There was once a young and very beautiful princess. Her name was Nadia.
One morning she was near a fountain in the garden of her father’s palace. She
had a small golden ball. She played with her ball. Suddenly she threw the ball so
high in the air that she could not catch it and it fell in the water of the fountain.
Nadia looked for her small golden ball, but she could not fi nd it. She began to
cry and said, “I shall give anything to have my golden ball again!”
“Will you?” said a voice from the fountain. Nadia looked down and saw a frog
in the water.
“Of course I shall,” cried Nadia, “but what can you do, ugly frog?” “I shall bring
your golden ball. But then you will let me live with you, eat from a golden plate,
and sleep on your bed.” “Very well,” Nadia said to the frog.
“Bring me my golden ball and I shall do what you want.” The frog was happy.
It brought the golden ball and Nadia ran away. Soon she forgot about her promise.
The next day when Nadia was having supper she heard a strange noise
– tap, tap, tap, tap – and a voice said, “Open the door. You must keep your
promise.”