nothing in the world they would not
have done to amuse her. She was their doll, and they were continually
inventing new dresses for her, and teaching her songs or playing with
her. Nobody knew how clever she was! She noticed everything, and could
learn a lesson in a moment. Anyone would have taken her for thirteen
at least! And, besides all that, she was so good and obedient; and
so pretty, too! Her skin was as white as snow, her eyes as blue as
forget-me-nots, and her hair was long and golden. Only her cheeks had no
colour in them, but were as fair as her forehead.

So the winter went on, till at last the spring sun mounted higher in the
heavens and began to warm the earth. The grass grew green in the fields,
and high in the air the larks were heard singing. The village girls met
and danced in a ring, singing, 'Beautiful spring, how came you here?
How came you here? Did you come on a plough, or was it a harrow?' Only
Snowflake sat quite still by the window of the cottage.

'What is the matter, dear child?' asked Marie. 'Why are you so sad? Are
you ill? or have they treated you unkindly?'

'No,' replied Snowflake, 'it is nothing, mother; no one has hurt me; I
am well.'

The spring sun had chased away the last snow from its hiding place under
the hedges; the fields were full of flowers; nightingales sang in the
trees, and all the world was gay. But the gayer grew the birds and the
flowers the sadder became Snowflake. She hid herself from her playmates,
and curled herself up where the shadows were deepest, like a lily
amongst its leaves. Her only pleasure was to lie amid the green willows
near some sparkling stream. At the dawn and at twilight only she seemed
happy. When a great storm broke, and the earth was white with hail, she
became bright and joyous as the Snowflake of old; but when the clouds
passed, and the hail melted beneath the sun, Snowflake would burst into
tears and weep as a sister would weep over her brother.

The spring passed, and it was the eve of St. John, or Midsummer Day.
This was the greatest holiday of the year, when the young girls met in
the woods to dance and play. They went to fetch Snowflake, and said to
Marie: 'Let her come and dance with us.'

But Marie was afraid; she could not tell why, only she could not bear
the child to go. Snowflake did not wish to go either, but they had no
excuse ready. So Marie kissed the girl and said: 'Go, my Snowflake, and
be happy with your friends, and you