Once upon a time, in a small village in a cold northern country, there lived a woodcutter named Mosaku with his son Minokichi. One cold winter morning, when the snow was too deep to cut down trees, Mosaku and Minokichi went hunting. They spent the whole day in the forest, struggling through the snow, but did not even catch a rabbit. It was already well after noon when the sky was suddenly covered with black clouds, and, covering their traces, snow began to fall. With great difficulty they managed to get to the woodcutter’s hut. “We’ll wait out the storm here,” said Mosaku, throwing branches into the fireplace. “I’m afraid there’s nothing else left for us,” answered the son. The men sat and warmed themselves by the cheerful fire, while the cold wind howled outside the window. During the heartfelt conversation, time passed unnoticed. And it was already quite late when Mosaku began to be overcome by sleep. “You know, son,” said Mosaku. - When a person is as old as me, he wants grandchildren. Isn't it time for you to think about getting married? Miyokichi blushed and looked thoughtfully at the fire. They were very tired that day and soon fell asleep. A snow storm howled outside, and it was already past midnight when a strong gust of wind suddenly threw the door open. Snow flew inside, covering the fire. It became very cold. Minokichi woke up, sat up and suddenly saw a woman standing on the threshold of the hut.
- Who's here? - Minokichi exclaimed. A beautiful woman dressed in white flowing silk stepped out of the shadows. Her hair was long and black, and her skin was so pale and smooth that it reminded Minokichi of ivory. But, looking into her cold, deep eyes, I felt goosebumps run through my skin. The woman, not paying any attention to him, slowly approached her sleeping father. Minokichi watched helplessly as she leaned over him and exhaled a white cloud that enveloped the old man like a ghost. “Father,” Minokichi exclaimed, trembling all over. “Father!” But there was no answer. The woman turned and walked towards him. “Help!” - Minokichi shouted and jumped up to run away, but the woman blocked his path. She looked intently into his eyes, and suddenly her hard gaze softened, and a soft smile touched her lips. “You are young and full of life,” she whispered. “Youth is a wonderful thing, and therefore I will leave you to live.” But remember: if you tell anyone about what happened tonight, you will die too. A new gust of wind and snow rushed into the hut, and the woman disappeared. Minokichi's legs gave way and he fell unconscious. Maybe it was just a bad dream. But when I woke up in the morning. Minokichi saw the door open, the fire extinguished, and his father lying next to him frozen. Many fellow villagers came to Mosaku’s funeral. to pay last respects to him and support his son in misfortune. “It was the most terrible snow storm I have ever seen,” Minokichi told them, shedding tears and sadly shaking his head. He didn't say a word about the mysterious woman in white.
A year has passed. Another winter has passed. One day, Minokichi, looking out of the window, saw a young woman. The woman was looking for shelter for the night and didn't even have an umbrella. He invited her to wait out the rain. Her name was Yuki. and she was on her way to the capital. When Minokichi found out that the girl was traveling alone, he wanted to help her. The young people drank tea and could not stop talking. They fell in love with each other without even knowing when it happened. Yuka did not make it to the capital. She stayed with Minokichi and they soon got married. Everything was fine. Over time, the family had five healthy children. Yuki became a cheerful and caring mother, and Minokichi became the happiest person. The only thing that seriously worried him was his wife's health. On hot days she felt weak and perked up only with the onset of coolness in the evening. Minokichi always treated her with love and care. One evening, while Yuki was embroidering, Minokichi looked at her and thought for the thousandth time: “How beautiful she is!” “Yuki,” he said, “you haven’t changed at all over the years and still seem as young and beautiful as the day we met.” Suddenly, looking at her profile, he suddenly remembered what happened a long time ago. Something I never told anyone about.
“You know, I just realized,” he said, “you remind me of someone I already saw once.” Or I think I saw it. - Who was it? - Yukki asked, looking up from her sewing. “Do you remember I told you about the terrible snowstorm that my father and I got into when I was twenty years old?” That's when I saw Her. And to this day I’m not entirely sure, maybe it was a dream? But... Minokichi hesitated. “Have you ever heard stories about the Snow Woman?” “You still told about it, didn’t you?” “Yuki said sharply and looked at him with a grin. “But I warned you not to tell anyone about this.” “What do you mean?” Yukki, what's the matter? Where are you going? Yuki stood up and headed towards the door. As she walked to the door, her kimono became white as snow... “Yukki,” Minokichi said with difficulty. “Yuki!” You! You? Yes, Yuki turned out to be the Snow Woman. And now that Minokichi had broken his promise, she had to decide what to do with him. But, fortunately, even the Snow Woman could not take the life of the person she loved. “Yukki, don’t go,” Minokichi exclaimed, rushing after her. “Why, Minokichi?” Why did you tell everything? I so wanted to stay with you forever! Yuki’s cold dark eyes filled with tears. “I will never forget you, Minokichi, I will never forget the happy days we lived together.” Take care of yourself and our children. Farewell, my love. The door opened, a cold wind rushed into the room, and Yuki disappeared without a trace. Minokichi ran out into the empty street. “Yuki!” Yuki!!!
Minokichi never saw his wife again. But people in this northern country said that on cold snowy nights, the one they call Yuki Onna - the Snow Woman - still wanders the slopes of the mountains and looks for a life partner who can keep her secret.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru