Once upon a time there lived an old man and an old woman. They had a granddaughter, Snegurushka. She went berry picking with her friends in the summer. They walk through the forest, picking berries. Tree by tree, bush by bush. And the Snow Maiden fell behind her friends. They yelled and yelled at her, but the Snow Maiden didn’t hear. It had already become dark, the friends went home. As soon as the Snow Maiden saw that she was left alone, she climbed a tree and began to cry bitterly and chant:
-?Aw! Aw! Snow Maiden, oh! Aw! my dear! Grandfather and grandmother had a granddaughter, Snegurushka; Her friends lured her into the forest, Having lured her, they left her.
A bear walks and asks: —? What are you crying about, Snow Maiden? —? How can I, Father Bear, not cry? I am alone with my grandfather, and my granddaughter Snegurushka is with my grandmother. My friends lured me into the forest, and having lured me, they left me. —? Come down, I’ll take you home. —? No. I'm afraid of you, you'll eat me! The bear left her. She began to cry again and began to sing:
-?Aw! Aw! Snow Maiden, oh! Aw! darling!
A wolf is coming:—?What are you crying about, Snow Maiden?—?How can I, gray wolf, not cry, my friends lured me into the forest, and having lured me, they left me.—?Come down, I’ll take you home.—?No. You will eat me! The wolf left, and the Snow Maiden began to cry again and began to sing:
-?Aw! Aw! Snow Maiden, oh! Aw! darling!
A fox is walking:—?Why are you crying, Snow Maiden?—?How can I, Lisa-Olisava, not cry? My friends lured me into the forest, and having lured me, they left me. “Come down, I’ll carry you.” The Snow Maiden came down, sat on the fox’s back, and she rushed off with her. She ran to the house and began knocking on the gate with her tail. “Who’s there?” The fox answers: “I brought your granddaughter Snegurushka!” “Oh, you are our dear, dear Fox-Olisa!” Come into our hut. Where should we put you? What should we treat you with? They brought milk, eggs, cottage cheese and began to treat the fox for her service. And then they said goodbye and gave her another chicken for the road.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru