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 Marushka picked an apronful of berries. Then she thanked the Months politely, bade them good-bye, and hurried home.

Just imagine again Holena and the stepmother’s surprise as they saw Marushka coming through the snow with an apronful of strawberries!

They opened the door and instantly the fragrance of the berries filled the house.

“Where did you get them?” Holena demanded rudely.

“High up in the mountain,” Marushka answered, “under the beech trees.”

Holena took the strawberries and gobbled and gobbled and gobbled. Then the stepmother ate all she wanted. But it never occurred to either of them to say:

“Here, Marushka, you take one.”

The next day when Holena was sitting idle, as usual, in the chimney corner, the notion took her that she must have some red apples. So she called Marushka and said:

“Here you, Marushka, go out to the forest and get me some red apples.”

“But, my dear sister,” Marushka gasped, “where can I find red apples in winter?”