Seite 103 von 626

As soon as the young princess saw her ball, she ran to pick it

up; and she was so overjoyed to have it in her hand again, that

she never thought of the frog, but ran home with it as fast as

she could. The frog called after her, 'Stay, princess, and take

me with you as you said,' But she did not stop to hear a word.

The next day, just as the princess had sat down to dinner, she

heard a strange noise--tap, tap--plash, plash--as if something

was coming up the marble staircase: and soon afterwards there was

a gentle knock at the door, and a little voice cried out and

said:

'Open the door, my princess dear, Open the door to thy true love

here! And mind the words that thou and I said By the fountain

cool, in the greenwood shade.'