Hans and Gretel
THE CHRIST-CANDLE
SCENE I
Christmas Eve, in the forest near Mother Madelon's cottage. The ground is covered with snow and the little evergreens all about are weighted down with it. Enter Fritz (L.) with his brothers and sisters, laden with holly boughs and evergreens. The boys drag a sled with a small evergreen tree on it. As they come they sing "Softly the Echoes Come and Go."[1]
Fritz. Stop here and rest, Heinrich. This is too big a load for the little ones.