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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 permission, 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. 93
