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 of the year , when the young girls met in the woods to dance and play . They went to fetch Snowflake , and said to Marie : ` Let her come and dance with us . ' But Marie was afraid ; she could not tell why , only she could not bear the child to go . Snowflake did not wish to go either , but they had no excuse ready .
So Marie kissed the girl and said : ` Go , my Snowflake , and be happy XXXXX your friends , and you , dear children , be careful of her .
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