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The little snow girl was very good. She did everything the old people asked her to do, except one thing. She would never sleep indoors.
All the children of the village loved her.They did not know how they had ever played without her. Often in the sunny part of the day the children went together a little way into the forest. Of course the little snow girl went with them. It would have been no fun without her.
One day the children went to the woods as usual. But when it was time to turn back, the little snow girl tossed her head and ran on,laughing, among the trees. The other children were afraid to follow her, for it was getting late in the afternoon. They waited as long as they dared, and then they ran home, holding each other’s hands. The little snow girl was left in the forest all alone!
She looked back for the other children, but she could not see them. She climbed up into a tree, but still she could not see her little friends.
Then she called from the tree, “Ai, Ai, little friends, have pity on the snow girl!”
An old brown bear heard her, and came shambling along on his heavy paws. “What are you crying about, little Daughter of the Snow?”he asked.
“O big bear,” said the snow girl, “how can I help crying? I have lost my way, and all of my little friends have gone.”
“I will take you home,” said the big bear.
“O brown bear,” said the little snow girl, “you are so big that I am afraid of you.”
The brown bear went away and left her.
A gray wolf had heard her, and he came galloping up on his swift feet. “What are you crying about, little Daughter of the Snow?” he asked.
“O gray wolf,” said the little snow girl, “how can I help crying? I have lost my way, and all of my little friends have gone.”
“I will take you home,” said the wolf.
“O gray wolf,” said the little snow girl, “I am afraid of you. Sometimes you are so fierce.”
The gray wolf galloped away and left her.
An old red fox had heard her, and he came running swiftly up to the tree. He called out cheerfully, “What are you crying about, little Daughter of the Snow?”
“O red fox,” said the little snow girl, “how can I help crying? I have lost my way, and all of my little friends have gone.”
“I will take you home,” said the old red fox.
“O red fox,” said the little snow girl, “I am not afraid of you. I will let you take me home.”
So she scrambled down from the tree, and jumped upon his back. Off they went through the dark forest.