PERSONS IN THE PLAY - THE LITTLE OLD WOMAN, THE GINGERBREAD MAN, THE BOY, THE FOX, CHILDREN, MEN, THE FARMER

SCENE. - Home of Little Old Woman

Little Old Woman. Now all my housework is done I think I will make some gingerbread. There is nothing quite so good for lunch as warm gingerbread and a glass of milk, or a cup of hot tea. I can make pretty good gingerbread, too, all of my friends say. Here is the flour and butter and molasses and milk. Now it is all ready to put into the pan. But I made too much this time. What shall I do with it? Nothing must be wasted in a good cook’s kitchen. Oh, I know! I’ll make a cunning gingerbread man for the little boy who lives next door.

Where is my knife? Now roll the dough very thin, cut out the round little head, then the neck, now the two arms, now the little fat body, and last the legs with high heels on the shoes. Well, this certainly is a fine little gingerbread man. I think I’ll make a little hat with a wide brim. Now I’ll put two currants for his eyes, two for his nose, three for his cute little mouth, and six for the buttons on his coat.

Then I’ll sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over him and put him in the oven to bake.

Let me look at the clock. It is half past eleven. At twelve the gingerbread man will be baked, ready for the little boy when he comes home from school.

Well, I’ve washed the dishes, and set the table for my lunch, and it is now just twelve o’clock. I’ll open the oven door and see if my gingerbread man is ready.

Oh! what was that! Why, it is the gingerbread man!

Gingerbread Man. Yes, it is the gingerbread man, and now I’ll go and see the world.

Little Old Woman. Go! you mustn’t go! You belong to me.

Gingerbread Man.

Ah, ha! ah, ha! catch me, if you can!
You can’t catch me, I’m a gingerbread man!

Little Old Woman. There he goes, out of the door, just as if he were really a little boy, and not made of something good to eat! Come back; come back!

Gingerbread Man.

Ah, ha! ah, ha! catch me, if you can!
You can’t catch me, I’m a gingerbread man!

Little Old Woman. I know I can’t run as fast as he can. There he goes out of the gate. There are some men who are working in the street. I’ll ask them to catch him. Help! help me catch the gingerbread man!

Men. Yes, ma’am. Where is he? Oh, there he is, the little rascal! We’ll catch him.

Gingerbread Man.

Ah, ha! ah, ha! catch me, if you can!
You can’t catch me, I’m a gingerbread man!

Men. Well, there he goes and he does run fast! Come, let us run after him!

Little Old Woman. Oh, I know the men can’t run as fast as he can, and they will never catch my gingerbread man! Here are the children coming from school. I’ll call them. Children, children!

Children. Yes, little old woman, here we are. What did you call us for?

Little Old Woman. Oh, my dear children, see the gingerbread man I made for the little boy next door! There he goes running as fast as he can, and I can’t catch him!

Boy. And the men are running after him, and they can’t catch him either. Just watch me, little woman, I’ll catch him for you.

Gingerbread Man.

Ah, ha! ah, ha! catch me, if you can!
You can’t catch me, I’m a gingerbread man.

Girl. I have my roller skates on. Perhaps I can catch him!

Little Old Woman. I’m sure you can, my child.

Girl. I’ll try. Look out, Mr. Gingerbread Man!

Gingerbread Man.

Ah, ha! ah, ha! catch me, if you can!
You can’t catch me, I’m a gingerbread man!

Little Old Woman. There he goes, and none of them can catch him. Now he is near some farmers. I’ll call on them to help me. Farmer, farmer, will you please help me catch the gingerbread man? There he goes over your wheat field.

Farmer. Yes, indeed, we’ll help you. Here, you gingerbread man, keep out of my wheat field! Come, men; run after him and catch him.

Men. We’ll catch him before he gets to the fence.

Gingerbread Man.

Ah, ha! ah, ah! catch me, if you can!
You can’t catch me, I’m a gingerbread man!

Little Old Woman. Oh, dear! Oh, dear! there he goes into the wood, and no one can run fast enough to catch him.

Farmer. I’m sorry, madam, but we must go back to our work on the farm.

Boy. Hark! listen! don’t you hear the little gingerbread man calling?

Gingerbread Man.

Ah, ha! ah, ha! catch me, if you can!
You can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!

Little Old Woman. Yes, he is calling to us from the wood. I thank you, children, and now we will go home.

Gingerbread Man (in the wood). Ah, ha! and they didn’t catch me! and now I am free to play in the wood. What a pleasant place!

Mr. Fox. Well, what sort of a funny little man is this?

Gingerbread Man.

Ah, ha! ah, ha! catch me, if you can!
You can’t catch me, I’m a gingerbread man!

Mr. Fox. Can’t I? Well, I have caught you; and now let me see if you are good to eat. First, I’ll try one of your arms. That tastes good!

Gingerbread Man. I’m going!

Mr. Fox. And now the other arm!

Gingerbread Man. I’m going!

Mr. Fox. Now for the leg.

Gingerbread Man. I’m going!

Mr. Fox. Really, Mr. Gingerbread Man, I think you are very good eating for a hungry fox. Now I’ll taste the other leg.

Gingerbread Man. I’m going!

Mr. Fox. Now for your round little body.

Gingerbread Man. I’m going!

Mr. Fox. There is not very much left. Just your head for the last mouthful.

Gingerbread Man. I’m gone!

Mr. Fox. Yes, you’re gone; and a very nice meal, Mr. Gingerbread Man.