Inheritors; a play in three acts

Front matter

Class _r O 5 5 / 'ijf

COFflRIGHT DEPOSIT.

A PLAY IN THREE ACTS

Act One

Scene : Sitting-room of the Morton's farmhouse in the middle west — on the rolling prairie fust back from the Mississippi. A room that has been long and com-' fortably lived in, and showing that first-hand contact with materials which was pioneer life. The hospitable table was made on the place — well and strongly made; there are braided rugs, and the wooden chairs have patchwork cushions. There is a comer closet — left rear. A picture of Abraham Lincoln. On the floor a home-made toy boat. At rise of curtain there are on the stage an old woman and a young man. Grandmother Morton is in her rocking-chair near the open door, facing left. On both sides of door are windows, looking out on a generous land. She has a sewing basket and is patching a boy's pants. She is very old. Her hands tremble. Her spirit remembers the days of her strength.

Smith has fust come in and, hat in hand, is standing by the table. This was lived in the year i8^p, afternoon of Fourth of July.

But the celebration was over two hours ago.

Oh, celebration, that's just the beginning of it. Might as well set down. When them boys that fought together all get in one square — ^they have to swap stories all over again. That's the worst of a war — ^you have to go on hearing about it so long. Here it is — 1879 — ^and we haven't taken Gettysburg yet. Well, it was the same way with the war of 1832.

[Who is now seated at the table.] The war of 1832?

News to you that we had a war with the Indians?

That's right — the Blackhawk war. I've heard of it.

Heard of it !

Were your men In that war ?

I was in that war. I threw an Indian in the cellar and stood on the door. I was heavier then.

Those were stirring times.

More stirring than you'll ever see. This war — Lincoln's war — it's all a cut and dried business now. We used to fight with anything we could lay hands on — dish water — whatever was handy.

I guess you believe the saying that the only good Indian is a dead Indian.

I dunno. We roiled them up considerable. They was mostly friendly when let be. Didn't want to give up their land — but I've noticed something of the same nature in white folks.

Smith Your son has — something of that nature, hasn't he ?

He's not keen to sell. Why should he? It'll never be worth less.

But since he has more land than any man can use, and if he gets his price —

Grandmother That what you've come to talk to him about?

I — ^yes.

Well, you're not the first. Many a man older than you has come to argue it.

Smith [Smiling.] They thought they'd try a young one.

Some one that knew him thought that up. Silas'd help a young one if he could. What is it you're set on buying ?

Oh, I don't know that we're set on buying anything. I£ WB could have the hill [Looking off to the right] at a fair price —

The hill above the town ? Silas'd rather sell me and the cat.

But what's he going to do with it ?

Grandmother Maybe he's going to climb it once a week.

Smith But if the development of the town demands its use —

Grandmother [Smiling.] You the development of the town?

Smith I represent It. This town has been growing so fast —

Grandmother This town began to grow the day I got here.

Smith You — ^you began it ?

Grandmother My husband and I began it — and pur baby Silas.

Smith When was that ?

INHERITORS S

Grandmother 1820, that was.

Smith And — ^you mean you were here all alone ?

No, we weren't alone. We had the Owens ten miles down the river.

Smith But how did you get here ?

Got here in a wagon, how do you s'pose? [Gayly] Think we flew ?

Smith But wasn't it unsafe?

Grandmother Them set on safety staid back in Ohio.

But one family ! I should think the Indians would have wiped you out.

The way they wiped us out was to bring fish and corn. We'd have starved to death that first winter hadn't been for the Indians.

But if they were such good neighbors: — ^why did you throw dish water at them?

That was after other white folks had roiled them up — white folks that didn't know how to treat 'em. This very land — land you want to buy — was the land they loved — Blackhawk and his Indians. They came here for their games. This was where their fathers — as they called 'em — were buried. I've seen my husband and Blackhawk climb that hill together. [A backward point right.] He used to love that hill — Blackhawk. He talked how the red man and the white man could live together. But poor old Blackhawk — ^what he didn't know was how many white man there was. After the war — when he was beaten but not conquered in his heart — ^they took him east — ^Washington, Philadelphia, New York — and when he saw the white man's cities — it was a different Indian came back. Hq just let his heart break without ever turning a hand.

But we paid them for their lands. [She looks at him.] Paid them something.

Something. For fifteen million acres of this Mississippi Valley land — best on this globe, we paid two thousand two hundred and thirty-four dollars and fifty cents, and promised to deliver annually goods to the value of one thousand dollars. Not a fancy price — even for them days.

