The snow queen

History first,
In which it is told about a mirror and its splinters.

Well, we will begin! Having reached the end of our history, we will know more than now. And so, there lived-was the troll, a malicious-very evil, real devil. Time was it in especially good mood: has made such mirror in which all kind and fine decreased further there is no place, and all bad and ugly and stuck out, became still гаже. The finest landscapes looked in it boiled spinach, and best of people - ugly creatures, or it seemed, as if there are they up feet, and stomachs at them at all are not present! Persons were deformed so, as not to learn, and if who had a freckle be покойны - it crept away both on a nose and on lips. And if at the person the kind thought was, it was reflected in a mirror by such grimace, that the troll and rolled with laughter, rejoicing to the artful invention.

Pupils of the troll - and it had a school - told everything, that the miracle was created: now only, they spoke, it is possible to see all world and people in their true light. They ran everywhere with a mirror, and soon does not remain any country, any person which would not be reflected in it in the deformed kind.

At last it wanted to them to reach and the sky. The above they rose, the the mirror so they hardly kept it in hands more strongly wriggled. But here they have flied up absolutely highly as suddenly a mirror before перекорежило from grimaces, that it was pulled out at them from hands, has departed on the earth and has broken into millions, trillions of splinters so has occurred even more troubles. Some splinters, about a grain of sand in size, scattering on белу to light, got to people to eyes, yes so there and remained. And the person with such splinter in an eye started to see all topsy-turvy or to notice in each thing only bad - after all each splinter kept property of all mirror. To some people splinters got directly to heart, and it was more terrible in total heart became as an ice piece. Were among Splinters and big - them have inserted into window frames, and in these windows it is not necessary to look at the kind friends. At last, there were also such splinters which have gone on points, and the harm was, if such points put on better to see and correctly to judge things.

The malicious troll overstrained from laughter - so its this invention amused. And on light more many splinters flied. We will listen about them!

History the second.
The boy and the girl.

In the big city where it is so much houses and people, what not the place at least on a small garden that is why the majority of inhabitants should be content with window plants in pots suffices all, there lived two poor children, and the garden at them was hardly more flowerpot. They were not the brother and sister, but loved each other, as the brother and sister.

Their parents lived in closets under a roof in two next houses. Roofs of houses converged, and between them the gutter lasted. Here against each other garret windows from each house also looked. It was necessary to step only through a trench, and it was possible to get from one window to another.

At parents was on the big wooden box, in them for seasonings and small pink bushes - on one the greens grew in each box, magnificently expanded. To parents has come to mind to put these boxes across a trench so from one window to another lasted as if two flower beds. Green garlands peas went down from boxes, pink bushes looked in windows and were weaved by branches. Parents allowed the boy and the girl to visit to each other on a roof and to sit on a small bench under roses. As it is wonderful it here it was played!

The winter put the end of this pleasure. Windows frequently absolutely froze, but children heated up copper coins on the furnace, put them to the frozen glasses, and now thawed a wonderful round aperture, and in it the cheerful tender eye looked out are looked, each of the window, the boy and the girl, Кай and Gerd. In the summer they one jump could come to be on a visit each other, and in winter it was necessary to go down at first on many steps downwards, and then to rise on as much upwards. On a court yard перепархивал a snowball.

- It white bees crowd! - the old grandmother spoke.

- And they too have a queen? - The boy asked. He knew, that the present bees have a such.

- Is! - the grandmother answered. - snowflakes surround with its dense plenty, but it is more than all of them and never sits down on the earth, eternally rushes in a black cloud. It often at night flies by on city streets and looks in windows, here because and they become covered by frosty patterns, as if colours.

- Saw, saw! - children spoke and believed, that all is plain truth.

- And here the Snow queen cannot enter? - The girl asked.

- Let only will try! - the boy answered. - I will plant it on a warm oven, here it and will thaw.

But the grandmother has stroked it on a head and has started conversation on other. In the evening when Кай there were houses and almost has absolutely undressed, going to lay down to sleep, it has scrambled on a chair at a window and has had a look in the circle which has thawed on a windowpane. Behind a window Snowflakes flitted. One of them has fallen to edge of a flower box, more, and has started to grow, grow, while at last has not turned to the woman who has been wrapped up in the most thin white tulle, weaved, appear, from millions snow asterisks. It was so is charming and gentle, but from ice, from is dazzling sparkling ice, and still the live! Its eyes shone, as two clear stars, but there was no in them neither warmth, nor a rest. She has nodded to the boy and has beckoned his hand. Кай was frightened and has jumped off from a chair. And by a window something has flown similar to the big bird.

For other day it was clear and frosty, but thaw, and there has then come and the spring has come. The sun has begun to shine, has appeared greens, built nests of a swallow. Windows have dissolved, and children again could sit in the garden in a gutter over all floors.

Roses in that summer blossomed magnificently, as never. Children sang, having joined hands, kissed roses and rejoiced to the sun. Ah, what wonderful stood summer as it was good under pink bushes which, appear, to blossom and blossom eternally!

Somehow time Кай also It is proud sat and considered the book with pictures - animals and birds. On the big tower clock has punched five.

- Ah! - has screamed suddenly Кай. - Me has pricked directly in heart, and something has got to an eye!

The girl has twisted with a hand his neck, he often-often blinked, but in an eye as though was nothing.

- Should be, has jumped out, - he has told.

But it was not so. It were just splinters of that devil mirror about which we spoke in the beginning.

Poor thing Kaj! Now its heart should become as an ice piece. The pain has passed, but splinters remained.

