Juvenile Court

Deep in the oven, where the two had shoved her,
They found the Witch, burned to a crisp, of course;
And when the police had decently removed her
They questioned the children, who showed no remorse.
“She threatened us,” said Hansel, “with a kettle
Of boiling water, just because I threw
The cat into the well.” Cried little Gretel,
“She fussed because I broke her broom in two

And said she’d lock up Hansel in a cage
For drawing funny pictures on the fence.”
Whereon the court, considering their age,
And ruling that there seemed some evidence
The pair had acted under provocation,
Released them to their parents, on probation.