A First Book of Fairy Tales

Diamonds and Toads

T here was once a widow with
two daughters. The younger one
was a good-natured girl who always
had a smile on her face. The older
girl was bad-tempered and greedy
like her mother, and they were
always mean to the younger girl.

One day, they sent her to the well

to get water. There she met an old
woman who asked her for a drink.
“Of course,” said the girl. Then
the woman revealed herself to be
a fairy, and in return
bestowed a secret
gift upon the girl.

When the girl got back home, she was

scolded for being late. And when she
opened her mouth to explain, out fell
flowers and diamonds and all sorts of
precious jewels, for this was her gift.

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 Diamonds and Toads

“Quick, go to the well, too!” said

the mother to her older daughter.
The daughter went and met a young
woman who asked her for some
water. But the greedy girl refused.
Then the fairy—for that was who
she was—rewarded her with an
unusual gift!

When the grumpy daughter

returned home and opened
her mouth to complain,
to everyone’s horror,
out dropped toads and
lizards and snakes!

The younger sister was thrown out of the

house. But she was rescued by a prince,
and when he saw how beautiful she
was and what valuable things fell out
of her mouth, he asked her to marry him.
But no one wanted to be near the older
sister. She lived alone for the rest of her life.

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