Снежная королева
What Took Place in the Palace of the Snow Queen, and what Happened Afterward
And"Schnipp-schnapp-schnurre-basselurre,"saidtherobbermaiden;andshetookthehandsofeach,andpromisedthatifsheshouldsomedaypassthroughthetownwheretheylived,shewouldcomeandvisitthem; andthenawaysherode.KayandGerdatookeachother’shand:itwaslovelyspringweather,withabundanceofflowersandofverdure. Thechurch-bellsrang,andthechildrenrecognisedthehightowers,andthelargetown;itwasthatinwhichtheydwelt. Theyenteredandhasteneduptotheirgrandmother’sroom,whereeverythingwasstandingasformerly. Theclocksaid"tick!tack!"andthefingermovedround;butastheyentered,theyremarkedthattheywerenowgrownup. Therosesontheleadshungbloominginattheopenwindow;therestoodthelittlechildren’schairs, andKayandGerdasatdownonthem,holdingeachotherbythehand;theybothhadforgottenthecoldemptysplendoroftheSnowQueen,asthoughithadbeenadream. Thegrandmothersatinthebrightsunshine,andreadaloudfromtheBible:"Unlessyebecomeaslittlechildren,yecannotenterthekingdomofheaven."
AndKayandGerdalookedineachother’seyes,andallatoncetheyunderstoodtheoldhymn:
"Theroseinthevalleyisbloomingsosweet,Andangelsdescendtherethechildrentogreet."
Theresatthetwogrown-uppersons;grown-up,andyetchildren;childrenatleastinheart;anditwassummer-time;summer,glorioussummer!
