Ганзель и Гретель

           Theyknockedatthedoor,andwhenthewomanopeneditandsawthatitwasHanselandGrethel,shesaid, "Younaughtychildren,whyhaveyousleptsolongintheforest?—wethoughtyouwerenevercomingbackatall!" Thefather,however,rejoiced,forithadcuthimtothehearttoleavethembehindalone. 

           Notlongafterwards,therewasoncemoregreatscarcityinallparts,andthechildrenheardtheirmothersayingatnighttotheirfather, "Everythingiseatenagain,wehaveonehalfloafleft,andafterthatthereisanend.Thechildrenmustgo,wewilltakethemfartherintothewood,sothattheywillnotfindtheirwayoutagain;thereisnoothermeansofsavingourselves!" Theman’sheartwasheavy,andhethought"itwouldbebetterfortheetosharethelastmouthfulwiththychildren."Thewoman,however,wouldlistentonothingthathehadtosay,butscoldedandreproachedhim.HewhosaysAmustsayB,likewise,andashehadyieldedthefirsttime,hehadtodosoasecondtimealso. 

           Thechildrenwere,however,stillawakeandhadheardtheconversation.Whentheoldfolkswereasleep,Hanselagaingotup,andwantedtogooutandpickuppebblesashehaddonebefore,butthewomanhadlockedthedoor,andHanselcouldnotgetout.Neverthelesshecomfortedhislittlesister,andsaid, "Donotcry,Grethel,gotosleepquietly,thegoodGodwillhelpus." 

           Earlyinthemorningcamethewoman,andtookthechildrenoutoftheirbeds.Theirbitofbreadwasgiventothem,butitwasstillsmallerthanthetimebefore.