The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann - LightNovelsOnl.com
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Gottlieb, you listen, to what father says to you.
[_Some one sings outside the window:_
Our little man does all that he can, Heigh-ho, heigh!
At home he cleans the pots an' the pan, Heigh-diddle-di-dum-di!
[_Pa.s.ses on._
GOTTLIEB
[_Jumps up, shakes his clenched fist at the window._] Beast! Don't drive me crazy!
[_A volley of musketry is heard._
MOTHER HILSE
[_Starts and trembles._] Good Lord! Is that thunder again?
OLD HILSE
[_Instinctively folding his hands._] Oh, our Father in heaven! defend the poor weavers, protect my poor brothers.
[_A short pause ensues._
OLD HILSE
[_To himself, painfully agitated._] There's blood flowin' now.
GOTTLIEB
[_Had started up and grasped the axe when the shooting was heard; deathly pale, almost beside himself with excitement._] An' am I to lie to heel like a dog still?
A GIRL
[_Calls from the entry-room._] Father Hilse, father Hilse! get away from the window. A bullet's just flown in at ours upstairs.
[_Disappears._
MIELCHEN
[_Puts her head in at the window, laughing._] Gran'father, gran'father, they've shot with their guns. Two or three's been knocked down, an' one of 'em's turnin' round and round like a top, an' one's twistin' hisself like a sparrow when its head's bein' pulled of. An' oh, if you saw all the blood that came pourin'--!
[_Disappears._
A WEAVER'S WIFE
Yes, there's two or three'll never get up again.
AN OLD WEAVER
[_In the entry-room._] Look out! They're goin' to make a rush on the soldiers.
A SECOND WEAVER
[_Wildly._] Look, look, look at the women! skirts up, an' spittin' in the soldiers' faces already!
A WEAVER'S WIFE
[_Calls in._] Gottlieb, look at your wife. She's more pluck in her than you. She's jumpin' about in front o' the bay'nets as if she was dancin'
to music.
[_Four men carry a wounded rioter through the entry-room. Silence, which is broken by some one saying in a distinct voice,_ "It's weaver Ulbrich." _Once more silence for a few seconds, when the same voice is heard again:_ "It's all over with him; he's got a bullet in his ear." _The men are heard climbing the wooden stair. Sudden shouting outside:_ "Hurrah, hurrah!"
VOICES IN THE ENTRY-ROOM
"Where did they get the stones from?"--"Yes, it's time you were off!"--"From the new road."--"Ta-ta, soldiers!"--"It's rainin'
paving-stones."
[_Shrieks of terror and loud roaring outside, taken up by those in the entry-room. There is a cry of fear, and the house door is shut with a bang._
VOICES IN THE ENTRY-ROOM
"They're loadin' again."--"They'll fire another volley this minute."--"Father Hilse, get away from that window."
GOTTLIEB
[_Clutches the axe._] What! is we mad dogs? Is we to eat powder an' shot now instead o' bread? [_Hesitating an instant to the old man._] Would you have me sit here an' see my wife shot? Never! [_As he rushes out._] Look out! I'm coming!
OLD HILSE
Gottlieb, Gottlieb!
MOTHER HILSE
Where's Gottlieb gone?
OLD HILSE
He's gone to the devil.
VOICES FROM THE ENTRY-ROOM
Go away from the window, father Hilse.
OLD HILSE
Not I! Not if you all goes crazy together! [_To MOTHER HILSE, with rapt excitement._] My heavenly Father has placed me here. Isn't that so, mother? Here we'll sit, an' do our bounden duty--ay, though the snow was to go on fire.
