Page:Etta Block - One-act plays from the Yiddish (1923).pdf/174

 thing! We were left without even a pillow for our heads. And right after that another baby came! And with it, greater poverty! A year later, a third child. Yes, Peseh?

PESEH Yes.

GERSON And so on, one after another. Every year a baby and poverty ... poverty and a baby! Oh, my! Oh, my!

PESEH Then father died. He never lived to see any joy! He died in the hospital!

GERSON (as if to himself)

Soon shey will be singing the same song!

PESEH (startled)

Who?

GERSON (pointing to David and Channah) They—our children!

PESEH (fear dawning in her eyes)

Gerson! What are you saying! (She looks first at him—then at the children—helpless. She makes a desperate effort to still her fears.) But before they feel poverty and want they will have known true happiness—love! Just as you and. . . Do you remember, Gerson?

GERSON (faltering sadly) Yes, yes—for one year!

PESEH (sighing deeply) For one year!

(The baby begins to cry.)