Page 109 - СКАЗКИ СНЕЖНОГО ЭЛЬФА

Secret

This year is missing an abundance of snow. Snezhik
explained that the Winter Department had delivery
problems again. Snowdrifts are not growing bigger, but
yet moving. Strange, but true. Little by little they are in-
visibly creeping forward. It doesn’t bother anyone in the
forest, but the snowdrift that had grown up before my

porch, wanted to cut me off the path. The snowdrift’s
own wishes were beyond my grasp. I tried to settle it
down, but failed, and then took a plunge to totally elimi-
nate that path-occupying movement. I reached for the
shovel, a snow- clearing tool, then measured the swing
and swung, cutting off the chunk of the snowdrift side.
‘Why d’you hurt a little snowdrift?’ Snezhik’s voice
shouted in outrage.
The elf was sitting on the upper step of the porch,

scowled.
‘Hi, Snezhik. This snowdrift is constantly rolling in
the path. It’s way out of line. I decided to cut it down.’
‘Oh, people, aren’t you too quick when it comes to
your comfort? If something seems to be in your way, you
are ready to ruin it. Trees or snowdrifts – anything has to
be cut down. Have you ever tried to overcome?’
‘What’s wrong, Snezhik? Why are you accusing? It’s
nothing but a snowdrift.’
‘Alright, but what if it has a secret? Why the shovel?’

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