"
The next morning poor Gretel was forced to light the fire and hang the
great pot of water over it, and then the witch said: "First we will
bake. I have kneaded the dough, and heated the oven; you shall creep
inside it to see if it is hot enough to bake the bread."
But Gretel guessed that the old witch meant to shut the door upon her
and roast her, so she pretended that she did not know how to get in.
"Silly goose," said the witch. "The door is wide enough, to be sure.
Why, even I could get inside it." As she spoke, she popped her head
into the oven. In a moment Gretel sprang towards her, pushed her
inside, shut the iron door, and shot the bolt. Oh! how she squealed
and shrieked, but Gretel ran off as fast as she could, and so there
was an end of the cruel old witch.
Quick as thought, Gretel ran to her brother. "We are saved, Hansel,"
she cried, opening the door of the stable, "the wicked old witch is
dead."
Hansel flew from his prison as a bird from its cage, and the two happy
little children kissed each other and jumped for joy. No longer afraid
of the old witch, they entered the house, hand in hand, and then
they saw that in every corner of the room were boxes of pearls and
diamonds, and all kinds of precious gems.
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