In a warm little cottage on the very edge of a dense spruce forest lives Grandfather Frost with his beloved granddaughter Snow Maiden. They live peacefully, they don't quarrel, and if 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 chores increase greatly.
A nasty creature called Byaka-Obizhaka settled nearby with Grandfather Frost and Snow Maiden. 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-Obizhaka settled nearby, Grandfather Frost and Snow Maiden began to quarrel more often. Sometimes Grandfather Frost wouldn't thank his granddaughter for her help, he wouldn't even say a simple "thank you." Sometimes the granddaughter would suddenly get upset, start being rude to grandfather, he'd say one thing and she'd answer 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-Obizhaka watched this and rejoiced at how cleverly it was working out. But the nasty Byaka-Obizhaka wanted to make grandfather and granddaughter quarrel even more.
Byaka-Obizhaka came up with a cunning plan: to waylay Snow Maiden 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.
There was less and less time until winter, but Byaka-Obizhaka couldn't find a good moment to approach Snow Maiden. Grandfather Frost, as if sensing that something was wrong, wouldn't let his granddaughter go anywhere alone.
Autumn turned to winter, the days flew by even faster than before. Grandfather Frost began preparing gifts, and all the household chores fell on Snow Maiden. That's when Byaka-Obizhaka overheard a conversation:
Go, my dear granddaughter, into the forest and call the good forest creatures to help us, otherwise we won't manage to prepare all the gifts before the holiday.
But why should I go into the forest, grandfather? Today I tidied up the cottage, prepared lunch, changed the bedding, and what were you doing?
Snow Maiden, 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 for it 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-Obizhaka 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 more. She spoke evil but magical words. And she watched to see if it would work, if Grandfather Frost and Snow Maiden would succumb to her spell.
You've completely lost your mind, grandfather! — Snow Maiden suddenly answered loudly after a long silence.
How dare you speak to your grandfather like that, you impudent girl! I raised you, taught you manners, and you're so rude to me in my old age.
Why are you talking such nonsense like a madman? Did you forget that Mikhail Potapovich sleeps in winter! How could he help me carry firewood according to you?
Listen here, Snow Maiden, I won't tolerate this kind of treatment in my own cottage. Now apologize at once.
You apologize first, grandfather.
If you don't want to apologize, 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!
Snow Maiden ran outside in tears, and Grandfather Frost's head ached from frustration. And the cunning Byaka-Obizhaka didn't waste time. She turned into a fox and caught up with Snow Maiden, saying:
Oh, Snow Maiden, my dear, I see you have trouble. How can I help?
Dear little fox, I don't even know what came over me. I hurt Grandfather Frost's feelings, and now I don't know how to go apologize. I'm so 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 Snow Maiden, 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, dear fox, thank you so much! Go quickly!
Snow Maiden stayed to wait for the fox, but her heart was troubled. She couldn't bring herself to approach the cottage, she was so ashamed of her harsh words.
And Byaka-Obizhaka ran to the cottage and turned into a grey hare. She enters the house and says:
Grandfather Frost! What happened? Snow Maiden 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 much? Dear little hare, I don't know what came over me. Show me, my friend, where you last saw her. I'll run and apologize to her and bring her home.
Grandfather Frost, you shouldn't run through the forest, and Snow Maiden asked me not to let anyone follow her. She said she'll never forgive whoever comes after her.
What should I do then? How can I bring my beloved granddaughter home?
Let's do this, Grandfather Frost: write a letter to your granddaughter and tell her everything you think. I'll find her trail in the forest and follow 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 Snow Maiden, which means the holiday won't come and we'll stay in the old year forever. Don't let me down, little grey one!
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 scattering of sparkling silver snowflakes.
Pleased, Byaka-Obizhaka in her hare form took the envelope from grandfather 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 Snow Maiden among the trees. As soon as Snow Maiden saw her, she started asking:
Dear little fox, what did Grandfather Frost say? Did he forgive silly me?
Oh, Snow Maiden, my dear, I don't want to upset you, but I don't know what to say.
Tell me the truth, I can take it. 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. Your harsh words hurt him too much. 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.
Snow Maiden couldn't hold back her tears. Byaka-Obizhaka's words hurt her so deeply that she couldn't even find words to speak.
Snow Maiden, don't cry, 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 forest creatures for the holiday?
Don't worry about New Year, Snow Maiden. 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 misfortune. How did this happen! Help me, dear fox, I'm afraid I won't make it alone.
Byaka-Obizhaka was flustered. She hadn't expected to have to lead Snow Maiden out of the forest herself, and she needed to hide the magical letter. But how could she refuse? If the fox abandoned Snow Maiden in trouble, she'd surely realize something was wrong and the deception would be exposed. Byaka-Obizhaka decided to go with Snow Maiden, lead her deeper 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-Obizhaka said to Snow Maiden:
It's time for me to go home, dear Snow Maiden. You can make it the rest of the way yourself.
Thank you, dear fox, for helping me. I don't know how to thank you.
The fox swished her fluffy tail and ran away without saying goodbye. But she dropped Grandfather Frost's letter. Snow Maiden looked at the letter and couldn't understand how she ended up in the forest. She decided to call the fox and tell her she'd dropped the letter. She cried out:
Fox! Little fox! Where did you go?
The fox didn't answer. Snow Maiden 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. Snow Maiden understood it was a letter from grandfather. She brushed away the magical sparkles and saw the inscription: "To my beloved granddaughter, Snow Maiden."
Snow Maiden couldn't believe her happiness! Grandfather Frost had written her a letter and apparently gave it to the fox to deliver, but she didn't tell her! The cunning thing deceived her! Snow Maiden opened the letter and read:
Dear granddaughter, Snow Maiden. Forgive me, an old man, for harsh and hurtful words. I was wrong, I repent. I beg you not to go into the forest, not to abandon me, not to deprive the children of the holiday! I promise to help you with everything and love you even more than before. Your Grandfather Frost.
Snow Maiden 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 Snow Maiden knew every path in it. She'd played among these familiar trees her whole childhood.
Grandfather Frost paced around the cottage beside himself. 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 it had human paws. Grandfather Frost took his magical staff, stepped 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 creature 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-Obizhaka appeared before Grandfather Frost in her true form.
So that's who you really are! Byaka-Obizhaka has come to our forest. That's why Snow Maiden and I have been quarreling all year!
I don't know, Grandfather Frost. I haven't done anything, I haven't hurt anyone. I just live nearby...
Where did you take my beloved granddaughter, Snow Maiden? Confess!
I don't understand what you mean, Grandfather Frost. Let me go, it's late already.
Then Snow Maiden 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.
My beloved granddaughter, how wrong I was to send you away from home. Forgive me, it was Byaka-Obizhaka 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-Obizhaka cast a spell on me too.
Grandfather and granddaughter made up and decided to teach Byaka-Obizhaka a lesson, to drive her out of the forest once and for all, and to warn all the animals that if anyone starts quarreling 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 their duties equally 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 tasks for New Year and threw such a celebration that everyone talked about it for the whole next year!
