Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/63

Rh child out of snow, as Providence does not seem to wish us to have a real one!"

"I do believe you are getting quite clever in your old age, Masha! Come along, then, and let us set to work."

Off went the old couple, laughing at themselves all the while, and sure enough they commenced making a snow-child! They made the legs, arms, hands, feet, and a snowball for the head.

"What, in the name of wonder, are you up to?" exclaimed a passer-by, stopping suddenly in front of the two old people.

"A snow-child!" laughed Masha, as she began to explain everything to the stranger.

"May the Saints help you!" said he, as he went his way.

When they had got the legs, arms, hands, feet, and head fixed up together, Akem began making the nose, two holes for the eyes, and was just drawing a small line for the mouth, when he suddenly, much to his surprise, felt warm breath come out of it. He took his hand away quickly, and on looking up at the two holes made for the eyes, beheld two real, beautiful blue eyes; the lips became full and rosy, and as for the nose, it was the dearest little nose ever seen.

"Good heavens! what does this mean? is it a temptation of the Evil One?" cried Akem, crossing himself several times, while the snow-child threw her arms round his neck, and kissed him as though she were alive.

"O Akem! Akem!" cried Masha, trembling with