upon their way; but alas! there
were no crumbs to be seen, for the little birds that lived in the
green wood were as hungry as the children, and had eaten them all up.

"We will find the way somehow," cried cheerful little Hansel; but
though they traveled all night long, and the next day too, they could
not find it. Poor little mites, how tired and hungry they were, for
they had nothing to eat but the berries that grew by the roadside!

When at length the weary little feet could go no farther, the children
lay down beneath a tree and slept.

On the third day they were still as far away as ever, and it seemed
to them that the longer they walked the deeper they got into the wood,
and they began to be afraid that they would die of cold and hunger.

But presently, when the midday sun was shining brightly, they noticed
a little snow-white bird singing so sweetly that they could not help
but stay to listen. When the birdie's song was ended, he spread his
wings and flew away.

The children followed him until they reached a little house, on the
roof of which he perched. Then the children saw with surprise that the
strange little house was built entirely of bread, roofed with cakes,
and with windows of barley sugar.

"See, Gretel," cried Hansel joyfully, "there is food for us in
plenty. I will take a piece of the roof, and you shall have one of the
windows."

He stretched out his hand to help himself, and Gretel had already
begun to nibble one of the window-panes, when suddenly they heard a
voice call from within:--

"Nibbly, nibbly, mouse!
Who's nibbling at my house?"

The children answered quickly:--

"'Tis my Lady Wind that blows,
As round about the house she goes."

And then they went on eating as though nothing had happened for the
cake of which the roof was made just suited Hansel's taste, whilst the
barley-sugar window-panes were better than any sweetmeat Gretel had
ever tasted before.

All at once the door of the cottage flew wide open, and out came an
old, old woman, leaning upon a crutch. The children were so frightened
that they dropped their food and clung to each other.

The old woman nodded her head to them, and said: "Who brought you
here, my pets? Come inside, come inside; no one will hurt you."

She took their hands and led them into the house, and set before them
all kinds of delicious foods, milk, sugared pancakes, apples, and
nuts. When they had finished their meal she showed them t