Cic\u0103 \u00eentr-o iarn\u0103, pe c\u00e2nd z\u0103pada c\u0103dea din \u00eenaltul nem\u0103rginit al cerului \u00een fulgi mari \u015fi pufo\u015fi, o \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103 sta \u00eentr-un jil\u0163 \u015fi cosea l\u00e2ng\u0103 o fereastr\u0103 cu pervazul negru, de abanos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei cum cosea ea a\u015fa, arunc\u00e2ndu-\u015fi din c\u00e2nd \u00een c\u00e2nd privirile la ninsoarea ce se cernea de sus, se \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103 s\u0103 se \u00een\u0163epe cu acul \u00een deget \u015fi trei pic\u0103turi de s\u00e2nge c\u0103zur\u0103 \u00een z\u0103pad\u0103. Ro\u015ful s\u00e2ngelui ar\u0103ta at\u00e2t de frumos pe albul z\u0103pezii, c\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa r\u0103mase \u00eenc\u00e2ntat\u0103 \u015fi g\u00e2ndi \u00een sinea ei: “Ce n-a\u015f da s\u0103 am un copil alb ca z\u0103pada, ro\u015fu ca s\u00e2ngele \u015fi cu p\u0103rul negru ca abanosul!”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trecu timpul, dar nu prea multi\u015for, \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa n\u0103scu o feti\u0163\u0103 alb\u0103 ca z\u0103pada, cu gura ro\u015fie ca s\u00e2ngele \u015fi cu p\u0103r negru ca abanosul. \u015ei-i d\u0103dur\u0103 numele de Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada\u2026 Dup\u0103 ce o aduse \u00eens\u0103 pe lume, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa muri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum trecu anul, \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 alt\u0103 so\u0163ie. Femeia asta era cadr\u0103 de frumoas\u0103, dar nespus de trufa\u015f\u0103 \u015fi m\u00e2ndr\u0103 \u015fi n-ar fi \u00eeng\u0103duit nici \u00een ruptul capului s-o \u00eentreac\u0103 alta \u00een frumuse\u0163e. Avea o oglind\u0103 fermecat\u0103 \u015fi ori de c\u00e2te ori se privea \u00eentr-\u00eensa nu uita s-o \u00eentrebe:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Oglinjoar\u0103 din perete, oglinjoar\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine e cea mai frumoas\u0103 din \u0163ar\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u015ei oglinda-i r\u0103spundea:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 M\u0103ria ta e\u015fti cea mai frumoas\u0103 din \u00eentreaga \u0163ar\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa z\u00e2mbea fericit\u0103, fiindc\u0103 \u015ftia c\u0103 oglinda gr\u0103ie\u015fte numai adev\u0103rul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Vezi, \u00eens\u0103, c\u0103 Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada cre\u015ftea \u015fi se f\u0103cea pe zi ce trecea tot mai frumoas\u0103; \u015fi c\u00e2nd \u00eemplini \u015fapte ani, era o minun\u0103\u0163ie de fat\u0103 frumoas\u0103 ca lumina zilei. \u015ei frumuse\u0163ea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei \u00eencepu a p\u0103li \u00eenaintea ei.<\/p>\n
\u015ei \u00eentr-o bun\u0103 zi, c\u00e2nd \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa \u00eentreb\u0103 oglinda:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Oglinjoar\u0103 din perete, oglinjoar\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine e cea mai frumoas\u0103 din \u0163ar\u0103?<\/p>\n
Oglinda-i r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Frumoas\u0103 e\u015fti, cr\u0103ias\u0103, ca ziua luminoas\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada e mult, mult mai frumoas\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0La auzul acestor vorbe, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa se \u00eensp\u0103im\u00e2nt\u0103 grozav \u015fi, de pizm\u0103 \u015fi ciud\u0103, o dat\u0103 se \u00eeng\u0103lbeni \u015fi se \u00eenverzi, de ziceai c\u0103-i moartea. Din clipa aceea, ori de c\u00e2te ori o z\u0103rea pe Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada sim\u0163ea c\u0103-i plesne\u015fte fierea de ciud\u0103: \u015fi azi a\u015fa, m\u00e2ine a\u015fa, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce \u00eencepu s-o urasc\u0103 de moarte. Pizma \u015fi ciuda cre\u015fteau \u00een inima ei ca buruiana cea rea \u015fi se cuib\u0103riser\u0103 at\u00e2t de ad\u00e2nc, c\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa nu-\u015fi mai g\u0103sea pace nici ziua, nici noaptea. \u00cen cele din urm\u0103 chem\u0103 un v\u00e2n\u0103tor \u015fi-i porunci:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia fata asta \u015fi du-o \u00een ad\u00e2ncul p\u0103durii, c\u0103 nu rabd s-o mai v\u0103d \u00een fa\u0163a ochilor! Omoar-o \u015fi drept m\u0103rturie c\u0103 mi-ai \u00eendeplinit porunca s\u0103-mi aduci pl\u0103m\u00e2nii \u015fi ficatul netrebnicei!