IIn Memoriam

     There was once a king who had seven sons. 

The king's wife died after her children were

born. So the poor king raised his children

without a mother to take care of them.

   The seven brothers grew up very quickly and were soon the most handsome boys in the kingdom.    The king loved his seven sons very much and he wanted them to be married lovely princesses.    "Now, children," said the king. "I want you all to get married and have a family."    "We are still too young, father, to get married," said Andy, the youngest.    "Tomorrow morning, I want each of you to go hunting for a lovely bride," said the king. "I will give each of you a bow and an arrow. Whoever comes back first shall report to me what he has found," said the king.    So the seven sons packed and got ready to go on their little journey.    They came to a small part in the forest and each one decided to go his own way. The brothers kissed each other and wished each other good luck.    Andy came to a small pond and got off the horse to shoot his arrow and to see where it would land. The arrow landed in a small pond which was filled with frogs and lily pads.    Andy put his hand into the water to pull out the arrow but he only touched the head of a green frog who was looking at him with big ugly round eyes.    "What are you doing, young boy?" asked the frog.    "It is none of your business," answered Andy. "What are you doing with my arrow?" asked Andy.    "Is this your arrow, young boy?" asked the frog, still looking at Andy.    "Yes, it is," Andy shouted at the frog who was making him angry.    "If you are not polite I will not give you back your arrow. Understand?" said the frog. "Now, who are you, and what are you doing with a bow and arrow in your hands?" asked the frog.    "My name is Andy and I am the son of a king. My father sent me out looking for a lovely bride," said Andy.    "How many brothers to you have?" asked the frog who was swimming in the water.    "I have six brothers," answered Andy. "    "I will help you find a lovely bride," said the frog.    "How can you help me? You are only a frog. You can't do anything," said Andy.    "Do you want me to help you?" asked the frog.    "Yes," answered Andy.    "Then do what I tell you. Tonight, when you get home put out a bucket or warm buttermilk outside the door so that I can take a bath in it," said the frog.    "Why do you need a bucket of buttermilk?" asked Andy.    "You ask too many questions for a young boy," said the frog. "Do not forget what I told you," said the frog.    So Andy went back to the palace and told the king what he found. When it was dark outside Andy poured some buttermilk into the bucket and put it outside for the frog.    Only a few minutes later there was a splash and Andy crept outside to see who it was. He found the frog swimming in the bucket and then it got out and dried itself with a towel. The frog then took off its skin and laid it down on the ground where the bucket was. As it did so, it disappeared and in its place stood a girl.    Because the frog was a lovely girl who was bewitched by a magic spell. At night it would take off the frog skin and be a girl. In the morning the girl would return to be a frog again.    Night after night the frog would arrive and take its bath in the bucket of buttermilk. Andy didn't know about the frog who was really a girl. The girl would bake cakes and get dinner ready for him to eat when he returned home from his father's palace.    For many days, the frog remained at Andy's home cooking and cleaning and making dinner for Andy to eat.    Andy took some to the palace for his father to eat.    "Who has baked these lovely cakes, son?" asked the king.    "I don't know, father," said Andy. "These are the most wonderful cakes that I have ever eaten in my whole life," said the king, eating another one.    The next night the frog arrived and began to do the washing and cooking for Andy. When Andy came, he found the skin outside and took it and threw it in the fire.    And the girl's spell was broken.