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24 - Under the Lilacs (version 3, dramatic reading) by Louisa May Alcott · U.S. Marine Operations in Korea - The Pusan Perimeter

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  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty three of Under the Lilacs by Louisa may Alcott.
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  Speaker 2: This is a LibriVox recording.
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  Speaker 1: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
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  Speaker 1: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Under
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  Speaker 1: the Lilacs by Louisa may Alcott, chapter twenty three, Somebody Comes.
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  Speaker 2: Bab and Betty.
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  Speaker 1: Had been playing in the avenue all the afternoon several
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  Speaker 1: weeks later, but as the shadows began to lengthen both
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  Speaker 1: agreed to sit upon the gate and rest while waiting
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  Speaker 1: for Ben, who had gone nutting with the party of boys.
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  Speaker 1: When they played house, Bab was always the father and
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  Speaker 1: went hunting or fishing with great energy and success, bringing
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  Speaker 1: home all sorts of game, from elephants and crocodiles to
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  Speaker 1: humming birds and minnows. Betty was the mother and a
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  Speaker 1: most notable little housewife, always mixing up imagination delicacies with
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  Speaker 1: sand and dirt in old pans and broken china, which
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  Speaker 1: she baked in an oven of her own construction. Both
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  Speaker 1: had worked hard that day and were glad to retire
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  Speaker 1: to their favorite lounging place, where Bab was happy trying
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  Speaker 1: to walk across the wide top bar without falling off,
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  Speaker 1: and Betty enjoyed slow, luxurious swings while her sister was
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  Speaker 1: recovering from her tumbles. On this occasion, Having indulged their
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  Speaker 1: respective tastes, they paused for a brief interval of conversation,
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  Speaker 1: sitting side by side on the gate, like a pair
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  Speaker 1: of plump gray chickens gone to roost.
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  Speaker 3: Don't you hope Ben will get his bagful? We shall
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  Speaker 3: have such fun eating nuts.
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  Speaker 1: Evenings, observed Bab, wrapping her arms in her apron, for
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  Speaker 1: it was October now and the air was growing keen.
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  Speaker 4: Yes, a Ma said that we may boil some in
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  Speaker 4: our little kettles. Ben promised we should have.
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  Speaker 1: Had, answered Betty, still intent on her cookery, I.
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  Speaker 3: Shall save some of mine for thorny.
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  Speaker 4: I shall keep lots of mine from miss Celia.
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  Speaker 3: Doesn't it seem more than two weeks since she went away?
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  Speaker 4: I wonder what she'll brance.
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  Speaker 1: Before Bab could conjecture, the sound of a step and
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  Speaker 1: a familiar whistle made both look expectantly toward the turn
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  Speaker 1: in the road, all ready to cry out in one voice,
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  Speaker 1: how have you got? Neither spoke a word, however, for
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  Speaker 1: the figure which presently appeared was not Ben but a stranger,
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  Speaker 1: a man who stopped whistling and came slowly on, dusting
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  Speaker 1: his shoes in the wayside grass and brushing the sleeves
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  Speaker 1: of his shabby velveteen coat as if anxious to freshen
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  Speaker 1: himself up. A bit strap that went away, whispered Betty,
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  Speaker 1: after a hasty look.
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  Speaker 2: I ain't afraid, And Bab was about.
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  Speaker 1: To assume her boldest look when a sneeze spoilt it
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  Speaker 1: and made her clutch the gate to hold on. At
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  Speaker 1: that unexpected sound, the man looked up, showing a thin,
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  Speaker 1: dark face with a pair of sharp black eyes, which
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  Speaker 1: surveyed the little girl so steadily that Betty quaked, and
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  Speaker 1: Bab began to wish she had at least jumped down
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  Speaker 1: inside the gate. How are you, said the man, with
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  Speaker 1: a good natured nod and smile, as if to reassure
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  Speaker 1: the round eyed children.
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  Speaker 2: Staring at him.
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  Speaker 3: Pretty well, thank you, sir.
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  Speaker 2: Responded Bab, politely, nodding back at him.
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  Speaker 5: Folks at home.
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  Speaker 1: Asked the man, looking over their heads toward the house.
