The Piper - LightNovelsOnl.com
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[The Strollers huddle together, with looks of renewed anxiety and wretchedness.--Their laughter at the Children breaks out forlornly now and then.--The PIPER shepherds the Children, but with watchful eyes and ears toward the entrance always.
--His action grows more and more tense.
RUDI [over his broth]
Oh, I remember now!--Before I woke. . .
Oh, what an awful dream!
ILSE Oh, tell us, Rudi,-- Oh, scare us,--Rudi, scare us!--
RUDI [bursting into tears]
. . . _Lump was dead_!
Lump, Lump!-- [The Children wail.
PIPER [distracted]
Who's Lump?
RUDI Our Dog!
PIPER [shocked and pained]
The Dog!--No, no.
Heaven save us--I forgot about the dogs!
RUDI He Wanted me;--and I always wasn't there!
And people tied him up,--and other people Pretended that he bit.--He never bites!
He Wanted me, until it broke his heart, And he was dead!
PIPER [struggling with his emotion]
And then he went to heaven, To chase the happy cats up all the trees;-- Little white cats! . . . He wears a golden collar . . .
And sometimes--[Aside]--I'd forgot about the dogs!
Well, dogs must suffer, so that men grow wise.
'T was ever so.
[He turns to give JAN a piping lesson]
CHILDREN
Oh, what a funny dream!
[Suddenly he lifts his hand. They listen, and hear a dim sound of distant chanting, going by on some neighboring road. The PIPER is puzzled; the Strollers are plainly depressed.
JAN What is it?
PIPER People; pa.s.sing down below, In the dark valley.
[He looks at the Children fixedly]
Do you want to see them?
CHILDREN Don't let them find us! What an ugly noise.-- No, no--don't let them come!
PIPER Hark ye to me.
Some day I'll take you out with me to play; High in the sun,--close to the water-fall . . . .
And we will make believe--_We'll make believe We're hiding_! . . .
[The Strollers rock with mirth.]
CHILDREN Yes, yes! Oh, let us make believe!
STROLLERS Oho, ho, ho!--A make-believe!--Ho, ho!
PIPER But, if you're good,--yes, very, very soon I'll take you, as I promised,--
CHILDREN --Gypsies, oh!
PIPER Yes, with the gypsies. We shall go at night, With just a torch-- [Watching them.]
CHILDREN Oh!
PIPER Like fire-flies! Will-o'-the-wisps!
And make believe we're hiding, all the way, Till we come out into a sunny land,-- All vines and sunlight, yes, and men that sing!
Far, far away--forever.
[Gives ILSE a bowl to feed the other children]
[JAN pipes a measure of the Kinder-spell, brokenly. The PIPER turns.
So! Thou'lt be My master, some day. Thou shalt pipe for me.
JAN [piping]
Oh, wasn't that one beautiful?--Now you!
PIPER [taking the pipe]
The rainbow-bridge by day; --And borrow a shepherd-crook!
At night we take to the Milky Way; And then we follow the brook!
We'll follow the brook, whatever way The brook shall sing, or the sun shall say, Or the mothering wood-dove coos!
And what do I care, what else I wear, If I keep my rainbow shoes!
[He points to the little row of bright shoes. The Children scream with joy. ILSE and HANSEL run back.
CHILDREN Oh dear! What lovely shoes! Oh, which are mine?
Oh! Oh!--What lovely shoes! Oh, which are mine?
PIPER Try, till you see.
[Taking up a little red pair]
But these,--these are for Jan.
[JAN is perched on the tree-stump, shy and silent with pleasure.
ILSE Oh, those are best of all! And Jan--
PIPER And Jan Is not to trudge, like you. Jan is to wear Beautiful shoes, and shoes made most of all, To look at!
[Takes up a pair of bird's wings.]
CHILDREN [squealing]
Oh! Where did you find the wings?
