Ts topelius is winter. C. Topelius

"Troll's Gift: Tales of Scandinavian Writers": Petrozavodsk: Karelia; 1993
Sakarias Topelius
Winter's tale
* * *
In a large dense forest, far in the north of Finland, two huge pine trees grew side by side. They were so old, so old, that no one, not even the gray moss, could remember if they had ever been young, thin pines. Their dark peaks were visible from everywhere, rising high above the thicket of the forest. In the spring, in the thick branches of old pines, thrush sang merry songs, and small pink heather flowers raised their heads and looked upward so timidly, as if they wanted to say: "Oh, will we really be the same big and the same old?"
In winter, when a blizzard covered the whole earth with a white blanket and heather flowers slept under fluffy snowdrifts, two pines, like two giants, guarded the forest.
A winter storm roared through the thicket, sweeping away the snow from the branches, breaking off the tops of the trees, and knocking down strong trunks. And only the giant pines always stood firm and straight, and no hurricane could make them bow their heads.
But if you are so strong and persistent, it means something!
At the edge of the forest, where old pine trees grew, on a small hillock huddled a hut, covered with turf, and looked out into the forest with two small windows. A poor peasant lived in this hut with his wife. They had a piece of land on which they sowed bread, and a small vegetable garden. That's all their wealth. And in winter, the peasant worked in the forest - chopping down trees and taking logs to the sawmill in order to save up a few coins for milk and butter.
The peasant and his wife had two children - a boy and a girl. The boy's name was Sylvester, and the girl's name was Sylvia.
And where did they find such names for them! Probably in the woods. After all, the word "silva" in the ancient Latin language means "forest".
One day - it was in winter - brother and sister, Sylvester and Sylvia, went into the forest to see if any forest animal or bird had fallen into the snares they had set up.
Indeed, a white hare was caught in one snare, and a ptarmigan in the other. Both the hare and the partridge were alive, they only got entangled in their paws in the snare and squeaked pitifully.
- Let me go! - murmured the hare when Sylvester approached him.
- Let me go! squeaked the partridge as Sylvia bent over her.
Sylvester and Sylvia were very surprised. They had never heard of forest animals and birds speaking humanly.
- Let's really let them go! Sylvia said.
And together with her brother, she began to carefully unravel the snares. As soon as the hare sensed freedom, he galloped as fast as he could into the depths of the forest. And the partridge flew away as fast as its wings could carry.
- Sub-prinebo! .. Sub-prinebo will do everything, whatever you ask! - shouted the hare at a gallop.
- Ask for a Hook! .. Ask for a Hook! .. And you will have everything you don't want! - shouted a partridge on the fly.
And again it became completely quiet in the forest.
- What did they say? - said Sylvester at last. - About what kind of Podopinebo and Hook?
“And I've never heard such strange names,” Sylvia said. “Who could it be?
At this time, a strong gust of wind swept through the forest. The tops of the old pines began to rustle, and in their noise Sylvester and Sylvia clearly heard the words.
- Well, buddy, are you still standing? one pine asked another. - Still holding the sky? It is not for nothing that the forest animals called you - Podopinebo!
- I'm standing! I'm holding it! - the other pine hummed. - How are you, old man? Are you still at war with the clouds? After all, it's not in vain that they say about you - I'll hook you!
- Something I am weakening, - rustled in response. - Today the wind broke off my upper branch. It can be seen that old age really comes!
- It is a sin for you to complain! You are only three hundred and fifty years old. You are still a child! Quite a child! But I've already turned three hundred and eighty-eight!
And the old pine sighed heavily.
- Look, the wind is coming back, - whispered the pine - the one that was younger. - It's so good to sing songs to his whistle! Let's sing with you about the distant past, about our youth. After all, you and I have something to remember!
And to the sound of a forest storm, the pines, swaying, sang their song:
We are shackled by the cold, we are in the snow captivity!
The blizzard is raging and raging.
Under its noise it tends us, the ancients, to sleep,
And we see old times in a dream -
The time when we, two friends,
Two young pines, climbed high
Above the unsteady green of the meadow.
Violets bloomed at our feet,
Whitewashed the needles of a blizzard for us,
And clouds flew from the hazy distance,
And the firs were breaking down in a storm.
We reached the sky from the frozen ground,
Even centuries could not bend us
And they did not dare to break the whirlwinds ...
- Yes, you and I have something to remember, there is something to tell, - said the pine - the one that was older - and creaked softly. - Let's talk to these children. - And one of its branches swayed, as if pointing to Sylvester and Sylvia.
- What do they want to talk to us about? - said Sylvester.
“We'd better go home,” Sylvia whispered to her brother. - I'm afraid of these trees.
“Wait,” Sylvester said. - Why be afraid of them! Yes, father is coming!
Indeed, their father was making his way along the forest path with an ax on his shoulder.
- These are trees, so trees! Just what I need! - said the peasant, stopping near the old pines.
He had already raised his ax to cut down the pine tree — the one that was older — but Sylvester and Sylvia suddenly rushed to their father, crying.
- Father, - Sylvester began to ask, - don't touch this pine tree! This is Podopinebo! ..
- Father, don't touch this one! - asked Sylvia. - Her name is Hooked. They are both so old! And now they sang a song for us ...
- What do the guys not invent! - the peasant laughed. - Where is it heard that the trees sang! Well, okay, let them stand, since you ask so for them. I will find others for myself.
And he went further, into the depths of the forest, while Sylvester and Sylvia remained near the old pines to hear what these forest giants would say to them.
They did not have to wait long. The wind rustled again in the tops of the trees. He had just been at the mill and was twisting the mill wings so violently that sparks from the millstones rained down in all directions. And now the wind blew over the pines and began to rage in their branches.
The old branches hummed, rustled, spoke.
- You saved our lives! - said the pines to Sylvester and Sylvia. - Now ask from us whatever you want.
But it turns out it's not always easy to say what you want the most. No matter how much Sylvester and Sylvia thought, they came up with nothing, as if they had nothing to wish for.
Finally Sylvester said:
- I would like the sun to peep out at least for a while, otherwise the paths in the forest are not visible at all.
- Yes, yes, and I would like spring to come as soon as possible and the snow melts! Sylvia said. - Then the birds will sing again in the forest ...
- Oh, what reckless children! - the pines rustled. - After all, you could wish so many beautiful things! And wealth, and honors, and glory - you would have everything! .. And you ask for what will happen without your request. But nothing can be done, you need to fulfill your desires. Only we will do it our own way ... Listen, Sylvester: wherever you go, whatever you look at, the sun will shine on you everywhere. And your wish, Sylvia, will come true: wherever you go, whatever you talk about, spring will always bloom around you and the cold snow will melt.
- Ah, this is more than we wanted! - exclaimed Sylvester and Sylvia. - Thank you, lovely pines, for your wonderful gifts. Now goodbye! - And they ran home cheerfully.
- Goodbye! Farewell! - the old pines rustled after them.
On the way, Sylvester kept looking around, looking out for the partridges, and - a strange thing! - in whatever direction he turned, everywhere a ray of the sun flashed before him, sparkling on the branches like gold.
- Look! Look! The sun came out! Sylvia shouted to her brother.
But as soon as she had time to open her mouth, the snow began to melt all around, the grass turned green on both sides of the path, the trees were covered with fresh foliage, and high in the blue sky the first song of a lark was heard.
- Oh, how fun! - exclaimed in one voice Sylvester and Sylvia. And the farther they ran, the warmer the sun shone, the brighter the green grass and trees.
- The sun is shining on me! - Sylvester shouted, running into the house.
“The sun shines on everyone,” said the mother.
- And I can melt the snow! - shouted Sylvia.
“Well, everyone can do that,” said the mother and laughed.
