swstory2

Then, because she was so tired, she crept into one bed after the other, seeking for rest, but one was too long, another too short, and so on, until she came to the seventh, which suited her exactly; so she said her prayers and soon fell fast asleep.

When night fell the masters of the little house came home. They were seven dwarves, who worked with a pick-axe and spade, searching for copper and gold in the heart of the mountains. They lit their seven candles and then saw that someone had been to visit them. The first said, "Who has been sitting in my chair?"

The second said, "Who has been eating from my plate?"

The third said, "Who has taken a piece of my bread?"

The fourth, "Who has take some of my vegetables?"

The fifth, "Who has been using my fork?"

The sixth, "Who has been cutting with my knife?"

The seventh, "Who has been drinking out of my goblet?"

The first looked round and saw that his bed was rumpled, so he said, "Who has been getting into my bed?"

Then the others looked round and each one cried, "Someone has been on my bed too?"

But the seventh saw little Snow-White lying asleep in his bed, and called the others to come and look at her; and they cried aloud with surprise, and fetched their seven little candles, so that they might see her the better, and they were pleased with her beauty that they let her sleep on all night.

When the sun rose Snow-White awoke and, oh! How frightened she was when she saw the seven little dwarves. But they were very friendly, and asked what her name was.

"My name is Snow-White," she answered.

"And how did you come to get into our house?" questioned the dwarves.

Then she told them how her cruel step-mother had intended her to be killed, but how the huntsman had spared her life and she had run on until she reached the little house. And the dwarves said, "If you will take care of our house, cook for us, and make the beds, wash, mend, and knit, and keep everything neat and clean, then you may stay with us altogether and you shall want for nothing."

"WIth all my heart," answered Snow-White; and so she stayed. She kept the house neat and clean for the dwarves who went off early in the morning to search for copper and gold in the mountains, and who expected their meal to be standing ready for them when they returned at night. All day long Snow-White was alone, and the good little dwarves warned her to be careful to let no one in.

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