THERE was once upon a time a peasant named Ivan, who had a wife named
Mary. They had been married many years, and loved one another, but they
had no children, and this caused them so much sorrow that they could
find no pleasure but in watching the children of their neighbours. What
could they do? Heaven had willed it so. Things in this world do not go
as we wish, but as Heaven ordains.
One day, in the winter, the children played about in the road and the
two old folk looked on, sitting in the window seat. At last the children
began to make a beautiful snow figure. Ivan and Mary looked on enjoying
it.