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.ThewickedstepmotherkeptHanselandGretelunderlockandkeyalldaywithnothingforsupperbutasipofwaterandsomehardbread.Allnight,husbandandwifequarreled,andwhendawncame,thewoodcutterledthechildrenoutintotheforest.Hansel,however,hadnoteatenhisbread,andashewalkedthroughthetrees,heleftatrailofcrumbsbehindhimtomarktheway.Butthelittleboyhadforgottenaboutthehungrybirdsthatlivedintheforest.Whentheysawhim,theyflewalongbehindandinnotimeatall,hadeatenallthecrumbs.Again,withalameexcuse,thewoodcutterlefthistwochildrenbythemselves.I'veleftatrail,likelasttime!HanselwhisperedtoGretel,consolingly.Butwhennightfell,theysawtotheirhorrorthatallthecrumbshadgone.I'mfrightened!weptGretelbitterly.I'mcoldandhungryandIwanttogohome!Don'tbeafraid.I'mheretolookafteryou!Hanseltriedtoencouragehissister,buthetooshiveredwhenheglimpsedfrighteningshadowsandevileyesaroundtheminthedarkness.Allnightthetwochildrenhuddledtogetherforwarmthatthefootofalargetree.Whendawnbroke,theystartedtowanderabouttheforest,seekingapath,butallhopesoonfaded.Theywerewellandtrulylost.Ontheywalkedandwalked,tillsuddenlytheycameuponastrangecottageinthemiddleofaglade.Thisischocolate!gaspedHanselashebrokealumpofplasterfromthewall.Andthisisicing!exclaimedGretel,puttinganotherpieceofwallinhermouth.Starvingbutdelighted,thechildrenbegantoeatpiecesofcandybrokenoffthecottage.Isn'tthisdelicious?saidGretel,withhermouthfull.Shehadnevertastedanythingsonice.We'llstayhere,Hanseldeclared,munchingabitofnougat.Theywerejustabouttotryapieceofthebiscuitdoorwhenitquietlyswungopen.Well,well!saidanoldwoman,peeringoutwithacraftylook.Andhaven'tyouchildrenasweettooth?Comein!Comein,you'venothingtofear!wentontheoldwoman.UnluckilyforHanselandGretel,however,thesugarcandycottagebelongedtoanoldwitch,hertrapforcatchingunwaryvictims.Thetwochildrenhadcometoareallynastyplace...You'renothingbutskinandbones!saidthewitch,lockingHanselintoacage.Ishallfattenyouupandeatyou!Youcandothehousework,shetoldGretelgrimly,andthenI'llmakeamealofyoutoo!Asluckwouldhaveit,thewitchhadverybadeyesight,anwhenGretelsmearedbutteronherglasses,shecouldseeevenless.Letmefeelyourfinger!saidthewitchtoHanseleverydaytocheckifhewasgettinganyfatter.Now,Gretelhadbroughtherbrotherachickenbone,andwhenthewitchwenttotouchhisfinger,Hanselheldoutthebone.You'restillmuchtoothin!shecomplained.Whenwillyoubecomeplump?Onedaythewitchgrewtiredofwelting.Lighttheoven,shetoldGretel.We'regoingtohaveatastyroastedboytoday!Alittlelater,hungryandimpatient,shewenton:Runandseeiftheovenishotenough.Gretelreturned,whimpering:Ican'ttellifitishotenoughornot.Angrily,thewitchscreamedatthelittlegirl:Uselesschild!Allright,I'llseeformyself.Butwhenthewitchbentdowntopeerinsidetheovenandcheckstheheat,Gretelgaveheratremendouspushandslammedtheovendoorshut.Thewitchhadcometoafitandproperend.Gretelrantosetherbrotherfreeandtheymadequitesurethattheovendoorwastightlyshutbehindthewitch.Indeed,justtobeonthesafeside,theyfasteneditfirmlywithalargepadlock.Thentheystayedforseveraldaystoeatsomemoreofthehouse,tilltheydiscoveredamongstthewitch'sbelongings,ahugechocolateegg.Insidelaidacasketofgoldcoins.Thewitchisnowburnttoacinder,saidHansel,sowe'lltakethistreasur