The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-05-05
Queen Anne.


 most insignificant duties, that kings may well emulate her many sterling virtues.
 And yet no royal blood courses warm ly through her veins. Notwithstanding her regal name, she is not the descend ant of kingly sire, On the contrary, she Is only poor, homely negress who lives down in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where hot tropical suns have for ages painted the children of the soil a shin ing ebony. It was curious how she came to have this very singular name. Doubtless her mothers fancy had been pleased by the royal title; and so when herlittle black baby came she calledh her Queen Anne.
 Queen Anne had no happy childhood When she could scarcely toddle about she began to carry burdens on her head, intuitively as it were, such is the power of imitation. She toted the baby there was always a convenient baby to carry--and the water from the river, with equal cheerfulness and celerity. Her willing feet sped on many an er rand, to be saluted often with blows on her return. Often she was, oh! so hun
 
 no food in the cabin, she was obliged to go to bed supperless: trying to forget in sleep her wretchedness; this poor, brave Queen Anne.
 When she was old enough for service she went to the Dig house where she has remained ever since, waiting upon her nervous, querulous mistress with heroic patience; and surely there is l much to try her. She is also the butt | of her master, who, when in his cups, amuses himself by hurling opprobious | epithets to her Royal Highness." as he | facetiously calls her. A retired officer | in Her Majesty's service, and heir to an earldom besides, he is slowly drink | ing himself to death; his only object in l life is, seemingly, the persecution of Queen Anne.
 l Queen Anne is a scullion, the lowest | servant in the household, and her work l is the most tireSome. Her duty it is to polish the floors until her own ebon | face is reflected therein. On her knees, she applies a decoction made from the mango root, which produces a beautiful 1 dark brown color Then with waxed | cocoanut brush she rubs and rubs the | kle slowly down her face. When her work is completed every chair and ta- ble is duplicated on it's shining surface. l Woe to the luckless person who walks l with free strides across it's slippery boards, for, quite suddenly, he will as | sume sitting position. Such pride as she takes in their wonderful glossiness, which is marred by the first footstep l coming in from the white, dusty | streets!
 l So steady and methodical is she in l her work which is quite unusual in l this warm, south land, that she has l gained the soubriquet of Blockhead | Queen. Even the parrot initiates his l mistress, and screams out the name | loudly and distinctly; and strangers, as | they pass, look and wonder at the | strange name.
 l Once in her life, however, Queen 1 Anne was quite rebellious. In the 1 small hours of the night she awoke to l hear her mistress fretful voice calling ! Queen, Queen" loudly and persistent 1 ly. Then hearing no response, she l called again, "Blockhead, Blockhead | Queen" more angrily. There was a I loud knocking at the outer door, and | the ancient, mongrel dog who guarded the household parked furiously. Queen | Anne heard the angry call of the mis- tress and the barking of the dog with out responding to the summons, In- 1 stead, she covered her head and tren1- 1 bled in mortal terror.
 Now if there was one thing above all others that Queen Anne was afraid of, it was 'duppy," (ghos0 At the rear of the big house is row of small cab ins which are occupied by negroes, the 1 entrance to them being from back street In one of the cabins a poor wo- man had been critically ill for days. As for medical aid, she had none, neith- CT had she much care. Medicines were expensive, and the few farthings in the house might serve to buy refreshments for the expected wake which was so sure to come So the poor creature lin- gered and suffered, until one night she quietly relieved her family from fur ther trouble, and ceased to breathe, Then came the loud knocking which had so frightened Queen Anne. She did not dare respond to her mistress impat tient call, fearing the "duppy' of the dead woman would seize her if she ventured to the door and carry her away to the land of shades. AS it was, she astonished her mistress by expos tulating with her for calling her name so loudly. Should the "duppy" even hear it. her own death was imminent in the near future.
 At four the following evening the woman was buried. Scarcely had the daylight faded from the western sky when, from every direction, the friends andacuuaintances of the dead woman
 began to flock to the cabin from whence she had been so lately carried
 They filled the narrow streets and rent the warm, summery air with their bla-
 tant mirth. The "duppy'' of the dead
 woman was lowering around her latt
 home, and must be t'sung down" in or
 der to keep it quiet. So the singing | commenced, loudly and discordantly
 and without moments cessation
 Should it cease the "duppy" might
 swoop down upon them; then woe tc the luckless one on whom it should seize. One womans voice, high and cracked, was heard above the others
 being at least two notes in advance That screeching, miserable voice; how we hated it as the long hours of the night wore slowly away; and how we hoped she might grow hoarse, or lose it