Read-Aloud Plays Part 20

MRS. EVERITT

Oh, yes. Once there was a little girl who lived in the country.

HAROLD

What country?

MRS. EVERITT

A country something like this. She and her mother lived in a little house beside a brook. The little girl loved to listen to the brook outside her window at night. One day she asked her mother where the brook went to. She didn't want _her_ brook to run away. And what do you suppose her mother said?

HAROLD

What her mother say?

MRS. EVERITT

She said the brook didn't really run away, when it got out of sight across the fields it turned into rain. So then the little girl was glad whenever it rained, because she knew it was the little brook coming back to her.

HAROLD

Oh. And is _this_ rain the brook coming back? The little girl's brook?

MRS. EVERITT

The little girl grew up and went away. But it's _some_ little girl's brook. (_Walter comes in with sticks_)

WALTER

I thought we'd have a fire.

ALICE

Good! Make a big one.

MRS. EVERITT

Now, Harold, mother is going to put you in a nice bed, right under the roof where the rain-drops whisper and sing. (_She takes Harold out_)

ALICE

Where'd father go?

WALTER

He said he wanted a cigar.

ALICE

He's been a long time.

WALTER

Perhaps he's gone to look at the engine.

ALICE

Walter, what's the matter with them? Last night....

WALTER

I don't know. I heard them, too. It isn't the first time they have quarreled.

ALICE

It's terrible!

WALTER

Father's got a rotten temper, lately.

ALICE

I thought she wanted him--

WALTER

She did, but he had no business to get so angry about it.

ALICE

But why did she want to change our plans at the last minute and go into Connecticut? Everything was arranged to come here.

WALTER.

She said he had arranged it without speaking to her. She said--there's something about it I don't understand.

ALICE

I don't either. I--(_Mrs. Everitt enters_)

WALTER

Did he go to sleep?

MRS. EVERITT

No. He is talking to the rain. I never heard him say such odd things. I hated to leave him. It seemed as if he heard voices....