A fost odat\u0103 ca niciodat\u0103 un t\u0103ietor de lemne tare nevoia\u015f \u015fi omul \u0103sta \u00ee\u015fi avea c\u0103scioara la marginea unui codru nesf\u00e2r\u015fit, unde-\u015fi ducea via\u0163a \u00eempreun\u0103 cu nevast\u0103-sa \u015fi cei doi copii ai s\u0103i. \u015ei pe b\u0103ie\u0163el \u00eel chema Hansel, iar pe feti\u0163\u0103 Gretel.<\/p>\n
De s\u0103rmani ce erau, nu prea aveau cu ce-\u015fi ast\u00e2mp\u0103ra foamea. \u015ei-ntr-o bun\u0103 zi, \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u00e2ndu-se s\u0103 se abat\u0103 asupra \u0163\u0103rii o mare scumpete, nu mai fur\u0103-n stare s\u0103-\u015fi agoniseasc\u0103 nici m\u0103car p\u00e2inea cea zilnic\u0103.<\/p>\n
Seara \u00een pat, pe bietul om \u00eencepeau s\u0103-l munceasc\u0103 g\u00e2ndurile \u015fi, zv\u00e2rcolindu-se nelini\u015ftit \u00een a\u015fternut, se pomenea c\u0103 ofteaz\u0103 cu grea obid\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u015ei-ntr-una din aceste seri \u00eei zise el neveste-sii:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ce-o s\u0103 ne facem, femeie? Cu ce-o s\u0103-i hr\u0103nim pe bie\u0163ii no\u015ftri copii, c\u00e2nd nici pentru noi nu mai avem nici de unele?<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u015etii ceva, b\u0103rbate, r\u0103spunse femeia, m\u00e2ine-n zori lu\u0103m copiii cu noi \u015fi-i ducem unde-i p\u0103durea mai deas\u0103. Le facem un foc bun, le d\u0103m \u015fi c\u00e2te-o \u00eembuc\u0103tur\u0103 de p\u00e2ine \u015fi pe urm\u0103 ne vedem de treburile noastre. Iar pe ei \u00eei l\u0103s\u0103m acolo. De nimerit, n-or s\u0103 mai nimereasc\u0103 drumul spre cas\u0103, de asta sunt sigur\u0103, \u015fi-n felul \u0103sta ne descotorosim de ei!<\/p>\n
\u2013 Nu, femeie, asta n-o s-o fac nici \u00een ruptul capului, spuse b\u0103rbatul. Nu m\u0103 rabd\u0103 inima s\u0103-mi las copiii singuri \u00een p\u0103dure. C\u0103 doar mult\u0103 vreme n-ar trece \u015fi-ar veni fiarele s\u0103-i sf\u00e2\u015fie\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2013 Vai de tine, neghiobule, \u00eel lu\u0103 femeia la rost, de-i a\u015fa, o s\u0103 murim de foame to\u0163i patru\u2026 Po\u0163i s\u0103 ciople\u015fti de pe-acum sc\u00e2nduri pentru sicrie\u2026<\/p>\n
\u015ei femeia nu-i d\u0103du pace p\u00e2n\u0103 c\u00e2nd omul nostru nu se-nvoi.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Totu\u015fi, mi-e tare mil\u0103 de bie\u0163ii copii! ad\u0103ug\u0103 el cu obid\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00cen acest timp, cei doi copii st\u0103teau treji \u00een a\u015fternut, c\u0103 din pricina foamei nu putuser\u0103 s\u0103 \u00eenchid\u0103 un ochi. \u015ei a\u015fa se f\u0103cu de auzir\u0103 tot ce spuse zgrip\u0163uroaica de femeie c\u0103tre tat\u0103l lor.<\/p>\n
La un moment dat, Gretel \u00eencepu s\u0103 pl\u00e2ng\u0103 cu lacrimi amare \u015fi-i spuse lui Hansel printre sughi\u0163uri:<\/p>\n
\u2013 De-acu s-a sf\u00e2r\u015fit cu noi!<\/p>\n
\u2013 Lini\u015fte\u015fte-te, Gretel, \u015fi nu mai fi m\u00e2hnit\u0103, o s\u0103 g\u0103sesc eu o sc\u0103pare! \u00eei zise cu bl\u00e2nde\u0163e fr\u0103\u0163iorul.<\/p>\n
Dup\u0103 ce b\u0103tr\u00e2nii adormir\u0103, Hansel se scul\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi puse h\u0103inu\u0163a pe el \u015fi, deschiz\u00e2nd u\u015fa, se strecur\u0103 afar\u0103. Luna lumina c\u0103 ziua \u015fi pietricelele albe, din fa\u0163a c\u0103scioarei, str\u0103luceau c\u0103 b\u0103nu\u0163ii cei noi. Hansel se aplec\u0103 de mai multe ori p\u00e2n\u0103 ce-\u015fi umplu bine buzunarul cu pietricele. Apoi se-ntoarse \u00een cas\u0103 \u015fi-i \u015fopti lui Gretel:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Fii lini\u015ftit\u0103, draga mea surioar\u0103, \u015fi dormi \u00een pace! Apoi se culc\u0103 din nou \u00een patul lui \u015fi adormi.<\/p>\n
Zgrip\u0163uroaica de femeie nici nu a\u015ftept\u0103 s\u0103 r\u0103sar\u0103 soarele c\u0103 se \u015fi \u00eenfiin\u0163\u0103 la patul copiilor, s\u0103-i trezeasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ia scula\u0163i-v\u0103, lene\u015filor, c\u0103 mergem la p\u0103dure s\u0103 aducem lemne!<\/p>\n
