_Sunday._ You have all spoken well, my sisters, and each one has some claim to be the best day of the week. How fine it is that every day holds some special joy in work or play! But you all know the highest joy is mine. I am named for the golden sun that gives light to the world. On Sunday men think of the inner light that makes them love the good and the true and persuades them to do right. To-day the family is united, and in the morning with fresh garments and happy faces they seek the knowledge of a higher life. Around the dinner table they talk happily together of their work and play, and they plan how they may do better work during the next week. Love and peace are in all hearts. A desire to help the weak and poor and sad is in every soul. I am happy and blest to be Sunday.
HaNSEL AND GRETEL
PERSONS IN THE PLAY--HaNSEL, GRETEL, MOTHER, FATHER, THE GINGERBREAD WITCH, SANDMAN, CHILDREN
SCENE I.--_In the Cottage_
_Hansel._ I wish mother would come home! I"m cold and hungry. I"m tired of bread. I want some milk and sugar.
_Gretel._ Hush, Hansel; don"t be cross!
_Hansel._ If we only had something good to eat: eggs, and b.u.t.ter and meat. Oh, dear!
_Gretel._ Dear Hansel, if you will stop crying, I"ll tell you a secret.
_Hansel._ Oh, what is it? Something nice?
_Gretel._ Yes, indeed. Look in this jug! It is full of milk. Mother will make us a pudding for supper.
_Hansel._ Goody, goody! How thick the cream is! Let me taste it.
_Gretel._ Aren"t you ashamed, you naughty boy! Take your finger out of the cream. We must go back to work. When mother comes she will be cross if you have not finished the broom.
_Hansel._ I"ll not work any more. I want to dance.
_Gretel._ So do I. I like to dance better than to work. Come, let us dance and sing.
Brother, come and dance with me, Both my hands I offer thee; Right foot first, Left foot then, Round about and back again.
_Hansel._ 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.
_Hansel_ (_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.
_Hansel._
O Gretel dear, O sister dear, Come dance and sing with me.
_Gretel._
O Hansel 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._]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
_Mother_ (_enters_). What is all this noise?
_Gretel._ "Twas Hansel. He wanted--
_Hansel._ "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 b.u.t.ter 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 you all these good things and some tea besides.