The Piper

e's too much laid upon one guardian angel! [Beckons another small boy, and sets the book on their two backs. Well?--well? What now? [He looks in frank bewilderment at the eager crowd.

CROWD Read, read!

KURT He cannot read.

PIPER [to ANSELM] Turn--turn--there's nothing there. [ANSELM turns pages. PIPER looks on blankly] . . . Ah, turn again! The red one!-- [He takes his fife from his belt] No, the green! The green one. So. [Starts to pipe, looking on the book.]

CROWD ( Sure 't is a mad-man! ( But hear him piping! ( What is he doing?

PIPER [puzzled at their mirth] What the green one says.-- [A burst of laughter from the crowd. JAN, the little lame boy on the steps, reaches his arms out suddenly and gives a cry of delight.

JAN Oh, I love the Man!

[He goes, with his crutch, to the PIPER, who turns and gathers him close.

JACOBUS [to the People] Leave off this argument.

KURT Go in to Mass.

JACOBUS Saint Willibald!

PIPER [in a rage] That Saint!--

KURT Hence, wa