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22 - 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 one of Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott.
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Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
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Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
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Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Under the Lilacs by Louisa may Alcot,
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Speaker 1: chapter twenty one Cupid's last appearance. A picnic supper on
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Speaker 1: the grass followed the games, and then as twilight began
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Speaker 1: to fall, the young people were marshaled to the coach house,
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Speaker 1: now transformed into a rustic theater. One big door was
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Speaker 1: open and seats arranged lengthwise faced the red tablecloths which
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Speaker 1: formed the curtain. A row of lamps made very good footlights,
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Speaker 1: and an invisible band performed of Wagner like overture on combs,
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Speaker 1: tin trumpets, drums and pipes, with an accompaniment of suppressed laughter.
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Speaker 1: Many of the children had never seen anything like it,
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Speaker 1: and sat staring about them in mute admiration and expectancy.
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Speaker 1: But the older ones criticized freely and indulged in wild
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Speaker 1: speculations as to the meaning of various convulsions of nature
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Speaker 1: going on behind the curtain. While teacher was dressing the
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Speaker 1: actresses for the tragedy, Miss Celia and Thorny, who were
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Speaker 1: old hands at this sort of amusement, gave a potato
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Speaker 1: pantomime as a side show. Across an empty stall, a
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Speaker 1: green cloth was fastened so high that the heads of
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Speaker 1: the operators were not seen. A little curtain flew up,
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Speaker 1: disclosing the front of a Chinese pagoda painted on pasteboard,
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Speaker 1: with a door and window which opened quite naturally. This
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Speaker 1: stood on one side. Several green trees with paper lanterns
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Speaker 1: hanging from the boughs were on the other side, and
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Speaker 1: the words tea garden printed over the top showed the
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Speaker 1: nature of this charming spot. Few of the children had
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Speaker 1: ever seen the immortal Punch and Judy, so this was
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Speaker 1: a most agreeable novelty. And before they could make out
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Speaker 1: what it meant, a voice began to sing so distinctly
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Speaker 1: that every word was heard.
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Speaker 2: In China, there lived a little man. His name was
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Speaker 2: chindriy wandry Chan.
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Speaker 1: Here the hero took the stage with great dignity, clad
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Speaker 1: in a loose yellow jacket over a blue skirt which
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Speaker 1: concealed the hand that made his body. A pointed hat
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Speaker 1: adorned his head, and on removing this to bow, he
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Speaker 1: disclosed a bald pate with a black queue in the
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Speaker 1: middle and a Chinese face nicely painted on the potato,
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Speaker 1: the lower part of which was hollowed out to fit
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Speaker 1: Thorny's first finger, while his thumb and second finger were
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Speaker 1: in the sleeves of the yellow jacket, making a lively
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Speaker 1: pair of arms. While he saluted the song went on.
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Speaker 2: His legs were short, his feet were small, and this
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Speaker 2: little man could not walk at all.
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Speaker 1: Which assertion was proved to be false by the agility
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Speaker 1: with which the little man danced a jig in time
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Speaker 1: to the rollicking chorus.
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Speaker 2: Chingery chandur ricotte a kota co happy man Roo, tesco
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Speaker 2: candi oh oh gallope wilapy china go.
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Speaker 1: At the close of the dance and chorus, Chan retired
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Speaker 1: into the tea garden and drank so many cups of
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Speaker 1: the national beverage with such comic gestures that the spectators
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Speaker 1: were almost sorry when the opening of the opposite window
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Speaker 1: drew all eyes in that direction. At the lattice appeared
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Speaker 1: a lovely being, for this potato had been paired, and
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Speaker 1: on the white surface were painted pretty pink checks, red lips,
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Speaker 1: black eyes and oblique brows. Through the tuft of dark
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Speaker 1: silk on the head were stuck several glittering pins, and
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Speaker 1: a pink jacket shrouded the plump figure of this capital
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Speaker 1: little Chinese lady. After peeping coyly out so that all
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Speaker 1: could see and admire, she fell to counting the money
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Speaker 1: from a purse so large her small hands could hardly
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Speaker 1: hold it on the window seat. While she did this,
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Speaker 1: the song went on to explain.
