aber ich muss nach Hause. Meine Frau wird sich wundern, was aus mir geworden ist. GEO. (To W.) Meine Frau hat keine Ahnung wo ich bin ich muss wirklich jetzt fort. W. (To Geo). Dann will ich Sie nicht länger aufhalten; ich bedaure sehr dass Sie uns einen so kurzen Besuch gemacht haben. GEO. (To W.) Adieu auf recht baldiges Wiedersehen. W. UMSTEIGEN! Great hand-clapping from the girls. M. (Aside.) Oh, how perfect! how elegant! A. (Aside.) Per-fectly enchanting! JOYOUS CHORUS. (All.) Ich habe gehabt, du hast gehabt, er hat gehabt, wir haben gehabt, ihr habet gehabt, sie haben gehabt. Gretchen faints, and tumbles from her chair, and the gun goes off with a crash. Each girl, frightened, seizes the protecting hand of her sweetheart. Gretchen scrambles up. Tableau. W. (Takes out some money—beckons Gretchen to him. George adds money to the pile.) Hübsches Mädchen (giving her some of the coins), hast Du etwas gesehen? GR. (Courtesy-aside.) Der Engel! (Aloud W. (More money.) Und Morgen? und blind. Enter Gretchen, and puts her shawl on a chair. Brushing around with the traditional feather-duster of the drama. Smartly dressed, for she is prosperous. GR. Wie hätte man sich das vorstellen können! In nur drei Wochen bin ich schon reich geworden! (Gets out of her pocket handful after handful of silver, which she piles on the table, and proceeds to re-pile and count, occasionally ringing or biting a piece to try its quality.) Oh, dass (with a sigh) die Frau Wirthin nur ewig krank bliebe! . . . . Diese edlen jungen Männer-sie sind ja so liebenswürdig! Und so fleissig!- und so treu! Jeden Morgen kommen sie gerade um drei Viertel auf neun; und plaudern und schwatzen, und plappern, und schnattern, die jungen Damen auch; um Schlage zwölf nehmen sie Abschied; um Schlage eins kommen sie schon wieder, und plaudern und schwatzen und plappern und schnattern; gerade um sechs Uhr nehmen sie wiederum Abschied; um halb acht kehren sie noch'emal zurück, und plaudern und schwatzen und plappern und schnattern bis zehn Uhr, oder veilleicht ein Viertel nach, falls ihre Uhren nach gehen (und stets gehen sie nach am Ende des Besuchs, aber stets vor Beginn desselben), und zuweilen unterhalten sich die jungen Leute beim Spazierengehen; und jeden Sonntag gehen sie dreimal in die Kirche; und immer plaudern sie, und schwatzen und plappern und schnattern bis ihnen die Zähnen aus dem Munde fallen. Und ich? Durch Mangel an Uebung, ist mir die Zunge mit Moos belegt worden! Freilich ist's mir eine dumme Zeit gewesen. Aber-um Gottes willen, was geht das mir an? Was soll ich daraus machen? Täglich sagt die Frau Wirthin "Gretchen" (dumb-show of paying a piece of money into her hand), "du bist eine der besten Sprach-Lehrerinnen der Welt!" Ach, Gott! Und täglich sagen die edlen jungen Männer, "Gretchen, liebes Kind" (money-paying again in dumb-showthree coins), "bleib' taub-blind-todt!" und so bleibe ich. .... Jetzt wird es ungefähr neun Uhr sein; bald kommen sie vom Spaziergehen zurück. Also, es wäre gut dass ich meinem eigenen Schatz einen Besuch abstatte und spazieren gehe. (Dons her shawl.) Exit. L. Enter Wirthin. R. WIRTHIN. That was Mr. Stephenson's train that just came in. Evidently the girls are out walking with Gretchen;-can't find them, and she does n't seem to be around. (A ring at the door.) That 's him. I 'll go see. Exit. R. Enter Stephenson and Wirthin. R. Well, how does sickness seem to agree with you? S. WIRTHIN. So well that I've never been out of my room since, till I heard your train come in. S. Thou miracle of fidelity! Now I argue from that, that the new plan is working. WIRTHIN. Working? Mr. Stephenson, you never saw anything like it in the whole course of your life! It's absolutely wonderful the way it works. S. Succeeds? No-you don't mean it. WIRTHIN. Indeed I do mean it. I tell you, Mr. Stephenson, that plan was just an inspiration - that's what it was. You could teach a cat German by it. S. Dear me, this is noble news! Tell me about it. WIRTHIN. Well, it 's all Gretchen-ev-ery drag them away from Gretchen with nine span bit of it. I told you she was a jewel. And then of horses. But if you want to see them, put the sagacity of that child-why, I never on your hat and come along; they 're out dreamed it was in her. Sh-she, "Never you somewhere trapsing around with Gretchen. ask the young ladies a question - never let (Going.) on-just keep mum-leave the whole thing - lead on. to me," sh-she. S. Good! And she justified, did she? WIRTHIN. Well, sir, the amount of German gabble that that child crammed into those two girls inside the next forty-eight hours—well, I was satisfied! So I've never asked a question - never wanted to ask any. I've just lain curled up there, happy. The little dears! they 've flitted in to see me a moment, every morning and noon and supper-time; and as sure as I'm sitting here, inside of six days they were clattering German to me like a house