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0V\u00e2n\u0103torul nu ie\u015fi din vorbele \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei \u015fi se afund\u0103 cu Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada \u00een p\u0103dure; dar c\u00e2nd scoase jungherul de la br\u00e2u \u015fi se preg\u0103tea s\u0103-i str\u0103pung\u0103 inima nevinovat\u0103, s\u0103rmana copil\u0103 \u00eencepu s\u0103 pl\u00e2ng\u0103 \u00een hohote \u015fi s\u0103 se roage:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 V\u00e2n\u0103torule drag, cru\u0163\u0103-mi via\u0163a \u015fi-\u0163i f\u0103g\u0103duiesc c-o s\u0103-mi pierd urma \u00een s\u0103lb\u0103ticia asta de codru \u015fi n-o s\u0103 m\u0103 mai \u00eentorc niciodat\u0103 acas\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u015ei pentru c\u0103 Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada era at\u00e2t de frumoas\u0103, v\u00e2n\u0103torului i se f\u0103cu mil\u0103 de ea \u015fi-i spuse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103-i a\u015fa, fugi de te ascunde, feti\u0163\u0103 drag\u0103, unde nu calc\u0103 picior de om! Iar \u00een sinea lui g\u00e2ndea: “Biata de tine, p\u00e2n\u0103 la urm\u0103 tot or s\u0103 te sf\u00e2\u015fie fiarele s\u0103lbatice!”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Totu\u015fi, parc\u0103 i se luase o piatr\u0103 de pe inim\u0103 c\u0103 nu trebuie s\u0103-\u015fi m\u00e2njeasc\u0103 m\u00e2inile cu s\u00e2nge nevinovat. \u015ei cum tocmai trecea pe acolo \u00een fug\u0103 un pui de mistre\u0163, \u00eel \u00eenjunghie \u015fi, sco\u0163\u00e2ndu-i pl\u0103m\u00e2nii \u015fi ficatul, le duse \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei drept m\u0103rturie c\u0103 i-a \u00eemplinit \u00een totul dorin\u0163a.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa \u00eei porunci buc\u0103tarului s\u0103 le g\u0103teasc\u0103 de \u00eendat\u0103, cu sare \u015fi tot felul de mirodenii, \u015fi at\u00e2t de neagr\u0103 era la suflet, c\u0103 nu se d\u0103du \u00eend\u0103r\u0103t s\u0103 le m\u0103n\u00e2nce, \u00eencredin\u0163at\u0103 fiind c\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103 pl\u0103m\u00e2nii \u015fi ficatul feti\u0163ei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Biata copil\u0103 r\u0103m\u0103sese singur\u0103-singuric\u0103 \u00een p\u0103durea cea nesf\u00e2r\u015fit\u0103 \u015fi era at\u00e2t de \u00eenfrico\u015fat\u0103, c\u0103 privea la mul\u0163imea frunzelor de pe copaci ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd de-acolo ar fi putut s\u0103 se iveasc\u0103 vreo primejdie \u015fi nu \u015ftia \u00een ce chip \u015fi-ar putea g\u0103si sc\u0103parea\u2026 \u00centr-un sf\u00e2r\u015fit \u00eencepu s\u0103 alerge \u015fi gonea \u00eentruna peste bolovani col\u0163uro\u015fi \u015fi printre m\u0103r\u0103cini, iar fiarele s\u0103lbatice treceau \u00een fug\u0103 pe dinaintea ei, dar nu-i f\u0103ceau nici un r\u0103u. Alerg\u0103 ea a\u015fa, c\u00e2t o mai \u0163inur\u0103 picioarele, \u015fi-n geana amurgului d\u0103du cu ochii de o c\u0103su\u0163\u0103 \u015fi intr\u0103 \u00een\u0103untru s\u0103 se odihneasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen c\u0103su\u0163\u0103, toate lucrurile erau mititele dar at\u00e2t de ginga\u015fe \u015fi sclipind de cur\u0103\u0163enie, c\u0103 \u0163i-era mai mare dragul s\u0103 le prive\u015fti. Pe o m\u0103su\u0163\u0103 acoperit\u0103 cu o fa\u0163\u0103 de mas\u0103 alb\u0103 erau r\u00e2nduite \u015fapte talere mici \u015fi l\u00e2ng\u0103 fiecare taler se afla c\u00e2te o linguri\u0163\u0103, o furculi\u0163\u0103, un cu\u0163ita\u015f \u015fi-o cup\u0103 c\u00e2t un degetar. Iar de-a lungul unui perete se \u00een\u015firau \u015fapte p\u0103tuceane, a\u015fternute cu cear\u015fafuri albe ca neaua.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum era tare fl\u0103m\u00e2nd\u0103 \u015fi \u00eensetat\u0103, Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada ciuguli c\u00e2te un pic din fiecare taler, ciupi c\u00e2te-o f\u0103r\u00e2mi\u0163\u0103 de p\u00e2ine \u015fi sorbi din fiecare cup\u0103 c\u00e2te-o \u00eenghi\u0163itur\u0103 de vin, fiindc\u0103 nu voia s\u0103 ia toat\u0103 m\u00e2ncarea numai de la unul singur. \u015ei fiindc\u0103 se sim\u0163ea grozav de obosit\u0103, d\u0103du s\u0103 se culce \u00eentr-un p\u0103tu\u0163, dar nici unul nu i se potrivea: unul era prea lung, altul prea scurt \u015fi abia ultimul p\u0103tu\u0163 se nimeri s\u0103 fie pe m\u0103sura ei. Fata se culc\u0103 \u00een el \u015fi adormi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se \u00eentunec\u0103 de-a binelea, sosir\u0103 \u015fi st\u0103p\u00e2nii c\u0103su\u0163ei. Erau cei \u015fapte pitici, care sfredeleau mun\u0163ii, scormonind \u00een m\u0103runtaiele lor pentru a scoate la lumin\u0103 tot soiul de metale. Ei aprinser\u0103 cele \u015fapte lum\u00e2n\u0103rele \u015fi de \u00eendat\u0103 ce se f\u0103cu lumin\u0103 \u00een c\u0103su\u0163\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi d\u0103dur\u0103 seama c\u0103 cineva str\u0103in cotrob\u0103ise peste tot, fiindc\u0103 lucrurile nu se mai aflau la locul lor, a\u015fa cum le l\u0103saser\u0103 la plecare. \u015ei atunci primul pitic zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine a stat pe sc\u0103unelul meu?<\/p>\n
