Hansel and Gretel

Long ago, in a time of great hunger, when a loaf of bread was a treasure, there lived a poor woodcutter with his wife and two children - Hansel and Gretel. Their little cottage barely shielded them from the wind and cold, and more and more often there was not enough food to fill their bellies.

One night, as the children slept on their hard straw beds, the stepmother whispered to the woodcutter:

“Listen, husband. We have only half a loaf of bread left. It will not last us through tomorrow. At dawn we must take the children deep into the forest. We will light a fire for them, give them a small piece of bread, and then leave. They will never find their way home… and we, starving as we are, cannot go on living like this.”

“I cannot do such a thing!” cried the woodcutter, tears in his eyes. “How could I abandon my own children to the wolves and wild beasts? Better that I starve myself!”

But his wife would not yield. She nagged and pressed him through the long, sleepless night, until at last his heart broke and he gave in.

Meanwhile, Hansel and Gretel lay awake, hungry and sad. They had overheard every word. Gretel began to weep softly, but Hansel whispered:

“Don’t cry, Gretel. God will not forsake us.”

Quiet as a shadow, Hansel slipped outside. Moonlight shimmered on the white pebbles scattered near the house. He filled his pockets with them and returned to bed.

At daybreak, the stepmother called the children:

“Come, we are going into the forest to gather firewood.”

She handed each a small piece of bread. As they walked along the forest path, Hansel dropped the milky-white pebbles one by one behind him. When they reached a dark, thick part of the woods, the woodcutter built a fire and said:

“Rest here. We will go chop wood. If you grow hungry, eat your bread.”

The children warmed themselves by the fire until evening, but no one returned. Exhausted and afraid, they fell asleep. When they awoke, the moon shone brightly overhead. Hansel took Gretel’s hand and followed the gleaming pebbles, which sparkled in the moonlight like tiny stars. Step by step they found their way home. Their father rejoiced, though the stepmother pretended to scold them.

But hunger grew even worse. One night the children again overheard the stepmother urging the woodcutter to abandon them - this time even deeper in the forest. The doors had been locked, so Hansel could not gather more pebbles. He had only the dry crumbs of his bread, which he scattered along the path as they walked.

But the crumbs were eaten by crows and forest birds, and not a trace of their trail remained. In the dark, the children searched for a long time, but the forest swallowed every path. Cold, hungry, and frightened, they curled up under a tree and slept in each other’s arms.

At dawn they wandered on. Though the sun warmed their faces, they were weak and terribly hungry. They walked for three long days and nights until they came to a clearing where, among moss and flowers, stood a most wondrous little house. They stopped in amazement.

The roof was made of sugared pretzels and sweet dough, the walls of gingerbread, and the windows of crystal-clear sugar.

Hansel could bear it no longer. He broke off a piece of gingerbread, and Gretel tasted the sugary windowpane. Suddenly a voice called from inside:

“Nibble, nibble, little mouse- Who is nibbling at my house?”

Startled, the children cried, “It’s only the wind… not people at all!”

At that moment an old woman appeared in the doorway, leaning on a cane. Her eyes were cloudy, her smile too sweet to trust.

“Oh, children,” she cooed, “don’t be afraid. Come inside, rest a while. You shall eat and drink your fill!”

But she was a wicked witch who lured children only to feast on them. She gave Hansel and Gretel warm food and soft beds, all with a show of kindness. But before sleep had even settled, Hansel was locked in a dark cage, and Gretel was forced to help in the kitchen.

“Now, boy,” hissed the witch, “you will eat like a little piglet until you grow fat. Then I shall boil you for my supper!”

Every day Gretel had to cook rich dishes for her brother, though Hansel received only scraps. When the witch reached into the cage to feel whether he had gained weight, Hansel held out a thin chicken bone - cleverly fooling her day after day.

After four weeks, unable to wait any longer, the witch decided it was time.

“Light the oven, girl!” she snapped at Gretel. “And see whether the fire is hot enough. Climb in and check it.”

But Gretel pretended to be confused.

“I… I don’t know how to get inside. Would you show me?”

The witch bent forward, poking her head inside the oven. In that instant, Gretel pushed her with all her strength and slammed the iron door shut. The witch never came out again.

Gretel rushed to free Hansel. Together they searched the house and found chests filled with treasures - pearls, jewels, and shining gold coins.

“Take them with us,” said Hansel. “Now we are truly safe!”

Carrying as much treasure as they could, they left the witch’s cottage. When they reached a wide stream, they did not know how to cross. A white duck glided toward them on the water.

“Little duck, little duck, carry us across!” they called.

The duck let them climb on one by one and brought them safely to the other bank.

Wandering farther through the forest, they soon recognized familiar trees. At last they reached their own cottage. Their father, who had long mourned them, ran out in tears of joy. Their stepmother had died shortly after abandoning them.

Hansel poured the treasures from his pockets, and from that day on, none of them ever knew hunger again. They lived long and happily, and - if they have not wandered off - they live still.