But a little time passed, and she saw that something was wrong in the house. It was already completely dark in the yard, evening came, and in their hut everything glittered from the bright sun. And so it was until Sylvester wanted to sleep and his eyes closed. But that is not all! There was no end in sight for winter, and the small hut suddenly breathed in spring. Even an old, withered broom in the corner began to turn green, and the rooster on its perch began to sing with all its might. And he sang until Sylvia was tired of talking and she fell asleep soundly. The peasant returned home late in the evening.
- Listen, father, - said the wife, - I am afraid if someone has bewitched our children. Something wonderful is happening in our house!
- Here's another thing! - said the peasant. - You better listen, mother, what news I have brought. You will never guess! Tomorrow the king and queen will arrive in our city in their own personas. They travel all over the country and inspect their possessions. Do you think we should go with the children to see the royal couple?
“Well, I’m not averse,” said his wife. “After all, not every day such important guests come to our places.
The next day, barely light, the peasant with his wife and children got ready for the journey. On the way, there was only talk about the king and the queen, and no one noticed that all the way the sunbeam was running in front of the sleigh (although the whole sky was surrounded by low clouds), and the birches all around were covered with buds and turned green (although the frost was such that birds froze on the fly).
When the sleighs entered the town square, the people were already visible and invisible there. Everyone looked at the road with apprehension and whispered softly. They said that the king and queen were dissatisfied with their country: wherever you go - everywhere there is snow, cold, deserted and wild places.
The king, as he should be, was very strict. He immediately decided that his people were to blame for everything, and was going to punish everyone properly.
They said about the queen that she was very cold and, in order to keep warm, stamped her feet all the time.
And finally, the royal sleigh appeared in the distance. The people froze.
In the square, the king ordered the coachman to stop to change horses. The king sat with furrowed brows, and the queen wept bitterly.
And suddenly the king raised his head, looked around - to and fro - and laughed merrily, just like all people laugh.
“Look, your majesty,” he turned to the queen, “how friendly the sun is shining! Indeed, it’s not so bad here ... For some reason I even felt cheerful.
“It’s probably because you have deigned to have a good breakfast,” said the queen. - However, I, too, seemed to be more cheerful.
“It’s probably because your Majesty slept well,” said the king. - But, however, this desert country is very beautiful! See how the sun shines brightly on those two pines that can be seen in the distance. Positively, this is a lovely place! I will order a palace to be built here.
“Yes, yes, we must certainly build a palace here,” the queen agreed, and even stopped stamping her feet for a minute. - In general, it's not bad here at all. Snow is everywhere, and trees and bushes are covered with green leaves, like in May. This is just incredible!
But there was nothing incredible about that. It's just that Sylvester and Sylvia climbed the hedge to get a better look at the king and queen. Sylvester spun in all directions - that's why the sun sparkled around; and Sylvia chatted without shutting her mouth for a minute, so even the dry poles of the old hedge were covered with fresh leaves.
- What are these lovely children? - asked the queen, glancing at Sylvester and Sylvia. - Let them come to me.
Sylvester and Sylvia had never dealt with crowned heads before, so they boldly approached the king and queen.
“Listen,” said the queen, “I like you very much. When I look at you, I feel more cheerful and even as if warmer. Do you want to live in my palace? I will order you to dress up in velvet and gold, you will eat on crystal plates and drink from silver glasses. Well, do you agree?
“Thank you, your majesty,” said Sylvia, “but we'd better stay at home.
“Besides, in the palace we will miss our friends,” said Sylvester.
- Could you also take them to the palace? the queen asked. She was in excellent spirits and was not in the least angry that they were opposed to her.
“No, it’s impossible,” Sylvester and Sylvia replied. - They grow in the forest. Their names are Podoprinebo and Hook ...
- What would not occur to children! - exclaimed in one voice the king and queen, and at the same time they laughed so amicably that even the king's sleigh jumped on the spot.
The king ordered the horses to be unharnessed, and the masons and carpenters immediately began to build a new palace.
Oddly enough, this time the king and queen were kind and merciful to everyone. They did not punish anyone and even ordered their treasurer to give everyone a gold coin. And Sylvester and Sylvia also got a pretzel, which was baked by the royal baker himself! The pretzel was so large that four of the king's horses carried it on a separate sleigh.
Sylvester and Sylvia treated all the children who were in the square with a pretzel, and yet there was still such a large piece that it could hardly fit on the sleigh. On the way back, the peasant's wife whispered to her husband:
“Do you know why the king and queen were so merciful today?” Because Sylvester and Sylvia looked at them and talked to them. Remember what I told you yesterday!
- This is about witchcraft, then? - said the peasant. - Empty!
- Yes, judge for yourself, - the wife did not appease, - where have you seen that in winter trees bloom and that the king and queen would not punish anyone? Believe me, it was not without witchcraft!
- All this woman's inventions! - said the peasant. - It's just that our children are good - that's all they are happy, looking at them!
And it is true, wherever Sylvester and Sylvia came, whoever they talked to, everyone's soul immediately became warmer and brighter. And since Sylvester and Sylvia were always cheerful and friendly, no one was surprised that they bring joy to everyone. Everything around them bloomed and turned green, sang and laughed.
The desert lands near the hut, where Sylvester and Sylvia lived, turned into rich arable land and meadows, and spring birds sang in the forest even in winter.
Soon, Sylvester was appointed royal forester, and Sylvia - royal gardener.
No king in any kingdom has ever had such a wonderful garden. And no wonder! After all, no king could force the sun to obey his orders. And Sylvester and Sylvia the sun always shone when they wanted. Therefore, everything bloomed in their garden so that it was pleasant to watch!
Several years have passed. Once, in a deaf winter time, Sylvester and Sylvia went into the forest to visit their friends.
A storm raged in the forest, the wind hummed in the dark tops of the pines, and the pines sang their song to the sound of it:
We stand, as happened, strong and slender.
It will snow, then it will melt ...
And we look at two friends, two old pines,
As the greens of spring change again
With snows whiter than an ermine,
As the clouds pass, they are full of rains,
And flocks of birds rush.
The pine needles are fresh and thick -
Envy, elms and maples!
Winter will not leave a single leaf on you -
Your green outfit will scatter!
But eternal beauty is given to the pines,
Their heel went into the subterranean depths,
And in the sky - a high crown.
Let the bad weather rage around -
Neither storm nor ...
But before they had time to finish their song, something creaked and creaked inside the trunks, and both pines fell to the ground. Just on that day, the youngest turned three hundred and fifty-five years old, and the eldest - three hundred and ninety-three years old. What's so surprising that the winds finally overpowered them!
Sylvester and Sylvia tenderly patted the gray, moss-covered trunks of dead pines and remembered their friends with such kind words that the snow all around began to melt and pink heather flowers peeped out from under the ground. And there were so many of them that soon they covered the old pines from the very roots to the very tops.
For a long time already I have not heard anything about Sylvester and Sylvia. Probably, now they themselves have grown old and gray, and the king and queens, whom everyone was so afraid of, is not at all in the world.
But every time I see children, it seems to me that they are Sylvester and Sylvia.
Or maybe the old pines gave their wonderful gifts to all the children that live in the world? May be so.
Recently, on a cloudy, rainy day, a boy and a girl met me. And immediately in the gray, dim sky, as if a ray of the sun flashed, everything around brightened, a smile appeared on the gloomy faces of passers-by ...
Then spring comes in the middle of winter. Then the ice begins to melt - on the windows and in the hearts of people. Then even the old broom in the corner is covered with fresh leaves, roses bloom on a dry hedge, and cheerful larks sing under the high vault of the sky.

