recognized them. He had often seen their pictures. They were Hansel
and Grettel.

Hansel was saying sorrowfully, "I am afraid they are all gone, Grettel,
and we shall never be able to find our home again."

It was then that Everychild stepped forward. "I know you," he said,
trying to seem really friendly. "_You are Hansel and Grettel. Your
parents lost you in the woods to be rid of you_--because there wasn't
enough to eat at home."

[Illustration: "You are Hansel and Grettel."]

Hansel and Grettel looked at each other with round eyes. "It is true,"
they replied in unison. "But to think it should have got about
already! Who are you?"

Everychild addressed himself to Hansel--who, by the way, was a fat boy
with wooden shoes and a tiny homespun jacket and trousers of the same
stuff, the trousers being very floppy about the ankles. "I am
Everychild," he said. "And if I were you I'd not try to go home to
such a father and mother. You know, they still had half a loaf left."

"At least," said Hansel, "I'd like to go home until that half a loaf is
gone!"

For a second Grettel looked at her brother as if she really could not
think of a suitably severe rebuke. "Our poor father and mother!" she
exclaimed. "No doubt they thought we should find food in the forest,
or that we should encounter travelers who'd have a bite to spare."