2.  The robber girl fancies Gerda.
   3.  The Wood Pigeons tell about Kay.
   4.  The Reindeer carries Gerda on her search. 
VII.  Gerda’s Journey on the Reindeer.
   1.  The Lapland woman,
     a.  Cares for Gerda.
     b.  Sends message on a codfish.
   2.  The Finland woman.
     a.  Cares for Gerda.
     b.  Tells what has happened to Kay.
     c.  Tells what ails Kay and says Kay may be saved by the power of
        innocent girlhood. 
VIII.  Kay’s Rescue.
   1.  At the Snow Queen’s palace.
     a.  Kay cannot write eternity.
     b.  The Snow Queen leaves for Italy.
     c.  Gerda finds Kay.
     d.  Her tears melt his icy heart.
     e.  Her song brings tears that clear his eyes.
     f.  Kay knows Gerda.
     g.  Pieces of ice spell the word eternity.
h.  Gerda’s kisses restore Kay to warmth and health.
   2.  The return journey.
     a.  The reindeer.
     b.  The Finland woman.
     c.  The Lapland woman.
     d.  The prince and princess.
     e.  The robber girl.
   3.  Gerda and Kay at home.

A GOOD LESSON TO LEARN

There is little use in reading if we do not get from it something that makes us wiser, better or nobler, or that gives us an inspiration to work harder and make more of ourselves.  I think the author of The Snow Queen meant that we should get something more than a half-hour’s enjoyment out of his beautiful story.

He makes us like little Kay and his sweet friend Gerda, and then saddens us with Kay’s misfortunes.  We do not like to see him become crossgrained, mean in disposition and stony hearted.

Then we learn to admire the faithfulness and courage and bravery of Gerda, and follow her to the Snow Queen’s palace, afraid every moment she will not find Kay.

When she does find him, it is her tears of sympathy that melt his icy heart, her sweet faith in the Christ-child that clears his eyes, and her love that brings him back to life.

Of course this is all a fairy story; but children and all the race of grownups, even, may learn that it is only by innocence, sympathy and love that the wickedness in the world can be overcome.

THE CHIMERA

By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Once, in the old, old times (for all the strange things which I tell you about happened long before anybody can remember), a fountain gushed out of a hillside in the marvelous land of Greece.  And, for aught I know, after so many thousand years it is still gushing out of the very selfsame spot.  At any rate, there was the pleasant fountain welling freshly forth and sparkling adown the hillside in the golden sunset when a handsome young man named Bellerophon drew near its margin.  In his hand he held a bridle studded with brilliant gems and adorned with a golden bit.  Seeing an old man and another of middle age and a little boy near the fountain, and likewise a maiden who was dipping up some of the water in a pitcher, he paused and begged that he might refresh himself with a draught.