_Hansel._ Why, see the children, Gretel. The fence is moving! The gingerbread children are _real_ children, but their eyes are shut!

_The Children._ We are saved! We are saved!

_Gretel._ Who are you? Why do you keep your eyes shut? You're sleeping and yet you are talking!

_The Children._ O touch us, we pray, that we may awake!

_Hansel._ The witch has changed them into gingerbread children. I know what to do. Let us say what the witch said to you, and what you said to me!

_Hansel and Gretel._

Hocus, pocus, elder bush!

Rigid body loosen, hush!

_The Children._ (_Opening their eyes and running toward Hansel and Gretel._) We thank you, we thank you both!

_Gretel._ Oh, I am so glad!

_The Children._ The spell is broken and we are free. The witch can do us no more harm. Come, let us shout for glee!

_Hansel._

Come, children all, and form a ring, Join hands together, while we sing.

_Gretel._ Oh, Hansel dear, I wish father and mother were here!

_Hansel._ Look, Gretel! There they are!

[_Father and Mother enter._]

_Father._ Why, mother, the children are here! Come, my dear Hansel and Gretel! How glad I am we have found you safe and well!

_Hansel._ Oh, father, we must tell you all about the Gingerbread Witch!

_Mother._ My dear children, were you frightened?

_Gretel._ Yes, mother, I was. But, mother, Hansel comforted me, and we said our prayers and went to sleep.

_Mother._ The good angels watched over you and brought you back! Come, let us go to the village and take all these dear children to their mothers. Won't they be surprised and happy to see their dear children again?

_Father._ Come, children!

[Ill.u.s.tration]

KING ALFRED

PERSONS IN THE PLAY--QUEEN JUDITH, ETHELBALD, ETHELBERT, ETHELRED, ALFRED, PEASANTS, KING'S OFFICERS

SCENE I.--_In the Castle_

_Ethelbald._ Tell us a story, lady mother.

_Ethelbert._ Yes, tell us a story.

_Ethelred._ I wish it would stop raining, so that we might take our hawks for a hunt!

_Queen._ I have something to show you, my princes. Is not this a beautiful book?

_Alfred._ How lovely the red velvet, and see, the clasp is of gold!

_Ethelred._ And there are jewels in the clasp!

_Queen._ It is well bound, as so precious a volume should be; but the binding is the least valuable part of the book. Shall we look within?

_Ethelbald._ Pray show us, lady mother!

_Queen._ Observe the forms of mighty warriors, fair ladies, and royal chiefs of the olden times in bright and glowing colors.

_Ethelbert._ How brave they look! Who are they? Tell us of them, dear mother.

_Queen._ These pictures are beautiful and appeal to the eye, but neither they nor the velvet and gold of the binding give the joy which is greatest.

_Alfred._ What do you mean, dear lady mother?

_Queen._ This is a book I greatly enjoy, for it is full of the tales of the mighty King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. You will like to hear me read these brave stories when you are tired with your day's work, or on rainy days when you can neither hunt nor ride. Then you know not how to amuse yourselves and time is heavy on your hands, since you can neither read nor play upon the musical instruments that give us so much pleasure.

_Ethelred._ The book is so lovely. Let me take it, lady mother!

_Queen._ I would that the children of my royal husband could read the book.

_Ethelbald._ Our father does not think much of books and music. He likes to hunt and fight, and so do I.

_Ethelred._ And I love to hunt, but I love to hear the stories of great kings and warriors, too.

_Alfred._ To which of us wilt thou give the book, lady mother?

_Queen._ I will bestow it on him who shall first learn how to read it.

_Alfred._ Will you really, dear mother?

_Queen._ Yes, upon the faith of a queen, I will. I will not give it to one who cannot read it. Books are meant for the learned and not for the ignorant. The sons of a king should cease to play with toys.

_Alfred._ May I take the book a little while?