aditch.
Immediatelyaftertheshots,eachboyrushedofftohisbetrothedwitharing.Theoldestbrotherwasmetbyalovelymaidenasfreshasanewlybakedcake,themiddlebrotherbyafairgirlwithsilkyhairandskin,whiletheyoungest,afterlookingandlooking,sawnothingbutafroginthatditch.
Theyreturnedtothekingtotellhimabouttheirbetrothed."Now,"saidtheking,"whoeverhasthebestwifewillinheritthekingdom.Herebeginthetests."Hegavethemeachsomehemptobespunandreturnedwithinthreedays,toseewhichbetrothedwasthebestspinner.
Thesonswenttotheirbetrothedandurgedthemtospintheirbest.Highlyembarrassed,theyoungestboytookthehemptotherimoftheditchandcalled:
"Frog,frog!"
"Whocalls?"
"Yourlovewholovesyounot."
"Ifyoulovemenot,nevermind.Lateryoushall,whenafinefigureIcut."
Thefrogjumpedoutofthewaterontoaleaf.Thekingssongaveherthehemp,tellingherhedpickupthespunthreadthreedayslater.
Threedayslatertheolderbrothersanxiouslyhastenedtothebakergirlandtheweavergirltopickuptheirspunhemp.Thebakergirlproducedabeautifulpieceofwork;theweavergirl,whowasanexpertatthissortofthing,hadspunherstolooklikesilk.Buthowdidtheyoungestsonfare?Hewenttotheditchandcalled:
"Frog,frog!"
"Whocalls?"
"Yourlovewholovesyounot."
"Ifyoulovemenot,nevermind.Lateryoushall,whenafinefigureIcut."
Shejumpedontoaleafholdingawalnutinhermouth.Hewassomewhatembarrassedtogivehisfatherawalnutwhilehisbrothersbroughtspunhemp.Heneverthelesstookheartandpresentedthekingwiththewalnut.Theking,whohadalreadyscrutinizedthehandiworkofthebakerandtheweavergirls,crackedopenthewalnutastheolderbrotherslookedon,snickering.Outcameclothasfineasgossamerthatcontinuedtounrolluntilthethroneroomwascoveredwithit."Buttheresnoendtothiscloth!"exclaimedtheking.Nosoonerwerethewordsoutofhismouththantheclothcametoanend.
Butthefatherrefusedtoaccepttheideaofafrogbecomingqueen.Hisfavoritehuntingbitchhadjusthadthreepuppies,whichhegavethethreesons."Takethemtoyourbetrothedandgobackforthemamonthlater.Theonewhostakenthebestcareofherdogwillbecomethequeen."
Amonthlater,thebakergirlsdoghadturnedintoabig,fatmastiff,having
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