Apoi d\u0103du fiec\u0103ruia c\u00e2te un codru de p\u00e2ine \u015fi m\u00e2r\u00e2i printre din\u0163i:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Asta ave\u0163i de m\u00e2ncare pentru la pr\u00e2nz! De v\u0103 \u00eembolde\u015fte foamea, nu cumva s\u0103 m\u00e2nca\u0163i \u00eenainte, c\u0103 altceva nu mai c\u0103p\u0103ta\u0163i!<\/p>\n
Gretel lua toat\u0103 p\u00e2inea \u015fi-o ascunse sub \u015fort, din pricin\u0103 c\u0103 buzunarele lui Hansel erau pline cu pietricele. Apoi pornir\u0103 cu to\u0163ii spre p\u0103dure. Dup\u0103 pu\u0163in timp, Hansel se opri \u015fi \u00ee\u015fi arunc\u0103 privirea \u00eenapoi, spre c\u0103scioara ce r\u0103m\u0103sese \u00een urm\u0103. Asta o f\u0103cu o dat\u0103, apoi iar\u0103\u015fi, \u015fi iar\u0103\u015fi\u2026 \u015ei dac\u0103-l v\u0103zu taic\u0103-s\u0103u, numai ce-i zice:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Da\u2019 ce ai, Hansel, c\u0103 te opre\u015fti mereu \u015fi te tot ui\u0163i \u00eenapoi? Vezi mai bine cum mergi, s\u0103 nu-\u0163i schilode\u015fti cumva picioarele!<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u015etii, t\u0103icu\u0163ule, m\u0103 uitam dup\u0103 pisicu\u0163a mea alb\u0103\u2026 St\u0103, a naibii, coco\u0163at\u0103 pe acoperi\u015f, \u015fi-mi face semne de r\u0103mas bun.<\/p>\n
Dar vezi c\u0103 femeia i-o t\u0103ie pe dat\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Prost\u0103nacule, nu-i nici o pisicu\u0163\u0103! E soarele de diminea\u0163\u0103, care str\u0103luce\u015fte pe horn.<\/p>\n
Acu e timpul s\u0103 v\u0103 spun c\u0103 Hansel nu se uitase dup\u0103 nici o pisicu\u0163\u0103 \u015fi c\u0103 de fiecare dat\u0103 c\u00e2nd se oprea, scotea din buzunar c\u00e2te o pietricic\u0103 \u015fi-o l\u0103sa s\u0103 cad\u0103 pe c\u0103rare.<\/p>\n
Dup\u0103 o bucat\u0103 de vreme, ajunser\u0103 la locurile unde p\u0103durea se \u00eendesea \u015fi cam pe la mijlocul ei omul nostru se opri \u015fi zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Acu, copii, merge\u0163i dup\u0103 vreascuri, c-o s\u0103 v\u0103 fac\u0103 tata un foc\u015for pe cinste, s\u0103 nu v\u0103 fie frig deloc!<\/p>\n
Hansel \u015fi Gretel aduser\u0103 vreascuri c\u00e2t aduser\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce se f\u0103cu o movili\u0163\u0103 bun\u0103. Lemnele luar\u0103 foc pe dat\u0103 \u015fi, c\u00e2nd v\u00e2lv\u0103taia \u00eencepu s\u0103 creasc\u0103, femeia gr\u0103i:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Sta\u0163i l\u00e2ng\u0103 foc, copii, \u015fi odini\u0163i-v\u0103, c\u0103 noi ne ducem mai \u00eencolo, \u00een p\u0103dure, s\u0103 t\u0103iem lemne. \u015ei c\u00e2nd om termina cu t\u0103iatul, ne \u00eentoarcem aici \u015fi v\u0103 lu\u0103m acas\u0103.<\/p>\n
Hansel \u015fi Gretel se a\u015fezar\u0103 l\u00e2ng\u0103 foc \u015fi c\u00e2nd se f\u0103cu ora pr\u00e2nzului, fiecare \u00ee\u015fi m\u00e2nc\u0103 buc\u0103tura de p\u00e2ine. \u015ei cum auzeau tot mereu r\u0103sun\u00e2nd lovituri de topor, erau \u00eencredin\u0163a\u0163i c\u0103 tat\u0103l lor trebuie s\u0103 fie ceva mai \u00eencolo, nu prea departe. Dar vezi c\u0103 loviturile nu erau de topor!<\/p>\n
Omul nostru legase o creang\u0103 de-un copac cioturos, \u015fi de c\u00e2te ori b\u0103tea v\u00e2ntul, o izbea \u00eencolo \u015fi-ncoace de usc\u0103tura aceea. Dup\u0103 ce a\u015fteptar\u0103 s\u0103 vin\u0103 s\u0103-i ia, vreme lung\u0103, nu glum\u0103, c\u0103zur\u0103 toropi\u0163i de oboseal\u0103 \u015fi adormir\u0103 bu\u015ftean.<\/p>\n
C\u00e2nd s-au trezit, era noapte \u00eentunecoas\u0103, de nu vedeai la doi pa\u015fi. Gretel \u00eencepu s\u0103 pl\u00e2ng\u0103 \u015fi printre suspine \u00ee\u015fi \u00eentreb\u0103 fr\u0103\u0163iorul:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Cum o s\u0103 ie\u015fim din p\u0103dure?<\/p>\n
\u015ei Hansel se gr\u0103bi s-o lini\u015fteasc\u0103, spun\u00e2ndu-i:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Mai ai r\u0103bdare oleac\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce r\u0103sare luna \u015fi atunci o s\u0103 g\u0103sim noi drumul, n-avea grij\u0103!<\/p>\n
