For the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short, see The Ginger Bread Boy. The Bannock dough Boy” first appeared in print in the May 1875, issue of St.
Nicholas tale, a childless old woman bakes a gingerbread man, who leaps from her oven and runs away. The woman and her husband give chase, but are unable to catch him. The gingerbread man then outruns several farm workers and farm men. I’ve run away from a little old man, A little old man, and the old lady And I can run away from you, I can! The tale ends with a fox catching and eating the gingerbread man who cries as he is devoured, “I’m quarter goneI’m half goneI’m three-quarters goneI’m all gone! The Gingerbread Man remains a common subject for American children’s literature into the 21st century.
I am quarter gone I am half gone I am three-quarters gone I am all gone! In some variations, the fox feigns deafness, drawing the Gingerbread Man closer and closer. Then the fox snatches and devours him. Run, run as fast as you can!