[Children's voices are heard outside. She leans forward and looks through the door, left.] Ira ! Let that cat be !

[Looking from the window.] These, I suppose, are your grandchildren?

The boy's my grandson. The httle girl is Madeline Fejevary — Mr. Fejevary's youngest- child.

SMIffH

The Fejevary place adjoins on this side?

[Pointing right, down.

Yes. We've been neighbors ever since the Fejevarys came here from Hungary after 1848. He was a count at home — and he's a man of learning. But he was a refugee because he fought for freedom in his country. Nothing Silas could do for him was too good. Silas sets great store by learning — and freedom.

[Thinking of his own project, looking off toward the hill — the hill is not seen from the front.] I suppose then Mr. Fejevary has great influence with your son?

More 'an anybody. Silas thinks 'twas a great thing for our family to have a family like theirs next place to. Well — so 'twas, for we've had no time for the things their family was brought up in. Old Mrs. Fejevary

[with her shrewd smile] — she weren't stuck up' — but she did have an awful ladylike way of feeding the chickens. Silas thinks — oh my son has all kinds of notions — ^though a harder worker never found his bed at night.

And Mr. Fejevary — is he a veteran too?

Grandmother i

[Dryly. ^ You don't seem to know these parts well — for one that's all stirred up about the development of the town. Yes — FeHx Fejevary and Silas Morton went off together, down that road [motioning with her hand, right] — when them of their age was wanted. Fejevary came back with one arm less than he went with. Silas brought home everything he took — ^and something he didn't. Rheumatiz. So now they set more store by each other 'an ever. Seems nothing draws men together like killing other men. [A hoy's voice teasingly imitating a cat.] Madeline, make Ira let that cat be. [A whoop from the girl — a boy's whoop.] [Looking.] There they go, off for the creek. If they set in it — [Seems about to call after them, gives this up.] Well, they're not the first.

[Rather dreams over this.

You must feel as if you pretty near owned this country.

We worked. A country don't make itself. When the sun was up we were up, and when the sun went down we didn't. [As if this renews the self of those days.] Here — let me set out something for you to eat.

IGets up with difficulty.

Oh, no, please — ^never mind. I had something in town before I came out.

Dunno as that's any reason you shouldn't have something here.

[She goes off, right; he stands at the door, looking toward the hill until she returns with a glass of milk, a plate of cookies.

Smith Well, this looks good.

I've fed a lot of folks — ^take it by and large. I didn't care how many I had to feed in the daytime — what's ten or fifteen more when you're up and around. But to get up — after sixteen hours on your feet — I was willin', but my bones complained some.

Smith But did you — ^keep a tavern ?

Keep a tavern? I guess we did. Every house is a tavern when houses are sparse. You think the way to settle a country is to go on ahead and build hotels?

lo INHERITORS

That's all you folks know. Why, I never went to bed without leaving something on the stove for the new ones that might be coming. And we never went away from home without seein' there was aplenty for them that might stop.

They'd come right in and take your food?

Grandmother What else could they do ? There was a woman I always wanted to know. She made a kind of bread I never had before — and left aplenty for our supper when we got back with the ducks and berries. And she left the kitchen handier than it had ever been. I often wondered about her — where she came from, and where she went. [As she dreams over this there is laughing and talking at the side of the housed] There come the boys.

[Mr. Fejevary comes in, followed by Silas Morton. They we men not far from sixty, wearing their army uniforms, carrying the muskets they used in the parade. Fejevary has a lean, distinguished face, his dark eyes are penetrating and rather wistful. The left sleeve of his old uniform is empty. Silas Morton is a strong man who has home the burden of the land, and not for himself alone — the pioneer. Seeing the stranger, he sets his musket against the wall and holds out his hand to him, as Mr. Fejevary goes up to Grandmother Morton.

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How'do, stranger?

And how are you today, Mrs. Morton ?

I'm not abed — ^and don't expect to be.

Silas [Letting go one of the balloons he has bought. 1 Where's Ira ? And Madeline ?

Mr. Fejevary's Delia brought them home with her. They've gone down to dam the creek, I guess. This young man's been waiting to see you, Silas.

Smith Yes, I wanted to have a little talk with you.

Well, why not ? [He is tying the gay balloons to his gun, then as he talks, hangs his hat in the corner closet.] We've been having a little talk ourselves. Mother, Nat Rice was there. I've not seen Nat Rice since the day we had to leave him on the road with his torn leg — ^him cursing like a pirate. I wanted to bring him home, but he had to go back to Chicago. His wife's dead, mother.

Well, I guess she's not sorry.

