Six One-Act Plays Part 15

BOY--The devil made that chart you boast about!

MAN--And locked it in my breast.

BOY--It has taken away your peace.

MAN--Peace! To hear that name on all men's lips, to search and search and never know its habitation.

BOY--They say: He that pursueth, never shall overtake!

MAN--(_To himself._) Desires die, ideals are forgotten, love pa.s.ses away. The mantel of eternal snow envelops all men, what shall escape?

BOY--Youth!

MAN--Which knows not life.

BOY--Must one experience to know?... Do I not feel?

MAN--In all these days we have been together, what have you felt for me?

BOY--That you sowed wisely, but knew not how to garner. You speak of ideals lost--

MAN--I am not sure I ever had them.

BOY--Is it work or play, love or life, your ideal of yesterday?

MAN--Yesterday! Did it ever exist?

BOY--It died the night of its birth, and vanished in rose smoke, making incense to the G.o.ds who once reigned.

MAN--Who told you all this?

BOY--My lady--in the twilight.

MAN--Your lady?

BOY--She sent me to find the promised land. She will come when I am there. My heart is strong, and I can wait for her.

MAN--My heart was strong and pa.s.sionate; it pulses no longer like a man's, but serves to beat out the unconsidered tickings of the ashen days.

BOY--Then sit with me, be a child, and laugh at the shadow. So faith may come again.

MAN--The day is breaking.

BOY--(_Whimsically._) Alas, the shadow's gone, and you have not seen it! Look yonder at the little stream, it leaps like a white flame down the grey old rocks.

(_They peer over the cliff together._)

MAN--I smell the living earth.

BOY--I want to climb the mountain side. Who knows what treasures may be there?

MAN--(_Slowly._) I know the place--the place above.

BOY--Have you been there?

MAN--No.... I dreamed and thought to reach it once, but lost the way.

(_They climb together._)

BOY--Why do you laugh?

MAN--My blood has turned to flame. I feel it burning in my body.

BOY--The morning sun is in your veins. I know.... What do you see?

MAN--(_Whispering._) Your land of promise!

BOY--It is not so! My land of promise is more beautiful than anything one may imagine!

MAN--This is more beautiful.

BOY--I would know if this were it.

MAN--This is the land I say. Laugh with me and shout. The shadow of the devil has gone. I have found the place and myself.

BOY--Not so! The place is farther off, and higher. I am not content with this!

MAN--Come with me, youth, to the summit!

BOY--(_Eagerly._) I'll climb with you.... I'll climb ... to the summit!

(_CURTAIN_)

THE STRIKER

CAST

JOHN QUINN, _A mortorman on strike_.

MRS. QUINN, _His wife_.

MOLLY, _His daughter_.

BILL MARTIN, _A neighbor, also on strike_.

MRS. MARTIN, _His wife_.