l, "I see no stepping-stones
and no bridge."

"And there is no boat either," said Grethel; "but here comes a white
duck; if I ask her she will help us over." So she cried,

"Duck, duck, here we stand,
Hansel and Grethel, on the land,
Stepping-stones and bridge we lack,
Carry us over on your nice white back."

And the duck came accordingly, and Hansel got upon her and told his
sister to come too.

"No," answered Grethel, "that would be too hard upon the duck; we can go
separately, one after the other."

And that was how it was managed, and after that they went on happily,
until they came to the wood, and the way grew more and more familiar,
till at last they saw in the distance their father's house. Then they
ran till they came up to it, rushed in at the door, and fell on their
father's neck. The man had not had a quiet hour since he left his
children in the wood; but the wife was dead. And when Grethel opened her
apron the pearls and precious stones were scattered all over the room,
and Hansel took one handful after another out of his pocket. Then was
all care at an end, and they lived in great joy together.

[Illustration:

Sing every one,
My story is done,
And look! round the house
There runs a little mouse,
He that can catch her before she scampers in,
May make himself a very very large fur-cap out of her skin.]

[Illustration:

THE
WHITE SNAKE

"THEY DIVIDED THE APPLE OF
LIFE AND ATE IT TOGETHER."]

THE WHITE SNAKE

A LONG time ago there lived a King whose wisdom was noised abroad in all
the country. Nothing remained long unknown to him, and it was as if the
knowledge of hidden things was brought to him in the air. However, he
had one curious custom. Every day at dinner, after the table had been
cleared and every one gone away, a trusty servant had to bring in one
other dish. But it was covered up, and the servant himself did not know
what was in it, and no one else knew, for the King waited until he was
quite alone before he uncovered it. This had gone on a long time, but at
last there came a day when the servant could restrain his curiosity no
longer, but as he was carrying the dish away he took it into his own
room. As soon as he had fastened the door securely, he lifted the cover,
and there he saw a white snake lying on the dish. After seeing it he
could not resist the desire to taste it, and so he cut off a small piece
and put