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!
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.]
Scene II—At Home
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 whatever 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.