The Little Gingerbread Man in Modern English

This is a modern-English version of The Little Gingerbread Man, originally written by Putnam, George Haven. It has been thoroughly updated, including changes to sentence structure, words, spelling, and grammar—to ensure clarity for contemporary readers, while preserving the original spirit and nuance. If you click on a paragraph, you will see the original text that we modified, and you can toggle between the two versions.

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G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS

G. P. Putnam's Sons

First	Printing,	October, 1910
Second	"	September, 1912
Third	"	July, 1915
Fourth	"	April, 1921
Fifth	"	July, 1923
Sixth	"	April, 1927

Made in the United States of America

Made in America

[1]

NE day, the cook went into the kitchen to make some gingerbread. She took some flour and water, and treacle and ginger, and mixed them all well together, and she put in some more water to make it thin, and then some more flour to make it thick, and a little salt and some spice, and then she rolled it out into a beautiful, smooth, dark-yellow dough.

One day, the cook went into the kitchen to make some gingerbread. She took some flour and water, treacle and ginger, and mixed them all together well. She added more water to make it thinner, then added more flour to make it thicker, along with a little salt and some spices. After that, she rolled it out into a beautiful, smooth, dark-yellow dough.

Then she took the square tins and cut out some square cakes for the little boys, and with some round tins she cut out some round[2] cakes for the little girls, and then she said, “I’m going to make a little gingerbread man for little Bobby.” So she took a nice round lump of dough for his body, and a smaller lump for his head, which she pulled out a little for the neck. Two other lumps were stuck on beneath for the legs, and were pulled out into proper shape, with feet and toes all complete, and two still smaller pieces were made into arms, with dear little hands and fingers.

Then she took the square tins and cut out some square cakes for the little boys, and with some round tins, she cut out some round[2] cakes for the little girls. Then she said, “I’m going to make a little gingerbread man for little Bobby.” So she took a nice round lump of dough for his body and a smaller lump for his head, which she shaped a bit for the neck. She stuck on two other lumps for the legs, pulling them into the right shape, with feet and toes all complete, and made two even smaller pieces for the arms, with cute little hands and fingers.

But the nicest work was done on the head, for the top was frizzed up into a pretty sugary hat; on either side was made a dear little ear, and in front, after the nose had been carefully moulded, a beautiful mouth was made out of a big raisin, and two bright little eyes with burnt almonds and caraway seeds.

But the best part was the head, which was styled into a cute sugary hat; on each side, there was a lovely little ear, and in front, after the nose was carefully shaped, a beautiful mouth was created using a large raisin, along with two bright little eyes made of burnt almonds and caraway seeds.

Then the gingerbread man was finished[3] ready for baking, and a very jolly little man he was. In fact, he looked so sly that the cook was afraid he was plotting some mischief, and when the batter was ready for the oven, she put in the square cakes and she put in the round cakes; and then she put in the little gingerbread man in a far back corner, where he couldn’t get away in a hurry.

Then the gingerbread man was done[3] and ready for baking, and he was quite a cheerful little guy. In fact, he looked so sneaky that the cook worried he might be up to no good. When the batter was ready for the oven, she put in the square cakes and the round cakes; and then she placed the little gingerbread man in a far back corner, where he couldn’t escape quickly.

Then she went up to sweep the parlor, and she swept and she swept till the clock struck twelve, when she dropped her broom[4] in a hurry, and exclaiming, “Lawks! the gingerbread will be all baked to a cinder,” she ran down into the kitchen, and threw open the oven door. And the square cakes were all done, nice and hard and brown, and the round cakes were all done, nice and hard and brown, and the gingerbread man was all done too, nice and hard and brown; and he was standing up in his corner, with his little caraway-seed eyes sparkling, and his raisin mouth bubbling over with mischief, while he waited for the oven door to be opened. The instant the door was opened, with a hop, skip, and a jump, he went right over the square cakes and the round cakes, and over the cook’s arm, and before she could say “Jack Robinson” he was running across the kitchen floor, as fast as his little legs would carry him, towards the back door, which was standing wide open, and through which he could see the garden path.

