Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 edition. Excerpt: ... First Frog. It's a long time since Your Highness has made mud pies and listened to our tales! The Prince. But never have I forgotten these! The proof is, I am here, following the prickly quest for the Sleeping Beauty in the enchanted forest of moss-roses! First Frog. All Kings' Sons to whom the tale is told sooner or later follow the same quest! The Prince. And fall beside the way! Sighs, on which all the Hearts sigh also. Second Frog. True! Failures, but glorious! They fell because they were in advance of their time! But you--The Prince. I? Second Frog. You will succeed, because you are the Man of the Hour! The Prince. Bows. I thank you much for telling me this! First Frog. Don't mention it! We have followed you, every step of the way, rather slowly, because of my brother's rheumatism--Second Frog. I always get rheumatism unless I have wet feet! To sit in a puddle on a chilly evening, that's the only way to keep well! First Frog. At any rate we got ahead of the jackdaw and the robin. Flighty things, they stopped to wake up everybody and have a bit of worm with every old acquaintance on the way!--There they are now! Flighty things! He shakes his stick at two birds whom we hear chattering and whistling in a nearby thicket. The Prince. My old friends! He waves his hand, whistling to the Birds who respond in kind. But, come! To work! First Frog. Sir, we ask the privilege of following the adventure with you! In our tadpole days, aye, even as pollywogs, we were devoted to the Frog who was the oldest and most respected inhabitant of our pond. When he was chosen godfather to the Princess it was we who carried the christening mug to the palace. We were present when he was knighted, and baroneted! And now, if he has dried up we wish to bestow on...