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  Speaker 3: Only, Ma, all the rest had gone to be married.
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  Speaker 5: That sounds lively, and the other place all the folks
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  Speaker 5: had gone.
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  Speaker 1: To a funeral, and the man laughed as he glanced
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  Speaker 1: at the big house on the hill.
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  Speaker 3: Why do you know the squire.
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  Speaker 1: Exclaimed Bab, much surprised and reassured.
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  Speaker 5: Come on purpose to see him? Just strown roundily.
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  Speaker 2: Geta with an impatient sort of sigh.
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  Speaker 3: Betty thought you was a tramp, but I wasn't afraid.
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  Speaker 3: I liked tramps ever since Ben.
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  Speaker 1: Came, explained Bab with her usual candor.
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  Speaker 5: Who's Ben?
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  Speaker 1: And the man came nearer so quickly that Betty nearly
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  Speaker 1: fell backward.
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  Speaker 5: Don't you be scared, sissy? I like little ghols, so
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  Speaker 5: you said he's in.
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  Speaker 1: Tell me about Ben, he added in a persuasive tone,
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  Speaker 1: as he leaned on the gate so near that both
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  Speaker 1: could see what a friendly face he had.
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  Speaker 2: In spite of its eager, anxious look.
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  Speaker 3: Ben is miss Celia's boy. We found him most starved
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  Speaker 3: in the coach house, and he's.
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  Speaker 1: Been here ever since, answered Bab comprehensively.
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  Speaker 5: Tell me about it. I like tramps too, and the.
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  Speaker 1: Man looked as if he did very much. As Bab
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  Speaker 1: told the little story in a few childish words that
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  Speaker 1: were better than a much more elegant account.
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  Speaker 5: You are very good to the little feller.
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  Speaker 1: Was all the man said when she ended her somewhat
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  Speaker 1: confused tale in which she had jumbled the old coach
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  Speaker 1: and miss Celia, dinner pails and nutting sancho and circuses.
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  Speaker 3: Course we were he's a nice boy, and we're fond
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  Speaker 3: of him, and he likes us.
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  Speaker 2: Said Bab heartily.
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  Speaker 1: Bej'ly me put in Betty quite at ease now, for
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  Speaker 1: the black eyes had softened wonderfully, and the brown face
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  Speaker 1: was smiling all over.
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  Speaker 5: Don't wonder mite, you are the nicest pair of little
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  Speaker 5: girls I've seen this long time.
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  Speaker 1: And the man put a hand on either side of them,
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  Speaker 1: as if he wanted to hug the chubby children, but
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  Speaker 1: he didn't do it. He merely smiled and stood there,
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  Speaker 1: asking questions till the two chatter boxes had told him
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  Speaker 1: everything there was to tell in the most confiding manner.
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  Speaker 1: For he very soon ceased to seem like a stranger
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  Speaker 1: and looked so familiar that Bab, growing inquisitive in her turn,
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  Speaker 1: suddenly said, haven't you ever been here before?
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  Speaker 3: It seems as if I'd seen you.
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  Speaker 5: Never in my life. Guess you've seen somebody that.
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  Speaker 1: Looks like me, and the black eyes twinkled for a
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  Speaker 1: minute as they looked into the puzzled little faces before him.
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  Speaker 1: Then he said soberly.
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  Speaker 5: I'm looking round for a likely boy. Don't you think
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  Speaker 5: this Ben would suit me? I want just such a
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  Speaker 5: loush sort of chap.
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  Speaker 1: Are you a circus man, asked Bab quickly.
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  Speaker 5: Well no not now I'm in better business.
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  Speaker 3: I'm glad of it. We don't approve of em, but
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  Speaker 3: I do think they're splendid.
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  Speaker 1: Bab began by gravely quoting miss Celia and ended with
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  Speaker 1: an irrepressible burst of admiration, which contrasted drolly with her
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  Speaker 1: first remark. Betty added anxiously.
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  Speaker 4: We can't let bengal anyway. I know he wouldn't want to,
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  Speaker 4: and miss Celia will feel bad. Please don't ask him.
