The guard looked very sad. He did not want to kill Snow White. She was such a good and kind girl, and very beautiful, too. Everybody in the palace loved her. He told her why the Queen had sent them to the forest. He had been ordered, he said, not only to kill her, but also to carry back her heart as proof that he had really killed her.
The Queen does not trust anybody, you know, he said.
Snow White could not believe his words.
How can the Queen be so cruel? What have I done? she sobbed.
Dear Princess, do not cry. You havent done anything wrong. The Queen is jealous of your beauty, so she wants you dead.
Oh! Please dont kill me. I will never return to the palace, but will go far away. The Queen will never see me again.
Run, little Princess, run. I will not kill you, remarked the guard sympathetically.
3
Snow White began to run away from the guard, deeper and deeper into the forest. The guard killed a small animal and took its heart back to the Queen. She was very happy to see it, because she thought it was Snow Whites heart.
Alone in the forest, Snow White began to feel very frightened, and drew the creatures of the forest around her. The birds chirped to cheer her up.
It was now getting dark, so she began to run again. She did not know where she was. She had never come to this part of the forest before. There were tall trees and dark shadows around her. Her forest friends followed her, all very frightened. In the distance she saw a small cottage and ran towards it.
I wonder who lives in that cottage? It must be a wood-mans cottage, she said.
She knocked at the door. No one answered. But the door was open, so she pushed it and went inside. It was dark inside. She found some candles and matchsticks. She lit a candle, raised it high above her head and looked around.
What a beautiful cottage! she exclaimed. Everything is so neat and clean.
She saw a long table laid for seven people. There were seven plates, seven bowls, seven forks and knives and seven drinking cups. There were seven chairs around the table. There was food and drinks in the plates and cups.
Whoever lives here is very short! she observed. Everything is so small chairs, plates, bowls, forks, knives and the drinking cups!
Snow White was very hungry. She had been walking and running the whole day without food. She had eaten some nuts and berries that she had found in the forest. Now she ate a piece of bread from each plate and drank some milk from each cup. She sliced and ate the cheese that she found in the centre of the table.
Now, let me see what there is upstairs, she said, and climbed the steps. Upstairs, she found seven beds neatly made up. She sat on one and found it very comfortable. She was tired, so she put the candle on the table, lay down across the seven beds and soon fell asleep.
4
This cottage was the home of seven dwarfs. They were miners, who spent the day digging for diamonds and gems in the mountains nearby. Every morning they took their sacks, picks and shovels and set off for the mountains. There they dug for diamonds and gems that they filled into their sacks. In the evenings, they lit their lanterns and returned to their cottage, singing as they came home.
Their singing stopped that evening, when they saw a light shining through one of the windows. They were amazed and looked at one another.
Someone is in our cottage! they exclaimed in chorus.
They walked slowly and carefully back to their cottage. Who could be in their cottage? They were afraid and crept in, making as little noise as possible.
Someone has eaten our food! said one of the dwarfs.
Some of our food, corrected one of the others.
Then they crept upstairs, scared that they might find a robber hiding there. When they saw Snow White asleep on their beds, they exclaimed softly, Its a girl! and raised their lanterns high to look at her. Shes so beautiful! they said.
Snow White was lying fast asleep, her curly head on one of their pillows. They all sat around her, wondering who she was.
Suddenly Snow White opened her eyes. She jumped up when she saw the seven dwarfs.
Oh, please dont be frightened of us, they said hastily. We will not harm you. We are miners who live here. Please tell us who you are and how you found our cottage.
Snow White told them her story and explained that now she had no home. Tears rolled down her eyes. Will you please let me stay here? Please! The Queen will kill me if I return to the palace.
Of course you can stay here as long as you wish.
Oh, thank you! Ill keep house for you, cook your meals and wash your clothes. Ill do everything for you, in return for your kindness.
5
One of the dwarfs cleared his throat and said, Let me introduce you our group. We are seven dwarfs, as you can see. My name is Happy, then there is Sneezy, Dopey, Bashful, Doc, Grumpy and Sleepy.
Snow White shook hands with each one.
Snow White and the seven dwarfs began to live happily together. She had never been happier. She sang as she worked and kept the cottage neat and tidy.
The dwarfs enjoyed the hot meals she served them every evening. Later there was a great deal of merriment, as they sang and danced before the fireplace. When it was time to go to bed, Snow White would tuck them into their beds and tell them bedtime stories. Afterwards, she would kiss them goodnight, take the candle and go down to bed herself.