Scarcely had the sun peeped over the eastern horizon than the Dew Fairy came fluttering into the woodland. Her wings were tinged with the first blush of dawn and her garments were tipped with rosy light. She carried armfuls of bluebells, and as she flitted lightly about, sweet music rippled on the air. How she smiled when she saw Haensel and Gretel asleep under the tall fir tree! "Up, ye sleepers! Awake! Awake!" she sang. Then, sprinkling dew from the bluebells into their eyes, she vanished into the sunlit air. Gretel rubbed her eyes sleepily and raised herself from the moss. Was she still in the beautiful greenwood? Ah, yes, she must be there. For birds were merrily chirping overhead. There were glimpses of bright blue sky between the leaf-laden branches. "Wake up, lazy bones!" she called to Haensel. He jumped up with a start, stretched himself, yawned once or twice, looked about. Oh, the wonderful, wonderful forest! The sun had mounted higher in the sky. The woods were filled with a mellow radiance. The morning mists had cleared away. And, most astonishing of all, on the very hill so lately hidden by dark trees and fleecy clouds, they beheld a most entrancing sight. A house stood there. But such a house! It was as beautiful--as beautiful,--in short, I am afraid to tell you how undescribably beautiful it was. The walls were of sweetest sugar candy, glistening like diamonds in the sun; the roof was of chocolate cake, all soft and creamy; and the gables were ornamented with raisins, like little eyes. On one side there was a strange-looking cage; on the other, a huge, strange-looking oven; and both were joined to the house by a fence made of the daintiest gingerbread figures imaginable. "Oh," cried Haensel, "did you ever see anything so wonderful?" "No, I never did," answered Gretel. "A princess must live in that." They stared and stared, while their mouths watered and their fingers itched prodigiously. Haensel wished to go boldly inside, but the mere thought of doing anything so rash frightened Gretel. "Well, the angels led us here," reflected Haensel. "Ye-es, that's true, they did," conceded Gretel. "Come on. Let's just nibble a little bit," tempted Haensel. And so, hand in hand, they hopped along, like two little mice, toward the magic house. Then they stole cautiously forward on tiptoe, until, at length, they were within reaching distance. Haensel's hand went out. He broke off a bit. Quick as lightning came a squeaking voice from the inside: "Nibble, nibble, mousekin, Who's nibbling at my housekin?" Haensel started back in fear. "'Twas only the wind," said Gretel. "Let's taste it."