Mother

"I'll tell you what, husband," answered the woman, "early tomorrow morning we will take the children out into the forest to where it is the thickest.

Father

When they had reached the middle of the forest, the father said, "Now, children, pile up some wood, and I will light a fire that you may not be cold."

"We will set to work on that," said Hansel, "and have a good meal. I will eat a bit of the roof, and you Gretel, can eat some of the window, it will taste sweet."

Gretel

Early in the morning, Gretel had to go out and hang up the cauldron with the water, and light the fire.

Old Woman

"Oh, you dear children, who has brought you here? Do come in, and stay with me. No harm shall happen to you."

Bird

When it was mid-day, they saw a beautiful snow-white bird sitting on a bough, which sang so delightfully that they stood still and listened to it.