welcome to the roost

I see you have found the roost. this is where I choose to dwell. ominously.

not many make it this far, besides the mad, and the heretics, and the ill, and the gnomes.... always the gnomes.

if the wood is a ship the roost is its wheel. a compass, if you will. naturally, in a rabbithole of my creation, I take the helm. but from here you may chart your course, if the rest of the wood will have you.

what do you mean, what compass? you can't cast your own compass? the state the youth are coming to... all right, allow some room for the witch to work.

I conjure thee compass round,

be ye cast and be ye bound.

by road above and road below,

by snake and hare and toad and crow.

by red spirits, white spirits, grey spirits and black,

I conjure thee by threefold track.

be ye cast and be ye bound,

hallowed be o compass round.

there. now be on your way. I can't do everything for you.

Do you know what it means to allow a wicked thought to enter one's heart?

The wicked thought grows all the time like a poisonous plant and slowly kills the good thoughts. A wicked feeling was growing in the stepmother's heart, and she determined to send the children to the witch, thinking sure enough that they would never return.

"Dear children," she said to the orphans, "go to my grandmother who lives in the forest in a hut on hen's feet. You will do everything she wants you to, and she will give you sweet things to eat and you will be happy."

The orphans started out. But instead of going to the witch, the sister, a bright little girl, took her brother by the hand and ran to their own old, old grandmother and told her all about their going to the forest.

"Oh, my poor darlings!" said the good old grandmother, pitying the children, "my heart aches for you, but it is not in my power to help you. You have to go not to a loving grandmother, but to a wicked witch. Now listen to me, my darlings," she continued; "I will give you a hint: Be kind and good to every one; do not speak ill words to any one; do not despise helping the weakest, and always hope that for you, too, there will be the needed help."

The good old grandmother gave the children some delicious fresh milk to drink and to each a big slice of ham. She also gave them some cookies—there are cookies everywhere—and when the children departed she stood looking after them a long, long time.