In a warm little cottage on the very edge of a dense spruce forest lives Grandfather Frost with his beloved granddaughter Snowmaiden. They live peacefully, don't argue, and when quarrels do happen, everything is resolved kindly. All year long grandfather and granddaughter are busy with simple everyday tasks. Chopping wood, stoking the stove, baking pies and cooking hearty soup. And with the arrival of winter, their worries increase greatly.
A nasty creature called Byaka-Obezhaka settled nearby with Grandfather Frost and Snowmaiden. All year long she watched them secretly and made plans to ruin the holiday so that the new year couldn't arrive and the old year would last forever.
As soon as the spiteful Byaka-Obezhaka moved in next door, Grandfather Frost and Snowmaiden began to quarrel more often. Sometimes Grandfather Frost wouldn't thank his granddaughter for her help, wouldn't even say a simple "thank you." Sometimes the granddaughter would suddenly snap and start being rude to grandfather, he'd say one thing and she'd respond with ten.
At first this didn't interfere with their life, but resentment accumulated between grandfather and granddaughter, they spent less and less time together, and once they even had dinner separately. And Byaka-Obezhaka watched this and rejoiced at how cleverly it was working out. But the nasty Byaka-Obezhaka wanted to make grandfather and granddaughter quarrel even more.
Byaka-Obezhaka came up with a cunning plan: to ambush Snowmaiden in the forest, appear to her in the form of a fox and tell her that grandfather had decided to throw her out of the house and take a new helper instead.
Time until winter was running out, but Byaka-Obezhaka couldn't find a good moment to approach Snowmaiden. Grandfather Frost seemed to sense that something was wrong and wouldn't let his granddaughter go anywhere alone.
Autumn turned into winter, the days flew by even faster than before. Grandfather Frost began preparing gifts, and all the household chores fell on Snowmaiden. That's when Byaka-Obezhaka overheard a conversation:
Go into the forest, my dear granddaughter, and call the kind forest creatures to help us, otherwise we won't manage to prepare all the gifts before the holiday.
Why should I go into the forest, grandfather? I tidied up the cottage today, prepared lunch, changed the bedding, and what were you doing?
Snowmaiden, my child, what's gotten into you? Don't you know that I've been reading letters all day and wrapping gifts in beautiful New Year paper! Or do you think that's not hard work?
And I asked you to stoke the stove this morning, to bring firewood from the forest. Why should I go myself? It's heavy, I can't manage alone.
That's why I'm asking you to go into the forest and find helpers. Call Mikhail Potapovich, he'll help you carry the firewood, and Grandfather Frost is busy.
Byaka-Obezhaka understood that grandfather and granddaughter were tired and not ready to listen to each other, which meant she just needed to do a little more magic to make them quarrel even worse. She spoke evil but magical words and began to watch whether it would work, whether Grandfather Frost and Snowmaiden would succumb to the spell.
You've completely lost your mind, grandfather! — Snowmaiden suddenly answered loudly after a long silence.
How dare you speak to your grandfather like that, you impudent girl! I raised you, taught you right from wrong, and you're so rude to me in my old age.
Why are you talking such nonsense like a madman? Have you forgotten that Mikhail Potapovich sleeps in winter! How is he supposed to help me carry firewood according to you?
Listen here, Snowmaiden, I won't tolerate such treatment in my own cottage. Now apologise at once.
You apologise first, grandfather.
If you won't apologise, then go into the forest, get some fresh air, and when you come to your senses, come back.
Fine, I'll go, just so I don't have to see you!
Snowmaiden ran outside in tears, and Grandfather Frost's head ached from frustration. And the cunning Byaka-Obezhaka didn't waste time. She turned into a fox and caught up with Snowmaiden, saying:
Oh, Snowmaiden, dear, I can see you're in trouble. How can I help?
Dear little fox, I don't even know what's come over me. I've hurt Grandfather Frost, and now I don't know how to go and apologise, I'm too ashamed to look him in the eye. The holiday is coming soon, we need to prepare for New Year, but we're in such discord.
Poor Snowmaiden, don't be sad, don't grieve, I'll help you. I'll go to Grandfather Frost myself and ask his forgiveness on your behalf, and you wait here.
Thank you, little fox, thank you so much! Go quickly!
Snowmaiden stayed to wait for the fox, but her heart was troubled. She couldn't bring herself to go to the cottage, she was so ashamed of her harsh words.
And Byaka-Obezhaka ran to the cottage and turned into a grey hare. She enters the house and says:
Grandfather Frost! What's happened? Snowmaiden came to me and said she's leaving the forest forever and won't come home!
It can't be! Did I really hurt her so badly? Dear little hare, I don't know what came over me. Show me, my friend, where you last saw her. I'll run and apologise to her and bring her home.
Grandfather Frost, you shouldn't run through the forest, and Snowmaiden asked me not to let anyone follow her. She said she'll never forgive whoever comes after her.
What am I to do then? How can I bring my beloved granddaughter home?
Listen, Grandfather Frost, here's what we'll do: write your granddaughter a letter and tell her everything you're thinking. I'll find her trail in the forest and follow her quietly. I'll wait until she stops being angry and then give her your apology.
What a wonderful plan, little hare! I'll hurry and write a letter, but be careful, don't lose it on the way. I can't prepare for New Year without my granddaughter Snowmaiden, which means the holiday won't come and we'll stay in the old year forever. Don't let me down, dear hare!
Grandfather Frost tried hard, writing the letter with love, carefully forming each letter. And he enchanted the paper so it would glow blue in the dark so the hare wouldn't lose it. Grandfather Frost sealed the envelope and decorated it with a shower of sparkling silver snowflakes.
