Atondido Stories
“I don’t want to see Kachenka again,” poor Kubik said to
himself. “Twice I’ve brought back the best betrothal gift and
each time I’ve got a beating for it. I wonder what they would say
if I brought home a frog for a bride! Then they would have
something to laugh at!”
So he took a different path through the forest but again he
hadn’t gone far before the old frog hopped up in front of him.
This time Kubik turned and ran. The old frog called after him
but the louder she called the faster he ran.
He ran on and on until suddenly a great snake stopped him.
The snake reared high its head, then dropped into a coil. Again it
reared up and swayed from side to side threatening to strike if
Kubik went on. So Kubik saw that fate was determined that he
should marry a frog and reluctantly he turned back.
The snake led him to the cliff, where the old frog greeted him
kindly and thanked the snake for his faithful service.
Poor Kubik! He was very tired and very unhappy. When you
come to think of it, who wouldn’t be unhappy at the prospect of
being united for life to a frog?
Kubik was so tired that presently he fell asleep and it was
just as well he did, for at least in dreams he could forget his trou-
bles.
The next morning when he woke and rubbed his eyes, he
found himself lying on a soft feather bed, white as snow, in a
splendid room with decorations that were fit for a king. A fine
silken shirt lay spread out on a chair beside the bed and beyond
the chair was a stand with a silver basin. When he got up attend-
ants came running in carrying clothes of richly woven cloth of
gold. They dressed
Kubik and they combed his hair until they had him looking
like a young prince. Then they brought him breakfast and there
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