Why the Chimes Rang | Page 3

from the sides
of their mouths. "Go up," cried Mother,--"I wist my boys are deep in
tears!"--and I, not wishing to see you drown in so much water--
HOLGER. (_Patting his arm_) Dear Uncle Bertel!
STEEN. (_Rising on his knees_) Come, let's go quick!
BERTEL. Patience, patience, young colt, plenty of time, mother said
something else.
STEEN. What?
BERTEL. (_His eye on the shelf above the fire_) That I should find
some warm porridge for my pains.
HOLGER. (_Springing to his feet_) Why, of course, there is porridge!
(_He goes to the shelf_) Nice and warm it is! All ready for supper. (He
hands the first bowl to BERTEL, STEEN _capers nimbly across the
intervening space and seats himself on the side of the hearth, facing_
BERTEL, _his back to the audience_)
STEEN. Supper! How could we forget supper?--Give me a big bowlful,
Holger.
HOLGER. (Handing STEEN _his porridge_) There isn't a big bowlful
here.
STEEN. (_Taking the bowl and hugging it_) Nice kind good supper,
umh! (_Begins to eat eagerly_)

HOLGER. (_Suddenly looking toward the door_) Listen!
BERTEL. To what?
HOLGER. (_Awed, hesitant_) Someone--sobbing--at the door! (_He
goes to it, the others watching him startled, he opens the door, finds
nothing, closes it and comes back_) Nothing there!
BERTEL. The wind!--Thy old tricks, Holger,--always dreaming some
strange thing.
HOLGER. (Recalled by BERTEL'S _words to something else_) Didst
thou pass an old woman on the road--near here?
BERTEL. Not a soul nearer than the town gate. (HOLGER _stands
thinking, absorbed_) Come, boy, eat,--_eat_! See how Steen eats!
HOLGER. (_Breaks through his abstraction and reverts to his bright
self_) Oh, Uncle Bertel,--I'm too glad to eat!
BERTEL. (_More seriously_) Thou art right, lad,--fasting were better
than feasting this day in Tralsund!--they say,--do you know what they
say in the town?
HOLGER. What?
BERTEL. They say--that to-night in the great church--when the
offerings are laid upon the altar for the Christ child,--_something will
happen_!
(STEEN _has finished his porridge, puts the bowl on the shelf near him,
seizes his cloak and cap from the peg near the hearth and stands eager
to be gone._)
HOLGER. What?
BERTEL. Who can say? All day the folk have been pouring into the
town as never before. The market place is crowded, every inn is full.
No church but the cathedral could hold such a multitude. Never have I
seen such excitement, such fervor!
HOLGER. There will be many gifts!
BERTEL. --the rich are bringing their treasure, gold and jewels, king's
ransoms, aye and the King comes. (BERTEL finishes his porridge and
hands the bowl to STEEN)
HOLGER. The King?
BERTEL. The King Himself!
STEEN. Oh, and shall we see Him, Uncle, and the fine gifts and
everything?
BERTEL. Why not?--Even the poorest may go up and give--what hast

thou to offer?
STEEN. (_Abashed_) I?--Nothing! (Puts his porridge bowl and
BERTEL'S _on the shelf then goes restlessly to the door_)
HOLGER. (_Breaking in with eagerness_) Oh, I have, see, Uncle?
(_Feels in his pocket and brings out two pennies_) See!--Last week I
was gathering sticks in the forest and a fine gentleman rode past and
asked the way of me. I showed him the path and he gave me these!
(_Holds up the pennies_)
BERTEL. (Rising and going to HOLGER _who is in the middle of the
room_) Faith, real money in the family. (_Stoops and looks at the
pennies as though they were a rare sight_)
STEEN. Oh, I thought we were going to buy cakes with those, Holger.
HOLGER. But it's better to give it to the Christ Child. You see He is a
little child, smaller than even you,--and I think He would like a little
gift,--a little bright gift that would buy cakes for Him. (HOLGER _goes
toward the window and stands looking dreamily out at the lights of the
church_)
BERTEL. Aye, to-night we must think of Him,--there in His Holy
Church.
HOLGER. It is a holy place, the church!--I feel it every time I go,--it's
like God's forest,--the pillars like old oaks and the great windows all
colors like sunsets through the trees.
BERTEL. _'Tis_ like the forest.
HOLGER. And when the organ plays that's like a storm gathering in
the mountains.
BERTEL. A storm?--Aye!--"The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind
and in the storm and the clouds are the dust of His feet!"--Why should
He not do a wonder as of old? Perhaps the great miracle will come
again!
HOLGER. Oh, which, Uncle?--There are so many in the Bible!
STEEN. Yes, which?--Would there be a whale now to swallow a
priest?
BERTEL. Thou goosey! This was no Bible miracle,--it happened there,
_there_, where we see the lights,--hundreds of years ago. (BERTEL has
followed HOLGER to the window and STEEN _joins them. As he
speaks_ BERTEL _slips his arms affectionately round