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, without quarreling, and when disagreements do occur, they are always resolved kindly. Throughout the year, grandfather and granddaughter are occupied with simple household tasks. Chopping wood, stoking the stove, baking pies and cooking hearty soup. And with the onset of winter, their chores multiply greatly.
A creature called Byaka-Obizhaka came to live nearby 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 remain forever.
As soon as the spiteful Byaka-Obizhaka settled nearby, 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 flare up, 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-Obizhaka watched this and rejoiced at how cleverly things were working out. But the nasty Byaka-Obizhaka wanted to make grandfather and granddaughter quarrel even more severely.
Byaka-Obizhaka 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 grew shorter and shorter, but Byaka-Obizhaka 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 gave way to winter, and the days flew by faster than ever. Grandfather Frost began preparing gifts, while all the household chores fell on Snowmaiden's shoulders. That's when Byaka-Obizhaka overheard a conversation:
Go, my dear granddaughter, into the forest and call the kind forest creatures to help us, otherwise we won't manage to prepare all the gifts before the holiday.
But why should I go to the forest, grandfather? Today I cleaned the cottage, prepared lunch, changed the bedding, and what were you doing?
Snowmaiden, my child, what's come over you? Don't you know that I've been reading letters all day and wrapping gifts in beautiful holiday 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 get it myself? It's heavy, I can't manage alone.
That's why I'm asking you to go to the forest and find helpers. Call Mikhail Potapovich, he'll help you carry the firewood, while 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 cast a little more magic to make them quarrel even worse. She pronounced evil but magical words and began to watch whether it would work, whether Grandfather Frost and Snowmaiden would succumb to her spell.
You seem to have 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 now you're being rude to me in my old age.
Why are you talking nonsense like a madman? Have you forgotten that Mikhail Potapovich sleeps in winter? How could he help me carry firewood according to you?
Listen here, Snowmaiden, I won't tolerate this kind of behavior in my house. Now apologize at once.
You apologize first, grandfather.
If you don't want to apologize, go to 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 began to ache from frustration. And the cunning Byaka-Obizhaka didn't waste time. She turned into a fox and caught up with Snowmaiden, saying:
Oh, Snowmaiden, 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, and now I don't know how to go apologize. I'm so ashamed I can't even 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 grieve, don't be sad, 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 waited for the fox, but her heart was uneasy. She couldn't bring herself to approach the cottage, she was so ashamed of her harsh words.
But Byaka-Obizhaka ran to the cottage and turned into a gray 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 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.
But Grandfather Frost, you shouldn't run through the forest, and besides, Snowmaiden 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?
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.
That's a wonderful plan, little hare! How clever you are! I'll hurry to 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, little gray one!
Grandfather Frost worked hard on the letter, writing it with love, carefully forming each letter. He even enchanted the paper so it would glow with a blue light in the darkness so the hare wouldn't lose it. Grandfather Frost sealed the envelope and decorated it with a scattering of sparkling silver snowflakes.
Byaka-Obizhaka, pleased with herself, took the envelope from grandfather in her hare form and ran out of the cottage. Grandfather Frost watched her go for a long time from the window. 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 began asking:
Little fox, sister, what did Grandfather Frost say? Did he forgive silly me?
Oh, Snowmaiden, my dear, I don't want to upset you, and I don't know what to say.
Tell me the truth, I can take it. If grandfather wants to punish me somehow, 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.
And 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 house anymore, that you should leave the forest and never show your face to him again.
Snowmaiden couldn't hold back her tears. Byaka-Obizhaka's words wounded her so deeply that she couldn't even find words to speak.
Don't cry, Snowmaiden, you should leave the forest quickly so you don't anger Grandfather Frost even more. Besides, it's getting dark, you might get lost in the dark forest.
Little fox, dear, 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 Frost said he'll find himself a new helper, so you go, go now.
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-Obizhaka 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 would surely realize something was wrong and the deception would be exposed. Byaka-Obizhaka decided to go with Snowmaiden, 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 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 swished her fluffy tail and ran away without saying goodbye. But she dropped Grandfather Frost's letter. Snowmaiden 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:
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 that this was a letter from grandfather, 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 say anything! The cunning thing 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, don't go into the forest, don't 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 a dark forest, but Snowmaiden knew every path in it—she'd played among these familiar trees her whole childhood.
Grandfather Frost paced around 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 on the porch, and struck the ground three times. He said:
What kind of creature is this sitting by my house? 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 we've been having quarrels 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 did you take 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 wizard.
My dear granddaughter, how wrong I was to send you away from home. Forgive me, Byaka-Obizhaka cast a spell on me.
And you forgive me too, grandfather. I said many harsh words to you, I 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 punish Byaka-Obizhaka, 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 witch has settled nearby and they should quickly drive her away. And Grandfather Frost and Snowmaiden 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 New Year preparations and threw such a celebration that everyone talked about it for the whole next year!
