Words Have Power, How Do You Use Yours

Toads & Diamonds

 Once upon a time there was a widow who had two daughters. The elder was just like her mother in the face and in manner, and both were so disagreeable and so rude that there was no living with them. The younger took after her father, who had been kind and sweet-tempered, and she was very beautiful as well. As people naturally love those in whom they see themselves, this mother was foolishly fond of her elder daughter, and at the same time had a deep dislike of the younger. She made her eat in the kitchen and work from daylight till dark.

Among the other tasks, the child was forced to go twice a day to a spring over a mile and a half from the house and bring home a heavy clay pitcher full of water. One morning as she stood resting by the fountain, an old woman hobbled up to her and begged for a drink. "Oh yes, with all my heath, ma'am," said the kind girl, and rinsing out her pitcher, caught the clear, cool water as it bubbled forth from the rock and gave it to her, holding up the pitcher all the while that the woman might drink more easily.

Refreshed by the sweet water, the beggar leaned on her staff and said "You are so good and thoughtful, my dear, that I will reward you." For this was a fairy who had taken on the form of a shabby old cripple to see whether the girl was as sweet as she looked. "I will give you for gift" continued the fairy, "at every word you speak there shall come out of your mouth either a flower or a jewel."

When the girl reached home her mother scolded her for staying so long at the fountain. "Please forgive me, mother," pleaded the child. As she spoke there fell from her lips a rose, two pears, and a sparking diamond. "What is this I see?" cried the mother, quite astonished. "Am I bewitched or did I really see pears and a diamond fall from your mouth? What does it mean, my child?" This was the first time she ever spoken to her younger daughter so tenderly.

The girl told her all that had happen, and at every word a ruby, an emerald, a sapphire, or a lovely flower fell from her lips. "This is wonderful!" declared the mother. "I must send your sister to the fountain. Fanny, come here! See, my precious, what comes out of your sister's mouth when she speaks. Would you like to have the same gift given to you? You need only go to the fountain, and when a poor old

woman asks you for a drink; give it to her very politely. "Do I look like a servant?" asked the rude girl. "Why should I carry a heavy pitcher to the spring for water?" "You should go, you bold child," snapped her mother, "at once."

So away she went, grumbling all the way, carrying the best silver tankard in the house. As she stood by the fountain she was coming out of the woods a splendidly dressed woman, who approached her and gently asked for a drink. This was, you must know, the very same fairy who had appeared to her sister, but had now taken on the form and dress of a lady, to see just how far this young woman's rudeness would go. "And why should I draw water for you?" was the girls saucy reply. "Here is the pitcher, you can stoop down and draw the water for yourself, if you so choose." "Your manners leave much to be desired," said the fairy in a quiet voice. "Well, then, since you are so insolent and unkind, I give you the gift, that at every word you speak shall come out of your mouth a snake or a toad."

As soon as her mother saw her favorite coming, she held out her hands to catch the jewels, crying speak." "Speak what?" answered the girl. And with those words there dropped from her mouth a toad and a viper. "Oh mercy on us," gasped the mother, "it is that wretch, your sister, who caused this." And seizing a stick, she ran to beat her. Hearing this, the poor child fled into the forest to hide.

The king's son, riding through the woods, heard sobbing and found her crying in a hawthorn thicket. "My pretty maid." he said, leaning from his saddle, "why are you here alone with night coming on?" "Oh sir," replied the girl, "my mother had me turned out." And as she told the whole story the prince, who had already fallen in love with her beauty, saw all manner of flowers and jewels slip from her lips. Considering with himself that such a gift was far greater than any marriage portion he might receive from a princess, he lifted her onto his horse and took her to the royal palace. There they were married amid great rejoicing.

As for the sister, she was so hateful that her own mother finally turned her out. The miserable girl wandered about for a while without finding any one willing to take her in. At last retreated to a corner of the woods, and there died.

 This tale, it is part of the collection of French folklore published

by Charles Perrault in 1697