Part 4 (2/2)

_Gottlieb._ Where are Bertha and Max?

_Ursula._ They are sitting with Elsie at the door.

She is telling them stories of the wood, And the Wolf, and Little Red Ridinghood.

_Gottlieb_. And where is the Prince?

_Ursula_. In his room overhead; I heard him walking across the floor, As he always does, with a heavy tread.

(ELSIE _comes in with a lamp_. MAX _and_ BERTHA _follow her; and they all sing the Evening Song on the lighting of the lamps_.)

EVENING SONG.

O gladsome light Of the Father Immortal, And of the celestial Sacred and blessed Jesus, our Saviour!

Now to the sunset Again hast thou brought us; And, seeing the evening Twilight, we bless thee, Praise thee, adore thee!

Father omnipotent!

Son, the Life-giver!

Spirit, the Comforter!

Worthy at all times Of wors.h.i.+p and wonder!

_Prince Henry (at the door)_. Amen!

_Ursula_. Who was it said Amen?

_Elsie_. It was the Prince: he stood at the door, And listened a moment, as we chaunted The evening song. He is gone again.

I have often seen him there before.

_Ursula_. Poor Prince!

_Gottlieb_. I thought the house was haunted!

Poor Prince, alas! and yet as mild And patient as the gentlest child!

_Max._ I love him because he is so good, And makes me such fine bows and arrows, To shoot at the robins and the sparrows, And the red squirrels in the wood!

_Bertha._ I love him, too!

_Gottlieb._ Ah, yes! we all Love him, from the bottom of our hearts; He gave us the farm, the house, and the grange, He gave us the horses and the carts, And the great oxen in the stall, The vineyard, and the forest range!

We have nothing to give him but our love!

_Bertha._ Did he give us the beautiful stork above On the chimney-top, with its large, round nest?

_Gottlieb._ No, not the stork; by G.o.d in heaven, As a blessing, the dear, white stork was given; But the Prince has given us all the rest.

G.o.d bless him, and make him well again.

_Elsie._ Would I could do something for his sake, Something to cure his sorrow and pain!

_Gottlieb._ That no one can; neither thou nor I, Nor any one else.

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