Снігова королева
A Little Boy and a Little Girl
Justastheywereintheveryheightoftheiramusement,alargesledgepassedby: itwaspaintedquitewhite, andtherewassomeoneinitwrappedupinaroughwhitemantleoffur, witharoughwhitefurcaponhishead. Thesledgedroveroundthesquaretwice, andKaytiedonhissledgeasquicklyashecould, andoffhedrovewithit. Ontheywentquickerandquickerintothenextstreet; andthepersonwhodroveturnedroundtoKay,andnoddedtohiminafriendlymanner,justasiftheykneweachother. Everytimehewasgoingtountiehissledge, thepersonnoddedtohim,andthenKaysatquiet; andsoontheywenttilltheycameoutsidethegatesofthetown. Thenthesnowbegantofallsothickly thatthelittleboycouldnotseeanarm’slengthbeforehim,butstillonhewent: whensuddenlyheletgothestringheheldinhishandinordertogetloosefromthesledge, butitwasofnouse;stillthelittlevehiclerushedonwiththequicknessofthewind. Hethencriedasloudashecould, butnooneheardhim; thesnowdriftedandthesledgeflewon,andsometimesitgaveajerkasthoughtheyweredrivingoverhedgesandditches. Hewasquitefrightened,andhetriedtorepeattheLord’sPrayer; butallhecoulddo,hewasonlyabletorememberthemultiplicationtable.
Thesnow-flakesgrewlargerandlarger,tillatlasttheylookedjustlikegreatwhitefowls. Suddenlytheyflewononeside; thelargesledgestopped,andthepersonwhodroveroseup. Itwasalady;hercloakandcapwereofsnow.Shewastallandofslenderfigure,andofadazzlingwhiteness.ItwastheSnowQueen.
"Wehavetravelledfast,"saidshe; "butitisfreezinglycold.Comeundermybearskin." Andsheputhiminthesledgebesideher, wrappedthefurroundhim, andhefeltasthoughheweresinkinginasnow-wreath.
