ifithadbeenyouori,oroneofourpeople,itwouldhavebeenalloverwithus."

imeantogoeveryday,"saidhe,"toseeifanythingcomestopass;"andsohedid.

alongtimewentby,butatlasthesawagreenstalkshootingupoutofthedeep,marshyground.asitreachedthesurfaceofthemarsh,aleafspreadout,andunfoldeditselfbroaderandbroader,andclosetoitcameforthabud.

onemorning,whenthestork-papawasflyingoverthestem,hesawthatthepowerofthesun'srayshadcausedthebudtoopen,andinthecupoftheflowerlayacharmingchild-alittlemaiden,lookingasifshehadjustcomeoutofabath.thelittleonewassoliketheegyptianprincess,thatthestork,atthefirstmoment,thoughtitmustbetheprincessherself,butafteralittlereflectionhedecidedthatitwasmuchmorelikelytobethedaughteroftheprincessandthemarshking;andthisexplainedalsoherbeingplacedinthecupofawater-lily."butshecannotbelefttoliehere,"thoughtthestork,"andinmynesttherearealreadysomany.butstay,ihavethoughtofsomething:thewifeofthevikinghasnochildren,andhowoftenshehaswishedforalittleone.peoplealwayssaythestorkbringsthelittleones;iwilldosoinearnestthistime.ishallflywiththechildtotheviking'swife;whatrejoicingtherewillbe!"

andthenthestorkliftedthelittlegirloutoftheflower-cup,flewtothecastle,pickedaholewithhisbeakinthebladder-covered,window,andlaidthebeautifulchildinthebosomoftheviking'swife.thenheflewbackquicklytothestork-mammaandtoldherwhathehadseenanddone;andthelittlestorkslistenedtoitall,fortheywerethenquiteoldenoughtodoso."soyousee,"hecontinued,"thattheprincessisnotdead,forshemusthavesentherlittleoneuphere;andnowihavefoundahomeforher."

"ah,isaiditwouldbesofromthefirst,"repliedthestork-mamma;"butnowthinkalittleofyourownfamily.ourtravellingtimedrawsnear,andisometimesfeelalittleirritationalreadyunderthewings.thecuckoosandthenightingalearealreadygone,andiheardthequailssaytheyshouldgotooassoonasthewindwasfavorable.ouryoungsterswillgothroughallthemanoeuvresatthereviewverywell,oriammuchmistakeninthem."

theviking'swifewasabovemeasuredelightedwhensheawokethenextmorningandfoundthebeautifullittlechildlyinginherbosom.shekisseditandcaressedit;butitcriedterribly,andstruckoutwithitsarmsandlegs,anddidnotseemtobepleasedatall.atlastitcrieditselftosleep;andasitlaytheresostillandquiet,itwasamostbeautifulsighttosee.theviking'swifewassodelighted,thatbodyandsoulwerefullofjoy.herheartfeltsolightwithinher,thatitseemedasifherhusbandandhissoldiers,whowereabsent,mustcomehomeassuddenlyandunexpectedlyasthelittlechildhaddone.sheandherwholehouseholdthereforebusiedthemselvesinpreparingeverythingforthereceptionofherlong,coloredtapestry,onwhichsheandhermaidenshadworkedpicturesoftheiridols,odin,thor,andfriga,washungup.theslavespolishedtheoldshieldsthatservedasornaments;cushionswereplacedontheseats,anddrywoodlaidonthefireplacesinthecentreofthehall,sothattheflamesmightbefannedupatamoment'snotice.theviking'swifeherselfassistedinthework,sothatatnightshefeltverytired,andquicklyfellintoasoundsleep.whensheawoke,justbeforemorning,shewasterriblyalarmedtofindthattheinfanthadvanished.shesprangfromhercouch,lightedapine-chip,andsearchedallroundtheroom,when,atlast,inthatpartofthebedwhereherfeethadbeen,lay,notthechild,butagreat,uglyfrog.shewasquitedisgustedatthissight,andseizedaheavysticktokillthefrog;butthecreaturelookedatherwithsuchstrange,mournfuleyes,thatshewasunabletostriketheblow.oncemoreshesearchedroundtheroom;thenshestartedathearingthefrogutteralow,painfulcroak.shesprangfromthecouchandopenedthewindowhastily;atthesamemomentthesunrose,andthrewitsbeamsthroughthewindow,tillitrestedonthecouchwherethegreatfroglay.suddenlyitappearedasifthefrog'sbroadmouthcontracted,andbecamesmallandred.thelimbsmovedandstretchedoutandextendedthemselvestilltheytookabeautifulshape;andbeholdtherewastheprettychildlyingbeforeher,andtheuglyfrogwasgone."howisthis?"