Part 17 (1/2)

_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!