Daddy Long-Legs E-Book

Jean Webster

• Herausgeber: Bu Classics Books
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2026

Beschreibung

An anonymous benefactor rescues an orphan from a bleak future, requiring only that she write him letters about her college experiences. As Jerusha Abbott blossoms into an independent woman, her correspondence reveals a growing wit and a mysterious connection to her benefactor. This heartwarming tale captures the joy of self-discovery and the magic of unexpected kinship.

Leseprobe

ACT I

Scene: The dining-room of the John Grier Home on Trustees’ Day. A plan and full description of the scene will be found at the end of the play.

Discovered: At Rise, Two Orphans are seated down stage at table L. of C.Sadie KateR. of table and Loretta on the stool below table, engaged in cleaning silver. Gladiola is up stage behind upper table R. polishing a cup. After the curtain is well up, Gladiola mounts on chair before cupboard to place cup in cupboard and Freddie Perkins enters at lower R. I.

They are dressed exactly alike in stiffly starched gingham pinafores (blue) with a row of white china buttons down the back and a suggestion of red flannel petticoat showing beneath. Each child has her hair strained back tightly and braided into two pig-tails. They sit nervously and work steadily and silently with no attempt at childish chatter. Freddie Perkins is about nine years old and is dressed in dark knickerbockers and a jumper made of the same striped blue gingham that the girls are wearing. His hair is shaved close to his head.

He carries a rolled-up rag rug over his shoulders, and as he passes, he purposely knocks against Sadie Kate. She hits back viciously and proceeds with her work. Freddie up and exits C. and L. 2 and 4 talking, 2 wipes 4’s nose.

Gladiola on chair at back, in wiping a cup lets it slip from her hands and crash to the floor. She backs against the table C. and stands horrified, staring at the pieces.

Lights begin to dim shortly after rise.

Gladiola. It’s one o’ them best cups!

Sadie Kate. Oh my goodness! You’ll get it!

Gladiola. What’ll I do?

Sadie Kate. Hide it, quick!

Mrs. Lippett. (Off stage) Get out of my way!

Loretta. She’s coming! Oh, she’s coming!

Sadie Kate. (To Gladiola, snatching up one of the cups and leaning over, rolling it along the floor to Gladiola) Say ye knocked this off wid yer elbow.

(They resume their work in stolid silence. Gladiola gets down on her knees and hands and places the broken pieces under table-legs at R. of C. then stands behind table as Mrs. Lippett enters from the pantry. She is a hard-faced, domineering woman of about forty with an unpleasant voice that grows shrill when she loses her temper. She is wearing a polka-dotted silk dress, very tight and rather fussily made with a profusion of cheap lace trimmings. It is turned up from the bottom and pinned so that she will not soil it.)

Mrs. Lippett. (Holds entrance until Gladiola is up) What was that noise? (Stands inside U. R.)

Gladiola. I knocked this off with my elbow, ma’am.

Mrs. L. (Crossing to C.) I thought you’d broken something! Come, come. Sadie Kate! Are you going to be all day at this? (Picks up spoons, examines them critically, hands one back) Polish that again! (Crosses to table R., looking over preparations) Oh, good heavens, the sandwiches aren’t made! Where’s Judy Abbott? She ought to be here to look after things!

Sadie Kate. She’s up in the nursery, ma’am, trying to keep the babies quiet so they won’t disturb the trustees.

Mrs. L. Well, you go up and tell her to come down immediately. I never knew anyone like that girl. She’s always somewhere else. (Sadie Kate rises and Mrs. L. turns to her sharply) Hurry up! Don’t stand there staring! (Pushes Sadie Kate, who exits R. I. Exit 2 and 4. As Gladiola brings down spoon to table, lower R.Mrs. Lippett is looking over the dishes) Why, we’re one cup short. I thought I got down enough! (Gladiola, in fear, starts to tiptoe off to R. I. Stopping abruptly as Mrs. L. calls her name) Gladiola Murphy! Come here! (Gladiola approaches her apprehensively) You stand on that chair and get down another one of those best cups.

Gladiola. (Going up, gleefully) Yes, ma’am!

Mrs. L. And mind you don’t drop it!

Gladiola. No, ma’am. (Up to cupboard for a cup.)

Mrs. L. (Looks thoughtfully over tray to see what is missing) Napkins. (Bustles off R. and exits R. 2 E. As she is going off Freddie enters at C. Seeing Mrs. Lippett going off he throws a kiss after her. Looking around and seeing that he is unobserved, he goes down to table R. to sugar bowl. Putting his hand in he pulls out a fist full and stuffs it into his mouth. Puts his hand in again, gets another fistful and stuffs it into his pocket. As he puts his hand in again Sadie Kate enters R. I. and catches him. She crosses in between tables to R. of Freddie.)