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Speaker 2: Miss Kihi was short and squat, she had money and
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Speaker 2: he had not, so after her he resolved to go
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Speaker 2: and play her too on his little banjo.
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Speaker 1: During the chorus to this verse, Chan was seen tuning
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Speaker 1: his instrument in the garden, and at the end sallied
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Speaker 1: gallantly forth to sing the following tender strain Wang fu.
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Speaker 2: Lei pan kua ki hong kong dooreme a sin lo
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Speaker 2: pantofod sin navchin lette.
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Speaker 1: Carried away by his path, Chan dropped his banjo, fell
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Speaker 1: upon his knees, and, clasping his hands, bowed his forehead
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Speaker 1: in the dust before his idol.
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Speaker 3: But alas miss kih he heard his notes of love
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Speaker 3: and held her washbow up above it fell upon the
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Speaker 3: little man, and this was the end of Changer a Chan.
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Speaker 1: Indeed it was, for as the doll's basin of real
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Speaker 1: water was cast forth by the cruel charmer, poor Chan
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Speaker 1: expired in such strong convulsions that his head rolled down
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Speaker 1: among the audience. Miss Key he peeped to see what
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Speaker 1: had become of her victim, and the shudder decapitated her, likewise,
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Speaker 1: to the great delight of the children, who passed around
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Speaker 1: the heads pronouncing a potato pantomime first rate fun. Then
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Speaker 1: they settled themselves for the show, having been assured by
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Speaker 1: Manager Thorny that they were about to behold the most
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Speaker 1: elegant and varied combination ever produced on any stage. And
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Speaker 1: when one reads the following very inadequate description of the
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Speaker 1: somewhat mixed entertainment, it is impossible to deny that the
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Speaker 1: promise made was nobly kept. After some delay and several
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Speaker 1: crashes behind the curtain, which mightily amused the audience, the
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Speaker 1: performance began with the well known tragedy of blue Beard,
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Speaker 1: for bab had set her heart upon it, and the
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Speaker 1: young folks had acted it so often in their plays
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Speaker 1: that it was very easy to get up with a
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Speaker 1: few extra touches to scenery and costumes. Thorny was superb
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Speaker 1: as the tyrant, with a beard of bright blue worsted,
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Speaker 1: a slouched hat and long feather fur coat, red hose,
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Speaker 1: rubber boots, and a real sword which clanked tragically as
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Speaker 1: he walked. He spoke in such a deep voice, knit
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Speaker 1: his corked eyebrows, and glared so frightfully that it was
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Speaker 1: no wonder. Poor Fatima quaked before him as he gave
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Speaker 1: into her keeping an immense bunch of keys, with one
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Speaker 1: particularly big, bright one among them. Bab was fine to see,
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Speaker 1: with miss Celia's blue dress sweeping behind her, a white
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Speaker 1: plume in her flowing hair, and a real necklace with
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Speaker 1: a pearl locket about her neck. She did her part capitally,
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Speaker 1: especially the shriek she gave when she looked into the
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Speaker 1: fatal closet, the energy with which she scrubbed the tell
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Speaker 1: tale key, and her distracted tone when she called.
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Speaker 4: Out sister Anne, Oh, sister Anne, do you see anybody.
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Speaker 1: Coming, while her enraged husband was roaring.
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Speaker 5: Will you come down, madam? Or shall I come and
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Speaker 5: fetch you?
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Speaker 1: Betty made a captivating Anne, all in white muslin and
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Speaker 1: a hat full of such lovely pink roses that she
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Speaker 1: could not help putting up one hand to feel them
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Speaker 1: as she stood on the steps, looking out at the
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Speaker 1: little window for the approaching brothers, who made such a
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Speaker 1: din that it sounded like a dozen horsemen instead of two.
