Stranica 118 [118]
OCR
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 mantle, 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, 90
