Master, dear Master, oh!You do not mean what you are saying! No, no!Ah, tell me! though my work means little yet,Has it no promise ... none? Do you forgetHow you too learned,—and did things—oh! not well—But each time, as a child that learns to spell,Your hand became more sure, until it caughtThe kindling fire! And then you had no thoughtOf fame or money, or what the world might say,But only of Beauty, and the joy that layThere in your hands—the joy of giving birthTo form!... And then, had any one on earthBade you stop painting, would you not have said—‘To win your wish, first you must strike me dead!’
Master, dear Master, oh!You do not mean what you are saying! No, no!Ah, tell me! though my work means little yet,Has it no promise ... none? Do you forgetHow you too learned,—and did things—oh! not well—But each time, as a child that learns to spell,Your hand became more sure, until it caughtThe kindling fire! And then you had no thoughtOf fame or money, or what the world might say,But only of Beauty, and the joy that layThere in your hands—the joy of giving birthTo form!... And then, had any one on earthBade you stop painting, would you not have said—‘To win your wish, first you must strike me dead!’
Master, dear Master, oh!You do not mean what you are saying! No, no!Ah, tell me! though my work means little yet,Has it no promise ... none? Do you forgetHow you too learned,—and did things—oh! not well—But each time, as a child that learns to spell,Your hand became more sure, until it caughtThe kindling fire! And then you had no thoughtOf fame or money, or what the world might say,But only of Beauty, and the joy that layThere in your hands—the joy of giving birthTo form!... And then, had any one on earthBade you stop painting, would you not have said—‘To win your wish, first you must strike me dead!’
Master, dear Master, oh!
You do not mean what you are saying! No, no!
Ah, tell me! though my work means little yet,
Has it no promise ... none? Do you forget
How you too learned,—and did things—oh! not well—
But each time, as a child that learns to spell,
Your hand became more sure, until it caught
The kindling fire! And then you had no thought
Of fame or money, or what the world might say,
But only of Beauty, and the joy that lay
There in your hands—the joy of giving birth
To form!... And then, had any one on earth
Bade you stop painting, would you not have said—
‘To win your wish, first you must strike me dead!’
Olang.
You chattering little devil, you drivelling brat!How dare you mock at me with your mouth like that!Swear by your father’s dust, never to layFinger on paint again! Swear it, I say!
You chattering little devil, you drivelling brat!How dare you mock at me with your mouth like that!Swear by your father’s dust, never to layFinger on paint again! Swear it, I say!
You chattering little devil, you drivelling brat!How dare you mock at me with your mouth like that!Swear by your father’s dust, never to layFinger on paint again! Swear it, I say!
You chattering little devil, you drivelling brat!
How dare you mock at me with your mouth like that!
Swear by your father’s dust, never to lay
Finger on paint again! Swear it, I say!
Tiki.
Oh, if I did, that dust out of the graveWould rise and choke me! No! were I your slave,I’d keep my birthright! To possess that prizeYou must cut off these hands, put out these eyes,Drain me of blood, and draw me limb from limb!For it is Wiowani, ’tis from himThat I get strength; ’tis Wiowani whoNow stands in judgement betwixt me and you!
Oh, if I did, that dust out of the graveWould rise and choke me! No! were I your slave,I’d keep my birthright! To possess that prizeYou must cut off these hands, put out these eyes,Drain me of blood, and draw me limb from limb!For it is Wiowani, ’tis from himThat I get strength; ’tis Wiowani whoNow stands in judgement betwixt me and you!
Oh, if I did, that dust out of the graveWould rise and choke me! No! were I your slave,I’d keep my birthright! To possess that prizeYou must cut off these hands, put out these eyes,Drain me of blood, and draw me limb from limb!For it is Wiowani, ’tis from himThat I get strength; ’tis Wiowani whoNow stands in judgement betwixt me and you!
Oh, if I did, that dust out of the grave
Would rise and choke me! No! were I your slave,
I’d keep my birthright! To possess that prize
You must cut off these hands, put out these eyes,
Drain me of blood, and draw me limb from limb!
For it is Wiowani, ’tis from him
That I get strength; ’tis Wiowani who
Now stands in judgement betwixt me and you!