Al doilea urm\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine a m\u00e2ncat din talerul meu?<\/p>\n
Al treilea:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine a mu\u015fcat din p\u00e2ini\u015foara mea?<\/p>\n
Al patrulea:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine a luat din legumele mele?<\/p>\n
Al cincilea:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine a umblat cu furculi\u0163a mea?<\/p>\n
Al \u015faselea:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine a t\u0103iat cu cu\u0163ita\u015ful meu?<\/p>\n
Al \u015faptelea \u00eentreb\u0103 \u015fi el:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine a b\u0103ut din cupa mea?<\/p>\n
Primul pitic c\u0103t\u0103 \u00een jur mai cu luare-aminte \u015fi pe dat\u0103 v\u0103zu o mic\u0103 ad\u00e2ncitur\u0103 \u00een p\u0103tucul lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine s-a culcat \u00een p\u0103tu\u0163ul meu?! se minun\u0103 el.<\/p>\n
Ceilal\u0163i alergar\u0103 \u00eentr-o goan\u0103 la p\u0103tuceanurile lor \u015fi \u00eencepur\u0103 s\u0103 strige care mai de care:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015ei-n p\u0103tu\u0163ul meu a stat cineva!<\/p>\n
Dar c\u00e2nd cel de-al \u015faptelea se apropie de p\u0103tucul s\u0103u, dete cu ochii de Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada, care st\u0103tea \u00een el ad\u00e2ncit\u0103 \u00een somn. \u00cei chem\u0103 pe ceilal\u0163i \u015fi cu to\u0163ii venir\u0103 \u00een grab\u0103, sco\u0163\u00e2nd strig\u0103te de uimire. Apoi \u00eendreptar\u0103 spre Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada lumina celor \u015fapte lum\u00e2n\u0103rele \u015fi r\u0103maser\u0103 s-o priveasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Doamne, Dumnezeule, apucar\u0103 ei s\u0103 strige, tare frumoas\u0103 mai e copila asta!<\/p>\n
\u015ei at\u00e2t de bucuro\u015fi erau, c\u0103 nu se \u00eendurar\u0103 s-o trezeasc\u0103, ci o l\u0103sar\u0103 s\u0103 doarm\u0103 mai departe \u00een p\u0103tu\u0163. Iar cel de-al \u015faptelea pitic dormi c\u00e2te un ceas \u00een patul fiec\u0103ruia \u015fi a\u015fa trecu noaptea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se lumin\u0103 de zi, Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada deschise \u00eencetinel ochii \u015fi, v\u0103z\u00e2ndu-i pe cei \u015fapte pitici, se sperie r\u0103u. Dar ei se ar\u0103tar\u0103 prieteno\u015fi \u015fi \u00eencepur\u0103 s-o \u00eentrebe cu bl\u00e2nde\u0163e:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cum te cheam\u0103, feti\u0163o?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada! r\u0103spunse ea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015ei cum se face c\u0103 ai ajuns \u00een c\u0103su\u0163a noastr\u0103? o mai \u00eentrebar\u0103 ei.<\/p>\n
Atunci Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada le povesti de-a fir a p\u0103r totul: cum maic\u0103-sa vitreg\u0103 a pus s-o omoare, dar v\u00e2n\u0103torul se \u00eendurase de ea \u015fi-i l\u0103sase via\u0163a \u015fi cum gonise toat\u0103 ziulica prin p\u0103dure, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce d\u0103duse peste c\u0103su\u0163a lor. Dup\u0103 ce o ascultar\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 scape vreun cuvin\u0163el din istorisirea ei, piticii \u00eei ziser\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 te \u00eenvoie\u015fti s\u0103 vezi de gospod\u0103ria noastr\u0103, s\u0103 g\u0103te\u015fti, s\u0103 faci paturile, s\u0103 co\u015fi, s\u0103 speli, s\u0103 \u00eemplete\u015fti \u015fi s\u0103 \u0163ii totul \u00een bun\u0103 r\u00e2nduial\u0103 \u015fi cur\u0103\u0163enie, apoi po\u0163i r\u0103m\u00e2ne la noi \u015fi n-o s\u0103 duci lips\u0103 de nimic.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da, primesc cu drag\u0103 inim\u0103! r\u0103spunse Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada \u015fi de atunci r\u0103mase la ei.<\/p>\n
Ea \u00eengrijea acum de toate treburile casei \u015fi-n fiecare diminea\u0163\u0103 piticii plecau \u00een mun\u0163i s\u0103 scoat\u0103 aur \u015fi tot soiul de alte metale \u015fi, c\u00e2nd se \u00eentorceau seara acas\u0103, g\u0103seau m\u00e2ncarea gata, aburind pe cuptor. Peste zi, fata r\u0103m\u00e2nea singur\u0103-singuric\u0103 \u015fi din aceast\u0103 pricin\u0103 piticii cei buni avuseser\u0103 mereu grij\u0103 s-o pov\u0103\u0163uiasc\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 P\u0103ze\u015fte-te de ma\u015fter\u0103, c\u0103 n-o s\u0103-i fie greu defel s\u0103 afle c\u0103 e\u015fti la noi! \u015ei cine \u015ftie ce pune iar la cale! Nu cumva s\u0103 la\u015fi pe cineva s\u0103 intre \u00een cas\u0103!<\/p>\n
