The children were left busily at work. The boy was mending brooms, the girl knitting stockings.
After a time they became tired of their hard work.
"Come, Gretel, let us have some fun!" cried Hansel.
As he spoke, he threw the broom upon the floor, and pulled the stocking from his sister's hand.
"Oh, yes!" said Gretel. "I will teach you a song, and you can learn the steps of the dance."
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.