Little Snow-White
Once upon a time, during a snowy winter, a queen sat by her window, sewing while snowflakes fluttered gently down like soft feathers. Her window frame was black as night, and as she sewed and gazed at the snowy scene outside, she accidentally pricked her finger. Three drops of red blood fell onto the white snow below. The queen admired how the red looked so striking against the snow and thought, “I wish for a child with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as the window frame.”
Not long after, the queen’s wish came true. She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who had skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony. They named her Little Snow-white. Sadly, the queen passed away soon after Snow-white was born, leaving the king to care for their precious child.
A New Queen
A year later, the King married again. His new queen was beautiful, but she was very proud and couldn’t stand the idea of anyone being more beautiful than herself. She had a magical mirror and would ask it daily:
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who in this land is the fairest of all?”
The mirror would always reply, “You, O Queen, are the fairest of all!” This made her very happy, for she trusted the mirror’s words completely.
As time went by, Little Snow-white grew up to be even more beautiful. By the time she was seven years old, her beauty shone brightly. One day, the Queen asked her mirror again:
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who in this land is the fairest of all?”
This time, the mirror responded, “You are fairer than all who are here, Lady Queen. But Snow-white is even more beautiful.”
The Queen was horrified. Her envy and jealousy grew stronger each day, and she could hardly bear to see Snow-white. Consumed by jealousy, she decided that Snow-white must go. She summoned a huntsman and ordered him, “Take Snow-white far into the forest. Get rid of her and bring me back her heart as proof.”
A Moment Of Mercy
The huntsman led Snow-white deep into the forest, where he prepared to carry out the Queen’s cruel command. Just as he was about to harm her, Snow-white began to cry. “Please, kind huntsman, let me live!” she pleaded. “I will flee into the forest and never return.”
Moved by her plea and her beauty, the huntsman’s heart softened. “Run away and be free,” he said. “I won’t harm you.”
He thought the wild forest would be enough to keep her safe, and he hoped the dangers there would keep her away from harm. As he was about to leave, he saw a wild boar nearby. The huntsman quickly hunted the boar, took its heart, and brought it back to the Queen as proof that Snow-white was dead. The wicked Queen, believing she had eaten Snow-white’s heart, was satisfied.
Meanwhile, Snow-white was alone and frightened in the vast forest. She wandered through the trees, her fear growing with every step. Though she stumbled over rocks and braved the thorns, the wild animals she encountered did her no harm. Snow-white continued to run, unsure of where she was going but determined to escape her stepmother’s wicked plan.
The Little Cottage In The Woods
Snow-white ran as fast as she could, her feet growing tired as evening approached. Just when she thought she couldn’t go any further, she spotted a cozy little cottage nestled among the trees. She stepped inside to rest, and what she found was a charming surprise.
Everything in the cottage was tiny but tidy and immaculate. There was a table with a white cloth, seven small plates, each with its own little spoon, knife, and fork, and seven tiny mugs. Along one wall were seven little beds, each covered with snow-white quilts.
Feeling very hungry and thirsty, Snow-white decided to sample a bit from each plate and drink a little from each mug, not wanting to take too much from any one spot. Exhausted from her day, she tried out each bed, finding some too long, some too short, but eventually, she settled into the seventh bed, which was just right. She said a quiet prayer and fell asleep.
When night fell, the owners of the cottage returned home. They were seven dwarfs who worked hard digging for precious gems in the mountains. As they lit their candles, they noticed that things in their cottage weren’t quite as they had left them.
The first dwarf noticed, “Who has been sitting in my chair?”
The second asked, “Who has been eating from my plate?”
The third wondered, “Who has taken some of my bread?”
The fourth said, “Who has eaten my vegetables?”
The fifth queried, “Who has used my fork?”
The sixth remarked, “Who has cut with my knife?”
The seventh dwarf looked at his mug and said, “Who has drunk from my mug?”
Then, the first dwarf spotted a small indentation in his bed and asked, “Who has been lying in my bed?”
The others checked their beds too, finding that someone had been in each one. When the seventh dwarf peered into his bed, he saw Snow-white sleeping peacefully. He quickly called the others, and they gathered around, their eyes wide with surprise. They brought their candles closer to get a better look at the beautiful girl who had found her way into their home.
“Oh, goodness! Look at her!” they exclaimed. They were so taken with Snow-white’s beauty that they decided to let her sleep, not wanting to wake her. Each dwarf took turns sleeping with his companions, making sure to get through the night comfortably.
When Snow-white awoke the next morning, she was startled to find the seven dwarfs staring at her. But they greeted her warmly and asked her name. “My name is Snow-white,” she replied.