Iar \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa, fiind \u00eencredin\u0163at\u0103 c\u0103 m\u00e2ncase pl\u0103m\u00e2nii \u015fi ficatul fiicei ei vitrege, se credea iar\u0103\u015fi cea mai frumoas\u0103 femeie de pe lume. \u015ei \u00eentr-o zi, apropiindu-se de oglind\u0103, o \u00eentreb\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Oglinjoar\u0103 din perete, oglinjoar\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine e cea mai frumoas\u0103 din \u0163ar\u0103?<\/p>\n
Atunci oglinda \u00eei r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Frumoas\u0103 e\u015fti, cr\u0103ias\u0103, ca ziua luminoas\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar colo, ascuns\u0103-n mun\u0163i,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 St\u0103 Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada, la cei pitici c\u0103run\u0163i,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015ei-i mult mai frumoas\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa se sperie din cale-afar\u0103, fiindc\u0103 \u015ftia prea bine c\u0103 oglinda nu minte. \u015ei-\u015fi d\u0103du pe dat\u0103 seama c\u0103 v\u00e2n\u0103torul o \u00een\u015felase \u015fi c\u0103 Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada era \u00eenc\u0103 \u00een via\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cencepu ea atunci s\u0103 se fr\u0103m\u00e2nte \u015fi s\u0103 chibzuiasc\u0103 \u00een ce chip ar putea s-o piard\u0103 din nou, c\u0103ci at\u00e2ta vreme c\u00e2t nu era cea mai frumoas\u0103 din toat\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia pizma \u00eei chinuia sufletul f\u0103r\u0103 r\u0103gaz \u015fi n-avea clip\u0103 de lini\u015fte. \u00cen cele din urm\u0103 n\u0103scoci ceva: \u00ee\u015fi vopsi fa\u0163a \u015fi se \u00eembr\u0103c\u0103 \u00eentocmai ca o b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103 negu\u0163\u0103toreas\u0103, c\u0103 nimeni n-ar mai fi putut s-o recunoasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Schimbat\u0103 astfel la \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015fare, o porni peste cei \u015fapte mun\u0163i \u015fi \u00eentr-un sf\u00e2r\u015fit se pomeni \u00een fa\u0163a c\u0103scioarei celor \u015fapte pitici. B\u0103tu la u\u015f\u0103 \u015fi strig\u0103 din toat\u0103 puterea:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De v\u00e2nzare marf\u0103 frumoas\u0103, de v\u00e2nzare!<\/p>\n
Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada \u00ee\u015fi arunc\u0103 o privire pe geam \u015fi \u00eentreb\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bun\u0103 ziua, tu\u015fic\u0103 drag\u0103, da\u2019 ce ai matale de v\u00e2nzare?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Marf\u0103 bun\u0103 \u015fi frumoas\u0103! se gr\u0103bi s\u0103-i r\u0103spund\u0103 negu\u0163\u0103toreasa. Cing\u0103tori de toate culorile.<\/p>\n
\u015ei vicleana scoase una, \u00eempletit\u0103 din m\u0103tase b\u0103l\u0163at\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0“Se vede c\u00e2t de colo c\u0103-i o femeie de treab\u0103, g\u00e2ndi fata, a\u015fa c\u0103 n-am de ce s\u0103 n-o las \u00een\u0103untru! C\u0103 doar n-o fi foc\u2026”<\/p>\n
Trase z\u0103vorul, o pofti s\u0103 intre \u015fi-\u015fi cump\u0103r\u0103 cing\u0103toarea cea frumoas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vai ce pocit \u0163i-ai pus-o, feti\u0163o! Ia apropie-te, s\u0103 te g\u0103tesc eu cu ea, a\u015fa cum se cuvine! o \u00eembie cu bl\u00e2nde\u0163e femeia.<\/p>\n
Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada n-avea de unde s\u0103 b\u0103nuiasc\u0103 c-ar pa\u015fte-o vreo primejdie \u015fi o l\u0103s\u0103 s\u0103-i pun\u0103 cing\u0103toarea. Dar b\u0103bu\u015fca o \u00eencinse repede cu ea \u015fi-o str\u00e2nse at\u00e2t de tare, c\u0103 fetei i se t\u0103ie r\u0103suflarea \u015fi c\u0103zu jos ca moart\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ei, de-acum n-o s\u0103 mai fii tu cea mai frumoas\u0103! hohoti \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa \u015fi o \u015fterse repede pe u\u015f\u0103.<\/p>\n
