the little man-第3章
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smoke。 The ENGLISH and AMERICAN sit a moment longer without
speaking。 The ENGLISHWOMAN'S face is turned with a curious
expressionhalf pity； half feartowards the LITTLE MAN。 Then
the ENGLISHMAN gets up。＇
ENGLISHMAN。 Bit stuffy for you here； dear； isn't it？
＇He puts his arm through hers； raises her； and almost pushes her
through the doorway。 She goes； still looking back。＇
AMERICAN。 ＇Gravely＇ There's nothing I admire more'n courage。 Guess
I'll go and smoke in the corridor。
＇As he goes out the LITTLE MAN looks very wistfully after him。
Screwing up his mouth and nose； he holds the BABY away from him
and wavers； then rising； he puts it on the seat opposite and
goes through the motions of letting down the window。 Having
done so he looks at the BABY； who has begun to wail。 Suddenly
he raises his hands and clasps them； like a child praying。
Since； however； the BABY does not stop wailing； he hovers over
it in indecision； then； picking it up； sits down again to dandle
it； with his face turned toward the open window。 Finding that
it still wails； he begins to sing to it in a cracked little
voice。 It is charmed at once。 While he is singing； the
AMERICAN appears in the corridor。 Letting down the passage
window； he stands there in the doorway with the draught blowing
his hair and the smoke of his cigar all about him。 The LITTLE
MAN stops singing and shifts the shawl higher to protect the
BABY'S head from the draught。
AMERICAN。 ＇Gravely＇ This is the most sublime spectacle I have ever
envisaged。 There ought to be a record of this。
＇The LITTLE MAN looks at him； wondering。 You are typical； sir；
of the sentiments of modern Christianity。 You illustrate the
deepest feelings in the heart of every man。＇
＇The LITTLE MAN rises with the BABY and a movement of approach。＇
Guess I'm wanted in the dining…car。
＇He vanishes。 The LITTLE MAN sits down again； but back to the
engine； away from the draught； and looks out of the window；
patiently jogging the BABY On his knee。＇
CURTAIN
SCENE III
An arrival platform。 The LITTLE MAN； with the BABY and the
bundle； is standing disconsolate； while travellers pass and
luggage is being carried by。 A STATION OFFICIAL； accompanied by
a POLICEMAN； appears from a doorway； behind him。
OFFICIAL。 ＇Consulting telegram in his hand＇ 'Das ist der Herr'。
＇They advance to the LITTLE MAN。＇
OFFICIAL。 'Sie haben einen Buben gestohlen'？
LITTLE MAN。 I only speak English and American。
OFFICIAL。 'Dies ist nicht Ihr Bube'？
＇He touches the Baby。＇
LITTLE MAN。 ＇Shaking his head＇ Take careit's ill。
＇The man does not understand。＇
Illthe baby
OFFICIAL。 ＇Shaking his head＇ 'Verstehe nicht'。 Dis is nod your baby？
No？
LITTLE MAN。 ＇Shaking his head violently＇ No； it is not。 No。
OFFICIAL。 ＇Tapping the telegram＇ Gut！ You are 'rested。 ＇He signs
to the POLICEMAN； who takes the LITTLE MAN's arm。＇
LITTLE MAN。 Why？ I don't want the poor baby。
OFFICIAL。 ＇Lifting the bundle＇ 'Dies ist nicht Ihr Gepack'pag？
LITTLE Mary。 No。
OFFICIAL。 Gut！ You are 'rested。
LITTLE MAN。 I only took it for the poor woman。 I'm not a thief
I'mI'm
OFFICIAL。 ＇Shaking head＇ Verstehe nicht。
＇The LITTLE MAN tries to tear his hair。 The disturbed BABY
wails。＇
LITTLE MAN。 ＇Dandling it as best he can＇ There； therepoor； poor！
