` What is it ? ' cried Ivan , crossing himself . ` Am I mad , or is the thing bewitched ? ' The snow-child bent its head as if it had been really alive . It moved its little arms and its little legs in the snow that lay about it just as the living children did theirs . ` Ah ! Ivan , Ivan , ' exclaimed Marie , trembling with joy , ` heaven has sent us a child at last ! ' And she threw herself upon Snowflake -LRB- for that was the snow-child 's name -RRB- and covered her with kisses . And the loose snow fell away from Snowflake as an egg shell does from an egg , and it was a little girl whom Marie held in her arms . ` Oh ! my darling Snowflake ! ' cried the old woman , and led her into the cottage . And Snowflake grew fast ; each hour as well as each day made a difference , and every day she became more and more beautiful . The old couple hardly knew how to contain themselves for joy , and thought of nothing else . The cottage was always full of village children , for they amused Snowflake , and there was nothing in the world they would not have done to amuse her . She was their doll , and they were continually inventing new dresses for her , and teaching her songs or playing with her . Nobody knew how clever she was ! She noticed everything , and could learn a lesson in a moment . Anyone would have taken her for thirteen at least ! And , besides all that , she was so good and obedient ; and so pretty , too !
Her skin was as white as snow , her eyes XXXXX blue as forget-me-nots , and her hair was long and golden .
about as at besides for into of that to upon