- About what you cry? - He has asked to Gerd. - me it is completely not sick! Faugh, what you ugly! - he has suddenly shouted. - that rose is sharpened by a worm. And that absolutely curve. What disgusting roses! Not better boxes in which stick out.

And it has kicked a box ногою and has broken both roses.

- Кай, that you do! - has cried Gerd, and it, seeing its fright, has broken one more rose and has escaped from the darling small Gerds in the window.

Whether will bring now to it Gerd the book with pictures, he will tell, that these pictures are good only for babies; whether will tell something the old grandmother - will carp at its words. And that will reach even that will start to imitate its gait, to put on its points, to speak its voice. Left very similar, and people laughed. Soon Кай has learnt to imitate and all neighbours. He was perfectly able to parade all their strangenesses and lacks, and people spoke:

- Surprisingly capable little boy!

And splinters that have got to it to an eye and in heart were the reason for all. To That it also imitated even the darling small to Gerd, and after all she loved its all heart.

And entertainments of its steel now absolutely other, such sophisticated. Time in winter when there was a snow, it was with the big magnifying glass and has substituted under snow to a floor of the dark blue jacket.

- Have a look in glass, Gerd, - he has told.

Each snowflake seemed under glass much more, than was actually, and resembled a magnificent flower or a ten-coal star. It was so beautifully!

- You see, how it is artfully made! - has told Кай. - it is much more interesting than the present colours! And what accuracy! A uniform wrong line! Ah, if only they do not thaw!

It is a little later Кай was in the big mittens, with санками for спиною, has shouted Gerd in the ear: "To me have allowed to drive on the big area with other boys!" - also has escaped.

The set of children went for a drive on the area. Who is more courageous, adhered the санки to country sledge and slid далекодалеко. It was where as занятно. In the heat of fun on the area there were the big sledge painted in white colour. In them someone sat wrapped up in a white fur fur coat and in the same cap. Sledge have gone round round the area two times. Кай it is live has adhered to them the санки and has driven. The big sledge have rushed faster, then have curtailed from the area into a lane. The person sitting in them has turned back and has affably nodded Каю, precisely familiar. Кай some times tore to untie the санки, but the person in a fur coat all nodded to it, and it continued to go behind it.

Here they have got out for city gate. Snow has tumbled down suddenly in flakes, and became dark, it's pitch dark. The boy has hasty released a cord, которою was hooked for the big sledge, but санки it have precisely grown to them and continued to rush a whirlwind. Кай has loudly cried - nobody has heard it. Snow brought down, санки rushed, diving into snowdrifts, jumping through fences and ditches. Кай all shivered.

Snow flakes all grew and have addressed in the end in the big white hens. Suddenly they have scattered in the parties, the big sledge have stopped, and the person sitting in them has risen. It was high, harmonous, it is dazzling the white woman - the Snow queen; both the fur coat and a cap on it were from snow.

- Were nicely passed! - she has told. - but you have absolutely frozen - полезай to me in a fur coat!

It has planted the boy in sledge, has turned in the bear fur coat. Кай as if to a snowdrift has fallen.

- Still мерзнешь? - She has asked and has kissed him on a forehead.

At! Its kiss was colder than ice, it has penetrated it through and has reached the heart, and it and without that already was half ice. Каю it seemed, that it is a little more - and he will die... But only for a minute, and then, on the contrary, to it became so well, that he even has absolutely ceased to feel chilly.

- Mine санки! Do not forget mine санки! - he has thought suddenly.

Санки have adhered on a back of one of white hens, and it has departed with them behind the big sledge. The snow queen has kissed Кая once again, and he has forgotten both to Gerd, and the grandmother, and all house.

- I will not kiss any more you, - she has told. - not on that I will rain kisses to death.

Кай has looked at it. As it was good! Persons clever and more charming it could not to itself and present. Now it did not seem to it ледяною as that time when sat at a window and nodded to it.

He at all was not afraid of it and has told to it, that knows all four actions of arithmetics, moreover with fractions, knows, how many in each country of square miles and inhabitants, and she only smiled in the answer. And then it seemed to it, that on the business he knows very little.

At the very same time the Snow queen has risen with it on a black cloud. The storm howled and groaned, as if sang ancient songs; they flied over woods and lakes, over the seas and a land; ice cold winds blew under them, wolves howled, snow sparkled, black ravens flied with shout, and over them the big clear month shone. At it looked Кай all long-long winter night, and has fallen asleep at feet of the Snow queen in the afternoon.

History the third.
Flower bed of the woman which was able to conjure.

And what was with Гердой when Кай has not returned? Where it disappeared? Anybody did not know it, nobody could answer.

Boys have told only, that saw, how it has adhered the санки to the big magnificent sledge which have then curtailed into a lane and have left for city gate.

It has been much spilt on it of tears, bitterly and long cried Gerd. At last have decided, that Кай has died, has sunk in the river proceeding in the country. Gloomy winter days long lasted.

But here the spring has come, the sun has looked out.

- Кай has died and will not return any more! - has told Gerd.

- I do not trust! - the sunlight answered.

- He has died and will not return any more! - she has repeated to swallows.

- We do not trust! - they answered.

Under the end and itself Gerd has ceased to trust it.

- I will put on the new red shoes (Кай never yet did not see them), - she has told somehow in the morning, - yes I will go I will ask about it the river.

Was still very much early. She has kissed the sleeping grandmother, has put on red shoes and one-odineshenka has run for a city, is direct to the river.

- However, that you took mine названого the brother? - Has asked Gerd. - I will present to you the red shoes if you return me it!