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Speaker 1: Ben and Billy were got up regardless of expense in
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Speaker 1: the way of arms, for their belts were perfect arsenals,
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Speaker 1: and their wooden swords were big enough to strike terror
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Speaker 1: into any soul, though they struck no sparks out of
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Speaker 1: Bluebeard's blade in the awful combat which preceded the villain's
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Speaker 1: downfall and death. The boys enjoyed this part intensely, and cries.
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Speaker 3: Of go it, Ben, hear him again, Billy.
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Speaker 4: Two against one isn't fair, Thorny, He's a match for him.
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Speaker 2: Now he's down hooray.
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Speaker 1: Cheered on the combatants till after a terrific struggle, the
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Speaker 1: tyrant fell and, with convulsive twitchings of the scarlet legs,
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Speaker 1: slowly expired, while the ladies sociably fainted in each other's arms,
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Speaker 1: and the brothers waved their swords and shook hands over
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Speaker 1: the corpse of their enemy. This piece was rapturously applauded,
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Speaker 1: and all the performers had to appear and bow their thanks,
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Speaker 1: led by the defunct Bluebeard, who mildly warned the excited
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Speaker 1: audience that if they didn't look out, the seats would
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Speaker 1: break down and then there'd be a nice mess. Calmed
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Speaker 1: by this fear, they composed themselves and waited with ardor
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Speaker 1: for the next play, which promised to be a lively one,
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Speaker 1: judging from the shrieks of laughter which came from behind
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Speaker 1: the curtain.
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Speaker 2: Santa's going to be in it, I know, for I
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Speaker 2: heard Ben say hold him still, he won't.
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Speaker 1: Bite, whispered Sam, longing to jounce up and down. So
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Speaker 1: great was his satisfaction at the prospect, for the dog
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Speaker 1: was considered the star of the company.
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Speaker 4: I hope bab will do something else. She is so funny,
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Speaker 4: wasn't her dress elegant?
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Speaker 1: Said Sally fulsome burning to wear a long silk gown
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Speaker 1: and a feather in her hair.
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Speaker 2: I like Betty best. She's so cunning. And she peeked
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Speaker 2: out of the window, just as if she really saw somebody.
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Speaker 1: Coming, answered Lyddy Peckham, privately, resolving to tease Mother for
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Speaker 1: some pink roses before another Sunday came up, went the
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Speaker 1: curtain at last, and a voice announced.
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Speaker 2: A tragedy in three tableau.
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Speaker 1: Was the general exclamation as the audience recognized a familiar
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Speaker 1: face under the little red hood worn by the child
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Speaker 1: who stood receiving a basket from teacher who made a
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Speaker 1: nice mother with her finger up as if telling the
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Speaker 1: small messenger not to loiter by the way. I know
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Speaker 1: what that is, cried Sally.
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Speaker 4: It's Mabel on Midsummer day the piece. Miss Celia spoke,
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Speaker 4: don't you know there isn't.
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Speaker 2: Any sick baby, and Mabel had a kerchief pinned around
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Speaker 2: her head. I say it's red riding.
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Speaker 1: Hood, answered Lyddy, who had begun to learn Mary Howitt's
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Speaker 1: pretty poem for her next piece and knew all about it.
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Speaker 1: The question was settled by the appearance of the wolf
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Speaker 1: in the second scene. And such a wolf on few
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Speaker 1: amateur stages do we find so natural an actor for
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Speaker 1: that part, or so good a costume for Sanch was
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Speaker 1: irresistibly droll in the gray wolf skin which usually lay
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Speaker 1: beside miss Celia's bed, now fitted over his back and
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Speaker 1: fastened neatly down underneath, with his own face peeping out
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Speaker 1: at one end, and the handsome tail bobbing gaily at
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Speaker 1: the other. What a comfort that tale was to Sancho,
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Speaker 1: none but a bereaved bow wow could ever tell. It
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Speaker 1: reconciled him to his distasteful part at once. It made
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Speaker 1: rehearsals a joy, and even before the public he could
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Speaker 1: not resist turning to catch a glimpse of the noble appendage,
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Speaker 1: while his own brief member wagged with the proud consciousness
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Speaker 1: that though the tale did not match the head, it
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Speaker 1: was long enough to be seen of all men and dogs.
