Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/71

Rh dear, good girls thought that Martha being the eldest ought to marry first."

The old man hesitated.

"Well, yes, wife," he said at last. "My Martha ought certainly to marry, but the question is to whom; she cares for no one."

The woman laughed to herself.

"I know of a suitable husband," she said.

"Indeed, and who is he?" asked her husband astonished.

"Why, Jack Frost. He is rich, he is handsome, what more could she want? Look at all the fir and pine-trees, look at the ice and the snow,—they all belong to him, every one of them. I hear that he is looking about for a wife, and if he takes a fancy to Martha, which he is sure to do, no one could help it,—how rich she would be!"

The old peasant opened his eyes and mouth very wide, and stood staring at his wife in great surprise. However, thinking that she knew best, he at last asked her,—

"But where is this Jack Frost you speak of to be found?"

"In the forest, of course, you silly!"

"Yes, but that's rather a large order."

"Well, look here! Early to-morrow morning you must harness the horses to the sledge, take a large empty box, and drive into the forest with Martha—drive on until you come to a very dark pine thicket. In front of you, you will see an ice-hill, upon which stands a large fir-tree; put the box under this tree, and leave Martha with it; but don't tell her the reason