And to the girl has seemed, that waves somehow strange nod to it. Then it has removed the red shoes - the most precious, that at it was, - and has thrown in the river. But they have fallen at the coast, and waves have now taken out them back - the river as if would not wish to take from the girl its jewelry as could not return to it Кая. The girl has thought, that has thrown shoes insufficiently far, has got into a boat shaking in a reed, became on the edge of a stern and has again thrown shoes in water. The boat has not been adhered and from its push has departed from coast. The girl wished to jump out somewhat quicker on coast, but while made the way from a stern on a nose, the boat already has absolutely sailed and quickly rushed on a current.

Gerd awfully was frightened and has begun to cry and shout, but anybody, except sparrows, did not hear it. Sparrows could not transfer it on a land and only flied behind it along coast and chirped, as if wishing it to console:

- We here! We here!

The boat was carried away by all further. Gerd sat quietly, in one stockings: its red shoes floated behind a boat, but could not catch up with it.

"Perhaps, the river bears me to Каю?" - has thought Gerd, has become cheerful, has risen on feet and long-long admired beautiful green coast.

But here it has come to the big cherry garden in which the small house under a straw roof huddled, with red and dark blue glasses in windows. Doors had two wooden soldiers and saluted all who floated by. Gerd has cried it - it has accepted them for live, but they, clearly, have not answered it. Here it has swum up to them even more close, the boat has approached nearly to the coast, and the girl has cried even more loudly. The small house left the old-prestaraja old woman with клюкой, in the big straw hat painted with wonderful colours.

- Ah you the poor baby! - the old woman has told. - and how it you have got on such big fast river yes has got so far?

With these words the old woman has entered into water, has hooked on a boat клюкой, has drawn to coast and has landed to Gerd.

Gerd it was glad-radeshenka, that has come to be at last on a land though was rather afraid of the unfamiliar old woman.

- Well, we will go, yes tell to me who you and as here has got, - have told the old woman.

Gerd began to tell to it about everything, and the old woman shook a head and repeated: "H'm! H'm!" When the girl has terminated, she has asked the old woman, whether she saw Кая. That has answered, that it did not pass yet here, but, truly, will pass so to grieve yet for what, let Gerd will better try cherries yes will admire colours that grow in a garden: they it is more beautiful, than in any book with pictures, and all are able to tell fairy tales. Here the old woman took to Gerd for a hand, has withdrawn to itself in a small house and has locked a door.

Windows were highly from a floor and all from multi-coloured - red, dark blue and yellow - fragments of glass; from it and the room has been shined by any surprising iridescent light. On a table there was a basket with wonderful cherries, and Gerd could eat them as much as necessary. For now she ate, the old woman combed to it hair a gold comb. Hair were twisted by curls and gold light surrounded lovely, affable, round, as if a rose, a face of the girl.

- For a long time I would like to have such pretty girl! - the old woman has told. - here you will see, how is fine we with you we will begin to live!

And she continued to comb curls of the girl and the longer scratched, the forgot the Gerd названого brother Kaja more - the old woman was able to conjure. Only it was not злою the sorcerer and conjured only occasionally, for the pleasure; now very much it wanted to it to retain to Gerd. And here it has gone to a garden, has touched клюкой all pink bushes, and those as stood in the full I blossom, so all and have left deeply-deeply in the earth, and a trace from them does not remain. The old woman was afraid, that Gerd at the sight of these roses will recollect the, and there and about Кае and will escape from it.

Then the old woman has led to Gerd in a flower bed. Ah, what aroma here was, what beauty: the most different flowers, and on each season! In all light there would be no book with pictures more floridly, more beautifully this flower bed. Gerd jumped with joy and played among colours while the sun has not sat down behind high cherry trees. Then it have laid in wonderful bed with red silk перинками, filled blue violets. The girl has fallen asleep, and dreams what see unless the queen in day of the wedding dreamt it.

For other day Gerd have again allowed to play a wonderful flower bed on the sun. So there have passed many days. Gerd knew now each flower in a garden but how much they were, nevertheless it seemed to it, what any lacks, only what? And here time it sat and considered the straw hat of the old woman painted with colours, and the rose was most beautiful of them - the old woman has forgotten it to erase, when has got rid of live roses under the earth. Here that the absent-mindedness means!

- As! Here there are no roses? - Has told Gerd and has now run in a garden, searched for them, searched, yes and has not found.

Then the girl has fallen on the earth and has begun to cry. Warm tears fell just on that place where there was before one of pink bushes and as soon as they have humidified the earth, the bush has instantly grown from it, same blossoming, as before.

Has twisted Gerd's with its hands, has begun to kiss roses and has recollected those wonderful roses that blossomed at her place, at the same time and about Кае.

- As I have tarried! - the girl has told. - I after all should search Кая!. You do not know, where it? - She has asked roses. - whether the truth, what he has died and will not return more?

- He has not died! - roses answered. - we after all were under the earth where all lay died, but Кая between them was not.

- Thanks you! - has told Gerd and has gone to other colours, looked in their cups and asked: - you do not know, where Кай?

But each flower was heated on the sun and thought only of an own fairy tale or history. Much they have had heard plenty of Gerd, but any has not told words about Кае.

Then Gerd has gone to a dandelion shining in a brilliant green grass.

- You, the small clear sun! - has told to it of Gerd. - tell, whether you where me to search for mine названого the brother know?

The dandelion has begun to shine even more brightly and has looked at the girl. What song was sung by him to it? Alas! And in this song words it was not spoken about Кае!

- There was a first spring day, the sun heated and so affably shone on a small court yard. Its beams slid on a white wall of the next house, and near the wall has appeared the first желтенький a flower, it sparkled on the sun, as if the gold. In a court yard left to sit the old grandmother. From visitors its grand daughter, the poor servant here has come, and has kissed the old woman. The kiss of the girl is more expensive some gold - it goes directly from heart. Gold on her lips, gold in heart, gold and in the sky at morning o'clock! That's all! - the dandelion has told.