Olang.
Some Devil has made you say that! Some Devil, I say!What? So you think yourself worth saving, eh?Worth having, eh? worth teaching? Do you dreamI’d let a thing like that, a tricked-out scheme,A muddy smear, a smudge of chalk and cheese,A daub, a patch, a paint-scab, a disease,A niggled lie, a forger’s fraud,—go henceOut of my studio to breed pestilence?No! I will not! ’Tis treason if I spare!Let go, let go! That finishes it!—So there!
Some Devil has made you say that! Some Devil, I say!What? So you think yourself worth saving, eh?Worth having, eh? worth teaching? Do you dreamI’d let a thing like that, a tricked-out scheme,A muddy smear, a smudge of chalk and cheese,A daub, a patch, a paint-scab, a disease,A niggled lie, a forger’s fraud,—go henceOut of my studio to breed pestilence?No! I will not! ’Tis treason if I spare!Let go, let go! That finishes it!—So there!
Some Devil has made you say that! Some Devil, I say!What? So you think yourself worth saving, eh?Worth having, eh? worth teaching? Do you dreamI’d let a thing like that, a tricked-out scheme,A muddy smear, a smudge of chalk and cheese,A daub, a patch, a paint-scab, a disease,A niggled lie, a forger’s fraud,—go henceOut of my studio to breed pestilence?No! I will not! ’Tis treason if I spare!Let go, let go! That finishes it!—So there!
Some Devil has made you say that! Some Devil, I say!
What? So you think yourself worth saving, eh?
Worth having, eh? worth teaching? Do you dream
I’d let a thing like that, a tricked-out scheme,
A muddy smear, a smudge of chalk and cheese,
A daub, a patch, a paint-scab, a disease,
A niggled lie, a forger’s fraud,—go hence
Out of my studio to breed pestilence?
No! I will not! ’Tis treason if I spare!
Let go, let go! That finishes it!—
So there!
[He tears the drawing into fragments and throws them down.Tikipuscreams with anguish, and falls face-forward, clutching the torn pieces.
Get up, you blubbering booby! don’t lie thereBiting the boards up! Now you’ve got to swear!Give me your oath! What? So you’re stubborn still?Wait, we’ll soon make you!—If I can’t,shewill!
Get up, you blubbering booby! don’t lie thereBiting the boards up! Now you’ve got to swear!Give me your oath! What? So you’re stubborn still?Wait, we’ll soon make you!—If I can’t,shewill!
Get up, you blubbering booby! don’t lie thereBiting the boards up! Now you’ve got to swear!Give me your oath! What? So you’re stubborn still?Wait, we’ll soon make you!—If I can’t,shewill!
Get up, you blubbering booby! don’t lie there
Biting the boards up! Now you’ve got to swear!
Give me your oath! What? So you’re stubborn still?
Wait, we’ll soon make you!—If I can’t,shewill!
[Exit into house.[For a timeTikipulies sobbing. Presently he draws towards him the torn fragments of his drawing, and falls down upon them with a cry of despair.
Tiki.
He had no pity, no pity on me at all!Wiowani! Oh, it is no use to call!Nobody cares! Nobody hears my cry!Oh! I have failed! Wiowani, let me die!Oh! let me die!
He had no pity, no pity on me at all!Wiowani! Oh, it is no use to call!Nobody cares! Nobody hears my cry!Oh! I have failed! Wiowani, let me die!Oh! let me die!
He had no pity, no pity on me at all!Wiowani! Oh, it is no use to call!Nobody cares! Nobody hears my cry!Oh! I have failed! Wiowani, let me die!Oh! let me die!
He had no pity, no pity on me at all!
Wiowani! Oh, it is no use to call!
Nobody cares! Nobody hears my cry!
Oh! I have failed! Wiowani, let me die!
Oh! let me die!
