The Frog and the Promise

A princess played with a golden ball beside a forest spring. One high throw slipped through her fingers. The ball rolled across the grass and disappeared into the deep, clear water.

She sat sadly on the bank until a green frog appeared. He could fetch the ball, he said, if she would welcome him as a guest and share her supper with him.

The princess agreed quickly. The frog dived beneath the surface and returned with the golden ball. She caught it happily, then hurried home without waiting for the helper who had trusted her.

At supper, a soft knocking sounded at the palace door. The frog waited outside. The princess told her father about the promise, and he reminded her that a guest deserved a welcome.

She opened the door and apologised for leaving him. The frog hopped onto a low cushion beside her chair. They shared supper, and she discovered that her visitor had excellent stories to tell.

When evening ended, the princess prepared a little sleeping cushion near the window. The frog thanked her and settled down. In the morning, he returned to the garden while she played outside.

The next evening, he came back for supper and the same comfortable cushion. This time the princess remembered him gladly. She even set out a tiny cup before the knocking began.

After the third peaceful night, the princess found a young prince standing beside the window. A spell had changed him into a frog. Three nights of honest welcome had finally broken it.

The prince's carriage arrived, driven by his loyal friend Heinrich. Before returning to his kingdom, he thanked the princess and her father. The golden ball shone beside them in the morning sun.

The princess waved until the carriage vanished beyond the trees. She still played beside the spring, but remembered her promise. A small act of welcome could matter far more than a favourite toy.