to their father. Grethel wept
bitter tears, and said to Haensel, "Now all is over with us." "Be
quiet, Grethel," said Haensel. "Do not distress thyself, I will soon
find a way to help us." And when the old folks had fallen asleep, he
got up, put on his coat, opened the door below, and crept outside. The
moon shone brightly and the white pebbles which lay in front of the
house glittered like real silver pennies. Haensel stooped and put as
many of them in the little pocket of his coat as he could possibly get
in. Then he went back and said to Grethel, "Be comforted, dear little
sister, and sleep in peace; God will not forsake us;" and he lay down
again in his bed. When day dawned, but before the sun had risen, the
woman came and awoke the two children, saying, "Get up, you sluggards!
we are going into the forest to fetch wood." She gave each a little
piece of bread, and said, "There is something for your dinner, but
do not eat it up before then, for you will get nothing else." Grethel
took the bread under her apron, as Haensel had the stones in his
pocket. Then they all set out together on the way to the forest. When
they, had walked a short time, Haensel stood still and peeped back at
the house, and did so again and again. His father said, "Haensel, what
art thou looking at there and staying behind for? Mind what thou art
about, and do not forget how to use thy legs." "Ah, father," said
Haensel, "I am looking at my little white cat, which is sitting upon
the roof, and wants to say good-bye to me." The wife said, "Fool, that
is not thy little cat; that is the morning sun which is shining on the
chimneys." Haensel, however, had not been looking back at the cat, but
had been constantly throwing one of the white pebble-stones out of his
pocket on the road.

When they had reached the middle of the forest, the father said, "Now,
children, pile up some wood, and I will light a fire that you may not
be cold." Haensel and Grethel gathered brushwood together, as high
as a little hill. The brushwood was lighted, and when the flames were
burning very high the woman said, "Now, children, lay yourselves down
by the fire and rest and we will go into the forest and cut some wood.
When we have done, we will come back and fetch you away."

Haensel and Grethel sat by the fire, and, when noon came, each ate a
little piece of bread, but, as they heard the strokes of the wood-axe,
they believed that their father was near. It was, however, n