[In the picture the lantern begins to glow: under its rays the grave and benignant form ofWiowaniis discovered seated.Tikipuraises his head, for he hears in music the call of his soul. He catches sight ofWiowaniand starts to his knees with an exclamation of wonder.Wiowanilifts his hand in beckoning.Tikipurises and advances slowly in trembling ecstasy.Wiowanireaches forward and takesTikipuby the hand. With a long-drawn sigh of relief and restTikipuis drawn into the picture. The lantern fades.WiowaniandTikipudisappear.[In the distance is heard the Chorus of approachingStudents.
Students.[Without.]
Mew-cats, mew-cats, all fit and fat!Mew-cats, mew-cats, what have you been at?We’ve been out, round about, quite long enough,Catch your catch and home again! Phit! Phat! Fuff!
Mew-cats, mew-cats, all fit and fat!Mew-cats, mew-cats, what have you been at?We’ve been out, round about, quite long enough,Catch your catch and home again! Phit! Phat! Fuff!
Mew-cats, mew-cats, all fit and fat!Mew-cats, mew-cats, what have you been at?We’ve been out, round about, quite long enough,Catch your catch and home again! Phit! Phat! Fuff!
Mew-cats, mew-cats, all fit and fat!
Mew-cats, mew-cats, what have you been at?
We’ve been out, round about, quite long enough,
Catch your catch and home again! Phit! Phat! Fuff!
EnterMee-Meerunning.
Mee.Tiki! Tiki! Dey come back! He in dere talking to Mrs. Back-of-de-House! Go hidee—quick!... Tiki, where is you gone to?
[She runs about and looks. Outside the Chorus of returningStudentsis heard again. They are evidently drunk.
Students.[Without.]
Mew-cash, mew-cash, all fit and fat,Mew-cash, mew-cash, wha’sh you been at?We’ve been out, roun’ ’bout, qui’ shlong ’nough,Cash, cash, an’ cash again! Fiff! Faff! Fuff!
Mew-cash, mew-cash, all fit and fat,Mew-cash, mew-cash, wha’sh you been at?We’ve been out, roun’ ’bout, qui’ shlong ’nough,Cash, cash, an’ cash again! Fiff! Faff! Fuff!
Mew-cash, mew-cash, all fit and fat,Mew-cash, mew-cash, wha’sh you been at?We’ve been out, roun’ ’bout, qui’ shlong ’nough,Cash, cash, an’ cash again! Fiff! Faff! Fuff!
Mew-cash, mew-cash, all fit and fat,
Mew-cash, mew-cash, wha’sh you been at?
We’ve been out, roun’ ’bout, qui’ shlong ’nough,
Cash, cash, an’ cash again! Fiff! Faff! Fuff!
Yung.[Without.] I want to go home to bed!
Tee.[Without.] If you want to go to bed, we must tosh you and turn you! Up with him! Whup!!
Yung.[Without.] Put me down! Put me down, I tell you!
[Laughter and general smash.
Mee.Tiki?
EnterYunglangtsi.He trails in, hardly able to speak for sleepiness.
Yung.I want to go to bed, Mee-Mee ... where’s mother?
Mee.[Coming on fallen easel and torn paper.] Ah, say! Who done dat? Who done dat wicked t’ing?
Yung.They did, Mee-Mee! When I said ‘Put medown!’ those devils, they tossed me! But they all fell down, Mee-Mee, and then I was on the top.
Mee.Tiki!
EnterTee-Pee,the others following.
Tee.Hon’ble Yunglang-shy wantsh you to put him to bed, Mee-Mee. I wantsh,—I wantsh to be put to bed too, Mee-Mee! Not deshamebed—don’t you go making a mishtake!—No—I wouldn’t——
Nau.What are you sitting up for, Mee-Mee?
Lil.What are you crying for?
Hiti.She’s crying, because she’s finished all those sweets we gave her.... But you mustn’t have any more, Mee-Mee, they’d be bad for you!
Enter from houseMr.andMrs. Olangtsi.
Mrs. O.Make him? Of course I’ll make him! Where have you put him to?
Mee.[Full of terror and apprehension.] Put him to? Oh!
Yung.Mother, I want to go to bed.
Mrs. O.Where’s Tikipu?
Yung.Mother, when I said ‘Put me down!’ those devils, they tossed me!
Mrs. O.Who has seen Tikipu?
Han.Sheen Tikipu? Who wantsh to shee Tikipu? Mother of Mountains, don’t ashk such ’diculous questions!
Olang.But youmusthave seen him,—he was here a moment ago!
Lil.Don’t shay he wasn’t here momen’ ago. If hewashhere momen’ ago—that’s why he isn’t herenow; momen’ ago’sh over.
Mrs. O.Has he gone out? Did you meet him in the street?
Tee.Meet him in the shtreet! Why should we meet him in the shtreet? He didn’t ashk us to meet him in the shtreet! Why should we meet him in the shtreet if he didn’t ask us to meet him in the shtreet?
Mrs. O.Well, don’t all stand gaping there! Go out and look for him!
Olang.He’s not gone out. There are his shoes.
Mee.Oh-h-h! Tiki, what have dey done to you? Where have dey put you to, Tiki?
[She picks up shoes, looks inside them and fondles them.
Mrs. O.Go and look in the house, one of you!
[ExitNau-Tee.
Olang.Perhaps he’s hiding in the roof. Go up and see!
Mrs. O.Go and look in the cellar!
[ExitLilonginto cellar andPee-Ah-Beeup ladder.
Hiti.Yesh, go! Don’t shtand talking—go! Go to the top of the house—go to the bottom of thehouse, go to Mrs. Back-of-the-House, and go to the Devil! [Mrs. Olangtsicuffs him.] Shan’t help you to look for him any more now.
[Retires to door-post with stately deliberation.
Nau.[Returning from house.] He’s not in the house! Mrs. Tip-top-shtory-teller has made a mistake.
Olang.Ah! where is it? Where has he put it to? Have you seen——
Pee.[From roof.] He’s not up here!
Lil.[From cellar-trap.] He’s not down here—he’s not—I’m sure he’s not down——
[Slips through trap, catchesTee-Peeby the ankles and draws him after.
Olang.[ToTee-Pee.] Have you seen——? [Tee-PeecatchesNew-Lynby hands, and pulls him down headforemost.] Have you seen——? [ToNew-Lyn.]
Mee.Oh, Tiki! Is you not anywhere? What have become of you, Tiki?
[Pee-Ah-Beereturns from roof.
Hiti.[Clinging to door-post and waving his hand aimlessly.] He’s not out here!
Olang.The thief! the thief! he has run off with it!
Mrs. O.With what?
Olang.I gave it him to—to keep safe—I remember now,—before I went out!
Mrs. O.Gave him what?
Olang.Why, the certificate, of course! What else? Your son’s certificate of grocery! Ah, fool that I was! Fool!
Yung.My—my certificate?
Olang.Yes,—he has taken it!
Yung.Boohooh! My beautiful—my beautiful certificate. You let him take it because you didn’t want me to be a grocer! I hate you, father! Boohooh! Mother, take me to bed!
Hiti.[From doorway.] I know where he ish:—he’sh behind that picture.
Olang.Ah, yes, behind the picture! Bring him out! Bring him out!
Han.No—he’s not there! Nothing’s there! ’Shtificate’s not there, either!
Yung.Boohooh!
Mrs. O.There, there, don’t fret! We’ll get you another, just like it. There, don’t cry!
[ExeuntMrs. OlangtsiandYunglangtsiinto house.
Han.,Naut.,andPee. [Link arms and cross the stage staggering.] My—my—my beautiful ’Shtificate.... I hate you, father! Boohooh! Good-night!...
[They pushHiti-Titifrom door-post and go out.
Olang.Oh, Fool! Fool! Fool! Why, why did I ... not ... spare?
[Mee-Meeholds up toOlangtsitorn fragments of picture. He strikes them down with a cry of rage.
No! I will not! That finishes it. So there!
[Exit.[The truth dawns onMee-Mee.She utters a cry.
Mee.Oh! dat kill Tiki! Dat kill—dat make him hate evellybody! Hate me now, always, always! He never speak to me! He never look at me again. He never come back—now. He gone! He gone!... Oh Tiki, dey broken yo’ heart all to pieces! Mee-Mee know dat! Mee-Mee understand!
[She gathers the torn pieces to her breast, kissing them.
CURTAIN.