GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES - online book

130 Fairy Stories Adapted & Arranged for young people

Share page

	484             SNOW-WHITE AND RED-ROSE.
	Once upon a time, there lived in a lonely cottage, surrounded by a garden, a poor widow. In the garden grew two rose-trees ; one of which bore white roses, the other red. Now, the widow had two daughters, who so much resembled the rose bushes that she gave to one the name of Snow-white, and to the other Red-rose. These two children were the best, the most obedient, and most industrious children in the world; yet they differed in some re­spects. Snow-white was quiet and gentle; Red-rose was fond of running about the fields and meadows, in search of flowers and butterflies. Snow-white would often stay at home with her mother, help her with the house work, and then read to her after it was done. The two children were very fond of each other, and, whenever they walked out together, they would hold each other's hands, and when Snow-white would say, "We will never leave each other," her sister would reply, " No, never, as long as we live." The mother encouraged this; she would often say, " Whatever nice things are given to either of you must be shared with the other f and the sisters always did so. They frequently rambled together alone in the wood, to gather berries ; but not a creature ever did them any harm, although wild animals often passed them; they seemed to have such confi­dence in the sisters that they were quite friendly with them. The little hares would eat cabbage-leaves out of their hands, the deer would graze by their side, the stag bound merrily near, while the birds would remain sitting and singing on the branches. No danger ever threatened them, even if they stayed in the forest till late, or after night-fall. They would lie down on the mossy bed, and sleep safely till morning, and their mother knew there was no cause for fear. Once, when they had remained in the wood all night, they did not awake till the rising sun had reddened the eastern sky, and, as they opened their eyes, they saw near them a beautiful little child, whose clothes wes* white and shining. When he saw they were