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 as blue as forget-me-nots , and her hair was long and golden . 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 XXXXX the cottage .
So as at in into of on that to upon