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  Speaker 5: He can do as he likes. I suppose he hasn't
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  Speaker 5: got any folks of his own, has he?
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  Speaker 4: No?
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  Speaker 3: His father died in California, and Ben felt so bad,
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  Speaker 3: cried and we were real story and gave him a
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  Speaker 3: piece of ma because he.
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  Speaker 1: Was so lonesome, answered Betty in her tender little voice,
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  Speaker 1: with a pleading look, which made the man stroke her
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  Speaker 1: smooth cheek and say quite softly, there's.
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  Speaker 5: Your heart for that. I won't take him away, child,
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  Speaker 5: or do a thing to trouble anybody that's been good
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  Speaker 5: to him.
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  Speaker 3: He's coming now, I hear sanch barking at the squirrels.
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  Speaker 1: Cried Bab, standing up to get a good look down
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  Speaker 1: the road. The man turned quickly, and Betty saw that
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  Speaker 1: he breathed fast as he watched the spot where the
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  Speaker 1: low sunshine lay warmly on the red maple at the corner.
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  Speaker 1: Into this glow came unconscious Ben, whistling rory O more
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  Speaker 1: loud and clear as he trudged along with a heavy
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  Speaker 1: bag of nuts over his shoulder and the light full
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  Speaker 1: on his contented face. Sancho trotted before and saw the
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  Speaker 1: stranger first, for the sun in Ben's eyes dazzled him.
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  Speaker 1: Since his sad loss. Sancho cherished a strong dislike to tramps,
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  Speaker 1: and now he paused to growl and show his teeth,
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  Speaker 1: evidently intending to warn this one off. The premises he
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  Speaker 1: won't hurt you, began Bab encouragingly, but before she could
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  Speaker 1: add a chiding word to the dog, sanch gave an
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  Speaker 1: excited howl and flew at the man's throat as if
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  Speaker 1: about to throttle him. Betty screamed and Bab was about
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  Speaker 1: to go to the rescue when both perceived that the
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  Speaker 1: dog was licking the stranger's face in an ecstasy of joy,
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  Speaker 1: and heard the man say as he hugged the curly beast.
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  Speaker 5: Good old sanch I knew he wouldn't forget master, and
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  Speaker 5: he doesn't.
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  Speaker 6: What's the matter?
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  Speaker 1: Called Ben, coming up briskly with a strong grip of
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  Speaker 1: his stout stick. There was no need of any answer,
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  Speaker 1: for as he came into the shadow, he saw the
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  Speaker 1: man and stood looking at him as if he were
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  Speaker 1: a ghost.
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  Speaker 5: It's father, Benny, Don't you know me?
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  Speaker 1: Asked the man, with an odd sort of choke in
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  Speaker 1: his voice, as he thrust the dog away and held
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  Speaker 1: out both hands to the boy down dropped the nuts and.
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  Speaker 2: Crying Daddy Daddy.
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  Speaker 1: Ben cast himself into the arms of the shabby velveteen coat,
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  Speaker 1: while poor sanch tore round them in distracted circles, barking
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  Speaker 1: wildly as if that was the only way in which
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  Speaker 1: he could vent his rapture. What happened next, Bab and
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  Speaker 1: Betty never stopped to see, but dropping from their roost.
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  Speaker 1: They went flying home like startled chicken littles, with the
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  Speaker 1: astounding news that.
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  Speaker 4: Ben's fallass come alive.
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  Speaker 3: And you knew him right away.
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  Speaker 1: Missus Moss had just got her cleaning done up and
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  Speaker 1: was resting for a minute before setting the table, but
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  Speaker 1: she flew out of her old rocking chair when the
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  Speaker 1: excited children told the wonderful tale, exclaiming as they.
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  Speaker 7: Ended, where is he?
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  Speaker 5: God?
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  Speaker 7: Bring him here? I declare it fairly takes my breath away.
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  Speaker 1: Before Bab could obey or her mother compose herself, Sancho
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  Speaker 1: bounced in and spun round like an insane top, trying
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  Speaker 1: to stand on his head, walk upright, waltz and bark
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  Speaker 1: all at once, for the good old fellow had so
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  Speaker 1: lost his head that he forgot the loss of his tail.