Why, mother.

"Why, mother." Nat Rice is a mean, stingy, complaining man — his leg notwithstanding. Where'd you leave the folks ?

Oh — scattered around. Everybody visitin' with anybody that'll visit with them. Wish you could have gone.

Grandmother I've heard it all. [To Fejevary.] Your folks well?

All well, Mrs. Morton. And my boy Felix is home. He'll stop in here to see you by and by.

Oh, he's a fine looking boy, mother. And think of what he knows ! [Cordially including the young man.] Mr. Fejevary's son has been to Harvard College.

Well, well — quite a trip. Well, Mr. Morton, I hope this is not a bad time for me to — ^present a little matter to you ?

[Genially.] That depends, of course, on what you're going to present. [Attracted by a sound outside.] Mind if I present a little matter to your horse? Like to uncheck him so's he can get a bite o' grass.

Smith Why — ^yes. I suppose he would like that.

[Going out] You bet he'd like it. Wouldn't you, old boy?

Your son is fond of animals.

Lots of people's fond of 'em — and good to 'em. Silas — ^I dimno, it's as if he was that animal.

He has imagination.

[With surprise.] Think so ?

[Returning and sitting down at the table by the young man.] Now, what's in your mind, my boy?

Smith This town is growing very fast, Mr. Morton.

Silas Yes. [Slyly — with humor.] I know that.

I presume you, as one of the early settlers — ^as in fact a son of the earliest settler, feel a certain responsibility about the welfare of —

I haven't got it in mind to do the town a bit of harm. So — ^what's your point ?

More people — ^more homes. And homes must be in the healthiest places — the — ^the most beautiful places. Isn't it true, Mr. Fejevary, that it means a great deal to people to have a beautiful outlook from their homes? A — ^well, an expanse.

What is it they want to buy — ^these fellows that are figuring on making something out of — expanse? [A gesture for expanse, then a reassuring gesture.] It's all right, but — ^just what is it?

I am prepared to make you an offer — a gilt-edged offer for that [pointing toward it] hill above the town.

[Shaking his head — zvith the smile of the strong man who is a dreamer.] ■ The hill is not for sale.

But wouldn't you consider a — particularly good offer, Mr. Morton ?

[Silas, who has turned so he can look out at the hill, slowly shakes his head.

Do you quite feel you have the right — the moral right to hold it?

Silas It's not for myself I'm holding it.

Smith Oh, — for the children?

Silas Yes, the children.

But — if you'll excuse me — there are other investments might do the children even more good.

Silas This seems to me — ^the best investment.

But after all there are other people's children to consider.

Yes, I know. That's it.

Smith I wonder if I unaerstand you, Mr. Morton?

[Kindly.] 1 don't believe you do. I don't see how you could. And I can't explain myself just now. So — the hill is not for sale. I'm not making anybody homeless. There's land enough for all — all sides round. But the hill—

[Rising.] Is yours.

Silas You'll see.

i6 INHERITORS

Smith I am prepared to offer you —

You're not prepared to offer me anything I'd consider alongside what I am considering. So — I wish you good luck in your business undertakings.

Smith orry — you won't let us try to help the town.

Don't sit up nights worrying about my chokin' the town.

We could make you a rich man, Mr. Morton. Do you think what you have in mind will make you so much richer .''

Silas Much richer.

Smith Well, good-bye. Good day, sir. Good day, ma'am.

Silas [Following him to the door.] Nice horse you've got.

Yes, seems all right.

[Silas stands in the doorway and looks off at the hill.

Grandmother What are you going to do with the hill, Silas ?

After I get a little glass of wine — ^to celebrate Felix and me being here instead of farther south — I'd like to tell you what I want for the hill. [To Fejevary rather bashfully.'] I've been wanting to tell you.

Fejevary I want to know.

[Getting the wine from the closet.] Just a little something to show our gratitude with.

[Goes off right for glasses.

I dunno. Maybe it'd be better tO' sell the hill — ^while they're anxious.

Fejevary He seems to have another plan for it.

Yes. Well, I hope the other plan does bring him something. Silas has worked — ^all the days of his life.

Fejevary I know.

You don't know the hull of it. But I know. [Rather to herself. ] Know too well to think about it.

i8 INHERITORS

Grandmother [As Silas returns.] I'll get more cookies.

Silas I'll get them, mother.

Get *em myself. Pity if a woman can't set out her own cookies.

[Seeing how hard it is for her.] I wish mother would let us do things for her.

That strength is a flame frailness can't put out. It's a great thing for us to have her, — this touch with the life behind us.

