Part 16 (1/2)

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

_Father._ But where are the children? Hansel! 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! Hansel, Gretel, where are you?

[_Runs out._]

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

[_Goes out._]

SCENE II.--_In the Forest_

HaNSEL, GRETEL

_Gretel._ See, my wreath is nearly done.

_Hansel._ 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!

_Hansel._ 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.

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

_Gretel._ Let me feed you.

_Hansel._ And I'll feed you. Don't be greedy!

_Gretel._ Oh, Hansel, the berries are all gone. What naughty children we are! We must pick some more now for mother.

_Hansel._ I don't care, I was so hungry. But it is too late to pick strawberries now. Let us go home.

_Gretel._ Let us hurry; it is dark and I'm afraid.

_Hansel._ Pooh, _I'm_ not afraid. But I can't see the way. Gretel, we're lost!