TOADS
AND DIAMONDS
THERE
was once upon a time a widow who had two daughters. The eldest was so much like
her in the face and humor that whoever looked upon the daughter saw the mother.
They were both so disagreeable and so proud that there was no living with them.
The
youngest, who was the very picture of her father for courtesy and sweetness of
temper, was withal one of the most beautiful girls ever seen. As people
naturally love their own likeness, this mother even doted on her eldest
daughter and at the same time had a horrible aversion for the youngest--she
made her eat in the kitchen and work continually.
Among
other things, this poor child was forced twice a day to draw water above a mile
and a-half off the house, and bring home a pitcher full of it. One day, as she
was at this fountain, there came to her a poor woman, who begged of her to let
her drink.
"Oh!
ay, with all my heart, Goody," said this pretty little girl; and rinsing
immediately the pitcher, she took up some water from the clearest place of the
fountain, and gave it to her, holding up the pitcher all the while, that she
might drink the easier.
The
good woman, having drunk, said to her:
"You
are so very pretty, my dear, so good and so mannerly, that I cannot help giving
you a gift." For this was a fairy, who had taken the form of a poor
country woman, to see how far the civility and good manners of this pretty girl
would go. "I will give you for a gift," continued the Fairy,
"that, at every word you speak, there shall come out of your mouth either
a flower or a jewel."
When
this pretty girl came home her mother scolded her for staying so long at the
fountain.
"I
beg your pardon, mamma," said the poor girl, "for not making more
haste."
And
in speaking these words there came out of her mouth two roses, two pearls, and
two diamonds.
"What
is it I see there?" said the mother, quite astonished. "I think I see
pearls and diamonds come out of the girl's mouth! How happens this,
child?"
This
was the first time she had ever called her child.
The
poor creature told her frankly all the matter, not without dropping out
infinite numbers of diamonds.
"In
good faith," cried the mother, "I must send my child thither. Come
hither, Fanny; look what comes out of thy sister's mouth when she speaks.
Wouldst not thou be glad, my dear, to have the same gift given thee? Thou hast
nothing else to do but go and draw water out of the fountain, and when a
certain poor woman asks you to let her drink, to give it to her very
civilly."
"It
would be a very fine sight indeed," said this ill-bred minx, "to see
me go draw water."
"You
shall go, hussy!" said the mother; "and this minute."
So
away she went, but grumbling all the way, taking with her the best silver
tankard in the house.
She
was no sooner at the fountain than she saw coming out of the wood a lady most
gloriously dressed, who came up to her, and asked to drink. This was, you must
know, the very fairy who appeared to her sister, but now had taken the air and
dress of a princess, to see how far this girl's rudeness would go.
"Am
I come hither," said the proud, saucy one, "to serve you with water,
pray? I suppose the silver tankard was brought purely for your ladyship, was
it? However, you may drink out of it, if you have a fancy."
"You
are not over and above mannerly," answered the Fairy, without putting
herself in a passion. "Well, then, since you have so little breeding, and
are so disobliging, I give you for a gift that at every word you speak there
shall come out of your mouth a snake or a toad."
So
soon as her mother saw her coming she cried out:
"Well,
daughter?"
"Well,
mother?" answered the pert hussy, throwing out of her mouth two vipers and
two toads.
"Oh!
mercy," cried the mother; "what is it I see? Oh! it is that wretch
her sister who has occasioned all this; but she shall pay for it"; and
immediately she ran to beat her. The poor child fled away from her, and went to
hide herself in the forest, not far from thence.
The
King's son, then on his return from hunting, met her, and seeing her so very
pretty, asked her what she did there alone and why she cried.
"Alas!
sir, my mamma has turned me out of doors."
The
King's son, who saw five or six pearls and as many diamonds come out of her
mouth, desired her to tell him how that happened. She thereupon told him the
whole story; and so the King's son fell in love with her, and, considering
himself that such a gift was worth more than any marriage portion, conducted
her to the palace of the King his father, and there married her.
As
for the sister, she made herself so much hated that her own mother turned her
off; and the miserable wretch, having wandered about a good while without
finding anybody to take her in, went to a corner of the wood, and there
died.[1]
[1]
Charles Perrault.
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