“ Whe nac hi l df e l li nt ohe rp o we r , s hek i l l e di t , c o o k e dandat ei t , and t hatwasaf e as tdaywi t hhe r . �
< 1 > Har dbyagr eatf or es tdwel tapoorwoodc ut t erwi t hhi swi f e andhi st woc hi l dr en.Theboywasc al l edHans el andt hegi r l Gr et el .Hehadl i t t l et obi t eandt obr eak,andonc e,whengr eat dear t hf el l ont hel and,hec oul dnol ongerpr oc ur eev endai l y br ead. ert hi sbyni ghti nhi sbed,andt os s ed Nowwhenhet houghtov abouti nhi sanx i et y.Hegr oanedands ai dt ohi swi f e," Whati st o bec omeofus ?Howar ewet of eedourpoorc hi l dr en,whenweno l ongerhav eanyt hi ngev enf orour s el v es ? " " I ' l l t el l youwhat ,hus band, "ans wer edt hewoman," ear l yt omor r owmor ni ngwewi l l t aket hec hi l dr enouti nt ot hef or es tt owher ei t i st het hi c kes t .Ther ewewi l l l i ghtaf i r ef ort hem,andgi v eeac hof t hemonemor epi ec eofbr ead,andt henwewi l l got oourwor kand l eav et hemal one.Theywi l l notf i ndt hewayhomeagai n,andwe s hal l ber i doft hem. " " No,wi f e, "s ai dt heman," I wi l l notdot hat .Howc anI beart o l eav emyc hi l dr enal onei nt hef or es t ?Thewi l dani mal swoul ds oon c omeandt eart hemt opi ec es . " " Oh! youf ool , "s ai ds he," t henwemus tal l f ourdi eofhunger , youmayaswel l pl anet hepl anksf orourc of f i ns , "ands hel ef thi m nopeac eunt i l hec ons ent ed. " ButI f eel v er ys or r yf ort hepoorc hi l dr en,al l t hes ame, "s ai d t heman. Thet woc hi l dr enhadal s onotbeenabl et os l eepf orhunger , andhadhear dwhatt hei rs t epmot herhads ai dt ot hei rf at her . Gr et el weptbi t t ert ear s ,ands ai dt oHans el ," Nowal l i sov erwi t h us . " " Bequi et ,Gr et el , "s ai dHans el ," donotdi s t r es syour s el f ,I wi l l s oonf i ndawayt ohel pus . "Andwhent heol df ol kshadf al l en as l eep,hegotup,putonhi sl i t t l ec oat ,openedt hedoorbel ow, andc r eptout s i de.
< 2 > Themoons honebr i ght l y,andt hewhi t epebbl eswhi c hl ayi n f r ontoft hehous egl i t t er edl i ker eal s i l v erpenni es .Hans el s t oopedands t uf f edt hel i t t l epoc ketofhi sc oatwi t hasmanyas hec oul dgeti n.Thenhewentbac kands ai dt oGr et el ," Bec omf or t ed,dearl i t t l es i s t er ,ands l eepi npeac e,Godwi l l notf or s ake us , "andhel aydownagai ni nhi sbed. Whendaydawned,butbef or et hes unhadr i s en,t hewoman c ameandawoket het woc hi l dr en,s ayi ng," Getup,yous l uggar ds . Wear egoi ngi nt ot hef or es tt of et c hwood. "Shegav eeac hal i t t l e pi ec eofbr ead,ands ai d," Ther ei ss omet hi ngf oryourdi nner ,but donoteati tupbef or et hen,f oryouwi l l getnot hi ngel s e. " Gr et el t ookt hebr eadunderherapr on,asHans el hadt hepebbl esi nhi spoc ket .Thent heyal l s etoutt oget heront hewayt o t hef or es t . Whent heyhadwal kedas hor tt i me,Hans el s t oods t i l l and peepedbac katt hehous e,anddi ds oagai nandagai n.Hi sf at her s ai d," Hans el ,whatar eyoul ooki ngatt her eands t ayi ngbehi nd f or ?Payat t ent i on,anddonotf or gethowt ous eyourl egs . " " Ah,f at her , "s ai dHans el ," I aml ooki ngatmyl i t t l ewhi t ec at , whi c hi ss i t t i ngupont her oof ,andwant st os aygoodbyet ome. " Thewi f es ai d," F ool ,t hati snotyourl i t t l ec at ,t hati st hemor ni ngs unwhi c hi ss hi ni ngont hec hi mneys . " Hans el ,howev er ,hadnotbeenl ooki ngbac katt hec at ,buthad beenc ons t ant l yt hr owi ngoneoft hewhi t epebbl es t onesoutof hi spoc ketont her oad. Whent heyhadr eac hedt hemi ddl eoft hef or es t ,t hef at her s ai d," Now,c hi l dr en,pi l eups omewood,andI wi l l l i ghtaf i r et hat youmaynotbec ol d. " Hans el andGr et el gat her edbr us hwoodt oget her ,ashi ghasa l i t t l ehi l l .Thebr us hwoodwasl i ght ed,andwhent hef l ameswer e bur ni ngv er yhi gh,t hewomans ai d," Now,c hi l dr en,l ayyour s el v es
< 3 > downbyt hef i r eandr es t ,wewi l l goi nt ot hef or es tandc uts ome wood.Whenwehav edone,wewi l l c omebac kandf et c hyou away. " el andGr et el s atbyt hef i r e,andwhennoonc ame,eac h Hans at eal i t t l epi ec eofbr ead,andast heyhear dt hes t r okesoft he woodax et heybel i ev edt hatt hei rf at herwasnear .I twasnott he ax e,howev er ,butabr anc hwhi c hhehadf as t enedt oawi t her ed t r eewhi c ht hewi ndwasbl owi ngbac kwar dsandf or war ds .Andas t heyhadbeens i t t i ngs uc hal ongt i me,t hei reyesc l os edwi t hf at i gue,andt heyf el l f as tas l eep. Whenatl as tt heyawoke,i twasal r eadydar kni ght .Gr et el begant oc r yands ai d," Howar ewet ogetoutoft hef or es tnow? " ButHans el c omf or t edherands ai d," Jus twai tal i t t l e,unt i l t he moonhasr i s en,andt henwewi l l s oonf i ndt heway. "Andwhent he f ul l moonhadr i s en,Hans el t ookhi sl i t t l es i s t erbyt hehand,and f ol l owedt hepebbl eswhi c hs honel i kenewl yc oi neds i l v erpi ec es , ands howedt hemt heway. Theywal kedt hewhol eni ghtl ong,andbybr eakofdayc ame onc emor et ot hei rf at her ' shous e.Theyknoc kedatt hedoor ,and whent hewomanopenedi tands awt hati twasHans el andGr et el , s hes ai d," Younaught yc hi l dr en,whyhav eyous l epts ol ongi nt he f or es t ?Wet houghtyouwer enev erc omi ngbac katal l . " Thef at her ,howev er ,r ej oi c ed,f ori thadc uthi mt ot hehear tt o l eav et hembehi ndal one. Notl ongaf t er war ds ,t her ewasonc emor egr eatdear t h t hr oughoutt hel and,andt hec hi l dr enhear dt hei rmot hers ayi ng atni ghtt ot hei rf at her : " Ev er yt hi ngi seat enagai n,wehav eonehal fl oafl ef t ,andt hat i st heend.Thec hi l dr enmus tgo,wewi l l t aket hemf ar t heri nt ot he wood,s ot hatt heywi l l notf i ndt hei rwayoutagai n.Ther ei sno ot hermeansofs av i ngour s el v es . "
< 4 > Theman' shear twasheav y,andhet hought ," I twoul dbebet t er f oryout os har et hel as tmout hf ul wi t hyourc hi l dr en. "Thewoman, howev er ,woul dl i s t ent onot hi ngt hathehadt os ay,buts c ol ded andr epr oac hedhi m.Hewhos aysamus ts ayb,l i kewi s e,andas hehadyi el dedt hef i r s tt i me,hehadt odos oas ec ondt i meal s o. Thec hi l dr en,howev er ,wer es t i l l awakeandhadhear dt hec on v er s at i on.Whent heol df ol kswer eas l eep,Hans el agai ngotup, andwant edt ogooutandpi c kuppebbl esashehaddonebef or e, butt hewomanhadl oc kedt hedoor ,andHans el c oul dnotget out .Nev er t hel es shec omf or t edhi sl i t t l es i s t er ,ands ai d," Donot c r y,Gr et el ,got os l eepqui et l y,t hegoodGodwi l l hel pus . " Ear l yi nt hemor ni ngc amet hewoman,andt ookt hec hi l dr enout oft hei rbeds .Thei rpi ec eofbr eadwasgi v ent ot hem,buti twas s t i l l s mal l ert hant het i mebef or e.Ont hewayi nt ot hef or