Grumbling, the daughter DID AS SHE WAS TOLD. She PUT ON HER WARMEST COAT and HAT and BOOTS. When she was on the SLED, her MOTHER BUNDLED HER UP IN FURS and BLANKETS. Then the old servant DROVE her TO THE FIELD and LEFT HER THERE, just as the MORNING SUN turned the ICE CRYSTALS BRIGHT as DIAMONDS.
The daughter SAT ON HER PILE OF FURS and TRIED TO KEEP HER EYES OPEN.
SUDDENLY JACK FROST came prancing FROM the EDGE of the FOREST. 'Young woman, young woman, I am Jack Frost the Ruby-Nosed, " he said.
"Then BE QUICK and BRING ME a TREASURE," said the widow's daughter, WHO THOUGHT
HE looked FOOLISH with his LEAPING about and jingling BELLS and NOSE like an APPLE STUCK to the front of his FACE.
"Young woman, young woman, I am Jack Frost the Ruby-Nosed," he cried, DANCING CLOSER TO THE WIDOW'S GIRL. "And HERE IS YOUR GIFT of DIAMONDS and SILVER." And HE STRETCHED OUT HIS HANDS TO THE widow's DAUGHTER.
In the EVENING, while the stepdaughter stoked the FIRE, her STEPMOTHER ANXIOUSLY watched the DOOR for the RETURN of HER DAUGHTER.
SUDDENLY she HEARD the CREAK of THE GATE outside. WITHOUT WATING, she FLEW
to the DOOR and SAW the old servant standing beside the SLED, cap in hand. IMPATIENTLY the widow PULLED at the mound of FURS on the back of the SLED.
"My dear FOOLISH CHILD, COME OUT from UNDERNEATH. You will BE WARM INSIDE in a minute, but FIRST SHOW ME YOUR TREASURE."
To her HORROR, when the WIDOW PULLED BACK the LAST FUR, she SAW her DAUGHTER
LYING THERE, a COLD CORPSE.
SILVER SNOW FLAKES frosted her EYELASHES, and ICE like DIAMOND CHIPS beaded her
LIPS WHERE HER LAST BREATH HAD FROZEN.
The SHOCK WAS TOO MUCH, and GREEDY WIDOW FELL DOWN DEAD IN THE SNOW.
The STEPDAUGHTER BECAME MISTRESS OF THE FARM, where the old servant continued to serve her faithfully all the rest of his days.
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