Yes. And it's a great thing for us to have you — ^who can see those things and say them. What a lot I'd 'a'missed if I hadn't had what you've seen.

Oh, you only think that because you've got to be generous.

I'm not generous. I'm seeing something now. Something about you. I've been thinking of it a good deal lately — it's got something to do with — with the hill. I've been thinkin' what it's meant all these years to have a family like yours next place to. They did something pretty nice for the com belt when they drove you out of Hungary. Funny — ^how things don't end the way they begin. I mean, what begins don't end. It's another thing ends. Set out to do something for your own country — and maybe you don't quite do the thing you set out to do —

No,

But do something for a country a long way off.

Fejevary I'm afraid I've not done much for any country.

[Brusquely.] Where's your left arm — ^may I be so bold as to inquire? Though your left arm's nothing alongside — what can't be measured.

When I think of what I dreamed as a young man — it seems to me my life has failed.

[Raising his glass.] Well, if your life's failed — I like failure

[Grandmother Morton returns with her cookies.

There's two kinds — Mr. Fejevary. These have seeds in 'em.

Fejevary Thank you. I'll try a seed cookie first.

Mother, you'll have a little glass of wine?

I don't need wine.

Well, I don't know as we need it.

No, I don't know as you do. But I didn't go to war.

Then have a little wine to celebrate that.

Well, just a mite to warm me up. Not that it's cold. [Fejevary brings it to her, and the cookies.'] The Indians used to like cookies. I was talking to that young whippersnapper about the Indians. One time I saw an Indian watching me from a bush. [Points. "] Right out there. I was never afraid of Indians when you could see the whole of em — ^but when you could see nothin' but their bright eyes — movin' through leaves — I declare they made me nervous. After he'd been there an hour I couldn't seem to put my mind on my work. So I thought, Red or White, a man's a man — I'll take him some cookies.

Fejevary It succeeded?

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So well that those leaves had eyes next day. But he brought me a fish to trade. He was a nice boy.

Probably we killed him.

I dunno. Maybe he killed us. Will Owens' family was massacred just after this. Like as not my cookie Indian helped out there. Something kind of uncertain about the Indians.

I guess they found something kind of uncertain about us.

Six o* one and half a dozen of another. Usually is.

[To Fejevar^y.] I wonder if I'm wrong. You see, I never went to school —

I don't know why you say that, Silas. There was two winters you went to school.

Yes, mother, and I'm glad I did, for I learned to read there, and I liked the geography globe. It made the earth so nice to think about. And one day the teacher told us all about the stars, and I had that to think of when I was driving at night. The other boys didn't believe it was so. But I knew it was so! But I mean school — the way Mr. Fejevary went to school. He went to universities. In his own countries — in other countries. All the things men have found out, the wisest and finest things men have thought since first they began to think — all that was put before him.

[JVith a gentle smile.] I fear I left a good deal of it untouched.

You took aplenty. Tell in your eyes you've thought lots about what's been thought. And that's what I was setting out to say. It makes something of men — learning. A house that's full of books makes a different kind of people. Oh, of course, if the books aren't there just to show off.

Grandmother Like in Mary Baldwin's new house.

[Trying hard to see it.] It's not the learning itself — it's the life that grows up from learning. Learning's like soil. Like — like fertilizer. Get richer. See more. Feel more. You believe that ?

Fejevary Culture should do it.

Does in your house. You somehow know how it is for the other fellow more 'n we do.

Well, Silas Morton, when you've your wood to chop an' your water to carry, when you kill your own cattle and hogs, tend your own horses and hens, make your butter, soap, and cook for whoever the Lord sends, — ■ there's none too many hours of the day left to be polite in.

You're right, mother. It had to be that way. But now that we buy our soap, — we don't want to say what soap-making made us.

We're honest.

Yes. In a way. But there's another kind o' honesty, seems to me, goes with that more seein' kind of kindness. Our honesty with the Indians was little to brag on.

You fret more about the Indians than anybody else does.

Silas To look out at that hill sometimes makes me ashamed.

Land sakes, you didn't do it. It was the government. And what a government does is nothing for a person to be ashamed of.

I don't know about that. Why is he here ? Why is Felix Fejevary not rich and grand in Hungary today? 'Cause he was ashamed of what his government was.

Well, that was a foreign government.