Sakarias Topelius: "A Winter's Tale"

Sakarias Topelius
Winter's tale

"Troll's Gift: Tales of Scandinavian Writers": Petrozavodsk: Karelia; 1993
Sakarias Topelius Winter's Tale * * * In a large dense forest, far in the north of Finland, two huge pine trees grew side by side. They were so old, so old, that no one, not even the gray moss, could remember if they had ever been young, thin pines. Their dark peaks were visible from everywhere, rising high above the thicket of the forest. In the spring, in the dense branches of old pines, the thrush sang merry songs, and the small pink heather flowers raised their heads and looked upward so timidly, as if they wanted to say: “Oh, are we really going to be just as big and the same old?” In winter, when a blizzard wrapped the whole earth in a white blanket and the heather flowers slept under the fluffy snowdrifts, two pines, like two giants, guarded the forest. A winter storm noisily swept through the thicket, swept away snow from branches, breaking off the tops of trees, felling strong trunks to the ground. And only the giant pines always stood firm and erect, and no hurricane could make them bow their heads. But if you are so strong and persistent, it means something! At the edge of the forest where old pines grew, on a small hillock she huddled a turf hut with two small windows looked out into the forest. A poor peasant lived in this hut with his wife. They had a piece of land on which they sowed bread, and a small vegetable garden. That's all their wealth. And in winter the peasant worked in the forest - chopping down trees and taking logs to the sawmill to save up a few coins for milk and butter. The peasant and his wife had two children - a boy and a girl. The boy's name was Sylvester, and the girl's name was Sylvia. And wherever they found such names for them! Probably in the woods. After all, the word "silva" in the ancient Latin language means "forest." an animal or a bird. And it is true that a white hare was caught in one snare, and a ptarmigan in the other. Both the hare and the partridge were alive, they only got entangled in their paws in the snare and squeaked pitifully. - murmured the hare when Sylvester approached him. - Let me go! squeaked the partridge as Sylvia bent over her. Sylvester and Sylvia were very surprised. They had never heard of the forest animals and birds speaking humanly. “Let's really let them go! - said Sylvia. And together with her brother she began to carefully unravel the snares. As soon as the hare sensed freedom, he galloped as fast as he could into the depths of the forest. And the partridge flew away as fast as its wings could carry. - Sub-prinebo! .. Sub-prinebo will do everything, whatever you ask! - the hare shouted at a gallop. - Ask for Hooked! .. Ask for Hooked! .. And you will have everything you don't want! - shouted the partridge on the fly. And again in the forest it became completely quiet. - What did they say? - said Sylvester at last. - About what kind of Podopinebo and Hook? - And I have never heard such strange names, - said Sylvia - Who could it be? At this time a strong gust of wind swept through the forest. The tops of the old pines rustled, and in their noise Sylvester and Sylvia clearly heard the words. - Well, buddy, are you still standing? one pine asked another. - Still holding the sky? It’s not for nothing that the forest animals called you “Podpinebo!” “I’m standing! I'm holding it! - the other pine hummed. - How are you, old man? Are you still at war with the clouds? It’s not in vain that they say about you - “I’ll hook!” “Something I’m getting weaker,” rustled in response. - Today the wind broke off my upper branch. It can be seen that old age is indeed coming! ”“ It's a sin for you to complain! You are only three hundred and fifty years old. You are still a child! Quite a child! But I’ve already hit three hundred and eighty-eight! ”And the old pine sighed heavily.“ Look, the wind is coming back, ”whispered the pine — the one that was younger. - It's so good to sing songs to his whistle! Let's sing with you about the distant past, about our youth. After all, you and I have something to remember! And to the sound of a forest storm, the pine trees, swaying, sang their song: We are shackled by the cold, we are in a snow captivity! The blizzard is raging and raging. To its noise, the ancients tends to sleep, And we see old times in our dreams - , two friends, Two young pines, rose to the height Over the unsteady green of the meadow. Violets bloomed at our foothills, Whitened snowstorms for us, And clouds flew from the misty distance, And ate a storm broke down. We stretched to the sky from the frozen earth, We even bend us centuries And they did not dare to break the whirlwinds ... - Yes, you and I have something to remember, there is something to tell, - said the pine - the one that was older - and creaked softly. - Let's talk to these children. - And one of her branches swayed, as if pointing to Sylvester and Sylvia. - What is it they want to talk to us about? - said Sylvester. - We'd better go home, - whispered Sylvia to her brother. “I’m afraid of these trees.” “Wait,” Sylvester said. - Why be afraid of them! Yes, father is coming! And sure enough, their father was making his way along the forest path with an ax on his shoulder. - These are trees, trees! Just what I need! - said the peasant, stopping near the old pines. He had already raised the ax to cut the pine - the one that was older - but Sylvester and Sylvia suddenly rushed to their father, crying. - Father, - Sylvester began to ask, - don't touch this pine tree! This is Podprinebo! ..- Father, don't touch this one! - asked Sylvia. - Her name is Hooked. They are both so old! And now they were singing a song to us ... - What can the guys not invent! - the peasant laughed. - Where is it heard that the trees sang! Well, okay, let them stand, since you ask so for them. I will find others for myself. ”And he went further into the depths of the forest, while Sylvester and Sylvia remained by the old pines to hear what these forest giants would say to them. They did not have to wait long. The wind rustled again in the tops of the trees. He had just been at the mill and was twisting the mill wings so violently that sparks from the millstones rained down in all directions. And now the wind blew on the pines and began to rage in their branches. Old branches hummed, rustled, spoke. - You saved our lives! - said the pines to Sylvester and Sylvia. `` Now ask us for whatever you want. '' But it turns out that it is not always easy to say what you most want. No matter how much Sylvester and Sylvia thought, they didn’t come up with anything, as if they had nothing to wish for. Finally Sylvester said: “I would like the sun to come out at least for a while, otherwise there are no paths in the forest at all.” “Yes, yes, and I. I would like spring to come as soon as possible and the snow to melt! Sylvia said. - Then the birds will sing again in the forest ... - Oh, what reckless children! - the pines rustled. - After all, you could wish so many beautiful things! And wealth, and honors, and glory - you would have everything! .. And you ask for what will happen without your request. But nothing can be done, you need to fulfill your desires. Only we will do it our own way ... Listen, Sylvester: wherever you go, whatever you look at, the sun will shine on you everywhere. And your wish, Sylvia, will come true: wherever you go, whatever you talk about, spring will always bloom around you and the cold snow will melt. - Oh, this is more than we wanted! - exclaimed Sylvester and Sylvia. - Thank you, lovely pines, for your wonderful gifts. Now goodbye! - And they ran home cheerfully. - Farewell! Farewell! - the old pines rustled after them. On the way, Sylvester kept looking around, looking out for the partridges, and - a strange thing! - in whatever direction he turned, everywhere a ray of sun flashed before him, sparkling on the branches like gold. Look! The sun came out! - Sylvia shouted to her brother. But as soon as she had time to open her mouth, the snow began to melt all around, on both sides of the path the grass turned green, the trees were covered with fresh foliage, and high in the blue sky the first song of a lark was heard. - Oh, how fun! - exclaimed in one voice Sylvester and Sylvia. And the farther they ran, the warmer the sun shone, the brighter the grass and trees turned green. - The sun is shining for me! - Sylvester shouted, running into the house. - The sun shines on everyone, - said the mother. - And I can melt the snow! - shouted Sylvia. - Well, everyone can do that, - said the mother and laughed. But a little time passed, and she saw that something was wrong in the house. It was already completely dark in the yard, evening came, and in their hut everything glittered from the bright sun. And so it was until Sylvester wanted to sleep and his eyes closed. But that is not all! There was no end in sight for winter, and the small hut suddenly breathed in spring. Even an old, withered broom in the corner began to turn green, and the rooster on its perch began to sing with all its might. And he sang until Sylvia was tired of talking and she fell asleep soundly. Late in the evening, the peasant returned home. “Listen, father,” said the wife, “I’m afraid I’m afraid someone has bewitched our children. Something wonderful is happening in our house! ”“ Here's another thing! - said the peasant. - You better listen, mother, what news I have brought. You will never guess! Tomorrow the king and queen will arrive in our city in their own personas. They travel all over the country and inspect their possessions. Do you think we should go with the children to see the royal couple? ”“ Well, I’m not averse, ”said the wife. `` After all, not every day such important guests come to our places. '' The next day, a little light, the peasant with his wife and children got together on their way. On the way, there was only talk about the king and the queen, and no one noticed that all the way the sunbeam was running in front of the sleigh (although the whole sky was surrounded by low clouds), and the birches all around were covered with buds and turned green (although the frost was such that birds were freezing on the fly) When the sleigh entered the city square, the people were already there, apparently invisible. Everyone looked at the road with apprehension and whispered softly. They said that the king and queen were dissatisfied with their country: wherever you go, there is snow, cold, deserted and wild places. The king, as he should be, was very strict. He immediately decided that his people were to blame for everything, and was going to punish everyone properly. They said about the queen that she was very cold and, in order to keep warm, stamped her feet all the time. And finally, the royal sleigh appeared in the distance. The crowd froze, and in the square the king ordered the coachman to stop to change horses. The king sat with furrowed brows, and the queen wept bitterly. And suddenly the king raised his head, looked around - to and fro - and laughed merrily, just like all people laugh. - Look, your majesty, - he turned to the queen, - how friendly the sun is shining! Indeed, it’s not so bad here… For some reason I even felt cheerful. ”“ It must be because you deigned to have a good breakfast, ”said the queen. `` However, I, too, felt more cheerful. '' `` This is probably because your Majesty slept well, '' said the king. - But, however, this desert country is very beautiful! See how the sun shines brightly on those two pines that can be seen in the distance. Positively, this is a lovely place! I will order a palace to be built here. ”“ Yes, yes, we must certainly build a palace here, ”the queen agreed, and even stopped stamping her feet for a minute. - In general, it's not bad here at all. Snow is everywhere, and trees and bushes are covered with green leaves, like in May. It’s just incredible, but it wasn’t incredible. It's just that Sylvester and Sylvia climbed the hedge to get a better look at the king and queen. Sylvester spun in all directions - that's why the sun sparkled around; and Sylvia chatted without closing her mouth for a minute, so even the dry poles of the old hedge were covered with fresh foliage. - asked the queen, glancing at Sylvester and Sylvia. “Let them come to me. Sylvester and Sylvia had never dealt with crowned heads before, so they boldly approached the king and queen.“ Listen, ”said the queen,“ I like you very much. ” When I look at you, I feel more cheerful and even as if warmer. Do you want to live in my palace? I will order you to dress up in velvet and gold, you will eat on crystal plates and drink from silver glasses. Well, agree? ”“ Thank you, your majesty, ”said Sylvia,“ but we'd better stay at home. ”“ Besides, we will miss our friends in the palace, ”said Sylvester.“ Isn't it possible to take them to the palace too? ” the queen asked. She was in excellent spirits and was not in the least angry that they were opposed to her. '' `` No, that is impossible, '' said Sylvester and Sylvia. - They grow in the forest. Their names are Podopinebo and Zatsepatuchu ... - What would not occur to children! - exclaimed in one voice the king and queen, and at the same time they laughed so amicably that even the king's sleigh jumped on the spot. The king ordered to unharness the horses, and the masons and carpenters immediately began to build a new palace. Oddly enough, this time the king and queen were ko all are kind and gracious. They did not punish anyone and even ordered their treasurer to give everyone a gold coin. And Sylvester and Sylvia also got a pretzel, which was baked by the royal baker himself! The pretzel was so large that four of the royal horses carried it on a separate sleigh. Sylvester and Sylvia treated all the children who were in the square with a pretzel, and yet there was still such a large piece that it could hardly fit on the sleigh. On the way back, the peasant's wife whispered to her husband: “Do you know why the king and queen were so merciful today? Because Sylvester and Sylvia looked at them and talked to them. Remember what I told you yesterday! ”“ Is this about witchcraft? - said the peasant. “Empty!” “Judge for yourself,” the wife did not calm down, “where has it been seen that trees bloom in winter and that the king and queen do not punish anyone? Believe me, it was not without witchcraft! ”“ All this is a woman’s invention! - said the peasant. “It's just that our children are good - that’s everyone is happy looking at them! And it’s true, wherever Sylvester and Sylvia came, whoever they talked to, everyone’s soul immediately became warmer and brighter. And since Sylvester and Sylvia were always cheerful and friendly, no one was surprised that they bring joy to everyone. Everything around them bloomed and turned green, sang and laughed. The desert lands near the hut, where Sylvester and Sylvia lived, turned into rich arable lands and meadows, and in the forest, even in winter, spring birds sang. Soon Sylvester was appointed the royal forester, and Sylvia - the royal gardener No king in any kingdom has ever had such a wonderful garden. And no wonder! After all, no king could force the sun to obey his orders. And Sylvester and Sylvia the sun always shone when they wanted. Therefore, everything bloomed in their garden so that it was pleasant to look! Several years passed. Once, in a deep winter time, Sylvester and Sylvia went into the forest to visit their friends; a storm was raging in the forest, the wind was humming in the dark tops of the pines, and the pines sang their song to its sound: then it will melt ... And we look at two friends, two old pines, As the greens of spring are replaced again with whiter ermine snows, As the clouds pass, they are full of rains, And flocks of birds sweep by.

