PRETTY
MAR-
USCHKA

odour. A constant hum of bees and beetles and flies
sounded through the wood. Maruschka looked
about her for apples, and beheld a tree on whose
branches hung the ruddy fruit.
‘Quick, Maruschka, shake!’ commanded Sep-
tember. Then she shook, and there fell an apple;
she shook again, and there fell another. ‘Quick,
Maruschka, hasten home!’ said the Month.
Then she courtesied to the Twelve, thanked them
cordially, and returned to the house of her step-
mother.
Helena marvelled not a little when she saw the
red apples.
‘How many have you plucked ?’ she asked.
‘Only two.’
‘Where did you find them 2?’
‘High up, on the mountain-top, on a tree weighed
down with them.’
‘Why did you not gather more? Did you not eat
them on your way home?’ asked Helena, fiercely.
‘Oh, dear sister, I have not tasted one! I shook
once, and down fell an apple; I shook twice, and
there fell another. I might not bring away more.’
Helena struck her, and drove her to the kitchen.
Then she tasted one of the apples. Never before
had she eaten one so sweet. and juicy. The step-
mother ate the second.
‘Mother!’ exclaimed Helena, ‘give me my fur
dress. I will go to the hill and bring some apples.
That hussey has eaten all she took except two.’
Then she wrapped herself up, and hurried into the
wood. The snow lay deep, and nowhere was a
human footprint.. Helena lost herself; but presently
she was aware of a hill, anda fire burning at the
summit. She hastened to the light. There she
saw a great blaze, and round it sat the twelve
Months, silent and solemn. He with the long
snowy locks sat on the seat of honour, holding
the rod of power. Helena stared at them, then,
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