Her only pleasure was to lie amid the green willows near some sparkling stream . At the dawn and at twilight only she seemed happy . When a great storm broke , and the earth was white with hail , she became bright and joyous as the Snowflake of old ; but when the clouds passed , and the hail melted beneath the sun , Snowflake would burst into tears and weep as a sister would weep over her brother . The spring passed , and it was the eve of St. John , or Midsummer Day . This was the greatest holiday of the year , when the young girls met in the woods to dance and play . They went to fetch Snowflake , and said to Marie : ` Let her come and dance with us . ' But Marie was afraid ; she could not tell why , only she could not bear the child to go . Snowflake did not wish to go either , but they had no excuse ready . So Marie kissed the girl and said : ` Go , my Snowflake , and be happy with your friends , and you , dear children , be careful of her . You know she is the light of my eyes to me . ' ` Oh , we will take care of her , ' cried the girls gaily , and they ran off to the woods . There they wore wreaths , gathered nosegays , and sang songs some sad , some merry . And whatever they did Snowflake did too . When the sun set they lit a fire of dry grass , and placed themselves in a row , Snowflake being the last of all . ` Now , watch us , ' they said , ` and run just as we do . ' And they all began to sing and to jump one after another across the fire . Suddenly , close behind them , they heard a sigh , then a groan . ` Ah ! ' They turned hastily and looked at each other . There was nothing .
They XXXXX again .
broke heard looked melted said seemed take tell turned wore