The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen
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. he_would even tease little Gerda, who loved him with all her heart .His games, too, were quite different; they were_not so childish .One winter's day, when it snowed, he brought out aburning-glass, then he held out the tail of_his blue coat, and let the snow-flakes fall upon it ."Look in_this glass, Gerda," said he; and she saw how every flake of snow was magnified, and looked like abeautiful flower or aglittering star ." is_it not clever ? " said Kay, "and much more interesting than looking at real flowers . there_is not asingle fault in_it, and_the snow-flakes are quite perfect till they begin to melt ."

Soon after Kay made his appearance in large thick gloves, and with_his sledge at his back . he_called up stairs to Gerda, "I've got to leave to_go into_the great square, where the other boys play and ride ." And away he went .

in_the great square, the boldest among_the boys would often tie their sledges to_the country people's carts, and go with_them agood way . this_was capital .But while they were all amusing themselves, and Kay with_them, agreat sledge came by; it_was painted white, and in_it sat some one wrapped in arough white fur, and wearing awhite cap .The sledge drove twice round the square, and Kay fastened his own little sledge to_it, so_that when it went away, he followed with it .It went faster and faster right through_the next street, and then the person who drove turned round and nodded pleasantly to Kay, just as if_they were acquainted with each_other, but whenever Kay wished to loosen his little sledge the driver nodded again, so Kay sat still, and_they drove out through_the town gate .Then the snow began to_fall so heavily that_the little boy could_not_see ahand's breadth before him, but still they drove on; then he suddenly loosened the cord so that_the large sled might go on without him, but it_was of no use, his little carriage held fast, and away they went like the wind .Then he_called out loudly, but nobody heard him, while the snow beat upon him, and_the sledge flew onwards .Every now_and_then it gave ajump as_if it were going over hedges and ditches .The boy was frightened, and tried to_say aprayer, but he_could remember nothing but the multiplication table .

The snow-flakes became larger and larger, till they appeared like great white chickens .All at once they sprang on one side, the great sledge stopped, and_the person who had driven it rose up .The fur and_the cap, which were made entirely of snow, fell off, and he_saw alady, tall and white, it was_the Snow Queen .

" we_have driven well," said she, "but why do_you tremble ? here, creep into my warm fur ." Then she seated him beside her in_the sledge, and as she wrapped the fur round him he_felt as_if he were sinking into asnow drift .

" are_you still cold," she asked, as she kissed him on_the forehead .The kiss was colder than ice; it went quite through to_his heart, which_was already almost alump of ice; he_felt as_if he were going to die, but only for amoment; he soon seemed quite well again, and did_not notice the cold around him .

"My sledge ! don't forget my sledge," was his first thought, and then he looked and saw that_it_was bound fast to one_of_the white chickens, which flew behind him with_the sledge at its back .The Snow Queen kissed little Kay again, and by_this_time he had forgotten little Gerda, his grandmother, and all at home .

"Now you_must_have no more kisses," she said, "or i_should kiss you to death ."

Kay looked at her, and saw that she was so beautiful, he_could_not imagine amore lovely and intelligent face; she did_not now seem_to_be made of ice, as when he had seen her through his window, and she had nodded to him . in_his eyes she was perfect, and she did_not feel at all afraid . he_told her he_could do mental arithmetic, as far as fractions, and_that he_knew the number of square miles and_the number of inhabitants in_the country .And she always smiled so_that he thought he_did_not know enough yet, and she looked round the vast expanse as she flew higher and higher with_him upon ablack cloud, while the storm blew and howled as_if it were singing old songs .They flew over woods and lakes, over sea and land; below them roared the wild wind; the wolves howled and_the snow crackled; over them flew the black screaming crows, and above all shone the moon, clear and bright,- and so Kay passed through_the long winter's night, and by day he slept at_the feet of_the Snow Queen .

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Third Story: The Flower Garden of_the Woman who_could Conjure

But how fared little Gerda during Kay's absence ? What had become of him, no one knew, nor could any_one give the slightest information, excepting the boys, who said that he had tied his sledge to another very large one, which had driven through_the street, and out at_the town gate .Nobody knew where it went; many tears were shed for him, and little Gerda wept bitterly for_a_long_time .She said she knew he_must_be dead; that he_was drowned in_the river which flowed close by_the school .Oh, indeed those long winter days were very dreary .But at last spring came, with warm sunshine ."Kay is dead and gone," said little Gerda .

"I don't believe it," said the sunshine .

" he_is dead and gone," she said to_the sparrows .

