climb around the banisters. The porch has four white pillars reaching
to the second story. On the right is a green garden bench, and at the
back may be seen a road leading past the house, a low picket fence
between many trees; box-bushes and shrubs are near the right. It is
near twilight of an afternoon in May. On the right and through the
picket fence a small gate leading to the garden and thence to the
family graveyard. Over the whole scene there is a half look of decay:
the grounds are not in order, the bushes are untrimmed, as though
poverty had come suddenly to its occupants. At rise of curtain Aunt
Marthy, an old negro mammy of the familiar Southern type, is discovered
by the gate leading into the garden; in her hands she holds some roses
and other flowers she has been gathering.


Marthy. 'Clare hit don't seem natural--it suttenly don't. Dis
hyer place ain't what it was; look at dat fence and at dem bushes!
It's gittin run down, dat's what's the matter; it's gittin run down.

[Enter Cupid from the gate at back, leading into the lane.
He is an old negro of about the same age as Marthy.
His clothes are very old and worn, yet there is a
pathetic suggestion of neatness in his ragged dress.

Cupid. Marthy, is you seen dem chullen?

Marthy. Nor I ain't seen um since lunch. Mars Bev and Miss Fair
don suttenly tek dis place since de war brek out. I hear um say dey
gwine down to de mill.

Cupid. How dey go?