Nu mai trecu mult \u015fi, spre sear\u0103, venir\u0103 acas\u0103 cei \u015fapte pitici. \u015ei cum se mai speriar\u0103, bie\u0163ii de ei, c\u00e2nd o g\u0103sir\u0103 pe iubita lor Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada z\u0103c\u00e2nd la p\u0103m\u00e2nt, f\u0103r\u0103 sim\u0163ire, de parc\u0103-ar fi fost moart\u0103! O ridicar\u0103 de jos \u015fi, v\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u00e2t de str\u00e2ns \u00eei era mijlocul, t\u0103iar\u0103 \u00een dou\u0103 cing\u0103toarea. Fata prinse a r\u0103sufla iar \u015fi \u00eencetul cu \u00eencetul \u00ee\u015fi reveni \u00een sim\u0163iri. Le povesti ea piticilor toate c\u00e2te s-au \u00eent\u00e2mplat \u015fi ace\u015ftia \u00eei atraser\u0103 din nou luarea-aminte:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Negu\u0163\u0103toreasa ceea nu era alta dec\u00e2t haina de \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103. Fere\u015fte-te, barem de-acu\u2019 \u00eencolo, fat\u0103 drag\u0103, \u015fi nu mai l\u0103sa pe nimeni s\u0103 intre c\u00e2nd nu suntem noi acas\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u015ei tare mult\u0103 dreptate aveau, c\u0103 femeia cea neagr\u0103 la inim\u0103 nici nu a\u015ftept\u0103 s\u0103 treac\u0103 bine pragul palatului \u015fi se duse glon\u0163 la oglind\u0103 \u015fi-o \u00eentreb\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Oglinjoar\u0103 din perete, oglinjoar\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine e cea mai frumoas\u0103 din \u0163ar\u0103?<\/p>\n
Iar oglinda pe dat\u0103 \u00eei r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Frumoas\u0103 e\u015fti, cr\u0103ias\u0103, ca ziua luminoas\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar colo, ascuns\u0103-n mun\u0163i,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 St\u0103 Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada, la cei pitici c\u0103run\u0163i,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015ei-i mult mai frumoas\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa r\u0103mase ca stana de piatr\u0103 c\u00e2nd auzi asta \u015fi sim\u0163i c\u0103-i n\u0103v\u0103le\u015fte tot s\u00e2ngele-n cap, ca un v\u00e2rtej, de c\u00e2t\u0103 spaim\u0103 \u015fi m\u00e2nie clocotea \u00een ea. Va s\u0103 zic\u0103, tot nu sc\u0103pase de Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada, tot vie era netrebnica asta! “Ei bine, de data asta m-oi str\u0103dui s\u0103 n\u0103scocesc ceva f\u0103r\u0103 de gre\u015f, ca s\u0103-\u0163i viu de-a binelea de hac!” \u015ei cum la farmece \u015fi vr\u0103ji n-o \u00eentrecea nimeni, haina de \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103 me\u015fteri un pieptene otr\u0103vit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 aceea \u00ee\u015fi schimb\u0103 hainele \u015fi lu\u0103 \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015farea unei b\u0103bu\u0163e g\u00e2rbovite de ani. \u015ei iar\u0103\u015fi o porni peste cei \u015fapte mun\u0163i, la cei \u015fapte pitici c\u0103run\u0163i. Ajung\u00e2nd ea la c\u0103su\u0163a lor, cioc\u0103ni \u00een u\u015f\u0103 \u015fi strig\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Marf\u0103 bun\u0103 de v\u00e2nzare, marf\u0103 bun\u0103!<\/p>\n
Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada c\u0103t\u0103 afar\u0103 pe geam \u015fi spuse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vezi-\u0163i de drum, femeie, c\u0103 n-am voie s\u0103 las pe nimeni \u00een\u0103untru!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da\u2019 de privit cred c\u0103 ai voie s\u0103 prive\u015fti, nu-i a\u015fa?<\/p>\n
\u015ei sco\u0163\u00e2nd pieptenele cel otr\u0103vit, \u00eel tot plimb\u0103 pe sub ochii fetei. At\u00e2t de mult \u00eei pl\u0103cuse pieptenul, c\u0103 Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada se l\u0103s\u0103 am\u0103git\u0103 \u015fi deschise u\u015fa. Dup\u0103 ce se \u00eenvoir\u0103 din pre\u0163, b\u0103tr\u00e2na o momi cu cele mai dulci vorbe:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia vino \u00eencoa\u2019 la baba, s\u0103 te pieptene, ca s\u0103 fii \u015fi tu o dat\u0103 piept\u0103nat\u0103 ca lumea!<\/p>\n
Biata Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada nu se g\u00e2ndi la nimic r\u0103u \u015fi se l\u0103s\u0103 piept\u0103nat\u0103. Dar de-abia \u00eei trecu b\u0103bu\u015fca pieptenele prin p\u0103r, c\u0103 otrava \u015fi \u00eencepu s\u0103 lucreze prin toate m\u0103dularele, ar\u0103t\u00e2ndu-\u015fi puterea ucig\u0103toare \u015fi biata copil\u0103 c\u0103zu jos, f\u0103r\u0103 via\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Acu\u2019 s-a sf\u00e2r\u015fit cu tine, frumoasa frumoaselor! r\u00e2nji la ea femeia cea hain\u0103 \u015fi-n timp ce se gr\u0103bea s\u0103 se \u00eendep\u0103rteze de acele locuri sufletul ei negru clocotea de-o bucurie dr\u0103ceasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
