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while the storm blew and howled as if it were singing old songs。
They flew over woods and lakes； over sea and land； below them roared
the wild wind； the wolves howled and the snow crackled； over them flew
the black screaming crows； and above all shone the moon； clear and
bright；… and so Kay passed through the long winter's night； and by day
he slept at the feet of the Snow Queen。
THIRD STORY
THE FLOWER GARDEN OF THE WOMAN
WHO COULD CONJURE
But how fared little Gerda during Kay's absence？ What had become
of him； no one knew； nor could any one give the slightest information；
excepting the boys； who said that he had tied his sledge to another
very large one； which had driven through the street； and out at the
town gate。 Nobody knew where it went； many tears were shed for him；
and little Gerda wept bitterly for a long time。 She said she knew he
must be dead； that he was drowned in the river which flowed close by
the school。 Oh； indeed those long winter days were very dreary。 But at
last spring came； with warm sunshine。 〃Kay is dead and gone；〃 said
little Gerda。
〃I don't believe it；〃 said the sunshine。
〃He is dead and gone；〃 she said to the sparrows。
〃We don't believe it；〃 they replied； and at last little Gerda
began to doubt it herself。 〃I will put on my new red shoes；〃 she
said one morning； 〃those that Kay has never seen； and then I will go
down to the river； and ask for him。〃 It was quite early when she
kissed her old grandmother； who was still asleep； then she put on
her red shoes； and went quite alone out of the town gates toward the
river。 〃Is it true that you have taken my little playmate away from
me？〃 said she to the river。 〃I will give you my red shoes if you
will give him back to me。〃 And it seemed as if the waves nodded to her
in a strange manner。 Then she took off her red shoes； which she
liked better than anything else； and threw them both into the river；
but they fell near the bank； and the little waves carried them back to
the land； just as if the river would not take from her what she
loved best； because they could not give her back little Kay。 But she
thought the shoes had not been thrown out far enough。 Then she crept
into a boat that lay among the reeds； and threw the shoes again from
the farther end of the boat into the water； but it was not fastened。
And her movement sent it gliding away from the land。 When she saw this
she hastened to reach the end of the boat； but before she could so
it was more than a yard from the bank； and drifting away faster than
ever。 Then little Gerda was very much frightened； and began to cry；
but no one heard her except the sparrows； and they could not carry her
to land； but they flew along by the shore； and sang； as if to
comfort her； 〃Here we are！ Here we are！〃 The boat floated with the
stream； little Gerda sat quite still with only her stockings on her
feet； the red shoes floated after her； but she could not reach them
because the boat kept so much in advance。 The banks on each side of
the river were very pretty。 There were beautiful flowers； old trees；
sloping fields； in which cows and sheep were grazing； but not a man to
be seen。 Perhaps the river will carry me to little Kay； thought Gerda；
and then she became more cheerful； and raised her head； and looked
at the beautiful green banks； and so the boat sailed on for hours。
At length she came to a large cherry orchard； in which stood a small
red house with strange red and blue windows。 It had also a thatched
roof； and outside were two wooden soldiers； that presented arms to her
as she sailed past。 Gerda called out to them； for she thought they
were alive； but of course they did not answer； and as the boat drifted
nearer to the shore； she saw what they really were。 Then Gerda
called still louder； and there came a very old woman out of the house；
leaning on a crutch。 She wore a large hat to shade her from the sun；
and on it were painted all sorts of pretty flowers。 〃You poor little
child；〃 said the old woman； 〃how did you manage to come all this
distance into the wide world on such a rapid rolling stream？〃 And then
the old woman walked in the water； seized the boat with her crutch；
drew it to land； and lifted Gerda out。 And Gerda was glad to feel
herself on dry ground； although she was rather afraid of the strange
old woman。 〃Come and tell me who you are；〃 said she； 〃and how came you
here。〃
Then Gerda told her everything； while the old woman shook her
head； and said； 〃Hem…hem；〃 and when she had finished； Gerda asked if
she had not seen little Kay； and the old woman told her he had not
passed by that way； but he very likely would come。 So she told Gerda
not to be sorrowful； but to taste the cherries and look at the
flowers； they were better than any picture…book； for each of them
could tell a story。 Then she took Gerda by the hand and led her into
the little house； and the old woman closed the door。 The windows
were very high； and as the panes were red； blue； and yellow； the
daylight shone through them in all sorts of singular colors。 On the
table stood beautiful cherries； and Gerda had permission to eat as
many as she would。 While she was eating them the old woman combed
out her long flaxen ringlets with a golden comb； and the glossy
curls hung down on each side of the little round pleasant face；
which looked fresh and blooming as a rose。 〃I have long been wishing
for a dear little maiden like you；〃 said the old woman； 〃and now you
must stay with me； and see how happily we shall live together。〃 And
while she went on combing little Gerda's hair； she thought less and
less about her adopted brother Kay； for the old woman could conjure；
although she was not a wicked witch； she conjured only a little for
her own amusement； and now； because she wanted to keep Gerda。
Therefore she went into the garden； and stretched out her crutch
towards all the rose…trees； beautiful though they were； and they
immediately sunk into the dark earth； so that no one could tell
where they had once stood。 The old woman was afraid that if little
Gerda saw roses she would think of those at home； and then remember
little Kay； and run away。 Then she took Gerda into the
flower…garden。 How fragrant and beautiful it was！ Every flower that
could be thought of for every season of the year was here in full
bloom； no picture…book could have more beautiful colors。 Gerda
jumped for joy； and played till the sun went down behind the tall
cherry…trees； then she slept in an elegant bed with red silk
pillows； embroidered with colored violets； and then she dreamed as
pleasantly as a queen on her wedding day。 The next day； and for many
days after； Gerda played with the flowers in the warm sunshine。 She
knew every flower； and yet； although there were so many of them； it
seemed as if one were missing； but which it was she could not tell。
One day； however； as she sat looking at the old woman's hat with the
painted flowers on it； she saw that the prettiest of them all was a
rose。 The old woman