"I will gladly work for you," she said.

The girl did her work well, and each day she shook up the bed until the
feathers flew about like snowflakes.

She was very happy with Mother Frost, who never spoke an angry word.

After the girl had stayed a long time with the kind old woman, she began
to feel homesick.

She could not help it, though her life with Mother Frost had been so
happy.

At length she said, "Dear Mother Frost, you have been very kind to me,
but I should like to go home to my friends."

"I am pleased to hear you say that you wish to go home," said Mother
Frost. "You have worked for me so well that I will show you the way
myself."

She took the maiden by the hand and led her to a broad gateway.

The gate was open, and as she went through a shower of gold fell over
the maiden.

It clung to her clothes, so that she was dressed in gold from her head
to her feet.

"That is your pay for having worked so hard," said the old woman. "And