Dar, spre norocul fetei, \u00eenserarea cobor\u00ee cur\u00e2nd \u015fi cei \u015fapte pitici sosir\u0103 acas\u0103. De \u00eendat\u0103 ce-o v\u0103zur\u0103 pe Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada z\u0103c\u00e2nd f\u0103r\u0103 via\u0163\u0103 b\u0103nuir\u0103 c\u0103 ma\u015ftera trebuie s\u0103 fi pus iar ceva la cale \u015fi, cercet\u00e2nd copila cu grij\u0103, d\u0103dur\u0103 peste pieptenele cel otr\u0103vit. Cum i-l smulser\u0103 din p\u0103r, Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada \u00ee\u015fi reveni \u00een fire, ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd ar fi dormit numai ni\u0163elu\u015f \u015fi prinse a le povesti cele \u00eent\u00e2mplate. Diminea\u0163a piticii o sf\u0103tuir\u0103 din nou s\u0103 fie cu ochii \u00een patru \u015fi s\u0103 nu mai deschid\u0103 nim\u0103nui u\u015fa, fie ce-o fi, \u015fi apoi se duser\u0103 la treburile lor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen \u0103st timp, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa ajunsese la palatul ei \u015fi a\u015fez\u00e2ndu-se \u00een fa\u0163a oglinzii se gr\u0103bi s-o \u00eentrebe:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Oglinjoar\u0103 din perete, oglinjoar\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine e cea mai frumoas\u0103 din \u0163ar\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u015ei oglinda \u00eei r\u0103spunse ca \u015fi alt\u0103dat\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Frumoas\u0103 e\u015fti, cr\u0103ias\u0103, ca ziua luminoas\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar acolo, ascuns\u0103-n mun\u0163i,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 St\u0103 Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada, la cei pitici c\u0103run\u0163i,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015ei-i mult mai frumoas\u0103!<\/p>\n
Auzindu-i spusele, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa \u00eencepu s\u0103 tremure toat\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 clocoteasc\u0103 de m\u00e2nie. “Netrebnica asta trebuie s\u0103 moar\u0103, chiar de-ar fi s\u0103 pl\u0103tesc moartea ei cu pre\u0163ul vie\u0163ii mele!” Se strecur\u0103 apoi \u00eentr-o od\u0103i\u0163\u0103 dosnic\u0103, \u00een care nu c\u0103lca picior de om, \u015fi amestec\u0103 de ici, amestec\u0103 de colo, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce pl\u0103m\u0103di un m\u0103r otr\u0103vit. La \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015fare m\u0103rul era nespus de frumos; alb ca spuma, pe-o parte, \u015fi rumen pe alta, c\u0103 oricine l-ar fi v\u0103zut i se trezea numaidec\u00e2t pofta s\u0103-l m\u0103n\u00e2nce. Dar cine ar fi apucat s\u0103 mu\u015fte numai o dat\u0103 din el zile multe nu mai avea \u015fi c\u0103dea mort pe loc. Dup\u0103 ce sf\u00e2r\u015fi de me\u015fte\u015fugit m\u0103rul, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa \u00ee\u015fi boi fa\u0163a \u015fi se \u00eembr\u0103c\u0103 \u00een straie de \u0163\u0103ranc\u0103. \u015ei schimbat\u0103 astfel trecu peste cei \u015fapte mun\u0163i, gr\u0103bindu-se s\u0103 ajung\u0103 la c\u0103scioara celor \u015fapte pitici.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aci b\u0103tu la u\u015f\u0103, dar Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada scoase capul pe fereastr\u0103 \u015fi spuse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu pot l\u0103sa pe nimeni s\u0103 intre, c\u0103 nu-mi dau voie piticii!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Alt\u0103 pagub\u0103 s\u0103 n-am! r\u0103spunse \u0163\u0103ranca. Slav\u0103 Domnului, g\u0103sesc eu mu\u015fterii pentru merele mele! Da\u2019 p\u00e2n\u0103 una alta, hai de ia \u015fi tu unul, c\u0103 nu-i pe bani!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nici nu m\u0103 g\u00e2ndesc s\u0103-l iau, r\u0103spunse Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada, n-am voie s\u0103 primesc nimic!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce, te temi s\u0103 nu mori cumva otr\u0103vit\u0103? strecur\u0103 ea cu viclenie \u00eentrebarea. Fii pe pace, copili\u0163o! Iaca, tai m\u0103rul \u00een dou\u0103: bucata asta rumen\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nc-o tu, iar pe cealalt\u0103 oi m\u00e2nca-o eu.<\/p>\n
Dar vezi c\u0103 m\u0103rul era cu me\u015fte\u015fug f\u0103cut, c\u0103 numai partea cea rumen\u0103 era otr\u0103vit\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada r\u00e2vnea de nu mai putea s\u0103 guste o dat\u0103 din m\u0103r \u015fi c\u00e2nd o v\u0103zu pe \u0163\u0103ranc\u0103 mu\u015fc\u00e2nd din el nu mai putu r\u0103bda \u015fi \u00eentinz\u00e2nd m\u00e2na pe fereastr\u0103 lu\u0103 jum\u0103tatea cea \u00eenveninat\u0103. Dar n-apuc\u0103 s\u0103-nghit\u0103 dec\u00e2t o \u00eembuc\u0103tur\u0103 c\u0103 \u015fi c\u0103zu jos, f\u0103r\u0103 suflare. \u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa \u00eei arunc\u0103 priviri ca de fiar\u0103 \u015fi, beat\u0103 de bucurie, strig\u0103 printre hohote de r\u00e2s:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada, ro\u015fie ca s\u00e2ngele \u015fi neagr\u0103 ca abanosul, de-acu\u2019 piticii n-or mai putea s\u0103 te \u00eenvie!<\/p>\n
