Zona Gale

“ DWIGHT. Neither is the breakfast. Lulu must be having the tantrum.
MRS. BETT. I s'pose you think that's funny.
DWIGHT. Lulu ought to think of you–old folks ought to have regular meals–
MRS. BETT. Old? Old? Me, old?
DWIGHT. Well, you're hungry. That's what makes you so cross, Mama Bett.
MRS. BETT. All you think of is food, anyhow.
DWIGHT. Who has a better right? Who provides the food we eat?
MRS. BETT. That's all you're good for.
DWIGHT. Well, I may not amount to much in this old world of ours but I flatter myself I'm a good provider. ”

“ DWIGHT. Mother Bett!
MRS. BETT. What do you suppose Lulu married Ninian for–only to get shed of both of you.
INA. Oh please, please, somebody think a little bit of me. Dwight, do go after Lulu–go to the depot–she couldn't get away before the 8:37.
DWIGHT. My dear Ina, my dignity–
INA. Oh, please do go!
DWIGHT. Oh, my heavens! what a house full of women–
INA. Dwight, we can't get along without Lulu.
DWIGHT. Upsetting things about my ears. . .. (Exit.)
INA. Mama, I do think it's too bad of you–oh! now I'll try to get some breakfast. (Exit.) ”

“ MONONA. Grandma, honestly, do you see why because Aunt Lulu ran away the whole family should pick on me?
MRS. BETT. Come here, you poor neglected child!
MONONA. Mama's getting breakfast and she's burned all over and she's so cross–m-m-m. Why here she comes now!
MRS. BETT. Who?
DI. Aunt Lulu!
(Enter LULU.)
LULU. Mother–
MONONA. Oh, goody–now they'll pick on you instead of me.
MRS. BETT (softly ) . Monona! You run down the road as tight as you can and catch your Uncle Ninian quick–Sh-sh-sh–
MONONA. Uncle Ninian! Oh–oh! (Exit.)
LULU. Mother–what do you think I've heard? ”