w all is over with
us."

"Be quiet, Grethel," said Hansel, "do not be troubled; I will soon find
a way to help us."

And when the old folks had fallen asleep, he got up, put on his little
coat, opened the door below, and crept outside. The moon shone brightly,
and the white pebbles which lay in front of the house shone like real
silver pennies. Hansel stooped and put as many of them in the little
pocket of his coat as he could make room for. Then he went back, and
said to Grethel, "Be at ease, dear little sister, and sleep in peace;
God will not forsake us." And he lay down again in his bed.

When the day dawned, but before the sun had risen, the woman came and
awoke the two children, saying:--

"Get up, you lazy things! 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 Hansel had the stones in his
pocket. Then they all set out together on the way to the forest, and
Hansel threw one after another 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."

Hansel and Grethel drew brushwood together till it was as high as a
little hill.

The brushwood was lighted, and when the flames were burning very high
the woman said:--

"Now, children, lie down by the fire and rest; we will go into the
forest and cut some wood. When we have done, we will come back and fetch
you away."

Hansel and Grethel sat by the fire, and when noon came, each ate a
little piece of bread, and as they heard the strokes of the wood-axe
they were sure their father was near. But it was not the axe, it was
a branch which he had tied to a dry tree, and the wind was blowing it
backward and forward. As they had been sitting such a long time they
were tired, their eyes shut, and they fell fast asleep. When at last
they awoke, it was dark night.

Grethel began to cry, and said, "How are we to get out of the forest
now?"

But Hansel comforted her, saying, "Just wait a little, until the moon
has risen, and then we will soon find the way."

And when the full moon had risen, Hansel took his little sister by the
hand, and followed the pebbles, which shone like bright silver pieces,
and showed them the way.