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Once　upon　a　time　in　the　middle　of　winter；　when　the　flakes　of
snow　were　falling　like　feathers　from　the　sky；　a　queen　sat　at
a　window　sewing；　and　the　frame　of　the　window　was　made　of　black
ebony。　　And　whilst　she　was　sewing　and　looking　out　of　the　window
at　the　snow；　she　pricked　her　finger　with　the　needle；　and　three
drops　of　blood　fell　upon　the　snow。　　And　the　red　looked　pretty
upon　the　white　snow；　and　she　thought　to　herself；　would　that　I　had
a　child　as　white　as　snow；　as　red　as　blood；　and　as　black　as　the
wood　of　the　window…frame。

Soon　after　that　she　had　a　little　daughter；　who　was　as　white　as
snow；　and　as　red　as　blood；　and　her　hair　was　as　black　as　ebony；
and　she　was　therefore　called　little　snow…white。　　And　when　the
child　was　born；　the　queen　died。

After　a　year　had　passed　the　king　took　to　himself　another　wife。
She　was　a　beautiful　woman；　but　proud　and　haughty；　and　she　could
not　bear　that　anyone　else　chould　surpass　her　in　beauty。　　She
had　a　wonderful　looking…glass；　and　when　she　stood　in　front　of　it
and　looked　at　herself　in　it；　and　said；
　　　　　　　　　　looking…glass；　looking…glass；　on　the　wall；
　　　　　　　　　　who　in　this　land　is　the　fairest　of　all。

The　looking…glass　answered；
　　　　　　　　　　thou；　o　queen；　art　the　fairest　of　all。

Then　she　was　satisfied；　for　she　knew　that　the　looking…glass　spoke
the　truth。

But　snow…white　was　growing　up；　and　grew　more　and　more　beautiful；
and　when　she　was　seven　years　old　she　was　as　beautiful　as　the　day；
and　more　beautiful　than　the　queen　herself。　　And　once　when　the
queen　asked　her　looking…glass；
　　　　　　　　　　looking…glass；　looking…glass；　on　the　wall；
　　　　　　　　　　who　in　this　land　is　the　fairest　of　all。

It　answered；
　　　　　　　　　　thou　art　fairer　than　all　who　are　here；　lady　queen。
　　　　　　　　　　But　more　beautiful　still　is　snow…white；　as　I　ween。

Then　the　queen　was　shocked；　and　turned　yellow　and　green　with
envy。　　From　that　hour；　whenever　she　looked　at　snow…white；　her
heart　heaved　in　her　breast；　she　hated　the　girl　so　much。
And　envy　and　pride　grew　higher　and　higher　in　her　heart　like　a
weed；　so　that　she　had　no　peace　day　or　night。　　She　called　a
huntsman；　and　said；　take　the　child　away　into　the　forest。　　I　will
no　longer　have　her　in　my　sight。　　Kill　her；　and　bring　me　back　her
lung　and　liver　as　a　token。　　The　huntsman　obeyed；　and　took　her　away
but　when　he　had　drawn　his　knife；　and　was　about　to　pierce
snow…white's　innocent　heart；　she　began　to　weep；　and　said；　ah　dear
huntsman；　leave　me　my　life。　　I　will　run　away　into　the　wild　forest；
and　never　come　home　again。

And　as　she　was　so　beautiful　the　huntsman　had　pity　on　her　and
said；　run　away；　then；　you　poor　child。　　The　wild　beasts　will　soon
have　devoured　you；　thought　he；　and　yet　it　seemed　as　if　a　stone　had
been　rolled　from　his　heart　since　it　was　no　longer　needful　for
him　to　kill　her。　　And　as　a　young　bear　just　then　came　running　by
he　stabbed　it；　and　cut　out　its　lung　and　liver　and　took　them　to　the
queen　as　proof　that　the　child　was　dead。　　The　cook　had　to　salt　them；
and　the　wicked　queen　ate　them；　and　thought　she　had　eaten　the　lung
and　liver　of　snow…white。

But　now　the　poor　child　was　all　alone　in　the　great　forest；　and　so
terrified　that　she　looked　at　all　the　leaves　on　the　trees；　and　did
not　know　what　to　do。　　Then　she　began　to　run；　and　ran　over　sharp
stones　and　through　thorns；　and　the　wild　beasts　ran　past　her；　but
did　her　no　harm。

