Chapter 1

　　Once upon a time, in a land far away, a king and queen lived in a beautiful castle.They had everything they wanted, except a child of their own. One night, the queen was sitting by her window. She was watching the snow fall outside. She looked up and saw a wishing star(许愿星). Star light, star bright, wishing star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight. I wish I had a little girl with skin as white as snow, with cheeks(面颊) as red as roses, and with hair as black as night.

　　The next year, the queen got her wish. She had a lovely little daughter. Her name was Snow White. The king and queen were very happy. Everyone in the kingdom loved Princess Snow White.

　　What a beautiful little baby girl. Her skin is as white as snow. Her cheeks are as red as roses. Her hair is as black as night, with pretty curls(卷发). She’s adorable(可爱的).

　　Soon after Snow White was born, the good queen died. The king married a new

　　queen. The new queen was very beautiful, but she was also very proud. She wanted to be the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. The queen had a magic mirror that answered any question she asked. Every day, she asked the mirror the same question.

　　Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest(最美的) of them all?

　　You are, my Queen.

　　Are you sure?

　　Of course, my queen .You know I always tell the truth.

　　Thank you, mirror. I'm very happy now.

　　Many years passed, and Snow White grew to be a beautiful young woman.

　　Here comes the princess Snow White. Look at her hair. It's so long and thick.

　　Yes, and her eyes are always bright and happy. She smiles at everyone she meets.

　　She is as graceful(优雅的)as a dancer. And she is so kind and gentle.

　　Everyone loves her.But the queen did not love Snow White. She was jealou(妒嫉)of the princess?beauty.

　　Then one day.

　　Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?

　　Snow White is the fairest, my queen.

　　What?! Never! I am the fairest!

　　I'm sorry, but I always tell the truth. You are very beautiful, but Snow White is more beautiful than you are.

　　What can I do? I know. If I make Snow White work hard, then she will lose her beauty. And I will be the fairest of them all.

　　The queen called for Snow White.

　　Snow White, you are growing up(长大) Your days of playing are over. Now you must work in the kitchen. First, you will carry buckets(水桶) of water from the well(水井). Then, you will cook all our meals. And then, you will wash all the dishes andscrub(擦洗) all the pots and pans(坛坛罐罐)

　　All that work? Every day?

　　Yes, every day. Now go to the kitchen and get started.

　　Snow White worked very hard all day long. She did everything the queen told her to do .But the more Snow White worked, the more beautiful she became.

　　Mirror, mirror, on the wall. who's the fairest of them all?

　　Snow White is the fairest, my queen.

　　Still? But I make her do all that hard work.

　　She is still more beautiful than you are.

　　Then I'll make her work harder.

　　The queen called for Snow White again.

　　No more kitchen work for you.Hooray! Thank you.

　　Now you must work in the castle. First you will scrub(擦洗)all the floors in the

　　castle. Then you will wash everyone’s clothes. Then, you will clean all my jewelry(首饰)

　　Oh, no!

　　Snow White worked very hard in the castle. But the more Snow White worked, the more beautiful she became. The queen was very angry. Finally, she had another ides. She called a huntsman(猎人).

　　Huntsman, take Snow White into the forest and kill her.

　　Kill Snow White? But she is so kind and gentle.

　　If you don’t kill her, then I will kill you. When you are done, bring me her heart.

　　Then I will know that she is dead.

　　I hate to do it, but I will. I must obey(服从) the queen.

　　That afternoon, the huntsman took Snow White into the forest. Snow White loved the tall trees and pretty flowers. She chased(追逐)butterflies and sang with the birds in the trees. She looked so happy. The huntsman did not want to kill her.

　　Princess, the queen told me to kill you today, but I can’t do it.

　　Why does the queen want to kill me? I don’t understand.

　　She hates you because of your beauty. Please, princess, run away and never come back.

　　Then you will be safe.

　　I don’t know where to go. But I will run away from the castle. Thank you for saving my life. Good bye.

　　The huntsman killed a wild pig(野)?. He took its heart to the queen. The queen thought it was Snow White’s heart. Now she thought that she was the most beautiful in the land.