The Frog Prince
German Fairy Tale
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Retold by The Legendary Connection
TLC#00121
Once upon a time, there lived a King with many beautiful daughters. His youngest daughter was so lovely that even the Sun seemed to shine brighter when she stepped outside.
Near the King’s castle, there was a dark forest, and in the middle of the forest was an old lime tree with a little fountain under it. On hot days, the King’s youngest daughter would go to the forest and sit by the fountain to cool off. Her favorite game was tossing a golden ball in the air and catching it.
One day, while playing with her golden ball, the ball slipped from her hands, rolled into the fountain, and disappeared in the deep water. The princess began to cry. As she wept, a voice called out, "Why are you crying, Princess? Your tears could melt even a stone!"
She looked around and saw a Frog poking its head out of the water. “Oh, Mr. Frog,” she said, “I lost my golden ball in the fountain, and I’m so sad!”
“Don’t cry,” said the Frog. “I can get your ball for you, but what will you give me in return?”
The princess said, “I can give you my clothes, my jewels, or even my golden crown!”
The Frog shook his head. “I don’t want those things. If you promise to be my friend, let me eat from your plate, drink from your cup, and sleep in your bed, I’ll fetch your ball.”
The princess quickly agreed, thinking, "He’s just a frog. I don’t really have to keep that promise." So, the Frog dove into the water, and soon came back with the golden ball. The princess was overjoyed! She grabbed the ball and ran home, completely forgetting about the Frog.
The next day, as the princess sat at dinner with her father, they heard a strange noise: splish-splash, splish-splash, coming up the stairs. Then came a knock at the door, and a voice called out, “Princess, open the door! You promised to be my friend.”
The princess opened the door and saw the Frog. She quickly shut it again, feeling ashamed and afraid. The King noticed her worry and asked, “What’s the matter, my daughter? Who is at the door?”
The princess explained, “Yesterday, I lost my golden ball in the fountain, and a Frog got it for me. I promised to be his friend, but I didn’t mean it! Now, he’s come to claim my promise.”
The King said, “My dear, you must always keep your promises, even to a Frog. Let him in.”
Reluctantly, the princess opened the door, and the Frog hopped in. He followed her to the table and said, “Lift me up to sit beside you.” She did so, though she was not happy about it. The Frog then said, “Move your plate closer so I can eat with you,” and though she didn’t want to, the princess did as he asked.
After dinner, the Frog said, “I’m tired. Take me to your room so I can sleep in your bed.” The princess began to cry, feeling upset that she had to keep her promise. But the King reminded her, “He helped you in your time of need, and you must not break your word.”
So, with great reluctance, the princess carried the Frog to her room and placed him in a corner, far from her bed. But the Frog insisted, “I’m tired and cold. Please let me sleep in your bed, or I will tell your father.”
Angry and frustrated, the princess picked up the Frog and threw him against the wall with all her might. But as soon as the Frog hit the wall, he turned into a handsome Prince!
The Prince explained that he had been cursed by a wicked witch, and only the princess’s promise could break the spell. The princess was amazed and, with her father’s blessing, the two became close friends and were soon engaged to be married.
The next morning, a beautiful carriage, pulled by eight white horses, came to take the Prince and the princess to his kingdom. Sitting behind 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 placed three iron bands around his heart to keep it from breaking.
As the carriage traveled, the Prince heard a loud crack. He thought something had broken, but Henry explained, “It is not the carriage, my master. It is one of the bands around my heart breaking from joy that you are free again.”
The Prince heard two more cracks as they traveled, and each time, it was another band breaking from Henry’s heart. Soon, all the bands were gone, and Henry’s heart was free and happy again.
From that day on, the Prince, the princess, and faithful Henry lived happily ever after, all because the princess learned the importance of keeping her promises.
The end.
Original Source: Crane, Walter. “The Frog Prince and Other Stories.” Https://Www.gutenberg.org/Files/20437/20437-h/20437-H.htm, 24 Jan. 2007, www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/20437/pg20437-images.html. Accessed 11 June 2024.Edited by Erin