Winter's Tale - Topelius

In a large dense forest, far in the north of Finland, two huge pine trees grew side by side. They were so old, so old, that no one, not even the gray moss, could remember if they had ever been young, thin pines. Their dark peaks were visible from everywhere, rising high above the thicket of the forest. In the spring, the thrush sang merry songs in the thick branches of the old pines, and the small pink heather flowers raised their heads and looked upward so timidly, as if they wanted to say: "Oh, are we really going to be the same big and the same old?"
In winter, when a blizzard covered the whole earth with a white blanket and heather flowers slept under fluffy snowdrifts, two pines, like two giants, guarded the forest.
A winter storm roared through the thicket, sweeping away the snow from the branches, breaking off the tops of the trees, and knocking down strong trunks. And only the giant pines always stood firm and straight, and no hurricane could make them bow their heads.
But if you are so strong and persistent, it means something!
At the edge of the forest, where old pine trees grew, on a small hillock huddled a hut, covered with turf, and looked out into the forest with two small windows. A poor peasant lived in this hut with his wife. They had a piece of land on which they sowed bread, and a small vegetable garden. That's all their wealth. And in winter, the peasant worked in the forest - chopping down trees and taking logs to the sawmill in order to save up a few coins for milk and butter.
The peasant and his wife had two children - a boy and a girl. The boy's name was Sylvester, and the girl's name was Sylvia.
And where did they find such names for them! Probably in the woods. After all, the word "silva" in the ancient Latin language means "forest".
One day - it was in winter - brother and sister, Sylvester and Sylvia, went into the forest to see if any forest animal or bird had fallen into the snares they had set up.
Indeed, a white hare was caught in one snare, and a ptarmigan in the other. Both the hare and the partridge were alive, they only got entangled in their paws in the snare and squeaked pitifully.
- Let me go! - murmured the hare when Sylvester approached him.
- Let me go! squeaked the partridge as Sylvia bent over her.
Sylvester and Sylvia were very surprised. They had never heard of forest animals and birds speaking humanly.
- Let's really let them go! Sylvia said.
And together with her brother, she began to carefully unravel the snares. As soon as the hare sensed freedom, he galloped as fast as he could into the depths of the forest. And the partridge flew away as fast as its wings could carry.
- Sub-prinebo! .. Sub-prinebo will do everything, whatever you ask! - shouted the hare at a gallop.
- Ask for a Hook! .. Ask for a Hook! .. And you will have everything you don't want! - shouted a partridge on the fly.
And again it became completely quiet in the forest.
- What did they say? - said Sylvester at last. - About what kind of Podopinebo and Hook?
“And I've never heard such strange names,” Sylvia said. “Who could it be?
At this time, a strong gust of wind swept through the forest. The tops of the old pines began to rustle, and in their noise Sylvester and Sylvia clearly heard the words.
- Well, buddy, are you still standing? one pine asked another. - Still holding the sky? It is not for nothing that the forest animals called you - Podopinebo!
- I'm standing! I'm holding it! - the other pine hummed. - How are you, old man? Are you still at war with the clouds? After all, it's not in vain that they say about you - I'll hook you!
- Something I am weakening, - rustled in response. - Today the wind broke off my upper branch. It can be seen that old age really comes!
- It is a sin for you to complain! You are only three hundred and fifty years old. You are still a child! Quite a child! But I've already turned three hundred and eighty-eight!
And the old pine sighed heavily.
- Look, the wind is coming back, - whispered the pine - the one that was younger. - It's so good to sing songs to his whistle! Let's sing with you about the distant past, about our youth. After all, you and I have something to remember!

And to the sound of a forest storm, the pines, swaying, sang their song:
We are shackled by the cold, we are in the snow captivity!
The blizzard is raging and raging.
Under its noise it tends us, the ancients, to sleep,
And we see old times in a dream -
The time when we, two friends,
Two young pines, climbed high
Above the unsteady green of the meadow.
Violets bloomed at our feet,
Whitewashed the needles of a blizzard for us,
And clouds flew from the hazy distance,
And the firs were breaking down in a storm.
We reached the sky from the frozen ground,
Even centuries could not bend us
And they did not dare to break the whirlwinds ...

