Снігова королева
A Little Boy and a Little Girl
Theflakeofsnowgrewlargerandlarger; andatlastitwaslikeayounglady, dressedinthefinestwhitegauze, madeofamillionlittleflakeslikestars. Shewassobeautifulanddelicate, butshewasofice,ofdazzling,sparklingice; yetshelived; hereyesgazedfixedly,liketwostars; buttherewasneitherquietnorreposeinthem. Shenoddedtowardsthewindow,andbeckonedwithherhand. Thelittleboywasfrightened,andjumpeddownfromthechair; itseemedtohimasif,atthesamemoment,alargebirdflewpastthewindow.
Thenextdayitwasasharpfrost —andthenthespringcame; thesunshone,thegreenleavesappeared,theswallowsbuilttheirnests, thewindowswereopened,andthelittlechildrenagainsatintheirprettygarden, highupontheleadsatthetopofthehouse.
Thatsummertherosesfloweredinunwontedbeauty. Thelittlegirlhadlearnedahymn,inwhichtherewassomethingaboutroses; andthenshethoughtofherownflowers; andshesangtheversetothelittleboy,whothensangitwithher: "Theroseinthevalleyisbloomingsosweet,Andangelsdescendtherethechildrentogreet." Andthechildrenheldeachotherbythehand,kissedtheroses,lookedupattheclearsunshine,andspokeasthoughtheyreallysawangelsthere. Whatlovelysummer-daysthosewere! Howdelightfultobeoutintheair,nearthefreshrose-bushes,thatseemasiftheywouldneverfinishblossoming!