Plec\u0103 de acolo c\u00e2t putu de repede \u015fi c\u00e2nd ajunse la palat \u00eentreb\u0103 iar oglinda:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Oglinjoar\u0103 din perete, oglinjoar\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine e cea mai frumoas\u0103 din \u0163ar\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u015ei deodat\u0103 auzi vorbele dup\u0103 care t\u00e2njise at\u00e2t:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 M\u0103ria ta e cea mai frumoas\u0103 din \u00eentreaga \u0163ar\u0103!<\/p>\n
Abia acum \u00ee\u015fi g\u0103si lini\u015ftea inima ei cea pizma\u015f\u0103, pe c\u00e2t poate fi lini\u015ftit\u0103 o inim\u0103 pizma\u015f\u0103\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen faptul serii, c\u00e2nd piticii se \u00eentoarser\u0103 acas\u0103 o g\u0103sir\u0103 pe Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada z\u0103c\u00e2nd pe jos f\u0103r\u0103 pic de suflare. Era moart\u0103 ca to\u0163i mor\u0163ii. O ridicar\u0103, c\u0103ut\u00e2nd s\u0103 vad\u0103 dac\u0103 nu g\u0103sesc vreun lucru \u00eenveninat, \u00eei desf\u0103cur\u0103 cing\u0103toarea, o piept\u0103nar\u0103, o sp\u0103lar\u0103 cu ap\u0103 \u015fi cu vin, dar totul fu zadarnic. Copila cea drag\u0103 era moart\u0103 ca to\u0163i mor\u0163ii \u015fi moart\u0103 r\u0103mase! Atunci o a\u015fezar\u0103 pe o n\u0103s\u0103lie \u015fi, str\u00e2ng\u00e2ndu-se to\u0163i \u015fapte \u00een jurul ei, pl\u00e2nser\u0103 amar \u015fi-o jelir\u0103 trei zile \u00eencheiate. Vrur\u0103 dup\u0103 aceea s-o \u00eengroape, dar fata ar\u0103ta at\u00e2t de frumoas\u0103 de parc\u0103 s-ar fi aflat doar \u00een somn \u015fi-n obraji avea aceia\u015fi bujori ro\u015fii dintotdeauna, a\u015fa c\u0103 piticii nu se \u00eendurar\u0103 s-o coboare \u00een p\u0103m\u00e2nt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu, \u00een ad\u00e2ncul cel negru al p\u0103m\u00e2ntului nu o putem cobor\u00ee. Ar fi mare p\u0103cat! gr\u0103ir\u0103 care mai de care \u015fi, a\u015ftern\u00e2ndu-se pe munc\u0103, \u00eei f\u0103cur\u0103 un sicriu de cle\u015ftar, ca s\u0103 poat\u0103 fi v\u0103zut\u0103 de oriunde te-ai uita la ea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0O culcar\u0103 apoi \u00een\u0103untru \u015fi deasupra \u00eei scriser\u0103 numele cu slove de aur, precum \u015fi c\u0103 a fost fiic\u0103 de \u00eemp\u0103rat. Apoi urcar\u0103 sicriul pe-un v\u00e2rf de munte, de-l a\u015fezar\u0103 acolo, \u015fi de fiecare dat\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2nea c\u00e2te unul de veghe. Viet\u0103\u0163ile p\u0103durii \u00eencepur\u0103 a veni \u015fi ele s-o jeleasc\u0103; mai \u00eent\u00e2i se ar\u0103t\u0103 o buh\u0103, apoi un corb \u015fi-n urma acestora o hulubi\u0163\u0103. \u015ei a\u015fa r\u0103mase Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada mult\u0103, mult\u0103 vreme \u00een sicriul ei de cle\u015ftar \u015fi nimic nu-i \u015ftirbea din negr\u0103ita-i frumuse\u0163e. P\u0103rea c\u0103-i vie \u015fi doarme, c\u0103 era tot a\u015fa de alb\u0103 ca z\u0103pada, de ro\u015fie ca s\u00e2ngele \u015fi cu p\u0103rul negru ca abanosul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei s-a \u00eent\u00e2mplat ca un fecior de crai s\u0103 se r\u0103t\u0103ceasc\u0103 \u00een p\u0103durea aceea \u015fi, d\u00e2nd peste c\u0103su\u0163a piticilor, s\u0103 le cear\u0103 g\u0103zduire peste noapte. A doua zi, c\u00e2nd o porni la drum, v\u0103zu sicriul din cre\u015ftetul muntelui \u015fi pe frumoasa Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada, \u015fi citi cu nesa\u0163 ce sta scris deasupra, cu slove de aur. \u015ei cum privea vr\u0103jit \u015fi nu se putea desprinde de locul acela, \u00eencepu a-i ruga pe pitici:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da\u0163i-mi mie sicriul \u015fi-o s\u0103 v\u0103 dau \u00een schimb tot ce v-o pofti inima!<\/p>\n
Dar piticii \u00eei r\u0103spunser\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu \u0163i-l d\u0103m nici pentru tot aurul din lume.<\/p>\n
Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu a\u015fa, feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat \u00eei rug\u0103 cu \u015fi mai mult\u0103 st\u0103ruin\u0163\u0103 \u015fi ardoare:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Atunci \u00eendura\u0163i-v\u0103 \u015fi mi-l d\u0103rui\u0163i, c\u0103 de c\u00e2nd i-am z\u0103rit chipul nu mai pot tr\u0103i f\u0103r\u0103 s-o v\u0103d pe Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada. \u015ei v-asigur c-o voi cinsti mereu \u015fi-o voi p\u0103zi ca pe f\u0103ptura care mi-e cea mai scump\u0103 pe lume!<\/p>\n