Sadie Kate. Freddie Perkins, you let that sugar alone! (Freddie makes a face at her) I’ll tell Mrs. Lippett!

(Gladiola turns and comes down R. of Freddie, putting cup on tray.)

Freddie. I dare you to!

Gladiola. Freddie Perkins, you just put that sugar back. I’ll tell Mrs. Lippett.

Freddie. I dare you to! (Sadie Kate crosses over L.)

Another Child. She’ll say I did it. (Both Gladiola and Sadie Kate push and shove Freddie.)

Freddie. All right, keep your hair on. I’ll put it back.

Gladiola. You’d better, you’d better, you fresh thing!

(Sadie Kate returns to her task at L. table and Gladiola goes back to cupboard on chair, back to audience. Freddie looks around and seeing that they are not watching him, goes down to sugar bowl again and seeing the salt cellar, smiles and takes it up and begins to pour the salt into the sugar-bowl.)

The girls sit at the table, their backs turned, as Freddie pours salt into the sugar bowl.

Freddie. I’m putting it back! (Continues to pour salt until he hears Mrs. Lippett speaking off stage.)

Mrs. L. (Off-stage) Why, you good for nothing child, keep out from under my feet!

Freddie. (Puts down sugar-bowl and salt cellar and runs off C. and L. exclaiming) All right, I put it back!

(One child to cupboard, other child down and around to bench L., sits on floor. Mrs. Lippett enters with napkins and dish of sliced lemons, crosses and sets them on the tray on table R.)

Mrs. L. Hasn’t Judy Abbott come down yet?

Sadie Kate. No ma’am!

(Gladiola comes down with a cup which she places on tray L. of Mrs. L.)

Mrs. L. Oh, for the land’s sake! (Picking up sugar bowl, looks in, is about to set it down when she catches sight of the mark of grimy fingers) Gladiola Murphy! Aren’t you ashamed? That’s a pretty looking sugar bowl to send up to the trustees. You take it into the pantry and wash it. (She gives the bowl to Gladiola, faces her toward the pantry and starts her with a shove. Examines a flamboyant watch that is pinned to her waist.) Half past four! It’s time to make the tea. (Goes up and turns on lamp R. of C. arch) Where is that Abbott girl? She’s enough to try the patience of a saint! (Turns up lamp L. of arch C. foots come up 3-4 full. Her back is turned as Judy enters at R.)

(Judy is a vividly alive young girl of 18, dressed in the same blue gingham that the others wear, but made in a more becoming manner. There is a suggestion of challenge in her manner. There is an air of all-conquering youth. Neither Mrs. Lippett’s harshness nor the sordid air of the asylum has succeeded in cowing her. She crosses to R. of C. and stands, looking speculatively at Mrs. Lippett’s back. Two children at cupboard up to pantry.)

Judy. (Crosses to R. C. sweetly) Do you want me to help, Mrs. Lippett?

Mrs. L. (Turning quickly) Well, Miss Jerusha Abbott! It’s about time you turned up! You are the only lady of leisure in this institution to-day. (Comes down C.)

Judy. I’m sorry. The nurse had to look after the sick babies and we couldn’t leave the others alone.

Mrs. L. You always have plenty of excuses.

Judy. That new little red-headed child has licked all the green paint off the Noah’s Ark—

Mrs. L. And what do you think I was doing? Cutting the cake with one hand and receiving the guests with the other?

Judy. That red-headed child has swallowed some green paint—

Mrs. L. I don’t care what that red-headed child has swallowed. I’m more interested in what the trustees are going to swallow.

Judy. (Speaking very hurriedly) That red-headed child has licked the green paint off the roof of the Noah’s Ark, and I think you’d better send for the doctor.

Mrs. L. Will you stop talking and get to work?

Judy. (Going R.) It was green and I’m afraid it will disagree with him.

Mrs. L. You get those tea things ready.

Judy. (Going U. R. to pantry) Green paint’s made of arsenic. It’s poison. I learned that in chemistry.

Mrs. L. You’ve learned altogether too much! You were a great deal more useful before you got that education! (Goes back to children at L.)

Judy. (At pantry U. R. C. with a gleam of mischief) Mrs. Lippett—

Mrs. L. (Over her shoulder) Well?

Judy. Did you put those two guinea pigs into the babies’ bath tub?

Mrs. L. (Whirling about) Guinea pigs!

Judy. I think they’re guinea pigs. Little brown and white animals … about so big.

Mrs. L. Oh, good heavens! Those horrible boys!—What did you do with the beasts?

