HanselandGretelOnceuponatime,averypoorwoodcutterlivedinatinycottageintheforestwithhistwochildren,HanselandGretel.Hissecondwifeoftenill-treatedthechildrenandwasforevernaggingthewoodcutter."Thereisnotenoughfoodinthehouseforusall.Therearetoomanymouthstofeed!Wemustgetridofthetwobrats,"shedeclared.Andshekeptontryingtopersuadeherhusbandtoabandonhischildrenintheforest."Takethemmilesfromhome,sofarthattheycanneverfindtheirwayback!Maybesomeonewillfindthemandgivethemahome."Thedowncastwoodcutterdidn'tknowwhattodo.Hansel,who,oneevening,hadoverheardhisparents'conversation,comfortedGretel."Don'tworry!Iftheydoleaveusintheforest,we'llfindthewayhome,"hesaid.Andslippingoutofthehousehefilledhispocketswithlittlewhitepebbles,andthenwentbacktobed.Allnightlong,thewoodcutter'swifeharpedonandonatherhusbandtill,atdawn,heledHanselandGretelawayintotheforest.Butastheywentintothedepthsofthetrees,Hanseldroppedalittlewhitepebblehereandthereonthemossygreenground.Atacertainpoint,thetwochildrenfoundtheyreallywerealone:thewoodcutterhadpluckedupenoughcouragetodesertthem,hadmumbledanexcuseandwasgone.Nightfellbutthewoodcutterdidnotreturn.Gretelbegantosobbitterly.Hanseltoofeltscaredbuthetriedtohidehisfeelingsandcomforthissister."Don'tcry,trustme!IswearI'lltakeyouhomeevenifFatherdoesn’tcomebackforus!"LuckilythemoonwasfullthatnightandHanselwaitedtillitscoldlightfilteredthroughthetrees."Nowgivemeyourhand!"hesaid."We'llgethomesafely,you'llsee!"Thetinywhitepebblesgleamedinthemoonlight,andthechildrenfoundtheirwayhome.Theycreptthroughahalf-openwindow,withoutwakeningtheirparents.Cold,tiredbutthankfultobehomeagain,theyslippedintobed.Nextday,whentheirstepmotherdiscoveredthatHanselandGretelhadreturned,shewentintoarage.Stiflingherangerinfrontofthechildren,shelockedherbedroomdoor,reproachingherhusbandforfailingtocarryoutherorders.Theweakwoodcutterprotested,tornashewasbetweenshameandfearofdisobeyinghiscruelwife.ThewickedstepmotherkeptHanselandGretelunderlockandkeyalldaywithnothingforsupperbutasipofwaterandsomehardbr...
