Original: In di bloye berg
(אין די בלויע בערג)
From: Dray kinder shpiln
(דרײַ קינדער שפּילן)
pp. 13–20
Year: 1935
Author: Beryl Segal
(בערל סיגאַל)
Translator: Giovanna Truong
Class: Yale GMAN 102 / JDST 416 with Josh Price
Embedded Files
On the Blue Mountain
(A Camp Fairy Tale)
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Characters
Benny Aaron
Chaim Arnold
Marvin Morris
(Boys of ages 10–12)
Daniel, counselor
Campers, boys and girls of different ages
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The stage is covered with green and lit up in dark blue. The actors are dressed in light, summery, temperate camp clothing.
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First Scene
(The boys from the older group sit in different positions in a circle in the grass and finish planning a program around the campfire that will take place in a couple of hours. Arnold is buried in a page and strains to read in the half-dark.)
Benny: Now we’re finally ready. We’ll have a great program.
Chaim: Now we need to gather enough wood for a big, beautiful fire. I want to see the flames compete with the highest trees, and still reach to overtake the mountain.
Aaron: Did you ever take a look into the forest while we’ve been sitting around the campfire?
Marvin: Brr…I’m afraid to turn my head in that direction. The forest is so dark now! I don’t want to look, but my eyes go to the darkness on their own.
Morris: Me, too. It’s like a pair of eyes peers and a head sticks out from under every tree. I know it’s silly. No one’s really there, but every time we have a fire, I wait for “something” to come out of there at any moment.
Benny: Don’t tell that to the little children. They’ll get really scared. (Stretches out on the grass with his face up.) Ah, this kind of moment is the best part of camp. It’s hot for the whole day, and we don’t look at how beautiful it is here.
Aaron: As dusk falls, right at this moment, I always think of home.
Marvin: What’s wrong? Still miss the city? I don’t.
Aaron: I’m not homesick… I’m just thinking about it… How everything looks there… our… the street…
(Quiet singing begins, the children sing along, “Summer Evening” [Zumer Ovent] (Gelbart: Let’s Sing, Children [Lomir Kinder Zingen]))
Chaim: Where’s Arnold? I bet he still has his nose in his book.
Morris: It must be a good book if he’s really that into it.
Benny: Arnold knows only one thing: reading and reading. Why did he come to camp then? Couldn’t he also read books in the city?
Marvin: And I said “goodbye” to my books as fast as I packed my stuff, and I won’t want to see them ‘til I get back to the city.
Aaron: But it’s already too dark to read a book. (Calls to him.) Arnold, enough reading already. It’s not good for your eyes to read in the evening.
Benny: Come here instead so you can hear our program for the campfire.
Arnold: (Stands up and starts to go, not taking his eyes from the book) I’m almost done. After a few lines, I’ll be finished.
Morris: Apparently a beautiful story?
Arnold: A beautiful story? The book is full of interesting legends. I couldn’t pull myself away until the last line.
Aaron: Would you tell us a little from the book at the campfire?
Arnold: Maybe. But I’m afraid the little children won’t understand, and some stories are sad.
Marvin: Oh, I don’t like sad stories.
Chaim: Sad or happy, the main thing is it should be a true story. I’m tired of hearing crazy fiction.
Arnold: I don’t know whether they’re true stories, but they all could’ve happened on the Blue Mountain.
Benny: On the Blue Mountain? Here where our camp is?
Arnold: See here. (Shows the book) The book is called “Blue Mountain Stories.”
Marvin: Maybe the stories really took place on the spot we’re sitting now?
Arnold: Maybe.
Morris: I’m already scared to be here. Who knows what terrifying stuff happened here.
Arnold: Nothing to be afraid of. All of the legends are from the time when the Indians still lived here on the Blue Mountain.
Chaim: Oh, Indians? Good! (Gets up suddenly and goes off in jest in an Indian war dance)
Daniel: (Arrives) Hold on, hold on, just wait a moment with dancing. Save the dance for the campfire. Are you ready now with your program for the evening?
Benny: Here we have laid out the whole program. (All stand around the counselor. Benny reads from a paper.)
Make the fire at exactly eight o’clock.
Song of all campers.
Give a reading of the camp newspaper.
Song of the choir of the older group.
Dance from the girls.
Tell a story.
Daniel: A fine program. We can expect a beautiful evening. The sky is clear, it will be a starry night. I have just come from the dance teacher, the dancers are set, and the newspaper is now ready, too. Tell me, who will tell a story?
Aaron: Arnold, of course.
Morris: Who else reads as much as he does?
Chaim: What would we do without you at camp, Arnold?
Daniel: Don’t laugh, he is a nice young man. What story will you tell, Arnold?
Arnold: An Indian story, from the book. (Shows him the book) I think I’ll tell the last story in the book, “The Giant.”
Daniel: (Examines the book) “Blue Mountain Stories.” Good. I don’t think I’ve read the story “The Giant.” I am counting on you for it to be good. And now, gang, come into the forest to get branches.
(All embark into the woods making a commotion)
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