“How did you find our house?” the dwarfs inquired. Snow-white told them about her stepmother’s wicked plan and how she had escaped into the forest, eventually finding their cottage. The dwarfs listened carefully and said, “If you agree to take care of our home—cooking, cleaning, and keeping everything neat—you can stay with us and want for nothing.”
Snow-white agreed happily, “I will gladly do that!” She stayed with the dwarfs, taking care of their home while they worked in the mountains each day. In the evenings, they would return to a warm, welcoming meal, prepared by Snow-white.
The dwarfs warned Snow-white to be cautious. “Your stepmother will likely find out where you are,” they said. “Be careful not to let anyone in.” Snow-white promised to heed their advice, grateful for their kindness and eager to help.
The Queen’s Deceit
Believing she had eaten Snow-white’s heart, the Queen was sure she was once again the most beautiful in the land. Eager to confirm this, she went to her magic mirror and asked:
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who in this land is the fairest of all?”
The mirror replied:
“Queen, you are fair; it’s true. But beyond the hills where the seven dwarfs dwell, Snow-white is still alive and well. She is still more beautiful than you.”
Stunned and furious, the Queen realized the huntsman had betrayed her and that Snow-white was still alive. Consumed by jealousy, she concocted a new plan. Disguising herself as an old peddler-woman with painted wrinkles and tattered clothes, she set off over the seven mountains to the dwarfs’ cottage.
When she arrived, she knocked on the door and called out, “Lovely things for sale, very cheap, very cheap!”
Snow-white peeked out and asked, “Good day, good woman. What do you have?”
“Beautiful laces of every color,” the disguised Queen replied, displaying a vibrant silk lace.
Thinking the old woman meant no harm, Snow-white opened the door and bought a lace. “Oh, you look so tired, dear,” said the old woman. “Let me help you with that lacing.”
Trusting her, Snow-white allowed the woman to lace her dress. But the laces were tightened so quickly and so tightly that Snow-white gasped for air and fell to the floor, seemingly lifeless.
“Now I am the most beautiful,” the Queen triumphantly said to herself, and she hurried away.
When the seven dwarfs returned home in the evening, they were horrified to find Snow-white lying motionless on the floor. They quickly realized she had been laced too tightly and cut the laces. Gradually, Snow-white began to breathe again and came back to life.
The dwarfs were deeply concerned. “The old peddler-woman was really the wicked Queen,” they warned. “Be very careful and don’t let anyone in while we’re away.” Snow-white nodded, grateful for their protection and determined to stay safe.
The Queen’s New Plot
Back at her palace, the wicked Queen stood before her magic mirror and asked:
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who in this land is the fairest of all?”
The mirror replied:
“Queen, you are fair; it’s true. But beyond the hills where the seven dwarfs dwell, Snow-white is still alive and well. She is still more beautiful than you.”
Hearing this, the Queen’s fear turned to fury. Realizing that Snow-white was still alive, she decided to use her witchcraft to end Snow-white’s life once and for all. She crafted a poisonous comb and, disguising herself as another old woman, set off once more over the seven mountains to the dwarfs’ cottage.
Knocking on the door, she called out, “Lovely things for sale, very cheap, very cheap!”
Snow-white peeked out and said, “No, thank you. I can’t let anyone in.”
“Just take a look,” said the old woman, holding up the comb. It looked so pretty that Snow-white, forgetting her caution, let her in. After they made a deal, the old woman said, “Let me comb your hair for you.”
Snow-white, trusting the old woman, allowed her to comb her hair. But as soon as the comb touched her hair, the poison took effect, and Snow-white fell to the ground, unconscious. “Now I’m the most beautiful,” the wicked Queen sneered, and she hurried away.
Fortunately, the seven dwarfs arrived home just as evening fell. Finding Snow-white lying still, they quickly suspected the Queen’s foul play. They discovered the poisoned comb, removed it, and Snow-white gradually revived. She told them what had happened, and the dwarfs warned her once again to be vigilant and never open the door to strangers.
The Poisoned Apple
At home, the wicked Queen stood before her magic mirror and asked:
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who in this land is the fairest of all?”
The mirror replied:
“Queen, you are the fairest of all. But beyond the hills where the seven dwarfs dwell, Snow-white is still alive and well. None is as fair as she.”
Hearing this, the Queen was consumed with rage. “Snow-white must die,” she vowed, “even if it costs me everything!”
Determined, she retreated to a hidden room where no one would find her. There, she created a poisoned apple. It looked beautiful, with a white skin and a red cheek, and anyone who saw it would be tempted. But the apple was deadly, and anyone who took a bite would fall into a deep, unending sleep.
Once the apple was ready, she disguised herself as a friendly countrywoman and set off across the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs’ cottage. She knocked on the door, and Snow-white peeked out from the window.
“I’m not allowed to let anyone in,” Snow-white said. “The dwarfs have forbidden it.”
