A story I found online
Snegurochka
Deep in the forests of Northern Russia, in an isba (log hut), lived an old wood cutter and his
wife. Times were hard, for winter had set in and deep snow covered the ground.
The wood cutter and his wife were both kind and hardworking but they were also sad and lonely,
for they were childless and there was no-one to care for them or to help them through the cold
winter.
The days passed slowly, with hard work their only comfort. There was wood to chop and food to
find.
Then one day, whilst clearing an area so they could chop some more wood, they began to pile
together heaps of snow. Remembering the games they used to play in their childhood, the old
couple began to shape the snow into human form. By the time they had finished they were
nearly frozen but the image of the young girl they had created was so beautiful, it was
beyond description.
“See wife,” said the old man, “our daughter Snegurochka.” (Snow maiden.) The old woman
smiled but as her husband turned away, there were tears in her eyes.
In the forest the twigs crackled and snapped, for watching the old couple was none other
than Father Frost, an old winter god that lived deep in the forest glades.
Father Frost felt pity for the old couple and, at that moment, he decided to create for them
a daughter in his own spirit. He scratched his long white beard and pondered for a while
before raising the great staff he carried into the air. A frizzle of magic ripped through the
forest.
The old couple turned to admire once more their handiwork and were astonished to see,
standing in their garden, the most beautiful pale maiden with long flaxen hair.
She was dressed in a long, light blue robe, its collar and cuffs trimmed with soft fur; her
robe was covered in shimmering snowflakes. On her head was a hat of fur and snowflakes
that looked a little like a crown and which sparkled like an icy flame. Her shoulders were
covered with a cape of dark blue and on her feet she wore embroidered boots.
The old couple blinked in wonder and disbelief, for there in front of them was their longed
for child. Snegurochka hesitantly came towards them and their hearts leapt with joy as the
young maid said, "If it pleases you, I have come to be your daughter and will care for you
as my mother and father."
The old woman grasped the snow maiden’s pale hand and with great joy led her towards
the isba. As she followed the couple Snegurochka felt the trees and the beasts of the winter
forest bid her a happy life.
Snegurochka helped with the chores and cared well for the couple. They could not believe
their luck at having such a kind and beautiful child.
There is a lot more read the entire story here
http://myths.e2bn.org/mythsandlegends/textonly2648-the-snow-maiden.html
