Once upon a time a very poor woodcutter lived in a tiny cottage in the forest with his two children, Hensel and Gretel. His second wife often hit the children and was always complaining to the woodcutter.
"There is not enough food in the house for us all. There are too many mouths to feed! We must get rid of the two brats," she declared. And she kept on trying to talk her husband into leaving his children in the forest.
"Take them miles from home, so far that they can never find their way back! Maybe someone will find them and give them a home." The woodcutter didn't know what to do. Hansel had overheard his parents' conversation and comforted Gretel.