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the country. There the first green sprouted forth, and there they took leave of the two Reindeer and the Lapland woman. "Farewell!" said all. And the first little birds began to twitter, the forest was decked with green buds, and out of it, on a beautiful horse (which Gerda knew, for it was the same that had drawn her golden coach) a young girl came riding, with a shining red cap on her head and a pair of pistols in the holsters. This was the little robber girl, who had grown tired of staying at home, and wished to go first to the north, and if that did not suit her, to some other region. She knew Gerda at once, and Gerda knew her too; and it was a right merry meeting.

"You are a fine fellow to gad about!" she said to little Kay. "I should like to know if you deserve that one should run to the end of the world after you?"

But Gerda patted her cheeks, and asked after the prince and princess.

"They've gone to foreign countries," said the robber girl.

"But the Crow?" said Gerda.

"The Crow is dead," answered the other. "The tame one has become a widow, and goes about with an end of black worsted thread round her leg. She complains most lamentably, but it's all talk. But now tell me how you have fared, and how you caught him."

And Gerda and Kay told their story.

"Snipp-snapp-snurre-purre-basellurre!" said the

robber girl.

And she took them both by the hand, and promised that if she ever came through their town, she

would come up and pay them a visit. And then she rode away into the wide world.

But Gerda and Kay went hand in hand, and as they went it became beautiful spring, with green and with flowers. The church bells sounded, and they recognized the high steeples and the great town; it was the one in which they lived, and they went to the grandmother's door, and up the stairs, and into the room, where everything remained in its usual place. The big clock was going "Tick! tack!" and the hands were turning; but as they went through the rooms they noticed that they had become grown-up people. The roses out on the roof-gutter were blooming in at the open window, and there stood the children's chairs, and Kay and Gerda sat upon the chairs, and held each other by the hand. They had forgotten the cold, empty splendor at the Snow Queen's like a heavy dream. The grandmother was sitting in God's bright sunshine, and read aloud out of the Bible, "Except ye become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of God."

And Kay and Gerda looked into each other's eyes, and all at once they understood the old song: "The roses will fade and pass away,

But we the Christ-child shall see one day." There they both sat, grown up, and yet children -children in heart; and it was summer-warm, delightful summer.

HOW TO REMEMBER THE STORY

When we read a good long story like The Snow Queen, we enjoy it and think we should like to

remember it. If it is really good we ought to remember it, not only because of its excellence, but, in the case of an old story, because we so often find allusions to it in our other reading. The best way to fix a story in mind is to make an outline of the incidents, or plot. Then we can see the whole thing almost at a glance, and so remembrance is made easy.

A good outline of The Snow Queen would appear something like this:

I. The Goblin's Mirror.

(Enlarges evil; dis

torts and diminishes good.)

1. The Mirror is broken.

II. Kay and Gerda.

1.

2.

The little rose garden.

Pieces of the mirror find their way into
Kay's eye and heart.

3. The Snow Queen.
a. Finds Kay.

b. Carries him away.

C. Makes him forget Gerda.

III. Gerda's Search for Kay.
1. Carried away by the river.
2. Rescued by the old witch.

IV. In the Flower garden.

2.

1. The rose reminds Gerda of Kay.
Gerda questions the flowers.
The Tiger Lily.

a.

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V.

Gerda Continues Her Search in Autumn. 1. Gerda meets the Crow and follows him. a. The princess's castle.

b. The prince is not Kay.

C.

Gerda in rich clothes continues her search in a carriage.

VI. Gerda meets the Robbers.

1. The old woman claims Gerda.

2. The robber girl fancies Gerda.

3.

The Wood Pigeons tell about Kay.

4. The Reindeer carries Gerda on her

search.

VII. Gerda's Journey on the Reindeer. 1. The Lapland woman.

a. Cares for Gerda.

b. Sends message on a codfish.

2. The Finland woman.

a. Cares for Gerda.

C.

b. Tells what has happened to Kay. Tells what ails Kay and says Kay may be saved by the power of innocent girlhood.

VIII. Kay's Rescue.

1.

At the Snow Queen's palace.

a. Kay cannot write eternity.

b. The Snow Queen leaves for Italy.

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2.

h. Gerda's kisses restore Kay to warmth and health.

The return journey.

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There is little use in reading if we do not get from it something that makes us wiser, better or nobler, or that gives us an inspiration to work harder and make more of ourselves. I think the author of The Snow Queen meant that we should get something more than a half-hour's enjoyment out of his beautiful story.

He makes us like little Kay and his sweet friend Gerda, and then saddens us with Kay's misfortunes. We do not like to see him become crossgrained, mean in disposition and stony hearted.

Then we learn to admire the faithfulness and courage and bravery of Gerda, and follow her to the Snow Queen's palace, afraid every moment she will not find Kay.

When she does find him, it is her tears of sympathy that melt his icy heart, her sweet faith in the Christ-child that clears his eyes, and her love that brings him back to life.

Of course this is all a fairy story; but children and all the race of grownups, even, may learn that it is only by innocence, sympathy and love that the wickedness in the world can be overcome.

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