ere too far down.
And there were some ill and crippled, in hospitals, that couldn't walk,
and some hidden away in great buildings called factories--and some in
tenements, where there was no sun, and no green grass to walk on.
Mother, what shall we do? It was so hard to leave them. Won't you go
back with me, and help me?

_Mother_

Yes, Everychild. We must all go. Not one must be left down there.

_Father_

Yes, we cannot go on up the Morning Mountains until they come.

_Mother_

We will start at once, all of us, down through the highways and valleys
and cities of the world, and bring them here. Come, children, let us go.

(_They gather about her and start down, right, singing as they
go._ CHO-CHO _lingers behind for a few moments and pronounces an
epilogue._)

EPILOGUE

Not all here yet--
But they must come
To this sunshine--
To these mountains--
To these birds and trees--
To the music--
To the Land of Health,
The Land of Happiness--
They may be gay _there_--
Sometimes--
Sometimes--
But _that_ is a fool's Paradise--
My old Kingdom--
And I must lead them up
To this new land
Of hope and joy.

(CURTAIN FALLS)

TWO DOCTORS AT AKRAGAS

BY

FREDERICK PETERSON

CHARACTERS

AKRON
EMPEDOCLES
PANTHEIA

TWO DOCTORS AT AKRAGAS

[_Atlantic Monthly_, 1911.]

_Akron_

She has been dead these thirty days.

_Empedocles_

How say you, thirty days! and there is no feature of corruption?

_Akron_

None. She has the marble signature of death writ in her whole fair
frame. She lies upon her ivory bed, robed in the soft stuffs of Tyre, as
if new-cut from Pentelikon by Phidias, or spread upon the wood by the
magic brush of Zeuxis, seeming as much alive as this, no more, no less.
There is no beat of heart nor slightest heave of breast.

_Empedocles_

And have you made the tests of death?

_Akron_

There is no bleeding to the prick, nor film of breath upon the bronze
mirror. They have had the best of the faculty in Akragas, Gela, and
Syracuse, all save you; and I am sent by the dazed parents to beseech
you to leave for a time the affairs of state and the great problems
of philosophy, to essay your ancient skill in this strange mystery of
life in death and death in life.

_Empedocles_

I will go with you. Where lies the house?

_Akron_

Down yonder street of statues, past the Agora, and hard by th