Byaka-Obezhaka, pleased, took the envelope from grandfather in her hare form and ran out of the cottage. Grandfather Frost watched her go from the window for a long time. As soon as she was out of sight, she turned back into a fox. She found Snowmaiden among the trees. As soon as Snowmaiden saw her, she started asking questions:
Little fox, sister, what did Grandfather Frost say? Has he forgiven silly me?
Oh, Snowmaiden, my dear, I don't want to upset you, but I don't know what to say.
Tell me as it is, I'll accept anything. If grandfather wants to punish me, I'm ready for anything.
I gave your apologies to Grandfather Frost and begged him on behalf of all the forest creatures not to hold a grudge against you.
What did he say? Don't keep me in suspense, tell me!
He said he can't forgive you. You hurt him too much with your harsh words. He said he doesn't want to see you in his cottage anymore, that you should leave the forest and never show your face to him again.
Snowmaiden couldn't hold back her tears. Byaka-Obezhaka's words hurt her so deeply that she couldn't find words to speak.
Don't cry, Snowmaiden, you should leave the forest quickly so you don't anger Grandfather Frost even more. It's already getting dark, you might get lost in the dark forest.
Dear little fox, but what about New Year!? How will Grandfather Frost manage the New Year preparations without me? Who will help him with the household and go to the children and animals for the holiday?
Don't worry about New Year, Snowmaiden. Grandfather said he'll find himself a new helper, so you go, go.
Oh, I can't! I feel terrible, my head is spinning from such misery. How did this happen! Help me, little fox, I'm afraid I won't make it alone.
Byaka-Obezhaka was confused. She hadn't expected to have to lead Snowmaiden out of the forest herself, and she needed to hide the magical letter far away. But how could she refuse? If the fox abandoned Snowmaiden in trouble, she'd surely realise something was wrong and the deception would be exposed. Byaka-Obezhaka decided to go with Snowmaiden, lead her deep into the forest and run away before dark.
They walked through the winter forest for a long time. The sky grew darker and darker, the sun set. Byaka-Obezhaka said to Snowmaiden:
It's time for me to go home, dear Snowmaiden. You can make it the rest of the way yourself.
Thank you, little fox, for helping me. I don't know how to thank you.
The fox waved her fluffy tail and ran away without saying goodbye. But she dropped the letter from Grandfather Frost. Snowmaiden looked at the letter and couldn't understand how she'd ended up in the forest. She decided to call the fox and tell her she'd dropped the letter. She cried out:
Little fox! Foxie! Where did you go?
The fox didn't answer. Snowmaiden decided to look at the letter more closely and pick it up from the snow so it wouldn't get wet. As soon as she took the magical envelope in her hands, she felt the warmth of Grandfather Frost's cottage. The envelope began to glow with blue stars. Snowmaiden understood it was a letter from grandfather. She brushed away the magical sparkles and saw the inscription: "To my beloved granddaughter, Snowmaiden."
Snowmaiden couldn't believe her luck! Grandfather Frost had written her a letter and apparently gave it to the fox to deliver, but she didn't tell her anything! The cunning thing had deceived her! Snowmaiden opened the letter and read:
Dear granddaughter of mine, Snowmaiden. Forgive me, an old man, for harsh and hurtful words. I was wrong, I repent. I beg you not to leave for the forest, not to abandon me, don't deprive the children of the holiday! I promise to help you with everything and love you even more than before. Your Grandfather Frost.
Snowmaiden understood that the fox had deceived her and ran back to the cottage to Grandfather Frost. It's easy to get lost in the dark forest, but Snowmaiden knew every path in it—she'd played among these familiar trees her whole childhood.
Grandfather Frost paced about the cottage beside himself with worry. There had been no news from the hare for a long time. Suddenly he saw a hare sitting outside the window, but not an ordinary one—it had a fox's tail. And its paws were human. Grandfather Frost took his magical staff, went out onto the porch and struck the ground three times. He said:
What kind of creature is this sitting by my cottage? Show yourself, who are you?
A snowy wind swirled around the half-hare, half-fox and brought it to grandfather.
Show your true form! — said grandfather and struck his staff on the ground again.
Snow rose up, the creature spun around, and the nasty Byaka-Obezhaka appeared before Grandfather Frost in her true form.
So that's who you really are! Byaka-Obezhaka has come to our forest. That's why we've been quarrelling with Snowmaiden all year!
I don't know, Grandfather Frost, I haven't done anything, I haven't hurt anyone. I just live nearby...
Where have you taken my beloved granddaughter Snowmaiden? Confess!
I don't understand what you mean, Grandfather Frost. Let me go, it's late already.
Then Snowmaiden appeared from the forest. Tired but happy, she held the glowing letter in her hands.
Grandfather! — she cried out and threw herself into the arms of the sorcerer.
Granddaughter, my beloved, how wrong I was to send you away from home. Forgive me, it was Byaka-Obezhaka who cast a spell on me.
And you forgive me too, grandfather. I said many harsh words to you and hurt you. I didn't want to quarrel, I was just tired. And Byaka-Obezhaka cast a spell on me too.
Grandfather and granddaughter made up and decided to teach Byaka-Obezhaka a lesson, to drive her out of the forest once and for all, and to warn all the animals that if anyone starts quarrelling and behaving rudely, it means the nasty sorceress has settled nearby and they should quickly drive her away. And Grandfather Frost and his granddaughter decided that from now on they would divide the chores equally between them and always ask each other: "How can I help?"
And so a happy, carefree life began in the forest. And grandfather and granddaughter completed all their New Year tasks and put on such a celebration that people talked about it all the following year!
