"Awake you, O children dear,
Wake you and rise!
The sun glowing brightly, peeps
Into your eyes!"
Then the Dew Fairy departed.
"O Hansel! Hear the birds singing! Where are we?" exclaimed Gretel. "Come, Hansel, wake up!"
The children looked about them in wonder. The giant trees had disappeared, and near them stood a little house.
"What a pretty cottage!" said Hansel. "Why, it is a candy house! The roof is chocolate, and the windows are sugar plums. What a queer fence! It is gingerbread!"
Soon they heard some one say, in a squeaky voice,
"Nibble, nibble, little mouse,
Who is nibbling my sweet house?"
The children only ate and sang and laughed.
Suddenly the door of the house flew open. An old witch came out. On her head she wore a pointed hat, and in her hand she carried a stick.
The candy cottage belonged to the Witch of the Forest.