The Piper | Page 8

'one more look'! Where is he now?--And where are
we? [Turning back to the Children] So, so.
[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; passing 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? Bird's
wings!
PIPER There was some hunter in the woods, Who killed more birds
than he could carry home. He did not want these,--though the starling
did, But could not use them more! And so,-- [Fastening one to each
heel] And so,-- They trim a little boy. [Puts them on JAN. He is radiant.
He stretches out his legs and pats the feathers.
CHILDREN [trying on theirs and capering] O Jan!--O Jan! Oh! see my
shoes!
[The PIPER looks at JAN.]
PIPER Hey day, what now?
JAN I wish. . .
PIPER What do you wish? Wish for it!--It shall come. [JAN pulls him
closer and speaks shyly.]
JAN I wish--that I could show them--to the Man, The Lonely Man.
[The PIPER looks at him and backs away; sits down helplessly and
looks at him again. Oh, can I?--
PIPER Thou!--'T would make me a proud man.
JAN Oh! it would make Him smile!
[The Children dance and caper. TRUDE wakes up and joins them.
Sound of distant chanting again.
TRUDE I