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  Speaker 3: They're coming, They're coming, See ma, what a nice man he.
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  Speaker 1: Is, said Bab, hopping about on one foot as she
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  Speaker 1: watched the slowly approaching pair.
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  Speaker 7: My patience, don't they look alike? I should know he
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  Speaker 7: was Ben's pa anywhere.
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  Speaker 1: Said Missus Moss, running to the door in a hurry.
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  Speaker 1: They certainly did resemble one another, and it was almost
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  Speaker 1: comical to see the same curve in the legs, the
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  Speaker 1: same wide awake style of wearing the hat, the same
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  Speaker 1: sparkle of the eye, good natured smile, and agile motion
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  Speaker 1: of every limb. Old Ben carried the bag in one hand,
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  Speaker 1: while young Ben held the other fast, looking a little
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  Speaker 1: shamefaced at his own emotion now, for there were marks
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  Speaker 1: of tears on his cheeks, but too glad to repress
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  Speaker 1: the delight he felt that he had really found Daddy
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  Speaker 1: this side of heaven. Missus Moss unconsciously made a pretty
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  Speaker 1: little picture of herself as she stood at the door,
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  Speaker 1: with her honest face shining and both hands out, saying
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  Speaker 1: in a hearty tone which was a welcome in itself.
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  Speaker 7: I'm real glad to see you safe and well, mister Brown,
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  Speaker 7: Come right in and make yourself at home. I guess
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  Speaker 7: there isn't a happier boy living than Ben is to night.
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  Speaker 5: And I know there isn't a gratefuler man living than
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  Speaker 5: I am. For your kindness to my poor forsaken little.
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  Speaker 1: Fellow, answered mister Brown, dropping both his burdens to give
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  Speaker 1: the comely woman's hands a hard shake.
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  Speaker 7: Now, don't say a word about it, but sit down,
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  Speaker 7: rest and we'll have tea and lessen no time. Ben
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  Speaker 7: must be tired and hungry, though he's so happy. I
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  Speaker 7: don't believe he knows.
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  Speaker 1: It, laughed Missus Moss, bustling away to hide the tears
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  Speaker 1: in her eyes. Anxious to make things sociable and easy
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  Speaker 1: all round. With this end in view, she set forth
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  Speaker 1: her best china and covered the table with food enough
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  Speaker 1: for a dozen, thanking her stars that it was baking
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  Speaker 1: day and everything had turned out well. Ben and his
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  Speaker 1: father sat talking by the window till they were bidden
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  Speaker 1: to draw up and help themselves. With such hospitable warmth
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  Speaker 1: that everything had an extra relish to the hungry pair.
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  Speaker 1: Ben paused occasionally to stroke the rusty coat sleeve with
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  Speaker 1: bread and buttery fingers to convince himself that Daddy had
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  Speaker 1: really come, and his father disposed of various inconvenient emotions
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  Speaker 1: by eating as if food was unknown in California. Missus
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  Speaker 1: Moss beamed on everyone from behind the big tea pot
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  Speaker 1: like a mild full moon, while bab and Betty kept
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  Speaker 1: interrupting one another in their eagerness to tell something new
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  Speaker 1: about Ben and how Sanch lost his tail.
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  Speaker 7: Now you let mister Brown talk a little. We all
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  Speaker 7: want to hear how he came alive, as you call it, said.
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  Speaker 1: Missus Moss, as they drew round the fire in the
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  Speaker 1: settin' room, leaving the tea things to take care of themselves.
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  Speaker 1: It was not a long story, but a very interesting
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  Speaker 1: one to this circle of listeners, All about the wild
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  Speaker 1: life on the plains, trading for mustangs, the terrible kick
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  Speaker 1: from a vicious horse that nearly killed Ben Senior, the
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  Speaker 1: long months of unconsciousness in the California hospital, the slow recovery,
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  Speaker 1: the journey back mister Smithers tale of the boy's disappearance,
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  Speaker 1: and then the anxious trip to find out from Squire
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  Speaker 1: Allen where he now was hies a hospital.
