Gingerbread Cottage Fright

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At the edge of a wood, in days of summertime,
Lived Hansel and Gretel, once upon a time;
Whose dear father, a poor woodcutter,
Could no longer earn their bread and butter.
Late one night, a conversation overheard--
As from sleeping, the children had been stirred:
"We'll lose them in the forest,"  said the woodcutter's wife.
"Then, we shall be rid of them for life.
We shall take them out tomorrow;
And say they became lost.  No one will ever know."
The woodcutter was driven to desperation
By a coldhearted wife, and a life of privation.
"Gretel,"  whispered Hansel,  "dry your tears."
"I have thought of something to calm your fears."
Off into the night garden resourceful Hansel crept--
And gathered pebbles, while both parents slept.
Next day, the stepmother was falsely kind,
Though clever Hansel lagged behind.
Every few yards, he would drop a stone,
So that he and Gretel might return home alone.
Deep in the woods, they began to tire,
Were given bread, and were built a fire.
They drowsed, and soon were asleep,
But, awoke in the dark, and began to weep.
"What shall we do?"  little Gretel cries.
"Hush,"  said Hansel.  "Follow the pebbles at moonrise."
When they reached home, their father was glad.
But, not the stepmother.  She was mad!
She began to nag and to complain.
They must return the children to the forest again.
"This time we'll take them deeper until--
We reach a place where all is still.
It is there we shall desert them!
Our neighbors never will condemn."
But once again was overheard the plot.
"She'll not succeed!"  thought Hansel.  "She'll not!
Deep in the woods, we shall not die!
While there is anything left to try!"
He again sought stones, but the way was blocked--
Alas, this night the door was locked.
Too late to gather pebbles!  Too late!
What is fate?
"Never mind, Gretel,"  the brave Hansel said.
"In the morning, Mother will give us bread.
I will drop mine, like the pebbles, and then--
We shall find our way home again."
The next day dawned clear, blue and bright--
Such gay colored birds were in sight!
Deeper and deeper into the woods they were led.
Deeper and deeper--Hansel full of dread!
As before, the children stopped and napped;
And awoke to find that they were trapped!
"Hush, Gretel,"  said Hansel.  "I see a bread crumb.
We shall follow them back where we came from."
But, what a shock awaited him,
To find the birds had eaten most of them!
"However, I am sure I can remember
The way home,"  he comforted his sister.
Holding hands, they wandered in the wood;
This strange, secluded neighborhood.
Suddenly, they saw a cottage--
A cottage that had stood an age.
'Twas made of gingerbread and sweets!
And made one want to eat and eat!
"Let us have a little to eat,"  said Gretel.
"For I'm sure no one will ever tell."
Upon the house they began to nibble--
But certainly not to seem uncivil,
When suddenly, there stood an old, old woman,
And in the kindliest voice she began:
"Little children, do not be afraid.
Come in and taste the pies I've made.
You look as if you both need rest.
Do come in, and be my guests!"
Happily, the children both agreed.
Such kindness answered sorest need.
But, had the children only guessed--
They would have been much distressed.
No comfort would be here, because--
A witch she was!
"Ah, young Hansel, you're too thin.
Hardly more than bones and skin."
Said the witch.  "I must fatten you up--
And then I shall sup!"
Gretel was awakened, as sleeping she laid,
And became the maid.
"Light the fire!  Fill the big pot!
Lazy girl!  Make it boiling hot!
Poor Gretel wept for Hasnsel's plight;
But, also knew that they must fight.
Each day, the witch said,  "Put out your finger, little boy."
But, sly Hansel, instead used a ploy.
Through the bars, he held a stick.
The witch was oblivious to the trick.
For, her sight was very poor;
And for this, there wasn't a cure.
One day, she said,  "What is the matter?
You never seem to grow any fatter!"
Finally, the witch could wait no longer.
She was not getting any stronger.
"Gretel,"  she said.  "Get the wood!
This is the end of sisterhood.
In the oven, you shall build a fire.
Hurry, and don't cause my ire."
Poor Gretel could only obey--
For what could she do?  What could she say?
Soon was the oven all ablaze,
After much stalling, and many delays.
Now, here a great twist of irony--
As aforementioned, the witch could barely see;
And she wanted to check the oven's heat,
So that soon she'd have something to eat.
So, into the oven she stuck her whole head,
Was shoved inside, and burned 'til dead.
Gretel, Gretel, were you not quick--
And spared Hansel the lunatic?
"Before we leave, let us have jewels,"
Gretel said.  "For the witch has been most cruel."
And very soon, this they did
As there were none to forbid.
And the children were then inclined
Their way back home to find.
Later, they discovered the first trail
Of pebbles Hansel had left.  Would luck prevail?
Yes!  Suddenly there stood the house of sun,
And the searching was done.
The woodcutter was much overjoyed!
Had they not returned, he'd have been destroyed.
Though the cruel stepmother had since departed,
His children were why Father'd been brokenhearted.
Freed from want, they'd now be rich.
Would not have been, but for a wicked witch.
So, they lived happily ever after,
In a house of laughter.

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