OFFICIAL。 Halt still！ You are 'rested。 It is all right。
LITTLE MAN。 Where is the mother？
OFFICIAL。 She comet by next drain。 Das telegram say： 'Halt einen
Herren mit schwarzem Buben and schwarzem Gepack'。 'Rest gentleman
mit black baby and blackpag。
＇The LITTLE MAN turns up his eyes to heaven。＇
OFFICIAL。 'Komm mit us'。
＇They take the LITTLE MAN toward the door from which they have
come。 A voice stops them。＇
AMERICAN。 ＇Speaking from as far away as may be＇ Just a moment！
＇The OFFICIAL stops； the LITTLE MAN also stops and sits down on
a bench against the wall。 The POLICEMAN stands stolidly beside
him。 The AMERICAN approaches a step or two； beckoning； the
OFFICIAL goes up to him。＇
AMERICAN。 Guess you've got an angel from heaven there！ What's the
gentleman in buttons for？
OFFICIAL。 'Was ist das'？
AMERICAN。 Is there anybody here that can understand American？
OFFICIAL。 'Verstehe nicht'。
AMERICAN。 Well； just watch my gestures。 I was saying ＇He points to
the LITTLE MAN； then makes gestures of flying＇ you have an angel
from heaven there。 You have there a man in whom Gawd ＇He points
upward＇ takes quite an amount of stock。 You have no call to arrest
him。 ＇He makes the gesture of arrest＇ No； Sir。 Providence has
acted pretty mean； loading off that baby on him。 ＇He makes the
motion of dandling＇ The little man has a heart of gold。 ＇He points
to his heart； and takes out a gold coin。＇
OFFICIAL。 ＇Thinking he is about to be bribed＇ 'Aber； das ist zu
viel'！
AMERICAN。 Now； don't rattle me！ ＇Pointing to the LITTLE MAN＇ Man
＇Pointing to his heart＇ 'Herz' ＇Pointing to the coin＇ 'von' Gold。
This is a flower of the fieldhe don't want no gentleman in buttons
to pluck him up。
＇A little crowd is gathering； including the Two ENGLISH； the
GERMAN； and the DUTCH YOUTH。＇
OFFICIAL。 'Verstehe absolut nichts'。 ＇He taps the telegram＇ 'Ich muss
mein' duty do。
AMERICAN。 But I'm telling you。 This is a white man。 This is
probably the whitest man on Gawd's earth。
OFFICIAL。 'Das macht nichts'gut or no gut； I muss mein duty do。
＇He turns to go toward the LITTLE MAN。＇
AMERICAN。 Oh！ Very well； arrest him； do your duty。 This baby has
typhus。
＇At the word 〃typhus〃 the OFFICIAL stops。＇
AMERICAN。 ＇Making gestures＇ First…class typhus； black typhus；
schwarzen typhus。 Now you have it。 I'm kind o' sorry for you and
the gentleman in buttons。 Do your duty！
OFFICIAL。 Typhus？ Der Bubdie baby hat typhus？
AMERICAN。 I'm telling you。
OFFICIAL。 Gott im Himmel！
AMERICAN。 ＇Spotting the GERMAN in the little throng＇ here's a
gentleman will corroborate me。
OFFICIAL。 ＇Much disturbed； and signing to the POLICEMAN to stand
clear＇ Typhus！ 'Aber das ist grasslich'！
AMERICAN。 I kind o' thought you'd feel like that。
OFFICIAL。 'Die Sanitatsmachine！ Gleich'！
＇A PORTER goes to get it。 From either side the broken half…moon
of persons stand gazing at the LITTLE MAN； who sits unhappily
dandling the BABY in the centre。＇
OFFICIAL。 ＇Raising his hands＇ 'Was zu thun'？
AMERICAN。 Guess you'd better isolate the baby。
＇A silence； during which the LITTLE MAN is heard faintly
whistling and clucking to the BABY。＇
OFFICIAL。 ＇Referring once more to his telegram＇
〃'Rest gentleman mit black baby。〃 ＇Shaking his head＇ Wir must de
gentleman hold。 ＇To the GERMAN＇ 'Bitte； mein Herr； sagen Sie ihm；