Yes, you and I have something to remember, there is something to tell, - said the pine - the one that was older - and creaked softly. - Let's talk to these children. - And one of its branches swayed, as if pointing to Sylvester and Sylvia.
- What do they want to talk to us about? - said Sylvester.
“We'd better go home,” Sylvia whispered to her brother. - I'm afraid of these trees.
“Wait,” Sylvester said. - Why be afraid of them! Yes, father is coming!
Indeed, their father was making his way along the forest path with an ax on his shoulder.
- These are trees, so trees! Just what I need! - said the peasant, stopping near the old pines.
He had already raised his ax to cut down the pine tree — the one that was older — but Sylvester and Sylvia suddenly rushed to their father, crying.
- Father, - Sylvester began to ask, - don't touch this pine tree! This is Podopinebo! ..
- Father, don't touch this one! - asked Sylvia. - Her name is Hooked. They are both so old! And now they were singing a song to us ...
- What do the guys not invent! - the peasant laughed. - Where is it heard that the trees sang! Well, okay, let them stand, since you ask so for them. I will find others for myself.
And he went further, into the depths of the forest, while Sylvester and Sylvia remained near the old pines to hear what these forest giants would say to them.
They did not have to wait long. The wind rustled again in the tops of the trees. He had just been at the mill and was twisting the mill wings so violently that sparks from the millstones rained down in all directions. And now the wind blew over the pines and began to rage in their branches.
The old branches hummed, rustled, spoke.
- You saved our lives! - said the pines to Sylvester and Sylvia. - Now ask from us whatever you want.
But it turns out it's not always easy to say what you want the most. No matter how much Sylvester and Sylvia thought, they came up with nothing, as if they had nothing to wish for.
Finally Sylvester said:
- I would like the sun to peep out at least for a while, otherwise the paths in the forest are not visible at all.
- Yes, yes, and I would like spring to come as soon as possible and the snow melts! Sylvia said. - Then the birds will sing again in the forest ...
- Oh, what reckless children! - the pines rustled. - After all, you could wish so many beautiful things! And wealth, and honors, and glory - you would have everything! .. And you ask for what will happen without your request. But nothing can be done, you need to fulfill your desires. Only we will do it our own way ... Listen, Sylvester: wherever you go, whatever you look at, the sun will shine on you everywhere. And your wish, Sylvia, will come true: wherever you go, whatever you talk about, spring will always bloom around you and the cold snow will melt.
- Ah, this is more than we wanted! - exclaimed Sylvester and Sylvia. - Thank you, lovely pines, for your wonderful gifts. Now goodbye! - And they ran home cheerfully.
- Goodbye! Farewell! - the old pines rustled after them.
On the way, Sylvester kept looking around, looking out for the partridges, and - a strange thing! - in whatever direction he turned, everywhere a ray of the sun flashed before him, sparkling on the branches like gold.
- Look! Look! The sun came out! Sylvia shouted to her brother.
But as soon as she had time to open her mouth, the snow began to melt all around, the grass turned green on both sides of the path, the trees were covered with fresh foliage, and high in the blue sky the first song of a lark was heard.
- Oh, how fun! - exclaimed in one voice Sylvester and Sylvia. And the farther they ran, the warmer the sun shone, the brighter the green grass and trees.
- The sun is shining on me! - Sylvester shouted, running into the house.
“The sun shines on everyone,” said the mother.
- And I can melt the snow! - shouted Sylvia.
“Well, everyone can do that,” said the mother and laughed.
But a little time passed, and she saw that something was wrong in the house. It was already completely dark in the yard, evening came, and in their hut everything glittered from the bright sun. And so it was until Sylvester wanted to sleep and his eyes closed. But that is not all! There was no end in sight for winter, and the small hut suddenly breathed in spring. Even an old, withered broom in the corner began to turn green, and the rooster on its perch began to sing with all its might. And he sang until Sylvia was tired of talking and she fell asleep soundly. The peasant returned home late in the evening.
- Listen, father, - said the wife, - I am afraid if someone has bewitched our children. Something wonderful is happening in our house!
- Here's another thing! - said the peasant. - You better listen, mother, what news I have brought. You will never guess! Tomorrow the king and queen will arrive in our city in their own personas. They travel all over the country and inspect their possessions. Do you think we should go with the children to see the royal couple?
“Well, I’m not averse,” said his wife. “After all, not every day such important guests come to our places.
The next day, barely light, the peasant with his wife and children got ready for the journey. On the way, there was only talk about the king and the queen, and no one noticed that all the way the sunbeam was running in front of the sleigh (although the whole sky was surrounded by low clouds), and the birches all around were covered with buds and turned green (although the frost was such that birds froze on the fly).
When the sleighs entered the town square, the people were already visible and invisible there. Everyone looked at the road with apprehension and whispered softly. They said that the king and queen were dissatisfied with their country: wherever you go - everywhere there is snow, cold, deserted and wild places.
The king, as he should be, was very strict. He immediately decided that his people were to blame for everything, and was going to punish everyone properly.
They said about the queen that she was very cold and, in order to keep warm, stamped her feet all the time.
And finally, the royal sleigh appeared in the distance. The people froze.
In the square, the king ordered the coachman to stop to change horses. The king sat with furrowed brows, and the queen wept bitterly.
And suddenly the king raised his head, looked around - to and fro - and laughed merrily, just like all people laugh.
“Look, your majesty,” he turned to the queen, “how friendly the sun is shining! Really, it’s not so bad here ... For some reason I even felt fun.
“It’s probably because you have deigned to have a good breakfast,” said the queen. - However, I, too, seemed to be more cheerful.
“It’s probably because your Majesty slept well,” said the king. - But, however, this desert country is very beautiful! See how the sun shines brightly on those two pines that can be seen in the distance. Positively, this is a lovely place! I will order a palace to be built here.
“Yes, yes, we must certainly build a palace here,” the queen agreed, and even stopped stamping her feet for a minute. - In general, it's not bad here at all. Snow is everywhere, and trees and bushes are covered with green leaves, like in May. This is just incredible!
But there was nothing incredible about that. It's just that Sylvester and Sylvia climbed the hedge to get a better look at the king and queen. Sylvester spun in all directions - that's why the sun sparkled around; and Sylvia chatted without shutting her mouth for a minute, so even the dry poles of the old hedge were covered with fresh leaves.
- What are these lovely children? - asked the queen, glancing at Sylvester and Sylvia. - Let them come to me.
Sylvester and Sylvia had never dealt with crowned heads before, so they boldly approached the king and queen.
“Listen,” said the queen, “I like you very much. When I look at you, I feel more cheerful and even as if warmer. Do you want to live in my palace? I will order you to dress up in velvet and gold, you will eat on crystal plates and drink from silver glasses. Well, do you agree?
“Thank you, your majesty,” said Sylvia, “but we'd better stay at home.
“Besides, in the palace we will miss our friends,” said Sylvester.
- Could you also take them to the palace? the queen asked. She was in excellent spirits and was not in the least angry that they were opposed to her.
“No, it’s impossible,” Sylvester and Sylvia replied. - They grow in the forest. Their names are Podoprinebo and Hook ...
- What would not occur to children! - exclaimed in one voice the king and queen, and at the same time they laughed so amicably that even the king's sleigh jumped on the spot.
The king ordered the horses to be unharnessed, and the masons and carpenters immediately began to build a new palace.
Oddly enough, this time the king and queen were kind and merciful to everyone. They did not punish anyone and even ordered their treasurer to give everyone a gold coin. And Sylvester and Sylvia also got a pretzel, which was baked by the royal baker himself! The pretzel was so large that four of the king's horses carried it on a separate sleigh.
Sylvester and Sylvia treated all the children who were in the square with a pretzel, and yet there was still such a large piece that it could hardly fit on the sleigh. On the way back, the peasant's wife whispered to her husband:
“Do you know why the king and queen were so merciful today?” Because Sylvester and Sylvia looked at them and talked to them. Remember what I told you yesterday!
- This is about witchcraft, then? - said the peasant. - Empty!
- Yes, judge for yourself, - the wife did not appease, - where have you seen that in winter trees bloom and that the king and queen would not punish anyone? Believe me, it was not without witchcraft!
- All this woman's inventions! - said the peasant. - It's just that our children are good - that's all they are happy, looking at them!
And it is true, wherever Sylvester and Sylvia came, whoever they talked to, everyone's soul immediately became warmer and brighter. And since Sylvester and Sylvia were always cheerful and friendly, no one was surprised that they bring joy to everyone. Everything around them bloomed and turned green, sang and laughed.
The desert lands near the hut, where Sylvester and Sylvia lived, turned into rich arable land and meadows, and spring birds sang in the forest even in winter.
Soon, Sylvester was appointed royal forester, and Sylvia - royal gardener.
No king in any kingdom has ever had such a wonderful garden. And no wonder! After all, no king could force the sun to obey his orders. And Sylvester and Sylvia the sun always shone when they wanted. Therefore, everything bloomed in their garden so that it was pleasant to watch!
Several years have passed. Once, in a deaf winter time, Sylvester and Sylvia went into the forest to visit their friends.
A storm raged in the forest, the wind hummed in the dark tops of the pines, and the pines sang their song to the sound of it:

We stand, as happened, strong and slender.
It will snow, then it will melt ...
And we look at two friends, two old pines,
As the greens of spring change again
With snows whiter than an ermine,
As the clouds pass, they are full of rains,
And flocks of birds rush.
The pine needles are fresh and thick -
Envy, elms and maples!
Winter will not leave a single leaf on you -
Your green outfit will scatter!
But eternal beauty is given to the pines,
Their heel went into the subterranean depths,
And in the sky - a high crown.
Let the bad weather rage around -
Neither storm nor ...

But before they had time to finish their song, something creaked and creaked inside the trunks, and both pines fell to the ground. Just on that day, the youngest turned three hundred and fifty-five years old, and the eldest - three hundred and ninety-three years old. What's so surprising that the winds finally overpowered them!
Sylvester and Sylvia tenderly patted the gray, moss-covered trunks of dead pines and remembered their friends with such kind words that the snow all around began to melt and pink heather flowers peeped out from under the ground. And there were so many of them that soon they covered the old pines from the very roots to the very tops.
For a long time already I have not heard anything about Sylvester and Sylvia. Probably, now they themselves have grown old and gray, and the king and queens, whom everyone was so afraid of, is not at all in the world.
But every time I see children, it seems to me that they are Sylvester and Sylvia.
Or maybe the old pines gave their wonderful gifts to all the children that live in the world? May be so.
Recently, on a cloudy, rainy day, a boy and a girl met me. And immediately in the gray, dim sky, as if a ray of the sun flashed, everything around brightened, a smile appeared on the gloomy faces of passers-by ...
Then spring comes in the middle of winter. Then the ice begins to melt - on the windows and in the hearts of people. Then even the old broom in the corner is covered with fresh leaves, roses bloom on a dry hedge, and cheerful larks sing under the high vault of the sky.

Additional reading

C. Topelius. Winter's tale

In a large dense forest, far in the north of Finland, two huge pine trees grew side by side. They were so old, so old, that no one, not even the gray moss, could remember if they had ever been young, thin pines. Their dark peaks were visible from everywhere, rising high above the thicket of the forest. In the spring, in the thick branches of old pines, thrush sang merry songs, and small pink heather flowers raised their heads and looked upward so timidly, as if they wanted to say: "Oh, will we really be the same big and the same old?"