afire! S. Sp-lendid, splendid! WIRTHIN. Of course it ain't grammatical the inventor of the language can't talk grammatical; if the Dative didn't fetch him the Accusative would; but it 's German all the same, and don't you forget it! S. Go on-go on this is delicious newsWIRTHIN. Gretchen, she says to me at the start, "Never you mind about company for 'em," "sh-she-"I'm company enough." And I says, "All right-fix it your own way, child"; and that she was right is shown by the fact that to this day they don't care a straw for any company but hers. S. Dear me; why, it 's admirable! WIRTHIN. Well, I should think so! They just dote on that hussy - can't seem to get enough of her. Gretchen tells me so herself. And the care she takes of them! She tells me that every time there's a moonlight night she coaxes them out for a walk; and if a body can believe her, she actually bullies them off to church three times every Sunday! S. Why the little dev-missionary! Really, she's a genius! WIRTHIN. She's a bud, I tell you! Dear me, how she's brought those girls' health up! Cheeks? just roses. Gait?- they walk on watch-springs! And happy?-by the bliss in their eyes, you'd think they 're in Paradise! Ah, that Gretchen! Just you imagine our trying to achieve these marvels! S. You're right-every time. Those girls why, all they'd have wanted to know was what we wanted done-and then they wouldn't have done it the mischievous young rascals! WIRTHIN. Don't tell me? Bless you, I found that out early when I was bossing. S. Well, I'm im-mensely pleased. Now fetch them down. I'm not afraid now. They won't want to go home. WIRTHIN. Home! I don't believe you could VOL. XXXV.-64. S. I'm with you WIRTHIN. We'll go out the side door. It's toward the Anlage. M. Warum kommen sie nicht? G. Dass weiss ich gar nicht. Sie waren M. Es wird spät. Wir müssen sie antreiben. Komm! G. Ich glaube sie werden recht bald ankommen, aber Exit both. L. Enter Gretchen, R., in a state of mind. Slumps into a chair limp with despair. GR. Ach! was wird jetzt aus mir werden! Zufällig habe ich in der Ferne den verdammten Papa gesehen! - und die Frau Wirthin auch! Oh, diese Erscheinung,― die hat mir beinahe das Leben genommen. Sie suchen die jungen Damen dass weiss ich wenn sie diese und die jungen Herren zusammen fänden — du heiliger Gott! Wenn das geschieht, wären wir Alle ganz und gar verloren! Ich muss sie gleich finden, und ihr eine Warnung geben! Exit. L. Enter Annie and Will. R. Posed like the former couple, and sentimental. A. Ich liebe sich schon so sehr - Deiner edlen Natur wegen. Dass du dazu auch ein W. (Aside.) Smouches 'em, same as I do. It was a noble good idea to play that little thing on her. George would n't ever think of that somehow he never had any invention. A. (Arranging chairs.) Jetzt will ich bei Dir sitzen bleiben, und Du — W. (They sit.) Ja,- und ich — A. Du wirst mir die alte Geschichte die immer neu bleibt, noch wieder erzählen. W. Zum Beispiel, dass ich Dich liebe! W. Ich sie kommen! Enter George and Margaret. A. Das macht nichts. Fortan! (George unties M's bonnet. She re-ties his cravat― interspersings of love-pats, etc., and dumb-show of love-quarrelings.) W. Ich liebe Dich. A. Ach! Noch einmal! W. Ich habe Dich von Herzen lieb. W. Bist Du denn noch nicht satt? A. Nein! (The other couple sit down, and Margaret begins a re-tying of the cravat. Enter the Wirthin and Stephenson, he imposing silence with a sign.) Mich hungert sehr, ich verhungre! W. Oh, Du armes Kind! (Lays her head on his shoulder. Dumb-show between Stephenson and Wirthin.) Und hungert es nicht mich? Du hast mir nicht einmal gesagt A. Dass ich Dich liebe? Mein Eigener! (Frau Wirthin threatens to faint-is supported by Stephenson.) Höre mich nur an: Ich liebe Dich, ich liebe Dich — Enter Gretchen. GR. (Tears her hair.) Oh, dass ich in der Hölle wäre! M. Ich liebe Dich, ich liebe Dich! Ah, ich bin so glücklich dass ich nicht schlafen kann, nicht lesen kann, nicht reden kann, nicht — A. Und ich! Ich bin auch so glücklich dass ich nicht speisen kann, nicht studieren, arbeiten, denken, schreiben -- STEPHENSON. (To Wirthin― aside.) Oh, there is n't any mistake about it — Gretchen's just a rattling teacher! WIRTHIN. (To Stephenson-aside.) I'll skin her alive when I get my hands on her! M. Komm, alle Verliebte! (They jump up, join hands, and sing in chorus) — Du, Du, wie ich Dich liebe, Du, Du, liebst auch mich ! S. (Stepping forward.) Well! The girls throw themselves upon his neck with enthusiasm. THE GIRLS. Why, father! S. My darlings! The young men hesitate a moment, then they add their embrace, flinging themselves on Stephenson's neck, along with the girls. THE YOUNG MEN. Why, father! S. (Struggling.) Oh come, this is too thin! too quick, I mean. Let go, you rascals! GEO. We'll never let go till you put us on the family list. M. Right! hold to him! A. Cling to him, Will! Gretchen rushes in and joins the general embrace, but