“It’s all right,” the old woman replied, holding out an apple. “I’ve got so many apples. Here, take one.”
“I can’t,” Snow-white said. “I’m not allowed to take anything from strangers.”
“Are you afraid of poison?” the old woman asked. “Look, I’ll split the apple with you. I’ll eat the white half, and you eat the red half.”
The apple was cleverly made so that only the red half was poisoned. Seeing the woman eat the white half, Snow-white’s curiosity got the better of her. She reached out and took the red half. As soon as she took a bite, she fell to the ground, lifeless.
The Queen peered in and, with a wicked smile, declared, “White as snow, red as blood, black as ebony-wood! This time, the dwarfs will not be able to wake you.”
Back at her palace, she asked her mirror:
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who in this land is the fairest of all?”
The mirror finally answered:
“Oh, Queen, in this land thou art fairest of all.”
Satisfied, the Queen’s envious heart found a fleeting moment of peace.
The Prince’s Arrival
One evening, the seven dwarfs returned home to find Snow-white lying still on the ground. They were heartbroken to see that she no longer breathed. They tried everything to revive her — checking for poison, unlacing her tightly bound dress, combing her hair, and washing her with water and wine — but nothing worked. Snow-white seemed to be truly gone.
Unable to bury her in the dark earth because she still looked so peaceful and her cheeks still held a rosy hue, the dwarfs decided to place her in a beautiful glass coffin. They wrote her name in golden letters on the coffin and added that she was a king’s daughter. They set the coffin on a mountain, where one of them stayed with it at all times. Birds came to mourn her: first an owl, then a raven, and lastly a dove.
Snow-white lay in the coffin for a long time, looking as if she were merely asleep, with her skin as white as snow, her cheeks as red as blood, and her hair as black as ebony.
One day, a prince came through the forest and noticed the glass coffin on the mountain. He was captivated by the sight of Snow-white and read the inscription with awe. He approached the dwarfs and said, “Please, let me have the coffin. I will pay you anything you ask for it.”
The dwarfs replied, “We cannot part with it for all the gold in the world.”
The prince then pleaded, “Let me have it as a gift. I cannot bear to be without seeing Snow-white. I promise to honor and cherish her forever.” Moved by his sincerity, the dwarfs agreed and gave him the coffin.
As the prince’s servants carried the coffin down the mountain, they stumbled over a tree stump. The jolt caused the piece of poisoned apple stuck in Snow-white’s throat to dislodge. Snow-white’s eyes fluttered open, and she sat up, fully awake.
“Oh, where am I?” she asked in confusion.
The prince, overjoyed, replied, “You are with me. I love you more than anything in the world. Will you come with me to my father’s palace and become my wife?”
The Royal Wedding
Snow-white agreed to marry the prince, and their wedding was celebrated with great splendor. The entire kingdom rejoiced at the joyful occasion. However, Snow-white’s wicked stepmother, who had been invited to the grand feast, was consumed by envy and anger.
Dressed in her finest clothes, the Queen went before her magical mirror and asked,
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who in this land is the fairest of all?”
The mirror responded, “Oh, Queen, of all here, you are fair; but the young Queen is even fairer, beyond compare.”
The Queen’s face turned pale with fury and jealousy. She was so distraught that she almost didn’t go to the wedding. But her curiosity and spite drove her to attend.
When the Queen arrived at the wedding, she saw Snow-white and was overcome with rage and fear. She stood paralyzed with anger as she realized that Snow-white was indeed alive and radiant.
In the end, the Queen was so overwhelmed by her own negativity and jealousy that she could hardly bear to stay at the celebration. The guests at the royal wedding could feel her dark mood and whispered among themselves, feeling a mix of sympathy and relief. She was quietly escorted away from the festivities by gentle guards, who were instructed to ensure she found a peaceful place to reflect on her actions.
As she left, Snow-white, now a queen herself, looked on with a mix of sadness and understanding. She had grown wise and kind, and she realized that no amount of beauty or power could bring true happiness if one’s heart was filled with envy and bitterness. She hoped the Queen would find a way to heal.
With the Queen gone, the wedding festivities resumed with even more joy. Snow-white and the Prince were surrounded by friends, family, and the seven dwarfs, who had become beloved members of the royal court. They celebrated with music, laughter, and dancing, and Snow-white’s heart was full of gratitude and happiness.
The Kingdom flourished under Snow-white and the Prince’s rule, where fairness, compassion, and joy reigned. The people rejoiced, knowing that their Queen was a beacon of kindness and wisdom.
And so, Snow-white and her Prince lived happily ever after, surrounded by the warmth of their loved ones, and their story became a beloved legend of the land.
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Brothers Grimm’s Classics
Grimm brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm, collected and preserved many traditional European folktales, and influenced countless adaptations.
