Again they flew. It was all so nice. Above, the sky so blue; beneath,
the water still bluer. They flew over a steep rocky shore.
"Will we really fly across the sea?" asked Verotchka.
"Yes. But you must sit still and hold me tight," said Lady Bug.
At first, Verotchka was afraid, but after a while she wasn't. There was
nothing but sky and sea. On the sea sailed ships like huge birds with
white wings. The little boats looked like flies.
Everything was lovely--so nice. Way yonder was the shore, low, yellow,
sandy. It was the mouth of some huge river and near it gleamed a city
all white, as if built of sugar. Still beyond, one saw a dead desert,
where stood the Pyramids. Lady Bug descended upon the bank of the
river. Upon it grew tall Papyrus and among them were Lilies, wonderful,
delicate.
"Your home is very lovely," said Verotchka to the Lilies. "Does winter
never come here to you?"
"What is winter?" asked the Lilies, wonderingly.
"Winter is the time snow falls," said Verotchka.
"And what is snow?" asked the Lilies.
The Lilies even laughed at Verotchka. They thought the little northern
girl was making fun of them. It is true that every fall huge flocks of
birds from the North visited them and told them about the winter. But
these birds had never really seen winter. They were only repeating what
they had heard and Verotchka could not believe that there was no
winter, for that meant no need of warm coats or warm shoes.
[Illustration]
They flew further. Verotchka wondered no longer at the blue sea, the
mountains, the sun-kissed desert and the Hyacinths.
"I'm too warm," complained Verotchka. "You know, Lady Bug, I don't
think it's nice to have summer all the time."
"It all depends upon what one is accustomed to," said Lady Bug.
They flew towards high mountains, the tops of which were always white
with snow. There it wasn't so warm. Beyond the mountains, stretched
deep, dark forests. Under the forest trees, it was dark, for the rays
of the sun never penetrated beyond the thick tree tops. Monkeys swung
from bough to bough. The woods were full of birds--green, yellow,
blue. But the most wonderful of all were the flowers growing directly
from the tree trunks. There were flowers like fire, flowers of all
colors, flowers that looked like birds and butterflies. The whole
forest seemed to blaze with many-colored living fires.
"These are Orchids," explained Lady Bug.
Here it was all a tangle. It was impossible to walk.
They flew further. Beneath them, a huge river spread between green
banks. Lady Bug alighted upon a huge white flower that grew in the
water. Verotchka had never before seen a flower so large as this.
"This is a holy flower," explained Lady Bug. "It is called 'Lotus.'"
V
Little Verotchka had seen so much that she finally grew tired and
wanted to go home. Home is best.
"I love white snow," said Verotchka. "It isn't nice without winter."
Again they flew. The higher they flew, the colder it grew. Soon there
appeared beneath them white fields and only the pine woods were green.
Verotchka was so happy when she saw the first fir-tree.
"Little Fir-Tree! Little Fir-Tree!" called Verotchka.
"Hello, Verotchka," answered the Little Fir-Tree beneath her.
This was a real Christmas tree. Verotchka knew her at once. That dear
Christmas tree! Verotchka bent down to tell her how lovely she was and
all of a sudden she felt herself going down, down, down.
It was frightful. She turned somersaults in the air several times, and
then fell right into the soft white snow. Verotchka closed her eyes
with fear and didn't know whether she was dead or alive.
"How did you get here, Little One?" asked somebody.
Verotchka opened her eyes and saw a bent, old man, all gray. She knew
him at once. It was the same old man who brought Christmas trees and
golden stars, boxes of candy and wonderful toys, to the good children.
He was so kind, this old man; he picked her up in his arms and covered
her with his fur coat, asking her again:
"How did you come here, Little Girl?"
"I travelled on Lady Bug's back, and I saw so much, Grandfather!"
"So, so."
"I know you, Grandfather. You bring Christmas trees to children."
"Yes, yes. I'm fixing one now." And he pointed to a tall pole that
didn't look like a Christmas tree at all.
"What sort of Christmas tree is that, Grandfather? It's nothing but a
long stick."
"Wait and see," said Grandfather.
Grandfather carried Verotchka into a tiny village almost buried in
snow. Only the roofs and chimneys were visible. The country children
were all waiting for the old grandfather. They jumped and shouted, when
they saw him.
"Christmas tree! Christmas tree!"
They came to the first hut. Grandfather got an unbroken sheaf of oats,
tied it to the end of the pole and stuck the pole on the roof.
Immediately the tiny birds that do not go away for the winter flew
upon it from all sides and began pecking the seeds.
"It is our Christmas tree," they shouted.
Suddenly, Verotchka felt very happy. That was the first time she had
seen a Christmas tree made for the winter birds.
"What a kind old grandfather!"
One little Sparrow, bustling about more than the others, recognized
Verotchka and called out!
"Why, this is Verotchka! I know her very well. Many, many times has she
scattered crumbs for me."
Other Sparrows also recognized her and piped noisily with joy.
Then came another Sparrow that turned out to be the squabbler. He began
pushing everybody aside and snatching the best seeds. This was the same
Sparrow who had quarreled with Stickelback. Verotchka knew him at
once.
"Hello, Master Sparrow!" she said.
"Is that you, Verotchka? Why, hello!"
Sparrow Squabbler hopped on one leg, winked knowingly with one eye and
said to the old man:
"Why, this is Verotchka, who wants to be the Queen. I myself heard her
say that."
"Do you want to be a Queen, Little One?" asked the Old Man.
"Yes, very much, Grandfather," said Verotchka.
"Very well," said the wise old man. "There is nothing simpler. Every
Queen is a woman and every woman a Queen. Now go home and tell that to
all the other little girls."
Lady Bug was very glad to get away. She was afraid that the
quarrelsome Sparrow would gobble her up.
So Verotchka and Lady Bug flew home. Faster and faster they flew. At
home, all the flowers were waiting for Verotchka. They had been
wondering what is a Queen all the time she was away.
* * * * *
Lulla-lullaby. Verotchka's one eye is sleeping; the other little eye is
open. Verotchka's one little ear is sleeping; the other ear listens.
Now everybody gathered about Verotchka's bed. Bold Rabbit, Bear Mishka,
Squabbling Rooster and Sparrow, Black-headed Crow, Stickelback and
tiny, tiny Cacinella. They were all there near Verotchka.
"Father, I love them all," whispered Verotchka. "I love even the Black
Roach, Father."
Verotchka's other eye is asleep. The other little ear is also asleep.
Near Verotchka's bed, the green spring grass grows gaily, the flowers
are smiling--many flowers, blue, pink, yellow, azure and scarlet. The
green birch bends over Verotchka's bed and whispers something,
lovingly.
The sun is shining, the sand is yellow, and the blue sea waves beckon
to Verotchka to come to them.
Sleep, Verotchka, and grow strong!
Lulla-Lullaby.
[Illustration]