- Poor my grandmother! - has sighed Gerd. - it is true, it misses about me and will grieve, as has grieved about Кае. But I will soon return also it I will result with myself. There is nothing more and to ask flowers - to sense from them you will not achieve, they know repeat the! - and she has run in the garden end.

The door has been locked, but Gerd so long swayed a rusty bolt, that it has given in, the door was opened, and the girl so, the barefoot person, and has started running on road. Time three she looked back back, but nobody pursued it.

At last she has got tired, has sat down on a stone and has looked round: the summer has already passed, on a court yard there was a late autumn. Only in a wonderful garden of the old woman where the sun eternally shone and flowers of all seasons blossomed, it it was not appreciable.

- My God! As I have tarried! After all autumn on a court yard! Here it is no time for rest! - has told Gerd and has again started on a journey.

Ah, as its poor tired legs ached! As it is cold, сыро was around! Long leaves on willows have absolutely turned yellow, the fog settled on them large drops and flew down on the earth; leaves and were strewed. One only the blackthorn stood all covered with knitting, tart berries. What grey, sad all world seemed!

History the fourth.
The prince and the princess.

It was necessary to sit down again Gerd to have a rest. On snow it is direct before it the big raven jumped. He long looked at the girl, nodding it головою, and at last said:

- Penalties-penalties! Здррравствуй!

To utter humanly it is purer could not, but he wished the girl of good and has asked it where it she goes on белу to light one-odineshenka. What is "one-odineshenka", Gerd knew very well, on itself has tested. Having told a raven all life, the girl has asked, whether he saw Кая.

The raven has thoughtfully shaken a head and has told:

- Can be! Can be!

- As! The truth? - The girl has exclaimed and nearly has not strangled a raven - so strong it has kissed it.

- More silently, more silently! - the raven has told. - I think, it was yours Кай. But now he, truly, has forgotten you with своею the princess!

- Unless he lives at the princess? - Has asked Gerd.

- And here listen, - the raven has told. - only it is awfully difficult to me to speak your way. Here if you understood on-voroni, I would tell to you about all where better.

- No, to it me did not learn, - has told Gerd. - as it is a pity!

- Well anything, - the raven has told. - I will tell as I will manage, though and it is bad.

And he has told everything, that knew.

- In kingdom where we with you are, there is a princess, such clear head, as to tell it is impossible! Has read all newspapers on light and has forgotten everything, that in them has read, - here what clear head! Time somehow sits it on a throne - and fun in it not too much as people speak, - and sings a song: "why to me not to marry?" "And after all and really!" - she has thought, and it wanted in marriage. But in husbands she wished to choose such person who was able to answer when with it say, instead of such that was able to put on airs only, is after all so boringly! And here drumbeat convoke all court ladies, declare it will of the princess. So all of them were delighted! "Here it is pleasant to us! - speak. - we and about it thought recently!" All is the real truth! - has added a raven. - I at a court yard have a bride - manual a raven, from it I and know all it.

For other day all newspapers left with a border hearts and with monograms of the princess. And in newspapers it is declared, that each young man of a pleasant exterior can be in a palace and have a talk with the princess; the same who will easy behave, as the at home, and it will appear all more eloquently, the princess will select in husbands. Yes, yes! - has repeated a raven. - all it as is true, as that I sit here before you. The people shaft have tumbled down in a palace, yes all without use neither the crush and a crush has gone to the first, nor in the second day. In the street all grooms speak perfectly, and it is necessary to them to step over a palace threshold, to see guards in silver yes footmen in gold and to enter into the huge halls filled in with light - and them оторопь a beret. Will rise to a throne where the princess sits, and repeat behind it its words, and at all it was necessary for it. Well, it is exact on them I spoil filled, опаивали a dope! And leave for gate - again will find gift for speaking. From the gate to doors the long-long tail of grooms lasted. I there was and saw.

- Well, and Кай, Кай? - Has asked Gerd. - when it was? And it has come to ask in marriage?

- Постой! Постой! Here we have reached and it! For the third day the small little man, not in the carriage, not top was, and is simple on foot, and is direct in a palace. Eyes shine, as yours, hair long, here only is dressed poorly.

- It Кай! - was delighted Gerd. - I have found it! - and she has clapped the hands.

- Behind the back of it was котомка, - continued a raven.

- No, it, truly, were it санки! - has told Gerd. - it has left from the house with санками.

- Very much can be! - the raven has told. - I not especially peered. And so, my bride told, how it has entered into palace gate and has seen guards in silver, and on all ladder of footmen in gold, droplets was not confused, only a head has nodded and has told: "Скучненько, should be, stand here on a ladder, I will enter ive better into rooms!" And all halls are filled in by light. Privy councillors and their excellencies perambulate without boots, gold dishes carry, - there is no place more solemnly! Its boots terribly creak, and to it all at all.

- It probably Кай! - has exclaimed Gerd. - I know, it was in new boots. I heard, how they creaked, when it came to the grandmother.

- Yes, they таки creaked rather, - continued a raven. - but it has safely approached to the princess. It sat on a pearl величиною about a distaff wheel, and around there were court ladies with the servants and servants of servants and gentlemen with servants and servants of servants, and at those again servants. The more close somebody stood to doors, the above lifted up a nose. On the servant of the servant of the servant, standing in the doors, it was impossible and to look without a shiver - such it was important!

- Here fear! - has told Gerd. - and Кай all the same married the princess?

