The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1916-06-21
BEDTIME STORIES
FOR LITTLE
FOLKS
GRETCHEN AND THE WITCH.

enough TO be poor, out WneH lHefe
are about fifteen children to feed,
things are simply awful. AT least that
is the way the wife felt when the fam
lily gathered about the table, clamor-
ing for food when there was none to
be had.
One day Gretchen took the whole
flock out into the woods to gather
berries. She was the oldest and as
they strung along the path, it looked
like procession. But Gretchen
watched over the little ones, picked up
those who fell down and soon had
them every one happy and busy. At
noon they ate some bread with a part
of the berries they had gathered.
Now | am going to run to the
spring" said Gretchen. But you chill
dren must not move from here while
am gone If you do you might run
into the Old Witch of the Rock. II
she once gets you, she will keep every
one to work her gardens down far I'M
der the earth.
So Gretchen ran 10 the spring. but
when she came back she found not
child in sight everyone had van
Iished.
! Il know that witch came along ana
made them follow her. cried Gretch-
en-. as she ran breathlessly through
the woods. And sure enough, as she
turned corner she caught sight OIL
the last child disappearing in the door
of the old witch's cavern. Then the
great stone above dropped with a bang,
and the children were gone.
Gretchen threw herself down on the
ground and wept, but at last she arose
and crept slowly along the stone which
made the door Finally she found
small hole. through this she managed
TO squeeze. AS soon as she was inside
she crawled along the passage Till she
came TO a great hall lighted by Dig
golden lantern. On benches at the
iother side she could see the children
waiting to be sent home.
90" said the witch, you are just
the right age to work in my gardens
and | need you every one. you must
90 there with me-" Then she told
them to 90 to sleep on the bench anu
that she would call them in time for
breakfast.
The room was quiet after the witch
went 10 he'd except for the weeping Gl
the children. who wanted to go nome
lat once. Gretchen walked out into
the bic hall to where she saw Dig
white cat sitting on a cushion that lay
ON a table. She was surprised to hear
! the cat speak:
Il was bewitched years ago, salu
the cat. land have been kept IN TINS
! cavern. If the witch finds you mere
she will turn you into cat. HIDE pe-
hind that chest in the corner and Wheh
the witch is snoring loudly slip from
her finger on the left hand the ruby
hing she wears That will break the
smell and will become prince again.
Gretchen said nothing to the children
who did not see her in the darkness
but hid behind the chest. Presently
nj in
along with her lantern. throwing shad-
ows about the big cave. At last she
lfel asleep and was soon snoring so
LOUDLY that it kept the children awake
Bv the Pickering light of the hre'
lGretchen stole out and went over TO
the witch Gently she took the great
ruby ring off the withered hand. But
no sooner had it left the finger thah
she sprang up with loud cry;
81 will die ! will die" she groan-
ed. For my ruby is gone. am blino
II cannot stand" And with sigh she
fell to the floor. There was pun o.
wind. a cloud of smoke blew away ana
there was nothing left on the ground
but two hairpins and button.
Gretchen turned to go to the chr
dren. but as she did so she saw before
her a handsome prince bowling 10"
with his plumed hat sweeping the
ground. AT the same time the children
came running up shouting with de-
light
1--WE will get the bags OF gold ana
Jewels in the chest" said the prince.
lsJ lived with my father. the King OF
Norlaud. but this cruel witch cast
smell on me five years ago and | have
Iheen here ever since. Vol have saVeo
me and must be my bride"
Every child took bag OF gold OF
gems and the party set out for the
humble cottage of the little tailor
Very hapuv was the father to see the
riches piled high on his table and very
happy was the mother 10 know thaI
the GOOD Gretchen was to marry the
nrince who stood by her side.
No one ever went to the cavern
again but the tailor bought Dig eS-