Auzindu-l cu c\u00e2t foc vorbea, inimo\u015fii pitici se \u00eendurar\u0103 de el \u015fi-i d\u0103ruir\u0103 sicriul. Feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat \u00ee\u015fi chem\u0103 slugile \u015fi le porunci s\u0103 ia co\u015fciugul pe umeri \u015fi s\u0103-l urmeze. \u015ei cum mergeau ei a\u015fa, se \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103 ca unul dintre slujitori s\u0103 se poticneasc\u0103 de-o buturug\u0103 \u015fi, din pricina zdruncin\u0103turii, buc\u0103\u0163ica de m\u0103r pe care o \u00eenghi\u0163ise Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada \u00eei s\u0103ri afar\u0103 din g\u00e2tlej. O clipit\u0103, doar at\u00e2t s\u0103 fi trecut, \u015fi domni\u0163a deschise ochii, ridic\u0103 u\u015furel capacul sicriului \u015fi se scul\u0103 \u00een capul oaselor. \u015ei era din nou vie de parc\u0103 s-ar fi trezit tocmai atunci din somn.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vai, Doamne, unde m\u0103 aflu? strig\u0103 ea nedumerit\u0103.<\/p>\n
Cu ochii r\u00e2z\u00e2nd de bucurie, feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat se apropie de d\u00e2nsa \u015fi-i spuse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cu mine e\u015fti, cu mine!<\/p>\n
\u015ei-i povesti toate c\u00e2te s-au \u00eent\u00e2mplat. Iar la sf\u00e2r\u015fit adause:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00cemi e\u015fti mai drag\u0103 dec\u00e2t orice pe lumea asta \u015fi de te-ai \u00eenvoi s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eenso\u0163e\u015fti la curtea tat\u0103lui meu bine-ar fi, c\u0103 ard de dorin\u0163a s\u0103-mi fii so\u0163ie.<\/p>\n
Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada ce era s\u0103 mai spun\u0103, c\u0103 \u015fi ei \u00eei c\u0103zuse drag\u2026 Porni \u00eempreun\u0103 cu el \u015fi f\u0103cur\u0103 o nunt\u0103 de se duse vestea, cu mare alai \u015fi voio\u015fie. La nunt\u0103 o poftir\u0103 \u015fi pe ma\u015ftera cea hain\u0103, c\u0103 de, tot o socoteau un fel de rud\u0103\u2026 Dup\u0103 ce s-a g\u0103tit ea cu ve\u015fmintele cele mai de pre\u0163, s-a apropiat de oglind\u0103 \u015fi a \u00eentrebat-o:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Oglinjoar\u0103, oglinjoar\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine e cea mai frumoas\u0103 din \u0163ar\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u015ei oglinda pe dat\u0103 i-a r\u0103spuns:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Frumoas\u0103 e\u015fti, cr\u0103ias\u0103, ca ziua luminoas\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar t\u00e2n\u0103ra domni\u0163\u0103 e mult, mult mai frumoas\u0103!<\/p>\n
Atunci dr\u0103coaica de femeie \u00eencepu s\u0103 blesteme de ciud\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 urle ca scoas\u0103 din min\u0163i \u015fi deodat\u0103 sim\u0163i c\u0103 i se face fric\u0103, dar o fric\u0103 at\u00e2t de \u00eengrozitoare, c\u0103 nu \u015ftia ce s\u0103 mai fac\u0103 \u015fi-ncotro s-o mai apuce. La \u00eenceput se codi s\u0103 mearg\u0103 la nunt\u0103, dar cum nu-\u015fi g\u0103sea o clip\u0103 de lini\u015fte, g\u00e2ndi c\u0103 trebuie neap\u0103rat s-o vad\u0103 pe t\u00e2n\u0103ra \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei de cum p\u0103\u015fi \u00een sala tronului, d\u0103du ochii cu Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada \u015fi, recunosc\u00e2nd-o, \u00eenlemni de spaim\u0103 \u015fi r\u0103mase \u0163eap\u0103n\u0103 ca o mom\u00e2ie. Spaima pusese st\u0103p\u00e2nire pe toat\u0103 f\u0103ptura ei; din pricina asta, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa se ur\u00e2\u0163ea v\u0103z\u00e2nd cu ochii. \u015ei at\u00e2t de pocit\u0103 se f\u0103cu c\u0103 nici ea singur\u0103 nu mai cuteza s\u0103 se priveasc\u0103 \u00een oglind\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00ce\u015fi lu\u0103 lumea \u00een cap \u015fi o \u0163inu tot \u00eentr-o goan\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 se pierdu \u00een ad\u00e2ncul p\u0103durii s\u0103lbatice, ca s\u0103-\u015fi ascund\u0103 acolo ur\u00e2\u0163enia. \u015ei de atunci, nici unui om nu-i mai fu dat s-o vad\u0103 \u015fi nimeni nu mai \u015ftiu ceva despre soarta ei. Iar Alb\u0103-ca-Z\u0103pada tr\u0103i \u00een bucurie \u015fi fericire \u00eempreun\u0103 cu t\u00e2n\u0103rul \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi, dac\u0103 n-or fi murit, cu siguran\u0163\u0103 c\u0103 mai tr\u0103iesc \u015fi-n zilele noastre\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cic\u0103 \u00eentr-o iarn\u0103, pe c\u00e2nd z\u0103pada c\u0103dea din \u00eenaltul nem\u0103rginit al cerului \u00een fulgi mari \u015fi pufo\u015fi, o \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103 sta \u00eentr-un jil\u0163 \u015fi cosea l\u00e2ng\u0103 o fereastr\u0103 cu pervazul negru, … <\/p>\n