Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Once upon a time, in a bright and beautiful kingdom surrounded by forests and mountains, there lived a young princess named Snow White. She was called that because her skin was as white as snow, her lips as red as cherries, and her hair as black as polished wood. But what made her truly lovely was not her looks—it was her kind heart. She always smiled at the gardeners, shared her bread with the birds, and thanked the servants who helped her. Everyone who met Snow White loved her.

But in the tall, cold palace, there was one person who did not. The new queen, Snow White’s stepmother, was proud and jealous. Every day she stood before her tall silver mirror and said, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?”

For a long time, the mirror answered, “You are, my Queen.” Then one morning it shimmered and said, “You are fair, but Snow White is fairer still.”

The Queen’s smile faded. Jealousy crept into her heart like a dark cloud. From that day, she could not bear the sight of Snow White. She thought and planned until her heart was full of only one wish—to be the fairest once more.

The Queen called her huntsman and said coldly, “Take Snow White into the deep forest. Leave her there, and never let her return.”

The huntsman bowed, but he did not like the command. The next morning, he led Snow White into the woods. She walked beside him, humming softly, picking wildflowers as they went. When they reached the darkest part of the forest, the huntsman stopped.

“Dear Princess,” he said, his voice shaking, “I cannot harm you. The Queen wishes you gone, but I will not be her servant in this. Run—run far into the forest and never come back to the palace.”

Snow White looked at him with wide eyes. “Thank you,” she said softly. “You are kind.” Then she turned and ran among the trees.

The forest was thick and wild. The branches swayed above her head, and the wind whispered through the leaves. Owls hooted, foxes darted past, and every sound made her heart jump. But when the sun peeked through the trees, the forest didn’t seem so frightening. Birds sang, and a little rabbit hopped beside her for a while.

By and by, she came to a small clearing. In the middle stood a tiny cottage with a bright blue door, flowers in the window boxes, and smoke curling from the chimney. “How lovely!” Snow White said. She knocked, but no one answered.

She pushed the door open and peered inside. Everything was neat and small—seven chairs around a tiny table, seven plates, seven cups, and seven little beds in a row. “Perhaps children live here,” she whispered.

Snow White was hungry and tired. She ate a little bread from one plate, sipped from a small cup, and lay down across three of the little beds. Before long, she was fast asleep.

That evening, seven dwarfs came home from the mine where they worked each day. They sang as they walked, their lanterns bobbing like tiny stars. When they entered their cottage, they looked around in surprise.

“Who’s been sitting in my chair?” asked one.

“Who’s been eating my soup?” said another.

“Someone’s lying in our beds!” cried a third.

They tiptoed closer and saw Snow White sleeping. Her hair shone like ink, and her face looked peaceful in the lamplight.

“What a beautiful girl,” whispered one dwarf. “But how did she find her way here?”

When Snow White opened her eyes, she was startled to see them. “Oh! I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I was lost and so tired.”

The dwarfs smiled kindly. “You are welcome to stay,” said the eldest. “If you will cook and tidy for us, you may live here safely.”

“I will!” Snow White said gladly. And so she did.

From then on, Snow White kept the little cottage bright and cheerful. She cooked porridge in the mornings, baked bread in the afternoons, and sang sweet songs while she cleaned. The dwarfs loved to listen to her singing; it made the walls seem wider and the roof seem higher. In the evenings, they told her stories of the treasures they found underground—sparkling gems, shining gold, and sometimes just smooth stones that felt good to hold.

Snow White was happy again. The forest no longer frightened her. The birds became her friends, and the deer came close to the window when she sang.

But far away, in the tall castle, the Queen stood once more before her mirror. “Mirror, mirror, on the wall,” she asked. “Who is the fairest one of all?”

The mirror replied, “Snow White, who lives with the seven dwarfs beyond the hills, is the fairest one of all.”

The Queen’s jealousy flared. “Snow White still lives!” she cried. “Then I shall make sure she never outshines me again.”

She disguised herself as an old peddler woman and filled a basket with shiny red apples. One apple she brushed with a magic sleeping spell. “A single bite,” she whispered, “and she will sleep forever.”

The next morning, Snow White was sweeping the doorstep when the old woman appeared. “Good day, dear child,” said the stranger. “Would you like an apple? Fresh and sweet!”

Snow White smiled politely. “Thank you, but I have enough food,” she said.

“Just one bite,” said the woman. “You look hungry from all your hard work.”

The apple shone in the sunlight. Snow White hesitated, then thought, It’s only an apple. Surely that can do no harm. She took a small bite—and fell to the ground at once, pale and still.

The Queen laughed softly and hurried away. “Now,” she said to herself, “I am the fairest once more.”

When the seven dwarfs came home, they found Snow White lying on the floor. Her hands were folded neatly, her hair spread like black silk around her. “Snow White!” they cried. But she did not answer.

They tried everything—they called her name, brought her water, and prayed she would wake. But nothing worked. She was not gone, yet she did not wake. Her face was calm, her lips still red as cherries.

“We cannot bury her,” said the eldest. “She is too beautiful for the dark earth.”

So they made a coffin of clear crystal and placed her inside, high on a hill among the wildflowers. They visited her every day. Birds sang above her, and the forest animals came quietly to sit nearby, as if keeping guard.

Many months passed. Then one spring morning, a prince from a faraway kingdom rode through the forest. He saw the sunlight flashing on the crystal coffin and climbed the hill to look closer.

When he saw Snow White, his heart ached. “Who is she?” he asked the dwarfs softly.

“She is our friend,” they said. “She lies under a spell. We could not wake her.”

The prince looked down at her face and whispered, “Such beauty should not be lost to the world.” He reached out gently to lift her hand—and as he did, the small piece of apple that had been caught in her throat slipped free. Snow White breathed once, twice, and opened her eyes.

“Where am I?” she asked faintly.

“With friends,” said the prince, smiling. “And safe.”

The dwarfs cheered, laughing and crying all at once. They danced around the coffin and sang until even the forest seemed to join them.

When Snow White was strong again, she thanked the dwarfs for their love and care. “You saved me,” she said, hugging them each in turn.

“You saved us first,” said the eldest. “You brought light to our home.”

The prince asked Snow White to return with him to his kingdom. “Come,” he said. “There will be gardens to walk in, and windows that open to the sunrise.”

Snow White looked back at the little cottage and the seven kind faces. “I will never forget you,” she said. “Your home will always be part of mine.”

She left with the prince, and when they reached his castle, the people rejoiced. They married soon after, and the whole kingdom celebrated. Flowers were scattered in the streets, and music floated through the air.

Far away, the Queen stood before her mirror one last time. “Mirror, mirror, on the wall,” she said. “Who is the fairest one of all?”

The mirror replied, “Snow White, who lives in joy and kindness, is the fairest of them all.”

The Queen turned from the mirror and walked away, for she could no longer bear its truth.

Snow White lived happily with her prince, ruling the kingdom with kindness and grace. She often thought of her seven friends and sent them gifts from the royal kitchens: honey cakes, warm bread, and ribbons for their hats. And the dwarfs, in turn, sent her little gems from the mines—bright stones that sparkled like pieces of morning.

And so it was that Snow White and all who loved her lived happily ever after, their hearts light and their days filled with laughter.