Hansel and Gretel (3)

Hansel and Gretel (3)

Next day, when their stepmother discovered that Hansel and Gretel had returned, she went into a rage.

Stifling her anger in front of the children, she locked her bedroom door, reproaching her husband for failing to carry out her orders.

The weak woodcutter protested, torn as he was between shame and fear of disobeying his cruel wife.

The wicked stepmother kept Hansel and Gretel under lock and key all day with nothing for supper but a sip of water and some hard bread.
All night, husband and wife quarreled, and when dawn came, the woodcutter led the children out into the forest. 
 
Hansel, however, had not eaten his bread, and as he walked through the trees, he left a trail of crumbs behind him to mark the way.

But the little boy had forgotten about the hungry birds that lived in the forest. When they saw him, they flew along behind and in no time at all, had eaten all the crumbs.

Again, with a lame excuse, the woodcutter left his two children by 
themselves.

3/7)