]
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 had a dream!
PIPER
A dream!
[Pretending to be amazed. Reflects, a moment]
I know!--Oh, what a funny dream!
[The Children all fall a-laughing when he does.--Noise without.
Cheat-the-Devil's voice crying, 'Cuckoo--Cuckoo!'
CHEAT-THE-DEVIL
Quick, quick!--I've something here.
[The others roll away a big stone, and enter by the wooden door (rear),
CHEAT-THE-DEVIL.
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