y master, some day. Thou shalt pipe for me.

JAN
[piping]
Oh, wasn't that one beautiful?--Now you!

PIPER
[taking the pipe]
The rainbow-bridge by day;
--And borrow a shepherd-crook!
At night we take to the Milky Way;
And then we follow the brook!

We'll follow the brook, whatever way
The brook shall sing, or the sun shall say,
Or the mothering wood-dove coos!
And what do I care, what else I wear,
If I keep my rainbow shoes!

[He points to the little row of bright shoes. The Children scream with
joy. ILSE and HANSEL run back.

CHILDREN
Oh dear! What lovely shoes! Oh, which are mine?
Oh! Oh!--What lovely shoes! Oh, which are mine?

PIPER
Try, till you see.
[Taking up a little red pair]
But these,--these are for Jan.
[JAN is perched on the tree-stump, shy and silent with pleasure.

ILSE
Oh, those are best of all! And Jan--

PIPER
And Jan
Is not to trudge, like you. Jan is to wear
Beautiful shoes, and shoes made most of all,
To look at!
[Takes up a pair of bird's wings.]

CHILDREN
[squealing]
Oh! Where did you find the wings?
Bird's wings!

PIPER
There was some hunter in the woods,
Who killed more birds than he could carry home.
He did not want these,--though the starling did,
But could not use them more! And so,--
[Fastening one to each heel]
And so,--
They trim a little boy.
[Puts them on JAN. He is radiant. He stretches out his legs and pats
the feathers.

CHILDREN
[trying on theirs and capering]
O Jan!--O Jan!
Oh! see my shoes!

[The PIPER looks at JAN.]

PIPER
Hey day, what now?

JAN
I wish. . .

PIPER
What do you wish? Wish for it!--It shall come.
[JAN pulls him closer and speaks shyly.]

JAN
I wish--that I could show them--to the Man,
The Lonely Man.
[The PIPER looks at him and backs away; sits down helplessly and looks
at him again.
Oh, can I?--

PIPER
Thou!--'T would make me a proud man.

JAN
Oh! it would make Him smile!

[The Children dance and caper. TRUDE wakes up and joins them. Sound
of distant chanting again.

TRUDE
I had a dream!

PIPER
A dream!
[Pretending to be amazed. Reflects, a moment]
I know!--Oh, what a funny dream!
[The Children all fall a-laughing when he does.--Noise without.
Cheat-the-Devil's voice crying, 'Cuckoo--Cuckoo!'

CHEAT-THE-DEVIL
Quick, quick!--I've something here.

[The others roll away a big stone, and enter by the wooden door (rear),
CHEAT-THE-DEVIL. He does