Снігова королева
The Lapland Woman and the Finland Woman
"’TistruelittleKayisattheSnowQueen’s,andfindseverythingtherequitetohistaste;andhethinksittheverybestplaceintheworld; butthereasonofthatis,hehasasplinterofglassinhiseye,andinhisheart. Thesemustbegotoutfirst;otherwisehewillnevergobacktomankind,andtheSnowQueenwillretainherpoweroverhim."
"ButcanyougivelittleGerdanothingtotakewhichwillendueherwithpoweroverthewhole?"
"Icangivehernomorepowerthanwhatshehasalready."Don’tyouseehowgreatitis? Don’tyouseehowmenandanimalsareforcedtoserveher;howwellshegetsthroughtheworldbarefooted?Shemustnothearofherpowerfromus; thatpowerliesinherheart,becausesheisasweetandinnocentchild! IfshecannotgettotheSnowQueenbyherself,andridlittleKayoftheglass,wecannothelpher. TwomileshencethegardenoftheSnowQueenbegins;thitheryoumaycarrythelittlegirl. Setherdownbythelargebushwithredberries,standinginthesnow;don’tstaytalking,buthastenbackasfastaspossible. "AndnowtheFinlandwomanplacedlittleGerdaontheReindeer’sback,andoffheranwithallimaginablespeed.
"Oh!Ihavenotgotmyboots!Ihavenotbroughtmygloves!"criedlittleGerda.Sheremarkedshewaswithoutthemfromthecuttingfrost; buttheReindeerdarednotstandstill;onherantillhecametothegreatbushwiththeredberries, andtherehesetGerdadown,kissedhermouth,whilelargebrighttearsflowedfromtheanimal’seyes,andthenbackhewentasfastaspossible. TherestoodpoorGerdanow,withoutshoesorgloves,intheverymiddleofdreadfulicyFinland.
