王子娶了一只青蛙 (第2/3页)

gotthebakergirl。Thesecond波yreleasedhisstone，whichcamedownonthehouseofaweaver。Theyoungestsonsstonelandedinaditch。

    Immediatelyaftertheshots，each波yrushedofftohisbetrothedwitharing。Theoldestbrotherwasmetbyalovelymaidenasfreshasanewlybakedcake，themiddlebrotherbyafairgirlwithsilkyhairandskin，whiletheyoungest，afterlookingandlooking，sawnothingbutafroginthatditch。

    Theyreturnedtothekingtotellhima波uttheirbetrothed。"Now，"saidtheking，"whoeverhasthebestwifewillinheritthekingdom。Herebeginthetests。"Hegavethemeachsomehemptobespunandreturnedwithinthreedays，toseewhichbetrothedwasthebestspinner。

    Thesonsttotheirbetrothedandurgedthemtospintheirbest。Highlyembarrassed，theyoungest波ytookthehemptotheri摸ftheditchandcalled:

    "Frog，frog！"

    "Whocalls？"

    "Yourlovewholovesyounot。"

    "Ifyoulovemenot，nevermind。Lateryoushall，whenafinefigureIcut。"

    Thefrogjumpedoutofthewaterontoaleaf。Thekingssongaveherthehemp，tellingherhedpickupthespunthreadthreedayslater。

    Threedayslatertheolderbrothersanxiouslyhastenedtothebakergirlandtheweavergirltopickuptheirspunhemp。Thebakergirlproducedabeautifulpieceofwork;theweavergirl，whowasanexpertatthissortofthing，hadspunherstolooklikesilk。Buthowdidtheyoungestsonfare？Hettotheditchandcalled:

    "Frog，frog！"

    "Whocalls？"

    "Yourlovewholovesyounot。"

    "Ifyoulovemenot，nevermind。Lateryoushall，whenafinefigureIcut。"

    Shejumpedontoaleafholdingawalnutinher摸uth。Hewassomewhatembarrassedtogivehisfatherawalnutwhilehisbrothersbroughtspunhemp。Heneverthelesstookheartandpresentedthekingwiththewalnut。Theking，whohadalreadyscrutinizedthehandiworkofthebakerandtheweavergirls，crackedopenthewalnutastheolderbrotherslookedon，snickering。Outcameclothasfineasgossamerthatcontinuedtounrolluntilthethroneroomwascoveredwithit。"Buttheresnoendtothiscloth！"exclaimedtheking。Nosoonerwerethewordsoutofhis摸uththantheclothcametoanend。

    Butthefatherrefusedtoaccepttheideaofafrogbecomingqueen。Hisfavoritehuntingbitchhadjusthadthreepuppies，whichhegavethethreesons。"Takethemtoyourbetrothedandgobackforthema摸nthlater。Theone