Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1918-12-21
Mother-Naturally.

MarX-But tnere is something Stlr-
ring Marie. There is something STIR
ring.
Mother-I know. / feel it, too
Listen to the cannOns. Three weeks
ago we could hardly hear them. Now
they seem on top of us. l am praying
that soon, real soon, they will be at
our gates, then on the other side of
us, slowly but surely disappearing in
the distance, chasing the Huns before
them, out of Belgium
Marx enthusiastically Kerplunk
into the Rhine. Uaughs.)
(Footsteps are heard outside the
door,
Mother-S-sh; they may hear you!
Marx-The only words they under
stand are beer, wine and women.
Mother-Yes, wine and women.
What a blessing little Marie died in
time.
Marx-Yes, / never thought would
live to see the day when I was glad
that Marie was frail and that her
heart was weak. But l certainly was
that day.
Mother-When the Germans broke
in here four years ago they went
straight for her, but before harm came
she fell dead. The soldiers thought l
had poisoned her. They were angry.
| do not know what they would have
done to me if their officer had not en-
tered just in time He made this house
his headquarters. He never treated
me bad. 1t was when he brought his
wife here that / suffered. She was
cruel. And now you say she has gone?
/ can hardly believe it. Mark me, dear
friend, she will be among the first to
ask for food, to ask the world for SYM
pathy, when Germany surrenders. CA
noise is heard off STACEY What do you
think they are doing?
Marx-What they are doing to ev-
cry house-looting. The officer is NOV
ing his headquarters. Stealing, leav-
ing nothing behind Nothing.
Mother (smiles sadly)-Well, they
can't steal anything more from this
room, can they? Unless that clock. 1
had to beg them not to take it, because
1 needed it to know when to take my
medicine.
Marx-YOurs is about the only clock
left in the whole village.
Mother-Has even the church clock
been stolen?
Marx-Long ago There isn't bit
of metal left on the church, inside or
outside But Marie - Ssh - listen.
(Whispers.) They did not get the
church bells.
Mother-They were afraid.
Marx-Afraid, nothing. Do you
think that the thief who is not afraid
to steal from the altar would hesitate
to take the chimes? No, Marie (She
starts to question him. He stops herr
I'll tell you. The reason the boches
did not steal the church bells is be-
cause Father Jose hid them. And /
know where they are, too. Deep down
in well covered with stones. I helped
him put them there Yes, Marie, /.
And it is I who am going to help him
pull them out again. Maybe soon.
Who knows.
Mother-Now I remember 1t was
Father Jose himself who told me that
the bells of our town would not ring
again until Germany surrenders.
Marx-Yes; they will ring out the
message of peace.
(The cannons boom louder.)
MOther-Peace, oh, God / wonder
when! Listen to those cannons. A
terrible battle must be taking place.
never heard them so mad.
Marx-There's something stirring, /
tell you; something stirring. 1 haven't
been able to sit still all day. Looks
out window Even those German SOL
diers down the street are acting funny.
They don't seem to know what to do.
I even heard one tell his officer to 90
to-a hot place. Something is stir
ring, I tell you-something. (He
crosses to door,
Mother-Where are you going?
Marx-Out. can't sit still. There's
something stirring, tell you. I'm GO
ing to try and find out what it is
What time is it?
MOther-Two minutes to eleven.
Marx, be careful. Don't you tell
German officer to go to-a hot place
(They laugh.)
Marx-Tell him? I'll send him.
(Brandishes cane like sword. Exits.)
(Mother is silent; listens to the roar
of the cannons, which grows louder;
she is nervous.)
MOther-Marx is right. There is
something stirring. I wonder what it
can be. (She offers silent prayer
The cannons are angrier than ever.)
Hear them. Getting worse and worse