WARNING: The following story may be a cliffhanger; proceed at your own risk.
Graphic by Harlow Berny
Retold by Harlow Berny
Centuries ago, when the winter had lain a thick blanket of snow upon the earth, a commoner’s son was sent to the forest to collect some firewood for his family, since the old miller from whom they used to buy was now beyond the realm of the living. When he had gathered as much as he could onto his quaint sleigh, he was tired and cold from his hours of work without any more than the thin clothes on his back. He decided to dig in the snow to make a small fire pit so he could regain his strength to bring the logs home, but once he removed the snow from the dirt, he found a small, golden key, no bigger than a toothpick. If there is a key hidden in the ground, thought he, then there must be something to unlock as well! He dug deeper under the ground where he found the key, delighted to find an iron box! Surely this box holds something precious inside! He searched all sides, and after two searches he saw the keyhole, so small that it was barely visible. He decided to try the key in the hole, and it fit perfectly inside. When he gently turned it and heard a delicate click, the box was unlocked. He opened the lid, and found inside…
Editor: Makena Behnke
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