Graham's Magazine, Vol. XL, No. 3, March 1852

A gentle young woman, beloved by all, receives an unusual gift from a nearby witch—a single barley seed that sprouts into a bright tulip. When the flower opens, a tiny maiden no larger than an inch emerges, whom the lady names Ellise. Nestled in a walnut‑shell cradle and sailing on a leaf with hair‑thin oars, the delicate Ellise sings and plays, filling the house with wonder.

One night a hideous toad slips through a broken window, claiming the little maiden as a bride for its monstrous son. The toad whiskes Ellise away on a floating leaf, setting her on a solitary island in a marshy stream while its son clumsily attempts to court her. Isolated and frightened, Ellise weeps, and the creatures of the water watch her plight, hinting that help may be near.