CROCUSES AND THE SNOWDROP 29 



"Well," said the old gardener, meditatively, "the 

 snowdrop was once a little snow maiden. You have 

 heard, perhaps, of the Little People of the Snow? 

 Yes?" 



The listener nodded eagerly. "Oh, yes, I know 

 all about them ; it was a snow maiden that Eva went 

 with a fairy creature 



' With lily cheeks and floating flaxen hair, 

 And eyes as blue as ice.' 



They used to come down, from the high mountains in 

 the winter. 



' With trailing garments through the air they came, 

 Or walked the ground with girded loins, and threw 

 Spangles of silvery frost upon the grass, 

 And edged the brook with glistening parapets, 

 And built it crystal bridges, touched the pool, 

 And turned its face to glass.' 



Don't you remember ? And Eva met the little Snow 

 maiden by the big linden and went with her." 



"Yes, yes," said Mr. Trommel. "Well, the snow- 

 drop was once one of those little people, and she 

 lived in a wonderful snow palace." 



"I know about them, too," broke in the listener, 

 with shining eyes. "The Snow maiden took Eva in 