In winter, when a blizzard covered the whole earth with a white blanket and heather flowers slept under fluffy snowdrifts, two pines, like two giants, guarded the forest.
A winter storm roared through the thicket, sweeping away the snow from the branches, breaking off the tops of the trees, and knocking down strong trunks. And only the giant pines always stood firm and straight, and no hurricane could make them bow their heads.
But if you are so strong and persistent, it means something!
At the edge of the forest, where old pine trees grew, on a small hillock huddled a hut, covered with turf, and looked out into the forest with two small windows. A poor peasant lived in this hut with his wife. They had a piece of land on which they sowed bread, and a small vegetable garden. That's all their wealth. And in winter, the peasant worked in the forest - chopping down trees and taking logs to the sawmill in order to save up a few coins for milk and butter.
The peasant and his wife had two children - a boy and a girl. The boy's name was Sylvester, and the girl's name was Sylvia.
And where did they find such names for them! Probably in the woods. After all, the word "silva" in the ancient Latin language means "forest".
One day - it was in winter - brother and sister, Sylvester and Sylvia, went into the forest to see if any forest animal or bird had fallen into the snares they had set up.
Indeed, a white hare was caught in one snare, and a ptarmigan in the other. Both the hare and the partridge were alive, they only got entangled in their paws in the snare and squeaked pitifully.
- Let me go! - murmured the hare when Sylvester approached him.
- Let me go! Squeaked the partridge as Sylvia bent over her.
Sylvester and Sylvia were very surprised. They had never heard of forest animals and birds speaking humanly.
- Let's really let them go! Sylvia said.
And together with her brother, she began to carefully unravel the snares. As soon as the hare sensed freedom, he galloped as fast as he could into the depths of the forest. And the partridge flew away as fast as its wings could carry.
- Sub-prinebo! .. Sub-prinebo will do everything, whatever you ask! - shouted the hare at a gallop.
- Ask for a Hook! .. Ask for a Hook! .. And you will have everything you don't want! - shouted a partridge on the fly.
And again it became completely quiet in the forest.
- What did they say? - said Sylvester at last. - About what kind of Podopinebo and Hook?
“And I've never heard such strange names,” Sylvia said. “Who could it be?
At this time, a strong gust of wind swept through the forest. The tops of the old pines began to rustle, and in their noise Sylvester and Sylvia clearly heard the words.
- Well, buddy, are you still standing? One pine asked another. - Still holding the sky? It is not for nothing that the forest animals called you - Podopinebo!
- I'm standing! I'm holding it! - the other pine hummed. - How are you, old man? Are you still at war with the clouds? After all, it's not in vain that they say about you - I'll hook you!
- Something I am weakening, - rustled in response. - Today the wind broke off my upper branch. It can be seen that old age really comes!
- It is a sin for you to complain! You are only three hundred and fifty years old. You are still a child! Quite a child! But I've already turned three hundred and eighty-eight!
And the old pine sighed heavily.
- Look, the wind is coming back, - whispered the pine - the one that was younger. - It's so good to sing songs to his whistle! Let's sing with you about the distant past, about our youth. After all, you and I have something to remember!
And to the sound of a forest storm, the pines, swaying, sang their song:
We are shackled by the cold, we are in the snow captivity!
The blizzard is raging and raging.
Under its noise it tends us, the ancients, to sleep,
And we see old times in a dream -
The time when we, two friends,
Two young pines, climbed high
Above the unsteady green of the meadow.
Violets bloomed at our feet,
Whitewashed the needles of a blizzard for us,
And clouds flew from the hazy distance,
And the firs were breaking down in a storm.
We reached the sky from the frozen ground,
Even centuries could not bend us
And they did not dare to break the whirlwinds ...
- Yes, you and I have something to remember, there is something to tell, - said the pine - the one that was older - and creaked softly. - Let's talk to these children. - And one of its branches swayed, as if pointing to Sylvester and Sylvia.
- What do they want to talk to us about? - said Sylvester.
“We'd better go home,” Sylvia whispered to her brother. - I'm afraid of these trees.
“Wait,” Sylvester said. - Why be afraid of them! Yes, father is coming!
Indeed, their father was making his way along the forest path with an ax on his shoulder.
- These are trees, so trees! Just what I need! - said the peasant, stopping near the old pines.
He had already raised his ax to cut down the pine tree — the one that was older — but Sylvester and Sylvia suddenly rushed to their father, crying.
- Father, - Sylvester began to ask, - don't touch this pine tree! This is Podopinebo! ..
- Father, don't touch this one! - asked Sylvia. - Her name is Hooked. They are both so old! And now they sang a song for us ...
- What do the guys not invent! - the peasant laughed. - Where is it heard that the trees sang! Well, okay, let them stand, since you ask so for them. I will find others for myself.
And he went further, into the depths of the forest, while Sylvester and Sylvia remained near the old pines to hear what these forest giants would say to them.
They did not have to wait long. The wind rustled again in the tops of the trees. He had just been at the mill and was twisting the mill wings so violently that sparks from the millstones rained down in all directions. And now the wind blew over the pines and began to rage in their branches.
The old branches hummed, rustled, spoke.
- You saved our lives! - said the pines to Sylvester and Sylvia. - Now ask from us whatever you want.
But it turns out it's not always easy to say what you want the most. No matter how much Sylvester and Sylvia thought, they came up with nothing, as if they had nothing to wish for.
Finally Sylvester said:
- I would like the sun to peep out at least for a while, otherwise the paths in the forest are not visible at all.
- Yes, yes, and I would like spring to come as soon as possible and the snow melts! Sylvia said. - Then the birds will sing again in the forest ...
- Oh, what reckless children! - the pines rustled. - After all, you could wish so many beautiful things! And wealth, and honors, and glory - you would have everything! .. And you ask for what will happen without your request. But nothing can be done, you need to fulfill your desires. Only we will do it our own way ... Listen, Sylvester: wherever you go, whatever you look at, the sun will shine on you everywhere. And your wish, Sylvia, will come true: wherever you go, whatever you talk about, spring will always bloom around you and the cold snow will melt.
- Ah, this is more than we wanted! - exclaimed Sylvester and Sylvia. - Thank you, lovely pines, for your wonderful gifts. Now goodbye! - And they ran home cheerfully.
- Goodbye! Farewell! - the old pines rustled after them.
On the way, Sylvester kept looking around, looking out for the partridges, and - a strange thing! - in whatever direction he turned, everywhere a ray of the sun flashed before him, sparkling on the branches like gold.
- Look! Look! The sun came out! Sylvia shouted to her brother.
But as soon as she had time to open her mouth, the snow began to melt all around, the grass turned green on both sides of the path, the trees were covered with fresh foliage, and high in the blue sky the first song of a lark was heard.
- Oh, how fun! - exclaimed in one voice Sylvester and Sylvia. And the farther they ran, the warmer the sun shone, the brighter the green grass and trees.
- The sun is shining on me! - Sylvester shouted, running into the house.
“The sun shines on everyone,” said the mother.
- And I can melt the snow! - shouted Sylvia.
“Well, everyone can do that,” said the mother and laughed.
But a little time passed, and she saw that something was wrong in the house. It was already completely dark in the yard, evening came, and in their hut everything glittered from the bright sun. And so it was until Sylvester wanted to sleep and his eyes closed. But that is not all! There was no end in sight for winter, and the small hut suddenly breathed in spring. Even an old, withered broom in the corner began to turn green, and the rooster on its perch began to sing with all its might. And he sang until Sylvia was tired of talking and she fell asleep soundly. The peasant returned home late in the evening.
- Listen, father, - said the wife, - I am afraid if someone has bewitched our children. Something wonderful is happening in our house!
- Here's another thing! - said the peasant. - You better listen, mother, what news I have brought. You will never guess! Tomorrow the king and queen will arrive in our city in their own personas. They travel all over the country and inspect their possessions. Do you think we should go with the children to see the royal couple?
“Well, I’m not averse,” said his wife. “After all, not every day such important guests come to our places.
The next day, barely light, the peasant with his wife and children got ready for the journey. On the way, there was only talk about the king and the queen, and no one noticed that all the way the sunbeam was running in front of the sleigh (although the whole sky was surrounded by low clouds), and the birches all around were covered with buds and turned green (although the frost was such that birds froze on the fly).
When the sleighs entered the town square, the people were already visible and invisible there. Everyone looked at the road with apprehension and whispered softly. They said that the king and queen were dissatisfied with their country: wherever you go - everywhere there is snow, cold, deserted and wild places.
The king, as he should be, was very strict. He immediately decided that his people were to blame for everything, and was going to punish everyone properly.
They said about the queen that she was very cold and, in order to keep warm, stamped her feet all the time.
And finally, the royal sleigh appeared in the distance. The people froze.
In the square, the king ordered the coachman to stop to change horses. The king sat with furrowed brows, and the queen wept bitterly.
And suddenly the king raised his head, looked around - to and fro - and laughed merrily, just like all people laugh.
“Look, your majesty,” he turned to the queen, “how friendly the sun is shining! Indeed, it’s not so bad here ... For some reason I even felt cheerful.
“It’s probably because you have deigned to have a good breakfast,” said the queen. - However, I, too, seemed to be more cheerful.
“It’s probably because your Majesty slept well,” said the king. - But, however, this desert country is very beautiful! See how the sun shines brightly on those two pines that can be seen in the distance. Positively, this is a lovely place! I will order a palace to be built here.
“Yes, yes, we must certainly build a palace here,” the queen agreed, and even stopped stamping her feet for a minute. - In general, it's not bad here at all. Snow is everywhere, and trees and bushes are covered with green leaves, like in May. This is just incredible!
But there was nothing incredible about that. It's just that Sylvester and Sylvia climbed the hedge to get a better look at the king and queen. Sylvester spun in all directions - that's why the sun sparkled around; and Sylvia chatted without shutting her mouth for a minute, so even the dry poles of the old hedge were covered with fresh leaves.
- What are these lovely children? - asked the queen, glancing at Sylvester and Sylvia. - Let them come to me.
Sylvester and Sylvia had never dealt with crowned heads before, so they boldly approached the king and queen.
“Listen,” said the queen, “I like you very much. When I look at you, I feel more cheerful and even as if warmer. Do you want to live in my palace? I will order you to dress up in velvet and gold, you will eat on crystal plates and drink from silver glasses. Well, do you agree?
“Thank you, your majesty,” said Sylvia, “but we'd better stay at home.
“Besides, in the palace we will miss our friends,” said Sylvester.
- Could you also take them to the palace? The queen asked. She was in excellent spirits and was not in the least angry that they were opposed to her.
“No, it’s impossible,” Sylvester and Sylvia replied. - They grow in the forest. Their names are Podoprinebo and Hook ...
- What would not occur to children! - exclaimed in one voice the king and queen, and at the same time they laughed so amicably that even the king's sleigh jumped on the spot.
The king ordered the horses to be unharnessed, and the masons and carpenters immediately began to build a new palace.
Oddly enough, this time the king and queen were kind and merciful to everyone. They did not punish anyone and even ordered their treasurer to give everyone a gold coin. And Sylvester and Sylvia also got a pretzel, which was baked by the royal baker himself! The pretzel was so large that four of the king's horses carried it on a separate sleigh.
Sylvester and Sylvia treated all the children who were in the square with a pretzel, and yet there was still such a large piece that it could hardly fit on the sleigh. On the way back, the peasant's wife whispered to her husband:
“Do you know why the king and queen were so merciful today?” Because Sylvester and Sylvia looked at them and talked to them. Remember what I told you yesterday!
- This is about witchcraft, then? - said the peasant. - Empty!
- Yes, judge for yourself, - the wife did not appease, - where have you seen that in winter trees bloom and that the king and queen would not punish anyone? Believe me, it was not without witchcraft!
- All this woman's inventions! - said the peasant. - It's just that our children are good - that's all they are happy, looking at them!
And it is true, wherever Sylvester and Sylvia came, whoever they talked to, everyone's soul immediately became warmer and brighter. And since Sylvester and Sylvia were always cheerful and friendly, no one was surprised that they bring joy to everyone. Everything around them bloomed and turned green, sang and laughed.
The desert lands near the hut, where Sylvester and Sylvia lived, turned into rich arable land and meadows, and spring birds sang in the forest even in winter.
Soon, Sylvester was appointed royal forester, and Sylvia - royal gardener.
No king in any kingdom has ever had such a wonderful garden. And no wonder! After all, no king could force the sun to obey his orders. And Sylvester and Sylvia the sun always shone when they wanted. Therefore, everything bloomed in their garden so that it was pleasant to watch!
Several years have passed. Once, in a deaf winter time, Sylvester and Sylvia went into the forest to visit their friends.
A storm raged in the forest, the wind hummed in the dark tops of the pines, and the pines sang their song to the sound of it:
We stand, as happened, strong and slender.
It will snow, then it will melt ...
And we look at two friends, two old pines,
As the greens of spring change again
With snows whiter than an ermine,
As the clouds pass, they are full of rains,
And flocks of birds rush.
The pine needles are fresh and thick -
Envy, elms and maples!
Winter will not leave a single leaf on you -
Your green outfit will scatter!
But eternal beauty is given to the pines,
Their heel went into the subterranean depths,
And in the sky - a high crown.
Let the bad weather rage around -
Neither storm nor ...
But before they had time to finish their song, something creaked and creaked inside the trunks, and both pines fell to the ground. Just on that day, the youngest turned three hundred and fifty-five years old, and the eldest - three hundred and ninety-three years old. What's so surprising that the winds finally overpowered them!
Sylvester and Sylvia tenderly patted the gray, moss-covered trunks of dead pines and remembered their friends with such kind words that the snow all around began to melt and pink heather flowers peeped out from under the ground. And there were so many of them that soon they covered the old pines from the very roots to the very tops.
For a long time already I have not heard anything about Sylvester and Sylvia. Probably, now they themselves have grown old and gray, and the king and queens, whom everyone was so afraid of, is not at all in the world.
But every time I see children, it seems to me that they are Sylvester and Sylvia.
Or maybe the old pines gave their wonderful gifts to all the children that live in the world? May be so.
Recently, on a cloudy, rainy day, a boy and a girl met me. And immediately in the gray, dim sky, as if a ray of the sun flashed, everything around brightened, a smile appeared on the gloomy faces of passers-by ...
Then spring comes in the middle of winter. Then the ice begins to melt - on the windows and in the hearts of people. Then even the old broom in the corner is covered with fresh leaves, roses bloom on a dry hedge, and cheerful larks sing under the high vault of the sky.

