Hansel and Gretel (2)

 Hansel and Gretel (2)

All night long, the woodcutter's wife harped on and on at her husband till, at dawn, he led Hansel and Gretel away into the forest.

But as they went into the depths of the trees, Hansel dropped a little white pebble here and there on the mossy green ground.

At a certain point, the two children found they really were alone: the woodcutter had plucked up enough courage to desert  them, had mumbled an excuse and was gone. 
 
Night fell but the woodcutter did not return.

Gretel began to sob bitterly. Hansel too felt scared but he tried to hide his feelings and comfort his sister. 
" Don't cry, trust me! I swear I'll take you home even if Father doesn't come back for us!"

Luckily the moon was full that night and Hansel waited till its cold light filtered through the trees. 
 
" Now give me your hand!" he said.
" We'll get home safely, you'll see! "

The tiny white pebbles gleamed in the moonlight, and the children found their way home.
They crept through a half open window, without wakening their parents. Cold, tired but thankful to be home again, they slipped into bed.

(2/)