They skipped into the witch's hut.

 

A fine meal of soup and bread.  As they licked the last crust of bread and looked around the hut, what the brother and sister saw made their hearts turn cold.  Piles and piles of bones in the corners!  Yet the two children were very tired, and so they slept.

The next morning when they woke, Hansel found himself locked in a cage.  The witch roared, “That's where your brother will stay!  Every day I will fatten him up.  Soon he will make me a fine dinner!”  She laughed and laughed, rubbing her hands with glee.  “Till then,” she said sharply to Gretel, “you will work for me.”

 

Thanks to Artist, beckyholly

 

Indeed, Hansel was well fed and Gretel worked hard all day doing chores for the witch. 

Each morning the witch said to the boy, “Show me your finger.  I will feel how plump you are getting.”  For the old witch could not see well.  Hansel held out his finger as he was told.  The witch smiled when she felt how plump he was getting.

“Gretel,” Hansel whispered in fear. “What are we to do? Soon I will be plump enough and the witch will want to eat me!”  His sister wished she had a plan, but could not think of anything. 

 

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"Gretl," Hansel whispered in fear.  "What are we to do?"

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One night when the witch was sleeping, Gretel had an idea.  She picked up a bone from one of the piles on the floor and woke her brother. “Hansel,” she said, “the next time the witch asks to see your finger, hold out this bone to her instead.” 

The next morning, he did just that.  “Hmph!” said the witch, touching the bone and thinking it was the boy’s finger.  “This is going to take longer than I thought!”

“At least I have more time,” Gretel thought. But still, she could not think of any way they could get out of there.

Each morning when the witch said, “Show me your finger,” Hansel held out the thin bone.  One day the witch yelled, “I will not wait another day!  The boy will be my dinner tonight, no matter how skinny he is!”  The witch ordered Gretel to start the fire in the oven at once.  She must get it very hot.  Gretel worked as slowly as she could.  Why was the witch looking at her with such a sly smile? 

 

Thanks to Artist, yaelly

 

“Be a dear,” said the witch with a slow grim.  “Go inside the oven, won’t you?  Tell me if it is hot enough.”

Gretel’s heart skipped a beat.  If she did that, the witch could push her inside and she would eat them both! 

She looked down.  “I am not sure how to tell.”

 

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"Go inside the oven, won't you?"

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“Nonsense!” said the witch.  “Nothing could be easier.  Just go in!”

“Um,” said Gretel slowly, “please show me first?”

“Stupid girl!” snapped the witch.  Mumbling and grumbling, she stepped in the oven.  The moment the witch was inside Gretel quickly slammed the door.

 

Thanks to Artist, Teddy529

 

"Gretel!” Hansel cried out.  “You saved us!”  

The sister tried to think fast.  “Where is that key to your cage?”  She looked and looked.  At last she found it at the bottom of a vase.  She freed her brother from the cage right away.  Then she went back to that vase.  For what had she felt under the key?  Why, the vase had precious jewels inside!

 

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Then she went back to that vase.

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With their pockets filled with the jewels, they ran outside as fast as they could.  In the daylight they soon found a small path and followed it.  It led to a wider path and that  path led to a road.  They waited by the roadside hoping someone would ride by.  When a horseman trotted up, Hansel and Gretel waved their hands.  When the horseman stopped, the children offered one of the small jewels and the horseman was happy to give them a ride home. 

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When the brother and sister opened the door to their home, their father was wild with joy to see them.  He had worried and looked for them night and day since they had vanished.  They learned their stepmother died very soon after they left.  For many years to come, Hansel and Gretel lived very

happily with their father in the hut in the woods.

Thank you to Artist, DartGarry