Page:Etta Block - One-act plays from the Yiddish (1923).pdf/65

The Stranger

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Mordcha
You think every stepmother is bad?

Fraidele (beginning to cry suddenly)
It isn’t hard for me at all. I’ll raise Pinele. I’ll do everything in the house, just like mamma used to do. You’ll see.

Mordcha
You foolish child! Why do you cry? I only thought it would be a little livelier in the house. Maybe the luck would change.

Fraidele
Just let Pinele get well, then you’ll see—I’ll even help you, too. I’ll take him in my arms and go to the woods with you. Just to show you—you buy a cow and I’ll get up before daylight to milk her and drive her to pasture.

Mordcha
But you look so badly!

Fraidele
If mamma were alive I’d look better. It’s because I worry.

Mordcha
I don’t want you to worry. Na, only let the baby get well…Better heat up the oven now. I’ll be going.

(He looks at her for a while in silence, then goes out. Fraidele goes to the window and looks after him. In the other room the child is heard waking up. She goes in there and immediately her soft crooning is heard:

“Ai-la-lu-la lu-la-lu—
Father will buy nuts and raisins for you.”

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