Ганзель и Гретель

           WhenHanselandGrethelcameintoherneighborhood,shelaughedmaliciously,andsaidmockingly, "Ihavethem,theyshallnotescapemeagain! "Earlyinthemorningbeforethechildrenwereawake,shewasalreadyup,andwhenshesawbothofthemsleepingandlookingsopretty,withtheirplumpredcheeks,shemutteredtoherself, "Thatwillbeadaintymouthful!" ThensheseizedHanselwithhershrivelledhand,carriedhimintoalittlestable,andshuthiminwithagrateddoor.Hemightscreamasheliked,thatwasofnouse. ThenshewenttoGrethel,shookhertillsheawoke,andcried, "Getup,lazything,fetchsomewater,andcooksomethinggoodforthybrother,heisinthestableoutside,andistobemadefat. Whenheisfat,Iwilleathim. "Grethelbegantoweepbitterly,butitwasallinvain,shewasforcedtodowhatthewickedwitchorderedher. 

           AndnowthebestfoodwascookedforpoorHansel,butGrethelgotnothingbutcrab-shells. Everymorningthewomancrepttothelittlestable,andcried, "Hansel,stretchoutthyfingerthatImayfeelifthouwiltsoonbefat." Hansel,however,stretchedoutalittlebonetoher,andtheoldwoman,whohaddimeyes,couldnotseeit,andthoughtitwasHansel’sfinger,andwasastonishedthattherewasnowayoffatteninghim. Whenfourweekshadgoneby,andHanselstillcontinuedthin,shewasseizedwithimpatienceandwouldnotwaitanylonger. "Hola,Grethel,"shecriedtothegirl,"beactive,andbringsomewater. LetHanselbefatorlean,to-morrowIwillkillhim,andcookhim."