Chapter 30

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

_Gretel._ Hush, Haensel; don't be cross!

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

_Gretel._ Dear Haensel, if you will stop crying, I'll tell you a secret.

_Haensel._ 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.

_Haensel._ 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.

_Haensel._ 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.

_Haensel._ 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.

_Haensel_ (_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.

_Haensel._

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

_Gretel._

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

[_Knocks down the milk._]

_Mother_ (_enters_). What is all this noise?

_Gretel._ 'Twas Haensel. He wanted--

_Haensel._ '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!

[_The children go out. Mother sits weeping._]

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!

[_Goes to sleep, crying._]

_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? Haensel! 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! Haensel, Gretel, where are you?

[_Runs out._]

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

[_Goes out._]