Snegurochka and the Fox

Once upon a time, there lived an old man and an old woman. They had a granddaughter named Snegurochka (Snow Maiden).
One summer day, she went berry-picking with her friends. They wandered through the forest, picking berries, passing tree after tree, bush after bush. But Snegurochka fell behind her friends.
They called out to her, calling and calling, but Snegurochka didn’t hear them.
It grew dark, and the friends went home.
When Snegurochka realized she was alone, she climbed a tree and began to cry bitterly, singing:

— Oh! Oh! Snegurochka,
Oh! Oh! My dear!
Grandpa and Grandma had a granddaughter, Snegurochka;
Her friends lured her into the forest,
And then they left her behind.

A bear came by and asked:
— Why are you crying, Snegurochka?
— How can I not cry, Father Bear? I am Grandpa and Grandma’s only granddaughter, Snegurochka. My friends lured me into the forest and then left me behind.
— Come down, I’ll take you home.
— No, I’m afraid of you. You’ll eat me!
The bear went away. She cried again and sang:

— Oh! Oh! Snegurochka,
Oh! Oh! My dear!

A wolf came by:
— Why are you crying, Snegurochka?
— How can I not cry, Gray Wolf? My friends lured me into the forest and then left me behind.
— Come down, I’ll take you home.
— No, you’ll eat me!
The wolf went away, and Snegurochka cried again, singing:

— Oh! Oh! Snegurochka,
Oh! Oh! My dear!

A fox came by:
— Why are you crying, Snegurochka?
— How can I not cry, Foxy Fox? My friends lured me into the forest and then left me behind.
— Come down, I’ll take you.
Snegurochka climbed down and sat on the fox’s back, and the fox raced off with her. They reached the house, and the fox began tapping the gate with her tail.
— Who’s there?
The fox replied:
— I’ve brought your granddaughter, Snegurochka!
— Oh, our dear, sweet Foxy Fox! Come into our house. Where shall we seat you? What shall we treat you to?
They brought milk, eggs, and cottage cheese and began to feast the fox for her kindness. Then they said goodbye and gave her a chicken for the road.

More fairy tales

• The Bubble, the Straw, and the Shoe
• For a Bast Shoe - a Hen, for a Hen - a Goose
• The Little Speckled Hen
• The Goat
• Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka