Part 20 (2/2)

A path leads from the orchard up the near hills and toward the heights. The music has grown louder, and is sweet and tender, interspersed with bird notes. A number of children, girls and boys, come out and sing and dance under the blossoms of the apple-trees.

They sing the children's song:_

We are of the sunrise Flower-breath and dew, Travelling wider circles Of blue beyond the blue,

Seeking strength of spirit, Happiness and joy-- Heritage decreed for Every girl and boy.

Music of the moonbeams And the orchard rain, Music of the meadows Waving with the grain,

Mountains in the sunlight, Colors of the flowers, Trailing cloud and shadow-- All of these are ours.

We are of the sunrise Flower-breath and dew, Travelling wider circles Of blue beyond the blue.

_The little girl in the foreground looks with wonder and delight at the entrancing spectacle. She has her side to the audience.

She raises her arms, listens, rubs her eyes, smiles with joy. She touches the gra.s.s, the flowers, the trees, picks up and smells the falling apple-blossoms. She begins to dance like the other children.

One of them sees her and runs toward her with arms outstretched.

The newcomer touches her hair and her hands. They smile at each other. The little girl leads the stranger toward the others and has her join in the dance. The dancing is in the Greek manner. They play with a light, large, bubble-like balloon._

_Little Girl_

What is your name?

_Stranger_

I do not understand.

_Little Girl_

Oh, of course, I forgot. I will lead you to some one who will give you a name.

(_A man and woman have come slowly through the orchard and seated themselves on a bench under an apple-tree. Two or three of the children lead the stranger up to them._)

_Stranger_ (_feeling of the hair and gown of the woman_)

Who are you?

_Woman_ (_smiling_)

I am your mother.

_Stranger_ (_feeling of the hair and face and garments of the man_)

Who are you?

_Man_

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