Winter's Tale - Topelius

In a large dense forest, far in the north of Finland, two huge pine trees grew side by side. They were so old, so old, that no one, not even the gray moss, could remember if they had ever been young, thin pines. Their dark peaks were visible from everywhere, rising high above the thicket of the forest. In the spring, the thrush sang merry songs in the thick branches of the old pines, and the small pink heather flowers raised their heads and looked upward so timidly, as if they wanted to say: "Oh, are we really going to be the same big and the same old?"
In winter, when a blizzard covered the whole earth with a white blanket and heather flowers slept under fluffy snowdrifts, two pines, like two giants, guarded the forest.
A winter storm roared through the thicket, sweeping away the snow from the branches, breaking off the tops of the trees, and knocking down strong trunks. And only the giant pines always stood firm and straight, and no hurricane could make them bow their heads.
But if you are so strong and persistent, it means something!
At the edge of the forest, where old pine trees grew, on a small hillock huddled a hut, covered with turf, and looked out into the forest with two small windows. A poor peasant lived in this hut with his wife. They had a piece of land on which they sowed bread, and a small vegetable garden. That's all their wealth. And in winter, the peasant worked in the forest - chopping down trees and taking logs to the sawmill in order to save up a few coins for milk and butter.
The peasant and his wife had two children - a boy and a girl. The boy's name was Sylvester, and the girl's name was Sylvia.
And where did they find such names for them! Probably in the woods. After all, the word "silva" in the ancient Latin language means "forest".
One day - it was in winter - brother and sister, Sylvester and Sylvia, went into the forest to see if any forest animal or bird had fallen into the snares they had set up.
Indeed, a white hare was caught in one snare, and a ptarmigan in the other. Both the hare and the partridge were alive, they only got entangled in their paws in the snare and squeaked pitifully.
- Let me go! - murmured the hare when Sylvester approached him.
- Let me go! squeaked the partridge as Sylvia bent over her.
Sylvester and Sylvia were very surprised. They had never heard of forest animals and birds speaking humanly.
- Let's really let them go! Sylvia said.
And together with her brother, she began to carefully unravel the snares. As soon as the hare sensed freedom, he galloped as fast as he could into the depths of the forest. And the partridge flew away as fast as its wings could carry.
- Sub-prinebo! .. Sub-prinebo will do everything, whatever you ask! - shouted the hare at a gallop.
- Ask for a Hook! .. Ask for a Hook! .. And you will have everything you don't want! - shouted a partridge on the fly.
And again it became completely quiet in the forest.
- What did they say? - said Sylvester at last. - About what kind of Podopinebo and Hook?
“And I've never heard such strange names,” Sylvia said. “Who could it be?
At this time, a strong gust of wind swept through the forest. The tops of the old pines began to rustle, and in their noise Sylvester and Sylvia clearly heard the words.
- Well, buddy, are you still standing? one pine asked another. - Still holding the sky? It is not for nothing that the forest animals called you - Podopinebo!
- I'm standing! I'm holding it! - the other pine hummed. - How are you, old man? Are you still at war with the clouds? After all, it's not in vain that they say about you - I'll hook you!
- Something I am weakening, - rustled in response. - Today the wind broke off my upper branch. It can be seen that old age really comes!
- It is a sin for you to complain! You are only three hundred and fifty years old. You are still a child! Quite a child! But I've already turned three hundred and eighty-eight!
And the old pine sighed heavily.
- Look, the wind is coming back, - whispered the pine - the one that was younger. - It's so good to sing songs to his whistle! Let's sing with you about the distant past, about our youth. After all, you and I have something to remember!

And to the sound of a forest storm, the pines, swaying, sang their song:
We are shackled by the cold, we are in the snow captivity!
The blizzard is raging and raging.
Under its noise it tends us, the ancients, to sleep,
And we see old times in a dream -
The time when we, two friends,
Two young pines, climbed high
Above the unsteady green of the meadow.
Violets bloomed at our feet,
Whitewashed the needles of a blizzard for us,
And clouds flew from the hazy distance,
And the firs were breaking down in a storm.
We reached the sky from the frozen ground,
Even centuries could not bend us
And they did not dare to break the whirlwinds ...

