The next letter was written by Hansel himself—which made them very proud.
Ah! yes—but no one need be surprised at anything Hansel did, the mother declared, stroking the letter softly as it lay on her knee. If ever a boy was cut out for greatness it was Hansel!
The charcoal—burner only smiled at this, but he shared his wife's opinion.
The parents talked of little but their son and his prospects, and every night they went to rest with their hearts full of him.
But as the months passed into years, they began to long for a sight of him.
So the old priest wrote a letter for them to Herr Steiner, begging that Hansel might pay them a visit. And in time came a letter from Hansel announcing that he would be with them at Whitsuntide.
Then Gretel made great preparations,
