Снігова королева
Of the Flower-Garden At the Old Woman’s Who Unders
"Betweenthetreesalongboardishanging—itisaswing. Twolittlegirlsaresittinginit,andswingthemselvesbackwardsandforwards;theirfrocksareaswhiteassnow,andlonggreensilkribandsflutterfromtheirbonnets. Theirbrother,whoisolderthantheyare,standsupintheswing;hetwineshisarmsroundthecordstoholdhimselffast,forinonehandhehasalittlecup,andintheotheraclay-pipe. Heisblowingsoap-bubbles.Theswingmoves,andthebubblesfloatincharmingchangingcolors:thelastisstillhangingtotheendofthepipe,androcksinthebreeze.Theswingmoves. Thelittleblackdog,aslightasasoap-bubble,jumpsuponhishindlegstotrytogetintotheswing.Itmoves,thedogfallsdown,barks,andisangry.Theyteasehim;thebubblebursts!Aswing,aburstingbubble—suchismysong!"
"Whatyourelatemaybeverypretty,butyoutellitinsomelancholyamanner,anddonotmentionKay."
WhatdotheHyacinthssay?
"Therewereonceuponatimethreesisters,quitetransparent,andverybeautiful.Therobeoftheonewasred,thatofthesecondblue,andthatofthethirdwhite.Theydancedhandinhandbesidethecalmlakeintheclearmoonshine. Theywerenotelfinmaidens,butmortalchildren.Asweetfragrancewassmelt,andthemaidensvanishedinthewood;thefragrancegrewstronger— threecoffins,andinthemthreelovelymaidens,glidedoutoftheforestandacrossthelake:theshiningglow-wormsflewaroundlikelittlefloatinglights. Dothedancingmaidenssleep,oraretheydead?Theodouroftheflowerssaystheyarecorpses;theeveningbelltollsforthedead!"