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  Speaker 5: Folks surround you as soon as I knew whether I
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  Speaker 5: was on my head on my heels, and they promised,
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  Speaker 5: for they didn't, So I came off the men I could,
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  Speaker 5: and worked my way back, expecting to find you at
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  Speaker 5: the old place. I was afraid you'd have worn out
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  Speaker 5: your welcome him and gone off again, for you are
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  Speaker 5: as fond of traveling as.
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  Speaker 6: Your father I want to do. Sometimes the folks here
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  Speaker 6: were so dreadful good to me I.
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  Speaker 1: Couldn't confessed Ben, secretly surprised to find that the prospect
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  Speaker 1: of going off with Daddy even cost him a pang
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  Speaker 1: of regret, for the boy had taken root in the
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  Speaker 1: friendly soil and was no longer a wandering thistle down
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  Speaker 1: tossed about by every wind that blew.
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  Speaker 5: I know what I own, and you and I will
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  Speaker 5: work out that day before we die, or our name
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  Speaker 5: is in b b.
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  Speaker 1: Said mister Brown, with an emphatic slap on his knee,
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  Speaker 1: which Ben imitated half unconsciously as he exclaimed heartily, that's so,
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  Speaker 1: adding more quietly, what.
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  Speaker 6: Are you going to do now? Back to Smithers in
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  Speaker 6: the old business?
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  Speaker 5: Not lock after the way he treated you, Sonny, I've
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  Speaker 5: had it out with him and he won't want to
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  Speaker 5: see me again in a hurry.
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  Speaker 1: Answered mister Brown, with a sudden kindling of the eye
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  Speaker 1: that reminded Bab of Ben's face when he shook her
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  Speaker 1: after losing Sancho.
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  Speaker 6: There's more cervices than his in the world. They'll have
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  Speaker 6: to limber out ever so much before I'm good for
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  Speaker 6: much in that line.
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  Speaker 1: Said the boy, stretching his stout arms and legs with
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  Speaker 1: a curious mixture of satisfaction and regret you've.
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  Speaker 5: Been living in clover and grot fat, you rascal and his.
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  Speaker 1: Father gave him a poke here and there, as mister
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  Speaker 1: Squeers did the plump Wackford when displaying him as a
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  Speaker 1: specimen of the fine diet at do the boys Hall.
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  Speaker 5: Don't believe I could put you up now if I tried,
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  Speaker 5: for I haven't got my strength back yet, and we
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  Speaker 5: are both out of practice. It's just as well, for
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  Speaker 5: i've abeu made up my mind to quit the business
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  Speaker 5: and settle down somewhere for a spell, if I can
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  Speaker 5: get anything to.
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  Speaker 1: Do, continued the rider, folding his arms and gazing thoughtfully
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  Speaker 1: into the fire.
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  Speaker 7: I shouldn't wonder a mite if you could write here,
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  Speaker 7: for mister Town has a great boarding stable over yonder,
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  Speaker 7: and he's always wanting men.
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  Speaker 1: Said Missus Moss eagerly, for she dreaded to have Ben go,
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  Speaker 1: and no one could forbid it. If his father chose
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  Speaker 1: to take him away, that sounds.
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  Speaker 5: Likely, thank you, ma'am. I'll look up the concern and
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  Speaker 5: try my chance. Would you call it too great a
• 16:22
  Speaker 5: calm down to have father and noster after being first
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  Speaker 5: rider in the Great Golden Nagerie circus in Colossum, eh Ben.
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  Speaker 1: Asked mister Brown, quoting the well remembered show bill with
• 16:32
  Speaker 1: a laugh.
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  Speaker 6: No, I shouldn't and stroll jolly up there when the
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  Speaker 6: big barn is full and eighty horses have to be
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  Speaker 6: taken care of. I love to go and see him.
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  Speaker 6: Mister Town asks me to come and be stable boy.
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  Speaker 6: When I rode the kicking gray the rest we're afraid of.
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  Speaker 6: I hanker to go, but miss Celia had just gotten
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  Speaker 6: my new books, and I knew she'd feel bad if
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  Speaker 6: I give up going to school. Now I'm glad I didn't,
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  Speaker 6: for I give on first rate.
