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THE TWELVE MONTHS this hateful Dobrunka, who grows beautifut on purpose to spite me. I must get rid of her, cost what it may. One day in the middle of January, Katinka took a fancy for some violets. She called Dobrunka and said, "Go to the forest and bring me a bunch of violets, that I may put them in my bosom and enjoy their fragrance.”’ Oh, sister, what an idea!" answered Dobrunka; “‘as if there were any violets under the snow!”’ “Hold your tongue, stupid fool," returned her sister, “and do as I bid you. If you do not go to the forest and bring me back a bunch of violets I will beat you to a jelly.” Upon this the mother took Dobrunka by the arm, put her out of the door, and drew the bolt on her. The poor girl went to the forest weeping bitterly. Everything was covered with snow; there was not even a footpath. She lost her way and wandered about till, famishing with hunger and perishing with cold, she entreated God to take her from this wretched life. All at once she saw a light in the distance. She went on, climbing higher and higher, until at last she reached the top of a huge rock, upon which a great fire was built. Around the fire were twelve stones, and on each stone sat a motionless figure, wrapped in a large mantle, his head covered with a hood which fell over his eyes. Three of these mantles were white like the snow, three were green like the grass of the meadows, three were golden like the sheaves of ripe 87