Then she went upstairs to clean the living room, and she swept and swept until the clock struck twelve. In a rush, she dropped her broom[4] and exclaimed, “Oh no! The gingerbread will be burnt to a crisp!” She hurried down to the kitchen and flung open the oven door. The square cakes were all done, nice and firm and brown, the round cakes were all done, nice and firm and brown, and the gingerbread man was done too, nice and firm and brown; he was standing in his corner, with his little caraway-seed eyes sparkling and his raisin mouth bubbling with mischief, waiting for the oven door to open. The moment the door swung open, with a hop, skip, and a jump, he leaped right over the square cakes and the round cakes, over the cook’s arm, and before she could say “Jack Robinson,” he was dashing across the kitchen floor as fast as his little legs could carry him toward the back door, which was wide open, giving him a view of the garden path.

[5]

The old cook turned round as fast as she could, which wasn’t very fast, for she was rather a heavy woman and she had been quite taken by surprise, and she saw lying right across the door-way, fast asleep in the sun, old Mouser, the cat.

The old cook turned around as quickly as she could, which wasn’t very quick since she was a rather heavy woman and had been completely caught off guard. She saw old Mouser, the cat, lying right in the doorway, sound asleep in the sun.

“Mouser, Mouser,” she cried, “stop the gingerbread man! I want him for little Bobby.” When the cook first called, Mouser thought it was only some one calling in her dreams, and simply rolled over lazily; and the cook called again, “Mouser,[6] Mouser!” The old cat sprang up with a jump, but just as she turned round to ask the cook what all the noise was about, the little gingerbread man cleverly jumped under her tail, and in an instant was trotting down the garden walk. Mouser turned in a hurry and ran after, although she was still rather too sleepy to know what it was she was trying to catch, and after the cat came the cook, lumbering along rather heavily, but also making pretty good[7] speed.

“Mouser, Mouser,” she shouted, “stop the gingerbread man! I want him for little Bobby.” When the cook first called, Mouser thought it was just someone calling in her dreams, so she lazily rolled over; but the cook called again, “Mouser,[6] Mouser!” The old cat jumped up quickly, but just as she turned around to ask the cook what all the noise was about, the little gingerbread man cleverly slipped under her tail and, in an instant, was trotting down the garden path. Mouser spun around and ran after him, though she was still a bit too sleepy to realize what she was trying to catch, and behind the cat came the cook, plodding along rather heavily but still making pretty good[7] speed.

Now at the bottom of the walk, lying fast asleep in the sun against the warm stones of the garden wall, was Towser, the dog.

Now at the end of the path, lying sound asleep in the sun against the warm stones of the garden wall, was Towser, the dog.

And the cook called out: “Towser, Towser, stop the gingerbread man! I want him for little Bobby.”

And the cook shouted, “Towser, Towser, catch the gingerbread man! I want him for little Bobby.”

And when Towser first heard her calling he thought it was some one speaking in his dreams, and he only turned over on his side, with another snore, and then the cook called[8] again, “Towser, Towser, stop him, stop him!”

And when Towser first heard her calling, he thought someone was talking in his dreams, so he just rolled over on his side with another snore. Then the cook called[8] again, “Towser, Towser, stop him, stop him!”

Then the dog woke up in good earnest, and jumped up on his feet to see what it was that he should stop. But just as the dog jumped up, the little gingerbread man, who had been watching for the chance, quietly slipped between his legs, and climbed up on the top of the stone wall, so that Towser saw nothing but the cat running towards him down the walk, and behind the cat the cook, now quite out of breath.

Then the dog woke up for real, jumped to its feet to see what was going on. But just as the dog jumped up, the little gingerbread man, who had been waiting for his moment, quietly slipped between his legs and climbed to the top of the stone wall. So, all Towser saw was the cat running toward him down the path, and behind the cat was the cook, now completely out of breath.

