Part 26

Oh! I am so tired and hungry. Nothing in the house to eat. What shall I do for the poor hungry children--Oh, dear, what can I do!

Father (enters, singing).

Hillo, hilloo, hillo, hilloo, Little mother, where are you?

Mother (looking up). Who is singing and making so much noise?

Father. I called you, for I am hungry and want my supper.

Mother. Your supper! with nothing in the house to eat and nothing to drink.

Father. Let us see. Open your eyes and look in my basket. Cheer up, mother!

Mother. What do I see? Ham and butter and flour and sausage! Where did you get all these good things, father?

Father. Hurrah, won't we have a merry time, won't we have a happy time? I sold so many brooms at the fair that I could buy you all these good things and some tea besides.

Mother. Tea! how good it smells and how glad I am! Now I will cook the supper.

Father. But where are the children? Hänsel! Gretel! Where are they?

Mother. Oh, the bad children! They did no work and they were singing and dancing and spilled the milk, so I sent them to the woods to pick some strawberries for supper.

Father. Laughing and dancing! Why should you be angry? Where have they gone?

Mother. To the mountain.

Father. To the mountain! the home of the witch!

Mother. What do you mean? The witch?

Father. Yes, the old witch of the mountain turns all children to gingerbread and then she eats them.

Mother. Eats them! Oh, my children, my pretty little children! Come, we must find them! Hänsel, Gretel, where are you?

Father. I will go with you, mother. Don't cry! we will surely find them.

SCENE II.--In the Forest

HÄNSEL, GRETEL

Gretel. See, my wreath is nearly done.

Hänsel. And the basket is filled with strawberries. Won't mother be pleased? We will have them for supper.

Gretel. Let me put the wreath on you!

Hänsel. No, no! boys don't wear wreaths. Put it on your own head. You shall be queen of the woods.

Gretel. Then I must have a nosegay, too.

Hänsel. Now you have a scepter and a crown. You shall have some strawberries, too. Don't they taste good?

Gretel. Let me feed you.