g 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.

[Illustration]

_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