The Great Red Frog

Excerpt

Many years ago, and many miles away, there was a little Prince who was exactly like the Lord Chamberlain's son, and sometimes even the artful old Chamberlain himself could not tell one from the other.

When the Prince became King of Noware, they were still alike as two peas, and one day, when they were playing in the garden, a Magic Bush suddenly grew up behind the King. At the same moment the Chamberlain's Son suddenly lost his temper,

And pushed his royal play-fellow into the Magic Bush. The little King was immediately changed into a strange red Frog, which ran away croaking fearfully.

The wicked Chamberlain seemed quite pleased when his son told him what had happened,

And, placing a crown on his own son's head, he said, "Your Majesty has made a mistake; how can the King be a Frog when I see your Majesty before me?" And they both smiled artfully.

The Chamberlain pretended to weep, and told everybody that his Son had been turned into a Frog.

So the false King sat on the throne and grew up to be very bad and ugly, because he was always afraid the real King would return. He heard of the wonderful King of the Frogs, who carried off cattle on his back, and every time he saw a Frog he shivered all over.

He was going to marry the Princess of Sumwareruther, and they expected her day after day, but she did not come. At last they became quite anxious, when one morning a little Blue Dwarf arrived at the Palace. He was quite breathless.

His name was Omolo, and he told the King that when he and the young Princess (he was the Princess's page) were about twenty miles from the Palace, a Great Red Frog suddenly confronted them, put the soldiers to flight, and carried off the Princess.

The King flew into a rage, and rushed out of the room declaring that he would go to war with the King of the Frogs.

So the Chamberlain made a speech to the Army.

But the Army was so afraid of the Great Red Frog that they were taken ill and could not go.

And without saying a word to anyone, little Omolo climbed on to a Stork's back—

And flew off to save the Princess.

Now the Stork had a friend, a very wise Owl, to whom they went for advice. The Owl put on his glasses and a very grave voice. He told Omolo where he would find a Magic Sword, and also where the King of the Frogs lived.

Then, after thanking the Owl, they went on again and finally found the King Frog at home; but Omolo was rather surprised to see the Princess taking afternoon tea with him, and not frightened in the least.

When she saw Omolo, she clapped her hands with delight, but before she could say a word, he attacked the King of the Frogs with his Magic Sword and wounded him. Directly the Sword touched the Frog,—

He changed into a splendid King with a Ruby Crown. The Princess was delighted, for, as of course you have guessed, he was the real King of Noware.

He thanked Omolo graciously, and, taking the Magic Sword, he changed the little Blue Dwarf into a handsome fellow, and made him an Earl on the spot, and gave him command of the Army.

And being very pleased with the kind Stork he changed him into a man, and made him his Chancellor. He was a bit storky at first, but he gradually improved.