es t Hans el c r umbl edhi si nhi spoc ket ,andof t ens t oods t i l l andt hr ew amor s el ont hegr ound. " Hans el ,whydoyous t opandl ookr ound? "Sai dt hef at her . " Goon. " " I aml ooki ngbac katmyl i t t l epi geonwhi c hi ss i t t i ngont her oof , andwant st os aygoodbyet ome,ans wer edHans el . " F ool . "Sai dt hewoman," Thati snotyourl i t t l epi geon,t hati s t hemor ni ngs unt hati ss hi ni ngont hec hi mney. " Hans el ,howev er ,l i t t l ebyl i t t l e,t hr ewal l t hec r umbsont he pat h.Thewomanl edt hec hi l dr ens t i l l deeperi nt ot hef or es t , wher et heyhadnev eri nt hei rl i v esbeenbef or e. Thenagr eatf i r ewasagai nmade,andt hemot hers ai d," Jus ts i t t her e,youc hi l dr en,andwhenyouar et i r edyoumays l eepal i t t l e. Wear egoi ngi nt ot hef or es tt oc utwood,andi nt heev eni ngwhen wear edone,wewi l l c omeandf et c hyouaway. " Wheni twasnoon,Gr et el s har edherpi ec eofbr eadwi t h Hans el ,whohads c at t er edhi sbyt heway.Thent heyf el l as l eep
< 5 > andev eni ngpas s ed,butnoonec amet ot hepoorc hi l dr en. Theydi dnotawakeunt i l i twasdar kni ght ,andHans el c omf or t edhi sl i t t l es i s t erands ai d," Jus twai t ,Gr et el ,unt i l t hemoonr i s es , andt henwes hal l s eet hec r umbsofbr eadwhi c hI hav es t r ewn about ,t heywi l l s howusourwayhomeagai n. " Whent hemoonc amet heys etout ,butt heyf oundnoc r umbs , f ort hemanyt hous andsofbi r dswhi c hf l yabouti nt hewoodsand f i el dshadpi c kedt hemal l up.Hans el s ai dt oGr et el ," Wes hal l s oon f i ndt heway. " Butt heydi dnotf i ndi t .Theywal kedt hewhol eni ghtandal l t he nex tdayt oof r ommor ni ngt i l l ev eni ng,butt heydi dnotgetoutof t hef or es t ,andwer ev er yhungr y,f ort heyhadnot hi ngt oeatbut t woort hr eeber r i es ,whi c hgr ewont hegr ound.Andast heywer e s owear yt hatt hei rl egswoul dc ar r yt hemnol onger ,t heyl aydown beneat hat r eeandf el l as l eep. I twasnowt hr eemor ni ngss i nc et heyhadl ef tt hei rf at her ' s hous e.Theybegant owal kagai n,butt heyal waysc amedeeper i nt ot hef or es t ,andi fhel pdi dnotc omes oon,t heymus tdi eof hungerandwear i nes s .Wheni twasmi dday,t heys awabeaut i f ul s nowwhi t ebi r ds i t t i ngonabough,whi c hs angs odel i ght f ul l yt hat t heys t oods t i l l andl i s t enedt oi t .Andwheni t ss ongwasov er ,i t s pr eadi t swi ngsandf l ewawaybef or et hem,andt heyf ol l owedi t unt i l t heyr eac hedal i t t l ehous e,ont her oofofwhi c hi tal i ght ed. Andwhent heyappr oac hedt hel i t t l ehous et heys awt hati twas bui l tofbr eadandc ov er edwi t hc akes ,butt hatt hewi ndowswer e ofc l ears ugar . " Wewi l l s ett owor kont hat , "s ai dHans el ," andhav eagood meal .I wi l l eatabi toft her oof ,andyouGr et el ,c aneats omeof t hewi ndow,i twi l l t as t es weet . " Hans el r eac hedupabov e,andbr okeof fal i t t l eoft her ooft o t r yhowi tt as t ed,andGr et el l eantagai ns tt hewi ndowandni bbl ed
