Early in the morning, before the sun had risen, the stepmother came
and wakened the children. "Rise, little lie-a-beds," she said, "and
come with us into the wood to gather fuel."
She gave them each a piece of bread for their dinner, and told them to
be sure not to eat it too soon, for they would get nothing more.
Gretel carried the bread in her pinafore, because Hansel had his
pockets full, and then they all set out upon their way to the wood.
As they trudged along, the father noticed that his little son kept
turning back to look at the house. "Take care, my boy," he said, "or
you will slip. What are you looking at so earnestly?"
"I am watching my kitten, father: she is sitting on the roof to bid me
good-by."
"Silly little lad, that is not your cat," said the stepmother; "it is
only the morning sun shining on the chimney."
But Hansel had not been watching his cat at all; he had stayed behind
to drop the pebbles upon the path.
When they reached the thickest part of the forest, the father bade the
children gather wood, that he might kindle a fire for them, so that
they might rest beside it and warm themselves whilst he and his wife
were cutting the fuel. So they gathered a pile of brushwood and twigs,
and as soon as it was well alight, the parents left them, promising to
return as soon as they had finished their work.
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