Page 123 [123]
THE TWELVE MONTHS
permitted or not I will shake it so hard that all the apples
will be ours."
The mother tried to stop her. A spoiled child listens to
nothing. Katinka wrapped herself in her fur cloak, drew
the hood over her head, and hastened to the forest.
Everything was covered with snow; there was not even a
footpath. Katinka lost her way, but she pushed on,
spurred by pride and covetousness. She spied a light in
the distance. She climbed and climbed till she reached
. the place, and found the Twelve Months each seated on his
stone, motionless and silent. Without asking their per¬
mission, she approached the fire.
“Why have you come here? Whatdoyouwant? Where
are you going!" asked old January, gruffly.
“What matters it to you, old fool?" answered Katinka.
‘Tt is none of your business where I came from or whither
] am going.” She plunged into the forest. January frowned
and raised his staff above his head. In the twinkling
of an eye the sky was overcast, the fire went out, the
snow fell, and the wind blew. Katinka could not see the
way before her. She lost herself, and vainly tried to
retrace her steps. The snow fell and the wind blew. She
called her mother, she cursed her sister, she cursed God.
The snow fell and the wind blew. Katinka froze, her
limbs stiffened, and she fell motionless. The snow still fell
and the wind still blew.
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