“But now we will go away,” said Hansel, “that we may get out of the witch's forest.” When they had walked for two hours, they came to a great piece of water. “We cannot get over,” said Hansel; “I see no foot-plank and no bridge.” “And no boat crosses, either,” answered Grethel, “but a white duck is swimming there; if I ask her, she will help us over.” Then she cried,-- “Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Grethel are waiting for thee? There's never a plank or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.” The duck came to them, and Hansel sat on its back, and told his sister to sit by him. “No,” replied Grethel, “that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.” The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, they knew where they were, and at last they saw from afar their father's house. Then they began to run, rushed in, and threw themselves into their father's arms. The man had not known one happy hour since he had left the children in the forest; the woman, however, was dead. Grethel emptied her pinafore until pearls and precious stones rolled about the floor, and Hansel threw one handful after another out of his pocket to add to them. Then all care was at an end, and they lived happily together ever after. My tale is done; there runs a mouse; whosoever catches it may make himself a big fur cap out of it. BURG HILL'S ON FIRE A CELTIC FAIRY TALE BY ELIZABETH W. GRIERSON (ADAPTED) Once upon a time there was a rich farmer who had a thrifty wife. She used to go out and gather all the little bits of wool which she could find on the hillsides, and bring them home. Then, after her family had gone to bed, she would sit up and card the wool and spin it into yarn, then she would weave the yarn into cloth to make garments for her children. But all this work made her feel very tired, so that one night, sitting at her loom, she laid down her shuttle and cried:-- “Oh, that some one would come from far or near, from land or sea, to help me!” No sooner had the words left her lips than she heard some one knocking at the door. “Who is there?” cried she. “Tell Quary, good housewife,” answered a wee, wee voice. “Open the door to me. As long as I have you'll get.” She opened the door and there on the threshold stood a queer, little woman, dressed in a green gown and wearing a white cap on her head. The good housewife was so astonished that she stood and stared at her strange visitor; but without a word the little woman ran past her, and seated herself at the spinning-wheel. The good housewife shut the door, but just then she heard another knock. “Who is there?” said she. “Tell Quary, good housewife. Open the door to me,” said another wee, wee voice. “As long as I have you'll get.”