''
Early in the morning, Grethel had to go out and
hang up the kettle with the water, and light the fire.
``We will bake first,'' said the old woman. ``I
have already heated the oven, and got the dough
ready.''
She pushed poor Grethel out to the oven, from
which the flames of fire were already darting.
``Creep in,'' said the witch, ``and see if it is
heated, so that we can shut the bread in.'' And
when once Grethel was inside, she meant to shut
the oven and let her bake in it, and then she would
eat her, too.
But Grethel saw what she had in her mind, and
said, ``I do not know how I am to do it; how do
you get in?''
``Silly goose,'' said the old woman. ``The door
is big enough; just look, I can get in myself!''
and she crept up and thrust her head into the
oven. Then Grethel gave her a push that drove
her far into it, and shut the iron door, tight.
Grethel ran as quick as lightning to Hansel,
opened his little stable, and cried, ``Hansel, we
are saved! The old witch is dead!''
Then Hansel sprang out like a bird from its
cage when the door is opened for it. How they did
dance about and kiss each other. And as they
had no longer any need to fear her, they went
into the witch's house, and in every corner there
stood chests full of pearls and jewels.
``These are far better than pebbles!'' said
Hansel, and filled his pockets, and Grethel said,
``I, too, will take something home with me,'' and
filled her pinafore.
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