A young princess went for a walk in a dark wood. She sat by a cool spring of water and played with her favorite toy—a golden ball. She threw it high into the air, but suddenly, she missed it. The ball rolled into the water and sank to the bottom. The princess began to cry, "I would give all my jewels and clothes to have my ball back!"
A frog popped its head out of the water. "Why are you crying?" it asked. The princess replied, "What can you do, you nasty frog? My golden ball is lost."
The frog said, "I don't want your jewels. But if you will love me, let me live with you, eat from your golden plate, and sleep in your bed, I will find your ball." The princess thought the frog was talking nonsense, but she agreed.
The frog dived down and brought the ball back. As soon as she had it, the princess ran home, completely forgetting the poor frog.
The next day, while the princess was eating dinner, she heard a sound: tap, tap, plash, plash. A voice cried out, "Open the door, my princess! Remember your promise by the water!" She opened the door, saw the frog, and quickly shut it, feeling very frightened.
Her father, the King, asked what was wrong. She explained the story. The King said firmly, "If you gave your word, you must keep it. Let him in."
The frog hopped into the room and sat next to the princess. He ate from her plate and then said, "I am tired. Carry me to your bed." The princess was upset, but she carried him upstairs and put him on her pillow.
The frog stayed for three nights. But on the third morning, when the princess woke up, the frog was gone. In his place stood a handsome prince with beautiful eyes.
He explained that a wicked fairy had turned him into a frog. The spell could only be broken by a princess who let him eat from her plate and sleep in her bed for three nights. "You broke the charm," the prince said. "Will you come to my father’s kingdom and marry me?"
The princess said yes. A grand coach with eight white horses arrived, and they drove away together to live happily in the prince’s kingdom.