[9]

He thought at once that the cat must[10] have stolen something, and that it was the cat the cook wanted him to stop. Now, if there was anything that Towser liked, it was going after the cat, and he jumped up the walk so fiercely that the poor cat did not have time to stop herself or to get out[11] of his way, and they came together with a great fizzing, and barking, and meowing, and howling, and scratching, and biting, as if a couple of Catherine-wheels had gone off in the wrong way and had got mixed up with one another.

He immediately thought that the cat must[10]have taken something, and that it was the cat the cook wanted him to stop. Now, if there’s one thing Towser loved, it was chasing after the cat, and he jumped up the path so fiercely that the poor cat didn’t have time to stop or get out[11]of his way. They collided with a loud fizzing, barking, meowing, howling, scratching, and biting, as if a couple of large fireworks had gone off in the wrong direction and got all tangled up together.

But the old cook had been running so hard that she was not able to stop herself any better than the cat had done, and she fell right on top of the mixed up dog and cat, so that all three rolled over on the walk in a heap together.

But the old cook had been running so hard that she couldn't stop herself any better than the cat had, and she fell right on top of the tangled-up dog and cat, causing all three to tumble over onto the sidewalk in a pile together.

And the cat scratched whichever came nearest, whether it was a piece of the dog or of the cook, and the dog bit at whatever came nearest, whether it was a piece of the cat or of the cook, so that the poor cook was badly pummelled on both sides.

And the cat scratched whatever got closest, whether it was the dog or the cook, and the dog bit at whatever was nearest, whether it was the cat or the cook, so the poor cook ended up getting beaten up from both sides.

Meanwhile, the
gingerbread man had climbed up on the garden wall, and stood on the top with his hands in his pockets, looking at the scrimmage,[12] and laughing till the tears ran down from his little caraway-seed eyes and his raisin mouth was bubbling all over with fun.

Meanwhile, the
gingerbread man had climbed onto the garden wall and stood at the top with his hands in his pockets, watching the chaos,[12] laughing until tears streamed down from his little caraway-seed eyes, while his raisin mouth bubbled over with joy.

After a little while, the cat managed to pull herself out from under the cook and the dog, and a very cast-down and crumpled-up-looking cat she was. She had had enough of hunting gingerbread men, and[13] she crept back to the kitchen to repair damages.

After a while, the cat finally got herself out from under the cook and the dog, looking very down and all crumpled up. She was tired of chasing after gingerbread men, and[13] she sneaked back into the kitchen to fix the mess.

The dog, who was very cross because his face had been badly scratched, let go of the cook, and at last, catching sight of the gingerbread man, made a bolt for the garden wall. The cook picked herself up, and although her face was also badly scratched and her dress was torn, she was determined to see the end of the chase, and she followed after the dog, though this time more slowly.

The dog, who was really angry because his face had been badly scratched, released the cook and finally, spotting the gingerbread man, raced toward the garden wall. The cook got back up, and even though her face was also badly scratched and her dress was torn, she was set on finishing the chase, so she followed the dog, though this time at a slower pace.

When the gingerbread man saw
the dog coming, he jumped down
[14] on the farther side of the wall, and
began running across the field. Now in
the middle of the field was a tree, and at the
foot of the tree was lying Jocko, the monkey. He
wasn’t asleep—monkeys never are—and when he
saw the little man running across the field and heard
the cook calling, “Jocko, Jocko, stop the gingerbread
man,” he at once gave one big jump. But he jumped so
fast and so far that he went right over the gingerbread
man, and as luck[15] would have it, he came down on the
back of Towser, the dog, who had just scrambled over
the wall, and whom he had not before noticed. Towser was naturally taken by surprise, but he turned his head around and promptly bit off the end of the monkey’s tail, and Jocko quickly jumped off again, chattering his indignation.

