Hansel and Gretel danced about the room. Gretel sang, while she and
Hansel danced,

"First your foot you tap, tap, tap,
Then your hands you clap, clap, clap;
Right foot first, left foot then,
Round about and back again."

Presently the mother returned home. She entered the room and found
Hansel and Gretel at play.

"You lazy children!" she exclaimed. "Why have you not finished your
work?"

Taking the broom that Hansel had thrown upon the floor, the mother
started to punish him, but the boy was too quick for her.

Hansel ran nimbly about, and as she was trying to catch him, the mother
upset a jug of milk. It was all the food there was in the house.

"Oh, mother!" cried Gretel. "You have spilled the milk, and we shall
have nothing to eat."

"Go out into the woods and gather some strawberries. Do not return until
you have filled the basket to the brim," commanded the mother. "Hansel,
help your sister pick the berries, and hurry back, both of you, for
there is nothing else for supper."

Towards evening the father returned from the village.