One fine evening a young princess put on her bonnet and clogs, andwent out to take a walk by herself in a wood; and when she came toa cool spring of water, that rose in the midst of it, she satherself down to rest a while. Now she had a golden ball in herhand, which was her favorite plaything; and she was always tossingit up into the air, and catching it again as it fell. After a timeshe threw it up so high that she missed catching it as it fell; andthe ball bounded away, and rolled along upon the ground, till at lastit fell down into the spring. The princess looked into the springafter her ball, but it was very deep, so deep that she could not seethe bottom of it. Then she began to bewail her loss, and said, «Alas! ifI could only get my ball again, I would give all my fine clothes andjewels, and everything that I have in the world.»
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