_Gretel._ I'm awake, dear brother. Come, let us hurry home.

_Hansel._ Here is a path! Oh, Gretel, look at the pretty house!

_Gretel._ A cottage all made of chocolate creams!

_Hansel._ The house seems to smile!

_Gretel._ It looks good enough to eat.

_Hansel._ Let's nibble it!

[_A voice within the house._]

Nibble, nibble, manikin!

Who's nibbling at my housekin?

_Hansel._ Oh, did you hear?

_Gretel._ It's the wind!

_Hansel._ Never mind, let us eat the cake. I'm hungry. Take a bite!

Isn't it good?

_Gretel._ Yes, and look at the candy! What a funny fence this is! It looks like little boys and girls made of gingerbread with sugar tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs. I wonder who lives in this house?

[_The Gingerbread Woman comes out of the house and speaks._]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

You've come to visit me, that is sweet, You charming children, so good to eat!

_Hansel._ Who are you, ugly one? Let me go!

_Gretel._ Take your arms away from me!

_The Gingerbread Witch._ Come into my house, little children! You may have sugarplums and peaches and cherries and candies and everything nice that little folks like!

_Hansel._ No, I won't! I don't want to go into your house. I want to go home!

_Gretel._ I don't like you, Mrs. Gingerbread! You aren't nice like my mother. I want to go home to my own mother!

_The Gingerbread Witch._ Come, dear little Gretel. You must go in with me. We'll leave Hansel in this little house outside. He must get fatter, so we will give him many good things to eat. Get in, Hansel. I must lock you in!

_Hansel._ What are you going to do with me?

_The Gingerbread Witch._ I'll fatten you up nicely and then you will see! Now I'll go inside for some sugarplums. You wait here, Gretel, until I come back. Hocus, pocus, malus locus! now you can't move!

[_Goes in._]

_Hansel._ Listen, Gretel! Watch the old witch and see everything she does to me. Hush, she's coming back!

_The Gingerbread Witch._ Now, Hans, eat this raisin. It will make you fat! Now, Gretel, you have stood still long enough.

Hocus, pocus, elder bush!

Rigid body loosen, hush!

Then, Gretel, you must come with me, but Hans cannot move until he gets nice and fat like you. Run in, little daughter, and get some more nuts and raisins for him. I like plump little bodies like yours!

[_Gretel goes in._]

_Hansel._ Please let me out, Mrs. Gingerbread.

_The Gingerbread Witch._ When you are fatter. Now I must look to my fire. It is burning well, and the oven will soon be hot enough to bake my dinner. When I change my gingerbread I'll pop little Gretel in and shut the door.

[_Gretel comes in very quietly and goes to Hans._]

_Gretel._

Hocus, pocus, elder bush!

Rigid body loosen, hush!

_The Gingerbread Witch._ What are you saying?

_Gretel._ Oh, nothing,--only,--

_The Gingerbread Witch._ Only what?

_Gretel._ Only, much good may it do to Hans!

_The Gingerbread Witch._ Poor Hans is too thin, but I hope the raisins and nuts will be good for him. But, you, my plump little Gretel, are just fat enough--come, peep in the oven and see if the gingerbread is ready!

_Hansel_ (_softly_).

Sister dear, have a care; She means to hurt you, so beware!

_Gretel_ (_shyly_). I don't understand what I am to do!

_The Gingerbread Witch._ Do? Why, open the oven door!

_Hansel._ Sister dear, now take care!

_Gretel._ I'm such a goose, I don't understand.

_The Gingerbread Witch._ Do as I say, it's only play! This is the way.

[_Opens the door and looks in oven. Hans and Gretel run and push her in._]

_Children sing._ One little push, bang goes the door, clang! Now, let us be happy, dancing so merrily. Hurrah! Hurrah!