- Not be I a raven, I would marry it though I and am affianced. It has got conversation with the princess and spoke not worse, than I on-voroni, - so, at least, have told to me my manual bride. It kept very freely and lovely and has declared, that has come not to ask in marriage, but only, to listen to clever speeches of the princess. Well and here, it was pleasant to it, it to it too.

- Yes-yes, it Кай! - has told Gerd. - it after all such clever! He knew all four actions of arithmetics, moreover with fractions! Ah, spend me to a palace!

- It is easy to tell, - the raven answered, - it is difficult to make. Постой, I will talk to my bride, she will think up something and will advise to us. You think, what you here so directly and will let in a palace? As, not very much let in such girls!

- Me will let in! - has told Gerd. - when Кай I will hear, that here, it now will come running for me.

- Wait for me here at a lattice, - the raven has told, has shaken a head and has departed.

It has returned already absolutely towards evening and закаркал:

- Penalties, penalties! My bride sends you one thousand bows and here this small loaf. It has pulled down it on kitchen - there them much, and you, truly, are hungry!. Well, to a palace to you not to get: you after all barefooted - guards in silver and footmen in gold for what will not pass you. But do not cry, you all the same will get there. The bride washing knows how to pass in a bedroom of the princess illegally and where to get a key.

And here they have entered into a garden, have gone on long avenues where one behind another autumn leaves and when fires in a palace have gone out fell, the raven has spent the girl to the semiopened door.

About as the heart Gerds for fear and impatience fought! Precisely it was going to make something bad, and after all she only wished to learn, whether here it Кай! Yes, yes, it, truly, here! Gerd so it is live imagined its clever eyes, long hair and as he smiled to it when they, happened, sat side by side under bushes of roses. And as he will be delighted now when will see it, will hear, she has dared at what long way for the sake of it, learns, how all house have grieved for it! Ah, it was simply out of herself for fear and pleasure!

But here they on a ladder platform. On a case the lamp burnt, and on a floor sat manual a raven and looked round on the parties. Gerd has sat down and has bowed, as its grandmother learnt.

- My groom told to me about you so much good, the young lady! - has told manual a raven. - and your life also is very touching! Whether it is necessary for you to take a lamp, and I will go forward. We will go прямою road, here we will meet nobody.

- And it seems to me, for us someone goes, - has told Gerd, and a same minute by it with easy noise any shades have flown: horses with fluttering manes and thin feet, hunters, ladies and gentlemen tops.

- These are dreams! - has told manual a raven. - they are here that thoughts of honoured guests were carried away on hunting. The better for us, it will be more convenient to consider the sleeping.

Here they have entered into the first hall where walls have been upholstered by the pink atlas interweaved by colours. By the girl dreams but so quickly, that she has not had time to consider horsemen were again carried by. Than one hall was more magnificent another so was from what to come to confusion. At last they have reached a bedroom. The ceiling reminded a top of a huge palm tree with precious crystal leaves; the thick gold stalk on which two beds in the form of lilies hung went down from its middle. One was white, in it the princess slept, another - red, and in it of Gerd hoped to find Кая. The girl has slightly unbent one of red petals and увидала a chestnut-coloured nape. It Кай! She loudly named it by name and has brought a lamp to his face. Dreams with noise have dashed away away; the prince has woken up and has turned a head... Ah, it was not Кай!

The prince resembled it only from a nape, but was as is young and beautiful. The princess has looked out of a white lily and has asked, that happens. Gerd has begun to cry and has told all history, having mentioned and that ravens have made for it.

- Ah you the poor thing! - the prince and the princess have told, have praised a raven, declared, that are not angry at all on them - only let they do not do it henceforth, - and have wanted even to award them.

- Wish to be free birds? - The princess has asked. - or wish to hold a post court a raven, on the full maintenance from the kitchen rests?

Raven from the black have bowed and posts have asked at a court yard. They have thought of an old age and have told:

- It is good after all to have a true piece of bread on an old age of years!

The prince has risen and has conceded the bed Gerd - more it while could make nothing for it. And it has combined handles and has thought: "As all people and animals are kind!" - has closed eyes and it is sweet has fallen asleep. Dreams have again arrived in a bedroom, but now they carried on small саночках Кая which nodded Gerd головою. Alas, all it was only in a dream and has disappeared, as soon as the girl has woken up.

For other day her have dressed from feet to a head in silk and a velvet and have allowed it to remain in a palace how many it will wish.

The girl could live yes to live here припеваючи, but some days have stayed all and began to ask, that to it have given a vehicle with a horse and to steam of boots - she again wished to be let to search on белу to light of the названого for the brother.

To it distances and boots, and муфту, and a wonderful dress and when she has said goodbye to everything, to collars the carriage from pure gold, with shining, as stars, the arms of the prince and the princess has approached: at the driver, footmen, форейторов - have given to it and форейторов - small gold crowns flaunted on heads.

The prince and the princess have set to Gerd in the carriage and have wished it happy journey.

The wood raven which already has had time to marry, saw off the girl of first three miles and sat in the carriage near to it - it could not go, sitting спиною to horses. Manual a raven sat on collars and clapped wings. It has not gone to see off to Gerd because suffered headaches since has received a post at a court yard and ate too much. The carriage was chock filled sugar крендельками, and a box under a seat - fruit and spice-cakes.

- Farewell! Farewell! - the prince and the princess have cried.

Gerd has begun to cry, a raven - too. Through three miles has said goodbye to the girl and a raven. Heavy was расставанье! The raven has flied up on a tree and waved black wings until the carriage shining as the sun, has not passed out of sight.

History the fifth.
The small she-robber.