She　ran　as　long　as　her　feet　would　go　until　it　was　almost　evening；
then　she　saw　a　little　cottage　and　went　into　it　to　rest　herself。
Everything　in　the　cottage　was　small；　but　neater　and　cleaner　than
can　be　told。　　There　was　a　table　on　which　was　a　white　cover；　and
seven　little　plates；　and　on　each　plate　a　little　spoon；　moreover；
there　were　seven　little　knives　and　forks；　and　seven　little　mugs。
Against　the　wall　stood　seven　little　beds　side　by　side；　and
covered　with　snow…white　counterpanes。

Little　snow…white　was　so　hungry　and　thirsty　that　she　ate　some
vegetables　and　bread　from　each　plate　and　drank　a　drop　of　wine
out　of　each　mug；　for　she　did　not　wish　to　take　all　from　one　only。
Then；　as　she　was　so　tired；　she　laid　herself　down　on　one　of　the
little　beds；　but　none　of　them　suited　her；　one　was　too　long；
another　too　short；　but　at　last　she　found　that　the　seventh　one　was
right；　and　so　she　remained　in　it；　said　a　prayer　and　went　to
sleep。

When　it　was　quite　dark　the　owners　of　the　cottage　came　back。
They　were　seven　dwarfs　who　dug　and　delved　in　the　mountains　for
ore。　　They　lit　their　seven　candles；　and　as　it　was　now　light　within
the　cottage　they　saw　that　someone　had　been　there；　for　everything
was　not　in　the　same　order　in　which　they　had　left　it。

The　first　said；　who　has　been　sitting　on　my　chair。
The　second；　who　has　been　eating　off　my　plate。
The　third；　who　has　been　taking　some　of　my　bread。
The　fourth；　who　has　been　eating　my　vegetables。
The　fifth；　who　has　been　using　my　fork。
The　sixth；　who　has　been　cutting　with　my　knife。
The　seventh；　who　has　been　drinking　out　of　my　mug。

Then　the　first　looked　round　and　saw　that　there　was　a　little
hollow　on　his　bed；　and　he　said；　who　has　been　getting　into　my
bed。　　The　others　came　up　and　each　called　out；　somebody　has　been
lying　in　my　bed　too。　　But　the　seventh　when　he　looked　at　his　bed
saw　little　snow…white；　who　was　lying　asleep　therein。　　And　he
called　the　others；　who　came　running　up；　and　they　cried　out　with
astonishment；　and　brought　their　seven　little　candles　and　let　the
light　fall　on　little　snow…white。　　Oh；　heavens；　oh；　heavens；　cried
they；　what　a　lovely　child。　　And　they　were　so　glad　that　they　did
not　wake　her　up；　but　let　her　sleep　on　in　the　bed。　　And　the
seventh　dwarf　slept　with　his　companions；　one　hour　with　each；　and
so　passed　the　night。

When　it　was　morning　little　snow…white　awoke；　and　was　frightened
when　she　saw　the　seven　dwarfs。　　But　they　were　friendly　and　asked
her　what　her　name　was。　　My　name　is　snow…white；　she　answered。
How　have　you　come　to　our　house；　said　the　dwarfs。　　Then　she　told
them　that　her　step…mother　had　wished　to　have　her　killed；　but
that　the　huntsman　had　spared　her　life；　and　that　she　had　run　for
the　whole　day；　until　at　last　she　had　found　their　dwelling。

The　dwarfs　said；　if　you　will　take　care　of　our　house；　cook；　make
the　beds；　wash；　sew　and　knit；　and　if　you　will　keep　everything　neat
and　clean　you　can　stay　with　us　and　you　shall　want　for　nothing。
Yes；　said　snow…white；　with　all　my　heart。　　And　she　stayed　with
them。　　She　kept　the　house　in　order　for　them。　　In　the　mornings
they　went　to　the　mountains　and　looked　for　copper　and　gold；　in　the
evenings　they　came　back；　and　then　their　supper　had　to　be　ready。
The　girl　was　alone　the　whole　day；　so　the　good　dwarfs　warned　her
and　said；　beware　of　your　step…mother；　she　will　soon　know　that　you
are　here；　be　sure　to　let　no　one　come　in。

But　the　queen；　believing　that　she　had　eaten　snow…white's　lung　and
liver；　could　not　but　think　that　she　was　again　the　first　and　most
beautiful　of　all；　and　she　went　to　her　looking…glass　and　said；
looking…glass；　looking…glass；　on　the　wall；
　　　　　　　　　　who　in　this　land　is　the　fairest　of　all。