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Speaker 1: That was a pretty picture. For the little maid came
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Speaker 1: walking in with the basket on her arm, and such
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Speaker 1: an innocent face inside the bright hood, that it was
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Speaker 1: quite natural the gray wolf should trot up to her
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Speaker 1: with deceitful friendliness, that she should pat and talk to
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Speaker 1: him confidingly about the butter for Grandma, and then that
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Speaker 1: they should walk away together, he politely carrying her basket,
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Speaker 1: she with her hand on his head, little dreaming what
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Speaker 1: evil plans were taking shape inside. The children oncoard that,
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Speaker 1: but there was no time to repeat it, so they
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Speaker 1: listened to more stifled merriment behind the red tablecloths, and
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Speaker 1: wondered whether the next scene would be the wolf popping
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Speaker 1: his head out of the window as red riding hood knocks,
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Speaker 1: or the tragic end of that sweet child. It was neither,
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Speaker 1: for a nice bed had been made, and in it
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Speaker 1: reposed the false grandmother with a ruffled nightcap, on a
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Speaker 1: white gown and spectacles. Betty lay beside the wolf, staring
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Speaker 1: at him as if just about to say, why, Grandma,
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Speaker 1: what great teeth you got, For Sancho's mouth was half
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Speaker 1: open and a red tongue hung out as he panted
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Speaker 1: with the exertion of keeping still. This tableau was so
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Speaker 1: very good and yet so funny that the children clapped
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Speaker 1: and shouted frantically. This excited the dog, who gave a
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Speaker 1: bounce and would have leaped off the bed to bark
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Speaker 1: at the rioter's if Betty had not caught him by
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Speaker 1: the legs, and Thorny dropped the curtain just at the
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Speaker 1: moment when the wicked wolf was apparently in the act
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Speaker 1: of devouring the poor little girl with most effective growls.
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Speaker 1: They had to come out then, and did so, both
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Speaker 1: much disheveled by the late tussle, for Sancho's cap was
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Speaker 1: all over one eye and Betty's hood was anywhere but
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Speaker 1: on her head. She made her courtesy prettily. However, her
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Speaker 1: fellow actor bowed with as much dignity as a short
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Speaker 1: nightgown permitted, and they retired to their well earned repose.
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Speaker 1: Then Thorny, looking much excited, appeared to make the following request.
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Speaker 5: As one of the actors in the next piece is
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Speaker 5: new to the business, the company must all keep as
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Speaker 5: still as mice and not stir till I give the word.
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Speaker 5: It's perfectly splendid, So don't you spoil it by making
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Speaker 5: a row?
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Speaker 1: Well, asked everyone, and listened with all their might to
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Speaker 1: get a hint, if possible, But what they heard only
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Speaker 1: wetted their curiosity and mystified them more and more. Bab's
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Speaker 1: voice cried in a loud whisper, isn't Ben beautiful? Then
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Speaker 1: there was a thumping noise, and miss Celia said in
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Speaker 1: an anxious tone, Oh, do be careful, while Ben laughed
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Speaker 1: out as if he was too happy to care who
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Speaker 1: heard him, and Thorny bawled whoa in a way which
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Speaker 1: would have attracted attention if Leeda's head had not popped
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Speaker 1: out of her box more than once to survey the
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Speaker 1: invaders of her abode with a much astonished expression.
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Speaker 5: Sounds kind of circusy, don't it.
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Speaker 1: Said Sam to Billy, who had come out to receive
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Speaker 1: the compliments of the company and enjoy the tableau at
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Speaker 1: a safe distance.
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Speaker 4: You just wait till you see what's coming. It beats
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Speaker 4: any circus I ever saw.
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Speaker 1: Answered Billy, rubbing his hands with the air of a
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Speaker 1: man who had seen many instead of but one.
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Speaker 2: Ready, think we can get out away when she goes.
