Oldal 118 [118]
LAB OWL AY IE? S308 AIS BR OO Is
The Twelve Months were in their places, motionless and
silent.
"My good sirs, " said Dobrunka, “please to let me warm
myself by your fire; I am almost frozen with cold."
‘Why have you returned?” asked January. " What are
you looking for?”’
"1 am looking for strawberries,” answered she.
“This is not the season for them,” returned January,
in his gruff voice; "there are no strawberries under the
snow.”
"I know it,” replied Dobrunka, sadly; "but my mother
and sister will beat me to a jelly if I do not bring them some.
My good sirs, please to tell me where I can find them.”
Old January rose and, turning to a man in a golden man¬
tle, he put his staff in his hand, saying, “‘Brother June,
this is your business."
June rose in turn, and stirred the fire with the staff, when,
behold! the flames rose, the snow melted, the earth grew
green, the trees were covered with leaves, the birds sang
and the flowers opened—it was summer. Thousands of
little white stars enameled the turf, then turned to red
strawberries, looking, in their green cups, like rubies set in
emeralds.
" Make haste, my child, and gather your strawberries,”
said June.
Dobrunka filled her apron, thanked the Twelve Months,
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