they had
finished, two beautiful little white beds were prepared for them, and
when Hansel and Grettel lay down in them they felt as if they had got
into heaven.

(1) He was a vulgar boy!

The old woman had appeared to be most friendly, but she was really an
old witch who had waylaid the children, and had only built the little
bread house in order to lure them in. When anyone came into her power
she killed, cooked, and ate him, and held a regular feast-day for the
occasion. Now witches have red eyes, and cannot see far, but, like
beasts, they have a keen sense of smell, and know when human beings pass
by. When Hansel and Grettel fell into her hands she laughed maliciously,
and said jeeringly: "I've got them now; they sha'n't escape me." Early
in the morning, before the children were awake, she rose up, and when
she saw them both sleeping so peacefully, with their round rosy cheeks,
she muttered to herself: "That'll be a dainty bite." Then she seized
Hansel with her bony hand and carried him into a little stable, and
barred the door on him; he might scream as much as he liked, it did him
no good. Then she went to Grettel, shook her till she awoke, and
cried: "Get up, you lazy-bones, fetch water and cook something for your
brother. When he's fat I'll eat him up." Grettel began to cry bitterly,
but it was of no use; she had to do what the wicked witch bade her.

So the best food was cooked for poor Hansel, but Grettel got nothing but
crab-shells. Every morning the old woman hobbled out to the stable and
cried: "Hansel, put out your finger, that I may feel if you are getting
fat." But Hansel always stretched out a bone, and the old dame, whose
eyes were dim, couldn't see it, and thinking always it was Hansel's
finger, wondered why he fattened so slowly. When four weeks had passed
and Hansel still remained thin, she lost patience and determined to wait
no longer. "Hi, Grettel," she called to the girl, "be quick and get some
water. Hansel may be fat or thin, I'm going to kill him to-morrow and
cook him." Oh! how the poor little sister sobbed as she carried the
water, and how the tears rolled down her cheeks! "Kind heaven help us
now!" she cried; "if only the wild beasts in the wood had eaten us, then
at least we should have died together." "Just hold your peace," said the
old hag; "it won't help you."

Early in the morning Grettel had to go out and hang up the kettle full
of water, and light the fire. "First we'll ba