So Marie kissed the girl and said : ` Go , my Snowflake , and be happy with your friends , and you , dear children , be careful of her . You know she is the light of my eyes to me . ' ` Oh , we will take care of her , ' cried the girls gaily , and they ran off to the woods . There they wore wreaths , gathered nosegays , and sang songs some sad , some merry . And whatever they did Snowflake did too . When the sun set they lit a fire of dry grass , and placed themselves in a row , Snowflake being the last of all . ` Now , watch us , ' they said , ` and run just as we do . ' And they all began to sing and to jump one after another across the fire . Suddenly , close behind them , they heard a sigh , then a groan . ` Ah ! ' They turned hastily and looked at each other . There was nothing . They looked again . Where was Snowflake ? She has hidden herself for fun , they thought , and searched for her everywhere . ` Snowflake ! Snowflake ! ' But there was no answer . ` Where can she be ? Oh , she must have gone home . '
They returned XXXXX the village , but there was no Snowflake .
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