The German Fairy considered for a moment and then said that she did know a pretty story about children, a story which many children liked to hear and one which they called the Sweety-House, because it told how a little boy and girl when lost in the woods found a house built of nothing but sweets and cakes, and of the adventures which befel them afterwards when pursued by a bad wicked fairy who was a disgrace to the name.
“The Sweety-House, the Sweety-House,” exclaimed Titania clapping her hands delightedly.
“The proper name of the story,” said the German Fairy, “is
Hansel and Grethel
There was once a poor man, who was a woodman, and went every day to cut wood in the forest. Once as he went along, he heard a cry like a little child’s: so he followed the sound, till at last he looked up a high tree, and on one of the branches sat a very little child. Now its mother had fallen asleep, and a vulture had taken it out of her lap and flown away with it, and left it on the tree. Then the woodcutter climbed up, took the little child down, and found it was a pretty little girl; and he said to himself, “I will take this poor child home, and bring her up with my own son Hansel.” So he brought her to his cottage, and both grew up together: he called the little girl Grethel, and the two children were so very fond of each other that they were never happy but when they were together.
But the woodcutter became very poor, and had nothing in the world he could call his own; and indeed he had scarcely bread enough for his wife and the two children to eat. At last the time came when even that was all gone, and he knew not where to seek for help in his need. Then at night, as he lay on his bed, and turned himself here and there, restless and full of care, his wife said to him, “Husband, listen to me, and take the two children out early to-morrow morning; give each of them a piece of bread, and then lead them into the midst of the wood, where it is thickest, make a fire for them, and go away and leave them alone to shift for themselves, for we can no longer keep them here.” “No, wife,” said the husband, “I cannot find it in my heart to leave the children to the wild beasts of the forest; they would soon tear them to pieces.” “Well, if you will not do as I say,” answered the wife, “we must all starve together.” And she would not let him have any peace until he came into her hard-hearted plan.
Meantime the poor children too were lying awake restless, and weak from hunger, so that they heard all that Hansel’s mother said to her husband. “Now,” thought Grethel to herself, “it is all up with us”: and she began to weep. But Hansel crept to her bedside, and said, “Do not be afraid, Grethel, I will find out some help for us.” Then he got up, put on his jacket, and opened the door and went out.
The moon shone bright upon the little court before the cottage, and the white pebbles glittered like daisies on the green meadows. So he stooped down, and put as many as he could into his pocket, and then went back to the house. “Now, Grethel,” said he, “rest in peace!” and he went to bed and fell fast asleep.