Here Gerd has driven in dark wood in which there lived robbers; the carriage burnt as heat, it cut to robbers of an eye, and they simply could not take out it.

- Gold! Gold! - they have cried, having seized horses by the bridle, have killed small форейторов, the driver and servants and have pulled out from the carriage to Gerd.

- See what славненькая, fat! By nutlets it is fattened! - the old woman the she-robber with a long rigid beard and shaggy, beetling brows has told. - fat, that your lamb! Well, what on taste will be?

And it has pulled out a sharp sparkling knife. What horror!

- Whether! - she has screamed suddenly: it was bitten for an ear by its own daughter who sat at it behind the back and was such unrestrained and wilful, that is simple любо. - Ah you the worthless little girl! - mother has cried, but is killed ". To Gerd was not in time.

- She will play with me, - the small she-robber has told. - it will give me the муфту, the pretty dress and will sleep with me in my bed.

And the girl again so has bitten mother, that that has jumped up and was started turning on a place. Robbers have laughed loudly.

- See as dances with the little girl!

- I want in the carriage! - the small she-robber has cried and has insisted on the - it was awfully spoilt and obstinate.

They have taken seat with Гердой in the carriage and have rushed off on stubs and hummocks in a wood thicket.

The small she-robber was growth with Gerd, but is stronger, wider in shoulders and is much more swarty. Eyes at it were absolutely black, but any sad. She has embraced to Gerd and has told:

- They will not kill you, while I will not become angry about you. You, truly, the princess?

- No, - the girl answered and has told, that it was necessary to it to test and as she loves Кая.

The small she-robber has seriously had a look a pas it, has slightly nodded and has told:

- They will not kill you, even if I and will become angry about you, - I am better itself I will kill you!

And she has wiped tears Gerd, and has then hidden both hands in its pretty soft warm муфточку.

Here the carriage has stopped: they has driven and in a court yard of the predatory lock.

It was all in huge cracks; from them ravens and ravens took off. Huge bulldogs, appear, to each of them at all Whence have jumped out to swallow the person, but they only highly jumped up and did not bark at all is it was forbidden. In the middle of a huge hall with the gone to pieces walls covered with a soot and a stone floor fire flared. The smoke rose to a ceiling and itself should search to itself for an exit. Over fire soup boiled in a huge copper, and on spits hares and rabbits were fried.

- You will sleep together with me here, near my small menagerie, - the small she-robber has told Gerd.

Girls have fed, have given to drink, and they have left in the corner where there was постлана a straw covered with carpets. Above sat on poles of more hundred pigeons. All of them, appear, slept, but when girls have approached, have slightly begun to move.

- Веемой! - the small she-robber has told, has seized one pigeon by feet and so has shaken it, that that has hammered wings. - on, its kiss! - she has shouted and has stuck a pigeon Gerd directly into the person. - and here wood little rogues sit, - it continued, specifying on two pigeons sitting in small deepening in a wall, for деревянною a lattice. - these two - wood little rogues. They should be held locked up, not that is live will depart! Here my darling старичина бяшка! - And the girl has pulled for horns of the reindeer adhered to a wall in a brilliant copper collar. - it too needs to be held on привязи, differently will get away! Every evening I tickle it under a neck the sharp knife - he to death of it is afraid.

- Really you also sleep with a knife? - Has asked its Gerd.

- Always! - the small she-robber answered. - whether it is not enough that may be! Well, tell to me once again about Кае and about how you were let to wander on белу to light.

Gerd has told. Wood pigeons in a cage silently cooed; other pigeons already slept. The small she-robber has twisted одною with a hand a neck Gerds - in another it had a knife - and захрапела, but Gerd could not close eyes, not knowing, will kill her or will leave in the live.

Suddenly wood pigeons проворковали:

- Курр! Курр! We saw Кая! The white hen bore on its back санки, and it sat in sledge of the Snow queen. They flied over wood when we, baby birds, still laid in a nest. It died on us, and all have died, except us a two. Курр! Курр!

- That you speak! - has exclaimed Gerd. - where the Snow queen has departed? Know?

- Likely, to Lapland - after all there eternal snow and ice. Ask a reindeer that costs here on привязи.

- Yes, there eternal snow and ice. The miracle as is good! - the reindeer has told. - there you jump to yourself on an ox on huge sparkling plains. There will stretch a summer tent of the Snow queen, and its constant halls - at the North Pole, on island Spitsbergen.

- About Кай, my darling Kaj! - has sighed Gerd.

- Lay quietly, - the small she-robber has told. - not that пырну you a knife!

In the morning Gerd has told to it, that heard from wood pigeons. The small she-robber has seriously looked on Gerd, has nodded a head and has told:

- Well, well!. And you know, where Lapland? - She has asked then a reindeer.

- To whom and the nobility, as not to me! - the deer answered, and its eyes have begun to shine. - there I was born and have grown, there jumped on snow plains.

- So listen, - the small she-robber has told Gerd. - you see, all we have left, houses one mother; a little later it will take from the big bottle and will take a nap, then I will make something for you.

And here the old woman has taken from the bottle and захрапела, and the small she-robber has approached to a reindeer and has told:

- Still for a long time it would be possible to laugh at you! You are sick hilarious when you tickle a sharp knife. Well, yes well! I will untie you and I will set free. You can run to the Lapland, but for it you should bring to a palace of the Snow queen this girl - there it названый the brother. You after all, of course, heard, what she told? She spoke loudly, and at you is eternal ears on top.

The reindeer and has jumped up for pleasure. And the small she-robber has planted on it to Gerd, has strong adhered it for fidelity and even has palmed off under it a soft pillow that it was more convenient to it to sit.

