"Donottalksoloudoryouwillwakeher,"saidtheoldtoad; "shemightescapeusyet,forsheisaslightasthistledown! Wewillputherononeofthebroadwater-lilyleavesoutinthestream; itwillbejustlikeanislandtoher,sheissosmallandlight. Shewon'tbeabletorunawayfromtherewhilewegetthestateroomreadydownunderthemud,whichyouaretoinhabit." Agreatmanywaterliliesgrewinthestream,theirbroadgreenleaveslookedasiftheywerefloatingonthesurfaceofthewater. Theleafwhichwasfarthestfromtheshorewasalsothebiggest,andtothisonetheoldtoadswamout,withthewalnutshellinwhichlittleThumbelisalay. Thepoor,tinycreaturewokeupquiteearlyinthemorning,andwhenshesawwhereshewas,shebegantocrymostbitterly, fortherewaswateroneverysideofthebiggreenleaf,andshecouldnotreachthelandatanypoint. Theoldtoadsatinthemuddeckingoutherabodewithgrassesandthebudsoftheyellowwaterlilies,soastohaveitveryniceforhernewdaughter-in-law, andthensheswamoutwithheruglysontotheleafwhereThumbelisastood; theywantedtofetchherprettybedtoplaceitinthebridalchamberbeforetheytookherthere. Theoldtoadmadeadeepcurtseyinthewaterbeforeher,andsaid,"Hereismyson,whoistobeyourhusband, andyouaretolivetogethermostcomfortablydowninthemud." "Koax,koax,brekke-ke-kex,"wasallthesoncouldsay. Thentheytooktheprettylittlebedandswamawaywithit, butThumbelisasatquitealoneonthegreenleafandcriedbecauseshedidnotwanttolivewiththeuglytoad,orhaveherhorridsonforahusband. Thelittlefishwhichswamaboutinthewaterhadnodoubtseenthetoadandheardwhatshesaid, sotheystucktheirheadsup,wishing,Isuppose,toseethelittlegirl. Assoonastheysawher,theyweredelightedwithher,andwerequitegrievedtothinkthatshewastogodowntolivewiththeuglytoad. No,thatshouldneverhappen. Theyflockedtogetherdowninthewaterroundaboutthegreenstemwhichheldtheleafshestoodupon, andgnawedatitwiththeirteeth,tillitfloatedawaydownthestream,carryingThumbelisaawaywherethetoadcouldnotfollowher. Thumbelisasailedpastplaceafterplace,andthelittlebirdsinthebushessawherandsang,"Whatalovelylittlemaid." Theleafwithheronitfloatedfartherandfartheraway,andinthismannerreachedforeignlands. 
