Brick Fairy Tales: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hansel and Gretel, and More (32 page)

“Silly goose,” said the old woman, “The door is big enough; just look, I can get in myself!”

and she crept up and thrust her head into the oven.

Then Gretel gave her a push that drove her far into it,

and shut the iron door, and fastened the bolt. Oh! then she began to howl quite horribly,

but Gretel ran away, and the godless witch was miserably burnt to death.

Gretel, however, ran like lightning to Hansel, opened his little stable, and cried, “Hansel, we are saved! The old witch is dead!”

Then Hansel sprang out like a bird from its cage when the door is opened for it. How they did rejoice and embrace each other, and dance about and kiss each other!

And as they had no longer any need to fear her, they went into the witch’s house, and in every corner there stood chests full of pearls and jewels. “These are far better than pebbles!” said Hansel, and thrust into his pockets whatever could be got in,

and Gretel said, “I, too, will take something home with me,” and filled her pinafore full. “But now we will go away,” said Hansel, “that we may get out of the witch’s forest.”

When they had walked for two hours, they came to a great piece of water. “We cannot get over,” said Hansel, “I see no foot-plank, and no bridge.”

“And no boat crosses either,” answered Gretel, “but a white duck is swimming there; if I ask her, she will help us over.” Then she cried,

“Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee? There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight,

Take us across on thy back so white.”

The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.