PIPER
[to him, smiling wisely]
And all the others?
JAN
They were all asleep.
PIPER
I'll waken them!
[He takes his pipe.--An uproar of joy among the burghers.]
AXEL the Smith, HANS the Butcher, ALL
( Bring lights,--bring lights!
( Oh, Piper--Oh, my lambs!
( The children!--The children!
[Some rush out madly; others go into their houses for lights; some
are left on their knees, weeping for joy.
The PIPER sounds a few notes; then lifts his hand and listens,
smiling.--Uproar in the distance.--A great harking of dogs;--shouts
and cheers; then the high, sweet voices of the Children.
The piping is drowned in cries of joy. The sun comes out, still
rosy, in a flood of light. The crowd rushes in. Fat burghers hug
each other, and laugh and cry. They are all younger, their faces
bloom, as by a miracle.
The Children pour in. Some are carried, some run hand-in-hand.
Everywhere women embrace their own. KURT has his sons.--CHEAT-THE-DEVIL
comes, with a daisy-chain around his neck, all smiles.
An uproar of light and faces.
HANS the Butcher
The treasure for the Piper!
ALL
Ay, ay, Piper!
HANS the Butcher
The thousand guilders!
PIPER
Give them Michael there,
For all us three. I hate to carry things;--
Saving out one!
[He waves his hand to JAN in the window.--VERONIKA appears behind
him, shining with new life.
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