登陆注册
5435500000021

第21章

Said the father, go on. I am looking back at my little pigeon which is sitting on the roof, and wants to say good-bye to me, answered Hansel. Fool. Said the woman, that is not your little pigeon, that is the morning sun that is shining on the chimney.

Hansel, however, little by little, threw all the crumbs on the path.

The woman led the children still deeper into the forest, where they had never in their lives been before. Then a great fire was again made, and the mother said, just sit there, you children, and when you are tired you may sleep a little. We are going into the forest to cut wood, and in the evening when we are done, we will come and fetch you away. When it was noon, Gretel shared her piece of bread with Hansel, who had scattered his by the way. Then they fell asleep and evening passed, but no one came to the poor children. They did not awake until it was dark night, and Hansel comforted his little sister and said, just wait, Gretel, until the moon rises, and then we shall see the crumbs of bread which I have strewn about, they will show us our way home again. When the moon came they set out, but they found no crumbs, for the many thousands of birds which fly about in the woods and fields had picked them all up. Hansel said to Gretel, we shall soon find the way, but they did not find it. They walked the whole night and all the next day too from morning till evening, but they did not get out of the forest, and were very hungry, for they had nothing to eat but two or three berries, which grew on the ground. And as they were so weary that their legs would carry them no longer, they lay down beneath a tree and fell asleep.

It was now three mornings since they had left their father's house.

They began to walk again, but they always came deeper into the forest, and if help did not come soon, they must die of hunger and weariness. When it was mid-day, they saw a beautiful snow-white bird sitting on a bough, which sang so delightfully that they stood still and listened to it. And when its song was over, it spread its wings and flew away before them, and they followed it until they reached a little house, on the roof of which it alighted. And when they approached the little house they saw that it was built of bread and covered with cakes, but that the windows were of clear sugar. We will set to work on that, said Hansel, and have a good meal. I will eat a bit of the roof, and you Gretel, can eat some of the window, it will taste sweet. Hansel reached up above, and broke off a little of the roof to try how it tasted, and Gretel leant against the window and nibbled at the panes. Then a soft voice cried from the parlor -nibble, nibble, gnaw who is nibbling at my little house.

The children answered -

the wind, the wind, the heaven-born wind, and went on eating without disturbing themselves. Hansel, who liked the taste of the roof, tore down a great piece of it, and Gretel pushed out the whole of one round window-pane, sat down, and enjoyed herself with it. Suddenly the door opened, and a woman as old as the hills, who supported herself on crutches, came creeping out. Hansel and Gretel were so terribly frightened that they let fall what they had in their hands. The old woman, however, nodded her head, and said, oh, you dear children, who has brought you here. Do come in, and stay with me. No harm shall happen to you. She took them both by the hand, and led them into her little house. Then good food was set before them, milk and pancakes, with sugar, apples, and nuts. Afterwards two pretty little beds were covered with clean white linen, and Hansel and Gretel lay down in them, and thought they were in heaven.

The old woman had only pretended to be so kind. She was in reality a wicked witch, who lay in wait for children, and had only built the little house of bread in order to entice them there. When a child fell into her power, she killed it, cooked and ate it, and that was a feast day with her. Witches have red eyes, and cannot see far, but they have a keen scent like the beasts, and are aware when human beings draw near. When Hansel and Gretel came into her neighborhood, she laughed with malice, and said mockingly, I have them, they shall not escape me again. Early in the morning before the children were awake, she was already up, and when she saw both of them sleeping and looking so pretty, with their plump and rosy cheeks, she muttered to herself, that will be a dainty mouthful.

Then she seized Hansel with her shrivelled hand, carried him into a little stable, and locked him in behind a grated door.

Scream as he might, it would not help him. Then she went to Gretel, shook her till she awoke, and cried, get up, lazy thing, fetch some water, and cook something good for your brother, he is in the stable outside, and is to be made fat. When he is fat, Iwill eat him. Gretel began to weep bitterly, but it was all in vain, for she was forced to do what the wicked witch commanded.

And now the best food was cooked for poor Hansel, but Gretel got nothing but crab-shells. Every morning the woman crept to the little stable, and cried, Hansel, stretch out your finger that I may feel if you will soon be fat. Hansel, however, stretched out a little bone to her, and the old woman, who had dim eyes, could not see it, and thought it was Hansel's finger, and was astonished that there was no way of fattening him. When four weeks had gone by, and Hansel still remained thin, she was seized with impatience and would not wait any longer. Now, then, Gretel, she cried to the girl, stir yourself, and bring some water. Let Hansel be fat or lean, to-morrow I will kill him, and cook him. Ah, how the poor little sister did lament when she had to fetch the water, and how her tears did flow down her cheeks. Dear God, do help us, she cried. If the wild beasts in the forest had but devoured us, we should at any rate have died together. Just keep your noise to yourself, said the old woman, it won't help you at all.

