JAN leans out and points to the ground.
_Heja_! What now?--
[Picking up one of JAN'S winged shoes.]
HANS' WIFE
Look! Look!--
And wings upon it! Mercy, what a shoe.--
Don't give it back.--The child will fly away!
PIPER
No, no!
[Looking up at the window soothingly.]
He only wanted one to show--
JAN
To Mother!--See.
[Showing her his other foot, joyously]
PIPER
[to him]
And this,--wilt leave it here?
Here--with--
JAN
The Lonely Man! Oh, make Him smile!
[The PIPER crosses to the Shrine, with the little shoe, and hangs
it up there; then he turns towards the window, waving his hand.
CHILDREN
Where are you going? . . .
[They run and cling.]
PIPER
Ah, the high-road now!
CHILDREN
Oh! why?
PIPER
I have to find somebody there.
Yes, now and every day, and everywhere
The wide world over.--So: good-night, good-morning,
Good-by! There's so much piping left to do,--
I must be off, and pipe.
CHILDREN
Oh! why?
PIPER
I promised,
Look you! . . .
CHILDREN
Who is it?
PIPER
Why,--the Lonely Man.
[He waves them farewells and goes. The Children dance and laugh
and sparkle. Through the hundred sounds of joy, there comes a
far-off piping.
THE END
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Piper, by Josephine Preston Peabody
*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIPER ***
***** This file should be named 11661.
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