In the winter, when the snow was lying deep upon hill and field, Hilda fell sick, and her parents were in great anxiety on her account. She was quite unable to eat—was burning with fever heat, and shivering with cold, by turns,—and though she was tenderly nursed, could get no relief.
If any of her young friends visited her, she would say to them, “Give me strawberries, who will go and find me some strawberries, that I may get well and not die?” Then her father and mother would say, “Dear Hilda, it is winter now, and there are none to be found this season.”
Hilda would then raise herself up in bed, and say, “Far away over the high hill there, and through the forest, is a green slope; there I can see plenty of strawberries.
“Who will go and fetch them for me—only one of those nice red berries—only one!” The children left the room, saying, to each other, “What nonsense poor Hilda talked about; she must be dreaming.” But Delphine was much troubled that she could not help her friend. All at once she said, “Who will go with me over the mountains to seek for strawberries? It will be some comfort to poor Hilda if she sees us going over the hill to seek for them.” But no one would go with her.
So Delphine set out alone, for she wished to do all she could to help her friend, though she had to go through a deep and dangerous forest. After she left the forest, she came to the hill. A small trodden foot-path led up to the top and down again on the other side; she then came to a wood of tall oak and beech trees. She passed through without having met a single adventure; she then came to a place where three paths met. She stood still a moment, not knowing which to take, when, quite unexpectedly, she saw a little man approaching through the trees. He had a green hat upon his head, with a feather as white as snow. His dress was made of the softest swan’s down. He carried an ivory bow on his shoulder, and a small silver hunting horn hung at his side. “What do you want here, little damsel?” he said, in a friendly voice.
“Ah!” said Delphine, “I have a sick friend, who longs for strawberries, and says they will make her well again. I know very well that it is winter, but I hope to find something here that she will like, and I hope that I shall not return quite empty-handed.”
“Come with me then,” said the little hunter. “I will show you a place where you may find what you are in search of.” He went on before, leading her through many winding paths, until the forest appeared lighter, the air warmer and more spring-like. At last they came to a great iron door. The little man unlocked it, saying, “Now, if you go straight forward, you will find what you seek.”
Delphine would have thanked the good man, but he vanished instantly. After walking a few steps farther, she came to a green slope.
Here winter had entirely disappeared. The sun shone warmer in the cloudless sky; the birds sang merrily, and a few steps farther she beheld the ground covered with fine strawberries. How the good little maiden rejoiced! she quickly filled the little basket she brought with her, and hastened back with them to her dear sick friend. But some how in her haste she could not find her way back. She came to the iron palisades which surrounded the place, but all her attempts to find the gate were fruitless. In her anxiety, she ran this way and that; still no gate was to be seen. Then she heard the sound of a whistle, and she exclaimed, with joy, “I hear a living sound, some one, surely, is in this wood who will be kind enough to show me the way out.”
She hastily traversed the thicket in another direction, and suddenly beheld a scene which caused her great surprise. Before her laid a large, green meadow, and beyond this a clear lake, on which a number of stately and beautiful swans were swimming very gracefully. In the middle of the lake was a small island, upon which stood a charming palace, surrounded by flower gardens and orange groves. As she drew near the shore of the lake, she perceived a little man, who had a less friendly aspect than the hunter of the forest. He had a large head, with rough hair, and a grey beard, so long that it reached to his knees; in one hand he held a whistle, and in the other a switch.