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Speaker 1: Off, whispered Ben. But they heard him and prepared for pistols, rockets,
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Speaker 1: or combustibles of some sort, as ships were impossible under
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Speaker 1: the circumstances, and no other she occurred to them. A
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Speaker 1: unanimous oh was heard when the curtain rose, but a
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Speaker 1: stern hush from Thorny kept them mutely, staring with all
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Speaker 1: their eyes at the grand spectacle of the evening. There
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Speaker 1: stood Lita, with a wide flat saddle on her back,
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Speaker 1: a white headstall and reins, blue rosettes in her ears,
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Speaker 1: and the look of a much bewildered beast in her
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Speaker 1: bright eyes. But who the gauzy, spangled winged creature was,
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Speaker 1: with a gilt crown on its head, a little bow
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Speaker 1: in its hand, and one white slipper in the air,
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Speaker 1: while the others seemed merely to touch the saddle. No
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Speaker 1: one could tell for a minute, so strange and splendid
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Speaker 1: did the apparition appear. No wonder Ben was not recognized
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Speaker 1: in this brilliant disguise, which was more natural to him
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Speaker 1: than Billie's blue flannel or Thorny's respectable garments. He had
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Speaker 1: so begged to be allowed to show himself just once,
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Speaker 1: as he used to be in the days when father
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Speaker 1: tossed him up on the bare backed old General for
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Speaker 1: hundreds to see and admire. That Miss Celia had consented
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Speaker 1: much against her will, and hastily arranged some bits of
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Speaker 1: spangled tarlatan over the white cotton suit which was to
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Speaker 1: simulate the regulation tights. Her old dancing slippers fitted, and
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Speaker 1: gold paper did the rest. While Ben, sure of his
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Speaker 1: power over Lita, promised not to break his bones, and
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Speaker 1: lived for days on the thought of the moment when
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Speaker 1: he could show the boys that he had not boasted
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Speaker 1: vainly of past splendors. Before the delighted children could get
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Speaker 1: their breath, Lita gave signs of her dislike to the footlights,
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Speaker 1: and gathering up the reins that lay on her neck.
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Speaker 1: Ben gave the old cry Hublah, and let her go,
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Speaker 1: as he had often done before, straight out of the
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Speaker 1: coach house for a gallop round the orchard.
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Speaker 5: Just turn about and you can see perfectly well. But
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Speaker 5: stay where you are till he comes.
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Speaker 1: Back, commanded thorny, as signs of commotion appeared in the
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Speaker 1: excited audience, round went the twenty children, as if turned
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Speaker 1: by one crank, And sitting there they looked out into
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Speaker 1: the moonlight, where the shining figure flashed to and fro,
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Speaker 1: Now so near they could see the smiling face under
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Speaker 1: the crown, now so far away that it glittered like
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Speaker 1: a firefly among the dusky green. Leta enjoyed that race
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Speaker 1: as heartily as she had done several others of late,
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Speaker 1: and Kara coled about, as if anxious to make up
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Speaker 1: for her lack of skill by speed and obedience. How
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Speaker 1: much Ben liked it, there is no need to tell. Yet.
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Speaker 1: It was a proof of the good which three months
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Speaker 1: of a quiet, useful life had done him. That even
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Speaker 1: as he pranced gaily under the boughs thick with the
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Speaker 1: red and yellow apples almost ready to be gathered, he
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Speaker 1: found this riding in the fresh air with only his
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Speaker 1: mates for an audience pleasanter than the crowded tent, the
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Speaker 1: tired horses, profane men, and painted women, friendly as some
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Speaker 1: of them had been to him. After the first burst
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Speaker 1: was over, he felt rather glad on the whole that
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Speaker 1: he was going back to plain clothes, helpful school, and
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Speaker 1: kindly people who cared more to have him a good
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Speaker 1: boy than the most famous cupid that ever stood on
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Speaker 1: one leg with a fast horse under him.
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Speaker 5: You may make as much noise as you like now
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Speaker 5: leaders had her run, and will be as quiet as
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Speaker 5: a lamb after it. Pull up, Ben, and come in, sister,
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Speaker 5: says the old get cold.