Judy. I didn’t touch them. I thought—

Mrs. L. (Crossing to table R.) Quick! Get them away before the trustees find them.

Judy. (Coming down R.) I thought maybe that generous new trustee you were telling us about brought them as a present for the babies.

Mrs. L. And you thought I was planning to keep them in the nursery bathtub?

Judy. It’s so seldom used! (Exits R. I. E.Gladiola down to R. of Mrs. L. Other girl to cupboard)

Mrs. L. (Turns back muttering angrily) Guinea pigs! (Gladiola comes down from the pantry with sugar bowl she has cleaned and puts it on tray) If I had my way the whole race of boys would be swept off the face of the earth. (Sadie Kate and Loretta titter, then hastily repress themselves) Yes—and girls too! (Little girl laughs) That’s enough! Clean up this mess. They’re likely to come in here. (Gladiola lingers near Mrs. Lippett who slaps and drives her away. Loretta rises and takes pan and wash material across R. and up into pantry) I suppose they’ll be snooping all over the place. (Sadie Kate brings spoons and places them on tea tray in front of Mrs. Lippett, who slaps her. Sadie Kate crosses over R. to Gladiola. Loretta comes down from pantry and joins them) These visiting days are enough to make a person sick. (The orphans stand waiting for further orders. Gladiola is lower R. near door. LorettaL. of Gladiola and a little above. Sadie KateL. of Loretta and a little above, so they stand in a diagonal line. A buzz of conversation and laughter heard off C. Little child cries. Mrs. Lippett hastily unpins her skirt) Here they are now! Gladiola, pull up your stockings. (Gladiola pulls up her stockings) Loretta, wipe your nose. (Loretta stoops to use her petticoat) No, no! Not on your skirt. (Sadie Kate gives Loretta handkerchief) Sadie Kate, brush back your hair. You, too, stand up straight! (To all) If any of the trustees or lady visitors speak to you, you say “Yes, ma’am”—“No, ma’am” and smile.

Orphans. Yes ma’am, no ma’am.

(Miss Pritchard and Mr. Cyrus Wykoff enter C.Miss P. is a charming, old-fashioned gentlewoman between fifty and sixty, with an air of kindly sympathy for everyone. Mr. Wykoff, a short, chubby, bald-headed man, is pompous and dignified, with an exaggerated idea of his own importance. He wears a brown suit which fits him quite snugly—a pair of tortoise-rimmed spectacles, and a gold watch chain. Mrs. Lippett crosses to C. to receive them.)

Miss Pritchard. (Coming down C.) Well, Mrs. Lippett! We’re here again!

Mrs. L. Miss Pritchard! (They shake hands and Miss Pritchard crosses to R. C. to children. She speaks to 1st child and each child in turn shake their heads “Yes, ma’am,” “No, ma’am,” as ordered by Mrs. L.) Mr. Wykoff!

Wykoff. (L. of Mrs. Lippett) How de do, ma’am. Thought we’d look about a little before refreshments. (Crosses to L. examining.)

Mrs. L. (Down C.) It’s a pleasure to welcome you. I always look forward to the first Wednesday of every month.

Miss P. (Turns to 2nd child) We have Mr. Jervis Pendleton with us to-day.

Mrs. L. I believe we are indebted to you, Miss Pritchard, for inducing him to serve.

Miss P. (Turns to 3rd child) Yes, he is an old family friend.

Wykoff. Good thing to get some fancy philanthropists on the board of an institution like this. Their ideas aren’t always practical but their checks are.

Miss P. (Crossing to Wykoff) Poor little dears! They’re not like children. So little spirit!

Wykoff. (L. of Miss P.) They are not a very classy lot.

Mrs. L. (R. of Miss P.) It is awful depressing to live with them.

Miss P. And how is my dear Judy Abbott?

Mrs. L. A great trial.

Wykoff. She’s the one we’re educating?

Miss P. (Nodding) Her teachers say that she is very brilliant.

Mrs. L. Oh, she’s smart enough—I’m not denying that. But impertinent!

Miss P. She’s a spirited girl and needs tact. (Crosses over to L.)

Mrs. L. (Momentarily forgetting herself) Tact! She needs a good thorough whipping. And I’m sorry she’s grown too big to get it. (Crosses to R.C.)

Wykoff. (Crosses to L. of Mrs. L.) That’s the proper spirit, ma’am. Keep ’em in their places. (Jervis and Freddie are heard out in hall C. and L., playing ball. Miss Pritchard goes up stage L. and around to C. to join Jervis. Jervis backs on stage laughing and chatting as the ball passes between him and Freddie. At sound of Jervis’ voice Wykoff turns and sees him, and turns back to Mrs. Lippett) Mr. Pendleton! (Crosses L. to children, Mrs. Lippett crosses to R. of C.Freddie catches sight of her, and rushes off as Jervis comes in at C.Wykoff passes up and between tables, inspecting everything. Miss Pritchard joins Jervis as Jervis comes in and they saunter down stage C.)