is snatched away by the Wirthin, crushed up against the wall and threatened with destruction. S. (Suffocating.) All right, all right-have it your own way, you quartette of swindlers! W. He's a darling! Three cheers for papa! EVERYBODY. (Except Stephenson, who bows with hand on heart.) Hip-hip-hip; hurrah, hurrah, hurrah! GR. Der Tiger — ah-h-h! WIRTHIN. Sei ruhig, you hussy! S. Well, I 've lost a couple of precious daughters, but I've gained a couple of precious scamps to fill up the gap with; so it's all right. I 'm satisfied, and everybody 's forgiven (With mock threats at Gretchen.) W. Oh, wir werden für Dich sorgen - du herrliches Gretchen! GR. Danke schön! M. (To Wirthin.) Und für Sie auch; denn wenn Sie nicht so freundlich gewesen wären, krank zu werden, wie wären wir je so glücklich geworden wie jetzt? WIRTHIN. Well, dear, I was kind, but I did n't mean it. But I ain't sorry-not one bit that I ain't. Tableau. S. Come now, the situation is full of hope, f "DE VALLEY AN' DE SHADDER." By the Author of "The Two Runaways," "Sister Todhunter's Heart," " Elder Brown's Backslide," etc. LOG hut with a stack chimney, at the foot of a long, low hill where the path that winds around it disappears under a great spreading black-gum; another log hut with a stack chimney, over by a belt of pine woods; and another of like build beyond, where a group of water-oaks marks a bend in the swamp; and others still, right and left in the distance, until the number runs up into the dozens,- this is Black Ankle. But not all of it. Yonder are a shed and a corn-crib, and a leaning stack of fodder, and a blue-stem collard patch, and snake fences, and vehicles that have stood in the weather until sunstruck; a forlorn mule; a cow that all her life has evidently practiced the precept, "It is better to give than to receive"; a stray hen with her little family under a gorgeous sunflower, this is Black Ankle. But hold! There are little negroes in single garments that reach to their knees only, and the ten-year-old girl bearing in her arms the infant. There are the clothes fluttering on the knotted lines propped up by fork saplings. There are black women, with tucked-up dresses, scrubbing over the wash-tub, and in the air the marvelously mellow plantation hymn, and on the ground the shadow of the circling hawk, and the grasshopper balancing himself in mid air, and the dipping mocking-bird on the hawbush. Ah, now indeed is this Black Ankle! The sun had gone down, and the shadows were creeping out of the swamp, veiling Black Ankle. All the poverty sign-boards were buried in the gloom, and where the cabins stood fiery eyes twinkled through the night. But under the great black-gum, where the spring gushed, a pine-knot fire blazed merrily, piling up the shadows and painting in wavering light the cabin front. The little porch, over which ran the morning-glory and the cypress-vine, stood forth as though projected by the brush of a mighty artist. From every direction, by every path, there came dusky figures, the simple children of the soil, filling the air with songs and laughter, and passed into the light. In a chair upon a table, his back against the black-gum, sat a little wrinkled fiddler with his battered instrument under his chin, the bow twisting and sawing. And by his side, drumming on the strings with a straw, stood a boy, who ever and anon turned his head to laugh at some gay sally from the company gathered upon the smooth and well-trodden ground. A favorite dancer exhibited his skill until breathless, and was turning away amidst the plaudits of the crowd when a young woman forced her way in, crying: "Git erway, niggers; lemme come!" The crowd shouted, "Lou, Lou!" "Lou 'ill knock de shine off er 'im." "You got ter shuffl' now, Beeswing." The teeth of the young man who beat with the straw shone whiter and broader as a short, active girl broke into the circle. Beeswing grinned. "Come back, nigger," she cried. The crowd laughed again, and as the girl's feet began to keep time with the music, a dozen hands patted upon as many thighs, and a voice, to which the chorus replied, added words to the strains of the fiddle, the dancer adapting her steps to the hints given : "Shuffl', littl' Lou; "Pretty littl' Lou; Come 'long, Lou; Pretty littl' Lou; Back step, Lou; Pretty littl' Lou; Pretty littl' Lou; Look at Lou!" The dancer held her dress back and "walked around," turning her toes in, and the crowd laughed. But the song continued: 66 'Pretty littl' Lou; Pretty littl' Lou; Cross step, Lou; Pretty littl' Lou; Balunce too; Pretty littl' Lou." cotton, revealing her ankles, and the leader The girl whirled around amidst a cloud of started the laugh by chiming in, followed by the refrain, again: "Oom oom 00; "See yer froo; Shuff', littl' Lou; Beeswing broke out of the circle, and the dance ended amidst the shouts of the company. |
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