Toads and Diamonds

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.