Morozko

In a little house at the edge of the forest lived a girl named Nastenka with her stepmother. The stepmother loved her own daughter dearly, but made Nastenka work from morning till night — and was never quite satisfied.

One winter day the stepmother sent Nastenka alone into the forest, without even a warm coat. The girl trudged through the snowdrifts, shivering with cold, until she met old Morozko — the guardian of the winter woods.

"Are you warm, my dear?" asked Morozko, tapping his frosty staff. Cold as she was, Nastenka answered gently, "I am warm, grandfather Morozko, thank you." She answered so three times, and each time Morozko looked at her a little more kindly, moved by her patience and good manners.

Touched by her kindness, Morozko wrapped Nastenka in a warm fur coat, gave her a chest of silver and gold, and drove her home on his sleigh.

Seeing the rich gifts, the stepmother sent her own daughter into the forest too — but the girl was rude to Morozko and complained about the cold. Old Morozko sighed and sent her home empty-handed, though safe and sound — with a lesson to remember.

From that day on, only kind words were spoken in that little house. Goodnight.