Only her cheeks had no colour in them , but were as fair as her forehead . So the winter went on , till at last the spring sun mounted higher in the heavens and began to warm the earth . The grass grew green in the fields , and high in the air the larks were heard singing . The village girls met and danced in a ring , singing , ` Beautiful spring , how came you here ? How came you here ? Did you come on a plough , or was it a harrow ? ' Only Snowflake sat quite still by the window of the cottage . ` What is the matter , dear child ? ' asked Marie . ` Why are you so sad ? Are you ill ? or have they treated you unkindly ? ' ` No , ' replied Snowflake , ` it is nothing , mother ; no one has hurt me ; I am well . ' The spring sun had chased away the last snow from its hiding place under the hedges ; the fields were full of flowers ; nightingales sang in the trees , and all the world was gay . But the gayer grew the birds and the flowers the sadder became Snowflake . She hid herself from her playmates , and curled herself up where the shadows were deepest , like a lily amongst its leaves . Her only pleasure was to lie amid the green willows near some sparkling stream . At the dawn and at twilight only she seemed happy . When a great storm broke , and the earth was white with hail , she became bright and joyous as the Snowflake of old ; but when the clouds passed , and the hail melted beneath the sun , Snowflake would burst into tears and weep as a sister would weep over her brother . The spring passed , and it was the eve of St. John , or Midsummer Day .
This was the greatest holiday XXXXX the year , when the young girls met in the woods to dance and play .
So as at beneath by from of on over with