A poor woodcutter and his wife lived in a small cottage with their two children. A son named Hansel and daughter named Gretel. One night, they overheard their parents talking. There was a great famine in the land. The family had little food and no money. "We must take the children deep into the woods and search for food," the father said worried, "or else we'll starve."

Gretel was scared, as they had never ventured into the forest before. "Don't worry," said Hansel. "I'll drop pebbles along the way so we can fing our way home." The next morning, Hansel began dropping the stones on the trail.

That evening, the woodcutter built a fire and said, "Wait here children. We will go further into the woods and see if we can find anything to eat." Their parents set off with heavy hearts. Hansel and Gretel watched them disappear. Then they laid down beside the fire and fell asleep.

When the fire was only ashes, the children woke up cold and hungry. Their parents had been gone a long time. "What should we do Hansel?" sobbed Gretel. "Wait until the moon comes out," he said cheerfully, "and by its light, we will follw the pebbles back home."

When the moon rose, they made their way back to the trail. In the bright light they found the pebbles quickly. "Look here's one," cried Gretel. "And another!" They began their journey home.

By dawn, they were back at the cottage. They ran into the house, calling, "Father, Mother we're home!" Their father was so pleased to see them. In the dark he had missed the path back to them. He was just about to set out for them. Happy to be together again, they forgot about their problems... for a short while.

But soon after, the crops failed again and the woodcutter told his wife, "We must return to the forest to look for food." When Gretel heard them she told Hansel to go get more pebbles, just incase they got lost again. But it was already late at night and the door was locked!

In the morning, their mother gave them the last bread in the house to eat. "Eat yours," Hansel whispered to Gretel, "and I will drop the crumbs from mine on the trail." Trailing behind the others, Hansel threw his crumbs to mark their way.

But he forgot about the birds, who were also hungry. They swooped down to the path and ate the bread crumbs

While Hansel and Gretel were playing they lost their parents. Unconcerned, they went to look for the path back home. They couldn't find it, not a single crumb. "Never mind, Hansel," said Gretel bravely, "we'll find our way home on our own"

The children walked for a long time. They were tired and hungry, when a beautiful white peacock appeared before them. "Follow me," she screeched.

The peacock led Hansel and Gretel to a clearing in the forest. In front of them was a wonderful house made of candy and cake! "Oh!" they cried, unable to believe their eyes.

At once the children began eating pieces of the house and picking lollipop flowers. They were alarmed when they heard an erie voice from inside call out:

Nibble, nibble, like a mouse, Who is nibbling at my house?"

It's only the wind," answered Hansel and Gretel nervously, eating as fast as they could.

But they stopped in fright when an ugly old woman came out. They were about to run away when she said sweetly, "Why don't you come inside?" Unwisely, Hansel and Gretel followed into the house.

Although she pretended to be kind the old woman was really a wicked witch, who liked to eat children. She put Hansel and Gretel at ease by giving them food to eat.

The witch set the table with more food then they had ever seen. There were pastries and cakes, chocolates and sweets, delicious drinks - everything you could imagine.Hansel and Gretel ate all afternoon until they couldn't eat anymore.

The witch sent them to bed, and returned to the kitchen to plot and scheme. "They are skinny," she said to herself. "But I'll faten the boy up and then eat him. Then I'll deal with his sister."

The next morning, the witch pulled Hansel from bed and put him in a cage in the cellar. "And you'll stay there till you're fat enough to eat," she cackled, "Meanwhile, your sister will do all the housework." "Let me go!" cried the boy. But the witch paid no attention.

The witch called Gretel, saying "Fetch water from the stream and clean the house! You also have to cook a large meal for your brother until he is fat enough to eat!" Gretel was terrified but she had no choice, so she started her chores.

Gretel worked hard, but only got scrapes to eat. She shared these with the mice that came to the table. All the time she thought of how she could free Hansel so they could escape.

Every day, the witch visited Hansel. "Stick your finger through the bars so I can tell how fat you're getting," she said. She was so shortsighted she could barely see. Hansel was clever though, he stuck a chicken bone through the bars. The witch pinched it, thinking it was his finger. She couldn't understand why he wasn't getting fatter.

After several weeks, the witch lost patience. "Fat or thin I'll eat him today." She gave Gretel sticks to build a fire in the oven. Gretel knew this was her only chance.

When the fire was blazing she asked the witch, "How can I tell if it's hot enough?" Like this you foolish girl," snapped the witch. She bent over the oven to feel the heat. Just then Gretel pushed her into the oven and slammed the door shut!

"Hansel! We're free!" she cried happily, running to unlock the cage. "The witch is dead!" The children hugged each other tightly and danced around the room. Then they went looking around the cottage to find the witch's hidden treaures. Sparkling jewels the witch had taken from others who lost their way in the woods. They filled two sacks with precious stones, they were rich!

"Now let's get out of here!" cried Hansel. They finally found a stream they knew. It was to wide for them to swim or wade across.

Gretel saw a beautiful white swan on the water. She called:

Swan, swan, here we stand, Hansel and Gretel, on the land, Stepping stones and bridge we lack, Please carry us over on you white back.

The swan kindly came to the bank of the stream and took them across the stream. They were now almost home.

Their father had just come out of the cottage to cho firewood. When Hansel and Gretel ran into his arms. He was so overjoyed to see them alive and well. He had searched the whole countryside for them. "Come and see what we've brought home!" cried Hansel. The children tipped the sacks of precious stones onto the table, and their father picked one up in wonder.

"We'll never be poor or go hungry again!" said Hansel. "Mother come quickly!" Their mother came to join them and they danced joyfully!