ve some strawberries to eat. So she called
Marushka and said:

"Here you, Marushka, go out to the forest and get me some strawberries."

"Good heavens, my dear sister," Marushka said, "where can I find
strawberries this time of year? Whoever heard of strawberries growing
under the snow?"

"What, you lazy little slattern!" Holena shouted. "You dare to argue
with me! You go this minute and if you come back without strawberries,
I'll kill you!"

Again the stepmother sided with Holena and, taking Marushka roughly by
the shoulder, she pushed her out of the house and slammed the door.

Again the poor child climbed slowly up the mountain side weeping
bitterly. All around the snow lay deep with no track of man or beast
in any direction. Marushka wandered on and on, weak with hunger and
shaking with cold. At last she saw ahead of her the glow of the same
fire that she had seen the day before. With happy heart she hastened
to it. The Twelve Months were seated as before with Great January on
the high seat.

Marushka bowed politely and said:

"Kind sirs, may I warm myself at your fire? I am shaking with cold."

Great January nodded and Marushka reached her stiff fingers towards the
flames.

"But Marushka," Great January said, "why are you here again? What are
you hunting now?"

"I'm hunting for strawberries," Marushka answered.

"Strawberries? But, Marushka, my child, it is winter and strawberries do
not grow in the snow."

Marushka shook her head sadly.

"I know that, sir, but my sister, Holena, says I must bring her
strawberries from the forest or she will kill me and my mother says so,
too. Please, sir, won't you tell me where I can find some?"

Great January slowly stood up and walked over to the Month who sat
opposite him. He handed him the long staff and said:

"Here, June, you take the high seat."

So June took the high seat and began waving the staff over the fire.
The flames blazed high and with the heat the snow all about melted
instantly. The earth grew green; the trees decked themselves in
leaves; the birds began to sing; flowers bloomed and, lo, it was
summer! Presently little starry white blossoms covered the ground
under the beech trees. Soon these turned to fruit, first green, then
pink, then red, and, with a gasp of delight, Marushka saw that they
were ripe strawberries.

"Now, Marushka," June cried, "there are your strawberries! Pick them
quickly!"

Marushka picked an apronful of berries.