Diamonds and Toads

A kind girl gives water to a poor old woman at the fountain, and the woman, who is really a fairy, makes roses, pearls and diamonds fall from her lips at every word. Her rude sister refuses a grand lady a drink and gets toads and little snakes instead, while the kind girl meets the King’s son and marries him.

Scene 1: Two Daughters

Diamonds and Toads. Once there was a widow who had two daughters. The elder was just like her mother, so proud and rude that nobody could live with them. The younger was kind and sweet, and very pretty. But her mother made her work all day. Twice a day, she carried a pitcher to a fountain, a mile and a half from the house.

Scene 2: With All My Heart

One day at the fountain, a poor old woman asked her for a drink. The girl said: “Oh yes, with all my heart!” She rinsed her pitcher, filled it from the clearest water, and held it up so the woman could drink easily. But the old woman was really a fairy! She said: “You are so good and so polite, I will give you a gift. At every word you speak, a flower or a jewel shall come out of your mouth.”

Scene 3: Two Roses, Two Pearls, Two Diamonds

When she came home, her mother scolded her for being slow. The girl said: “I beg your pardon, Mama, for not making more haste.” And out of her mouth came two roses, two pearls, and two diamonds! Her mother cried: “What is it I see? Pearls and diamonds! I must send my Fanny to the fountain too.” But Fanny said: “It would be a fine sight indeed, to see me go draw water!” Her mother said: “You shall go, and this minute!”

Scene 4: The Silver Tankard

So Fanny went, grumbling all the way, with the best silver tankard in the house. Out of the wood came a grand lady, dressed like a princess, and asked for a drink. It was the same fairy! But Fanny said: “Did I come all this way to serve you water? You may drink out of it, if you like.” The fairy did not get angry. She said: “You are not very polite. So at every word you speak, a toad or a little snake shall come out of your mouth.”

Scene 5: Well, Mother?

When Fanny came home, her mother called: “Well, daughter?” Fanny answered: “Well, Mother?” And out hopped two toads and two little snakes! Her mother cried: “Oh, mercy! This is all her sister’s fault!” She ran at the younger girl in a rage. The poor girl ran away and hid in the forest.

Scene 6: The King’s Son

The King’s son, riding home from hunting, found her there crying and asked her why. She said: “Alas, sir, my mama has turned me out of doors.” As she spoke, pearls and diamonds fell from her lips! She told him the whole story. The King’s son loved her. He took her to his father’s palace and married her. As for the rude sister, her own mother sent her away, and she went off alone into the forest. Kind words are worth more than diamonds.

Moral: Kind words are worth more than diamonds.

Questions about Diamonds and Toads

More stories to read aloud

• Cinderella — Kind Cinderella works among the cinders for her proud stepmother and stepsisters, until her fairy godmother turns a pumpkin into a golden coach and sends her to the King’s son’s ball in glass slippers.
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears — While the Three Bears take a walk until their porridge cools, a little girl called Goldilocks walks into their house and tries their porridge, chairs and beds.
• Hansel and Gretel — Left in the forest, Hansel and Gretel find their way home by moonlit white pebbles, but the next time birds eat their breadcrumbs and they come to a house of bread and cake.