Snow-White And Rose-Red

Snow-white and Rose-red are two cheerful sisters who live with their mother in a lonely cottage surrounded by rose-trees. They share a deep bond and often explore the forest, where they are befriended by gentle wild animals. One evening, a large bear seeks shelter from the cold at their hearth, and the girls welcome him warmly despite their initial fright. The bear becomes a regular visitor, playing with the children until he must leave in spring to guard his treasures from wicked dwarfs. On her own adventures, Snow-white encounters a dwarf whose beard is tangled in a tree and cuts it free with scissors. Later, Rose-red helps another dwarf who is being dragged into a stream by his fishing line, cutting his beard again to save him. The sisters also rescue a third dwarf from an eagle that had seized him on the heath. Each time they help him, the ungrateful dwarf snatches his stolen treasures and runs away without saying thank you. The dwarfs grow increasingly angry and foolish, eventually leading one to boast about his jewels in front of the returning bear. The bear crushes the dwarf for his greed and then reveals himself as a prince cursed by the little man. Snow-white marries the prince, and Rose-red marries his brother, sharing in the recovered wealth. Their mother lives happily with them, and the rose-trees continue to bloom beautifully before her window.