| The Queen, believing, of course, that Snow-White was dead, and that therefore she was again the most beautiful lady in the land, went to her mirror, and said, "Mirror, mirror upon the wall. Who is the fairest of all?" Then the mirror answered, "O Lady Queen, though fair ye be, Snow-White is fairer far to see. Over the hills and far away, she dwells with seven dwarves today." How angry she was, for she knew that the mirror spoke the truth, and that the huntsman must have decieved her. She thought and thought how she might kill Snow-White, for she knew she would have neither rest nor peace until she really was the most beautiful lady in the land. At length she decided what to do. She painted her face and dressed herself like an old pelar-woman, so that no one could recognize her, and in this disguise she climbed the seven mountains that lay between her and the dwarves' house, and knocked at their door and cried, "Good wares to sell. Very cheap today!" Snow-White peeped from the window and said, "Good day, good wife and what are your wares?" "All sorts of pretty things, my dear," answered the woman. "Silken laces of every color," and she held up a bright-colored one, made of plaited silks. "Surely I might let this honest old woman come in?" thought Snow-White, and unbolted hte door and bought the pretty lace. "Dear, ear, what a figure you are, child," said the old woman. "Come, let me lace you properly for once." Snow-White had no suspicious thoughts, so she placed herself in front of the old woman that she might fasten her dress with the new silk lace. But in less than no time the wicked creature had laced her so tightly that she could not breathe, but fell down upon the ground as though she were dead. "Now," said the Queen. "I am once more the most beautiful lady in the land." And she went away. |
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| When the dwarves came home they were very grieved to find their dear little Snow-White lying upon the ground as though she were dead. They lifted her gently and, seeing that she was too tightly laced, they cut the silken cord. Then she drew a long breath and then gradually came back to life. When the dwarves heard all that had happened they said, "The pedlar-woman was certainly the wicked Queen. Now, take care in the future that you open the door to none when we are not with you." The wicked Queen had no sooner reached home than she went to her mirror and said, "Mirror, mirror upon the wall. Who is the fairest of all?" The mirror answered as before, "O Lady Queen, though fair ye be, Snow-White is farier far to see. Over the hills and far away, she lives with the seven dwarves today." The blood rushed to her face as she heard these words, for she knew that Snow-White must have come to life again. "Snow-White shall die," she cried. "Even if it costs me my own life to manage it." She went into a secret chamber, where no one else ever entered, and there she made a poisonous apple, and then she painted her face and diguised herself as a peasant woman, and climbed the seven mountains and went to the dwarf's house. |
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| She knocked at the door. Snow-White put her head out of the window and said, "I must not let anyone in. The seven dwarves have forbidden me to do so." "It's all the same to me," answered the peasant woman. "I shall soon get rid of these fine apples. But before I go I'll make you a present of one." |
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