Brother and Sister

　　BROTHER1 took sister2 by the hand and said: "Look here; we haven't had one single happy hour since our mother died. That stepmother3 of ours beats us regularly every day,4 and if we dare go near her she kicks us away. We never get anything but hard dry crusts to eat -- why, the dog under the table is better off than we are. She does throw him a good morsel or two now and then. Oh dear! if our own dear mother5 only knew all about it! Come along, and let us go forth into the wide world together."6

　　So off they started through fields and meadows,7 over hedges and ditches, and walked the whole day long, and when it rained sister said:

　　"Heaven and our hearts are weeping together."

　　Towards evening they came to a large forest,8 and were so tired out with hunger and their long walk, as well as all their trouble, that they crept into a hollow tree and soon fell fast asleep.