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Снегурочка (Snowmaiden)
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, a peasant woman
looked out the window of her cottage to watch the village
children play in the snow. She did this often because, although
she led a very happy life with her husband, there was still a
longing in her heart. The woman and her husband had no children
of their own, and their biggest wish was to one day be able to
watch their own child play in the snow.
The husband one day suggested to his wife that they should go
outside and build a snowman, instead of sitting in the house all
day. The wife agreed, but wanted instead to build a girl - a
snowmaiden. The couple spent that whole day carefully building
and molding a snowmaiden. They inserted two bright blue beads
for eyes, and a bright red ribbon for her mouth. Then they stood
back to look at their beautiful creation. As they watched they
noticed something, it looked as if the snowmaiden was smiling.
The couple then realized that she was coming to life. After she
smiled her hair curled up and she walked into the house. The
peasant couple finally had a daughter of their own!
Snowmaiden grew to be beautiful. Her eyes gleamed bright blue
and her flaxen hair hung down to her waist. Snowmaiden was
however very pale, with no color in her cheeks or lips, but this
did not make her any less beautiful.
As winter melted into spring, and the weather started getting
warmer, Snowmaiden started to behave strangely. She no longer
wanted to go outside to play with the other children, and she
began to hide in the dark places of the house. The husband and
wife began to worry about her.
Soon summer came and Snowmaiden was more withdrawn than ever.
One day her friends asked her to join them on a trip into the
woods to pick berries. Snowmaiden was reluctant to join, but at
the persistence of her parents went along. In the woods
Snowmaiden was sure to stay in the shade. When nightfall came
her friends built a fire, and played games jumping over it.
Snowmaiden, however, sat by an icy river. Her friends called to
her to join their games, but Snowmaiden did not want to go. But
as the night went on Snowmaiden grew very lonely by herself at
the river, and decided to join their games. "Jump over the fire!"
her friends yelled at her. Snowmaiden took a step, ran towards
the fire, jumped, and melted away. The poor peasant couple were
once again childless. |
