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One fine evening a young princess put on her bonnet and clogs,

and went out to take a walk by herself in a wood; and when she

came to a cool spring of water, that rose in the midst of it, she

sat herself down to rest a while. Now she had a golden ball in

her hand, which was her favourite plaything; and she was always

tossing it up into the air, and catching it again as it fell.

After a time she threw it up so high that she missed catching it

as it fell; and the ball bounded away, and rolled along upon the

ground, till at last it fell down into the spring. The princess

looked into the spring after her ball, but it was very deep, so

deep that she could not see the bottom of it. Then she began to

bewail her loss, and said, 'Alas! if I could only get my ball

again, I would give all my fine clothes and jewels, and

everything that I have in the world.'