And　the　glass　answered；
　　　　　　　　　　oh；　queen；　thou　art　fairest　of　all　I　see；
　　　　　　　　　　but　over　the　hills；　where　the　seven　dwarfs　dwell；
　　　　　　　　　　snow…white　is　still　alive　and　well；
　　　　　　　　　　and　none　is　so　fair　as　she。

Then　she　was　astounded；　for　she　knew　that　the　looking…glass
never　spoke　falsely；　and　she　knew　that　the　huntsman　had　betrayed
her；　and　that　little　snow…white　was　still　alive。

And　so　she　thought　and　thought　again　how　she　might　kill　her；
for　so　long　as　she　was　not　the　fairest　in　the　whole　land；　envy　let
her　have　no　rest。　　And　when　she　had　at　last　thought　of　something
to　do；　she　painted　her　face；　and　dressed　herself　like　an　old
pedlar…woman；　and　no　one　could　have　known　her。　　In　this　disguise
she　went　over　the　seven　mountains　to　the　seven　dwarfs；　and
knocked　at　the　door　and　cried；　pretty　things　to　sell；　very　cheap；
very　cheap。　　Little　snow…white　looked　out　of　the　window　and　called
out；　good…day　my　good　woman；　what　have　you　to　sell。　　Good　things；
pretty　things；　she　answered；　stay…laces　of　all　colors；　and　she
pulled　out　one　which　was　woven　of　bright…colored　silk。　　I　may　let
the　worthy　old　woman　in；　thought　snow…white；　and　she　unbolted　the
door　and　bought　the　pretty　laces。　　Child；　said　the　old　woman；
what　a　fright　you　look；　come；　I　will　lace　you　properly　for　once。
Snow…white　had　no　suspicion；　but　stood　before　her；　and　let　herself
be　laced　with　the　new　laces。　　But　the　old　woman　laced　so　quickly
and　so　tightly　that　snow…white　lost　her　breath　and　fell　down　as
if　dead。　　Now　I　am　the　most　beautiful；　said　the　queen　to　herself；
and　ran　away。

Not　long　afterwards；　in　the　evening；　the　seven　dwarfs　came　home；
but　how　shocked　they　were　when　they　saw　their　dear　little　snow…white
lying　on　the　ground；　and　that　she　neither　stirred　nor
moved；　and　seemed　to　be　dead。　　They　lifted　her　up；　and；　as　they
saw　that　she　was　laced　too　tightly；　they　cut　the　laces；　then　she
began　to　breathe　a　little；　and　after　a　while　came　to　life　again。
When　the　dwarfs　heard　what　had　happened　they　said；　the　old
pedlar…woman　was　no　one
else　than　the　wicked　queen；　take　care　and　let　no　one　come　in
when　we　are　not　with　you。

But　the　wicked　woman　when　she　had　reached　home　went　in　front
of　the　glass　and　asked；
　　　　　　　　　　looking…glass；　looking…glass；　on　the　wall；
　　　　　　　　　　who　in　this　land　is　the　fairest　of　all。

And　it　answered　as　before；
　　　　　　　　　　oh；　queen；　thou　art　fairest　of　all　I　see；
　　　　　　　　　　but　over　the　hills；　where　the　seven　dwarfs　dwell；
　　　　　　　　　　snow…white　is　still　alive　and　well；
　　　　　　　　　　and　none　is　so　fair　as　she。

When　she　heard　that；　all　her　blood　rushed　to　her　heart　with　fear；
for　she　saw　plainly　that　little　snow…white　was　again　alive。
But　now；　she　said；　I　will　think　of　something　that　shall　really
put　an　end　to　you。　　And　by　the　help　of　witchcraft；　which　she
understood；　she　made　a　poisonous　comb。　　Then　she　disguised
herself　and　took　the　shape　of　another　old　woman。　　So　she　went
over　the　seven　mountains　to　the　seven　dwarfs；　knocked　at　the
door；　and　cried；　good　things　to　sell；　cheap；　cheap。　　Little
snow…white　looked　out　and　said；　go　away；　I　cannot　let　anyone　come
in。　　I　suppose　you　can　look；　said　the　old　woman；　and　pulled　the
poisonous　comb　out　and　held　it　up。　　It　pleased　the　girl　so　well
that　she　let　herself　be　beguiled；　and　opened　the　door。　　When　they
had　made　a　bargain　the　old　woman　said；　now　I　will　comb　you
properly　for　once。　　Poor　little　snow…white　had　no　su