The Flutter of the Goldleaf; and Other Plays Part 22

Now, go right to bed, children. It is ten o'clock.

(_Takes light and goes with husband into room right. Children undress and scramble into one bed._)

(_Street noises all discontinue, back of room opens out on to the orchard and the music of first scene is heard with dancing children._ EVERYCHILD _comes into the room with her rosy lamp. The three children sit up in bed and rub their eyes._ EVERYCHILD _glides all about the room and looks at the squalid place in dismay, then goes up and smiles at the children._)

_Everychild_

You are some of the lost children. How did you get in here? Come with me. I will give you some better clothes and you can dance and sing with all of them.

(_They get out of bed and she leads them in wonder and joy out into the orchard._)

(CURTAIN FALLS)

SCENE III: _Plain interior of a farmer's kitchen with farmer's wife busy over stove, and kitchen table set for lunch for two. Adjacent room, left, small bedroom in which lies a pallid thin child in bed with dishes and bottles on little bedside table. Very little light. Curtains to a single window down. Farmer in overalls comes in, looking hot and tired. He throws hat on chair, says "Hullo, Mary, dinner ready?" and proceeds to wash hands and face in a basin on a stool. Then sits down at the table._

_Mary_ (_bringing food from stove and sitting down opposite_)

Here we are, Jim. Guess you're ready for something. It takes a man to sprout a patch o' locusts, and you had breakfast by lamplight.

_Jim_

Some o' them roots seemed as long as from here to the barn.

_Mary_

But you'll have the best pasture in the county next year.

_Jim_

What's the good? We rationed our beef steers the way that government chap taught us, and our pigs, and our sheep, and who got the profit?

_Mary_

A lot more doc.u.ments came from the government to-day--all about _pigs_.

And we haven't got a decent house to live in! If we could only build on that pretty bit of high ground I've had picked out for three years, Rosie would quit havin' these sick spells.

_Jim_

How is she, mother?

_Mary_

I b'lieve she's a little better. Jim, have you got any money left from sellin' the car?

_Jim_

You know we had to pay the interest at the bank first of all, and the rest went for fertilizer.

_Mary_

I miss the car more on Rosie's account than mine. She's been cryin'

for a ride this morning. I didn't know what to say. And I had to promise her she could go to the picnic if she got well. That'll mean a pretty dress, and hat and shoes.

_Jim_

I don't know where you'll get 'em then.

_Mary_

Looks like we ought to be able to give our children a little pleasure.

There's poor Billie and Tom don't more'n get home from school an' lay their books down till they have to go to hoein' and pullin' weeds. I don't blame Billie a bit for runnin' away and goin' fis.h.i.+n' last Sat.u.r.day.

_Jim_

I don't either, though I had to whip him for it. I can't do without his work and get through.

_Mary_

Get through? When did we ever get through anyhow? Look at this, Jim.

(_Picks up paper and points to paragraph._) Beef steers sold to-day in Chicago at nine cents a pound. It cost us fourteen cents to raise ours, and we're countin' on makin' things easier by raisin' more next year.

And see here, it says _beef_ went _up_ in the Eastern market four cents.

_Jim_

Steers down, beef up! Robbin' both ways.

(_Enter_ BILLIE _and_ TOM _with schoolbooks, which they throw down, shouting: "We got a half-holiday!"_)

_Billie_

The big boys are goin' to play ball. Dad, can't we go watch 'em?

(MARY _and_ JIM _look at each other._)

We ain't seen a ball game this year, and we want to learn to play.

They're makin' a little boys' team at school.

_Mary_

Daddy's workin' awfully hard to-day. He needs you bad to pile brush for him.

_Jim_

You can't go to-day, boys. Next time----

_Billie_ (_hopeless_)