d a new pair of skates.

And Gerda kissed his cheeks and they grew rosy; she kissed his eyes and
they sparkled like hers; she kissed his hands and feet and he became
warm and glowing. The Snow-queen might come home now; his release--the
word 'Love'--stood written in sparkling ice.

They took each other's hands and wandered out of the great palace; they
talked about the grandmother and the roses on the leads, wherever they
came the winds hushed and the sun came out. When they reached the bush
with red berries there stood the reindeer waiting for them.

He carried Kay and Gerda first to the Finland woman, who warmed them in
her hot room and gave them advice for their journey home.

Then they went to the Lapland woman, who gave them new clothes and
mended their sleigh. The reindeer ran with them until they came to the
green fields fresh with the spring green. Here he said good-bye.

They came to the forest, which was bursting into bud, and out of it came
a splendid horse which Gerda knew; it was the one which had drawn the
gold coach ridden by a young girl with a red cap on and pistols in her
belt. It was the little robber girl who was tired of being at home and
wanted to go out into the world. She and Gerda knew each other at once.

'You are a nice fellow!' she said to Kay. 'I should like to know if you
deserve to be run all over the world!'

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

'They are travelling about,' said the robber girl.

'And the crow?' asked Gerda.

'Oh, the crow is dead!' answered the robber-girl. 'His tame sweetheart
is a widow and hops about with a bit of black crape round her leg. She
makes a great fuss, but that's all nonsense. But tell me what happened
to you, and how you caught him.'

And Kay and Gerda told her all.

'Dear, dear!' said the robber-girl, shook both their hands, and promised
that if she came to their town she would come and see them. Then she
rode on.

But Gerda and Kay went home hand in hand. There they found the
grandmother and everything just as it had been, but when they went
through the doorway they found they were grown-up.

There were the roses on the leads; it was summer, warm, glorious summer.

The Fir-tree

Translated from the German of Hans Christian Andersen.

There was once a pretty little fir-tree in a wood. It was in a capital
position, for it could get sun, and there was enough air, and all around
grew many tall com