R\u0103s\u0103ri luna plin\u0103, de ziceai c\u0103 poleie\u015fte cu aur p\u0103durea, \u015fi de-ndat\u0103 ce se ar\u0103t\u0103 pe cer, Hansel \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 surioara de m\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi \u00eencepu a p\u0103\u015fi pe urma pietricelelor, care sc\u00e2nteiau ca b\u0103nu\u0163ii cei de cur\u00e2nd b\u0103tu\u0163i \u015fi le ar\u0103tau drumul. Merser\u0103 ei a\u015fa toat\u0103 noaptea \u015fi c\u00e2nd \u00eencepur\u0103 a miji zorile, ajunser\u0103 la casa p\u0103rinteasc\u0103. Au b\u0103tut ei la u\u015f\u0103, “cioc-cioc!”, \u015fi c\u00e2nd femeia o deschise \u015fi d\u0103du cu ochii de Hansel \u015fi Gretel, pe dat\u0103 se ar\u0103t\u0103 a fi fost foarte \u00eengrijorat\u0103 de soarta lor, zic\u00e2ndu-le cu pref\u0103c\u0103torie:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Copii r\u0103i ce sunte\u0163i, de ce a\u0163i dormit \u00een p\u0103dure at\u00e2ta vreme? Ne-a\u0163i f\u0103cut s\u0103 credem c\u0103 nu mai vre\u0163i s\u0103 v\u0103 mai \u00eentoarce\u0163i la casa voastr\u0103\u2026 Dar vezi c\u0103 tat\u0103l copiilor se bucura cu adev\u0103rat, c\u0103-n inima lui era m\u00e2hnit c\u0103-i l\u0103sase at\u00e2t de singuri.<\/p>\n
Nu trecu mult\u0103 vreme \u015fi nevoile \u00eencepur\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi s\u0103-i \u00eencol\u0163easc\u0103. \u015ei numai ce-o auzir\u0103 copiii \u00eentr-o noapte pe femeie zic\u00e2ndu-i lui b\u0103rbatu-su, care se perpelea \u00een a\u015fternut:<\/p>\n
\u2013 De-acu am terminat iar\u0103\u015fi merindele, c\u0103 nu mai avem \u00een cas\u0103 dec\u00e2t o jum\u0103tate de p\u00e2ine! \u015ei dup\u0103 ce-om m\u00e2nca-o \u015fi pe asta, ne-om s\u0103tura cu r\u0103bd\u0103ri pr\u0103jite\u2026 Trebuie s\u0103 ne descotorosim de copii, auzi tu! O s\u0103-i ducem \u00een afundul p\u0103durii, ca s\u0103 nu mai poat\u0103 nimeri drumul de-or voi s\u0103 se re\u00eentoarc\u0103 acas\u0103. Alt\u0103 sc\u0103pare nu vad, de ni-e drag s\u0103 ne mai putem \u0163ine zilele.<\/p>\n
Vezi \u00eens\u0103 c\u0103 omului i se \u00eencr\u00e2ncena inima la auzul \u0103stor cuvinte \u015fi g\u00e2ndea \u00een sinea sa: “Ba, mai bine s-ar cuveni s\u0103 \u00eempar\u0163i cu copiii t\u0103i ultima buc\u0103\u0163ic\u0103!”. Mai zicea el ce mai zicea, dar femeia nu lu\u0103 deloc \u00een seam\u0103 spusele lui, ci-l tot oc\u0103r\u00ee \u015fi-l mustr\u0103. Acu, e \u015ftiut, cine a apucat de-a spus “A” trebuie s\u0103-l rosteasc\u0103 \u015fi pe “B” \u015fi\u2026 dac\u0103 \u015fi-a c\u0103lcat pe inim\u0103 prima oar\u0103, musai trebuie \u015fi a doua oar\u0103 s\u0103 fac\u0103 la fel.<\/p>\n
Copiii erau \u00eens\u0103 treji \u015fi auzir\u0103 toat\u0103 vorba lor. Dup\u0103 ce b\u0103tr\u00e2nii adormir\u0103, Hansel se scul\u0103 din pat \u015fi vru s\u0103 ias\u0103 afar\u0103, s\u0103 adune pietricele, cum f\u0103cuse \u015fi de prima dat\u0103, dar vezi c\u0103 femeia avusese grij\u0103 s\u0103 \u00eencuie u\u015fa, a\u015fa c\u0103 b\u0103iatului nu-i fu chip s\u0103 poat\u0103 ie\u015fi din cas\u0103. \u015ei de\u015fi \u00eei era inima grea, \u00ee\u015fi m\u00e2ng\u00e2ie surioara, spun\u00e2ndu-i:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Nu pl\u00e2nge, Gretel, ci dormi lini\u015ftit\u0103. Om g\u0103si noi cum s\u0103 sc\u0103p\u0103m cu bine\u2026<\/p>\n
Nici n-apucaser\u0103 bine s\u0103 r\u0103sar\u0103 zorile, c\u0103 \u015fi veni femeia \u015fi-i trase pe copii din a\u015fternut. Apoi le \u00eentinse c\u00e2te o buc\u0103\u0163ic\u0103 de p\u00e2ine, care era mult mai micu\u015foar\u0103 dec\u00e2t de cealalt\u0103 dat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00cen timp ce mergeau ei pe poteca ce ducea spre p\u0103dure, Hansel \u00eencepu a face f\u0103r\u00e2mituri \u00een buzunar \u015fi din loc \u00een loc se oprea s\u0103 le presare pe jos.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ia ascult\u0103, Hansel, \u00eei strig\u0103 la un moment dat taic\u0103-s\u0103u, ce te tot opre\u015fti mereu \u015fi prive\u015fti \u00een jur? Vezi-\u0163i mai bine de drumul t\u0103u \u015fi mergi cum trebuie!<\/p>\n