- Well, - she has told then, - withdraw the fur boots - after all it will be cold! And муфту I will leave to myself, is sick it is good. But мерзнуть I will not give to you: here huge mittens of my mother, they will reach to you the elbows. Put in them hands! Well here, now hands at you, as at my ugly creature of mother.

Gerd cried because of happiness.

- I hate, when complain! - the small she-robber has told. - now you should rejoice. Here to you two more breads and a gammon that it was not necessary to starve.

Both that and another has been adhered to a deer.

Then the small she-robber has opened a door, has enticed dogs into the house, cut with the sharp knife a cord, которою the deer has been adhered, and has told to it:

- Well, it is live! Yes protect look the girl.

Gerd has stretched to the small she-robber both hands in huge mittens and has said goodbye to it. The Reindeer was started up at full speed through stubs and hummocks on wood, on bogs and steppes. Wolves howled, ravens croaked.

Уф! Уф! - it was heard suddenly from the sky, and as if зачихало by fire.

- Here my native polar lights! - the deer has told. - look, as burns. And he has run further, not stopping neither in the afternoon, nor at night. Хлебы have been eaten, a ham too, and here they have come to be in Lapland.

History the sixth.
Лапландка and the Finn.

The deer has stopped at a pity hovel. The roof went down to the earth, and the door was such low, that people had to crawl in it on all fours.

At home there was one old woman лапландка, frying at light of a fatty lamp fish. The reindeer has told лапландке all history Gerds, but at first has told own - it seemed to it much more important.

Gerd so has stiffened from a cold, of course could not.

- Ah you poor creatures! - has told лапландка. - Long still it is necessary to you a way! It is necessary to make hundred with superfluous miles while will reach Finland where the Snow queen lives in the country and every evening lights blue Bengal fires. I will drop a line on a dried cod - the paper at me is not present, - and you will take down the message to the Finn who lives in those places and it is better than mine will manage to learn you, that it is necessary to do.

When Gerd it was warmed, has eaten and has had a drink, лапландка has dropped a line on a dried cod, ordered to protect properly Gerd it, has then adhered the girl to a back of a deer, and that has again rushed off.

Уф! Уф! - was heard again from the sky, and it began to throw out columns of a wonderful blue flame. So with Гердой and the deer has reached Finland and was knocked in a chimney of the Finn - at it and doors were not.

Well and the heat stood in its habitation! The Finn, the low thick woman, went the half-naked. It is live it with Gerds has pulled down a dress, mittens and boots, differently to the girl would be hot, has put to a deer on a head a piece of ice and then has begun to read that has been written on a dried cod.

She has read all from a word to a word three times, yet has not learnt by heart, and has then put a cod in a copper - fish after all suited in food, and at the Finn of anything did not vanish for nothing.

Here the deer has told at first the history, and then history Gerds. The Finn blinked the clever eyes, but did not speak words.

- You such wise woman... - the deer has told. - whether you for the girl will make such drink which would give it force of twelve athletes? Then it would overcome the Snow queen!

- Force of twelve athletes! - the Finn has told. - whether yes it is a lot of in that to use!

With these words it took the big leather roll from a shelf and has developed it: it was all is used up by any surprising letters.

The Finn has begun to read them and read before, that sweat hailstones has swept from her forehead.

The deer again has begun to ask for Gerd, and itself Gerd looked at the Finn such begging eyes full of tears, that that has again begun to blink, has taken a deer aside and, changing it on a head ice, has whispered:

- Кай really at the Snow queen, but it is quite happy and thinks, that it is better to it anywhere and cannot be. The reason for all mirror splinters that sit at it in heart and in an eye. They should be removed, differently the Snow queen will keep over it the power.

- Whether instead of you Gerd can give something such, what will make it most strongly?

- More strongly, than it is, I cannot make it. You do not see unless how its force is great? You do not see, what to it serve both people and animals? After all it barefooted has bypassed half-light! Not to occupy from us to it force, its force in its heart, that it the innocent lovely child. If she cannot get into halls of the Snow queen and take from heart Кая a splinter we and will not help for a long time it! In two miles the garden of the Snow queen from here begins. Carry there the girl, lower at the big bush sprinkled with red berries, and, not delaying, come back back.

With these words the Finn has planted to Gerd on a back of a deer, and that has rushed to run at full speed.

- Ah, I without warm boots! Ah, I without mittens! - has cried Gerd, having come to be on a frost.

But the deer is not dared to stop, has not reached yet a bush with red berries. Here it has lowered the girl, has kissed her on the mouth, and on its cheeks have swept, large brilliant tears. Then it was started up by an arrow back.

The poor girl remained one on a bitter cold, without boots, without mittens.

She has run forward that was urine. Towards to it the whole regiment of snow flakes rushed, but they did not fall from the sky - the sky was absolutely clear, and in it the polar lights blazed, - are not present, they ran by the ground directly on Gerd and all became larger and larger.

Gerd has recollected the big beautiful flakes under magnifying glass, but these were much more, all is more terrible also live.

It were the advanced patrol armies of the Snow queen.

One reminded themselves the big ugly hedgehogs, others - стоглавых a dragon, the third - thick bear cubs with the tousled wool. But all of them equally sparkled a whiteness, all were live snow flakes.

However Gerd safely went all forward and forward and at last has reached halls of the Snow queen.

Let's look, that was at this time from Borders. He also did not think of Gerd, and least that it so is close from it.

History the seventh.
That happens in halls of the Snow queen and that happens then.

