The Real Thing and Other Tales

t she would not so much as look at her stepdaughter. The only reason was that Maru?a, the stepdaughter, was prettier than her own daughter, Holena. The g

work alone, while Holena spent the time adorning herself and lazing about. But Maru?a liked work, for she was a patient girl, and when her mother scolded and rated her,

daughter in my house? When the lads come courting here, they

ru?a. They starved her and they beat her. But she bore it all, and in spite of all she kept on grow

of January-Holena felt a long

he forest; I want to wear them at my waist

notion! Who ever heard of violets gro

to do something? Off you go at once, and if you don't bring [3]me

the forest weeping bitterly. The snow lay deep, and there wasn't a human footprint to be seen. Maru?a wandere

twelve men sitting on them. Three of them had snow-white beards, three were not so old, and three were still younger. The three youngest were the handsomest of them all. They were no

growing bolder, she went up to them and said: "Please, kind [4]sir

"Why have you come here, my dear li

for violets,"

violets, for everything is covered

bring them some violets from the forest. If I don't bring them, they

younger months-it was March-and, giving him th

e young beech-trees was at once covered with grass and the crimson daisy buds began to peep through the grass. It was springtime. Under the bushes the violets were b

kly, Maru?a!" c

big bunch. Then she thanked the months wi

ru?a bringing the violets. They opened the door to

get them?" aske

the bushes in a forest

let her mother smell them, but she d

d for some strawberries. So she called to her sister and said

[6]strawberries? Who ever heard of strawb

u argue when I tell you to do a thing? Go at onc

ying deep, and there wasn't a human footprint to be seen anywhere. She wandered about for a long time, tortured by hunger and trembling with cold. At

warm my hands at the fire

her: "Why have you come again, a

ing for st

strawberries don't grow o

bade [7]me bring them some strawberries, and if I don't bring them, they

tting opposite to him-it was June-and handed the

eaves, the birds began to sing, and the forest was filled with all kinds of flowers. It was summer. The ground under the bushes was covered with white starlets, the starry blossoms were tu

once, Maru?a!"

scampered [8]merrily home. Holena and the stepmother wondered when they saw Maru?a bringing the strawberries. Her a

ick them?" asked

under the young beech-trees in t

till she could eat no more. So did the stepmother too,

e grew greedy for other dainties, and so on

t and get me some red appl

I to get apples for you i

tell you to do a thing? Go to the forest at once, and if you do

ng deep; there wasn't a human footprint to be seen anywhere. But she didn't wander about this time. She ran straight to the top of the mountain where t

warm my hands at the fire

d her: "Why have you come here

ing for re

ed apples don't grow in

de me bring them some red apples from the forest. If I don't bring them, th

the older months-it was September. He handed the c

down one after the other, and the cold wind was driving them to and fro over the yellowing ground. This time Maru?a did not see so many flowers. Only red pinks were blooming on the hillside, and meadow saffrons were

once, Maru?a!" co

one apple fell down. She shook it a se

home quickly!" s

[11]the apples, thanked the months wi

w Maru?a bringing the apples. They ran to open

u get them?"

them in the forest

? Or did you eat them on the w

apple fell down, and when I shook it a second time, another apple fell down, and they wo

ou be struck to death by lightnin

ake her to Himself, or she would be killed by her wicked

ious that she told her mother she had never tasted anything so nice in all her l

little wretch would eat them all up again on her way home. I'll find the

ed a cloth round her head, and off she went to the forest. Her mother stood on the

istance. She went towards it, and climbed to the top of the mountain where the big fire was burning, and round the fire on twelve stones the twelve months were sitting. She was terrified at first, but

what are you looking for?"

siness of yours," replied Holena angrily, and she

and an icy wind began to blow through the forest. Holena couldn't see one step in front of her; she lost her way altogether, and several times she fell into snowdrifts. Then her limbs grew weak an

t on looking out for her, first at the win

the stepmother at last. So she put on her fur coat, she wrapped a shawl round her head, and went out to look for Holena. The sn

"Where are they staying so long?" thought Maru?a, as she sat down to work at the distaff. The spindle

an soul to be seen.... Sadly she shut the [15]window; she crossed herself, and prayed for her sister and her mother.... In the morning she waited with breakfast, sh

ughland and the cow. She married a kind husband, and