\u2013 P\u0103i, m\u0103 uit dup\u0103 porumbi\u0163a mea, care st\u0103 pe-acoperi\u015f \u015fi vrea s\u0103-mi spun\u0103 la revedere! gr\u0103i Hansel repede, ca nu cumva s\u0103 se dea \u00een vileag.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Prost\u0103nacule, \u00eel lu\u0103 \u00een r\u0103sp\u0103r femeia, ceea ce vezi tu nu-i nici o porumbi\u0163\u0103! E soarele de diminea\u0163\u0103 care str\u0103luce\u015fte sus, deasupra hornului.<\/p>\n
Dar vezi c\u0103 Hansel nu d\u0103du \u00eend\u0103r\u0103t de la ce-\u015fi pusese \u00een g\u00e2nd \u015fi, \u00eenceti\u015for-\u00eenceti\u015for, \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftie pe drum toate f\u0103r\u00e2miturile.<\/p>\n
Femeia \u00eei duse pe copii departe, departe, tot mai \u00een afundul p\u0103durii, unde nu mai fuseser\u0103 \u00een via\u0163a lor. \u015ei-ntr-un lumini\u015f, f\u0103cur\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi un foc mare \u015fi mama le zise c\u00e2t putu ea de bl\u00e2nd:<\/p>\n
\u2013 R\u0103m\u00e2ne\u0163i aici, copila\u015fi, \u015fi de v-a birui oboseala, n-ave\u0163i dec\u00e2t s\u0103 pune\u0163i capul jos \u015fi s\u0103 dormi\u0163i oleac\u0103\u2026 Noi ne ducem \u00een p\u0103dure, mai \u00eencolo, s\u0103 t\u0103iem lemne \u015fi seara, c\u00e2nd om sf\u00e2r\u015fi lucrul, ne \u00eentoarcem s\u0103 v\u0103 lu\u0103m.<\/p>\n
Trecu ce trecu timpul \u015fi c\u00e2nd veni ora pr\u00e2nzului, Gretel lua buc\u0103\u0163ica de p\u00e2ine \u015fi-o \u00eemp\u0103r\u0163i cu Hansel, c\u0103 pe-a lui b\u0103iatul o pres\u0103rase pe drum. Zburar\u0103 ceasurile, se l\u0103s\u0103 \u015fi amurgul, dar vezi c\u0103 nimeni nu se ar\u0103ta s\u0103-i ia pe bie\u0163ii copii. \u015ei cum adormir\u0103 greu, se trezir\u0103 de-abia \u00een toiul nop\u0163ii. Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu ce se \u00eent\u00e2mplase, Hansel o m\u00e2ng\u00e2ie pe surioara lui \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 S\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2nem aici p\u00e2n\u0103 ce-o r\u0103s\u0103ri luna, c\u0103 atunci ne-o fi u\u015for s\u0103 g\u0103sim f\u0103r\u00e2miturile pe care le-am \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftiat pe jos, c\u00e2t am mers. Ele or s\u0103 ne arate f\u0103r\u0103 gre\u015f drumul spre cas\u0103, asta-i sigur!<\/p>\n
De \u00eendat\u0103 ce se \u00een\u0103l\u0163\u0103 luna deasupra p\u0103durii, copiii se scular\u0103 din culcu\u015ful de vreascuri, dar vezi c\u0103 nu mai g\u0103sir\u0103 nici o f\u0103r\u00e2mitur\u0103\u2026 Mul\u0163imea de p\u0103s\u0103rele care tot zboar\u0103 peste c\u00e2mpuri \u015fi prin p\u0103duri de mult le ciuguliser\u0103 pe toate. Dar Hansel avea o inim\u0103 viteaz\u0103 \u015fi-i spuse lui Gretel:<\/p>\n
\u2013 N-ai team\u0103, surioar\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 la urma tot o s\u0103 g\u0103sim drumul!<\/p>\n
Dar vezi c\u0103 nu fu chip s\u0103-l g\u0103seasc\u0103\u2026 Merser\u0103 toat\u0103 noaptea \u015fi mai merser\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103 o zi, din zori \u015fi p\u00e2n\u0103-n sear\u0103, dar de izbutit tot nu izbutir\u0103 s\u0103 ias\u0103 din p\u0103dure. \u015ei erau pr\u0103p\u0103di\u0163i de foame ca vai de ei, c\u0103 afar\u0103 de c\u00e2teva boabe de fructe s\u0103lbatice, culese de pe jos, nimic nu mai luaser\u0103-n gur\u0103. De trudi\u0163i ce erau, s\u0103rmanii copii abia \u00ee\u015fi mai tr\u0103geau picioarele, \u015fi a\u015fa se f\u0103cu c\u0103 nu mai putur\u0103 merge \u015fi, ghemuindu-se sub un copac, adormir\u0103 bu\u015ftean.<\/p>\n
\u015ei se ivi a treia diminea\u0163\u0103 de c\u00e2nd copiii p\u0103r\u0103siser\u0103 casa p\u0103rinteasc\u0103. O luar\u0103 ei la picior, de cum r\u0103s\u0103ri soarele, dar cu c\u00e2t mergeau, cu at\u00e2t se afundau mai ad\u00e2nc \u00een p\u0103dure. De nu le venea c\u00e2t mai degrab\u0103 un ajutor, se aflau \u00een primejdie de moarte.<\/p>\n
