25-snow-white and rose-red-第2章

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anyone　else？　You're　already　two　too　many　for　me。

Does　nothing　better　occur　to　you　than　that？〃　〃Don't　be

so　impatient；〃　said　Snow…white；　〃I'll　see　you　get　help；〃

and　taking　her　scissors　out　of　her　pocket　she　cut　off　the

end　of　his　beard。　As　soon　as　the　dwarf　felt　himself　free　he

seized　a　bag　full　of　gold　which　was　hidden　among　the

roots　of　the　tree；　lifted　it　up；　and　muttered　aloud：　〃Curse

these　rude　wretches；　cutting　off　a　piece　of　my　splendid

beard！〃　With　these　words　he　swung　the　bag　over　his

back；　and　disappeared　without　as　much　as　looking　at　the

children　again。



Shortly　after　this　Snow…white　and　Rose…red　went　out

to　get　a　dish　of　fish。　As　they　approached　the　stream　they

saw　something　which　looked　like　an　enormous　grasshopper

springing　toward　the　water　as　if　it　were　going　to　jump　in。

They　ran　forward　and　recognized　their　old　friend　the

dwarf。　〃Where　are　you　going　to？〃　asked　Rose…red；　〃you're

surely　not　going　to　jump　into　the　water？〃　〃I'm　not　such

a　fool；〃　screamed　the　dwarf。　〃Don't　you　see　that　cursed

fish　is　trying　to　drag　me　in？〃　The　little　man　had　been

sitting　on　the　bank　fishing；　when　unfortunately　the　wind

had　entangled　his　beard　in　the　line；　and　when　immediately

afterward　a　big　fish　bit；　the　feeble　little　creature　had　no

strength　to　pull　it　out；　the　fish　had　the　upper　fin；　and

dragged　the　dwarf　toward　him。　He　clung　on　with　all　his

might　to　every　rush　and　blade　of　grass；　but　it　didn't　help

him　much；　he　had　to　follow　every　movement　of　the　fish；

and　was　in　great　danger　of　being　drawn　into　the　water。

The　girls　came　up　just　at　the　right　moment；　held　him

firm；　and　did　all　they　could　to　disentangle　his　beard　from

the　line；　but　in　vain；　beard　and　line　were　in　a　hopeless

muddle。　Nothing　remained　but　to　produce　the　scissors

and　cut　the　beard；　by　which　a　small　part　of　it　was　sacrificed。



When　the　dwarf　perceived　what　they　were　about　he

yelled　to　them：　〃Do　you　call　that　manners；　you　toad…

stools！　to　disfigure　a　fellow's　face？　It　wasn't　enough　that

you　shortened　my　beard　before；　but　you　must　now　needs

cut　off　the　best　bit　of　it。　I　can't　appear　like　this　before

my　own　people。　I　wish　you'd　been　in　Jericho　first。〃　Then

he　fetched　a　sack　of　pearls　that　lay　among　the　rushes；　and

without　saying　another　word　he　dragged　it　away　and

disappeared　behind　a　stone。



It　happened　that　soon　after　this　the　mother　sent　the

two　girls　to　the　town　to　buy　needles；　thread；　laces；　and

ribbons。　Their　road　led　over　a　heath　where　huge　boulders

of　rock　lay　scattered　here　and　there。　While　trudging

along　they　saw　a　big　bird　hovering　in　the　air；　circling

slowly　above　them；　but　always　descending　lower；　till　at

last　it　settled　on　a　rock　not　far　from　them。　Immediately

afterward　they　heard　a　sharp；　piercing　cry。　They　ran

forward；　and　saw　with　horror　that　the　eagle　had　pounced

on　their　old　friend　the　dwarf；　and　was　about　to　carry　him

off。　The　tender…hearted　children　seized　hold　of　the　little

man；　and　struggled　so　long　with　the　bird　that　at　last　he

let　go　his　prey。　When　the　dwarf　had　recovered　from　the

first　shock　he　screamed　in　his　screeching　voice：　〃Couldn't

you　have　treated　me　more　carefully？　You　have　torn　my

thin　little　coat　all　to　shreds；　useless；　awkward　hussies　that

you　are！〃　Then　he　took　a　bag　of　precious　stones　and

vanished　under　the　rocks　into　his　cave。　The　girls　were

accustomed　to　his　ingratitude；　and　went　on　their　way　and

did　their　business　in　town。　On　their　way　home；　as　they

were　again　passing　the　heath；　they　surprised　the　dwarf

pouring　out　his　precious　stones　on　an　open　space；　for　he

had　thought　no　one　would　pass　by　at　so　late　an　hour。　The

evening　sun　shone　on　the　glittering　stones；　and　they

glanced　and　gleamed　so　beautifully　that　the　children　stood

still　and　gazed　on　them。　〃What　are　you　standing　there

gaping　for？〃　screamed　the　dwarf；　and　his　ashen…gray　face

became　scarlet　with　rage。　He　was　about　to　go　off　with

these　angry　words　when　a　sudden　growl　was　heard；　and

a　black　bear　trotted　out　of　the　wood。　The　dwarf　jumped

up　in　great　fright；　but　he　hadn't　time　to　reach　his　place　of

retreat；　for　the　bear　was　already　close　to　him。　Then　he

cried　in　terror：　〃Dear　Mr。　Bear；　spare　me！　I'll　give　you

all　my　treasure。　Look　at　those　beautiful　precious　stones

lying　there。　Spare　my　life！　what　pleasure　would　you　get

from　a　poor　feeble　little　fellow　like　me？　You　won't　feel

me　between　your　teeth。　There；　lay　hold　of　these　two

wicked　girls；　they　will　be　a　tender　morsel　for　you；　as　fat

as　young　quails；　eat　them　up；　for　heaven's　sake。〃　But　the

bear；　paying　no　attention　to　his　words；　gave　the　evil　little

creature　one　blow　with　his　paw；　and　he　never　moved

again。



The　girls　had　run　away；　but　the　bear　called　after　them：

〃Snow…white　and　Rose…red；　don't　be　afraid；　wait；　and

I'll　come　with　you。〃　Then　they　recognized　his　voice　and

stood　still；　and　when　the　bear　was　quite　close　to　them　his

skin　suddenly　fell　off；　and　a　beautiful　man　stood　beside

them；　all　dressed　in　gold。　〃I　am　a　king's　son；〃　he　said；

〃and　have　been　doomed　by　that　unholy　little　dwarf；　who

had　stolen　my　treasure；　to　roam　about　the　woods　as　a

wild　bear　till　his　death　should　set　me　free。　Now　he　has

got　his　well…merited　punishment。〃



Snow…white　married　him；　and　Rose…red　his　brother；　and

they　divided　the　great　treasure　the　dwarf　had　collected

in　his　cave　between　them。　The　old　mother　lived　for　many

years　peacefully　with　her　children；　and　she　carried　the

two　rose　trees　with　her；　and　they　stood　in　front　of　her

window；　and　every　year　they　bore　the　finest　red　and　white

roses。＇1＇





＇1＇　Grimm。