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But he sat quite still； stiff and cold。
Then little Gerda wept hot tears； which fell on his breast； andperated into his heart； and thawed the lump of ice； and washed awaythe little piece of glass which had stuck there。 Then he looked ather； and she sang…
〃Roses bloom and cease to be；
But we shall the Christ…child see。〃
Then Kay burst into tears； and he wept so that the splinter ofglass swam out of his eye。 Then he recognized Gerda； and said；joyfully； 〃Gerda； dear little Gerda； where have you been all thistime； and where have I been？〃 And he looked all around him； andsaid； 〃How cold it is； and how large and empty it all looks；〃 and heclung to Gerda； and she laughed and wept for joy。 It was so pleasingto see them that the pieces of ice even danced about； and when theywere tired and went to lie down； they formed themselves into theletters of the word which the Snow Queen had said he must find outbefore he could be his own master； and have the whole world and a pairof new skates。 Then Gerda kissed his cheeks； and they became blooming；and she kissed his eyes； and they shone like her own； she kissed hishands and his feet； and then he became quite healthy and cheerful。 TheSnow Queen might e home now when she pleased； for there stood hiscertainty of freedom； in the word she wanted； written in shiningletters of ice。
Then they took each other by the hand； and went forth from thegreat palace of ice。 They spoke of the grandmother； and of the roseson the roof； and as they went on the winds were at rest； and the sunburst forth。 When they arrived at the bush with red berries； therestood the reindeer waiting for them； and he had brought anotheryoung reindeer with him； whose udders were full； and the childrendrank her warm milk and kissed her on the mouth。 Then they carried Kayand Gerda first to the Finland woman； where they warmed themselvesthoroughly in the hot room； and she gave them directions about theirjourney home。 Next they went to the Lapland woman； who had made somenew clothes for them； and put their sleighs in order。 Both thereindeer ran by their side； and followed them as far as the boundariesof the country； where the first green leaves were budding。 And herethey took leave of the two reindeer and the Lapland woman； and allsaid… Farewell。 Then the birds began to twitter； and the forest toowas full of green young leaves； and out of it came a beautifulhorse； which Gerda remembered； for it was one which had drawn thegolden coach。 A young girl was riding upon it； with a shining redcap on her head； and pistols in her belt。 It was the littlerobber…maiden； who had got tired of staying at home； she was goingfirst to the north； and if that did not suit her； she meant to trysome other part of the world。 She knew Gerda directly； and Gerdaremembered her： it was a joyful meeting。
〃You are a fine fellow to go gadding about in this way；〃 saidshe to little Kay； 〃I should like to know whether you deserve that anyone should go to the end of the world to find you。〃
But Gerda patted her cheeks； and asked after the prince andprincess。
〃They are gone to foreign countries；〃 said the robber…girl。
〃And the crow？〃 asked Gerda。
〃Oh； the crow is dead；〃 she replied； 〃his tame sweetheart is now awidow； and wears a bit of black worsted round her leg。 She mourns verypitifully； but it is all stuff。 But now tell me how you managed to gethim back。〃
Then Gerda and Kay told her all about it。
〃Snip； snap； snare！ it's all right at last；〃 said the robber…girl。
Then she took both their hands； and promised that if ever sheshould pass through the town； she would call and pay them a visit。 Andthen she rode away into the wide world。 But Gerda and Kay wenthand…in…hand towards home； and as they advanced； spring appearedmore lovely with its green verdure and its beautiful flowers。 Verysoon they recognized the large town where they lived； and the tallsteeples of the churches； in which the sweet bells were ringing amerry peal as they entered it； and found their way to theirgrandmother's door。 They went upstairs into the little room； where alllooked just as it used to do。 The old clock was going 〃tick； tick；〃and the hands pointed to the time of day； but as they passed throughthe door into the room they perceived that they were both grown up；and bee a man and woman。 The roses out on the roof were in fullbloom； and peeped in at the window； and there stood the little chairs；on which they had sat when children； and Kay and Gerda seatedthemselves each on their own chair； and held each other by the hand；while the cold empty grandeur of the Snow Queen's palace vanished fromtheir memories like a painful dream。 The grandmother sat in God'sbright sunshine； and she read aloud from the Bible； 〃Except yebee as little children； ye shall in no wise enter into thekingdom of God。〃 And Kay and Gerda looked into each other's eyes；and all at once understood the words of the old song；
〃Roses bloom and cease to be；
But we shall the Christ…child see。〃And they both sat there； grown up； yet children at heart； and it wassummer；… warm； beautiful summer。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE SNOWDROP
by Hans Christian Andersen
IT was winter…time； the air was cold； the wind was sharp； butwithin the closed doors it was warm and fortable； and within theclosed door lay the flower； it lay in the bulb under thesnow…covered earth。
One day rain fell。 The drops perated through the snowy coveringdown into the earth； and touched the flower…bulb； and talked of thebright world above。 Soon the Sunbeam pierced its way through thesnow to the root； and within the root there was a stirring。
〃e in；〃 said the flower。
〃I cannot；〃 said the Sunbeam。 〃I am not strong enough to unlockthe door！ When the summer es I shall be strong！〃
〃When will it be summer？〃 asked the Flower； and she repeatedthis question each time a new sunbeam made its way down to her。 Butthe summer was yet far distant。 The snow still lay upon the ground；and there was a coat of ice on the water every night。
〃What a long time it takes！ what a long time it takes！〃 said theFlower。 〃I feel a stirring and striving within me； I must stretchmyself； I must unlock the door； I must get out； and must nod a goodmorning to the summer； and what a happy time that will be！〃
And the Flower stirred and stretched itself within the thin rindwhich the water had softened from without； and the snow and theearth had warmed； and the Sunbeam had knocked at； and it shot forthunder the snow with a greenish…white blossom on a green stalk； withnarrow thick leaves； which seemed to want to protect it。 The snowwas cold； but was pierced by the Sunbeam； therefore it was easy to getthrough it； and now the Sunbeam came with greater strength thanbefore。
〃Wele； wele！〃 sang and sounded every ray； and the Flowerlifted itself up over the snow into the brighter world。 The Sunbeamscaressed and kissed it； so that it opened altogether； white as snow；and ornamented with green stripes。 It bent its head in joy andhumility。
〃Beautiful Flower！〃 said the Sunbeams； 〃how graceful anddelicate you are！ You are the first； you are the only one！ You are ourlove！ You are the bell that rings out for summer； beautiful summer；over country and town。 All the snow will melt； the cold winds willbe driven away； we shall rule； all will bee green； and then youwill have panions； syringas； laburnums； and roses； but you arethe first； so graceful； so delicate！〃
That was a great pleasure。 It seemed as if the air were singingand sounding； as if rays of light were piercing through the leaves andthe stalks of the Flower。 There it stood； so delicate and so easilybroken； and yet so strong in its young beauty； it stood there in itswhite dress with the green stripes； and made a summer。 But there was along time yet to the summer…time。 Clouds hid the sun； and bleakwinds were blowing。
〃You have e too early；〃 said Wind and Weather。 〃We have stillthe power； and you shall feel it； and give it up to us。 You shouldhave stayed quietly at home and not have run out to make a displayof yourself。 Your time is not e yet！〃
It was a cutting cold！ The days which now e brought not asingle sunbeam。 It was weather that might break such a little Fl