Part 25

PERSONS IN THE PLAY--HÄNSEL, GRETEL, MOTHER, FATHER, THE GINGERBREAD WITCH, SANDMAN, CHILDREN

SCENE I.--In the Cottage

Hänsel. I wish mother would come home! I'm cold and hungry. I'm tired of bread. I want some milk and sugar.

Gretel. Hush, Hänsel; don't be cross!

Hänsel. If we only had something good to eat: eggs, and butter and meat. Oh, dear!

Gretel. Dear Hänsel, if you will stop crying, I'll tell you a secret.

Hänsel. Oh, what is it? Something nice?

Gretel. Yes, indeed. Look in this jug! It is full of milk. Mother will make us a pudding for supper.

Hänsel. Goody, goody! How thick the cream is! Let me taste it.

Gretel. Aren't you ashamed, you naughty boy! Take your finger out of the cream. We must go back to work. When mother comes she will be cross if you have not finished the broom.

Hänsel. I'll not work any more. I want to dance.

Gretel. So do I. I like to dance better than to work. Come, let us dance and sing.

Brother, come and dance with me, Both my hands I offer thee; Right foot first, Left foot then, Round about and back again.

Hänsel. I can't dance. Show me what I ought to do.

Gretel. Look at me. Do this.

With your foot you tap, tap, tap! With your hands you clap, clap, clap! Right foot first, Left foot then, Round about and back again.

Hänsel (dancing).

With your hands you clap, clap, clap! With your foot you tap, tap, tap! Right foot first, Left foot then, Round about and back again.

Gretel. That is fine, brotherkin! Soon you will dance as well as I. Come, try again.

With your head you nick, nick, nick! With your fingers click, click, click! Right foot first, Left foot then, Round about and back again.

Hänsel.

O Gretel dear, O sister dear, Come dance and sing with me.

Gretel.

O Hänsel dear, O brother dear, Come dance and sing with me. Tra, la, la, tra, la, la, La, la, la, la, tra, la, la.

Mother (enters). What is all this noise?

Gretel. 'Twas Hänsel. He wanted--

Hänsel. 'Twas Gretel. She said I--

Mother. Hush, you noisy children! What work have you done? Gretel, your stocking is not done yet; and where are your brooms, you lazy Hans? You have knocked over the milk too! What shall we have for supper? Lazy folks can't stay in my house. Take the basket and go to the woods for strawberries. And don't dare to come back without them! Off with you! and be quick too!