The Shakespeare Garden Club

A FANTASY

By MABEL M. MORAN.

SCENE: A room in Ann Hathaway’s cottage at Stratford-on-Avon. Furnishing in keeping with the period.

(As curtain rises Ann is in the act of placing chairs, benches etc., in a semi-circle around the room; in center of circle is a long chest to be used as desk for the presiding officer.

Noise is heard at door. Ann runs and opens same. Enter Mistress Page and Mistress Ford,—with animated flutter).

ANN: Mistress Page (kisses) and Mistress Ford (more kisses). No finer sight ere greeted eye than you two dear ladies—nor never did I need you more.

PAGE: How now?

FORD: And why is this?

ANN: Forsooth, ’tis a meeting here to-day of the Shakespeare Garden Club—and like to be grave and solemn, so none better than you Merry Wives of Windsor to cheer me up.