同类推荐
  • 南迁录

    南迁录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 贤愚经

    贤愚经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说大金色孔雀王咒经

    佛说大金色孔雀王咒经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 珩璜新论

    珩璜新论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金刚顶经瑜伽修习毗卢遮那三摩地法

    金刚顶经瑜伽修习毗卢遮那三摩地法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 星际维修工

    星际维修工

    世界末日,汽车维修工陈阳本以为自己会随妻子儿女一起消失在这茫茫世界,却没想到灵魂意外穿越到未来世界,从此踏上一条寻找回家的路……前世各色各样的平凡武术,到了未来竟然成为了深不可测的武功秘籍,广播体操要不要练习一下……白手起家建立蓝翔集团,一个个超强科技技术令各个势力为之疯狂。当自己的事业被践踏,朋友被胁迫,无助的陈阳发誓建立属于自己的秩序!
  • 网上开店指南

    网上开店指南

    本书详细介绍了网上开店的所有要点,其中包括网上开店的基本知识、开店前的准备工作、店铺建立、支付配送手段、店铺推广以及成功者的经验等。除以上诸多知识点之外,本书还以轻松的实例讲述了开设网上商店的每一个细节,指导大家做一个真正能够赚到钱的店主。
  • Lavengro

    Lavengro

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 高血脂食疗谱

    高血脂食疗谱

    本书主要针对生活中患有高血脂群体的食疗菜谱,主要讲述了以下几类菜谱:素菜谱;荤菜谱;粥菜谱;高血脂食疗汤菜谱;高血脂食疗主食谱;疗药茶;疗药酒。
  • 星河崩塌

    星河崩塌

    一次寻常的探险。林奇穿越到星际争霸的异世界。战争!这里充满无尽的战争。为活着。为能源。为星际之旅。林奇激活恐龙大军铠甲。恐龙机甲在异界,星际任我驰骋。岂料。恒星级的高等文明战舰逼进,星际浩劫即将降临...
  • 到城里去

    到城里去

    父亲十五岁那年,被爷爷送到温州城里,拜一个做铜器锡器的师傅做学徒。父亲的老家,在乐清北白象镇前黄村。以现在的距离算,到温州城三十来公里路。开上车,上了温州大桥过瓯江,上高速路,抽一两枝烟的工夫就到。当年那个时候,交通不便,这点路程走起来很费工夫。父亲从村里动身算起,走到温州城东门外的船埠头,没有一天是走不到的。那时,父亲挑了一副担子,前边一只木箱,后边一只笸箩;木箱里放换洗的衣服,笸箩里放一只鸡和一个猪头。鸡和猪头是拜师傅用的。父亲穿着一身簇新的衣服。爷爷腋下夹着一双布鞋,赤着脚走路。
  • 全真坐钵捷法

    全真坐钵捷法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 黑凰后

    黑凰后

    走自己的路,让别人无路可走。当原本属于你的道路,已经站上了别人,你该怎么办?李神佑:让她走,我会飞╮(╯▽╰)╭!!情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 不懂带人,你就自己干到死

    不懂带人,你就自己干到死

    领导应该学会培养一群善于解决问题的人,而不是自己去解决所有问题! 原则:员工的方法可以解决问题,哪怕是很笨的方法,也不要干预;不为问题找责任,鼓励员工多谈哪个方法更有效; 一个方法走不通,引导员工找其他方法;发现一个方法有效,那就把它教给你的下属;下属有好的方法,记得要学习!7个步骤:创建舒服的工作环境,让员工有更好的积极性、创造性去解决问题;调节员工的情绪,让员工从积极的角度看问题,找到合理的解决办法;帮员工把目标分解成一个个动作,让目标清晰有效;调用你的资源,帮员工解决问题,达到目标;赞美员工的某个行为,而不是泛泛赞美……
  • 三国演义之谜

    三国演义之谜

    刘备、曹操的长相究竟如何,为何关羽是红脸、张飞是“豹头环眼”“三英战吕布”是否确有其事,诸葛亮为何要娶丑妻,诸荀亮将周瑜活活气死了吗?刘备有没有封过“五虎大将”,曹操是军事天才吗?“七擒七纵孟荻”是真是假。