Diamonds and Frogs
Once upon a time, there was a fisherman and his wife. They had a little girl named Lina. The fisherman went to the riverbank every day, but he only returned with a few coins for his family.
One good day, as he was setting his fishing net, he looked to one side and saw a baby on a giant leaf floating down the river.
— Oh, dear! What is this baby doing floating here on the river? I'd better get her out of the water, so she doesn't drown.
The fisherman gently took the child and brought her home to his wife.
— My dear, this child was floating on a leaf in the water. I had to save her and bring her home.
— We already have a daughter. How do you think we'll manage to raise her?
The little girl was named Fiona. The fisherman loved her just as much as his own daughter. Over the years, Lina and Fiona grew into two beautiful girls. While Lina resembled her mother, Fiona was kind and loving, like her father.
Fiona's Curse
The fisherman fell ill and died. Fiona was heartbroken.
— You brought us bad luck! You are bad luck!
Soon, her mother's dislike for her grew even stronger. She started treating her like a servant and excluding her from the family. She made her eat alone in the kitchen and work continuously.
Besides her daily chores, Fiona went twice a day to fetch water, nearly 3 kilometers from home, and bring back a full pitcher.
One day, she went to the well and stood there crying bitterly. Then, a poor woman came and said to her:
— Oh, beautiful girl, may I please drink from your pitcher? I am very thirsty.
— Yes, of course.
Fiona wiped away her tears, poured water for the poor woman, always tilting the pitcher so the woman could drink easily. The woman, after drinking the water, said:
— You are so good and kind, that I cannot help but give you a gift. From now on, whenever something moves you and takes the form of tears, they will turn into diamonds and pearls.
The poor woman was actually a fairy, and as soon as she clasped her hands, she transformed into a fairy. Fiona was speechless. Unable to believe her eyes, Fiona sat down, but the fairy smiled and disappeared.
Lina's Curse
Fiona arrived home and found her mother angry again.
— How dare you be so late from the well? Don't you know Lina and I are thirsty? Go to the kitchen immediately!
— Sorry, Mother!
As soon as she entered the kitchen, she put the pitcher down and began to cry bitterly. And just as the fairy had promised, her tears turned into diamonds and pearls that slid down her cheeks. Her mother entered the kitchen and saw her crying diamonds and pearls.
— What do I see here? Pearls and diamonds are flowing down your cheeks. How can this be?
Fiona explained what had happened while she was at the well, and her mother was stunned.
— Lina! You must go to the well immediately! Wouldn't you be happy, my dear, to have the same gift? You just have to go fetch water from the well, and when a poor woman asks you to let her drink, you give her water very politely, and soon you too will have as many diamonds and pearls as you wish.
— As you say, Mother!
— Very well! Now go at once!
Lina went to the well, taking with her the good silver pitcher from the house. As she was drawing water from the well, she saw a beautifully dressed lady who came out of the forest, approached her, and asked her for water.
— Oh, beautiful girl, may I please drink from your pitcher?
— Did I come all this way just to serve you? This silver pitcher was probably brought specifically for your ladyship, wasn't it?
— You are not very polite. Therefore, because you are so unfriendly and mean, I curse you so that every time you speak, you will only croak like a frog.
Lina, wanting to stop her, croaked. Realizing it was too late, Lina began to cry, and when she cried, all that could be heard was a croak.
— My daughter! What is that sound you're making?
Lina wanted to speak, but only croaked.
— She's been cursed! My daughter has been cursed! Oh, woe is me! You are the one who caused all this, and you will pay for everything when the time comes. Go outside and bring wood! Lina is hungry!
Fiona was hurt, and as she ran out of the house, she left pearls and diamonds in her wake.
Princess Fiona
In the morning, when Fiona was alone near the barn, she began to sing:
— A beautiful day today will be, a beautiful day I hope. Take away my pain, take away my suffering, and fulfill my wish.
Just then, a prince was passing by and saw her from a distance, barely able to see her clearly. The prince smiled. He was enchanted by her beautiful voice. Fiona went inside, unaware that the prince had seen her. The prince could no longer bear not seeing her face. He ordered his guards to wait and went to Fiona's house to see her.
— Good day, Sire! What brings you here?
— I saw a girl near the barn, with such a beautiful and angelic voice, that I fell in love with her. Who is she?
— Well, she is my daughter. I'll go fetch her at once. Lina! Quickly take your sister's clothes and go outside, a prince wants to see you!
— Oh, you have such a beautiful voice! It has set my heart ablaze. I wish for you to become my wife. It would bring me great joy if you would sing for me again, so I can preserve the essence of your beautiful voice in this seashell for my mother to hear and give her consent for our wedding.
Lina, excited, tried to sing, but only croaked.
— What kind of mockery is this? Are you insulting me? Guards! Seize her and take her away immediately!
— Oh, Prince, please forgive my sister! She is cursed so that every time she wants to speak, she croaks like a frog. I was the one singing near the barn.
The prince was fascinated to see Fiona, but wanted to make sure he wasn't being tricked.
— Would you like to sing for me?
— Oh, Prince, forgive my sister, for she is cursed. I was the one singing. She has enough troubles, the poor girl. I beg you, great Prince, forgive her!
The prince was impressed by her voice.
— Your voice is as beautiful as you are, and it shows that you surely have a good heart too. I would be very happy to make you my princess.
— Forgive me, Sire, I must refuse, because it is my sister's dream to marry a prince.
— What? I won't marry a lying frog!
Fiona knelt and looked at the sky.
— Oh, magical fairy, please come and help me and give my blessing to my sister. I am ready to take her curse upon myself, so that she may fulfill her dream of marrying a prince.
Seeing her pray for her, Lina ran and embraced her sister, crying and sobbing. Then the fairy appeared before them.
— I see you have learned your lesson. I will lift your curse, and now, whenever you wish to speak, the most beautiful voice will be heard from you.
The fairy waved her wand, and Lina was enveloped in magic, just as her sister had been.
— Thank you very much! I am grateful for this gift!
The fairy smiled, waved her magic wand, and disappeared.
The Happy Ending
— I wish to marry you, Fiona, because I have fallen in love with your kind and forgiving heart. As for your sister, my younger brother would be happy to take her as his wife and will make her very happy.
Fiona was very delighted by the prince's proposal, and they decided to get married. A grand wedding was held, and both sisters were married. People from all over the kingdom were invited. However, not the girls' mother.
A year passed, and the kingdom rejoiced at the birth of a small and beautiful princess. Fiona held the little princess in her arms. When the little princess cried for the first time, a tear slid down her cheek and turned into a sparkling diamond.
Goodness had triumphed once again.
