rms.

Oh! how pleased he was to see them once again, for he had not known a
happy hour since he had left them alone in the wood. Gretel shook out
her pinafore, and Hansel emptied his pockets, and the floor of the
little room was quite covered with glittering precious stones.

So now their troubles were at an end, for the cruel stepmother was
dead, and Hansel and Gretel and their father lived together happily
ever after.

My story is ended, and see, there runs a little mouse, and the first
who catches him shall have a fur cap made from his skin.

* * * * *

THE FAIR CATHERINE AND PIF-PAF POLTRIE

"Good day, Father Hollenthe. How do you do?" "Very well, I thank you,
Pif-paf Poltrie." "May I marry your daughter?" "Oh, yes! if the mother
Malcho (_Milk-Cow_), the brother Hohenstolz (_High and Mighty_), the
sister Kasetraut (_Cheese-maker_), and the fair Catherine are willing,
it may be so."

"Where is, then, the mother Malcho?"

"In the stable, milking the cow."

"Good day, mother Malcho. How do you do?" "Very well, I thank you,
Pif-paf Poltrie." "May I marry your daughter?" "Oh, yes! if the father
Hollenthe, the brother Hohenstolz, the sister Kasetraut, and the fair
Catherine are willing, it may be so."

"Where is, then, the brother Hohenstolz?"

"In the yard, chopping up the wood."

"Good day, brother Hohenstolz. How are you?" "Very well, I thank you,
Pif-paf Poltrie." "May I marry your sister?" "Oh, yes! if the father
Hollenthe, the mother Malcho, the sister Kasetraut, and the fair
Catherine are willing, it may be so.

"Where is, then, the sister Kasetraut?"

"In the garden, cutting the cabbages."

"Good day, sister Kasetraut. How do you do?" "Very well, I thank you,
Pif-paf Poltrie." "May I marry your sister?" "Oh, yes! if the father
Hollenthe, the mother Malcho, the brother Hohenstolz, and the fair
Catherine are willing, it may be so."

"Where is, then, the fair Catherine?"

"In her chamber, counting out her pennies."

"Good day, fair Catherine. How do you do?" "Very well, I thank you,
Pif-paf Poltrie." "Will you be my bride?" "Oh, yes! if the father
Hollenthe, the mother Malcho, the brother Hohenstolz, and the sister
Kasetraut are willing, so am I."

"How much money have you, fair Catherine?"

"Fourteen pennies in bare money, two and a half farthings owing to me,
half a pound of dried apples, a handful of prunes, and a handful of
roots; and don't you cal