And at last they were so tired that their legs refused to carry them any longer , so they lay down under a tree and fell fast asleep . On the third morning after they had left their father 's house they set about their wandering again , but only got deeper and deeper into the wood , and now they felt that if help did not come to them soon they must perish . At midday they saw a beautiful little snow-white bird sitting on a branch , which sang so sweetly that they stopped still and listened to it . And when its song was finished it flapped its wings and flew on in front of them . They followed it and came to a little house , on the roof of which it perched ; and when they came quite near they saw that the cottage was made of bread and roofed with cakes , while the window was made of transparent sugar . `` Now we 'll set to , '' said Hansel , `` and have a regular blow-out . -LRB- 1 -RRB- I 'll eat a bit of the roof , and you , Grettel , can eat some of the window , which you 'll find a sweet morsel . '' Hansel stretched up his hand and broke off a little bit of the roof to see what it was like , and Grettel went to the casement and began to nibble at it . Thereupon a shrill voice called out from the room inside : `` Nibble , nibble , little mouse , Who 's nibbling my house ? '' The children answered : `` Tis Heaven 's own child , The tempest wild , '' and went on eating , without putting themselves about . Hansel , who thoroughly appreciated the roof , tore down a big bit of it , while Grettel pushed out a whole round window-pane , and sat down the better to enjoy it . Suddenly the door opened , and an ancient dame leaning on a staff hobbled out . Hansel and Grettel were so terrified that they let what they had in their hands fall . But the old woman shook her head and said : `` Oh , ho ! you dear children , who led you here ? Just come in and stay with me , no ill shall befall you . '' She took them both by the hand and let them into the house , and laid a most sumptuous dinner before them -- milk and sugared pancakes , with apples and nuts . After they had finished , two beautiful little white beds were prepared for them , and when Hansel and Grettel lay down in them they felt as if they had got into heaven . -LRB- 1 -RRB- He was a vulgar boy ! The old woman had appeared to be most friendly , but she was really an old witch who had waylaid the children , and had only built the little bread house in order to lure them in .
When anyone came XXXXX her power she killed , cooked , and ate him , and held a regular feast-day for the occasion .
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