Pagina 189 de 626

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 neighbourhood, 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.