what story had the young princes grown
up hearing?
Answers
One day the princess was playing in the gardens of the palace. She was playing with her favourite possession in the whole world; a golden ball. The princess loved the golden ball because it was so shiny and she could see her reflection upon its surface. She also loved the ball because it was so valuable.
The princess threw the ball high into the air where the sun made it sparkle against the blue sky. Higher and higher she threw the golden ball. So high that she imagined the golden ball was a second sun; a sun belonging to her and her alone.
The golden ball went so high up into the air that it really did begin to look like a sun, and the reflections dazzled the princess who had to close her eyes. The ball landed some way away and began to roll towards the lake in the shadows of the giant nakhla trees.
'It is at the bottom of the lake where I cannot reach.'
The little frog looked at the princess and smiled. 'I can fetch it for you, princess. I will dive to the bottom of the lake and I will bring back your golden ball for you.'
The princess was delighted by the news and also smiled, but before the frog jumped into the water he wanted the princess to make him a promise.
'I will promise you anything if you will bring me back my golden ball,' said the princess.
'I want you to take me back with you, back to the palace and be my friend. If you promise to do this, then I will dive to the bottom of the lake and find your golden ball.'
The princess agreed right away and so the little frog jumped into the lake and swam all the way to the bottom where he took the golden ball in his mouth. The ball was very heavy and the little frog struggled to get back to the surface. Eventually he appeared on the edge of the lake and dropped the ball onto the grass at the princess's feet.
The princess took the ball and held it to her chest and laughed with glee. Then she ran towards the palace, leaving the frog behind.
But the princess ignored the frog, forgetting all about her promise. All she could think about was how happy she was that she had her golden ball and she knew it would be dinnertime at the palace and she was hungry. The princess only ever thought about herself and the poor frog was left alone on the edge of the lake.
Later that evening, the princess and the king were sitting down to dinner in the palace. The princess did not spare a thought for the frog or for the promise she had made him.
Then there was a knock at the palace door. A moment later, the frog hopped into the dining hall and jumped up on to the table next to the princess.
The princess was horrified and cried out, 'Go away you disgusting frog!'
But the king silenced his daughter and asked the frog what he was doing inside the palace. The frog told the king all about the promise the princess had made to him. The king was very angry with his daughter and commanded her to keep her promise to the frog.
'We must always do as we promise, daughter.'
Once away from the king, the princess was very mean to the little frog. She threw him onto her bed and told him that he was an ugly creature and that he was very impudent to assume he could sleep on the pillow of a princess.