They called her Thumbelina. That was because she was no bigger than
the woman's thumb.
And where do you think she slept? A little walnut shell, lined with
blue, that was her cradle.
When she slept little Thumbelina lay in her cradle on a tiny heap of
violets, with the petal of a pale pink rose to cover her.
And where do you think she played? A table was her playground. On the
table the woman placed a plate of water. Little Thumbelina called that
her lake.
Round the plate were scented flowers, the blossoms lying on the edge,
while the pale green stalks reached thirstily down to the water.
In the lake floated a large tulip leaf. This was Thumbelina's little
boat. Seated there she sailed from side to side of her little lake,
rowing cleverly with two white horse hairs. As she rowed backwards and
forwards she sang softly to herself. The woman listening heard, and
thought she had never known so sweet a song.
And now such a sad thing happened.
In through the broken window-pane hopped a big toad, oh! such an
ugly big toad. She hopped right on to the table, where Thumbelina lay
dreaming in her tiny cradle, under the pale pink rose leaf.
She peeped at her, this ugly old toad.
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