The Frog and the Well – A German Folk Tale about Friendship and Mutual Help
The German folk tale "The Frog and the Well" tells the story of how a frog helps a girl retrieve water from a deep well, and they become true friends based on mutual assistance.
Brief Description:
The Frog and the Well is a German folk tale that tells how a frog helped a girl fetch water from a deep well. Their meeting led to true friendship, built on mutual help.
In a small village, there lived a little girl. Every morning, she would go to the well to fetch water for her family. The well was old and deep, and the bucket was heavy. One day, while drawing water, the girl accidentally dropped her bucket into the well. She cried, not knowing what to do. Without water, her family could not survive.
The frog, who lived nearby, heard the girl's crying. He jumped over to the well and asked: — Why are you crying, little girl? Perhaps I can help you? — Oh, dear frog, — replied the girl. — I dropped my bucket into the well, and without it, I cannot fetch water. — Don’t worry, — said the frog. — I will fetch your bucket if you promise to be my friend and share your food with me.
The girl thought for a moment but agreed. — Alright, frog, I promise to be your friend. Please, help me.
The frog jumped into the well and soon returned, holding the bucket in his hands. The girl was delighted and thanked the frog. She filled the bucket with water and went home. However, just as the girl was about to leave, the frog stopped her. — Don’t forget your promise, — he reminded her. — We are now friends.
The next day, the girl came to the well again, and the frog was already waiting for her. He said: — Today, I will help you carry the water. You promised to be my friend. The girl smiled and took the frog with her. The frog turned out to be cheerful and kind, and soon the girl stopped seeing him as a strange creature. They became true friends.
Day after day, the frog helped the girl with the bucket, and the girl brought the frog treats and told him stories. Their friendship became so strong that the frog no longer lived by the well but moved into the girl’s garden.
Over time, the girl learned that the frog was no ordinary frog. He was an enchanted princess who could only be freed through true friendship. One day, when the girl brought him another treat, the frog said: — Thank you for your kindness. Thanks to our friendship, my curse has been broken. And right before the girl’s eyes, the frog turned into a beautiful young woman. She explained that she had once been cursed because of her pride, but the girl’s kindness had taught her the true meaning of friendship.
The princess thanked the girl and went back to her castle. However, she never forgot her friend. The girl became a frequent guest at the castle, and their friendship lasted many years.
The Moral of the Story:
The tale teaches that kindness and the willingness to help can create true friendship. Sometimes the most unusual encounters bring the most valuable lessons.
Questions for Children:
- Why did the frog decide to help the girl?
- How did the girl and the frog become friends?
- What lesson can we learn from this story?
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