C\u00e2nd se f\u0103cu ora pr\u00e2nzului, numai ce v\u0103zur\u0103 pe-o crac\u0103 o p\u0103s\u0103ric\u0103 alb\u0103 \u015fi frumoas\u0103, care c\u00e2nta at\u00e2t de duios, c\u0103 se oprir\u0103 vr\u0103ji\u0163i s-o asculte. Dup\u0103 ce-\u015fi sf\u00e2r\u015fi cantul, p\u0103s\u0103rica \u00ee\u015fi \u00eentinse aripile \u015fi zbur\u0103, “zv\u00e2\u00e2\u00e2\u00e2rrrr!” pe dinaintea copiilor. Dac\u0103 v\u0103zur\u0103 ei asta, \u00eencepur\u0103 a se lua dup\u0103 ea p\u00e2n\u0103 c\u00e2nd se f\u0103cu de ajunser\u0103 la o c\u0103su\u0163\u0103. C\u00e2t ai clipi, p\u0103s\u0103rica se l\u0103s\u0103 pe acoperi\u015f \u015fi c\u00e2nd venir\u0103 mai aproape de c\u0103su\u0163\u0103, copiii r\u0103maser\u0103 cu gurile c\u0103scate. P\u0103s\u0103mite, toat\u0103 c\u0103scioara era f\u0103cut\u0103 din p\u00e2ine \u015fi acoperit\u0103 cu cozonac, iar geamurile erau din zah\u0103r curat.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Hai s\u0103-ncepem s\u0103 \u00eembuc\u0103m! zise Hansel. \u015ei s\u0103 ne fie de bine! Eu o s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nc o bucat\u0103 din acoperi\u015f, iar tu, Gretel, ia de gust\u0103 din fereastra asta, c\u0103 e tare dulce!<\/p>\n
Hansel n-a\u015ftept\u0103 s\u0103 fie rugat \u015fi, \u00een\u0103l\u0163\u00e2ndu-se pe v\u00e2rfurile picioarelor, rupse o buc\u0103\u0163ic\u0103 din acoperi\u015f, s\u0103-\u015fi dea seama ce gust are. \u00cen acest timp, Gretel ron\u0163\u0103ia de zor o sp\u0103rtur\u0103 de geam. \u015ei numai ce se auzi deodat\u0103 o voce sub\u0163iric\u0103, ce venea din\u0103untrul c\u0103su\u0163ei:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Cron\u0163, cron\u0163, cron\u0163, da ce tot ron\u0163\u0103ie a mea c\u0103scioar\u0103?! Cine, cine e afar\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u015ei copiii r\u0103spunser\u0103 pe dat\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u2013 V\u00e2ntul, v\u00e2ntul! Azi \u00eenconjur\u0103 p\u0103m\u00e2ntul!<\/p>\n
\u015ei, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 se sinchiseasc\u0103 defel, continuar\u0103 s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce \u015fi mai cu poft\u0103. Cum \u00eei pl\u0103cuse grozav acoperi\u015ful, Hansel mai rupse din el o bucat\u0103 bun\u0103, iar Gretel nu se l\u0103s\u0103 nici ea mai prejos \u015fi, desprinz\u00e2nd un ochete de geam, se a\u015fez\u0103 jos \u015fi \u00eencepu a-l ron\u0163\u0103i cu poft\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u015ei c\u00e2nd nici nu se a\u015fteptau, odat\u0103 se deschise u\u015fa \u015fi-o femeie b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103 de tot, ce se sprijinea \u00eentr-o c\u00e2rj\u0103, ie\u015fi din cas\u0103, t\u00e2r\u015findu-\u015fi picioarele.<\/p>\n
La vederea ei, Hansel \u015fi Gretel se speriar\u0103 at\u00e2t de tare, c\u0103 sc\u0103par\u0103 tot ce aveau \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103. Dar vezi c\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2na nu-i lua la rost, ci \u00eencepu a-i \u00eentreba, cl\u0103tin\u00e2nd u\u015furel din cap:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ei, copiii mei dragi, da cine v-a adus aci? Pofti\u0163i de intra\u0163i \u00een\u0103untru \u015fi r\u0103m\u00e2ne\u0163i la mine, c\u0103 nu v\u0103 fac nici un r\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u015ei lu\u00e2ndu-i pe am\u00e2ndoi de m\u00e2n\u0103, \u00eei duse \u00een c\u0103su\u0163\u0103. Iar acolo \u00eei a\u015ftepta o m\u00e2ncare, s\u0103-\u0163i lingi degetele, nu alta: lapte \u015fi cl\u0103tite cu zah\u0103r, mere \u015fi-o mul\u0163ime de nuci! Dup\u0103 ce se osp\u0103tar\u0103 ei bine, b\u0103tr\u00e2na le preg\u0103ti dou\u0103 paturi cu a\u015fternutul cum \u00eei z\u0103pada \u015fi Hansel \u015fi Gretel se culcar\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 nici o grij\u0103 \u015fi se sim\u0163ir\u0103 \u00een al nou\u0103lea cer.<\/p>\n
B\u0103tr\u00e2na se ar\u0103tase prietenoas\u0103 ca s\u0103 le c\u00e2\u015ftige \u00eencrederea, dar vezi c\u0103 era o vr\u0103jitoare hain\u0103, care p\u00e2ndea copiii ca s\u0103-i atrag\u0103 cu \u015fosele \u015fi momele. \u015ei numai de aceea f\u0103cuse \u015fi c\u0103su\u0163a de p\u00e2ine, s\u0103-i ademeneasc\u0103 mai u\u015for.<\/p>\n