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  Speaker 5: And like it. You done right, boy, and I'm pleased
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  Speaker 5: with you. Don't you be ungrateful to them that befriended you.
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  Speaker 5: If you want to prosper, I'll tackle the stable business
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  Speaker 5: a Monday and see what's to be done. Now I
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  Speaker 5: ought to be walking, but i'll be round in the morning, ma'am.
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  Speaker 5: If he can spare Ben for a stale tomorrow, we'd
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  Speaker 5: like to have a good Sunday tramp and talk.
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  Speaker 1: Won't we, Sonny And mister Brown rose to go, with
• 17:17
  Speaker 1: his hand on Ben's.
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  Speaker 2: Shoulder as if loath to leave him even for the night.
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  Speaker 1: Missus Moss saw the longing in his face, and, forgetting
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  Speaker 1: that he was an utter stranger, spoke right out of
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  Speaker 1: her hospitable heart.
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  Speaker 7: It's a long pace to the tavern, and my little
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  Speaker 7: back bedroom is always ready. It won't make a mite
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  Speaker 7: of trouble if you don't mind a plain place, and
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  Speaker 7: you are heartily welcome.
• 17:41
  Speaker 1: Mister Brown looked pleased, but hesitated to accept any further
• 17:46
  Speaker 1: favor from the good soul who had already done so
• 17:49
  Speaker 1: much for him and his ben gave him no time
• 17:52
  Speaker 1: to speak, however, for running to a door, he flung
• 17:55
  Speaker 1: it open and beckoned, saying, eagerly.
• 17:58
  Speaker 6: Do stay, father, it'll be so nice to have you.
• 18:01
  Speaker 6: Is a tip top room. I slupchure that I came,
• 18:04
  Speaker 6: and that bed was just splendid after a bare ground
• 18:06
  Speaker 6: for a fortnight.
• 18:08
  Speaker 5: I'll stop, and as I'm pretty well done up, I
• 18:10
  Speaker 5: guess you may as well turn in now.
• 18:12
  Speaker 1: Answered the new guest. Then, as if the memory of
• 18:15
  Speaker 1: that homeless little lad so kindly cherished made his heart
• 18:19
  Speaker 1: overflow in spite of him, mister Brown paused at the
• 18:23
  Speaker 1: door to say, hastily, with a hand on Bab and
• 18:26
  Speaker 1: Betty's heads, as if his promise was a very earnest one.
• 18:30
  Speaker 5: I don't forget, ma'am these children. She'll never want a
• 18:33
  Speaker 5: friend while Ben Brand's alive.
• 18:35
  Speaker 1: Then he shut the door so quickly that the other
• 18:38
  Speaker 1: Ben's prompt hear here was cut short in the middle.
• 18:42
  Speaker 4: I suppose she means that we shall have a piece
• 18:45
  Speaker 4: of Ben's father, because we gave Ben a piece of our.
• 18:49
  Speaker 2: Mother, said Betty softly.
• 18:51
  Speaker 3: Of course he does, and it's all there.
• 18:53
  Speaker 2: Answered Bab decidedly.
• 18:56
  Speaker 3: Isn't he a nice man?
• 18:57
  Speaker 7: Mama, go to bed?
• 18:59
  Speaker 1: Children was all the answer she got. But when they
• 19:02
  Speaker 1: were gone, Missus Moss, as she washed up her dishes,
• 19:06
  Speaker 1: more than once glanced at a certain nail where a
• 19:09
  Speaker 1: man's hat had not hung for five years, and thought,
• 19:13
  Speaker 1: with a sigh, what a natural protecting air that slouched
• 19:17
  Speaker 1: felt had. If one wedding were not quite enough.
• 19:21
  Speaker 2: For a child's story, we might hear.
• 19:23
  Speaker 1: Hint what no one dreamed of then, that before the
• 19:26
  Speaker 1: year came round again, Ben had found a mother, Bab
• 19:31
  Speaker 1: and Betty a father, and mister Brown's hat was quite
• 19:34
  Speaker 1: at home behind the kitchen door. But on the whole
• 19:38
  Speaker 1: it is best not to say a word about it.
• 19:42
  Speaker 2: End of chapter twenty three,