Снігова королева
Of the Flower-Garden At the Old Woman’s Who Unders
Whileshewaseating,theoldwomancombedherhairwithagoldencomb, andherhaircurledandshonewithalovelygoldencoloraroundthatsweetlittleface,whichwassoroundandsolikearose.
"Ihaveoftenlongedforsuchadearlittlegirl,"saidtheoldwoman. "Nowyoushallseehowwellweagreetogether"; andwhileshecombedlittleGerda’shair, thechildforgotherfoster-brotherKaymoreandmore, fortheoldwomanunderstoodmagic; butshewasnoevilbeing,sheonlypractisedwitchcraftalittleforherownprivateamusement, andnowshewantedverymuchtokeeplittleGerda. Shethereforewentoutinthegarden,stretchedouthercrookedsticktowardstherose-bushes, which,beautifullyastheywereblowing, allsankintotheearthandnoonecouldtellwheretheyhadstood. TheoldwomanfearedthatifGerdashouldseetheroses,shewouldthenthinkofherown,wouldrememberlittleKay,andrunawayfromher.
ShenowledGerdaintotheflower-garden. Oh,whatodourandwhatlovelinesswasthere! Everyflowerthatonecouldthinkof,andofeveryseason,stoodthereinfullestbloom;nopicture-bookcouldbegayerormorebeautiful. Gerdajumpedforjoy,andplayedtillthesunsetbehindthetallcherry-tree; shethenhadaprettybed,witharedsilkencoverletfilledwithblueviolets. Shefellasleep,andhadaspleasantdreamsaseveraqueenonherwedding-day.
Thenextmorningshewenttoplaywiththeflowersinthewarmsunshine,andthuspassedawayaday. Gerdakneweveryflower;and,numerousastheywere, itstillseemedtoGerdathatonewaswanting,thoughshedidnotknowwhich.
