Hansel and Grethel

UA lumberjack, his wife, and two children lived on the edge of a forest. The boy's name was Hansel and the girl's name was Grethel. The family was very poor. One year, famine reigned in the country and the woodcutter, during one of his sleepless nights where he brooded over dark thoughts and brooded over his worries, said to his wife: “What will become of us

? How to feed our poor children? We have nothing left to eat.
— Well, said the woman, do you know what we are going to do? At dawn, we will lead the children deep into the forest, light a fire for them, and give them each a small piece of bread. Then we will go to our work and leave them alone. They will never find their way back, and we will be rid of them.
— No, woman, said the woodcutter, I will not do that! How could I bring myself to leave our children all alone in the forest? Wild beasts would soon devour them.
— Oh, crazy! she retorted, “So you prefer that the four of us die of hunger?” »

She did not rest until he accepted what she proposed. The two little ones, not having been able to fall asleep because of the hunger that gripped them, heard their mother's words. Grethel cried a lot and said to her brother:

“  It’s over with us! ”
“Don’t worry,” said Hansel. I'll find a way to get us out of this. »

When the parents were asleep, he got up, put on his clothes, and left the house. Hansel picked up as many stones as he could and put them in his pockets. When daylight came, the woman woke the two children: “Get up, lazy! We go into the forest to look for wood. » She gave them each a piece of bread and said: “Here is for the midday meal; don't eat it all first, because you won't have anything else. »

VSAs Hansel's pockets were full of stones, Grethel put the bread in her apron. Then they all set off for the forest. All along the way, Hansel, who brought up the rear, threw white stones on the path. When they reached the middle of the forest, the father said: “Now, children, collect some wood!” I'll light a fire so you don't get cold. » Hansel and Grethel collected twigs on the top of a small hill. When they had set fire to it and it had set well, the woman said: “Lie down next to him, children, and rest. We're going to fall some wood. When we're done, we'll come back and pick you up. »

Both children fell asleep. When they woke up, it was pitch black. Grethel began to cry and said:
“How shall we get out of the forest? » Hansel consoled her. “Wait a little longer,” he said, “until the moon is up.” Then we will find our way again. »

When the full moon shone in the sky, he took his sister by the hand and followed the little white pebbles. As day broke, they reached the house. They knocked on the door. The woman opened it and saw them. She said: “Bad children! Why did you sleep in the forest for so long? We thought you would never come back. » Their father rejoiced because he had a heavy heart at having left them alone in the woods.

Soon after, misery reigned more and more, and once again, during the night, the children heard what their mother was saying: “We have nothing left to eat, only half a loaf. We have to get rid of the children; we will drive them even deeper into the forest so that they can no longer find their way back; There is nothing else to do. » When the parents were asleep, Hansel got up to go to collect stones again. But the woman had locked the door and the boy could not get out. However, he consoled his little sister:
“Don’t cry, Grethel, sleep peacefully; the good Lord will help us. »

Earlier in the morning, the mother got the children up. She gave them a piece of bread, even smaller than the other time. Arriving in the forest, the parents left the children to go cut wood. In the evening, Hansel and Grethel made a fire, then they slept, and the evening passed without anyone returning to them. They awoke in the middle of the night, and Hansel comforted his little sister, saying: "Wait until the moon rises, Grethel, we will find our way home." »

QWhen the moon rose, they set out. But the two children walked all night and the following day, without finding their way out of the forest. They were starving, having only a few berries to eat. They were so tired that their legs no longer wanted to carry them. They lay down at the foot of a tree and fell asleep.

They resumed their walk, moving ever deeper into the forest. At noon they saw a pretty bird on a branch, white as snow. He sang so well that the children stopped to listen to him. When he was finished, he spread his wings and flew in front of them. They followed him to a small house on the roof of which the beautiful white bird perched. When they approached it, they saw that it was made of bread and covered with cakes. The windows were made of sugar. “We are going to feast,” said Hansel, “and have a meal blessed by God. I'll eat a piece of the roof; it looks like it's good! »

Hansel climbed onto the roof and tore off a small portion to taste. Grethel began to lick the tiles. Suddenly the door opened and a woman, as old as rocks, leaning on a cane, came out of the house. Hansel and Grethel were so frightened that they dropped everything they were holding. The old woman shook her head and said: “Hey, dear children! who brought you here? Come in, come to my house! No harm will come to you. »

She took them both by the hand and led them into the house. She served them a good meal, milk, and donuts with sugar, apples, and nuts. She then prepared two small beds. Hansel and Grethel lay down there. They thought they were in paradise. But the old woman's kindness was only apparent. In reality, she was an evil witch who had only built the house of bread to attract children. When she caught one, she killed it, cooked it, and ate it. For her, it was a day of celebration.

At dawn, before the children were awake, she got up. She grabbed Hansel, took him to a small stable, and locked him there. No matter how much he shouted, it was of no use to him. The witch then approached Grethel, shook her awake, and said to her: “Get up, you lazy girl! Go get some water and make something good for your brother to eat. He is locked in the stable and he has to put on weight. When it's ready, I'll eat it. »

Grethel started to cry, but it was no use. She was forced to do what the witch asked her. Every morning the old woman would slip into the stable and say: “Hansel, hold out your fingers so I can see if you are already fat enough.”

But Hansel held out a small bone and the witch, who had evil eyes, did not notice it. She thought it was Hansel's finger and was surprised that it wasn't getting any bigger. When four weeks had passed, and the child was still skinny, she lost her patience and decided not to wait any longer.
“Hello, Grethel,” she cried, “hurry and bring some water!” Whether Hansel is fat or thin, tomorrow I will kill him and eat him. »

DEarly in the morning, Grethel was tasked with filling the large pot with water and lighting the fire. “We will make the dough first,” said the witch. I've already got the oven heated and prepared. »
She pushed poor Grethel towards the oven, from which great flames were coming out. “Sneak in!” she ordered, “and see if it is hot enough for cooking.” »
She intended to close the oven when the little one was in it, to roast her. She wanted to eat it, too. But Grethel guessed his intention and said: “I don’t know how to do it. How do you get into this oven?
—Little goose, said the witch, the opening is big enough, see, I could get in there myself. » And she stuck her head in. Then Grethel pushed it quickly into the oven, slammed the door, and locked it.

While the witch was burning, she ran to the little stable and said: “Hansel, we are free! The old witch is dead! " Having nothing more to fear, they entered the old woman's house. In every corner, there were boxes full of pearls and diamonds.
“It’s even better than my little stones!” » said Hansel, filling his pockets.
And Grethel did the same. “Now we must leave,” said Hansel, “if we want to escape this bewitched forest. »

After several hours of walking, they saw their house in the distance. They started running, rushed into their parents' room, and jumped on their father's neck. His wife had died in the meantime. Grethel shook her apron, and the pearls and diamonds rolled across the room. Hansel took handfuls more out of his pockets. The worries were over. They all lived happily together.