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Little Dramas for Primary Grades

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<h2 class='c008'>HANS AND GRETCHEN</h2> <div class='nf-center-c1'> <div class='nf-center c002'> <div>Characters—Hans, Gretchen, Red Fox</div> </div></div> <h3 class='c012'>Scene I—In the Woods</h3> <div class='dl_1 c006'> Red Fox. Help me out! Help me out, little Hans. I am caught in this trap. Help me out, and it shall be well with you. Hans. To be sure. I’ll let you out. There! 42 Red Fox. You are very kind. If you have a wish, tell me what it is and it shall be granted. Hans. Oh, as to that, I wish my pail here were full of berries. My sister and I are very hungry. Red Fox. Your wish is granted. Look into your pail! [Hans runs home.] </div> <h3 class='c012'>Scene II—At Home</h3> <div class='dl_1 c006'> Hans. See, Gretchen dear, what fine berries I have brought. Gretchen. Oh, what big ones! Where did you get them in so short a time? Hans. It was the fox, Gretchen. He was caught in a trap. I let him out. He said I might have 43whatever I wished for, and I wished for berries. Aren’t you glad? Gretchen. Foolish boy! Why didn’t you ask for something better? If he could fill your pail with berries just for the asking, he could do far greater things. Hans. But don’t you like the berries, Gretchen? Gretchen. When we eat them there will be nothing left. Go back and tell the fox that you wish to have the cupboard always full of food. Hans. Be satisfied, dear sister. We are quite happy as we are. Gretchen. No, I will not be satisfied. You must do as I tell you. </div> <div> 44 <h3 class='c012'>Scene III—In the Woods</h3></div> <div class='dl_1 c006'> Red Fox. How now, little Hans? Is it not well with you? Hans. Alas! My sister is not satisfied. She asked me to come to you again. Red Fox. What does she wish? Hans. She wishes that our cupboard may be always full. Red Fox. Go home, little Hans. It shall be as she wishes. </div> <h3 class='c012'>Scene IV—At Home (the Next Day)</h3> <div class='dl_1 c006'> Hans. Why are you unhappy again, Gretchen? Come, let us play. Gretchen. Why should I be happy? We have no toys, only sticks and 45stones for playthings. Go to the fox and tell him I wish for some beautiful toys to play with. Hans. Be satisfied, little Gretchen. We are quite happy as we are. Gretchen. No, I will not be satisfied. </div> <h3 class='c012'>Scene V—In the Woods</h3> <div class='dl_1 c006'> Red Fox. How now, little Hans? Is it not well with you? Hans. Alas! My sister is not satisfied. She asked me to come to you again. Red Fox. What does she wish? Hans. She wishes she had some beautiful toys to play with. Red Fox. Go home, little Hans. It shall be as she wishes. </div> <div class='figcenter id002'> 46 <ANTIMG src='images/p046.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <h3 class='c012'>Scene VI—At Home (Another Day)</h3> <div class='dl_1 c006'> Hans. Why are you not happy, little Gretchen? Come, let us play. Gretchen. Why should I be happy? I am tired of these old toys. I want a beautiful palace to live in. 47Go to the fox and tell him so. Hans. Be satisfied, little sister. We are quite happy as we are. Gretchen. No, I will not be satisfied. You must do as I tell you. </div> <h3 class='c012'>Scene VII—In the Woods</h3> <div class='dl_1 c006'> Red Fox. How now, little Hans? Is it not well with you? Hans. Alas! My sister is not satisfied. She asked me to come to you again. Red Fox. What does she wish now? Hans. She wishes to live in a beautiful palace. Red Fox. Go home, little Hans. It shall be as she wishes. </div> <div> 48 <h3 class='c012'>Scene VIII—At Home</h3></div> <div class='dl_1 c006'> Hans. Why are you unhappy again, little sister? Gretchen. Why should I be happy? I am tired of this palace. There is only one thing that would make me happy. Go to the Red Fox. Tell him I must have the great silver ball that hangs over us in the sky. Hans. Be satisfied, dear sister. We are quite happy as we are. Gretchen. No, no. I will not be satisfied. You must do as I tell you. </div> <h3 class='c012'>Scene IX—In the Woods</h3> <div class='dl_1 c006'> Red Fox. How now, brother Hans? Is it not well with you? 49 Hans. Alas! My sister is not satisfied with the palace. Red Fox. What does she wish? Hans. She wishes the great silvery moon for her plaything. Fox. [Very slowly.] </div> <div class='dl_2'>   The great silvery moon! The great silvery moon! The great silvery moon! </div> <div class='dl_1'>   Go, little Hans. It shall not be as she wishes. You will find the cupboard empty, the toys gone, and your home again a little cottage. </div> <div class='figcenter id002'> 50 <ANTIMG src='images/p050.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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