The Bureau of Dreams to be Continued by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

The Bureau of Dreams to be Continued

Page 229

In Germany, Hansel and Gretel are the children of a poor woodcutter. When a great famine settles over the land, the woodcutter's wife decides to take the children into the woods and leave them there to fend for themselves, so that she and her husband do not starve to death, because the children eat too much. The woodcutter opposes the plan but finally, and reluctantly, submits to his wife's scheme. They were unaware that in the children's bedroom, Hansel and Gretel have overheard them. After the parents have gone to bed, Hansel sneaks out of the house and gathers as many white pebbles as he can, then returns to his room, reassuring Gretel that God will not forsake them in the forest.

The children leave and get lost in the forest and find a house made of sweets. After nibbling on the house an old woman greets them, and the children soon find out that she eats children and plans to fatten Hansel up for a later meal. After Gretel outwits the old lady they escape and are reunited with the father and never have to live with their mean step mother again.