Page:Etta Block - One-act plays from the Yiddish (1923).pdf/125



It is toward the end of summer, near nightfall. The scene is laid in the old orchard of Ezra Saltzberg. In the foreground, at the right, is an arbor. A path from the arbor leads to a large, old house, which can be seen through the trees in the background. Ezra and his wife are seen ap- proaching, side by side, contemplating the old brees as they come.

EzRA (calling irritably) Simah! Simah! (He receives no reply; he strikes the trunk of a tree with his cane and calls again) Simah!

NACHOMAH It may be that she is not in the house.

EZRA She surely wouldn’t leave the house alone.

(Ezra and Nachomah have now reached the fore- ground.)

NACHOMAH You can expect anything of her.

EZRA She hasn’t enough to do, that is the whole trouble.

NACHOMAH If she only wanted to, she could find plenty to do.