De-i c\u0103dea vreunul \u00een gheare, \u00eendat\u0103 \u00eei f\u0103cea de petrecanie \u015fi, dup\u0103 ce-l fierbea, \u00eel \u00eenghi\u0163ea cu l\u0103comie. Ziua c\u00e2nd se bucura de un astfel de osp\u0103\u0163 o socotea ca pe-o zi de s\u0103rb\u0103toare \u015fi cum de n-ar fi fost a\u015fa pentru ea!<\/p>\n
Vr\u0103jitoarele au ochii ro\u015fii \u015fi vederea scurt\u0103, dar vezi c\u0103 adulmec\u0103 de departe, ca jivinele, c\u00e2nd se apropie picior de om. \u015ei la fel de bine adulmeca \u015fi cotoroan\u0163a asta. De cum i-a sim\u0163it pe Hansel \u015fi Gretel c\u0103 se apropie de acele locuri, a \u015fi \u00eenceput a hohoti cu r\u0103utate \u015fi-n vorbele ei era numai batjocur\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Pe \u0103\u015ftia \u00eei \u015fi am \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103, nu-i las eu s\u0103-mi scape\u2026<\/p>\n
De cum se ivir\u0103 zorile, vr\u0103jitoarea fu \u00een picioare, ca nu cumva s\u0103 se trezeasc\u0103 mai \u00eenainte copiii. \u015ei c\u00e2nd \u00eei v\u0103zu ea pe am\u00e2ndoi c\u00e2t de dr\u0103g\u0103la\u015f dorm \u00eempreun\u0103 \u015fi c\u00e2t de rumen \u015fi rotofei le e obrazul, nu mai putu de bucurie \u015fi \u00eencepu a morm\u0103i mai mult pentru sine: “Stra\u015fnic\u0103 buc\u0103tur\u0103 o s\u0103 am, n-am ce zice!”.<\/p>\n
Apoi apuc\u00e2ndu-l pe Hansel cu m\u00e2na ei sfrijit\u0103, \u00eel \u00eempinse p\u00e2n\u0103 la un gr\u0103jdule\u0163 cu gratii de fier \u015fi-l \u00eenchise acolo. \u015ei era z\u0103vor\u00e2t a\u015fa de stra\u015fnic, c\u0103 oric\u00e2t ar fi strigat \u015fi s-ar fi zb\u0103tut, nu i-ar fi folosit la nimic.<\/p>\n
Dup\u0103 ce-l puse la popreala pe Hansel, babu\u015fca intr\u0103 \u00een camera unde dormea Gretel \u015fi, zg\u00e2l\u0163\u00e2ind-o ca s-o trezeasc\u0103, \u00eencepu a o oc\u0103r\u00ee \u015fi a-i striga:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Scoal\u0103, lene\u015fo, \u015fi du-te de adu ap\u0103, s\u0103-i faci o fiertur\u0103 bun\u0103 lui frate-t\u0103u, c\u0103 l-am \u00eenchis \u00een grajd \u015fi trebuie s\u0103-l \u00eengr\u0103\u015f\u0103m! Acu e numai piele \u015fi os, dar c\u00e2nd s-o mai \u00eemplini \u2013 o s\u0103-l m\u0103n\u00e2nc!<\/p>\n
Gretel, \u00eencepu a pl\u00e2nge cu lacrimi amare, dar vezi c\u0103 lacrimile ei nu-i muiar\u0103 inima cotoroan\u0163ei \u015fi, p\u00e2n\u0103 la urm\u0103, trebui s\u0103 se supun\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 fac\u0103 tot ce-i poruncea vr\u0103jitoarea cea hain\u0103. \u015ei-n timp ce lui Hansel i se aducea cea mai bun\u0103 m\u00e2ncare, ca s\u0103 se \u00eengra\u015fe, Gretel abia de c\u0103p\u0103t\u0103 de la babu\u015fc\u0103 ni\u015fte coji de raci.<\/p>\n
\u00cen fiecare diminea\u0163\u0103, babu\u015fca se strecura \u015font\u00e2c\u0103ind p\u00e2n\u0103 la grajd \u015fi \u00eenc\u0103 din prag se apuca s\u0103 strige:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Hansel, ia scoate un deget afar\u0103, s\u0103 vad de te-ai \u00eengr\u0103\u015fat de ajuns!<\/p>\n
Dar vezi c\u0103 ghiujul de Hansel \u00eei trecea printre gratii un oscior, \u015fi cum babu\u015fca avea ochii tulburi \u015fi vedea c\u0103 prin sit\u0103, era \u00eencredin\u0163at\u0103 c\u0103-i \u00eentinde un deget. \u015ei de fiecare dat\u0103 se tot minuna cotoroan\u0163a cum de nu se mai \u00eengra\u015f\u0103.<\/p>\n
Trecur\u0103 a\u015fa zilele \u015fi v\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u0103 dup\u0103 a patra s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2n\u0103, Hansel r\u0103m\u0103sese la fel de og\u00e2rjit ca \u015fi \u00eenainte, \u00ee\u015fi pierdu r\u0103bdarea \u015fi nu mai vru s\u0103 a\u015ftepte.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Hei, Gretel, o strig\u0103 ea pe feti\u0163\u0103, gr\u0103be\u015fte-te de adu ap\u0103, c\u0103 de-i curge untura de gras ce e, ori de-i slab ca un ogar, eu pe Hansel \u00eel tai \u015fi-l pun la fiert!<\/p>\n