(Jervis Pendleton is a man-of-affairs, quiet and self-contained, but evidently used to having his own way. He has a somewhat grim sense of humor and an air of nonchalance which in reality covers a keen penetration. His manners are courteously deferential, but with a suggestion of indifference underneath, which he just politely manages to suppress.)

Jervis. Ah, dear lady! (Miss PritchardL. of Jervis.) So this is the dining room! Charming apartment.

Mrs. L. (Left of C.) I believe I have never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Pendleton.

Miss P. (L. of Jervis) Our matron, Mrs. Lippett.

Jervis. (Shaking hands) Very happy to meet you, madam. (Turns to Miss P.)

Mrs. L. (C. of table R.) The asylum has a great deal to thank you for. Your two dear boys are doing so well.

(The Orphans at R. begin to fuss and fidget. Loretta scratches her head. Gladiola stands on one foot, then on the other, and Sadie Kate tries to keep both quiet.)

Jervis. (Vaguely. Hands in coat pockets) My two dear boys?

(Wykoff off up back, looking around with back turned.)

Mrs. L. That you are sending to technical school.

Jervis. Oh, yes, yes! The young engineers! Doing well, are they? That’s good. (Crosses over to children.)

Mrs. L. I trust their reports are sent every month as you requested.

Jervis. Yes, I believe so. (Miss Pritchard up to back and joined by Wykoff) My secretary looks after them. (Sits on bench, studies children intently. To the nearest girl) Come here, little girl, and shake hands with me. (They back off) Oh, don’t be afraid! I won’t bite. (Jervis crosses L. C. in front of Lippett.)

Mrs. L. (Behind Jervis and over his shoulder cautioning children. Softly) Oh, children, children dear, this is the kind gentleman who sent the candy and peanuts and tickets to the circus. Shake hands with him, darling.

(Loretta advances, watching Mrs. Lippett and offers Jervis a limp hand.)

Jervis. (Arm around Gladiola) And are you a good little girl?

Gladiola. (Wilting with embarrassment) Y-yes, ma’am—no, ma’am.

Jervis (Rising, his arm about Gladiola, crossing over L. C. to Miss P.) Happy, bubbling, laughing childhood! (Mrs. Lippett shooes children up into pantry and turns on lamp at R.) Nothing so beautiful in the world!

(Children exit L. at Mrs. L.’s gesture.)

Mrs. L. (Coming to R. C.) It’s a great pleasure to live with them. I always say that it keeps me young and happy and innocent myself.

Jervis. (Picks up cap from L. table. Striking cup with his knuckle, to Miss P.) Durable!

Wykoff. (Coming down C.) Can’t indulge any artistic ideas in a place like this.

Jervis. (Turns around and sees text at back C.) Of course! Of course! Ah! (Indicating text) The Lord will provide! (To Miss P.) Very touching!

Mrs. L. (R. C.) You wouldn’t want us to bring them up without religion?

Jervis. (Deprecating the idea) No, no. But why not teach them the truth? The Lord will provide for the rich. The poor must provide for themselves. (Turns to Miss P. and sets cup on table.)

Wykoff. (C. and R. of Jervis) Well, I’m a practical man, Mr. Pendleton. I don’t know as I follow you in all your new-fangled philosophy, but I— (Jervis turns and faces him.)

Jervis. Yes—

Wykoff. Er—I’m convinced—

Jervis. Yes—yes—

Wykoff. Er—er—I’m convinced! (Turns to Mrs. L.) Here, here, Mrs. Lippett, this floor ought to be scrubbed. (Mrs. L. crosses to him and they go up and out C., Wykoff complaining about conditions and Mrs. L. excusing them. Mrs. L. turns on lamp in hall as she exits.)

(At cue “This floor ought to be scrubbed,” the children come down from pantry in single file, and march off R.I.E.Jervis crosses to R. of C. watching them, and stirred to pity by their dejected and whipped manner.)

Jervis. (R.) Poor little kiddies. (Turning to Miss P.) There’s nothing in it.

Miss P. (L.) What do you mean, Jervis?

Jervis. Why, you can’t bring them up like chickens in batches of a hundred like chickens in an incubator. It isn’t natural—it won’t work.

Miss P. (To L. C. Sits R.) Jervis! (He turns) I hate to be always begging. But there’s one of these children for whom I should so love to manage a future.