Grettel flew straight to Hansel , opened the little stable-door , and cried : `` Hansel , we are free ; the old witch is dead . '' Then Hansel sprang like a bird out of a cage when the door is opened . How they rejoiced , and fell on each other 's necks , and jumped for joy , and kissed one another ! And as they had no longer any cause for fear , they went in the old hag 's house , and here they found , in every corner of the room , boxes with pearls and precious stones . `` These are even better than pebbles , '' said Hansel , and crammed his pockets full of them ; and Grettel said : `` I too will bring something home , '' and she filled her apron full . `` But now , '' said Hansel , `` let 's go and get well away from the witch 's wood . '' When they had wandered about for some hours they came to a big lake . `` We ca n't get over , '' said Hansel ; `` I see no bridge of any sort or kind . '' `` Yes , and there 's no ferry-boat either , '' answered Grettel ; `` but look , there swims a white duck ; if I ask her she 'll help us over , '' and she called out : `` Here are two children , mournful very , Seeing neither bridge nor ferry ; Take us upon your white back , And row us over , quack , quack ! '' The duck swam toward them , and Hansel got on her back and bade his little sister sit beside him . `` No , '' answered Grettel , `` we should be too heavy a load for the duck : she shall carry us across separately . '' The good bird did this , and when they were landed safely on the other side , and had gone for a while , the wood became more and more familiar to them , and at length they saw their father 's house in the distance . Then they set off to run , and bounding into the room fell on their father 's neck . The man had not passed a happy hour since he left them in the wood , but the woman had died . Grettel shook out her apron so that the pearls and precious stones rolled about the room , and Hansel threw down one handful after the other out of his pocket . Thus all their troubles were ended , and they lived happily ever afterward . My story is done . See ! there runs a little mouse ; anyone who catches it may make himself a large fur cap out of it . -LRB- 1 -RRB- -LRB- 1 -RRB- Grimm .
SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED A poor widow once lived XXXXX a little cottage with a garden in front of it , in which grew two rose trees , one bearing white roses and the other red .
across as beside from if in into since than with