Yes, you and I have something to remember, there is something to tell, - said the pine - the one that was older - and creaked softly. - Let's talk to these children. - And one of its branches swayed, as if pointing to Sylvester and Sylvia.
- What do they want to talk to us about? - said Sylvester.
“We'd better go home,” Sylvia whispered to her brother. - I'm afraid of these trees.
“Wait,” Sylvester said. - Why be afraid of them! Yes, father is coming!
Indeed, their father was making his way along the forest path with an ax on his shoulder.
- These are trees, so trees! Just what I need! - said the peasant, stopping near the old pines.
He had already raised his ax to cut down the pine tree — the one that was older — but Sylvester and Sylvia suddenly rushed to their father, crying.
- Father, - Sylvester began to ask, - don't touch this pine tree! This is Podopinebo! ..
- Father, don't touch this one! - asked Sylvia. - Her name is Hooked. They are both so old! And now they were singing a song to us ...
- What do the guys not invent! - the peasant laughed. - Where is it heard that the trees sang! Well, okay, let them stand, since you ask so for them. I will find others for myself.
And he went further, into the depths of the forest, while Sylvester and Sylvia remained near the old pines to hear what these forest giants would say to them.
They did not have to wait long. The wind rustled again in the tops of the trees. He had just been at the mill and was twisting the mill wings so violently that sparks from the millstones rained down in all directions. And now the wind blew over the pines and began to rage in their branches.
The old branches hummed, rustled, spoke.
- You saved our lives! - said the pines to Sylvester and Sylvia. - Now ask from us whatever you want.
But it turns out it's not always easy to say what you want the most. No matter how much Sylvester and Sylvia thought, they came up with nothing, as if they had nothing to wish for.
Finally Sylvester said:
- I would like the sun to peep out at least for a while, otherwise the paths in the forest are not visible at all.
- Yes, yes, and I would like spring to come as soon as possible and the snow melts! Sylvia said. - Then the birds will sing again in the forest ...
- Oh, what reckless children! - the pines rustled. - After all, you could wish so many beautiful things! And wealth, and honors, and glory - you would have everything! .. And you ask for what will happen without your request. But nothing can be done, you need to fulfill your desires. Only we will do it our own way ... Listen, Sylvester: wherever you go, whatever you look at, the sun will shine on you everywhere. And your wish, Sylvia, will come true: wherever you go, whatever you talk about, spring will always bloom around you and the cold snow will melt.
- Ah, this is more than we wanted! - exclaimed Sylvester and Sylvia. - Thank you, lovely pines, for your wonderful gifts. Now goodbye! - And they ran home cheerfully.
- Goodbye! Farewell! - the old pines rustled after them.
On the way, Sylvester kept looking around, looking out for the partridges, and - a strange thing! - in whatever direction he turned, everywhere a ray of the sun flashed before him, sparkling on the branches like gold.
- Look! Look! The sun came out! Sylvia shouted to her brother.
But as soon as she had time to open her mouth, the snow began to melt all around, the grass turned green on both sides of the path, the trees were covered with fresh foliage, and high in the blue sky the first song of a lark was heard.
- Oh, how fun! - exclaimed in one voice Sylvester and Sylvia. And the farther they ran, the warmer the sun shone, the brighter the green grass and trees.
- The sun is shining on me! - Sylvester shouted, running into the house.
“The sun shines on everyone,” said the mother.
- And I can melt the snow! - shouted Sylvia.
“Well, everyone can do that,” said the mother and laughed.
But a little time passed, and she saw that something was wrong in the house. It was already completely dark in the yard, evening came, and in their hut everything glittered from the bright sun. And so it was until Sylvester wanted to sleep and his eyes closed. But that is not all! There was no end in sight for winter, and the small hut suddenly breathed in spring. Even an old, withered broom in the corner began to turn green, and the rooster on its perch began to sing with all its might. And he sang until Sylvia was tired of talking and she fell asleep soundly. The peasant returned home late in the evening.
- Listen, father, - said the wife, - I am afraid if someone has bewitched our children. Something wonderful is happening in our house!
- Here's another thing! - said the peasant. - You better listen, mother, what news I have brought. You will never guess! Tomorrow the king and queen will arrive in our city in their own personas. They travel all over the country and inspect their possessions. Do you think we should go with the children to see the royal couple?
“Well, I’m not averse,” said his wife. “After all, not every day such important guests come to our places.
The next day, barely light, the peasant with his wife and children got ready for the journey. On the way, there was only talk about the king and the queen, and no one noticed that all the way the sunbeam was running in front of the sleigh (although the whole sky was surrounded by low clouds), and the birches all around were covered with buds and turned green (although the frost was such that birds froze on the fly).
When the sleighs entered the town square, the people were already visible and invisible there. Everyone looked at the road with apprehension and whispered softly. They said that the king and queen were dissatisfied with their country: wherever you go - everywhere there is snow, cold, deserted and wild places.
The king, as he should be, was very strict. He immediately decided that his people were to blame for everything, and was going to punish everyone properly.
They said about the queen that she was very cold and, in order to keep warm, stamped her feet all the time.
And finally, the royal sleigh appeared in the distance. The people froze.
In the square, the king ordered the coachman to stop to change horses. The king sat with furrowed brows, and the queen wept bitterly.
And suddenly the king raised his head, looked around - to and fro - and laughed merrily, just like all people laugh.
“Look, your majesty,” he turned to the queen, “how friendly the sun is shining! Really, it’s not so bad here ... For some reason I even felt fun.
“It’s probably because you have deigned to have a good breakfast,” said the queen. - However, I, too, seemed to be more cheerful.
“It’s probably because your Majesty slept well,” said the king. - But, however, this desert country is very beautiful! See how the sun shines brightly on those two pines that can be seen in the distance. Positively, this is a lovely place! I will order a palace to be built here.
“Yes, yes, we must certainly build a palace here,” the queen agreed, and even stopped stamping her feet for a minute. - In general, it's not bad here at all. Snow is everywhere, and trees and bushes are covered with green leaves, like in May. This is just incredible!
But there was nothing incredible about that. It's just that Sylvester and Sylvia climbed the hedge to get a better look at the king and queen. Sylvester spun in all directions - that's why the sun sparkled around; and Sylvia chatted without shutting her mouth for a minute, so even the dry poles of the old hedge were covered with fresh leaves.
- What are these lovely children? - asked the queen, glancing at Sylvester and Sylvia. - Let them come to me.
Sylvester and Sylvia had never dealt with crowned heads before, so they boldly approached the king and queen.
“Listen,” said the queen, “I like you very much. When I look at you, I feel more cheerful and even as if warmer. Do you want to live in my palace? I will order you to dress up in velvet and gold, you will eat on crystal plates and drink from silver glasses. Well, do you agree?
“Thank you, your majesty,” said Sylvia, “but we'd better stay at home.
“Besides, in the palace we will miss our friends,” said Sylvester.
- Could you also take them to the palace? the queen asked. She was in excellent spirits and was not in the least angry that they were opposed to her.
“No, it’s impossible,” Sylvester and Sylvia replied. - They grow in the forest. Their names are Podoprinebo and Hook ...
- What would not occur to children! - exclaimed in one voice the king and queen, and at the same time they laughed so amicably that even the king's sleigh jumped on the spot.
The king ordered the horses to be unharnessed, and the masons and carpenters immediately began to build a new palace.
Oddly enough, this time the king and queen were kind and merciful to everyone. They did not punish anyone and even ordered their treasurer to give everyone a gold coin. And Sylvester and Sylvia also got a pretzel, which was baked by the royal baker himself! The pretzel was so large that four of the king's horses carried it on a separate sleigh.
Sylvester and Sylvia treated all the children who were in the square with a pretzel, and yet there was still such a large piece that it could hardly fit on the sleigh. On the way back, the peasant's wife whispered to her husband:
“Do you know why the king and queen were so merciful today?” Because Sylvester and Sylvia looked at them and talked to them. Remember what I told you yesterday!
- This is about witchcraft, then? - said the peasant. - Empty!
- Yes, judge for yourself, - the wife did not appease, - where have you seen that in winter trees bloom and that the king and queen would not punish anyone? Believe me, it was not without witchcraft!
- All this woman's inventions! - said the peasant. - It's just that our children are good - that's all they are happy, looking at them!
And it is true, wherever Sylvester and Sylvia came, whoever they talked to, everyone's soul immediately became warmer and brighter. And since Sylvester and Sylvia were always cheerful and friendly, no one was surprised that they bring joy to everyone. Everything around them bloomed and turned green, sang and laughed.
The desert lands near the hut, where Sylvester and Sylvia lived, turned into rich arable land and meadows, and spring birds sang in the forest even in winter.
Soon, Sylvester was appointed royal forester, and Sylvia - royal gardener.
No king in any kingdom has ever had such a wonderful garden. And no wonder! After all, no king could force the sun to obey his orders. And Sylvester and Sylvia the sun always shone when they wanted. Therefore, everything bloomed in their garden so that it was pleasant to watch!
Several years have passed. Once, in a deaf winter time, Sylvester and Sylvia went into the forest to visit their friends.
A storm raged in the forest, the wind hummed in the dark tops of the pines, and the pines sang their song to the sound of it:

We stand, as happened, strong and slender.
It will snow, then it will melt ...
And we look at two friends, two old pines,
As the greens of spring change again
With snows whiter than an ermine,
As the clouds pass, they are full of rains,
And flocks of birds rush.
The pine needles are fresh and thick -
Envy, elms and maples!
Winter will not leave a single leaf on you -
Your green outfit will scatter!
But eternal beauty is given to the pines,
Their heel went into the subterranean depths,
And in the sky - a high crown.
Let the bad weather rage around -
Neither storm nor ...

But before they had time to finish their song, something creaked and creaked inside the trunks, and both pines fell to the ground. Just on that day, the youngest turned three hundred and fifty-five years old, and the eldest - three hundred and ninety-three years old. What's so surprising that the winds finally overpowered them!
Sylvester and Sylvia tenderly patted the gray, moss-covered trunks of dead pines and remembered their friends with such kind words that the snow all around began to melt and pink heather flowers peeped out from under the ground. And there were so many of them that soon they covered the old pines from the very roots to the very tops.
For a long time already I have not heard anything about Sylvester and Sylvia. Probably, now they themselves have grown old and gray, and the king and queens, whom everyone was so afraid of, is not at all in the world.
But every time I see children, it seems to me that they are Sylvester and Sylvia.
Or maybe the old pines gave their wonderful gifts to all the children that live in the world? May be so.
Recently, on a cloudy, rainy day, a boy and a girl met me. And immediately in the gray, dim sky, as if a ray of the sun flashed, everything around brightened, a smile appeared on the gloomy faces of passers-by ...
Then spring comes in the middle of winter. Then the ice begins to melt - on the windows and in the hearts of people. Then even the old broom in the corner is covered with fresh leaves, roses bloom on a dry hedge, and cheerful larks sing under the high vault of the sky.