The prince was much nicer than the frog, and he forgave her for being grumpy. They became good friends.

Not long after, a splendid carriage arrived, drawn by eight white horses with feathery plumes. It was to take the prince back to his kingdom, and he asked the princess to go with him. She gladly agreed.

Riding with them in the carriage was the prince's faithful servant, Henry. When the prince had been turned into a frog, Henry had been so sad that he had three iron bands put around his heart to keep it from breaking with grief.

As they rode along, they heard a loud *CRACK!*
The prince called out, "Henry, is the carriage breaking?"
"No, master," said Henry. "It's not the carriage. It's one of the iron bands from my heart, breaking with joy because you are free and happy!"

A little later, there was another *CRACK!* And then a third *CRACK!* Each time, it was another iron band breaking from Faithful Henry's heart, now that it was full of happiness for his prince.

And so, the princess and the prince arrived safely in his kingdom, where they were married and lived happily, always remembering the importance of keeping a promise, even to a little green frog.

1123 Views