The examiner., 1885-12-19
ROUND ABOUT A CRADLE.

TRANSLATED BY MARY LYMAN DRAKE.
 Scene.-A sn1au salon. 4 snlGU a0orl-
 table; pOrtr0tt On tGbJe. 4 TnGn's rest
 lyt11g across c chGt. Door Gt back
 qUindOGO looking out OUeT O gGrdel; door
 O7l left opening into another room.
 MARIE (At the rising of the curtain she Is standing in the doorway on the left, talking to some one unseen. This unseen person is child lying in cradle in the neighboring room.) Sol be wise, sir; go to sleep! (She comes down.) He is already despotic at two years of age. So much the better. That proves him possessed of character. Arranging her work on the table) Pm very fond of persons of character. It is astonishing how much is to be seen in his tiny face. From the first J was sure he would be perfectly honest Such clear, open look he hasl Knowing, too. Young diplomatist! An, if he ever enters on diplomatic career he will easily make his way. Let us see if he really is asleep. (She goes to the door and looks in.) o, very much so indeed, with his big eyes wide open. (Aside.) How sweet of An, ha, naughty one! Yes, yes, know! He wants me to take him., or bring his cradle here. Speaking to the child.) No, sir; you stay right where you are (Hesitat- ing.) See how coaxingly he looks at me! How can woman resist that? Speaks to the boy.) If I take you, will you promise to go to sleep right away, at once? Oh, yes; know what promises are; they cost you nothing, you roguei Well, let me see yes, Pn risk it. But shall close your curtains tonight. Agreedl Then he's coming. (She enters the room, returning with a small cradle whose curtains are drawn.) Oh, what heavy boyl He will be very strongl (She opens the curtains only wide enough to admit her head.) Listen to me, young man; not word out of you, and go to sleep quick. What do you want? A little bit of kiss? There! (She kisses him. How we'll I knew! (Closes the curtains and resumes her work must sew for him this is to be 8 little cap. (Sewing.) When I used to dream about the little boy about to be born-I was sure it would be 8 little boy-I always imagined him about four years old. I love him 8 thousand times better at twol This will be very pretty little cap. He fsgoing to wake up. (Rises and goes to the cradle.) No, he is sound asleep. Ply pretty onel How lovely sleeping baby isl He assumes so many pretty poses. Just look at this tiny foot peeping from under the cover; and this dear head nes- tied on his arm like bird in its nest! And this little leg, so pink, so dimpled. But the other leg, both legs,-not so high, lit tie onel If somebody were here. he would say, "Ah, shockingp' But that would not be true. Children are never shocking. They are beautiful naked; they know nothing of shame. Their nudity is still purity, for they are clothed with innocence and candor. They are not naked, they are yelled as is a ray of sunlight shining through the mist, as flower disclosing its chalice. (Laughing) Heavens, l am be- coming poetica1i That is all your fault, my sleepy boy. I do not see how women live who have no children. Their tiny hands lift many bruised and fallen soul to calm and forgiveness. Stopping sud- denly) am talking too loud; have I walked him? Oistening) No. Goes to smilesl How much he looks hke-him (She returns to the table and her work; af- ter a short pause she resumes) Why should he not resemble him? During the three years we have been married not an half-hour has passed without my thinking of Paul. I see him as well when he is ab- sent as when he here. GA pause) Does he deserve such love2 fhereI my own fault is representing me. Paul pretends that am a little jealous Jealous, indeedl No, no. To be jealous one must have a bad disposition. Such an one torments those she loves. I saw one day picture of jealousy That kind of love is too like hate, only-only-I love Paul so much sometimes fear that that too will take hold . Ol uca Wudb a SItLcIuOuI! XU IS GIuG1 nevertheless. In the first place Paul is so handsome that it is impossible for women not to notice him. Then I am so com pletely his, that I wish to be the one WO- man in the world to him. If he were to come in now and say to me: "We will start at once for a spot two thousand leagues from here; we will remain there always, we two, without friends or rela- tions; you will see only your son and me,'' what would say? Should not be mis- erable? That is not too strong for such an arrangement means that should have to leave mamma behind. Oh, well! No more imaginings, because I am at bottom so ridiculOusly happy with my two loved ones. Baby pointing to cradle) and him (pointing to garden). He is down there: the tobacco smoke tells me that. How good even whiff of his cigar seems to mel (Sighing.) Is it so with him, too? No; I can prove it, because when strike @ false note on the piano he always hears it. But that is what I expected from the first When he wrote before our marriage, elf you will not be mine will kill myself" he meant it, and would have done it then. He still writes, but there is no more talk of killing. GA silence) am continually thinking of that-that very pretty widow, Mime. de Verdiere, and whenever I see Paul near her, speaking to her (she rises) Mime. de Verdiere, indeed! A woman who paints her face and is five years older than II But her eyes are beautiful-not that find them so! Yes. yes, they are lovely, lovelier than mine! Then she is tall And Paul always says he admires tall women. Must then be put aside for (she measures off an inch on her little 1n-