Lessons and Fairy Tales

HANSEL AND GRETEL

Once upon a time there were two children, a brother and a sister, named Hansel and Gretel. They live with their father and stepmother. Their father worked as a woodcutter. Difficult times and families have difficult lives

One night the children were awakened by a conversation in the next room. “They eat too much. If they continue like this, we will all soon die of starvation. We have to get rid of them. Let's do it tomorrow, "they heard their stepmother say. “I don't want to leave my children,” their father said. He didn't think the plan was a good idea. But his wife was very persistent and he kept talking and talking until he was sure and willing to do what he said.

“Hansel, tomorrow we will die,” complained Gretel, “what should we do?” Hansel assured his sister that they would survive. Sleep tight! she calmed down, and once her sister fell asleep, she went out and filled her pockets with as many white pebbles as she could. Then he went to sleep

The next morning the family woke up early, before sunrise. “Today we will cut wood for winter. It will be a tiring day, "said their stepmother. "Take this piece of bread and don't eat it before noon, because you'll be hungry too early." Hansel gave his bread to Gretel to hold, as his pocket was filled with gravel

They went deep into the forest. On the way Hansel stopped every few steps and dropped a pebble behind him without telling anyone. After a while, they stopped. The stepmother told her children to sit there and wait quietly until they returned. Their father said nothing.

Hansel and Gretel waited all day. They did not believe that their father would completely abandon them. But at sunset, they knew that everything they had heard the night before was true. “Do not worry Gretel,” says Hansel, “I dropped a trail of gravel all the way here. Let's eat our bread and sleep. We'll leave tomorrow morning and go home in the afternoon. Trust me. ”

They did as Hansel said. The next morning they followed the trail Hansel made and went home. Their father was so happy to see them, that he couldn't say anything and just hugged them as long as he could.

When night falls, the children hear the voice of their stepmother, “We will leave them somewhere further into the forest next time, so they will not be able to find their way back.” "What are you talking about?! We won't leave them alone in the forest anymore! ” But the women insisted, "Do you want to die of hunger?" The man did not answer. Hansel tried to collect the pebbles again, but this time the door was locked.

The next morning their stepmother gave them a smaller slice of bread for lunch. On the way to the forest, Hansel drops the crumbs behind him, so they can find their way home as before. They walk for hours. Finally their stepmother said, “It looks like a nice place. You can take a nap here while your father and I cut wood. "

At lunch, Gretel shares a piece of her bread with Hansel and then they fall asleep. It was already night time when they woke up and it was too dark to find the crumbs, but Hansel told Gretel to stay calm and they would go home the next morning.

When they woke up, they saw that the beast was eating the crumbs at night. This time it was Hansel who was upset. “We will never find our way home now,”. But this time it was Gretel's brave turn. "Let's go. I'm sure we can find our home" he said. They walked all day. They were already very hungry and tired when they saw the white bird chirping on the branch. It flew and the children decided to follow it.

That brings them to a house. As they approached, they noticed that the house was built entirely of chocolate, with a roof made of cake, and windows made of clear sugar. The kids start eating the house - Hansel picks up a piece of the roof, while Gretel knocks down some of the walls.

They're inbound. The old woman made them pancakes with maple syrup and gave them milk to drink. Just when the brother and sister thought they were in heaven, the old woman grabbed Hansel's hand, her eyes sparkling red and she laughed creepily. “Dumb kids! Don't you understand that I built this house to lure you in? Now I'm gonna fatten you up, son, so I can eat you. " He dragged Hansel into a small, dark room and locked him away.

It was then that Hansel and Gretel understood that she was not at all a good old woman, but a witch! His eyes were red and he was older than any human. He has poor eyesight, but his sense of smell is excellent. No matter how much the children cried, the witch had no mercy on them.

Every morning the old woman went to Hansel's room and yelled, "Show me your finger, let me see if you gain weight." But Hansel was going to take out a little bone and since the witch could not see well, she thought it was her finger. He was so angry because he remained skinny.

When four weeks have passed, the witch loses her temper and shouts at Gretel, “Hey, you! This is the largest pot in the kitchen; fill it with water until it runs out! I don't care how skinny your brother is - I'll cook him today! ”

Gretel prays for a miracle to happen, but when she finishes filling the kettle, the witch helps her put it in the big oven. Then the old woman lit a fire. Moments later the witch pushed poor Gretel towards the oven and said, "Come in and see if the water hasn't boiled yet!" But Gretel thought that the witch wanted to push her into the pot and cook it too, so she cleverly replied, “How can I get into the oven? Please, show me so I can check the water. "

"What's wrong with you?" the witch shouted, “This is so easy! Look, you just have to step here and... aaaaaaaaaaaahhh !!! ” Gretel shoved the old woman into the oven. Then he immediately closed the oven door. The ferocious witch was burned to the ground

Gretel rushed to Hansel's room, unlocked the door for him and hugged him tightly. "Hansel, my brother, the witch is dead, let's get out of this wicked house and find a way home!"

How happy they are! Before leaving the house, they went to the witch's room where they knew she was keeping her treasure. There were wooden crates throughout the room and the children filled their pockets with as many gems as they could. “It's better than gravel,” said Hansel after finishing filling his pocket. Then they left the house.

The brother and sister walked for several hours before they managed to leave the witch forest. The sun began to set when they finally arrived at a bridge they knew well, which was close to their home. "Dad!" gretel shouted as she looked at him on the porch, looking even sadder than before, because his wife had died.

“Dear children! You're alive!" exclaimed their father and the three of them hugged. Gretel flicked her apron and the precious stones began to fall to the ground. Hansel joined in and took out all the pearls and diamonds he had put in his pocket. Finally they can have a carefree life and live happily ever after together!