A seeing how 'tis for the other person — a hein' that other person, kind of honesty. Joke of it, 'twould do something for you. 'Twould 'a done something for us to have been Indians a little more. My father used to talk about Blackhawk — they was friends. I saw Blackhawk once — when I was a boy. [To Fejevary.] Guess I told you. You know what he looked like? He looked like the great of the earth. Noble. Noble like the forests — and the Mississippi — and the stars. His face was long and thin and you could see the bones and the bones were beautiful. Looked like something that's never been caught. He was something many nights in his canoe had made him. Sometimes I feel that the land itself has got a mind and that the land would rather have had the Indians.

Well don't let folks hear you say it. They'd think you was plum crazy^

T s'pose they would. [Turning to Fejevary.] But after you've walked a long time over the earth — and you all alone, didn't you ever feel something coming up from it that's like thought ?

Fejevary I'm afraid I never did. But — I wish I had.

Silas I love land — ^this land. I suppose that's why I never have the feeling that I own it.

Grandmother If you don't own it — I want to know ! What do you think we come here for — your father and me? What do you think we left our folks for — left the world of white folks — schools and stores and doctors and set out in a covered wagon for we didn't know what ? We lost a horse. Lost our way — ^weeks longer than we thought 'twould be. You were bom in that covered wagon. You know that. But what you don't know is what that's like — without your own roof — or fire — without —

[She turns her face away.

Silas No. No, mother, of course not. Now — now isn't this too bad ? I don't say things right. It's because I never went to school.

[Her face shielded.] You went to school two winters.

Silas Yes. Yes, mother. So I did. And I'm glad I did.

Grandmother [With the determination of one who will not have her own pain looked at.] Mrs. Fejevary's pansy bed doing well this siunmer ?

It's beautiful this summer. She was so pleased with the new purple kind you gave her. I do wish you could get over and see them.

Yes. Well, I've seen lots of pansies. Suppose it was pretty fine-sounding speeches they had in town ?

Fejevary Too fine sounding to seem much like the wair.

I'd like to go to a war celebration where they never

mentioned war. There'd be a way to celebrate victory.

[Hearing a step, looking out.] Mother, here's Felix.

[Felix, a well-dressed young man comes

in.

Grandmother How do, Felix ?

Felix And how do you do, Grandmother Morton ?

Grandmother Well, I'm still here.

Of course you are. It wouldn't be coming home if you weren't.

I've got some cookies for you, Felix. I set 'em out, so you wouldn't have to steal them. John and Felix was hard on the cookie jar.

Where is John?

[ Who is pouring a glass of wine for Felix. ] You've not seen John yet ? He was in town for the exercises. I bet those young devils ran off to the race-track. I heard whisperin' goin' round. But everybody'U be home sometime. Mary and the girls^ — don't ask me where they are. They'll drive old Bess all over the county before they drive her to the barn. Your father and I come on home 'cause I wanted to have a talk with him.

Getting into the old uniforms makes you want to talk it all over again ?

The war ? Well, we did do that. But all that makes me want to talk about what's to come, about — what 'twas all for. Great things are to come, Felix. And before you are through.

I've been thinking about them myself — walking around the town today. It's grown so much this year, and in a way that means more growing — that big glocuse plant going up down the river, the new lumber mill — all that means many more people.

Fejevary And they've even bought ground for a steel works.

Yes, a city will rise from these cornfields^ — a big rich place — that's bound to be. It's written in the lay o' the land and the way the river flows. But first tell us about Harvard College, Felix. Ain't it a fine thing for us all to have Felix coming home from that wonderful place !

Felix You make it seem wonderful.

Ah, you know It's wonderful — ^know it so well you don't have to say it. It's something you've got. But to me it's wonderful the way the stars are wonderful — this place where all that the world has learned is to be drawn from like — like a spring.

You almost say what Matthew Arnold says — a distinguished new English writer who speaks of: "The best that has been thought and said in the world."

"The best that has been thought and said in the world!" [Slowly rising, and as if the dream of years is bringing him to his feet.] That's what that hill is for! [Pointing.] Don't you see it ? End of our trail.

we climb a hill and plant a college. Plant a college, so's after we are gone that college says for us, says in people learning has made more: "This is why we took this land!"

[Incredulous.] You mean, Silas, you're going to give the hill away?

The hill at the end of our trail — ^how could we keep that?

Well I want to know why not ! Hill or level — land's land and not a thing you give away.

Well, don't scold me. I'm not giving it away. It's giving itself away, get down to it.

Grandmother Don't talk to me as if I was feeble-minded.

I'm talking with all the mind I've got. If there's not mind in what I say, it's because I've got no mind. But I have got a mind. \To Fejevary, humorously.] Haven't I ? You ought to know. Seeing as you gave it tome.

Fejevary Ah no— I didn't give it to you.