Vai, cum se mai boci biata surioar\u0103, c\u00e2nd trebui s\u0103 care apa pentru a doua zi, \u015fi cum \u00eei \u015firoiau lacrimile amare pe obraz!<\/p>\n
\u2013 Doamne, ajut\u0103-ne! strig\u0103 ea dup\u0103 un r\u0103stimp. De s-ar fi \u00eent\u00e2mplat s\u0103 ne \u00eenghit\u0103 fiarele s\u0103lbatice ale codrului, am fi murit m\u0103car \u00eempreun\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ia mai sf\u00e2r\u015fe\u015fte odat\u0103 cu bocitul, se r\u0103sti cotoroan\u0163a la fat\u0103, c\u0103 doar nu-\u0163i ajut\u0103 la nimic toat\u0103 v\u0103ic\u0103reala!<\/p>\n
Nici nu se luminase \u00eenc\u0103 bine de ziu\u0103, c\u00e2nd \u00eencepu Gretel roboteala. C\u0103 doar trebuia s\u0103 care ap\u0103, s\u0103 at\u00e2rne cazanul pentru fiertur\u0103 \u00een c\u00e2rligul de fiert \u015fi s\u0103 aprind\u0103 focul.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Mai \u00eent\u00e2i, a\u015f vrea s\u0103 punem la copt, auzi tu? se r\u0103sti baba la Gretel. C\u0103 am aprins cuptorul \u015fi aluatul l-am fr\u0103m\u00e2ntat de mult.<\/p>\n
Nu-\u015fi sf\u00e2r\u015fi bine vorba, c\u0103 vr\u0103jitoarea o \u015fi \u00eembr\u00e2nci pe biata Gretel afar\u0103, unde era cuptorul din care ie\u015feau limbi de fl\u0103c\u0103ri.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Hai, bag\u0103-te \u00een\u0103untru, \u00eei porunci vr\u0103jitoarea \u015fi vezi dac\u0103-i destul de \u00eencins, ca s\u0103 punem \u00een\u0103untru p\u00e2inea!<\/p>\n
Vezi c\u0103 afurisita de cotoroan\u0163\u0103 nu degeaba o \u00eendemn\u0103 pe fat\u0103 s\u0103 se v\u00e2re \u00een cuptor! C\u0103 de-ndat\u0103 ce-ar fi fost \u00een\u0103untru, vr\u0103jitoarea pac! ar fi \u00eenchis cuptorul. \u015ei-ar fi \u0163inut-o acolo p\u00e2n\u0103 ce se rumenea bine. \u015ei-apoi ar fi m\u00e2ncat-o\u2026 Numai c\u0103 Gretel b\u0103g\u0103 de seam\u0103 ce g\u00e2nduri clocea \u00een cap vr\u0103jitoarea \u015fi se pref\u0103cu c\u0103-i n\u0103t\u00e2ng\u0103 \u015fi ne\u00eendem\u00e2natic\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u2013 A\u015f intra, dar nu \u015ftiu cum s\u0103 fac\u2026 Pe unde s\u0103 intru? \u015ei cum anume?<\/p>\n
\u2013 E\u015fti proast\u0103 ca o g\u00e2sc\u0103! o oc\u0103r\u00ee baba. P\u0103i\u2026 nu-\u0163i d\u0103 prin cap pe unde, c\u0103-i deschiz\u0103tura destul de mare? Ia te uit\u0103, \u015fi eu as putea s\u0103 \u00eencap \u00een ea! \u015ei, \u015font\u00e2c\u0103ind, se apropie de cuptor \u015fi-\u015fi v\u00e2ri capul \u00een el.<\/p>\n
Gretel doar asta a\u015ftepta \u015fi-i d\u0103du un br\u00e2nci zgrip\u0163uroaicei de se duse p\u00e2n\u0103-n fundul cuptorului. Apoi \u00eenchise u\u015fa de fier \u015fi puse z\u0103vorul. V\u0103leu! ce mai urlete de te treceau fiorii r\u0103zb\u0103teau din\u0103untru!<\/p>\n
Dar vezi c\u0103 Gretel fugi de-acolo, s\u0103 n-o mai aud\u0103, \u015fi vr\u0103jitoarea cea hain\u0103 pieri ca o netrebnic\u0103, ars\u0103 de dogoare. \u015ei arse p\u00e2n\u0103 ce se pref\u0103cu \u00een scrum.<\/p>\n
Gretel d\u0103du fuga \u00eentr-un r\u0103suflet p\u00e2n\u0103 la grajdul unde era \u00eenchis Hansel \u015fi, deschiz\u00e2ndu-l, strig\u0103 bucuroas\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Am sc\u0103pat, Hansel, am sc\u0103pat, fr\u0103\u0163ioare! Vr\u0103jitoarea a pierit!<\/p>\n
Dac\u0103 auzi ce-i spune, Hansel s\u0103ri afar\u0103 din grajd \u00eentocmai cum sare pas\u0103rea din colivie, c\u00e2nd i se deschide u\u015fi\u0163a.. \u015ei v\u0103z\u00e2ndu-se iar\u0103\u015fi \u00eempreun\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi s\u0103rir\u0103 de g\u00e2t \u015fi se s\u0103rutar\u0103 \u015fi bucuria le r\u00e2dea \u00een ochi \u015fi-n inim\u0103. \u015ei de voio\u015fi ce erau, \u0163op\u0103iau al naibii, ca ni\u015fte iezi!<\/p>\n
Cum nu mai aveau de ce se teme, intrar\u0103 \u00een c\u0103su\u0163a vr\u0103jitoarei \u015fi acolo, ce s\u0103 vezi, \u00een toate ungherele erau numai sipete pline cu m\u0103rg\u0103ritare \u015fi nestemate!<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ei, astea zic \u015fi eu c\u0103-s mai bune dec\u00e2t pietricelele noastre! f\u0103cu Hansel \u015fi-\u015fi umplu buzunarele p\u00e2n\u0103 nu mai putu.<\/p>\n