den Buben zu niedersetzen'。 ＇He makes the gesture of deposit。＇
GERMAN。 ＇To the LITTLE MAN＇ He say： Put down the baby。
＇The LITTLE MAN shakes his head； and continues to dandle the
BABY。＇
OFFICIAL。 You must。
＇The LITTLE MAN glowers； in silence。＇
ENGLISHMAN。 ＇In backgroundmuttering＇ Good man！
GERMAN。 His spirit ever denies。
OFFICIAL。 ＇Again making his gesture＇ 'Aber er muss'！
＇The LITTLE MAN makes a face at him。＇
'Sag' Ihm'： Instantly put down baby； and komm' mit us。
＇The BABY wails。＇
LITTLE MAN。 Leave the poor ill baby here alone？ Bebebe d…d to
you！
AMERICAN。 ＇Jumping on to a trunkwith enthusiasm＇ Bully！
＇The ENGLISH clap their hands； the DUTCH YOUTH laughs。 The
OFFICIAL is muttering； greatly incensed。＇
AMERICAN。 What does that body…snatcher say？
GERMAN。 He say this man use the baby to save himself from arrest。
Very smart he say。
AMERICAN。 I judge you do him an injustice。 ＇Showing off the LITTLE
MAN with a sweep of his arm。＇ This is a white man。 He's got a black
baby； and he won' leave it in the lurch。 Guess we would all act
noble that way； give us the chance。
＇The LITTLE MAN rises； holding out the BABY； and advances a step
or two。 The half…moon at once gives； increasing its size；； the
AMERICAN climbs on to a higher trunk。 The LITTLE MAN retires
and again sits down。＇
AMERICAN。 ＇Addressing the OFFICIAL＇ Guess you'd better go out of
business and wait for the mother。
OFFICIAL。 ＇Stamping his foot＇ Die Mutter sall 'rested be for taking
out baby mit typhus。 Ha！ ＇To the LITTLE MAN＇ Put ze baby down！
＇The LITTLE MAN smiles。＇
Do you 'ear？
AMERICAN。 ＇Addressing the OFFICIAL＇ Now； see here。 'Pears to me
you don't suspicion just how beautiful this is。 Here we have a man
giving his life for that old baby that's got no claim on him。 This
is not a baby of his own making。 No； sir； this is a very Christ…like
proposition in the gentleman。
OFFICIAL。 Put ze baby down； or ich will gommand someone it to do。
AMERICAN。 That will be very interesting to watch。
OFFICIAL。 ＇To POLICEMAN＇ Dake it vrom him。
＇The POLICEMAN mutters； but does not。＇
AMERICAN。 ＇To the German＇ Guess I lost that。
GERMAN。 He say he is not his officier。
AMERICAN。 That just tickles me to death。
OFFICIAL。 ＇Looking round＇ Vill nobody dake ze Bub'？
ENGLISHWOMAN。 ＇Moving a step faintly＇ YesI
ENGLISHMAN。 ＇Grasping her arm＇。 By Jove！ Will you！
OFFICIAL。 ＇Gathering himself for a great effort to take the BABY；
and advancing two steps＇ Zen I goummand you＇He stops and his voice
dies away＇ Zit dere！
AMERICAN。 My！ That's wonderful。 What a man this is！ What a
sublime sense of duty！
＇The DUTCH YOUTH laughs。 The OFFICIAL turns on him； but as he
does so the MOTHER of the Busy is seen hurrying。＇
MOTHER。 'Ach！ Ach！ Mei' Bubi'！
＇Her face is illumined； she is about to rush to the LITTLE MAN。＇
OFFICIAL。 ＇To the POLICEMAN＇ 'Nimm die Frau'！
＇The POLICEMAN catches hold of the WOMAN。＇
OFFICIAL。 ＇To the frightened WOMAN＇ 'Warum haben Sie einen Buben mit
Typhus mit ausgebracht'？
AMERICAN。 ＇Eagerly； from his perch＇ What was that？ I don't want to
miss any。
GERMAN。 He say： Why did you a baby with typhus with you bring out？
AMERICAN。 Well； that's quite a question。
＇He takes out the field…glasses slung around him and adjusts
them on the BABY。＇
MOTHER。 ＇Bewildered） Mei' BubiTyphusaber Typhus