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Speaker 1: Shouted thorny, as the rider came cantering round after a leap,
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Speaker 1: over the lodge gate and back again. So Ben pulled up,
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Speaker 1: and the admiring boys and girls were allowed to gather
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Speaker 1: about him, loud in their praises as they examined the
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Speaker 1: the pretty mare and the mythological character who lay easily
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Speaker 1: on her back. He looked very little like the god
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Speaker 1: of love now, for he had lost one slipper and
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Speaker 1: splashed his white legs with dew and dust. The crown
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Speaker 1: had slipped down upon his neck, and the paper wings
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Speaker 1: hung in an apple tree where he had left them
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Speaker 1: as he went by. No trouble recognizing Ben now, but
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Speaker 1: somehow he didn't want to be seen, and instead of
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Speaker 1: staying to be praised, he soon slipped away, making Lita
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Speaker 1: his excuse to vanish behind the curtain, while the rest
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Speaker 1: went into the house to have a finishing off game
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Speaker 1: of blind Man's buff in the big kitchen.
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Speaker 2: Well, Ben, are you satisfied.
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Speaker 1: Asked miss Celia as she stayed a moment to unpin
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Speaker 1: the remains of his gauzy scarf and tunic.
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Speaker 5: Yes, ma'am, thank.
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Speaker 2: You, it was tipped off, but you look rather sober.
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Speaker 3: Are you tired?
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Speaker 2: Or is it the because you don't want to take
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Speaker 2: these trappings off and be playing Ben again.
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Speaker 1: She said, looking down into his face as he lifted
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Speaker 1: it for her to free him from his gilded collar.
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Speaker 5: I want to take him off. Somehow I don't feel respectable.
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Speaker 1: And he kicked away the crown he had helped to
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Speaker 1: make so carefully, adding with a glance that said more
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Speaker 1: than his words.
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Speaker 5: I'd rather be plain Ben than anyone else if you
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Speaker 5: like to have me.
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Speaker 2: Indeed I do, and I'm so glad to hear you
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Speaker 2: say that, because I was afraid you'd long to be
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Speaker 2: off to the old ways, and all I've tried to
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Speaker 2: do would be undone. Would you like to go back? Ben?
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Speaker 1: And miss Celia held his chin an instant to watch
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Speaker 1: the brown face that looked so honestly back at her.
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Speaker 5: No, I wouldn't unless he was there and wanted me.
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Speaker 1: The chin quivered just a bit, but the black eyes
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Speaker 1: were as bright as ever, and the boy's voice so
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Speaker 1: earnest she knew he spoke the truth, and laid her
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Speaker 1: white hand softly on his head as she answered it
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Speaker 1: in the tone he loved so much because no one
22:08
Speaker 1: else had ever used it to him.
22:10
Speaker 2: Father is not there, but I know he wants you, dear,
22:14
Speaker 2: and I am sure he would rather see you in
22:16
Speaker 2: a home like this, na in the place who came from. Now,
22:19
Speaker 2: go undress, but tell me first. Has it been a
22:22
Speaker 2: happy birthday? Oh, miss Celia. I didn't know they could
22:26
Speaker 2: be so beautiful, and this is the beautifulest part of it.
22:29
Speaker 5: I don't know how to thank you, but I'm gonna try.
22:32
Speaker 1: And finding words wouldn't come fast enough. Ben just put
22:37
Speaker 1: his two arms round her, quite speechless, with gratitude. Then,
22:42
Speaker 1: as if ashamed of his little outburst, he knelt down
22:45
Speaker 1: in a great hurry to untie his one shoe. But
22:50
Speaker 1: miss Celia liked his answer better than the finest speech
22:54
Speaker 1: ever made her, and went away through the moonlight, saying
22:57
Speaker 1: to herself, if I come one.
23:00
Speaker 2: Lost slam into the fold, I shall be the fitter
23:03
Speaker 2: for a shepherd's wife. By and by
23:07
Speaker 1: End of chapter twenty one,