Toads and Diamonds
Charles Perrault
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Rewritten by The Legendary Connection
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Once upon a time, there was a widow who had two daughters. The eldest daughter was very much like her mother—both were proud and unkind. They were difficult to live with, always thinking they were better than everyone else.
The youngest daughter, however, was completely different. She was kind, gentle, and one of the most beautiful girls anyone had ever seen. She reminded everyone of her father, who had been a good and gentle man. Sadly, because the mother only loved those who were like her, she adored her eldest daughter and treated the youngest very badly. The poor girl was made to eat in the kitchen and work hard every day.
One of the many chores the youngest daughter had to do was to fetch water from a well that was a long walk from their house. Twice a day, she had to carry a heavy pitcher to fill with water and bring it back.
One day, as she was drawing water from the well, a poor old woman came up to her and asked for a drink. "Of course, dear lady," the girl said sweetly. She carefully rinsed her pitcher, filled it with the cleanest water, and held it up for the old woman to drink easily.
The old woman, after drinking, smiled and said, "You are so kind, my dear, and so polite. I wish to give you a gift." You see, this was not an ordinary old woman—it was a fairy in disguise! She wanted to test how kind and gentle the girl really was. The fairy continued, "From now on, every time you speak, a flower or a jewel will fall from your mouth." The girl, surprised but grateful, thanked the fairy and hurried home. As soon as she stepped inside, her mother scolded her for taking so long.
“I’m sorry, Mother,” the girl said, and as she spoke, two roses, two pearls, and two diamonds fell from her mouth. The mother was shocked. “What is this?” she exclaimed. “Where did these come from?” The girl explained what had happened at the well, and with each word, more flowers and jewels fell to the floor. Her mother’s eyes lit up with greed.
“Well,” she thought, “if my youngest can receive such a gift, then my eldest daughter should too!” She called for her eldest daughter, Clara, and said, “Go to the well, and if you see a poor woman, be polite and offer her water. Then you will receive a wonderful gift, just like your sister!” Clara, however, was not pleased. “Do I really have to go fetch water like a servant?” she grumbled. But her mother insisted, and Clara finally agreed, taking with her the finest silver pitcher from the house.
When she arrived at the well, she met a beautiful lady dressed like a princess. This was the fairy again, but now she looked completely different to see how Clara would behave.
“May I please have a drink?” the lady asked kindly. Clara, rude and proud, said, “I suppose you want me to serve you with this fine silver pitcher, don’t you? Well, take it, but don’t expect me to be happy about it.”
The fairy, keeping her calm, replied, “You have shown no kindness and no manners. For this, I will give you a gift: from now on, every time you speak, a snake or a toad will come from your mouth.”
When Clara returned home, her mother eagerly asked, “Well, daughter?”
“Ugh, Mother!” Clara replied, and as she spoke, two snakes and two toads jumped from her mouth.
Her mother screamed in horror. “What has happened? This is all your sister’s fault!” Furious, she ran to punish the younger girl, but the kind daughter fled into the forest to escape her mother’s anger.
As she was hiding in the woods, the King’s son passed by, returning from a hunting trip. Seeing the beautiful girl crying, he asked, “Why are you here all alone, and why are you so sad?” The girl, still kind even in her sadness, explained everything that had happened, and as she spoke, pearls and diamonds fell from her mouth.
The Prince was amazed by her kindness and her special gift. “This gift is more precious than any treasure,” he thought. He took the girl to the royal palace, and soon after, they were married. The King and Queen welcomed her with open arms, and she lived happily in the palace, loved for her kindness and gentle heart.
As for Clara, her rude behavior made her so disliked that even her mother could no longer bear to be around her. She was sent away, and with nowhere to go, she wandered the forest for the rest of her life.
Source: “The Blue Fairy Book, by Various.” Www.gutenberg.org, 17 Dec. 2016, www.gutenberg.org/files/503/503-h/503-h.htm#link2H_4_0027.
