Atondido Stories
"This is no place for you, my child," Great January said.
"Why are you here?"
"I'm hunting for violets," Marushka answered.
"Violets? This is no time to look for violets with snow on the
ground!"
"I know that, sir, but my sister, Holena, says I must bring her
violets from the forest or she'll kill me and my mother says so,
too. Please, sir, won't you tell me where I can find some?"
Great January slowly stood up and walked over to the
youngest Month. He handed him a long staff and said:
"Here, March, you take the high seat."
So March took the high seat and began waving the staff over
the fire. The fire blazed up and instantly the snow all about be-
gan to melt. The trees burst into bud; the grass revived; the little
pink buds of the daisies appeared; and, lo, it was spring!
While Marushka looked, violets began to peep out from
among the leaves and soon it was as if a great blue quilt had
been spread on the ground.
"Now, Marushka," March cried, "there are your violets! Pick
them quickly!"
Marushka was overjoyed. She stooped down and gathered a
great bunch. Then she thanked the Months politely, bade them
good-day, and hurried away.
Just imagine Holena and the stepmother's surprise when
they saw Marushka coming home through the snow with her
hands full of violets. They opened the door and instantly the fra-
grance of the flowers filled the cottage.
"Where did you get them?" Holena demanded rudely.
"High up in the mountain," Marushka said. "The ground up
there is covered with them."
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