< 6 > att hepanes .Thenas of tv oi c ec r i edf r omt hepar l or " Ni bbl e,ni bbl e,gnaw whoi sni bbl i ngatmyl i t t l ehous e? " Thec hi l dr enans wer ed " Thewi nd,t hewi nd, enbor nwi nd, " t heheav andwentoneat i ngwi t houtdi s t ur bi ngt hems el v es .Hans el ,who l i kedt het as t eoft her oof ,t or edownagr eatpi ec eofi t ,and Gr et el pus hedoutt hewhol eofoner oundwi ndowpane,s at down,andenj oyedher s el fwi t hi t . Suddenl yt hedooropened,andawomanasol dast hehi l l s , whos uppor t edher s el fonc r ut c hes ,c amec r eepi ngout .Hans el andGr et el wer es ot er r i bl yf r i ght enedt hatt heyl etf al l whatt hey hadi nt hei rhands . Theol dwoman,howev er ,noddedherhead,ands ai d," Oh,you dearc hi l dr en,whohasbr oughtyouher e?Doc omei n,ands t ay wi t hme.Nohar ms hal l happent oyou. " Shet ookt hembot hbyt hehand,andl edt hemi nt oherl i t t l e hous e.Thengoodf oodwass etbef or et hem,mi l kandpanc akes , wi t hs ugar ,appl es ,andnut s .Af t er war dst wopr et t yl i t t l ebeds wer ec ov er edwi t hc l eanwhi t el i nen,andHans el andGr et el l ay downi nt hem,andt houghtt heywer ei nheav en. Theol dwomanhadonl ypr et endedt obes oki nd.Shewasi n r eal i t yawi c kedwi t c h,whol ayi nwai tf orc hi l dr en,andhadonl y bui l tt hel i t t l ehous eofbr eadi nor dert oent i c et hemt her e.When ac hi l df el l i nt oherpower ,s heki l l edi t ,c ookedandat ei t ,andt hat wasaf eas tdaywi t hher .Wi t c heshav er edeyes ,andc annots ee f ar ,butt heyhav eakeens c entl i ket hebeas t s ,andar eawar e whenhumanbei ngsdr awnear .WhenHans el andGr et el c amei nt o hernei ghbor hood,s hel aughedwi t hmal i c e,ands ai dmoc ki ngl y," I hav et hem,t heys hal l notes c apemeagai n. "
< 7 > Ear l yi nt hemor ni ngbef or et hec hi l dr enwer eawake,s hewasal r eadyup,andwhens hes awbot hoft hems l eepi ngandl ooki ngs o pr et t y,wi t ht hei rpl umpandr os yc heeks ,s hemut t er edt oher s el f , t hatwi l l beadai nt ymout hf ul . Thens hes ei z edHans el wi t hhers hr i v el l edhand,c ar r i edhi m i nt oal i t t l es t abl e,andl oc kedhi mi nbehi ndagr at eddoor .Sc r eam ashemi ght ,i twoul dnothel phi m.Thens hewentt oGr et el ,s hook hert i l l s heawoke,andc r i ed," Getup,l az yt hi ng,f et c hs omewat er , andc ooks omet hi nggoodf oryourbr ot her ,hei si nt hes t abl e out s i de,andi st obemadef at .Whenhei sf at ,I wi l l eathi m. " Gr et el begant oweepbi t t er l y,buti twasal l i nv ai n,f ors hewas f or c edt odowhatt hewi c kedwi t c hc ommanded.Andnowt he bes tf oodwasc ookedf orpoorHans el ,butGr et el gotnot hi ng butc r abs hel l s .Ev er ymor ni ngt hewomanc r eptt ot hel i t t l e s t abl e,andc r i ed," Hans el ,s t r et c houtyourf i ngert hatI mayf eel i f youwi l l s oonbef at . " Hans el ,howev er ,s t r et c hedoutal i t t l ebonet oher ,andt heol d woman,whohaddi meyes ,c oul dnots eei t ,andt houghti twas Hans el ' sf i nger ,andwasas t oni s hedt hatt her ewasnowayoff at t eni nghi m. Whenf ourweekshadgoneby,andHans el s t i l l r emai nedt hi n, s hewass ei z edwi t hi mpat i enc eandwoul dnotwai tanyl onger . " Now,t hen,Gr et el , "s hec r i edt ot hegi r l ," s t i ryour s el f ,and br i ngs omewat er .LetHans el bef atorl ean,t omor r owI wi l l ki l l hi m,andc ookhi m. " Ah,howt hepoorl i t t l es i s t erdi dl amentwhens hehadt of et c h t hewat er ,andhowhert ear sdi df l owdownherc heeks ." Dear God,dohel pus , "s hec r i ed." I ft hewi l dbeas t si nt hef or es thad butdev our edus ,wes houl datanyr at ehav edi edt oget her . " " Jus tkeepyournoi s et oyour s el f , "s ai dt heol dwoman," i twon' t hel pyouatal l . "
