Once upon a time, a poor widow lived in a cottage, in front of which grew a white rosebush and a red rosebush.Her two little girls were just like the trees.One was called Snow White, the other Rose Red.Rose Red loved to run about the fields and chase butterflies, but Snow White preferred to stay at home and help her mother.Though so different, the two children loved each other dearly and vowed never to desert each other as long as they lived.The birds and the beasts loved the children and played games with them, and no evil ever befell them.Often they would forget about the time, and night would overtake them, but their mother never worried,for she knew that they would be safe, sleeping on a bed of moss, with the furry creatures guarding them.They always kept their mother's cottage clean and neat.In summer, Rose Red placed a rose from each tree beside her mother's bed.In winter, they all three gathered around a bed.The girls were all in a big fire, the girls spinning cloth, while the mother read to them from a big book.One night, as they sat cozily with their pet lamb at their feet, and a little white dove perched above them with his head under his wing,there came a knock at the door.Open the door quickly, Rose Red, said her mother.Some poor traveller must be seeking shelter from the snow.Rose Red opened the door and then screamed in terror.It was no traveller, but a big black bear.Snow White ran to hide behind her mother's bed, while the lamb hid under it, and the dove flew up to the ceiling.Please don't be afraid.I won't hurt you.I just want to warm myself.I am half frozen, growled the bear.You poor bear, said the mother.Lie down by the fire.The two girls approached the bear timidly, but soon they were scrubbing his fur dry with a stiff brush,and then becoming quite playful.They treated their guest like a big dog,teasing and rolling him around, and laughing whenever he growled.The bear submitted to their teasing, and only once, when the play became too rough, did he say,Oh, spare my life, Snow White and Rose Red.Don't beat your lover dead.They left him to sleep after that, on the hearth, before the fire, and in the morning let him up.From that time on, all winter, the bear came to play with the girls each evening and slept in front of the fire.When spring came, the bear left the house.The bear said one morning to Snow White,Now I must leave you until the end of summer.I must go to the forest and protect my treasure from the wicked dwarves.In winter, they cannot work their way up through the frozen ground.But in spring, when the sun has thawed the land, they come out to steal everything they can and take it into their dark caves.Snow White sadly opened the door for her friend, and the bear ran hastily away into the forest.But not before he had caught some fur on the door-knocker.And Snow White was sure she'd caught a glimpse of gold under the bear's skin, and was very puzzled.Later that day, when the children were out gathering brushwood, they noticed something under a big tree.When they came closer, they found a wizened little dwarf jumping up and down.He looked so funny, for he had caught his long beard in the cleft of the tree.And when he saw the girls, he screamed,What are you standing there for? Come and help me. I can't get away.Don't stand and laugh at me, you silly smooth-faced milk-and-water creatures.You'll be sorry, you little wretches.The girls tried to get the little man's beard out, but it was too firmly wedged in.And the dwarf continued to scream and grumble at the two little girls.Don't be impatient. We'll help you, said Snow White.And she took out her scissors and snipped off the end of his beard.Curse you for cutting off my beautiful beard, said the dwarf.And Snow White said,And seizing a bag of gold, which had been hidden at the foot of the tree,he hurried off without even a thank you or a backward look.A few days later, Snow White and Rose Red went to catch some fish to eat.And as they approached the stream, they saw a curious sight.There was their old friend the dwarf, with his beard entangled again,this time in the fishing line.And he was being dragged into the water by a huge fish hooked on the end of his line.The girls held him firmly.The old man tried to untangle him, but his beard was hopelessly muddled with the line.So again out came the scissors, and another little bit was snipped off.The ungrateful dwarf screamed,Look what you've done to my beard!The best part of it's gone.I won't dare to show myself.I wish you'd never come.And with that, he picked up a bag of pearls lying amongst the rushesand disappeared behind the stone.The third time the little girls were able to help this nasty little man happened this way.They were on their way to town to purchase needles and threadwhen they saw a big eagle circle around and settle on a nearby rock.Then suddenly they heard a piercing scream,and rushing forward they were just in time to bravely prevent the eaglefrom carrying off the little dwarf,who was struggling and screaming, caught fast in the eagle's jaws.As soon as the dwarf had recovered his breath, he screamed,Look what you've done to my fine coat, you hussies!It's torn to shreds!Then he took up a bag of jewels and vanished into a cave.The girls took no notice.They were used to his ingratitude and continued on their way.On their way home, passing the same spot,they were surprised to see the nasty little dwarf pouring out a stream of jewels onto the ground.They sparkled so in the setting sun, so beautifully that the two sisters stood entranced.But the dwarf's face became scarlet with rageas he saw them there, for he thought no one could see him.He was about to screech at Snow White and Rose Red again,when suddenly a growl was heard and a big black bear came lumbering towards them.He attacked the dwarf, who screamed,Dear Mr. Bear, spare me!You can have all my treasure!I am too small and feeble!Take these two girls!Eat them instead!The bear paid no attention but gave the evil little man one blow and killed him.Then he called,Don't be afraid, Snow White and Rose Red.Wait for me!It was their old friend.They were so happy to see him.And what do you think happened?When he was quite close to them,his bear skin suddenly fell off,and a handsome young man stood there clothed in gleaming gold.I am a king's son, he said.I was doomed by a spell put on me by that dwarfto roam the woods as a wild bear.But now his death has set me free,and the treasure he stole from me is recovered.Snow White married the prince,and Rose Red his brother.The great treasure recovered from the dwarf was divided between them,and some of it was used to build their mother a bigger house where the old one stood.And each year the rose bushes continued to bear the loveliest red and white roses.