"We don't believe it," they replied; and at last little Gerda began to doubt it herself ." i_will put on my new red shoes," she said one morning, "those that Kay has never seen, and then i_will go down to_the river, and ask for him ." it_was quite early when she kissed her old grandmother, who was still asleep; then she put on her red shoes, and went quite alone out_of_the town gates toward the river ." is_it true that you_have taken my little playmate away from me ? " said she to_the river ." i_will give_you my red shoes if_you_will give him back to_me ." And it seemed as if_the waves nodded to her in astrange manner .Then she took off her red shoes, which she liked better than anything else, and threw them both into_the river, but they fell near the bank, and_the little waves carried them back to_the land, just as if_the river would_not take from her what she loved best, because they_could_not give her back little Kay .But she thought the shoes had_not_been thrown out far enough .Then she crept into aboat that lay among_the reeds, and threw the shoes again from_the farther end of_the boat into_the water, but it_was not fastened .And her movement sent it gliding away from_the land .When she saw this she hastened to reach the end of_the boat, but before she_could so it_was more than ayard from_the bank, and drifting away faster than ever .Then little Gerda was very_much frightened, and began to cry, but no one heard her except the sparrows, and they_could_not carry her to land, but they flew along by_the shore, and sang, as_if to comfort her, "Here we_are ! Here we_are ! " The boat floated with_the stream; little Gerda sat quite still with only her stockings on her feet; the red shoes floated after her, but she_could_not reach them because the boat kept so_much in advance .The banks on each side of_the river were very pretty .There were beautiful flowers, old trees, sloping fields, in_which cows and sheep were grazing, but not aman to_be seen .Perhaps the river will carry me to little Kay, thought Gerda, and then she became more cheerful, and raised her head, and looked at_the beautiful green banks; and so the boat sailed on for hours . at_length she came to alarge cherry orchard, in_which stood asmall red house with strange red and blue windows .It had also athatched roof, and outside were two wooden soldiers, that presented arms to her as she sailed past .Gerda called out to_them, for she thought they were alive, but of_course they_did_not answer; and as_the boat drifted nearer to_the shore, she saw what they really were .Then Gerda called still louder, and there came avery old woman out_of_the house, leaning on acrutch .She wore alarge hat to shade her from_the sun, and on_it were painted all sorts of pretty flowers ."You poor little child," said the old woman, "how did you manage to_come all this distance into_the wide world on_such arapid rolling stream ? " And then the old woman walked in_the water, seized the boat with her crutch, drew it to land, and lifted Gerda out .And Gerda was glad to_feel herself on dry ground, although she was rather afraid of_the strange old woman ."Come and tell me who you_are," said she, "and how came you here ."

Then Gerda told her everything, while the old woman shook her head, and said, "Hem-hem;" and when she had finished, Gerda asked if she had_not seen little Kay, and_the old woman told her he had_not passed by_that way, but he very likely would come .So she told Gerda not to_be sorrowful, but to taste the cherries and look at_the flowers; they were better than any picture-book, for each of_them could tell astory .Then she took Gerda by_the hand and led her into_the little house, and_the old woman closed the door .The windows were very high, and as_the panes were red, blue, and yellow, the daylight shone through them in all sorts of singular colors . on_the table stood beautiful cherries, and Gerda had permission to eat as_many as she_would .While she was eating them the old woman combed out her long flaxen ringlets with agolden comb, and_the glossy curls hung down on each side of_the little round pleasant face, which looked fresh and blooming as arose ." I_have long been wishing for adear little maiden like you," said the old woman, "and now you_must stay with me, and_see how happily we_shall live together ." And while she went on combing little Gerda's hair, she thought less_and_less about her adopted brother Kay, for_the old woman could conjure, although she was not awicked witch; she conjured only alittle for her own amusement, and now, because she wanted to_keep Gerda .Therefore she went into_the garden, and stretched out her crutch towards all the rose-trees, beautiful though they were; and_they immediately sunk into_the dark earth, so_that no one could tell where they had once stood .The old woman was afraid that if little Gerda saw roses she_would think of_those at home, and then remember little Kay, and run away .Then she took Gerda into_the flower-garden .How fragrant and beautiful it_was ! Every flower that could_be thought of for every season of_the year was here in full bloom; no picture-book could_have more beautiful colors .Gerda jumped for joy, and played till the sun went down behind the tall cherry-trees; then she slept in an elegant bed with red silk pillows, embroidered with colored violets; and then she dreamed as pleasantly as aqueen on her wedding day .The next_day, and for many days after, Gerda played with_the flowers in_the warm sunshine


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