< 8 > Ear l yi nt hemor ni ng,Gr et el hadt ogooutandhangupt he c aul dr onwi t ht hewat er ,andl i ghtt hef i r e. Wewi l l bakef i r s t , "s ai dt heol dwoman," I hav eal r eadyheat ed " t heov en,andkneadedt hedough. "Shepus hedpoorGr et el out t ot heov en,f r omwhi c hf l amesoff i r ewer eal r eadydar t i ng." Cr eep i n, "s ai dt hewi t c h," ands eei fi tpr oper l yheat ed,s ot hatwec an putt hebr eadi n. "Andonc eGr et el wasi ns i de,s hei nt endedt o s hutt heov enandl etherbakei ni t ,andt hens hewoul deather , t oo. ButGr et el s awwhats hehadi nmi nd,ands ai d," I donotknow howI amt odoi t .HowdoI geti n? " " Si l l ygoos e, "s ai dt heol dwoman," t hedoori sbi genough.Jus t l ook,I c angeti nmys el f . "Ands hec r eptupandt hr us therhead i nt ot heov en. ThenGr et el gav eherapus ht hatdr ov eherf ari nt oi t ,ands hut t hei r ondoor ,andf as t enedt hebol t .Oh.Thens hebegant ohowl qui t ehor r i bl y,butGr et el r anaway,andt hegodl es swi t c hwasmi s er abl ybur ntt odeat h.Gr et el ,howev er ,r anl i kel i ght ni ngt o Hans el ,openedhi sl i t t l es t abl e,andc r i ed," Hans el ,wear es av ed. Theol dwi t c hi sdead. " ThenHans el s pr angl i keabi r df r omi t sc agewhent hedoori s opened.Howt heydi dr ej oi c eandembr ac eeac hot her ,anddanc e aboutandki s seac hot her .Andast heyhadnol ongeranyneed t of earher ,t heywenti nt ot hewi t c h' shous e,andi nev er yc or ner t her es t oodc hes t sf ul l ofpear l sandj ewel s . " Thes ear ef arbet t ert hanpebbl es . "Sai dHans el ,andt hr us t i nt ohi spoc ket swhat ev erc oul dbegoti n. AndGr et el s ai d," I ,t oo,wi l l t akes omet hi nghomewi t hme, "and f i l l edherpi naf or ef ul l . " Butnowwemus tbeof f , "s ai dHans el ," t hatwemaygetoutof t hewi t c h' sf or es t . "
< 9 > Whent heyhadwal kedf ort wohour s ,t heyc amet oagr eat s t r et c hofwat er . " Wec annotc r os s , "s ai dHans el ," I s eenof oot pl ank,andno br i dge. ei sal s onof er r y, "ans wer edGr et el ," butawhi t educ k " Andt her i ss wi mmi ngt her e.I fI as kher ,s hewi l l hel pusov er . "Thens he c r i ed " Li t t l educ k,l i t t l educ k,dos tt hous ee, Hans el andGr et el ar ewai t i ngf ort hee. Ther e' snev erapl ank,orbr i dgei ns i ght , t akeusac r os sont hybac ks owhi t e. " Theduc kc amet ot hem,andHans el s eat edhi ms el foni t sbac k, andt ol dhi ss i s t ert os i tbyhi m. " No, "r epl i edGr et el ," t hatwi l l bet ooheav yf ort hel i t t l educ k. Shes hal l t akeusac r os s ,oneaf t ert heot her . " Thegoodl i t t l educ kdi ds o,andwhent heywer eonc es af el y ac r os sandhadwal kedf oras hor tt i me,t hef or es ts eemedt obe mor eandmor ef ami l i art ot hem,andatl engt ht heys awf r omaf ar t hei rf at her ' shous e.Thent heybegant or un,r us hedi nt ot he par l or ,andt hr ewt hems el v esr oundt hei rf at her ' snec k.Theman hadnotknownonehappyhours i nc ehehadl ef tt hec hi l dr eni n t hef or es t .Thewoman,howev er ,wasdead.Gr et el empt i edher pi naf or eunt i l pear l sandpr ec i ouss t onesr anaboutt her oom,and Hans el t hr ewonehandf ul af t eranot heroutofhi spoc kett oadd t ot hem.Thenal l anx i et ywasatanend,andt heyl i v edt oget heri n per f ec thappi nes s . Myt al ei sdone,t her er unsamous e,whos oev erc at c hesi t ,may makehi ms el fabi gf urc apoutofi t .