The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-26
BY MAUD WALKER.

Maimme-well, good Blunder. you need not go back to ring the supper bell. We will go at once to the dining-room And, before you return to the kitchen to assist Bridget with the serving, please bring in the porch chairs and close the shutters for the night. Just see how dark it is growing out in the yard. l did not know it was so late. IExirs through the door l at rightl
 Mary (hopping and skipping toward the door)-I hope you spoke true, good Blum der-bus, for I'm In a condition to enjoy lots and lots os goodies. lExits after
 Jack (pauses and sniffs)-'Pon my hon or, l do believe 1 smell sausages.
 Blunder Skipping his knees and laugh
 ngHfaw haw haw yqng5 nose done sss
 Jack trimming toward door)-And good share shall be left for you. old Blunder- bus. Exits
 Biunder-Laws-y. Is dat hungry sence l done smelt dem sarsages l could eat a bari of 'em. An der's sweet can mos taste 'em. Neber was no ngger, nohow what lubed ter ent like dis hear one right heah. Pats his breast9 MT. Blunder,bus Bumper, esquire Oats man name when Is out in saci'ty. (Sniffs his nose.l Huh, days all eatn' de sarsages. l Hope day won't forglt dis nigger has 1 t-r-e-m-e- -e-n-d-u-s stummick ter i'll. (Goes to the sofa and picks up the picture book that Mary had thrown down. Opens It and looks at the pictures) Land-a massy, pictures of fairies. l done heard Marse Jack and TIT Miss Mary sayln' there wasn't any sich folkses. an den dey said dere was sich things. Uh, don belieb in fairies. Butt does belieb in-s-p-o-o k-s-e-s. Q1ooks round in frightened way) I've But wish a fairy d cuh down through dis heah roof an say 10 me Mr Blum der-bus Bumper. Esquire, what will you have fer supper?' I'd jest set me in that nice big chair an say wifi all my dignity, Fetch on the possum an sweet pertaters, and dozen sarsages, m n pan full Of Stops and bends his head in listening attitude) Now, what's dat? Sounds fer all de wor like footsteps a-comin'. List ems attentiyely again, his eyes becoming dis wicked nigger's soul. done b'liege it's footsteps approachin An doan soun' like footsteps of natcheral beins No-not n-a-t-c-h- e-r-a-l humans feethoofs. Listens again) Bress my brack soul I'm skear- ed as white as snowl Hooks about as if intending to hideJ Wish Miss Many hadn't left dis chile to fotch in de chairs an shet de shelters. Belieb I'll snuck in behind de solar. (Just as he Is about to crouch behind the sofa Fairy | Queen with attendants Ariette and Apollo appear in the wide doorway at the rear of the room)
 Fairy Queen addresses Blunder)-Good boy, we-my attendants and myself-haye lost our way in the forest round about here, and as the night rapidly approachefh we fear to wander in unfamiliar sur roundings, for these woods abound with wizards and witches who are our deadly enemies. If your master and mistress are within I should like to lay our stua- ton before them and throw ourselves on their hospitality for the night (Blunder stands trembling, his mouth and eyes
 Apollo (advancing into the room ad- dresses Blunder) r)--come, come youth of ebony We do not intend thee any harm. Where are the master and mistress of this castle? The queen would speak with them at once.
 Blunder tat last finding voice)-w'y, sah, dis ain't no castle, dis Is de country house of my young mistuss Many an her brother Mastah Jack and de lill' Miss Mary, sah. Weuns all is humans. Whats | you alls?
 Fairy oueen-why. my honest lad. we
 Blunder tstin trembling In his knees and hands)-You all's s-h-o-a-h n-o-u-g-h fairies? Laws-ey (Makes few side movements towards the door at right as If to escape). I-I done b'lieve you all's ghostess. (Makes final dash and exitsl l Fairy Queen-Poor frightened boy. He | looks upon us as dangerous. But let us sit down and await the master and mis tress of the castle. (Sits on the big easy chair, Apollo rests himself against the arm of the sofa while Ariette wanders l dDOul lne Eoolh ioohihS dl lhc piCluieS oh | the walls.)
 Ariette How strange 1t is to see the | queer surroundings of ordinary mortals i and to note the queer things in which | they seem to take delight Now-look at | this bit of make-belieye world (pointing to large landscape on the walD-a scene | of mountains and forest and clouds-yet | nothing of the kind exists in this room | One cannot climb these heights nor wander through the woods, for they are only that reflection as seen in the lake or brook | on a clear day.
 | Apollo--Yes. how much more of the real cali this sort of life prison, and very l tiresome one too. me thinks.
 Fairy Queen--But all people cannot live | alike. Were all mortals to become fairies | like ourselves-or vice verSa-how very | monotonous this now beautiful and chang | lug world, with all its novelties, would be- come But-Someone approacheth. (Enter Maimme followed by Jack and Mary. They are all laughing lightly and do not see the strange visitors as the 1 room is now quite dark, the lights having been slowly lowered during the conyersa- tion of the fairies, to produce the effect of dying daylightl.
 | Maimme-Poor Blunder, how frightened | be was over his imaginary spooks. Why, how -tpauses, seeing the fairiesl.
 Jack (beholding the strangers, falls pack and whispers to Mary, who clutches at bis arm in frightD-Oh, Blunder didn't make such blunder after all.
 Mary, mercy on usl What can they be? tMaimme turns on lght) Fairy Queen iad- vances towards Maimme)-A thousand | pardons my fair young lady; but we poor