Blizzards, windows and doors violent winds were walls to halls. Hundred with superfluous the hall lasted here one for another how their blizzard has swept together. All of them were shined with the polar lights, and the greatest reached many miles. As it is cold, as it was deserted in these white, brightly sparkling halls! Fun never also did not look here. The bear balls with dances under storm music on which could cause a stir grace and ability to go on hinder legs polar bears were never arranged here; parties in cards with quarrels and дракою were never made, did not converge on conversation behind a coffee cup white кумушкилисички.

Coldly, it is deserted, grandiosely! The polar lights flashed and burnt so correctly, that it was possible to calculate precisely, what minute light will amplify, in what will grow dim. In the middle of the biggest deserted snow hall there was a frozen lake. Ice has burst on it on thousand pieces, such identical and correct, that it seemed any focus. In the middle of lake the Snow queen when happened the at home sat, saying, that sits on a reason mirror; in its opinion, it was a unique and best mirror on light.

Кай has absolutely turned blue, has almost turned black from a cold, but did not notice they be kisses of the Snow queen have made its tolerant to a cold, and its heart was all the same that an ice piece. Кай pottered with flat peaked ice floes, stacking them on every possible frets. There is after all such game-folding of figures from wooden plates, - which is called as the Chinese puzzle. Here and Кай too put different intricate figures, only from ice floes, and it was called as ice game of reason. In his eyes these figures were art miracle, and their folding - vital importance employment. It occurred because, that in an eye at it the splinter of a magic mirror sat. It put and such figures from which the whole words turned out, but could not combine that in any way, that it especially would like, - a word "eternity". The snow queen has told to it: "If you combine this word, you will be to yourself the mister, and I will present to you all light and pair of the new fads". But it could not combine it in any way.

- Now I will depart to warm edges, - the Snow queen has told. - I will glance in black coppers.

So she named craters огнедышащих mountains - Etna and Vesuvius.

- I will whitewash them a little bit. It is good for lemons and grapes.

It has departed, and Кай there was one in a vast deserted hall, looked at ice floes and all thought, thought, so in a head at it cracked. It sat on a place, such pale, motionless, as if the uninhabited. It was possible to think, that it has absolutely frozen.

In this time in huge gate which were violent winds, entered Gerd. And before it winds have settled, have precisely fallen asleep. It has entered into a huge deserted ice hall and has seen Кая. She has immediately learnt it, has thrown the arms round its a neck, has strong embraced him and has exclaimed:

- Кай, my darling Кай! At last I have found you!

But it sat all same motionless and cold. And then Gerd has begun to cry; its hot tears have fallen to it to a breast, have got into heart, have kindled an ice bark, have kindled a splinter. Кай has looked on Gerd and has suddenly broken into tears and cried so strongly, that the splinter has flowed out from an eye together with tears. Then he has learnt to Gerd and was delighted:

- Gerd! Darling Gerd!. Where it you were so long? Where there was I?

- And he has looked back around. - As here it is cold, it is deserted!

And it has strong nestled to Gerd. And she laughed and cried because of happiness. And it was so wonderfully, what even ice floes have broken into a dance, and when have got tired, have settled and have made that word which has set to combine Каю the Snow queen. Having combined it, it could become to itself(himself) the mister moreover receive from it in gift all light and pair of the new fads.

Gerd has kissed Кая in both cheeks, and they again зарделись, as roses; has kissed him on eyes, and they have begun to shine; has kissed his hands and feet, and it again became vigorous and healthy.

The snow queen could return when necessary - its holiday laid here, written by brilliant ice letters.

Кай with Гердой a hand about a hand left ice halls. They went and said about the grandmother, about roses that blossomed in their garden, and before them violent winds abated, looked through the sun. And when have reached a bush with red berries, there their reindeer already waited.

Кай and Gerd have gone at first to the Finn, have got warm at it and have learnt road home, and then - to лапландке. That has sewed it a new dress, has repaired the sledge and has gone them to see off.

The deer too saw off young travellers up to the border of Lapland where the first greens already made the way. Here Кай and Gerd have said goodbye to it and with лапландкой.

Here before them and wood. The first birds have started singing, trees have become covered by green kidneys. From wood towards to travellers the young girl in a bright red hat with pistols behind a belt has ridden out on a magnificent horse.

Gerd was learnt at once also by a horse - it was once впряжена in the gold carriage - and the girl. It was the small she-robber.

She too has learnt to Gerd. Here there was a pleasure!

- See you, the tramp! - she has told Каю. - it would be desirable for me the nobility, whether there is you of that for you ran on a world's end?

But Gerd has pulled about it on a cheek and has asked about the prince and the princess.

- They have left in another's edges, - the young she-robber answered.

- And a raven? - Has asked Gerd.

- The wood raven has died; manual a raven remained the widow, goes with a black strand of wood on a leg and complains about destiny. But all is trifles, and you here tell ell better, that with you was and as you have found it.

Gerd and Кай have told to it about all.

- Well, here and a fairy tale the end! - the young she-robber has told, has shaken it hands and promised to visit them if will sometime call in to them in a city.

Then it has gone the road, and Кай and Gerd - the.

They went, and on their way spring flowers blossomed, the grass turned green. Here the peal was distributed, and they have learnt belltowers of the native city. They have risen on a familiar ladder and have entered into a room where all was in an old fashion: hours spoke "tic-so", arrows moved on a dial. But, passing at a low door, they have noticed, that became absolutely adult.

Blossoming pink bushes looked from a roof in an open window; there and then there were their children's stools. Кай with Гердой lodge everyone on the, took each other for hands, and cold, deserted magnificence of halls of the Snow queen was forgot, as a heavy dream.

So they sat near, both already adult, but children the summer, warm fertile summer stood heart and душою, and on a court yard.