r, 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._]

[Illustration]

_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