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A Spell Ignited -
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Now the Queen, after she thought she had eaten Snow White's heart, never dreamed but that she was once more the most beautiful woman in the world; so stepping before her mirror one day she said:
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who is the fairest of them all?"
and the mirror replied:
"My Lady Queen, you are fair, tis true,
But over the hills, in the greenwood shade,
Where seven dwarfs their home have made,
Lives Snow White, fairer far than
you."
When the Queen heard these words she was nearly struck dumb with horror, for the mirror always spoke the truth, and she knew now that the Huntsman must have deceived her, and that Snow White was still alive. She pondered day and night how she might destroy Snow White, for as long as she felt she had a rival in the land her jealous heart left her no rest.
At last the Queen hit upon a plan. She stained her face and dressed herself up as an old peddler woman, so that she was quite unrecognisable. In this disguise she went over the seven hills till she came to the cottage of the seven Dwarfs.
There she knocked at the door, calling out at the same time:
"Fine wares to sell, fine wares to sell!"
Snow White peeped out of the window, and called out:
"Good-day, good woman, what have you to sell?"
"Good wares, fine wares," the woman answered; "stay-laces of every shade and description," and she held one up that was made of some bright coloured silk.
"Surely I can let the old woman in," thought Snow White; 'she seems to be a good woman".
So she ran down and unbolted the door.
"Good gracious, child," said the old woman, "how badly your stays are laced! Let me lace them up with one of my nice new
laces."
Snow White, suspecting no evil, stood before her and let her lace her bodice up, but the old woman laced her so quickly and so tightly that it took Snow White's breath away, and she fell down as if she were dead.
"Now I am once again the fairest," said the wicked woman, and then she hastened away.
In the evening the seven Dwarfs came home, and you may think what a fright they got when they saw their dear Snow White lying on the floor, as if she were quite dead. They lifted her up tenderly, and when they saw how tightly laced she was, they cut the lace in two, and she began to breathe a little and gradually came back to life.
When the Dwarfs heard what had happened, they said:
"The old peddler woman must have been the wicked Queen herself: take care! You must be sure to let no one in, if we are not at home."
next: Poisonous Comb
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