When the gingerbread man saw
the dog coming, he jumped down
[14] to the other side of the wall, and
started running across the field. In
the middle of the field was a tree, and at the
base of the tree was Jocko, the monkey. He
wasn’t asleep—monkeys never are—and when he
saw the little man running across the field and heard
the cook calling, “Jocko, Jocko, stop the gingerbread
man,” he immediately made a big jump. But he jumped so
quickly and so far that he went right over the gingerbread
man, and as luck[15] would have it, he landed on the
back of Towser, the dog, who had just jumped over
the wall, and whom he hadn’t noticed before. Towser was naturally caught off guard, but he turned his head around and quickly bit off the end of the monkey’s tail, and Jocko promptly jumped off again, chattering his outrage.

Meanwhile, the gingerbread man had got to the bottom of the tree, and was saying to himself: “Now, I know the dog can’t climb a tree, and I don’t believe the old cook can climb a tree; and as for the monkey I’m not sure, for I’ve never seen a monkey before, but I am going up.”

Meanwhile, the gingerbread man had reached the bottom of the tree and was saying to himself, “Now, I know the dog can’t climb a tree, and I don’t think the old cook can climb either; as for the monkey, I’m not sure since I’ve never seen one before, but I am going up.”

So he pulled himself up hand over hand until he had got to the topmost branch.

So he climbed up, pulling himself hand over hand, until he reached the highest branch.

But the monkey had jumped with one spring onto the lowest branch, and in an[16] instant he also was at the top of the tree.

But the monkey had leaped in one bound onto the lowest branch, and in an[16] instant he was also at the top of the tree.

The gingerbread man crawled out to the furthermost end of the branch, and hung by one hand, but the monkey swung himself under the branch, and stretching out his long arm, he pulled the gingerbread man in. Then he held him up and looked at him so hungrily that the little raisin mouth began to pucker down at the corners, and the caraway-seed eyes filled with tears.

The gingerbread man crawled out to the very edge of the branch and hung on with one hand, but the monkey swung under the branch and reached out his long arm to pull the gingerbread man in. Then he held him up and looked at him so hungrily that the little raisin mouth started to droop at the corners, and the caraway-seed eyes filled with tears.

And then what do you think happened? Why, little Bobby himself came running up. He had been taking his noon-day nap upstairs, and in his dreams it seemed as if he kept hearing people call “Little Bobby, little Bobby!” until finally he jumped up with a start, and was so sure that some one was calling him that he ran down-stairs, without even waiting to put on his shoes.

And then what do you think happened? Well, little Bobby himself came running up. He had been taking his midday nap upstairs, and in his dreams, it felt like he kept hearing people call, “Little Bobby, little Bobby!” until finally, he jumped up with a start and was so convinced that someone was calling him that he ran downstairs without even stopping to put on his shoes.

[17]

[18]

As he came down, he could see through[19] the window in the field beyond the garden the cook, and the dog, and the monkey, and could even hear the barking of Towser and the chattering of Jocko. He scampered down the walk, with his little bare feet pattering against the warm gravel, climbed over the wall, and in a few seconds arrived under the tree, just as Jocko was holding up the poor little gingerbread man.

As he descended, he could see through[19] the window into the field beyond the garden: the cook, the dog, and the monkey. He could even hear Towser barking and Jocko chattering. He rushed down the path, his tiny bare feet patting on the warm gravel, climbed over the wall, and in just a few seconds arrived under the tree, right as Jocko was holding up the poor little gingerbread man.

“Drop it, Jocko!” cried Bobby, and drop it Jocko did, for he always had to mind Bobby. He dropped it so straight that the gingerbread man fell right into Bobby’s uplifted pinafore.

“Drop it, Jocko!” yelled Bobby, and drop it Jocko did, because he always had to listen to Bobby. He dropped it perfectly so that the gingerbread man landed directly into Bobby’s raised apron.

Then Bobby held him up and looked at[20] him, and the little raisin mouth puckered down lower than ever, and the tears ran right out of the caraway-seed eyes.

Then Bobby lifted him up and looked at[20] him, and the little raisin mouth puckered down even lower, and the tears flowed right out of the caraway-seed eyes.