AXEL the Smith, HANS the Butcher, ALL
( Bring lights,—bring lights!
( Oh, Piper—Oh, my lambs!
( The children!—The children!
[Some rush out madly; others go into their houses for lights; some are left on their knees, weeping for joy.
The PIPER sounds a few notes; then lifts his hand and listens, smiling.—Uproar in the distance.—A great harking of dogs;—shouts and cheers; then the high, sweet voices of the Children.
The piping is drowned in cries of joy. The sun comes out, still rosy, in a flood of light. The crowd rushes in. Fat burghers hug each other, and laugh and cry. They are all younger, their faces bloom, as by a miracle.
The Children pour in. Some are carried, some run hand-in-hand. Everywhere women embrace their own. KURT has his sons.—CHEAT-THE-DEVIL comes, with a daisy-chain around his neck, all smiles.
An uproar of light and faces.
HANS the Butcher
The treasure for the Piper!
ALL
Ay, ay, Piper!
HANS the Butcher
The thousand guilders!
PIPER
Give them Michael there,
For all us three. I hate to carry things;—
Saving out one!
[He waves his hand to JAN in the window.—VERONIKA appears behind
him, shining with new life. JAN leans out and points to the ground.
Heja! What now?—
[Picking up one of JAN'S winged shoes.]