Iar Gretel spuse \u015fi ea:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Vreau s\u0103 aduc \u015fi eu acas\u0103 o m\u00e2na-dou\u0103 din ele!<\/p>\n
\u015ei alese \u015fi alese p\u00e2n\u0103 ce-\u015fi umplu \u015for\u0163ule\u0163ul.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Acu, hai s-o tulim de-aici c\u00e2t mai degrab\u0103, hot\u0103r\u00ee Hansel, c\u0103 mult mai u\u015foar\u0103 mi-ar fi inima de-a\u015f \u015fti c-am ie\u015fit din p\u0103durea asta fermecat\u0103.<\/p>\n
Merser\u0103 ei ce merser\u0103, cale de c\u00e2teva ceasuri \u015fi numai ce ajunser\u0103 la o ap\u0103 mare.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ce ne facem, surioar\u0103, c\u0103 nu putem trece? f\u0103cu Hansel am\u0103r\u00e2t. Nu v\u0103d peste ap\u0103 nici un pod, nici m\u0103car vreo punte c\u00e2t de \u00eengust\u0103\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2013 De-ar trece vreun vapora\u015f, bine-ar fi! Dar prin locurile astea, slab\u0103 n\u0103dejde\u2026 zise Gretel cu m\u00e2hnire. Da uite, mai \u00eencolo v\u0103d o ra\u0163\u0103 alb\u0103 \u00eenot\u00e2nd. Poate c\u0103, de-a\u015f ruga-o, ne-ar ajuta s\u0103 ajungem pe malul cel\u0103lalt\u2026<\/p>\n
\u015ei \u00eencepu a striga:<\/p>\n
Ra\u0163\u0103, r\u0103\u0163i\u015foar\u0103,<\/p>\n
Ia-i \u00een spate, pe-aripioar\u0103,<\/p>\n
Pe Hansel \u015fi Gretel,<\/p>\n
C\u0103 nici pod, nici punte n-are<\/p>\n
Apa asta mare!<\/p>\n
Se apropie r\u0103\u0163i\u015foara \u015fi Hansel i se urc\u0103 \u00een spate. Apoi o rug\u0103 \u015fi pe surioara lui s\u0103 vin\u0103 l\u00e2ng\u0103 el, dar Gretel r\u0103mase pe mal \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Cum s\u0103 vin? Nu vezi c\u0103 i-ar fi prea greu r\u0103\u0163i\u015foarei? Mai bine s\u0103 ne treac\u0103 pe r\u00e2nd.<\/p>\n
\u015ei f\u0103ptura cea bun\u0103 chiar a\u015fa \u015fi f\u0103cu.<\/p>\n
Dup\u0103 ce trecur\u0103 cu bine pe celalalt mal, mai merser\u0103 ei ce merser\u0103 \u015fi, de la o vreme, p\u0103durea \u00eencepu s\u0103 li se par\u0103 din ce \u00een ce mai cunoscut\u0103. \u015ei-ntr-un sf\u00e2r\u015fit, numai ce z\u0103rir\u0103 din dep\u0103rtare casa p\u0103rinteasc\u0103. Tii, ce-o mai luar\u0103 atunci la goan\u0103 de le sf\u00e2r\u00e2iau c\u0103lc\u00e2iele, nu alta!<\/p>\n
Trecur\u0103 pragul casei \u015fi, d\u00e2nd n\u0103val\u0103 \u00een odaie, s\u0103rir\u0103 la g\u00e2tul tat\u0103lui lor. Era \u015fi timpul, c\u0103, de c\u00e2nd \u00ee\u015fi p\u0103r\u0103sise copiii \u00een p\u0103dure, bietul om nu mai avusese o clip\u0103 fericit\u0103. Pe femeie \u00eens\u0103 n-o mai g\u0103sir\u0103 copiii \u2013 murise.<\/p>\n
Gretel \u00ee\u015fi de\u015fert\u0103 \u015for\u0163ule\u0163ul \u015fi \u00eencepur\u0103 a se rostogoli prin odaie m\u0103rg\u0103ritarele \u015fi nestematele, de te mirai de unde mai ies at\u00e2tea. \u00cen acest timp, Hansel scotea \u015fi el din buzunar c\u00e2te un pumn plin de pietre pre\u0163ioase \u015fi, dup\u0103 ce le arunc\u0103 pe podea, apuc\u0103 s\u0103 arunce alt pumn, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce-\u015fi goli am\u00e2ndou\u0103 buzunarele.<\/p>\n
\u015ei a\u015fa se f\u0103cu de-\u015fi luar\u0103 \u00eendat\u0103 t\u0103lp\u0103\u015fi\u0163a de la casa p\u0103durarului toate grijile \u015fi nevoile care st\u0103tuser\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci pe grumazul omului \u015fi al copiilor lui.<\/p>\n
\u015ei tr\u0103ir\u0103 ei \u00eempreun\u0103 numai \u00een bucurie \u015fi fericire.<\/p>\n
\u015ei-am \u00eenc\u0103lecat pe-o \u015fa \u015fi v-am spus povestea a\u015fa! Da uite c\u0103 mai fuge pe-aici un \u015foricel. \u015ei cine l-a prinde l-a v\u0103zut norocul, c\u0103 o s\u0103-\u015fi fac\u0103 din blana lui o c\u0103ciul\u0103 mare c\u00e2t roata carului\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hansel \u015fi Gretel de Fra\u021bii Grimm. A fost odat\u0103 ca niciodat\u0103 un t\u0103ietor de lemne tare nevoia\u015f \u015fi omul \u0103sta \u00ee\u015fi avea c\u0103scioara la marginea unui codru nesf\u00e2r\u015fit, unde-\u015fi ducea … <\/p>\n