Stranica 117 [117]
THE TWELVE MONTHS
Dobrunka gathered a large bouquet, thanked the
Twelve Months, and joyfully ran home. You can im¬
agine the astonishment of Katinka and the step¬
mother. The fragrance of the violets filled the whole
house.
“Where did you find these fine things?” asked Katinka,
in a disdainful voice.
. Up yonder, on the mountain,” answered her sister. “It
looked like a great blue carpet under the bushes.”
Katinka put the bouquet in her bosom and did not even
thank the poor child.
The next morning the wicked sister, as she sat idling by
the stove, took a fancy for some strawberries.
"Go to the forest and bring me some strawberries,” said
she to Dobrunka.
“Oh, sister, what an idea! as if there were any straw¬
berries under the snow!"
. Hold your tongue, stupid fool, and do as I bid you. If
you don’t go to the forest and bring me back a basket of
strawberries, I will beat you to a jelly.”
The mother took Dobrunka by the arm, put her out of
the door, and drew the bolt on her.
The poor girl returned to the forest, looking with all her
eyes for the light that she had seen the day before. She
was fortunate enough to spy it, and she reached the fire
trembling and almost frozen.
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