Chapter One

Once upon a time there were a brother and a sister, named Hansel and Gretel. Hansel was a handsome youth, well-proportioned, with blue eyes, and Gretel had grown into a very pretty girl, with long brown hair and a graceful figure. They lived in the middle of the woods with their father. Their mother had died when they were only children; as a result, though both brother and sister were now full-grown, they were innocent of the outside world, and in particular knew very little of the arts of love. Their pleasures were simple: the birds and animals of the woods, the plants and trees, the changing seasons.

One day they set off to walk in the woods. They were so happy talking to each other, picking flowers and listening to the birds singing, that they lost their way. For hours they wandered, trying to find their way back. At last they came upon a quaint little cottage in a clearing.

“Perhaps the people who live here will give us something to eat,” said Hansel, who was hungry.

“I’m so tired,” said Gretel.

They knocked on the door. It was opened by an old woman. She had a crooked nose and hardly any teeth and was very ugly. But Gretel spoke to her kindly.

“Please, dear lady,” she said, “might we sit down and have a drink of water?”

The old woman gave a cackle. “Come in, my dears,” she said. “Do come in.”

She held the door wide. Hansel and Gretel entered and sat down.

“Are you lost, my dears?” the old woman croaked.

“I fear we are,” said Hansel.

“Well,” the old woman said, “let me get you something to eat and drink and then I will show you the way home.”

She went into her kitchen and came back with some cups of milk and pieces of bread. The two young people ate and drank greedily. Gretel thought the milk tasted funny, but she was so thirsty she drank it all down. Then she started to feel even sleepier than before.

“Why don’t you put your feet up for five minutes, dear?” suggested the old woman.

Gretel lay down on the floor in front of the fire and in a minute was fast asleep. Hansel did likewise. After what felt like a short sleep, Gretel woke up and rubbed her eyes. She was astonished to see that she was naked. The old woman was sitting in a chair staring at her. Gretel tried to get to her feet but found that her ankles were shackled together by an iron chain.

“What is this? What have you done to me?” she cried.

The old woman cackled. “You belong to me now, little girl.”

“Where’s Hansel?” Gretel demanded.

“I’ll show you,” said the old woman with a cruel smile.

She caught hold of Gretel and pulled her towards the door. The old woman looked frail, but she had an iron grip. She held Gretel so tight she hurt her. She took her outside; Gretel couldn’t walk properly with the shackles on her feet. Round the side of the house was a small wooden cage. Inside was Hansel. He was naked too.

“What have you put him in there for?” Gretel cried.

“We don’t want to take any chances, dear, do we?” the old woman said.

She took Gretel back inside. “Now get to work,” she said. “There’s a lot to be done round here.”

“I’ll not be your slave,” said Gretel defiantly.

“We’ll see about that,” said the old woman. She picked up a whip and began to lash Gretel across her naked back. The whip stung like mad. Gretel tried to get out of the way, but the shackles made it hard to move fast.

“There’s a pile of potatoes that want peeling, and then there are dishes to wash, and the floor to sweep, and clothes to darn. So get started,” the old woman screeched.